Dear Friends:
Frame Haven’s show this past weekend was huge! The crowd was so
large Friday they had to wait over two hours to get to my signing station.
Springfield’s (Ohio) assistant fire chief even stopped in to make
sure the gallery wasn’t too crowded. Everyone was wonderful and
patient, though; and, we all had a fantastic time!
After the show Friday night, Don and Audrey McKanna, owners
of the Frame Haven, took me to the nearby Bushnell Banquet Center for
what I thought was going to be just a fundraising dinner. It turned
out to be a surprise birthday party for me, too, and I was truly surprised!
I had so much fun seeing everyone at the show Friday and Saturday and
at the party Friday night. It was great being with such terrific people—collectors,
Society Chapters, and dealers!
Mayor Warren Copeland proclaims P. Buckley Moss Day in Springfield,
OH on Friday, May 20, 2005.
I have received many gifts and many cards, both in Springfield
and at my office in Mathews, Virginia. I want to send a personal thank-you
to each and every one; but, if I miss someone, please know how much
I appreciate your happy birthday wishes!
I returned home to Mathews to find pictures waiting for me of my granddaughter
Kate’s prom. Kate is a sophomore at Radford High School in Radford,
Virginia.
A Pair of Beauties: Kate and Marilyn at the prom at Radford High
School, Radford, VA.
Victoria DeVilbiss, Matthew Turner, Dylan DeHart, and Kate Donnelly
(and Marilyn Monroe).
I’m very proud of all ten of my grandchildren, and
I can’t resist sharing their pictures and accomplishments. I don’t
get to see some of them as often as I do others, so you may not be familiar
with all of them. To be fair to my children and grandchildren, I’m
going to list them all. My daughter Mary and her husband Dr. Kerry Donnelly
have three children: Kate, Sarah, and Sean. My daughter Becky and her
husband Roberto Ghezzi have two children: Sofia and Michela. My son
Chris and his wife Lisa have three children: Kristina, Diana, and Amanda.
My daughter Ginny and her husband Corrado Gabellieri have two children:
Pier, or Picco, as he is known, and Chiara. My other two children John
and Patty don’t have children of their own. John is a chef, and
Patty is a wonderful girl who is good at everything she does!
As proud as I am of my family, I know that they owe much to their teachers
and the numerous adult volunteers who have made a difference in their
lives. “It takes a village to raise a child” is certainly
a true saying, and a good example of this is Picco’s involvement
with the Technology Student Association (TSA).
Picco and his Technology Student Association (TSA) group from Stuarts
Draft Middle School went on a field trip Thursday, April 28, to the
Mariner’s Museum in Hampton, Virginia, and took a boat tour of
the harbor. They then competed for two full days at the TSA State Technosphere
Competition in Hampton. Picco’s school placed first in the State
of Virginia!
Picco (far right, kneeling) and his TSA colleagues at Stuart's Draft
Middle School.
Picco and his TSA friends are blessed to have two very
dedicated teacher advisers, Andrew Baker and Dan Farrar. They both spend
countless hours with TSA students after school encouraging them and
guiding them in their endeavors. These two teachers, along with many
volunteers in the community who give time to these students, are to
be commended. They set a fine example for both adults and children.
Dan Farrar (left), Picco and his trophies, and Andrew Baker. Dan
and Andrew are Picco's TSA teacher advisors.
It was quite a weekend for Picco, indeed, because he also
had a soccer game to get home for. He chose to miss the TSA awards ceremony
in order to be there for his soccer team. (Picco placed first in the
communications category and third in the transportation category). The
soccer team won 1 to 0. I’m very proud of Picco’s achievements
and grateful to his teachers and coaches for teaching him the importance
of good sportsmanship and teamwork.
I’m heading to St. Petersburg, Florida, for a month off from showing
but not from working! I have a very long list of paintings to complete
for shows this summer and fall, so I’ll be busy painting while
in Florida!
Love,
Pat