Tribute to Uncle Marty on his 90th birthday

Tomorrow, Dec. 30, Uncle Martin John Koomen (Marty) will be 90. It seems like yesterday when Aunt Nellie Faye (Smith) brought Uncle Marty to Elba, AL to meet her family in 1947. She and Uncle Marty met in Washington, DC when they were working for the Govt. during WWII. They were married Dec. 6, 1946 in Washington, DC. Uncle Marty's parents emigrated from The Hague, the Netherlands and settled near Rochester, NY. He was born 30 Dec 1917 in Pittsford (Monroe Co) NY. He worked for the Naval Research Lab. in Washington, DC until he retired and then he continued working there until he was in his 80's. After Aunt Nellie Faye died from cancer on Jan. 6, 1985. Later he sold their beautiful home in Fairfax, VA and now resides in Greensprings Retirement Home in Springfield, VA.


Marty and Faye had two sons: Stephen Dane Koomen (16 Feb 1949-12 Oct 1977) and William Neal Koomen (see photo at end of page). Steve went west and settled on Orcas Island, WA. A Christmas card from Aunt Faye with this photo of her and Uncle Marty was taken at Orcas Island in April 1976 when they went to visit Steve, before he died from stomach cancer the next year.



The next photo was taken in AL in 1980 when they were visiting relatives in the Elba area. We loved for Uncle Marty and Aunt Nellie Faye to come to Ala to visit. It was an occasion for all of my mother's brothers and sisters to get together and Mama and Papa Smith were always so glad to see everybody. I remember the first time they met Marty. In was the summer of 1947, 6 months after they were married. They came by train to Montgomery and then by Greyhound bus to Danley's Cross Roads where Mama and Papa Smith were living (near Liberty Church). We knew the time of their arrival and I remember riding in a wagon down the red clay road about 1/2 mile with my Papa to meet the bus and flag him down so he would stop and let my aunt and uncle get off. She didn't know where her parents were living since they had moved to the country from Elba. It's a good thing we were in the wagon since they had lots of luggage and it was a hot July day. I don't know if this was Uncle Marty's first trip to Ala or to the south. I wonder what he was thinking that day!! I was 12 years old and had gone to help Mama and Papa Smith "get ready" for company. We all like Uncle Marty and he was so handsome. He liked to take pictures and would have them printed and send us some. We didn't have a camera. Later he would make slides and we were introduced to "slide shows" by Uncle Marty on return visits. When I graduated from high school in 1952, I went by Greyhound bus from Elba to Washington, DC and spent the summer with Aunt Faye and Uncle Marty and their little son Steve. I worked that summer at the Navy Hydrographic Office in Suitland, MD and saved all of my checks for college that fall. Uncle Marty and Aunt Faye are very special to me.
This photo of James and Uncle Marty was taken in Washington, DC in December 1983, at the home of Al and Chris. We were living in Winston-Salem and spent Christmas with Al and Chris. Uncle Marty's hair was changing from black to silver by this time.


Uncle Marty has been at many of our family gatherings over the years. The photo at the top, at age 78, is when he was attending my sister Judy's 50th birthday on Jan. 1, 1995 in Fayetteville, NC. I bet he has enjoyed watching all 7 of our family grow up. Judy was only 1 year old when they got married and Alice and Carolyn came along later. Now they are all married and have children and most have grandchildren. Wow! That's a long time.


Here are photos of Uncle Marty's son Bill Koomen and daughters Emily and Elise. The other photo is his wife Germaine. They live in Newburyport, MA.


Uncle Marty's niece Patti (Knudson) and her husband Bob Towsley live in Alexandria, VA and they will have a birthday dinner for Uncle Marty tomorrow at their home. Bob and Patti visit him often and Uncle Marty is lucky to have them around. Wish we could be there to help him celebrate. Bob used to work with Uncle Marty at the Naval Research Laboratory.

Forks, Knives, and Spoons

This Christmas I put stainless steel flatware on my list. We have the most eclectic assortment you've ever seen that we use daily. I am going to change all of that and have everything match from now on! It was fun looking through our assortment and remembering where they came from. Would you believe that we are still using some flatware we bought in Germany in 1953. It was very inexpensive but heavy and we've misplaced a lot of it. Then once I bought some samples at a store in Paris, TX - all good quality and some even had monograms on the handles - but they were not "G". With 3 active boys in and out of the kitchen, borrowing flatware to take camping, furnishing school aparatments, etc. the utensils have been moved around.


