from Jill

Dear Margaret, Have a very happy 75th birthday as I am sure you will with family and friends. It has been great reading all the messages to you and now feel as if we know you quite well and we know you enjoy life. You have a move ahead of you again but this keeps life exciting and one doesn't get in a rut. I am guilty of not having answered your letter but I am not a great one for the computer but I am improving so no excuses and will get a letter away to you. Stuart will be home 12th April for six weeks then another 3 month stint in Brasil while I keep the home fires burning, after that I am not sure take it as it comes. I am sorry we didn't get too meet you while you were over this side of the world but maybe another time.
Do have a happy day Love to you Mike family and friends

Jill

Happy birthday, Momma Bunny

Happy Birthday, dear friend. I didn't want to miss out on wishing you a wonderful (if belated) birthday. You have been such a huge inspiration to me. If I'm down, you make me laugh. You've been the best part of the Fambly and I am happy to call you Momma B. Your smile is always present in anything you write.

I am addicted to Pavorati now, thanks to you and your cd on Essential Opera. Your cliff notes are a hoot. Ypu made every opera into a soap opera and I understand now that they are the same thing, only one with music. Through that CD, I also discovered that Walt Disney was an opera fan, as many of his cartoons from my youth were set to the same music. You have broadened my universe and I live through your adventures. The cards with the attached cartoon clippings are wonderful.

Keep on living life to the fullest. You inspire us all to be like you. Sue, this is a wonderful thing that you did for your mother. such a triubte. And Mike, you have the most wonderful woman, and reading your first post, the feeling is mutual for you. Love you, Momma B. Doing it for us, Jan from New Mexico.

Happy Birthday Grandma

Dear Grandma,
I love you so much, and I hope you have a wonderful birthday! I hope your 4 presents are all what you wanted for your birthday. I'm so glad you're moving here. Love, Anaje

Dear Grandma,
I'm so glad its your birthday and its almost my birthday! I love you.
Love, Liani

Dear Mom,
Have a great birthday, we are all excited that you are moving here. It will be so much nicer to see you often. I never dreamed I would have the greatest mother-in-law on the planet. Since I got here you have been very supportive and always found the best words to motivate me. Forever I will be indebted with you for always giving, and never expecting anything in return. Your kindness and generosity are always appreciated by me and our family. Today and forever I wish you all the best.
Happy Birthday and have a great day,
Love, Ildeu

Mim,
I said it all in my other posting, but just once more, I love you always and forever.
-K

with love from Stratford, Ontario

Happy birthday grandma!!!!!

I hope you have a wonderful 75th birthday! I love you so much
xoxoxoxoxoxoxxo
peter

75 things for 75 years Adam Keller loves and appreciates about Margaret Kurta:

