Sue-Q's Stories

Birthday Memories

2009-11-21T19:55:00.002-05:00

This day cannot come but what I always think of my beautiful baby girl, Sue. She was 4 days "late" by our count, but right on time by God's. She was born on a Friday. According to the "Mother Goose" rhyme, Friday's child is loving and giving...and she was!

We named her "Susan Kay". There was a mix-up on the spelling, however. Malcom wanted to spell her name Kay and I wanted to spell it "Kaye". When the nurse came around to do the paperwork, I gave in to Malcom's preference. When the church secretary called our home to get the correct name, Malcom gave in to my preference! But it was the birth certificate spelling that reigned.

When we came home from the hospital, I prepared a gift for big sister, Amy. I think it was a doll. She was quite curious about mommy nursing her baby sister. We all laughed as she stuck her doll under her shirt to feed her baby too!

A few days later we celebrated Thanksgiving. Malcom's parents, Herbie and Marie, were with us. It was a beautiful, snow covered day as we enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner at my parent's home on Fruitwood Lane.

It has been 34 years since God blessed us with our "Friday's Child". We were given 28 years to enjoy her. I miss her more than ever.

Happy Birthday!

2008-11-21T11:22:00.000-05:00

Mom...

I want to thank you for giving birth to our dear Susan.

I miss her and still think of her nearly every day.

Thank you for giving me the gift of a wonderful sister.

super heroines

2008-08-29T22:40:00.002-04:00

I just remembered that Sue and I had super heroine underwears. I was Wonder Woman and she was Super Woman.

I think I was always a slight bit jealous that she looked more like her heroine than I did since I lacked the smooth brown hair sported by Wonder Woman.

I don't remember much more about Sue and Super Woman but I think she lived up to her heroine status.

It never gets easier

2008-06-12T22:31:00.003-04:00

Here it is June 12 again, four years since that fateful day at the beach in Kenting, Taiwan. Still missing my Sue-Q. Still remembering her beautiful smile and infectious laughter. Still can't see tulips without thinking of her. Still loving her. Still longing to hear her voice. Still wondering why. Still don't like the ocean. Still trying to forget bad memories of that day. It never gets easier.
--Mom

Flowers

2007-07-12T09:47:00.001-04:00

Each time I see tulips or calla lilies, I think of Sue. She loved flowers so, on her birthday, I always buy a lovely bunch of flowers just for her. The blooms liven up my kitchen just as her smile has brightened my heart.

Posting stories of Sue

2007-07-12T09:35:00.001-04:00

Please email me if you have a story or memory of Sue that you want to post. Pictures are welcome, too! love, Amy

An April memory

2007-04-23T07:00:00.000-04:00

It was three years ago today that I picked up an excited Sue from the Taichung train station. We deposited her few pieces of luggage at the apartment then hopped on my 125 cc scooter for a hospital visit. Another Susan--who lovingly calls me "mom"--was about to deliver her first baby. My Sue-Q of course was thrilled to be along for the ride. She had made some precious tiny booties for the new arrival, a rare gift for a Taiwanese baby. Alisha arrived strong and healthy greeted by her mom, dad, and us--her foreign grandma and aunt.

Today I made another trip to the hospital to visit Susan. It brought back memories of that day and sadness for the changes life brings. Perhaps today in heaven my Sue is cradling Alisha's baby brother who never took his first breath. Here on earth, we wrap our arms around each other and try to make sense of the trials of this life.

Missing my Sue-Q....
Mom

Missionary "Cousins"

2006-09-07T23:33:00.000-04:00

An excerpt from an email received from Kristin (Pierce) Casper:

I noticed that you have a blog for stories about
Susan, and it brought to mind a clear memory I have of
her that I thought you might get a kick out of. I
remember being over at your house one Friday night and
Susan organizing a "routine" for all of us to perform
to the song Ms. Otis Regrets(She is unable to Lunch
Today). Sue had the room to herself at the time
(didn't you all rotate sharing?) and we played the
song over and over again while she worked on the top
hat and cane choreography. :-) Somehow I think our
parents wouldn't have been as impressed with us as we
were with ourselves! Do you remember that at all?

Firehouse Pottery

2006-07-30T15:04:00.000-04:00

The other day I stopped by firehouse pottery to pick up an item that Chas had painted. It happened to be a very important green dinosaur that had somehow been mistaken for a smaller version when we picked up our things originally. They owner had been very nice earlier that day and agreed to do some searching for the one we were missing. When she asked me for the name it might have been under I told her "Amy Feistel" since that was who had taken the kids painting. "Feistel?" she said, "I recognize that name, do you have another sister?" My eyes teared up as I recalled how much Susan loved to take the kids there. I told her about Sue and how much she enjoyed their shop and what a special memory place it was for us. I think I made her feel a bit awkward and she may never know how much it meant to me that she remembered, but I know!