 Early in December I started looking for some good quality stainless steel that "matched" and learned a lot in the process. I finally settled on Oneida "Julliard", 18/10. It is expensive so I asked for a couple of 5-piece place settings and ended up with 4 under the tree. It was on sale at Belk's, 50% off, and no shipping charges, so Jim ordered 3 sets and Bill gave me a set. Yesterday I got an email from Macy's and they had this flatware on sale plus a bonus set for each set that you buy. So I ordered 2 more sets immediately . Someday I will have all I need - 8 sets, to use every day, for the 3 of us.


Today I was thinking of the Rogers Bros. silverplate I bought many years ago and have enjoyed using on special occasions. When we got married, I was in college and Jim was in the army, and we didn't pick out silver, china, crystal, etc., back in 1953 like brides do today. So it wasn't until the mid 1960's, when we bought a new home in Atlanta and had a dining room, that I wanted some nice silverware. Our 3 boys were in elementary school and we didn't have a lot of money left over to spend on luxuries such as this. I noticed on a box of Sunshine Krispy crackers (which they loved to eat) an ad about Rogers Bros silverware. You could complete a set by saving coupons from the box tops and sending a check along with the coupons to order individual pieces of the silver. This was quite a project and I kept at it (having friends and family save coupons for me) until I got twelve 5-piece place settings. It is reinforced silverplate International Sterling and heavy and shiny. I have no idea what pattern it is; it's been too long ago to remember that. I did try looking it up on the internet but couldn't find it. I even looked for the 1960's Sunshine Krispy Cracker ad but never did find that either. I read that Rogers Bros made hundreds of designs from 1888 to 1950, so I will probably never learn the name of my pattern. It really doesn't matter that much. I treasure this much more than people do who have all this given to them when they get married. I worked for mine! I polish it often and we take it out and use it on special occasions or when we have company. When the granddaughters visit, they like to set the table and use the pretty china dishes and silver, along with my pretty placemats, tablecloths and cloth napkins.

The Day After

Christmas Day has come and gone and all of the decorations scattered throughout the house and yard are being gathered up as we pass by them to and fro. The tree is still up and lights burning but all the gifts are gone and Christmas dishes put away. The manger scene is usually the last thing I pack away; leaving the "real meaning" of Christmas displayed until New Year's.


I braved the crowds, rainy weather, and my feeling of not wanting to go shopping, to travel to nearby Enterprise to look for a Christmas tree on sale. I didn't go until after lunch and I almost didn't find one. I saw a beautiful 12 ft frazier fir (pre-lit with white lights) at Lowe's and stood in awe in front of it. It had a price tag of $500. I could only imagine a room big enough to display a tree this size. While I was standing in front of the big tree, a young man walked up and asked the sales clerk if the tree was on sale. He said, Yes, make an offer. And the man bought that giant tree for $100!! I would say he got a bargain. The only other tree was 9 ft tall so I had to move on. Found a Douglas fir, 7 ft, 650 multi lights at WalMart and I got it at 50% off.


When I got home there was a roaring fire in the fireplace and I was happy. We took down the stockings earlier so we could build a big fire.

This morning at brunch I made a "to do" list to accomplish before Jan 1st. I'm not a list-maker so this was an unusual move for me. I am also starting a list of things I want to accomplish in 2008. I'd like to take a computer graphics course. I want to scan some of our old color slides and put them on CD's before they fade away. I want to do this myself so I have to look for some equipment. We are signing up for a 10-week fitness program called "Scale Back Alabama" at Opp Hospital beginning Jan. 7th. Jim and I participated last year and enjoyed the meetings and learned a lot. 


I have some Master Gardener projects to work on and several unfinished projects to complete. We're planning a big family gathering in the NC mountains in June to celebrate some birthdays and anniversaries in our family. While I was going through my "to do" list, I couldn't help thinking about some of my friends who sit at home, day after day, and just wait to get older! Not me. I don't have time to waste; too many things I want to do while I still have good health.

Christmas Day has arrived - at last!

Christmas Day arrived at last. I can't believe we slept until 7:30 A.M., late for us. It was dark, raining, and thunder rumbling. I got up first and turned on the Christmas tree lights. Jim put on coffee while I helped James get up and get dressed. Then we settled down in the living room next to the Christmas tree and began to open presents - before breakfast. First James looked in his big red stocking and was so excited to receive 10 bars of Ivory soap. I captured him waving it in the air!
Then he started opening his gifts from "Santa" that had been under the tree for several days, "To: James; From: Santa". And then came gifts from family and friends. One favorite was a set of videos about trains from a friend Bucky who lives in Panama City, FL. He is a retired policeman and has a hunting lodge at Danley's Cross Roads and we see him and his family when they are here for awhile. He
knows that James is a big fan of trains and railroads. He has been watching these videos all afternoon.

