Uncle Jerry, cousin Meghan, Gwen, and Daddy in McKinney, March 2006

Gwendolyn Piper Steeves:
Notes from Uncle Jerry

Happy Birthday, Gwen!!!! It's hard to believe that you are already 1–year old!!! Make sure that you eat lots of cake & ice cream!!! You should always enjoy all of your birthdays with family and friends. Birthdays, like holidays, give us old folk time to chat about the present, reflect on the past, and make plans for the future. It's also a great opportunity to get some cool stuff!!! Enjoy... And make a HUGE mess with your cake!!! After all... you are "1." You can still get away with it. LOL. Love... Uncle Jerry, Aunt Kim, Cousin Kaitlin, and Cousin Meghan

Jerry, Meghan, Kim, and Kaitlin

  • Make lots of friends and keep in touch with them as long as possible
  • Go to college have lots of fun... but get your degree
  • Go camping at Tahquamanon Falls in the UP of Michigan during the fall months (dress warm)
  • Work hard... Play twice as hard !!!!
  • Don't take shit from anyone... except your parents when you are young or from your uncle Jerry
  • Drive Hwy 1 in California from Laguna Beach to San Francisco
  • Visit San Francisco for a week... See all of the sites
  • Visit the Badlands... Mt. Rushmore... and Crazy Horse monument (all on the same trip)
  • Camp inside Yellowstone Park (West Entrance)
  • Take risks... but be cautious
  • Celebrate all milestone birthdays with large numbers of your family & friends
  • If you're a boy... hit the strip clubs in Windsor on your 21st B-day
  • If you're a girl... stay a virgin until you are married !!!
  • Ski at Boyne Highlands during St. Paddy's Week - Crazy Day's at Boyne (They dye the hill green and have kegs on the mountain... literally)
  • Hike through the Muir Woods in Northern California
  • Go to opening day of your favorite baseball team with some friends
  • Go sailing off the coast of Catalina Island and in the Gulf of Mexico
  • Go snorkeling in Maui
  • Tailgate at a professional football game
  • Go see U of M play in the BIG HOUSE
  • Get a hangover... at least once
  • Drink Blackberry Brandy (warm) when you have a head and/or chest cold
  • NEVER START SMOKING
  • Learn to play Euchre
  • Learn to play foosball
  • Play beach volleyball for fun or on a league
  • Play organized sports in High School
  • Learn to play golf... it's relaxing
  • Don't get married until you are 30 or older.... enjoy your 20's
  • Wait for the right person to marry... make sure that you love and trust that person
  • Have children... They are awesome !!
  • Get some religion... It Helps !!!