Update: February 2008

Since our last reunion (2003), our daughter got married and will deliver our first grandchild in April!  Todd completed 2 tours in Iraq, and now recruits Marines in Kalispell, MT.  David still does occupational therapy, but now in Kansas City with people who've had brain injury from accidents.

I retired Jan. '08, and plan to catch up on projects - reading, scrap booking, cleaning, gardening.  I also help Mike with his rental property and "flip" houses.  I still enjoy making music, and will play (Mike too on string bass) in a bluegrass festival in Sept.

Mike and I travel to St. Louis for MS Sr. Missouri showcases. Past contestants in the Sr. Missouri pageant perform for retirement centers, hospitals, schools, nursing homes, VFW, etc.  I won the MS Missouri Senior America pageant in July '07, so I try to make all the showcases.  My performance is playing trap drum set and trumpet.  Mikes is amazed with these senior women's vitality!  One of our best dancers in 81 yrs! I competed in Las Vegas in Nov. 2007 and made the top 10, but not the top 5!

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone in June.

Susan Todd Groves

Editor's note:  For more information on Susan's Ms. Senior Missouri pageant check:   http://www.fultonsun.com/articles/2007/08/05/news/147news02senior.txt .  

After graduating from KU in 1968, I've been a board Certified Music Therapist working in a variety of facilities - Menningers, Rochester State Hospital, and 2 nursing homes.  I'm currently director of Music Therapy at Fluton State Hospital in Fulton, MO, where I've been for 16 years.

My husband, Mike, and I have had some neat adventures such as building a log home in Minnesota, farrowing 50 sows in Missouri, living on a sailboat in the Caribbean for a week, and converting charter buses into motor coaches.  We recently built 6 duplexes doing all the construction, electrical, and plumbing work ourselves.  Mike's a jack of all trades, and will even play string bass when I need him to help out my bluegrass group!

Our twin sons are 28 years old.  Todd is a Marine stationed in Okinawa, and David does Occupational Therapy in Jefferson City school system.  Anna, 24 years is a social worker with DFS in Springfield, MO.  All are single and wonderful people.

I enjoy making music away from the hospital.  I play drums in a Dixie band (playing sometimes at Lake of the Ozarks), trumpet and French horn in the Columbia Community Band, and banjo with music therapy staff in a bluegrass group.  Music is such a great hobby and career.

I traveled to Girard monthly for 4 years to cook, clean, and visit with my dad.  He was so lonely after mom's death in 1996.  He died in 2000, and it was very hard to say good bye to our family home.  I enjoyed traveling there and seeing familiar faces. 

I look forward to seeing all of you next summer.  We'll bring a bus if Mike hasn't sold it.  He bought another one to convert and might sell the one we have now.  We'll see.