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Paul Senior and Junior 1972

I was going through some papers and found a couple of letters I thought you all might find interesting.  Bill Gleason is Dad's cousin and he sent a letter shortly after Dad died which included the following memories:  I have been thinking of your Dad, especially, the good times we had when I stayed at Aunt Catherine and Uncle Paul's house for a week each year during my summer vacation in the late 30's and early 40's.  We went to Good Harbor Beach almost every day, boat trips at Gloucester Harbor, and the highlight - a trip to the amusement park at Salisbury beach.  Uncle Paul loaded the back of the pick up truck with kids and off we went for the evening.  We never realized how dangerous it was.   I kind of expect it was dangerous in more than one way, but that's the way it is when you are a kid, right?

From another letter written shortly after Dad died, his cousin Tom Foley noted:  Growing up I didn't get too acquainted with your Dad since he was about 8 years older.  I do remember going to a High School play and I recall him playing the part of "Peter Pan".  I think it was obligatory for the entire Pierce side of the family to go to the school to show our support.  In the big scene, Peter Pan was suspended about 5-6 feet off the floor of the stage and came flying across it on some sort of pulley rig.  I will never know if he got the part becasue he was very good, or if it was because he was the smallest and skinniest guy available.

Pudge says about Mom:  I have so many fond memories of her and of course your father and you kids.  I met your Mom when we were about 13.  We lived on the same street.  She was kind of diagonal to me.  We didn't go to the same school until Bona's but we wewre in the same sorority in High School, so we hung around a bit then.  We really got very close in college, in fact, she's the reason I still drink my coffee black.  We used to take turns buying coffee and I would always put milk and sugar in both bups and it got expensive trying to remember ( we were only making about 50 cents an hour) so I decided not to put anything in the coffee and then I wouldn't go wrong.  

We did a bit of double dating at that time and then there was a time that Weenie was in the hospital and she stayed with us.  There were a lot of laughs and secrets shared.  My mother had your Mom write the invitations for my wedding as she didn't think that my handwriting was good enough.

These little stories meant a lot to me then and they still do today.  My friend Brenda's mother died today.  Like Dad, she was in the hospital and failing.  Still, she wasn't expected to die and Brenda is feeling kind of shocked.  I plan to write her a little note with some remembrances of her Mom and hope it brings some peace now and in the future. 

GOOD NEWS!

HELLO EVERYONE

I HAVE GOOD NEWS FOR YOU!

I HAVE GIVEN LORI MOM'S WEDDING RING!

YES, I FINALLY DID IT!

WE HAVE NO SET PLANS YET BUT WANTED

ALL OF YOU TO KNOW.

Happy Birthday Mary Jane!

Happy Birthday Mary Jane

Here are some random pictures of Mary Jane I thought would be appropriate for her birthday.  Of course, I've been thinking a lot about her as I always do at this time of the year and I realized that most of my adult memories with her are sad.  It remains difficult for me to come to terms with the reality that I had just barely begun to get to know Mary Jane as a adult when everything changed for us forever.

I know some of you had more opportunity to spend time and get to know the happy healthy adult Mary Jane and I regret that it wasn't the same for me. I don't even have very many memories as younger children.  I remember Mom bringing her home from the hospital 49 years ago.  I recall her hair being so very curly and nearly unmanageable.  What a great smile!  Well, here's to Mary Jane!

 Easter 1968

Dec 1962

1973

Travels with Oscar

Oscar is going to Gloucester with us.  No, I don't mean Oscar the cat.  I mean Oscar the Coleman cooler.

I was giving the cooler its spring cleaning in preparation to go on the trip with us, scrubbing off the dirt and cobwebs like a madwoman.  I realized some of the dirt and gunk coming off there was probably left over from last spring's baseball season.  Some of it might have been dirt carried home from the extra inning, Ryan-chugging-the-bases, upset League Championship win over Unatego. 

This cooler has been part of the family for years and years.  It has gone along to nearly every outdoor event the kids were involved in:  parades, baseball and softball, football and field hockey.  It's held ice, drinks, towels, sunflower seeds and popsicles.  It was on the sidelines getting a better view than I had of Ryan's winning run and Amy's game saving block in Oneonta one very cold night.  It's been a seat, a footstool, a door stop.  It witnessed the softball team no hitting another team in the sectional championship yet losing.  We took ice out of it for Jim's head when he banged it leaping up in joy when we won the state championship.  We used a wet towel from it to wipe Ryan's bloody nose after a youth football skirmish.  It took the long quiet ride home after the field hockey states. 

Now it's retired too.  It's travelling to Gloucester with us for a leisurely few days "on the coast".  It's all cleaned up and spiffy.  Maybe it shouldn't be all cleaned up--but I guess it's ready for new adventures and memories. 

Where's Waldo?

Easter 1958

This picture is labeled "Easter 1958 with the Flynns" in my album.  I love the way Nanny seems to be looking at the camera, my eyes are shut, Weenie seems to be speaking across the table and Grammy Flynn (Barbara Lippman Flynn) is looking lovingly at her son.  

 

I am not sure what house this is.  I think we lived on Olive Street in Silver Creek at this time and I'm guessing this is where it might be.  I don't think Nanny would have been sitting there in that manner if she was the hostess, but I could easily be mistaken. 

It looks like turkey was on the menu that year.  The pretty hyacinth were probably a hostess gift--unless Mom made special effort to pretty up the table for her parents and her grandmother's visit.  I see that Nanny's china was there--that's part of what confuses me about what house this is.  I recognize it because I have it here and get it out myself for holiday dinners.  What a history!  It appears dinner is just about to start.

It appears dinner is just about to start for four people.  Looks like 4 plates and 4 place settings but it's hard to be sure.  So I'm assuming Mom is there but Dad is not.  Hmmmmm.........where's Waldo for Easter in 1958?