1 Your smile doesn't light up the room, it lights up every room in the house
2 Your huge heart kindness to me since second one
3 Your eternal youthful outlook
4 You are up for anything anytime
5 Your more progressive mentality as you (don't) age
6 What else? Your sixth sense of humor
7 On the seventh, your sixth sense of humor doesn't rest
8 That you went to school, became a nurse and helped so many people
9 Your interest in interacting with people you just meant, even in a quick conversation with a stranger
10 Putting on the best most unreal beautiful wedding ever in your backyard
11 You believe in making the most of any situation
12 When you look up something we question in conversation immediately
13 Any conversation we've had always comes so easy
14 You love puns
15 You love puzzles
16 Always pitching in to help out with whatever the chore at hand may be
17 That you married such a great kind man
18 That the two of you are such a great team
19 That the two of you are always laughing together
20 Any and all visits with you
21 That I feel so happy and look forward to seeing you every single time
22 You've driven halfway across the country to see us
23 The fact that the first time you visit us in a new city or house or apartment, you then have peace of mind, knowing exactly where we are
24 You're from Scotland, and represent that so well
25 Your Doric accent when I'm lucky enough to hear it
26 You love music
27 You stay up late
28 You like word games
29 Your wisdom and take on things
30 Your take on religion
31 You like to watch sports
32 Your acceptance of people
33 Wanting to take on cheese making
34 Wanting to take on raw food
35 That nothing is too new or modern for you to take on and learn
36 Your love of your children and grandchildren
37 That you have a huge collection of books
38 Your generosity at Christmas time
39 Your generosity anytime
40 The kindness you've shown my parents and family
41 Your 'never quit' mentality
42 You take us to a farm to get fresh eggs or strawberries or milk and the fact that you plan that out, thinking about what we'd like to do
43 You always want to know
44 Your interest in my crazy art projects
45 That over the years raising your kids, you always kept an open mind and let them take up any interest they had
46 That you know graphology
47 That you gave us an electric blanket
48 Your love and knowledge of birds
49 Always taking such great care of Pucci
50 Your super-honesty, but pull back when needed
51 That you don't put up with nonsense from nasty people
52 That you see big-picture things
53 That you actually try to understand my dumb jokes and do most of the time
54 You notice things more around you after talking with people about them
55 Your letters and notes over the years
56 You always have a project you're working on
57 Knitting me great things over the years
58 You drive around in a Volkswagen Beetle
59 Your kitchen gadget graveyard, because you gave them all a try
60 When you swim laps in the pool
61 Your eternal collection of funny cartoons you've clipped and taped to the back of letters
62 That you think about our ideas and plans of the month and see us there, wherever that may be
63 That everyone that's met you has nothing but great things to say about you
64 That there will be another list of 75 things to do in another 75 years
65 That you flourish no matter where you are
66 Your vision of Sue and I in the future
67 You laugh at phonies
68 You laugh at balonies
69 You know what's going on
70 Your intelligence and kindness is a lively deadly combo
71 That time you lifted the car off me
72 That your one-of-a-kind beats any poker hand
73 That this list is the easiest thing I've ever done
74 They're cutting me off at 75 and we both know that's not fair
75 Your daughter Sue, my love, that you've passed so many amazing things on to that i see and appreciate and love every day

You've been an inspiration to me more than you'll ever know, and i can't thank you enough Margaret - huge thoughts of love on your birthday !!!!!!

A Limerick You Can Lick Your Birthday Chops To

Margaret’s seventy-five
And has never felt more alive
Sue, Kay, Steve and Mike
Know there’s no one quite like
This babe who continues to thrive.

Happy Birthday and many more!
Agnes and Jim

The Tale of the 4 minute pasty

On a vacation we’d go
To the Kurta’s don’t you know

John’s tummy was rummbly
So he asked for something crumbly

So in went the Mackinaw pasty on 40
And the next thing we heard from the kitchen was “Lordy, Lordy”

Sparks were shooting, smoke was billowing and the fire alarm was jingling
Afterward, to her credit, she wanted to continue the mingling

Margaret kept it and laminated it
And now it sits on my desk
As a permanent reminder of a trip worth the task

Not only did I swim in Lake Huron and was a little of a pest
I now know that I have met the best

Happy 75th Birthday Margaret Kurta!

Love, John Griffis
Husband of Sheila

My wonderful aunt

Happy 75th Birthday Aunt Margaret!

I have many great memories of time with my aunt. She has been like the mom that I didn’t get to grow old with. I have to start with July 29, 1981. I, being from the west, went on vacation and was left in the expert care of my aunt and uncle. I went to bed with a kiss and a hug and was told that she would wake me up early enough to see the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana televised on TV. As she put it “being from that part of the world – it is our duty to watch the wedding – hold our pinkies in the air – and eat crumpets.”

