IKE CELEBRATES 88 YEARS

Yesterday was Ike Neal's 88th birthday but we celebrated today with a cake brought by Sue and a meal prepared by Nancy. We invited all of our families but the only ones who could make it were Sue's number one son Al and his wife Jeannine. Originally Nancy's son John was coming but he had to cancel. Nancy made chicken cacciatore, German green beans, macaroni and cheese and cranberry salad. We had great chocolate birthday cake with whipped cream.

(The other photos are of the decorations in the living room.)

After a discussion of church's beliefs (Al is pastor of a Cowboy church in Cross Plains) Al regaled us with stories of his getting married to a Turkish woman and her brother's taking Al out into the night life of Istanbul riding in a closed car with friends smoking hashish. Turks like to fight and he saw a lot of it with his new family. He met her in Germany but they went back to her home to get married. I didn't ask if it was an Islamic wedding. He also told about driving his truck of produce into Montreal where they speak French. He was late and the vendor spoke to him in French. He replied in German so they agreed to communicate in English. He hated going into Canada because the highway signs were all in French. We always enjoy hearing Al's truck driving stories. He also told about one trip hauling cattle across the Mexico border and was hassled by the US guards coming back into the country. He says he won't go across either border anymore. This week he made a trip to Nebraska. Said they had some ice but none of the snow we have been seeing on TV.

We are looking forward to Sunday School tomorrow.