A new children’s book from Maria Shriver

I had read about Maria Shriver’s latest book for children, about a child disturbed by her grandfather’s actions, at the start of his Alzheimer’s illness. The book is “What’s Happening to Grandpa?”

We know that Shriver was in the Kennedy family and is married to California’s governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger. She is also a talented writer.

I asked about her latest book at the Walker Library, and it was in the Children’s Room there. It takes only a few minutes to read, and I found it to be excellently written, allaying the young girl, Kate’s fears and helping her family, too. The illustrations, in color, are beautifully presented, on each page beside the printed text. The illustrator, Sandra Speidel, has done the illustrations on Shriver’s two previous books too. I hope to find them in the Children’s Room soon. All bestsellers, they are “What’s Heaven?,” and “What’s Wrong With Timmy?”

Nancy Reagan wrote about Shriver’s latest book, “I hope every child – and every adult – will have the chance to read What’s Happening to Grandpa?”. It offers a realistic, but reassuring glimpse into the ways everyone in a family can help ease the burden of the Alzheimer’s struggle.”

The dust jacket of the book has a well-written short review of the book – “The aging of loved ones is a difficult transition that nearly all children must face. In this poignant book, through the story of young Kate, Maria Shriver once again lends her honest, deeply personal insight and reassuring voice to a topic affecting millions of Americans.”

“Grandpa has always been the best storyteller Kate has ever known, but lately he seems different. He repeats himself, becomes easily frustrated, and then one day, he even forgets Kate’s name. When her mother explains Grandpa’s disease, Kate is overwhelmed. What will happen to him? Will others in the family get sick too? How will she explain it to her friends and younger siblings? With remarkable strength, Kate resolves to cherish her grandpa’s life and memories. She forges a bond between them that will remain forever in their hearts.”

WLU annual meeting

The Woman’s Literary Union annual meeting and reception for new officers for 2005-2007 was held at Woodfords Congregational Church April 15. Presiding were the present officers, President Mary Kibbee, First Vice President Patricia Shapazian, Recording Secretary Nancy Wynne, Corresponding Secretary Gloria Stover (not present at the luncheon), Treasurer Louise Whitehead, Assistant Treasurer Aase Kjos-Hansen and Parliamentarian Marcia Willock.

Scholarship presentations were given to Alison Lakin of Falmouth High School, who plans to be a teacher and will attend the University of Maine-Farmington, and Marnie Sicard of Greely High School, who hopes to work in sports medicine and will attend the University of Southern Maine. The girls each spoke to our members and stayed for the luncheon, with their family members who were invited also.

On the nominating committee, with Dolores Ellis as chairman, were Mary Barton, Maxine Hamilton, Louise Lyman, Grace Thomas and Aase Kjos-Jansen.

On the new board of directors are Helen Anderson, Phyllis Crommett, Dorothy Lane, Alice Leighton, Doris Mallar, Gay O’Brien Barbara Pearson, Dorothy Spear, Gloria Stover and Louise Whitehead.

A memorial service was conducted by Joan McCormack and Nancy Jones for the following members who passed away in 2003-2004: Jill Dresser, Bea Gulliver, Joan Keeley, Bibi Mavros, Jane Sparrow, Alice Robinson, Bertha Schlientz and Marion Webb. As each name was read, a rose was placed in a vase in their memory.

The 12:30 luncheon, served by members of the KD Class at the church, was delicious, starting with a fruit cup full of fresh fruits, including cut-up strawberries, blue grapes, melon slices, and mandarin oranges. Next came scalloped potatoes, an attractive piece of chicken, mounded, with a cream sauce and stuffing, and broccoli. The bread slices were very good, cut from dainty loaves; and the dessert was outstanding, a slice of carrot cake with nuts and carrot slices, and frosted with cream cheese.

That completed a pleasant annual meeting, and on a nice Spring day too.

Italian hotel denies Pavarotti entry

I had saved a clipping from the New York Post dated Nov. 29, 2000, with a smiling picture of the famous opera star, Pavarotti. But he was a very upset man and certainly not in a happy mood when the manager at the Sheraton Hotel in Padua, Italy, showed him the door, as he had no identification. The manager had even called the police to help get identification for him. But that didn’t work. Even though staffers recognized him (I’m sure they all did), the desk clerk said, “Plenty of famous people stay here, but even they have to have ID.”

Pavarotti stormed back to his limo and ordered the driver to take him to another hotel. “I have been to some of the best hotels in the world and never has anyone shut the door in my face,” he said.

I can’t believe it, and in Italy, too. He is such a famous tenor, admired worldwide. Hasn’t that Sheraton Hotel ever made an exception? If I were its manager, I would have invited him into the lobby, surrounded him with other guests, and asked if he please could sing just one aria for us all. What a thrill that would have been.

Dr. Overholser’s diplomatic reply

I’ve written about my uncle, Dr. Winfred Overholser before. Our family are very proud of him. He had been Massachusetts commissioner of mental diseases for two and a half years, and later became superintendent of the federal hospital for the mentally ill, St. Elizabeth, in Washington, D.C. I have a printed column he sent to my mother (his sister). We all enjoyed our Uncle Win’s answer to President Dwight Eisenhower. The column said, “Diplomatic Dodge.” When Dr. Winfred Overholser was superintendent of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, he received the President’s Award for distinguished Civilian Service (in 1960). While placing the ribbon around the psychiatrist’s neck, President Eisenhower smiled, glanced around at the group of government officials present and said, “Don’t you sometimes wonder about all of us, doctor?”

“I’m off duty today, Mr. President.” Overholser replied.

Recipe

This recipe was sent to me in 1994 by my niece in St. Louis, Marianne Blanchard Pepper. We enjoyed it then, and I have all the ingredients on hand to make it again. You can bake it on other days besides Mondays too, of course.

Wash day cake

2 cups flour

2 tsps. Baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup sugar

2 tsps. Cinnamon

Mix all these together.

Add:

1 stick soft shortening

2 eggs

1 cup raisins

3/4 cup chopped pecans (I used walnuts)

1 tsp vanilla

1 can cherry or apple pie filling

Bake in greased 9×13″ pan at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. Marianne used this topping. I did not, as it sounded like a good fruit cake with or without the topping.

If you use the topping, after the cake is in the oven from 10-15 minutes, add this topping and return the cake to the oven: 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup pecans, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon.

Copy the Story Link