With the time change and all I knew she was coming to wake me up about 2 am. When she woke me up I came down the stairs and found quite a spread, there was tea (in a teapot complete with a cozy), little crumpets, and if I remember correctly Danish and muffins too. Here’s the visual – Aunt Margaret in her robe and me in my sleep clothes staring at a small TV – drinking tea from a beautiful set of china and eating our munchies. We watched the wedding from start to finish and had a ball! She told me stories of growing up in Scotland and I told her stories of life in Arizona. And I will never forget feeling loved and a genuine sense of joy just being with her.

Another memory is of a visit John and I took to Mackinaw City. Aunt Margaret gave us great information about the geese and other birds that inhabited their beach, we bought fresh fish at the nicest fish market I have ever been in, we got to see the Northern Lights, we even got to drive to Cheboygan to see City Slickers II, Uncle Mike thought him crazy, but I still remember seeing my husband swimming in Lake Huron, and we were introduced to Polish food at Legs Inn and ate Zuric, golumpkies and perogies (please excuse the spelling, but the visit was well remembered). I will treasure the memories of that visit as well as her great compassion at Grandma’s service. I went as a representative of Joy Wilson and ended up enjoying my Aunt all the more.

I have to say thank you at this time, thank you for being you, thank for always being available to talk about my brothers, my health, their health or just about life, and thank you for brightening my life. I love you so very much! I wish you a great 75th birthday!

Love, Sheila
Daughter of Joy Wilson

Thank-YOU margaret

Dear Margaret,
I have never thanked you for all of the gifts you have given me. Here's my chance!
#1. Thank-you for raising Steve to be a fun loving, open minded, passionate human being.
#2. Thank-you for bringing joy, curiosity and laughter to your grandson Peter.
#3. Thank-you for giving Steve and I time to reflect and regroup every year of our marriage
#4. Thank-you for sharing your wisdom, tears and joy.
#5. Thank-you for the latest gadget!!!
#6. Thank-you for making me smile at the thought of having a mamogram!
#7. Thank-you for being a friend.
#8. Thank-you for always being there when I needed you.
#9. Thank-you for helping me be a more courageous person, a more understanding mom and wife.
#10. Mostly, thank-you for being you,...Margaret. Happy birthday.
Love Jan

75 Things I love about my Mom from Sue Kurta

1. Her solid gold heart

2. She defines and lives unconditional love

3. Her wicked, brilliant sense of humor

4. Her sense of fun - she will go to great lengths to give some one a laugh

5. Her scones

6. She has always had a hungry mind and loves learning new things

7. She always read a lot and loves books

8. She let us be who we wanted to be as young people

9. She is completely and totally optimistic

10. She always sees the best in people - one of her mantras is "go for the good" when talking about anyone

11. She will try anything

12. She is very open minded, much more so than many younger people I know

13. She has a rich personal history, from her immigrant roots to living through World War 2

14. She is the family communicator, and is in touch with the distant relatives in foreign lands

15. She will do, and has done, anything for her family

16. Has provided nursing and hospice care to dying family and friends - Aunt Julia Bade, my Dad's Mother Mary Kurta, Vinsetta customer Margaret MacKenzie and others

17. She sings along with the radio loudly - always did

18. She was a wild driver when we were young - it was fun (tummy ticklers!)

19. She took up graphology when she had three children under 10 and was providing home care for her Father in law, who was blind

20. She once gave our dog Cindy mouth to mouth resuscitation

21. She always volunteered to drive for field trips when we were in elementary school

22. When it snowed in Michigan, she sometimes would let us bumper ski on her car. She thinks this was irresponsible - I think it was amazing

23. She is very modern and open about religion - more so than almost anyone I know - she is un-rigid and asks good questions, which most religion discourages

24. She has never dyed her hair, had her nails done or worn make-up - she is naturally pretty

25. You can't "gross her out" - she will look at any injury, dress any wound or administer any at-home medical treatment needed (injections, stitch removal, wrapping a bandage correctly, amongst others)