You will notice he is wearing a new Clemson cap, a gift from his brother Bill. James' niece Nerissa is a freshman at Clemson. James likes Auburn and they are playing Clemson in the Peach Bowl. He said he guessed he'd wear the Clemson cap and his new Auburn sweatshirt that day. We visited the Clemson campus in November to see Nerissa and her apartment, etc. Now James is a big Clemson fan!





In the next photo you see James looking at one of his many big books he got for Christmas. Ally gave him 2 train books, Lizzie gave him one, and he got one from Santa. Bill's girls also gave him a large book "Santa Claus". Caroline thought James would like it. He is a big fan of Santa's.








Not everything under the tree was for James. Jim smokes a pipe and needed a new one, really bad. There is no place to buy a pipe in Elba, AL! A local service station orders pipe tobacco for him - Borkum Rif whiskey flavor. He was so excited to get 2 brierwood pipes from our oldest son Ronnie and family.




And Jim got something else he has wanted for a long time - an air compressor. He knew he was getting this because he was the one who ordered it. But we wrapped it when it arrived and he didn't see it until today. He promised to use it to dust "hard to get to" places, including behind the computer, etc. Maybe he'll try it out one day soon. He also got a 5 ft ladder which was a surprise and Santa left it out front behind the bushes last night. Now he can reach light fixtures to change bulbs, etc. His 8' ladder was too tall. And to reach things on shelves, etc. He has a step ladder but it's too short. Santa usually leaves practical things for the two of us. James was kinder and gave him a bag of his favorite candy, Tootsie Rolls. He got books and other nice gifts from other family members.



I received a beautiful lightweight fleece robe from Cindy and Ron and a beautiful red silk scarf from Lizzie. And a kit of bath products from Ally. Liz and Chad gave me a nice "grandparent legacy" journal to fill out. I always love to get the good-smelling products from Cindy and girls at Christmas time; things I would never go out and buy for myself.

I had asked for some new stainless steel flatware for Christmas. I spent a long time looking for just the right pattern, etc. and didn't give much advance notice. Jim ordered some online and it arrived Christmas Eve. He thought he wasn't going to get it in time.


I chose Oneida "Julliard" pattern and got four 5-piece sets for everyday use. I will pack up all my mismatched flatware and save it for someone's cabin or college dorm. Today we used the new silverware and our Christmas dishes, even though it was just the 3 of us here for Christmas Day. We had a good time!

I have been inside all day - a record for me since I am an outdoor person. My feet have been "tapping" to go walking but we have had rain most of the day. Maybe tomorrow.....

Christmas Eve is here!

Today was a very special day. Not much going on but just the fact that it is Christmas Eve made it special. The mailman was late and when she finally got here, she brought 3 packages. Two of the packages contained my Christmas present from Jim, James and Bill. I wondered why they were so anxious for the mail to arrive! I went shopping this afternoon for things to put in James' stocking. He insists that Santa will bring him things in his stocking. I found a Batman figure that has moveable parts. I even saw a Batman cap (baseball cap). I almost bought it but remembered that he would want to wear it every day! So guess what I got instead... 1 package of 10 bars of Ivory soap!!! He loves to use Ivory and his dad hides the extra soap since he uses so much. I am going to tell him he can use all 10 bars at once if he wants to!! And I got a package of 4 new handkerchiefs. He doesn't like to use kleenex. The problem is he forgets and discards the handkerchiefs and they soon disappear. Now just think about this; a batman figure, handkerchiefs and 10 bars of soap! Who but James would want all that in a stocking.

Some family friends dropped by with gifts for James to put under the tree. One was a bright red shiny, jeweled Christmas ornament from a church friend Ruth Anderson Inman (who is almost 90). She is the step mother of the writer Bob Inman from Charlotte, NC. She brings him a new ornament every year - always red since that is his favorite color. Our neighbor Pat brought him 3 different varieties of bubble gum in a Christmas bag. Another neighbor brought him a 4-piece ceramic train that he has on the table by his TV set.

Tonight we went to communion at church. As we arrived a large gathering of the Stephens family was leaving - Daniel and Rhonda Jacobs Stephens and their children and grandchildren,  and Daniel's sister Lucia Grantham and her children, grandchildren and her ex-husband Kenneth attending with them. What a great family coming to worship. We were there with Doug and Elaine Vaughan Martin and 2 of their grandchildren. As we were leaving another large family group was entering the church. This was such a special time to go kneel at the altar and receive communion from our pastor and good friend, Stanley Carter.

