Some Laphams visit

Just as Trish and I were headed to the lake (one with lots of whitecaps - more on that later!) on Sunday, Cousin Mary stopped in to say a few of Uncle Byron's children were coming over (from Houghton Lake) for a short visit. Trish and I have great memories of 'the twins' (Linda and Brenda). Like Cousin Mary, Linda and Brenda were very cool "older" teens when I was young (maybe about 6 or 7?). They were always so nice to us - at least to our face!



Even better, John Francis (the youngest of Bryon's children) was also coming. I was old enough to be John's babysitter (at least once or twice!). I was sorry that John's wife, Beth, was not part of the party. (I still remember her as great fun at the "Lapham" girls wedding shower for her - which was probably eons ago!). Their time here was too short and I hope now that Linda and her husband are living in Houghton Lake, we may have a chance to see them all more often!

As I was eating dinner tonight, I realized, my Grandma Lapham had 3 grandsons with the first name "John" (John Patrick [Uncle Harry and Aunt Margaret], John Francis [Uncle Bryon and Aunt Rose] and John [whoops don't know John's middle name from Uncle Johnny's family]). In addition, there were two Mike's and two Joe's. What is amazing is there weren't more Mary's in such a Catholic family!

So the Bacon side is not left out, Dad said, there were two children named George Samuel (a Bacon and a Schultz)! And they weren't even Catholic!


Oh, about those whitecaps on the lake... Turns out, on Sunday, the Coast Guard had a busy day in Frankfort. There is a pier and that undertow was pretty strong. I heard, on the news, today, that they had to 'help' several swimmers get their bearings.

Empire seems blessed with just the right kind of 'cove' that provides some protection from the most nasty of the undertow's. Although, my dad did say that when he was young (REALLY EONS ago!), the pilings from the logging days were tall enough to create some undertow issues at the 'first circle' (I guess folks these days call it 'the tear-drop!).