26. Her spontaneity

27. She volunteered and tutored others throughout her life

28. The loves cartoons and has a vast collection

29. She once rode a ski lift in street shoes just to get a good photograph of us kids on the slopes, then walked down

30. She used to swim two miles of laps at the YMCA when I was in high school, she would also do it off the beach of their Mackinaw home

31. She doesn't make excuses

32. She is deeply, deeply kind

33. She talks to anyone, everywhere

34. She has a master gardener certificate from MSU

35. She knows how to play clarinet and piano

36. As children she let us be so free - I remember being allowed to play in the pouring rain outside, take all the cushions off the furniture to make a play house, or make big "mixtures" in the kitchen of anything we could pour into a bowl and stir up

37. She liked to watch baseball on TV with the sound off, then play WJR radio because their sportcasters were better

38. Not just baseball, she loves watching most any sports on TV

39. She always celebrated holidays in super fun ways: Easter egg hunts, birthday parties, even green eggs or pancakes on St. Patrick's Day

40. She is a beautiful embroiderer

41. She sleeps in the nude

42. She is a great dancer and it is how she met my Dad

43. She likes to whittle and once took a class on it

44. Her beautiful Northern Scottish accent

45. Her collection of art items made from a single piece of wood

46. Her Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus collection

47. Her beautiful grey and white hair

48. She was never afraid of getting dirty

49. When she was cooking, how the ingredients (dough, meatloaf) would be caked all over her wedding ring

50. She is moral and upstanding and ethical - always a good person to go to for advice

51. She is absolutely and totally honest

52. Her fascinating Scottish family history - she was born at home

53. She is a non-drinker, and the tiniest sip of alcohol always makes her dizzy

54. She and my Dad have traveled the world: Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia, Europe. When we were kids, they always took a trip while we stayed with Grandma & Grandpa: Hawaii, Mexico, Spain & Portugal. They have also been to Brasil to visit Kay's husband Ildeu's family

55. She was in 4H as a young person new to this country, and had a prize steer

56. She and my Aunt Betty can speak this secret gibberish language that they used to use when talking in front of us as kids - usually about Christmas gifts - it's not pig latin, and I've never been able to learn it

57. She is an opera freak

58. She's always been into nutrition, diet stuff, and reads everything to educate herself on the latest science of it - she has even explored raw food cuisine and owns a food dehydrator, sprouter and juicer

59. She would come out to Detroit punk bars to see my brother's band play in the 1980s, and let them practice in our house

60. She would drive me and my friends to teen discos, roller rinks, and wave pools in the 1970s, and come pick us up several hours later. As a young person, I was given trust, which is one of the best things she did for us as kids

61. She is one of the hardest working people I have ever known

62. She rode her three kids around on an old 1950s bicycle that my Dad customized to hold herself, my sister and brother on a series of welded seats on the front, back and center bar of the bike (see Kay's photo on next pages) That bike hangs on the wall of my garage here in Jersey City

63. She has a great marriage

64. She always let us know she was proud of us. She still does.

65. She makes perfect home made jams and jellies

66. She is a night owl - I frequently get emails from her at 2 or 4AM

67. When she is tasting something really delicious, she closes her eyes and wants silence

68. She has great taste in knitted, pretty under garments - she has bought me the perfect long johns, wool camisoles and winter warm wear

69. She is an expert knitter

70. Her family were the funnest, funniest, happiest Scottish people you could ever meet. Her Mom & Dad threw huge parties at their farm in Michigan, took folks on hay rides, and gathered around the piano to play Scottish tunes, handing instruments to everybody in the room

71. She never got mad at us when we did stupid things as kids - she always said "never punish the truth", and she didn't, even when it was inexcusable

72. Her perfect skin

73. She is not a complainer, and didn't tolerate it in us kids

74. She loves animals, feeds feral cats, babysits my dog, and gives the neighbors dog treats when it comes it her back fence

75. She's not only my Mom, she is one of my best friends, and what a great friend she is - fun, interested, and full of love

HAPPY 75th MOM AND MANY MORE - I LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH xoxoxoxoxox Sue

Hello there and Happy Birthday Margaret!

