Grandma Mae

My sweet Grandma Mae passed away this weekend after receiving a shocking diagnosis of liver cancer about two months ago. I'm so grateful for the time I was able to have with her here on earth. She was such a good example to me. Here are just a few of the things I loved about her...

She was so fiercely DEVOTED to her religion, family and friends.She had a simple SWEETNESS about her. She was always so KIND and had a smile for everyone. She was TRUE to the democratic party and elated to have a new Democratic President (she was not a Bush fan to say the least). She was FASHIONABLE and could window-shop with the best of 'em. She was always dressed to the T with hair and nails in perfect condition. She was an amazing COOK. I'll remember three thing in particular: salsa, cheesecake, and shrimp cocktail. She spoke her MIND. I remember my Dad recounting the story of her telling him NO when he asked if he could marry my mom. (She thought they were too young). Most importantly, she raised my MOTHER to be the most amazing woman I know. My mom is the most giving, loving, devoted, selfless individual I have ever known and I know my grandma Mae played a huge role in making her the person she is.


Mae O'Rourke Markham
Mae O'Rourke Markham 1926 ~ 2009 Mae O. Markham died at her home on January 11, 2009, surrounded by loved ones, after a short battle with cancer. Mae was born April 7, 1926 in Tooele, UT to John and Edith Shields O'Rourke. She was raised in Eureka, Utah where she attended St. Joseph's Catholic School and graduated from Tintic High School. She maintained a bond with Eureka throughout her life. She planned and faithfully attended many class reunions. Mae married Robert Markham on February 15, 1947 in Salt Lake City, Utah. They resided in Salt Lake. He preceded her in death on September 24, 1995. She was employed for 25 years as an administrative assistant for the South Salt Lake Police Department, where she attained the rank of sergeant, retiring in 1987. She enjoyed an active retirement, spending many hours with her children, grandchildren, great-grand-children and many good friends. Mae loved life and remained vibrant until the very end. She kept busy bowling, going on outings with the 49ers club, serving as a delegate for the Democratic Party and as an election judge for many years. Mae was a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church and St. Ann's Ladies Guild. She is survived by two sons, John (Carol), Ogden, UT; Robert, Salt Lake City; two daughters, Janet Susan Taylor, Murray, UT; Patricia (Jim) Hatchett, Boise, ID; 10 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and sister Marie Jerman, Scottsdale, AZ. Preceded in death by parents, husband and son-in-law Colin Taylor. A funeral mass will be celebrated Friday at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Ann Catholic Church, 450 East 2100 South. A vigil service will be held Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at Neil O'Donnell and Sons Mortuary, 372 East 100 South, where friends may call from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Committal, Spanish Fork City Cemetery, 420 South 400 East, Spanish Fork, Utah.

What a Year... What an Understatement!

Wow! I remember growing up and learning about various events in US History and thinking "weird, nothing really exciting happens any more." Little did I realize I was simply witnessing the "calm before the storm" or maybe I was just young and oblivious to all that was going on around me. Oblivious no more! It's amazing what happens when we, in our little bubbles of life, start to feel the impact of decisions being made thousands of miles from our quiet neighborhoods.

I thought that this information was a great insight to what we have lived through in the last year (from an economic standpoint)...definitely journal worthy!

2008 Tidbits
By The Number$

ROTTEN YEAR - The S&P 500 lost 37.0% (total return) during 2008, its worst calendar year performance since the stock index declined 43.3% in 1931 or 77 years ago. Its loss of 21.9% (total return) in the 4th quarter of 2008 was the 7th worst quarterly loss ever for the S&P 500 and its poorest quarterly showing in 21 years (i.e., since the 4th quarter 1987 produced a loss of 22.5%). The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index of 500 widely held stocks that is generally considered representative of the US stock market (source: BTN Research).
BEARS - The S&P 500 has experienced 9 bear markets (i.e., peak to trough declines of at least 20%) in the last 50 years (i.e., 1959-2008) or 1 bear market every 5 ½ years. The average bear market “peak-to-trough” decline in the last half-century has been 34.9%. From its all-time closing high of 1565 on 10/09/07, the S&P 500 fell 51.9% to its bear market closing low of 752 on 11/20/08 (source: BTN Research).
DOWN, THEN UP - Since closing at a bear market low of 752 on 11/20/08, the S&P 500 has gained +24.3% on a total return basis. The stock index closed at 932 on Friday 1/02/09 (source: BTN Research).
BIG SWINGS - The S&P 500 had 28 trading days during calendar year 2008 that produced a gain or loss of at least 4% (i.e., the index’s percentage change from consecutive trading days). In the previous 25 calendar years (i.e., 1983-2007), the S&P 500 had 28 trading days that produced a gain or loss of at least 4% (source: BTN Research).
DOLLAR LOSSES - The S&P 500 had a market capitalization of $12.87 trillion on 12/31/07. During calendar year 2008, the stock index lost exactly $5 trillion of market value, falling to $7.87 trillion on 12/31/08. Total US stock losses (from all domestic equities) amounted to $6.9 trillion (source: S&P, Rocky Mountain News).
SMALL-CAPS - The small-cap Russell 2000 stock index lost 33.8% (total return) in calendar year 2008, its worst calendar year performance ever. The Russell 2000 index is an unmanaged index of small-cap securities which generally involve greater risks (source: BTN Research).
GAS PRICES - The national average price of a gallon of gasoline ended calendar year 2007 at $3.05, rose to a peak price of $4.11 on 7/16/08, and ultimately finished 2008 at $1.62 a gallon. From 9/18/08 to 12/12/08 (i.e., a period of 86 consecutive days or more than 12 weeks), the national average price of gasoline dropped each day (source: AAA).
OIL PRICES - The price of oil ended calendar year 2007 at $95.95 a barrel, rose to an intraday record high of $147.27 on 7/11/08, and ultimately finished 2008 at $44.60 a gallon, a swing of nearly $103 a barrel in the final 5 ½ months of the year (source: New York Mercantile Exchange).

Happy New Year!

Well, I have been less than great with the camera lately, but I thought I better take a minute here in my online journal to remember the good times we've been having. After all, life is meant to be enjoyed and sometimes, in all of our trials, we forget just how much fun we are having! Some highlights of our fun and oh so long weekend include:

-A great time with the Mower family on New Year's Eve. We had a blast playing Rock Band and enjoying great company. Lydia was a trooper she made some new buddies and burnt the midnight oil with us!
-An awesome showing by the Utes and some great entertainment watching them prove the world wrong! We enjoyed the game with our good friends, The Gouldings, and their darling girls!
-A few good workouts at the gym with my bff. I hope this is a precursor to what's to come in 2009!
-Our first Markham Family New Year's Day brunch. Thanks, Aunt Pat, for all your hard work on this one!
-Picture Day. Our annual picture with the Taylor Cousins fell on New Year's Day this year and it turned out to be a nice day with Grandma and the Cousins.

Sorry, to my two readers, for the lack of pictures! How BORING!