We no longer live in huts, but in houses with rooves! - Poem: 8th KidneyVersity

 Thanks, Dustin, for working on my house. He has a blue jay's nest that comes every year, just like my sparrows, who have already built a nest.

The blue Buddha is delighted with our new Roof and gives His blessing. Peace be unto you. 

 Bob Walmsley, stop kidding around and stand straight and tall.

I took tons of photos. This is all that appeared. Off I went to Giant to buy groceries and sip on Starbucks Coffee, Ms. Kathe fixed for me.

Sat and read every page of the Philadelphia Inquirer. In the obits, I knew a woman who had died. Her name was Alice Flagg and she was a doctor, a friend of Helene Ryesky. Helene is very smart, but the only people in her family who were allowed to be doctors were her two brothers!


Eight-year KidneyVersity

A beautiful girl
born in Bohne Hospital
in Brenham, Texas
grew up to make an
independent life of her own

Such fun we had!
In Austin we walked to the zoo
you in a carriage Gramma Margie had
bought you

In Willow Grove, you refused to go
to school, dullards there, who refused
to listen to your brilliance

Abington Friends it was, where you
made a couple of lifetime friends

Remember, you, me and Dan would hold
hands in the car, while listening
to Miles Davis run the Voodoo down

You learned a thing or two at Brown
the decal still on the window of your
old pink room

Despite my bipolar disorder I did well,
swallowing fat pink pills of the lithium
until they ruined my kidneys

Never will I go on dialysis
thanks to your Aztec-like sacrifice
which only increased your creativity

Books, Pushcart Prizes, Friends
from many nations
I drink to thee

My little Sarah Deming
A cup of Iced Starbucks
Ms Kathe made
me in the Starbucks Cafe.

Ice tinkles in the plastic cup
as it does when I relieve myself
How we take it for granted
except for those in the know.

Love,  Mom

***

WENTZ FLAGG, MD
ALICE HELENAge 88; Former SmithKline Chief of Clinical Safety. Wife of the late Walter B. Flagg, died Tuesday, March 26, 2019 after a one month hospitalization at Abington Hospital.

Alice was born in Philadelphia on September 4, 1930 to Eugenia Feuerer and to William Wentz. She grew up in North Philadelphia near Connie Mack stadium in the Swampoodle neighborhood. 

Following graduation from the Philadelphia High School for Girls, she studied Biology at the University of Pennsylvania on an academic scholarship. The summer after college, she worked in a lab at the Henry Phipps Institute where she met the love of her life, Walter B. Flagg. She matriculated at Temple University School of Medicine and graduated in 1959. 

She was one of seven women in her medical school class. After a one year rotating internship, Alice taught nursing students for 10 years. She took a 10 year hiatus to be a stay-at-home parent. She reentered the work force at SmithKline Corp. in the mid 1970s. She retired from SmithKline Beecham in 1998 as Chief of Worldwide Safety.

In her retirement, she was an avid traveler. Her trips included seven trips to Ireland with dear family friends, trips to England, Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy. She loved music and regularly attended jazz and classical concerts. She was a devoted member of St Raymond of Penafort Church.

Throughout her life, Alice was a fierce advocate for those in need of help. She loved people and was loved in return by all who had the chance to know her.

Alice was predeceased by Walter B. Flagg Sr., sons Walter Jr. and Michael, and by her sister and her brother-in- law Jean and Jason Robinson. She is survived by daughters Susan and Dr. Stephanie Flagg, son-in-law Norris Benns, Esq., niece Dara Turner, nephew Andy Turner III, great nephew Ricky Mays, grandchildren Catrina Cooley Flagg, Dawn Flagg Davis, Dijuana Flagg-Davis, Michael Flagg Jr., Ebon Flagg, Sr., Dr. Brienne Flagg, Brian Flagg, and a host of great-grand children, great-great grandchildren, and cousins.

A Viewing from 10 to 11 A.M. and Funeral Services at 11 A.M. will be held Tuesday, April 2nd at St. Raymond of Penafort Church at 1350 E. Vernon Road, Philadelphia, PA 19150.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in her name to The University of Pennsylvania (Penn Fund) and Temple University School of Medicine. 

Published on Philly.com from Mar. 31 to Apr. 2, 2019