Here are two photos from my trip to Siem Reap in Cambodia - one of the 'wonders of the world'. I thought they would be an appropriate backdrop for a post on a wonderful woman's birthday.

A few lines on memories of you:

Cinnabar perfume

My first trip to NYC at 14 in the Kurta family RV

The two of us carrying boxes up the stairs to my 'apartment' in the attic of a house in Ann Arbor when I was 15

You teaching me the fine art of writing up invoices for LOF (Lube Oil and Filter) at Vinsetta garage

And, most important of all, your firm, solid, oft-expressed faith in my intelligence and ability to make it in the world. You were a lifeline in the middle of very rough waters.

Happy, happy, happy Birthday!

Much love,

Doreen

To Margaret

Foo aul' - NIVVER!! Wishing you Many Happy Returns of the Day Quine! Look forward to the E-mail with your reaction to all this. Has been a real bonus these last few years being able to 'mail' something at the moment rather than what was mostly our annual end of year letters.

Have a great day. Lots of Love Laura & Drew in Aiberdeen.

From your Kiwi cousin

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARGARET

This is your Kiwi cousin from the "Cheyne Breed" calling.
Was great to finally meet you and Mike here in 2006.
Look forward to seeing you again sometime, maybe
more picnics and music!!
Hope you are having a great time on your Special Day.
Love from Margaret & Henry.

from Dorie

Dear Margaret,
My goodness! You are a real youngster! Guess how old I am going to be???? I won't make you guess as you will probably guess my age older than I am. How does 80 sound? Makes your age really young.
It is strange to me that we lived so close in southern MI and it took your move to Mackinaw for me to meet you. I know I knew your mother before you arrived but wonder how we connected. Guess old age is taking my memory!
We had so much fun and I am happy that you knew Bob. He thought you were great as do the rest of us!
I can remember so many times when I would go and get the mail and stop at your house. We would sit around the kitchen table and never run out of things to say.
Your small craft gatherings were a highlight of the summer. Biscotti, drift wood wreathes and the time you all made ginger bread houses and because I wasn't there you send all of the materials to me in B'ham. Bob, Marlee, Kyle and I had a great time making the houses. I think you must have sent two and we split up to make them Nice memories.
You were always my resident nurse and gave me much advice. Even accompanied me to emergency once.
I still think of the time you clipped my toe nails on your front porch. Wonder what passers by thought of that?
You and Mike introduced me to a movie which I never would have seen on my own. Why can't I remember the name of the film. It is on the tip of my tongue! Phooey! I think it was Adam something. Or maybe that was the star. You will probably remember and now you know my mind is going . Adam Sandler?????
Anyway you are missed in Mackinaw! Hope you have a wonderful birthday and many more. Hi to Mike and your family. Love, Dorie

Memories

Dear Margaret;
Congratulations and good wishes on your 75th Birthday. I hope you are as healthy as I remember you.

Some flash-by items that I remember about you include:
a. Your walking with Betty and Joy at the Romeo Cattle farm.
b.Visiting Joy and me on the Benson small ranch.
c. Meeting you in Las Vegas, when as a nurse you were chaperoning
a group of girls at the down-town park. What a lot of vim you had.
d. Our hiking the Chiricahua Mountains and Cochise Strong hold.
e. Your being in a hospital off East Jefferson and meeting Mike there too.
f. Playing with your kids at a lake near Detroit.
g. Your playing some kind of horn or banjo to add music and fun to
family parties.
h. Your detecting that Sheila had an oversized Thyroid and suggesting we
have a specialist look at it, we did and surgery followed.
i. Your caring for Joy in her final days in the hospice in Michigan.

I hope that your enthusiasm for life, and good health, will be with you always.
Sincerely
Vincent M. Salmon

Dang Nabbies! Ma B Ain't no 75!!!

