10/10/10

Well, it's official now!  Jim is a full 55 years old and retired.  He had a grand party for himself yesterday at the Binghamton Mets stadium to celebrate.  Ryan stayed around for part of it and got to see his Dad relive some of his youth. 

Paula, Judy and I went to the baby shower for Sarah and Kevin Kelly's baby.  Sarah's family is pretty big and there was a good turn out, including about 5 babies.  It was a pretty day for a drive and got me thinking about grandmothers and grandchildren.  So Paula O'Brien, this picture of Paula Nevins and her grand kids is for you:

Of course, the rug is very familiar and I have the dark wood bookcases here at my house.  They ALWAYS remind me of Nanny and Weenie's house.

Because Paula was on my mind and my mind wanders significantly, I thought I would share this story from Dad's cousin Tom Foley.  "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 of the floor of the stage and came flying across iton some sort of pulley rig.  I will never know if he got the part because he was very good, or it it was because he was the smallest and skinniest guy available."  Paula, weren't you in Peter Pan on the Main Street school stage?  The very location of the Grape Festival contest and Scheherazade performance????

I also remember from that auditorium getting the "girl talk" while the boys were in the gym.  The Moms were invited.  We also got our musical instrument assignments there while we all sat patiently for each of these momentous announcements. 

You know, sometimes when I start these blog posts, I don't really know where they are going and this is a good example.  What do you remember about the stages and auditoriums in your past?

Better Late Than Never

As part of a committee I serve on, I was able to get a "sneak preview" of a new exhibit at the local history and science museum in Binghamton (Roberson Museum).  This new exhibit features trees and the role the lumber industry played in our area throughout history.  Teachers from several other school districts also serve on this committee and were also previewing this new exhibit at the same time.

Wouldn't you know I found a slight spelling error on one of the posters accompanying the exhibit items?  Really it is more a grammar than a spelling error: the word then appears instead of the proper than.  I found myself pondering my choices regarding how to deal with this:  let it go or report the error? 

I think you have met me before and you already know that I am my father's daughter in many ways.  Therefore I think you know what happened BUT, to give me some credit, I did ask first about how difficult it was to produce the fancy posters they used.  When I was told they were produced on site and it wasn't a very big project I reported the error.  All I could picture was the exhibit opening, someone else noticing and commenting on the error followed quickly by "Well there were a bunch of teachers in here and no one said anything then".  Couldn't let that happen.

I've run into this several times recently.  If nothing is said, then all is OK.  Really?  If no one says anything about running a stop light, it's OK?  If no one says anything about a rude comment, it's OK?  Really?  No one told him he couldn't use the F word in class so must be it's OK.  What I've experienced lately isn't a response along the lines of "Oh no one told me--fine I'll adjust"--it's been "No one told me so that makes it acceptable". 

I'll continue to (try) to be polite in my responses and reactions--I may not say anything in the face of rudeness or inaccuracy but that does not make it OK.  Really.

Happy October Birthdays!

I just love this picture of Mom at Niagara Falls in 1943 (67 years ago this month!!)  I remember my first trip to Niagara Falls--I think Tim or Peter was with us.  I recall thinking it must be raining but of course it wasn't!  I realized Niagara Falls was a big deal but I can't say I remember anything else much about that time.  I've been there a couple of other times but my favorite was the trip we took as a family a few years ago.  We got on the "Maid of the Mist" the first run of the day and there weren't many others on the boat with us so it was nice a relaxed.  We had dinner at a very nice restaurant which provided service we still talk about today!  It was a great trip.  I hope this was for Mom too. 

Lesson from 1972 ... give or take a year

I'm taking a great personal risk here by posting this picture.  The 43rd Grape Festival was held in Silver Creek this past weekend and I was reminded of my own small footprint in the history of Festival of Grapes. 

My recollection is that this was the first time the Festival held a "Queen" contest which I decided to enter.  I have no idea what I was thinking--perhaps I was thinking that I might actually do OK since it didn't seem like too many people were entering so my chances were better.  Entrants may have had to write an essay and there was an interview process as part of the selection.  The interviews were held in a restaurant meeting room out on Route 5/20 near Sunset Bay.  I was thrilled to learn I'd made the cut and was one of the final 10 contestants. 

For the BIG day, we had to dress (see above) and present a speech.  I forget the topic but I remember I took a bit of an odd road through that speech in addressing the assigned topic.  I'm pretty sure I made God a major player in this heartfelt presentation addressing how I would make the world a better place or something equally 1972.  I worked hard on writing and memorizing this oral representation of the future queen.

Meanwhile, Mom and Jean were scheming about my physical presentation.  The dress is something from Jean's closet and the makeup was also courtesy of Jean.  I knew this wasn't "me" and I didn't really like the mascara and the hairspray and I think there's a bow in my hair.  Of course, I needed to wear my POW bracelet which I guess was a weak effort to retain a little bit of authority over my own body at that point because the Good Lord knows (see, he really was part of this story) I had no other control over Hurricane Jean.  I don't know if Mom was similarly bowled over but I like to think so. 

I made the final 10 on the interview and was disappointed to learn that late entrants had been allowed due to the small field of contestants.  The BIG DAY was held in the auditorium of the Main Street School.  I remember being on the stage making my prepared speech and tripping up on my words.  And I clearly recall Dad's wince and "damn it" hand gesture from his seat in the audience.  I had disappointed him and he made it obvious.  If nothing else had sealed the deal for me that this had been a very bad idea on my part, that "damn it" swing of his fist across his chest permanently placed this episode in the "Please-can-we-just-forget-this-forever" list we all keep. 

Of course I did not bring home the Grape crown--one of the late entrants did.  I thought that was really unfair.  I'd been dressed out like a Thanksgiving turkey and not lived up to my Dad's expectations --could it really get any worse?  Yes, the winner wasn't a fair and square entrant.  No wonder I've  hidden that picture from the general public for all these years. 

But I've put it out there to serve as a reminder to remain true to yourself. 

It's not what you say...

"It's not what you say but how you say it."

How many times did we hear that? I have been thinking about the things Mom and Dad (mostly Dad) used to say to us when we were young. I remember thinking - that is sooooo stupid.

Well, I now understand those things and actually find myself telling the boys the same things (OH GOD!)

I guess I just wanted to share my thoughts with you and hope that we all learned from Mom and Dad's wisdom.

I also remember:

"You're getting there"

"If it is not cooked enough, I will put it back on the grill"

"Mothers don't want to know everything" -- I couldn't agree with this more.

"Everything will take care of itself" -- this was Weenies as I remember, but it has gotten me through some really rough times.

I am sure that there are dozens more, what do you remember?

FOOTBALL!

When the weather begins to turn from summer to fall, it's time to think about new seasonal activities.....FOOTBALL!  Of course, there's Weenie's football feats while at St. Bonaventure but mostly in my memory FOOTBALL meant betting with Weenie against the Bills and Mom.  I don't remember this document at all but it certainly shows Weenie's hand:

I just think this is hysterical.

And when we think FOOTBALL, let's not forget