A poem for Sue

2006-07-24T22:20:00.000-04:00

Mom and I were looking through a box of papers from Sue. In it we found a two-page report submitted for an English class. The first page featured a drawing and a poem that I immediately recognized (I wrote the poem). The second page was Susan's literary analysis of the poem I had given to her.

I didn't know that she had written the analysis or that she liked the poem so much.

The poem and comments are included here for your reading pleasure.

The Poem as Written and Illustrated by Amy
*the illustration is from a coloring book

The Analysis as Typed by Susan

The Little Things
By: Amy Feistel

This poem is very meaningfull to me. The poem talks about getting joy out of doing things to help other people. This is true for me because I enjoy and get satisfaction from helping others and showing them love. The smallest things, like giving someone a hug, sending an encouragable card, or just taking time, out to talk to someone make me happy.

Technical Devices: Tone -soft but challenging
-pleading??? (a little at the end)
Rhythm -free verse (she uses ECET as the beginning of each line in each stanza, which create some sort of rhythm)

Memorial Day 2006

2006-05-29T23:22:00.000-04:00

I have always been humbled by the way that Susan could use every moment to teach a small lesson to those around her. She was so often surrounded by children and she seemed to naturally fill their days with nurturing lessons. Today I attempted to follow her example as we observed Memorial Day placing flowers on her grave and teaching my children about the value of honoring our veterans.

We miss you Sue!

An Exciting, Scary Experience

2005-11-26T20:47:00.000-05:00

(This was written by Susan on November 6, 1989)

Early in the morning in a three-story house on December 25, 1981--Christmas--I woke up early and hopped out of bed. I was excited about what I was going to get. To my amazement, I got a new bike. It was a two wheeler. My bike was red, and it was very shiny. I was really happy!

The next day my energetic Dad took me out onto the narrow street to show me how to ride my bike. Everyone else went outside too. They wanted to see me ride my beautiful bike. First, my strong Dad held on to my bike and pushed me along. He was trying to help me balance. I was really excited about learning to ride but then I suddenly felt scared! I couldn't bear the thought of falling down and getting hurt. I just knew I would. As a result I fell down every time Dad took his hands off the bike. I was really getting discouraged.

Meanwhile, I could hear Mom and the kids cheering behind me. They were trying to encourage me because I was about ready to quit trying, and I hardly ever give up on anything. I finally got over my fear.

I remember the feeling when I finally unexpectantly balanced and rode off down the street. I felt like yelling. I was gleaming when I got off my bike. I was really doing good. I loved the feeling of being free with my bike, and nobody could stop me.

2005-11-16T08:03:00.000-05:00

This is a picture of Susan. What a beautiful smile!

Jun Joo Nai Chai

2005-01-25T01:34:00.000-05:00

One of Susan's favorite pastimes was visiting with friends in Taiwan's many teahouses. These were special juice bars that served favorite fruit smoothies and traditional Chinese tea treats.

Some were sweet, with small tables covered in vintage cloths, teas were served in delicate china, candles and fresh flowers filled the cozy corners with heavenly fragrances.

Do you remember the Rose Tea Garden?

Others were open to the air. We sat on long benches at rustic unfinished tables of teak and bamboo. We sipped from tall glasses with big, fat straws. We laughed long into the afternoon as the hustle and bustle of the busy streets played it's music behind us. I can see her smiling from across the table, she's laughing at something I've said.

I remember the tea houses, I remember the sounds, the smells, the taste of tapioca pearls all sweet and gooey at the bottom of my jun joo nai chai.

Do you remember laughing at the funny shaped glass they served "Finland Juice" in?

Go to: http://www.bubbletea.com/

tulips

2005-01-25T01:25:00.000-05:00

I saw some potted tulips for sale today... yellows, reds, deep purple... they made me think of Susie. I love the way tulips seek out the sun. From deep beneath the earth they grow, knowing somehow which way is up and as the peek they follow the sunrise bending towards the warming rays to catch as much as possible. Sue grew this way, she always looked to God, towards the sun... Where he went she followed, bending herself to His will. In a few months her wedding garden will begin to grow... hundreds of tulips each a symbol of her beauty and her faithfulness.

a bit of clay

2004-11-24T22:05:00.000-05:00

Vessel

Sue, I think of you often.

Turkey-time

2004-11-14T19:50:00.000-05:00

A quick note from Nancy:
Do you all remember the last time we had Thanksgiving at Bill's house?

Sue had this crazy idea to teach the kids "the gobble song" that we (Feistel's) had grown up singing in Taiwan.

I'm really going to miss her joy... she loved family gatherings so much!

[If anyone remembers the words to the turkey song, send them in an email to Amy. Thanks! ]

suki_75

2004-09-30T13:37:00.000-04:00

Sue's email address.

I had the passing notion to send her an email with a recipe and some news and thought of the address.

