THE LOWE FAMILY NEWSLETTER: VOLUME 152                                  SEPTEMBER 2023

Dear Reader, 

Josh returned to Kansas City just in time for Labour Day after spending a year traveling  the world. He is so fortunate to have a job that allows him to set his own schedule and work anywhere with an internet connection. Ava Claire and Owen insisted on picking up their beloved Uncle Josh at the airport so he could spend his first night back with them. The next day he arrived  at my house where Sarah, Sean and their four children along with Kay ,Richard and Alex gave him a very warm welcome!  He had nieces and nephews competing for his attention most of the day!

Ming- Jon  and Marc came out earlier in August  and we had a family supper of crab legs and shrimp tacos to celebrate their visit - of course I had to make chicken noodle soup for the kids! I didn’t see much of either one of these boys as Marc worked every day of his week's stay - only being able to fly here on a moment's notice when one of his cases settled out of court. I thought one of the attractions of  Los Angeles was the laid back lifestyle but Marc and Bryn seem to be working extremely long hours seven days a week. Ming-Jon arrived on a Thursday evening and departed around lunchtime Saturday so was barely here at all! But he got to spend time with his adorable grandson!

Ming-Jon with Alex  in KC

We have had some exciting news from the Indy Lowes in recent months. In July Lori was notified of the following:

“We are pleased to inform you that Republic Airways, in partnership with Purdue University, has established a scholarship to support students of Asian descent pursuing studies in Aviation technology and Transportation at the Purdue Polytechnic Institute. In an effort to advance diversity in the aviation field Republic Airways wanted to name the scholarship after a notable alum who exemplifies the purpose of this scholarship.

After careful review and consideration, Purdue University has identified Captain Ming-Lee as the ideal honoree for this scholarship due to his extraordinary impact on the aviation community and his enduring legacy with the program. His dedication to aviation and unwavering commitment to excellence have left an indelible mark on the industry making him an inspiration for aspiring aviation professionals.

In recognition of Captain Lowe’s remarkable achievements, Republic Airways will be administering a scholarship of $2,500 annually for the next five years. This scholarship aims to support and encourage deserving students who share Captain Lowe’s passion for aviation and as well as advancing diversity in the field. 

We believe that this scholarship is a meaningful way to celebrate Captain Lowe’s legacy and to support the education of talented and deserving students. It is with great honor and respect that we extend this information to you and your family. We understand that Captain Lowe’s legacy is deeply cherished by his loved ones, and we are committed to preserving and honoring his memory through this scholarship program”.

It means a lot to all of us that Ming-Lee’s impactful life is still being acknowledged.

Lori, Blake and Claudia have initiated a Virtual Memorial Walk in memory for Ming-Lee on October 15th. She states  that she came up with the idea “ because we all know that he would not want us just sitting around talking about how much we miss him! Ming made friends far and wide and his circle extends around the world.With everyone who might wish to participate we decided that this was the most practical way to get the most people involved. His favorite time of the year was the fall, and we are hoping for pleasant temperatures!”

The Kansas City Lowes will be walking in Unity village, Lees Summit, enjoying the beauty of the trails, water features and play areas for the children. Coryn and Jeremy are hosting us all for breakfast beforehand so we will be fueled for our walk with Mng -Lee in our hearts and  minds! Ming of course loved all outdoor pastimes from running, biking and swimming in triathlons to backyard games - which he could create out of nothing  -to building fires to toast marshmallows for S’mores. His energy was boundless and whenever he was around sitting and doing nothing was never tolerated. We were always busy when we visited with Ming - at his home or ours!

Lori has also set up a personal  donation page at :https://acgtfoundation.org/ming-lowe-walk/

This will enable you to make a donation in Ming’s memory, if you would like, to the Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy, an innovative organization that is focusing on using the immune system to treat cancer. They have several teams working in brain cancer research. A hundred percent of their donations go to fighting cancer.

As we all know Mother does not usually brag about her children, being more inclined to find humor in a situation that has befallen them but Blake has achieved something so impressive that I must share it with you all! He will graduate from Purdue in December and in January will start working for SpaceX in Redmond ,Washington!  Apparently being hired by SpaceX is harder than being accepted to Harvard, Princeton. or Stanford as according to the web it only accepts 0.2%of applicants! Blake is guaranteed a high flying career!

Claudia is also doing very well in her chosen field of forensic criminology having completed her first summer internship and earning an offer to return next summer! And then there is Kay: not only has she battled breast cancer this year, but she has also continued to pursue her second Master’s degree without missing a class, working full time, raising Alex and managing to land her first job as a Vice Principal at one of Kansas City, Missouri’s Montessori grade schools. I am one very proud grandma and most importantly they- like all my children and extended family - are  great people!

While the Remsburgs headed to Maine to vacation this summer, the Logues headed to Orlando and stayed in the Remsburgs house which is so conveniently close to Universal Studios and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It’s great that Ava Claire and Owen enjoy the Harry Potter books as much as Sean and I did many years ago. Corym made a family project out of it by reading the books aloud with her children and not allowing them to watch the movie until they had read the books!

August was a very busy month for me as Sean, Kay and Coryn returned to work  and Emmy Lou and Liam were no longer in daily summer camp so Grandma had all seven grandchildren here at times! My pools, splash pad,  and slip and  slide saw a lot of usage as it has been so hot and humid this summer! Ava Claie and Owen are a huge help with the little ones - makes it easier to run in and change a diaper with one rather than having to haul five kids four and under into the house and then back out again! I especially enjoy listening to Ava Claire trying to explain to one of her younger cousins why their behavior is less than desirable! They listen to her with rapt attention and nod their little heads in agreement with whatever she is telling them whereas they pay as much attention to me as my children did. Remember how Coryn kept you all in line when you were little children and complained about my lax discipline? Ava Claire is just like her mother in that regard!

Cillian finger painting with ice-cream! 

From left Lochlan, Cillian and Alex!

Alex pushing Lochlan!

Lochlan and Alex playing with Emmy Lou's Fairy Garden

Alex and Lochlan are now binky free except for sleeping and having those plugs out of their mouths has definitely helped their speechI Alex is stringing words together and Lochlan who has long relied on signing and pointing to get his needs met is now emulating his cousin by repeating whatever Alex says! But we do have to hope that Alex’s pronunciation of truck is not copied by Lochlan - he drops the tr and uses the f word instead!

Cillian is now ten months old and still an adorable, strawberry blond, blue eyed energetic crawler who is already pulling himself up on everything and is obviously very anxious to run with his siblings and cousins.He has to be the easiest baby ever.

Alex, and Lochlan with Cillian having a picnic lunch on my deck

In late August,Emmy Lou and Liam  started   pre-kindergarten and pre-school respectively four days a week and love it. Lochlan goes two days a week and is slowly adjusting ! I still watch the three youngest boys on Tuesdays and Thursdays and  have Cillian and Lochlan  on Fridays with Emmy Lou and Liam in the afternoon  so that they get some Grandma time! 

I am so glad that we are heading into fall and hopefully cooler weather.This summer has been brutally hot and humid and my plants have wilted every day under the searing sun despite daily watering. Sadly I have lost several plants this year due to the adverse growing conditions. I still love the English country cottage garden style and can muster no enthusiasm for desert landscaping which may be the only option in the years to come if climate change rages on unabated.

Time for me to rummage in the basement for  Halloween decorations to put on my porch as l my grandchildren love this holiday and this Grandma always wants to bewitch them! 

Love Mother

           

 

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