Letters from Dad - January 2008

Here are two e-mails I received from Dad just after Christmas two years ago.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jason Spinnett
To: avweller@aol.com
Sent: Thu, Jan 24, 2008 6:02 am

Dear Angie

Thank you for all the Christmas gifts. I got the jacket and DVD just yesterday because my DHL man had a tragic loss of his unborn child in the sixth month so had to keep house and care for his wife and so was maxed out with overwork.

I am enjoying many email exchanges with Steve. I send him stories from my history of my life and our family. He gives me feedback to keep me straight on the chronology of events.

For the last two months I have been camping out in my house because my water pipes burst under my tile floor and so I have had to get all my water from the other house and get all my chores done with water in plastic buckets, it is summer so the lack of hot water is only noticeable when washing dishes and bathing. They came last week and brought in a new waterline from the street but it only is connected to the kitchen so far. The floor tile must be broken up to find and repair that ruptured pipe. Every craftsman is busy with construction now so nobody wants to help the foreigner and keep their own people waiting. I had half a dozen people voluntarily twisting arms to get those plumbers last week. It has been a good time for me to practice the “whatsoever state I am in, therewith to be content” principle.

I just went out and watched the dawn from my hammock with my cat curled up on my stomach. My cat climbs a vine to a high safe place inside a thorny arbor atop my garden wall where she can see but not be approached by man or animal. The neighbor girl innocently brought her toy size dog over to see the cat whereupon he jumped down and tried to attack her, but she just ran to her vine and zoomed up and away from the threat. A bird eats her Whiskas food right in front of her one piece at a time but Jackie is too mesmerized to chase the bird. This cat is not a house cat but a cat with a dream playground of trees, walls to walk on, and people to greet outside. She sleeps on a low chair on the veranda and stays out of the house. love, Dad

-----Original Message-----
From: Jason Spinnett
To: avweller@aol.com
Sent: Sat, Jan 26, 2008 10:32 am

In light of the fact that my calling is to learn patience and kindness ala 1Cor.13, I am dealing with a handful of discomforts right now. None is affecting my excellent health or my relationships.

Raul went all out and brought me a total of three plumbers but this is the busiest construction season in anyones memory and all competent craftsmen are overbooked already. However... Just yesterday, God sent me a very good mature craftsman who knows both plumbing and masonry so he has finished all except the most difficult task of locating a pressure leak in the three year old pipes somewhere under my tile floors. We must try to guess where they laid the pipe to the bathroom, and cap it off so it won't leak from the new water source from the other street where it is now connected. We opened one tile in the floor and must remove more till we find the old pipe. As you know, there is no open space under a masonry tile floor. It is sand and gravel fill.

Thanks for all the interesting news about the family. Satoko didn't tell me she was pregnant. I have sent Steve several stories of our family history from my viewpoint and he gives me enthusiastic responses. this is the best communication we have ever had. I can't tell you how much this means to me!

I love you, Dad

---------------------------------------------------------

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

~Angela

Remember the Eagle Creek Camping Trip?

     Your dad was in charge, and we all hiked in to some remote location on Eagle Creek. It was back to nature, no campers, toilets or air mattresses. I think we did have tents. I remember it being really fun, but very cold, and we were hungry. The problem was, the chicken he cooked for all of us was raw inside, and he would have no complaining! I remember taking rocks heated from the fire into our tents. He was a link to adventure we would never have had otherwise.
     He was also so welcoming whenever we did show up, whether in Hawaii, or Florida. He was friendly, and would always show us around.
     I will miss him.
Rebecca Gray Fisher

Snippets of Growin' Up Fun

     I am Gary, one of Dad's ten children.  He was a super Dad.  What we didn't get in nurture, we got in structure and boundries.  Dad was the ultimate challenge.  To conquer Dad was to conquer ones own self.  After that, everything was easy. 
     We didn't need TV.  In recent years, I thanked him often for all of the fun we had growing up.  His response was, "I had a lot of fun raising ya!"
     *     From our inner tube and plywood raft - Finley Lagoon, Columbia River, Kennwick, WA
     *     to the black lights at Christmas, Rockwood, Oregon
     *     to the Sopwith Camel truck in Rockwood, Oregon
     *     to Highways and Hedges (Montgomery Street House), NW Portland, Summer '70
     *     to my first plastic model for my birthday already built by Dad, '30 Ford Model A Roadster Yellow Jacket Monogram, February 1963
     *     to the World's Fair roller coaster - the Mighty Mouse, Seattle, Spring '62
     *     to the Dad-made art box full of art supplies, December '69
     *     to the Big Box swimming pool, 601 NE 181st, Gresham, OR, '66
     *     to the cardboard-and-tape John Glen Rockets, Kennewick, WA '62
     *     to the A-frame goat barn, Rockwood, OR '66
     *     to the eight-foot sailboat kit in Kennewick, Washington
     *     to the Kumanogawa River in Toyama
     *     to surfing on air mattresses in Kawailoa, HI
     *     to his own invention - the swing totter - in Rockwood, Oregon,
Gary Spinnett

Dad's November Memorial

    Greetings Sibs,
    Sooooooo Nice to be home and feeling good!
    We would like to host Dad's memorial service Saturday, November 14th at our home. We would love it if all of you can come (sounds like you can!). We can house all family members from out of town. Below are some specifics and ideas:
•   We were thinking of the actual time of Dad's memorial from 1 pm to 5 pm.
•   We will have snacks provided.
•   Later on that evening, we can all go to our favorite Italian restaurant.
•   We have three unused bedrooms in our house for out-of-towners.
•   Feel free to invite friends of Dad's, including Helen's kids.
•   You can blog or FB this if you like.
•   Bring any memorabilia, pictures, etc, of Dad.
•   Maria has made a DVD of Dad's photos. (Maria, you may want to make another copy as I still haven't received my luggage yet).
•   We should think how the best way to capture this would be for future generations and also to send to Dad's friends in Paragauy.
    I really look forward to seeing everyone and I think we will have a great time together.
    Maria, you were a blast in Paraguay!
    Steve

Fond Memories

Cynthia,
    I was deeply grieved to hear about Jason's death.  Although I did not get to see him very often, I have many fond memories of a few deep conversations that we had over e-mail.  After Ray and Dad's death in Florida, I was so hoping that Jake would stay there, and I could visit him.  But, when his situation with his then wife changed so drastically, and he moved away, and we lost touch.
    I was so sad because we had a very fond relationship; even though if was only for a short time.
    I loved his Godliness, coupled with a love for science and engineering, which seldom seem to go together.
    I am so deeply sorry for your loss and pray, too, that God comforts you at this sad time.
    Lore Spinnett Murdock
  

Steve Arrives Safely in Portland

    Cindy and I are both being released from the hospital!!!
    My condition is good.  My heart is strong.  They performed many tests.
    Doctors here agree with the cardiologist's diagnosis in Paraguay. Cindy has similar good news.
    We would like to have a memorial for Dad at our home on November 14, but let me talk more with family to set it in stone. We are on a scheduled vacation next week, and I need to catch up on stuff this week.
    We can house out-of-town family members and host a much larger group.
Steve Spinnett

Maria Arrives Safely in Kansas

Maria has arrived home safely in Kansas.