Where, you ask, did she get the idea?

I'm not sure when it began, really. Sometime after her 6th grade year but before her 10th grade year in school, Nancy and I began to call Sue by the nickname "suki."

Daisy and Yumi or Joan may have picked up the little name sometime in highschool... I don't remember.

I think I still called her Suki on the phone, on occasion, when the whim presented itself.

A Story from Rachel

2004-08-21T17:26:00.000-04:00

There was a cluster of Askew offspring all born relatively within the same time frame. Family picnics were full of screaming, laughing, happy children. But soon it became apparent that my relationship with her was different. She was gone for 4 years and then home for one. So, I would spend four years attempting to be her pen pal and then 1 year enjoying the time together, not realizing how quickly a year would go by.

The first vivid memory of the Feistel’s furlough was when Susie and I were in fourth grade. I remember going to the Lyon St. house to get it prepared with curtains and sheets for their arrival. I remember shopping with our mom’s at Wal-mart dressed in matching clothes, down to the shoes and walking around ‘pretending’ we were twins. I remember giggling at sleepovers—staying up until threats of punishment forced us to finally give in and go to sleep. I remember the excitement of another cousin being born. Running in to our 4^th Grade class to our teacher and writing “Welcome to the world—Susan Rachelle” all over the chalkboard. You see, she was OUR cousin… she shared our name… Susan, after Susie and Rachelle, after Rachel. And then I remember the countdown to her leaving to return to Taiwan. That was always the hardest part—the goodbye.

Years passed and we had other furloughs to share…swimming at grandma and grandpa’s house, more family get togethers, and holidays with lots of food.

Then the sleepovers were permanent. Sue stayed with my family for some time while in school. I loved it. To me, it was like having another sister, except she was my age. We shared clothes, late night stories, cried with each other’s heartbreaks and cheered with each other’s victories. We truly became wonderful friends. At that time, one of the most special things that we did together was go to Grandma’s house and hang out. We would work on whatever project we could… we’d go to lunch with G and listen to stories about our history—our grandparent’s love for each other. We’d dig through Grandma’s closets to see what ‘treasures’ we could find. We were all ‘buddies.’

Then life, as it goes, took us down separate paths. I got married and moved away. And I watched her from a distance go through college and live her life. She always amazed me at how giving she was. She was truly a beautiful person both inside and out. She was just genuinely good in all ways. And then I watched her truly blossom as she fell in love and married the True Love of her life… and then she moved away.

The most wonderful thing about our relationship is that no matter how much time or space went in between our visits, we could always pick right up where we left off. It didn’t matter where we were in our lives, we would always be friends.

So now, with this goodbye, all I can do is be assured, like I always have been—I will see her again, and it will be as if no time has passed.

pictures from Springfield, June 2004

2004-08-12T19:56:00.000-04:00

http://www.freshmilk.com/anders/pics/2004springfield/

Anders took a few pictures while we were in Springfield. He's put the images online for you to view/save/print. The pictures are in no particular order and the panorama loads best in (gasp!) Internet Explorer.

Morrison Academy

2004-08-03T09:14:00.000-04:00

From: Natasha Preston

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Feistel,

I just wanted to tell you what a blessing Susan was to me in high school. I came to Morrison Academy my sophomore year. Susan was a senior then, so I didn't get to know her really well. But I remember one afternoon on the plaza we talked for a really long time. She was so considerate and caring, not stuck up and cliquish, so sweet and kind. That first year at
Morrison was a really hard one for me, and so Susan's kindness and willingness to reach out to me, a new younger classman, meant so much to me.

I know we talked more than just that one time, and I appreciated her so much.

I have lived in Shenyang, China since graduating from college, and when my parents came to visit, we went to Dalian. My dad ran into Susan there and got her e-mail address for me. How I regret that I didn't get together with her when we were both so close to each other! I knew a Chinese woman who went to Dalian to study and who also knew Susan. She said Susan was so kind. I know Susan had a heart for the lost and that she was a bright light for Jesus in Dalian.

I cannot imagine the sorrow and grief you are experiencing right now. All I can do is pray for you and your family and for Derek that the Father of Compassion and the God of all Comfort will comfort you and sustain you and hold you and carry you through this time. May His peace that surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

With much love and prayers,
Natasha Preston

Baking

2004-07-27T08:56:00.000-04:00

One time, while Sue and I were living in the Fruitwood house, she decided to bake puff pastries. She made, from scratch, the most amazing puff pastries and filled them with strawberries and whipped cream (from real cream).

Even though I knew they would make me sick (celiac disease), I ate one. It literally melted in my mouth.

She is such an amazing baker!

Stories

2004-07-22T09:23:00.000-04:00

I have created this space for each of us to read and write our stories of Susan. Through our written histories, may we know Susan and ourselves more intimately.

My hope is that sharing our memories will be our comfort.