Everything I am today or hope to become I owe to you. Wherever you are, I'll love you always, dad! Your son, Steve
Back to France!
It's been about a year and a half since we were in France last and thought it time to renew our spirit so back we go this spring!
The plan, such as it is, will be to drive to New York and spend a night with friends in the Catskills followed by a quick drive down to Newark International where we'll fly direct to Paris Orly. From there we'll (hopefully) take the Orlybus to Place Denfert-Rochereau where we hope to activate our Metro Navigos. From the Place it's a short Metro ride to the apartment we've rented in the 13th, near our old neighborhood and located quite close to Place d'Italie, a favorite haunt, so we'll feel almost at home.
Susan has signed up for a four-day bread workshop at Le Cordon Bleu while I'll be spending quality time in the cemeteries of Paris -- my extensive shot lists are printed out and ready to go! After we return I hope to add a fourth volume (Passy) to my series of guides to the art in Paris Cemeteries and update the other three so needless to say I'm excited.
During our 13 days in Paris we hope to take a day trip to Dijon, and another to pay our respects to the Americans who died at nearby Château-Thierry in the Champagne region, just an hour by train from Paris.
From Paris we'll head north to Amsterdam where we'll spend four days with Richard and Pauline; during that time we hope to scoot north to Nijeveen to follow the trail of Susan's Van Halsema side of the family. From Amsterdam we'll train back south stopping in Lille for three nights with Christina, Glen and their two kids. From Lille we return to Paris and spend a night near Orly Airport before flying home the next day.
Once back on the ground in Newark we'll retrieve our car and head west probably stopping somewhere in western Pennsylvania for the night before returning to Grand Rapids.
Stay tuned!
The plan, such as it is, will be to drive to New York and spend a night with friends in the Catskills followed by a quick drive down to Newark International where we'll fly direct to Paris Orly. From there we'll (hopefully) take the Orlybus to Place Denfert-Rochereau where we hope to activate our Metro Navigos. From the Place it's a short Metro ride to the apartment we've rented in the 13th, near our old neighborhood and located quite close to Place d'Italie, a favorite haunt, so we'll feel almost at home.
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| 13-15 Quai André Citroën |
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| grave of Achille Dester-Millard in D84 of Père-Lachaise |
During our 13 days in Paris we hope to take a day trip to Dijon, and another to pay our respects to the Americans who died at nearby Château-Thierry in the Champagne region, just an hour by train from Paris.
From Paris we'll head north to Amsterdam where we'll spend four days with Richard and Pauline; during that time we hope to scoot north to Nijeveen to follow the trail of Susan's Van Halsema side of the family. From Amsterdam we'll train back south stopping in Lille for three nights with Christina, Glen and their two kids. From Lille we return to Paris and spend a night near Orly Airport before flying home the next day.
Once back on the ground in Newark we'll retrieve our car and head west probably stopping somewhere in western Pennsylvania for the night before returning to Grand Rapids.
Stay tuned!
The Van Halsema sisters 1940 and 1990
Good memories for a Christmas Day. Backyard of 219 Myrtle Avenue, Passaic, NJ, September 3, 1944:
Photo taken at the bridal shower for Betsy VandePolder, daughter of Helen Van Halsema VandePolder, August 10, 1990:
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| l-r: Bernice, Betsy, (mother Nellie in the background) Helen, Will and Marian |
Photo taken at the bridal shower for Betsy VandePolder, daughter of Helen Van Halsema VandePolder, August 10, 1990:
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| l-r: Bernice, Will, Marian, Betsy, Helen |
Tunis VandenBerg 1921-1999
Tunis had, has, the unique distinction of celebrating his birthday on Christmas eve.
Thanks to Joyce for sharing the photos!
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| Happy birthday Tune! |
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| Melissa's 8th birthday party in Grandville, Michigan, June 1990 |
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| Grandparents and happy grandkids, Bakersfield, California, 1988 |
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| Tunis and granddaughter Rachel |
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| Joyce holding Jonathan, Melissa and Christina and Grandpa Tunis, Bakersfield 1986 |
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| The VandenBergs, Fremont, Michigan, 1970s - l-r: William, Susan, Joyce, Mary and Dick, seated: Tunis and Bernice |
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