Category Archives: Family

Naming our first two children

May 28, 2021Columns, Familysusanmanzke

In this column from 1989 I tell about naming Rob and Rebecca.

Rachel pops in with a question which leads to an answer that might make you giggle.

FYI: When we named Russell I thought he’d have the nickname Rusty, but no red hair for him–red hair skipped a generation as Russell’s son has the hair I wished for his daddy–Russell’s middle name is Charles which comes from my Dad is also Bob’s grandfather’s name.

Not to leave out our fourth child: Rachel Jo, the baby of the family, was named after my Grandma Jo.

Rumrunner

May 25, 2021Chuck Paska story, Familysusanmanzke

My dad, Chuck Paska, shared many stories about his life. This is one that shows how he would take any job to make money for his family during the Great Depression.

I’m happy he didn’t get too deep into driving booze for gangsters. That might have changed his life if he had.

Reading his words always brings me closer to him again.

Thanks Dad for sharing your stories.

Low-cost family fun

May 18, 2021Columns, Family, funsusanmanzke

This column from May 1988 tells how the Manzkes had fun with bubbles–big bubbles and little bubbles.

If you want to make a big bubble take an old T-shirt, cut a circle from around the lower half of shirt about an inch wide. Tie two dowels to material with 1/3 of the material between dowels and the rest hanging down. Dip material into soap mixture, pick up and slowly pull dowels apart. This should give you a big bubble.

Bubble recipe: 6 to 1 — 6 cups of water to 1 cup of Dove dish soap. I never added corn syrup or glycerin. Do not mix vigorously because you’ll foam the mixture which isn’t good for making bubbles.

The Bond falls

May 16, 2021Family, funsusanmanzke

Rebecca and Andy took me for a ride to see two waterfalls in Michigan today.

It was a beautiful day.

We started out in fog, but the day brightened as Andy drove us north.

Canyon Falls had a tricky trail, with a lot of roots and rocks, but I watched my step and didn’t fall. Yay for me.

A sweet gift from an 8-year-old

May 13, 2021Columns, Family, fun, Memoriessusanmanzke

Some days a mother gets a sweet surprise. This 1988 column talks about the little gifts my children gave to me. Little Russell became the feature child when he was eight.

Listen and hear what my boy gave to me making an ordinary day Mother’s Day.

I would have forgotten about Russell’s gift if I hadn’t written it down. Remember to make a note of things that you feel great. It can be anything.

Surprises like this one are a keepsake.

Susan Manzke

Writer, Speaker, All-Around Good Person