Here we are at Thursday, June 9th.

TERRY

I would say Terry is the same.  She has been awake for some time and now has the paper to read.  There is nothing new to write about as she gones on day by day.  She has not been out of bed now for some time and that is not so good but she really is comfortable so that is good.  I would say she is the same today as she has been over the last months so that is good.

I went shopping at the grocery store yesterday and almost dropped what I had in my hand as I stopped at the soup to get some cream of celery and cream of mushroom.  I have done a little searching from the past to see what soup has been selling for.  In 2007 soup could be bought for $.20 and way back in 1973 you could find it for $.12 a can.  Yesterday I needed a can of cream of celery soup and the cost was $2.00 a can!  I could almost not believe it but yes, for sure, the clerk rang it up at that price!!!  I have known that prices are going up on everything but soup at $2 a can had me wondering where are things going??

Henry, the oldest of the 14 grandchildren, graduates from HS this Saturday.  Next year he will be at home on the campus of Notre Dame.  It got me thinking about the past.  

I graduated in 1965 and there was no graduation party.  I think some kids had them but I am not sure.  So we went to Sargent Central to take in the ceremony and then headed home.  I am not even sure I got a present but maybe I got a suitcase.  I had a good chuckle as I remember seeing a picture Dad had developed of, at the time, my girlfriend Jo Ellen and I after graduation.  It was so funny as I think that was one of the last times I saw her!!!  

Fast forward to my kids.  Graduation parties were "in" and we did have them for HS and also I do believe there were small parties for college too.

I would in the worst way like to make the parties of my grandkids but for Henry it is not to be as I can not leave Terry for that amount of time.  So a card and a gift will have to do.  

I should say that with the graduation of Henry the parties will come almost on a yearly bases.  I do not remember what grade all the kids are in but I do know this:

Liam in 2024, Leo in 2025, Faustina in 2025, Audrey in 206 etc etc etc.  I hope I have those kids in the right years.  After Audrey nine more are to come!

I will end with a bit about colleges.  In the late 80s and into the 90s John, Travis, Aaron and Cynthia went to college.  I do think their cost for one year was in the range of 15,000 - 25,000.  Of course they all received help but in the end they had to pay college off after graduation.  So the next generation are my grandkids.  I do think their college, if they attend, will be way way more.  I know that colleges across the country with big names can cost as much as $50,000-$80,000. a year.  Now getting to my college expenses.  My undergraduate years were 1965-1969.  In my freshman year my total expenses at NDSU were $1300 and that included EVERYTHING.  I was able to come out with no debt my first year with financial help and 20 hours of work study a week.  By the end of my 4 years I owned something like $1800 total and being in special education I got 15% deducted yearly so I never had to pay any back.  My my how times have changed.  I am wondering if the value of college today is any better than back 55 years ago???

So here it is almost time to get ready as I have tennis at 9:00 today.  I am really looking forward as I think John is coming for a visit this Sunday.  I am not sure how long he will stay but regardless of how long he stays it will be great to see him.  

So with my FP gone and my blog finished for the day I will sign off.