Margaret! It cannot be?!? Why only yesterday you were a mere.....74! I can hardly believe it!

Certainly you are the youngest 75 year old that I know (and I live in the land of the auld! so I am an authority!). You are so full of pep, energy and devilment - spreading fun and joy everywhere you go....the world is a better place for your presence!

Always at the ready with a kind word, a thoughtful gift and the strength of 1,000 warriors. I will never forget the cartoon "book" you sent to help us through our grief when we lost our best girl "Erma". Its great to have you a a member of the "fambly". Who would have thought we all would become so close. Through the miracle of the Internet we have become good friends. Stay who you are and come visit us again!

Love from Leslie & Lanny

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARGARET

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARGARET AND MANY MANY MORE!
JIM AND I ARE WISHING YOU THE BEST YEAR EVER. YOU
HAVE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON AND I HAVE LEARNED
SO MUCH FROM YOU. STAY WHO YOU ARE AND STAY IN
MY LIFE. LOVE YOU, LAURIE AND JIM FOLTZ.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, M2

TO MARGARET ON HER 75TH

On a balmy spring morn in the auld sod

A wee Scottish bairn was delivered from God

When old doc to her small dimpled rear gave a slap

She awoke with a wink and out snorted a laugh!
I believe that is why she was brought down to earth
To lift all who meet her with pure joy and mirth
Her seventy-fifth makes me giddy with glee
For now this dear lady's as darned old as me (sic)
P.S.
For three blissful weeks I surrender my throne
And all should say:
"HAIL TO THE NEW ANCIENT CRONE"

I'm sure that all assembled here know how very kind Margaret is and, faith and begorrah (my Irish Indian is coming out), she'd give you the very clothes off her back. Above is a birthday present for you, Margaret -- old AC totally humiliating herself. Not only did Margaret take pity on my poor frail old body in the midst of a chilling winter and send me her very own jammies, carefully hemmed to shrimp length, she then augmented the outfit with a matching hat to keep my brain safe during the frigid nights. Promised I'd send you this, Margaret, and here it is! Tee and hee. Have the happiest birthday ever, and may we live to see a century! It was a lucky day when I met you.

Luvs you baby seester,

Carolyn (Urbandale, Iowa)

You got a Condo for your 75th???
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!
To be your sister is MY honor....I KNOW you're the best! You KNOW you're the best! And WE know WE'RE the best.....Of sisters! Happy 75th Margaret.....Oh! Where oh! where have the years gone?

I'm the "little" sister that bugged you to let her drive on our Niagra Falls trip, and wouldn't stop screaming out the window until you gave in!......

How about your Birthday (16th?) when your Birthday cake fell off the 2nd floor window still while cooling, and you and Mom scooped it off the ground, heaped it in a bowl, in time for your friends coming over to celebrate.......

Making "mealy puddings" for you was MY idea! Hanging them on our ears was YOUR idea!................

NO-ONE, absolutely NO-ONE, can bake "fooshtie" chocolate crinkles like you can!................

I NEVER ever want to receive another "Bean Wreath"........ Thank you.......

I'm STILL using what's left of 52 unsigned Birthday cards that were presented to me a long, long time ago......

That same Birthday I received a beautiful set of Mexican goblets and pitcher.....DELIVERED to me while at work, along with a huge bouquet.......

The joy of "Mom's Toffee" every Christmas, which I promptly hide.......and more.....

The fun and laughter never ends.........

I am forever grateful for a paid trip to Scotland in '85...... the unconditional kindnesses and the love you give to your family and friends is so typical of the wonderful person you are.......

Lang may yer lum reek........

Who else but me...........and of course Phil and Eric and Brad and Laura and Jennifer and Lea and Ethan and Ryan and Kayla and all my friends that have had the pleasure of knowing you, however briefly, all wish you the very best.

Congratulations from Berit and Oskar, Norway