The best part of today was receiving an email from our youngest son who arrived in London yesterday with his 3 daughters after travelling all night from Charlotte, NC to visit relatives of his deceased wife. A bad fog made getting from Gatwick airport to north of London a 5 hour journey by train and bus. Took almost as long to get to sister in law Julie's house as it did to cross the Atlantic! Then today we received from Bill a photo of the girls taken before they left on their trip. Nerissa (18), Katie (16) and Caroline (12). It has been 11 years since their mother died and they keep in touch with her family as much as possible. They return Jan. 3rd.

Sunday before Christmas - 2 days left

It was a normal Sunday; getting up early to read the newspaper, drinking coffee and eating breakfast. But today was a little more special. We would be wearing Christmas outfits today. James wore his navy suit and white shirt and one of his Santa ties. I wore a black Christmas sweater with red skirt and white blouse. Jim wore his choir robe once he got to church. The church was filled with red poinsettias at the altar rail. The crowd was "expectant" as many families had loved ones visiting and everybody was busy greeting the guests who were home for the holidays.


I opened my church bulletin for the order of the service and my eyes rested on "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" to be sung by Kenneth Baker, an annual event everybody looks forward to each Christmas. But today there was an air of sadness because Kenneth's father, Winfred Baker, passed away on Saturday morning and his funeral was today at 3 pm. Kenneth was not at church today. Pam, his wife and our church organist had surgery on Wednesday, and was not at church today either. I have known Kenneth's father and mother (Dot Young) all my life. They were neighbors to our family in the Curtis community. Their 4 boys were just little fellows when I left home in 1952. The Baker and Young families lived near the schoolhouse. There were 14 Baker children and now only 1 is left, the youngest sister, Lillian Baker Taylor.


Tonight we went to church for the Advent Carols and Lessons. The organ was silent. A choir member, Lois Holt, played the piano (beautifully) and only a small group attended the service. The music director went home for the holidays and Pastor Stanley Carter read the scriptures and led the singing. Outside some of the church members were participating in a live nativity with music playing in the background.

Today was a sunny, cold day and James is getting excited about Christmas eve. We will probably go to church for communion at 5 pm. It will be a long day for James tomorrow. Maybe he will sleep late. You know, I am looking forward to opening my gifts too!


Our youngest son Bill and his 3 teen-aged daughters are in London today, arriving there early this morning from Charlotte, NC, and spending 8 days with relatives. Talked to our other son in Austin, TX today and they are spending Christmas at home (except for the oldest daughter who was at a ski resort in Calif. this week-end and in Laguna Beach, CA for Christmas with her friend and his family). So it will just be Jim, James and me here for Christmas this year. We'll get up and open our gifts and watch the Christmas parade at Disneyworld.


MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

3 more days til Santa comes

It's getting close to Christmas eve when that jolly ole man arrives. When I was little, he would come early in the evening before we went to bed and we would get to take one toy to bed with us. We didn't have heaters or central heat, just a big fireplace in one room, so I'm sure that's why Santa arrived at night at our house so we wouldn't be getting up too early on Christmas morning. I remember one Christmas we were all gathered in Mama Wilson's room around the big fireplace when we heard a noise outside (the wind was probably blowing hard) and they told us to be real quiet, that it was probably Santa arriving. A little later daddy went out to see and came back to the room and said it was Santa and he had left toys under the tree in the "front room". I remember that one of my younger sisters got a metal gray cat on wheels and everytime you pulled it it would say "meow" over and over. I was glad when the voice box wore out! I probably helped it along...


James loves Christmas and still believes in Santa. He's pictured here with Santa at the Elba Christmas festival on Dec. 8th (James' birthday). We are spending Christmas at home this year - alone. Our son Bill and his 3 girls are en route to London today to spend 8 days with relatives of Bill's deceased wife Barbara. s, CA for Christmas with her friend Chad and his family. Our son Ron and his wife Cindy and their other daughter Allison are at home in Austin this Christmas. Another granddaughter from Austin, TX is in Bear Mountain Resort, east of Los Angeles.  Ron is working so other employees can be off for Christmas this year. So we are here without any of them this year. It will seem strange not to be with any of them at Christmas. We saw everybody when we were in Austin in October and Florence, SC in November.

Tonight the three of us will be in a live nativity at our church downtown. I'm not sure what part we will be playing. Maybe the old shepherds! James said I don't look like a shepherd or wise man and I'm too old to be Mary. I'll just cover up my head and be a donkey or something!