Thatcher Magazine - September 13, 2010

FAMILY HISTORY:
The weather cooperated with a bearably hot Thatcher Family Reunion in August, 2010.
- There were plenty of tents for shade and food, food and more food.
- Marjorie had made trips earlier to the farm to help Roy with mowing and weed whacking, among other chores, then
- Jim arrived a week early - and Tom was there early, too, before the invasion of aunts and cousins and more food.
- Marjorie was editor, designer, writer-in-chief and producer as she put together a really nice 2010 Family History News. Kudos to Marge! Robert was there and provided copies of Beth Speer's newly published children's book - which she wrote and illustrated. Congratulations Beth!
- Roy and Roy provided us with entertainment and sing-alongs. We were so proud of our brother Roy - as he was proud of himself - for not only singing along in excellent voice, but in harmony! He also showed us his unusual military records - and one of Dad's ping pong medals...
-Bill and Ruth Stamm were not able to attend this year. We missed them and John, too.
-We missed our seeing Joyce (don't know that she had ever missed a reunion before) and were really glad the rest of the family could attend: Helen, Arthur, Sandy, Lainey and Violet. Arthur related his story of traveling to the farm with grandma Thatcher the summer following 8th grade; he was about thirteen years old.
- Susan and Gene came in on their motorcycles. "Happy trails, you'all..."
- As he does every year, Wayne drove to Arkansas to pick me up and escort me to the reunion; Carol drove me home. Nancy and Rich generally arrived on Friday.
- Bruce and Shirley brought their musical instruments and fishing poles. (You can pick out those Thatchers anywhere.) With subsequent emails, Bruce is going to search Michigan for information on Ira Carpenter - our blacksmith from HIllsdale, MI. He's the one who loaded up his wife in a four-horsedrawn wagon and set out for California just after the gold rush - his daughters following in his adventurous footsteps by trekking to the Yukon during the next gold rush. I am anxious to hear what Bruce can add to our Ira family advemtires.
FAMILY NEWSLETTER
After four years, I gave up being president of my local writer's group. Although I am still involved, I found blank spots in my life - so I decided to add some new interests, like music (so I purchased an electronic keyboard), art classes ($5 a lesson at the Senior Citizen's Center), and Toastmasters, Int'l. Now I ask you, "Isn't life funny?" I attended my first Toastmasters meeting on September 1st. On September 8th, I got a phone call from the Friends of the Library program chairman who inviting me to be the speaker at their November meeting - at newly built (won't be open till late September), multi-million-dollar library! Guess I'll have to go to the next Toastmasters meeting on September 15th and learn ASAP how to give a talk on writing. I'll also need to figure out where they built this wonderful new library...
THE SISTERS
Marjorie, who has never been to Florida (though she and I planned to go last spring before the storms, rain and BP oil spill) flew off to Disneyworld with Roy and Kathy. I wonder if she enjoyed the Castle, rode in a teacup and got to meet the Seven Dwarfs (I think they're related to us, too). Hope she gets home soon so I can ask her...
INTERESTING STUFF
I mistakenly Googled 'ThatcherFamily' instead of 'ThatcherMagazine.' A whole page of listings jumped onto the screen. Of course, I had to take a look at some of them - most of which were about PM Margaret Thatcher. There was A genealogy Forum, Thatcher Crest, Family Origin Info, complaints about Meryl Streep not playing Marg. Thatcher to their liking, lots of photos and some blog writings by one Grant Thatcher from the UK - very interesting...
. The one site I found interesting has a listing of "Some noteworthy people of the name Thatcher:"
-David J. Thatcher b.1921, American flight engineer/gunner, recipient of the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal.
-George Thatcher 1754-1824, American lawyer, jurist and statesman.
-Henry Knox Thatcher 1806-1880, American admiral in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.
-Roland Churchill Thatcher IV b.1977, an American PGA professional golfer.
-Maurice Hudson Thatcher 1870-1973, U.S. Congressman.
-Prime Minister Margaret Hilda Thatcher LG, OM, PC, FRS b.1925, English PM of United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
-Heather Thatcher 1896-1987, an English actress.
-Wilbert Ross Thatcher PC 1917-1971, Canadian premier of Saskatchewan, Canada, 1964-1971.
-Benjamin David Thatcher b.1975, Welsh professional footballer.
-Torin Thatcher 1905-1961, British actor.
(If you would like to be included in this listing, please notify me and I will pencil you in.)
INSPIRATION
An autumn sunset,
Changing, moment to moment,
Fascinates and awes.
HAIKU ~ by Nancy Thatcher Cerny ~
The BLOG
Family members are welcome to contribute to this blog by accessing the editor through blogsite, email at nktcerny@suddenlink.net, phone (870)425-8264 or snail mail.
To date, I know only how to manage transcribed print (no pictures or cut-paste). If there are any brain cells left, I may stuff them with how to accomplish those sophisticated talents.
Thanks - Nancy y Te \