The 150th Anniversary of the start of the Black Hawk War

There is Something Special About Mother's Day

At this time of year, we all take time out to remember our great debt to our Mothers, our Wives and all the other great Women in our lives. What would we do and where would we be without them.

On the first Mother’s Day I can remember, my cousin Charlyn and I made “baskets” out of paper and filled them with freshly cut lilacs. I can’t remember who’s bush we favored with our springtime harvest, under cover of darkness, but it was for our Moms, so I thought it must be OK.

I also remember all of the “special” presents we made out of clay, wood, paper, cloth, etc. that our Moms, Grandmas, Aunts, Wives, Sisters, etc. had to receive with

Joy and Happiness and they never let us down.

Families can get along without fathers, but they really struggle without a mother.

To me Mother’s Day is a celebration of womanhood and the contributions women make to our lives is unparallel.

My Grandmother used to say that if husbands and wives took turns in bearing the children, no family would ever have more than two babies and many would never have any at all, depending on which of the couple was to bare the first child.

It was my Mother who endured my first music lessons, who nursed me through rheumatic fever, suffered through my learning to read, etc. It was my 5th grade teacher who turned my life around and I feel a special debt of gratitude to the women I worked with and for at Bell Labs for all they did for me.

      My debt to all of the women in my life is unbounded.

My wife Kathryn has always been there to help me with all of life challenges. She was my constant advocate while I have been ill, in hospitals, in rehabilitation centers and in all of the other ventures of my life.

      I am endlessly grateful to her.

To me Motherhood is a service not a relationship

I thank each of you for all you have done to bless my life.

  With all of my Love

                  and Gratitude



    David Gunderson