Mon Aug 10 08:02 EDT 1998
Weekend Update: Russell Metcalfe Sr. 11/15/01-08/08/98

It was a busy Saturday.  In brief, we had a going away party for Jeff
Lane, my grandfather died, and we went to a baseball game.

"Huh?" you say.

That's the chronological order of events.  Now I'll give them to you
in a different order.

Starting on a lighter note, which is kind of weird to place in here
before an obituary, we hosted a picnic party for Jeff Lane for the
church to send him off to Seminary.  Every parting is a little "death"
and "birth" into a new life.  We had 60+ well-wishers, most of which
were in the pool on the hot Saturday afternoon.  Jeff actually leaves
in about a week - so Kansas City, here he comes!

After the party, many of us piled into cars and headed to the
Spinner's baseball game (Triple A League) in Lowell.  The Spinners won
5-1 but the game was the least of the entertainment of the evening.
In fact, I about missed most of the hits.  (Ray Walters will NEVER
take me to a baseball game again, I just KNOW it!)

At the seventh inning stretch, they held a wedding at home plate.  The
mayor officiated and the player held up their bats (like military
people do with their swords) for the recessional.  It was ...um ...an
interesting place to have a wedding.  If you want to get married (or
renew your vows), why not contact the Lowell Spinners Babseball
organization!

Several of our teen girls went down on the field with other eiligibles
and at the next inning vreak, the bouquet was tossed.  I had my
binoculars and gave the others in the seats nearby the play by play.
When they wondered who got the bouquet, I said that the women were
wrestling over it.  Soon, Tammy Xayachack (Zie-a-chak), appeared ina
tug of war with another girl.  Tammy came away with the bouquet stems;
all the flower heads were torn off by the mob.

We got the news about my grandfather in mid-afternoon.

Russell Metcalfe, Sr. died in Texas on Saturday afternoon after about
a week of decline.  He was almost 97 years old (about as old as his
father-in-law Homer Purchis was when he died.)  He was preceded in
death by his wife, Leona, last October; she was 93.  He is survived by
two children, Russ and Ruth (their spouses Helen and Ken), 9
grandchildren, and 22 (?) great-grandchildren.  For the past 7 years
or so, my grandparents lived under the watchful and loving care of my
Aunt Ruth and her family in Texas; first in their home, and when it
was physically and medically impossible, then in a care facility.  The
difficulties in uprooting my grandparents from Ohio, and later the
decision to place them in a care facility was agonizing for both Russ
and Ruth.  But the *daily* love and care that the Edwards family
showed these dear people is deeply appreciated and admired by our
family.

I'll be traveling to Ohio later this week for grandpa's
final... scratch that... for the interment.  We who believe in the
resurrection of the saints, do not grieve as others who have no hope.
So I look forward to a small family reunion and rememberances.

Mark
  ,          Mark Metcalfe  ,d88b.d88b,  O love that will not let me go
  \_0__,    (978) 446-6451  88888888888   I rest my weary soul in Thee
    M                       `Y8888888Y'  I give Thee back the life I owe
   .|\. metcalfe@cadence.com  `Y888Y'   That in Thine ocean depths its
  Cadence Design Systems, Inc.  `Y'   flow may richer, fuller be.