It was so nice to see a comment from Jess here that I decided to address this post to her, her siblings and cousins. 

I don't have all that many pictures of Ryan and Jess together.  Ryan looks pretty comfortable but I'm not sure Jess could say the same.  This was taken during a trip we took to Boston together in April 1995.  I remember specifically because our entire ride out there was dominated by the radio broadcast updates on the Oklahoma City bombing.  Upon hindsight, we probably shouldn't have had the kids listening to all these stories but you couldn't help yourself.  It was a little bit scary as there was quite a bit doom and gloom speculation as to larger forces at work in this act of terrorism.

Anyhow, we continued on our trip but this event did overshadow much of what we did in those high traffic tourist destinations in Boston that April.  There was lots and lots of extra security and visible security measures in place.  Do you remember that Jess?

One of the stops we made was to visit with Patty Flynn Donohue and her sister Sharon Flynn.  They had never met any of you so it was kind of cool to introduce them to you guys in person.

Patty and Sharon are Weenie's nieces.  Weenie had two brothers:  Charles (Dinty) and John (whom we called Four Five).  Patty and Sharon are Four Five's daughters.  I don't ever remember meeting Dinty but I do remember going over to Four Five's house--a particular treat was to play with the poker chips in their holder.  Poker is apparently how Four Five got his nickname.  One of us ( I think it might have been me) counted out cards emphasizing FOUR FIVE between three and six.  Then he was Four Five.

Weenie called his wife "Fat Aunt Marg".  Though I didn't realize it at the time, she was anything but "Fat" and I'm sure that's how she earned her nickname.  Classic Weenie.  I also think we were the only ones to ever call her that.  I remember a little bit about these girls.  They were older than us and rarely around when we were there but always present in the catching-up phase of the visit.

This is Chris and Uncle Four Five in their yard in Olean.  Those Flynn men were pretty handsome all around.

I think this is your grandmother as a small girl with her parents Weenie and Nanny-Nan.  The woman behind Nanny is Gammy Flynn, Weenie's mother.  Behind her is her sister Anna.  I believe the other men are John (Four Five) and Charles (Dinty). 

Pretty odd about the nicknames, don't you think?  One thing I think about a great deal is how we all called our grandfather Weenie--just like EVERYBODY else.  The entire city called him the same thing we did--a little bit different than most grandfathers (and great-grandfathers--which he was indeed!)

So we can bring this right back around to Jess!

PS:  I'm a little disappointed that no one seems to have read all the way to the end of the caption on the picture of us girls in the green dresses.  Take another look!  I'm ever so clever.

Who Do You See?

I see Patty Anne, Kathy, Paula, Mary Jane and Matthew in a green dress!

10 years gone

It's hard for me to believe an entire decade has passed since I last was able to give Mom a hug.  As cold as it was when Dad died, early July 2002 was equally hot.  When plannng Mom's services, we had to keep the July 4th holiday in mind--and with Dad it was the Super Bowl.  10 years!  Really?

Apparently so.  And sometimes we think we were so original.  Ha.

Here's a letter I received from Pudge that I thought you might like.  Nice memories.  It's a kind act to share these reminiscences with family.  I have appreciated these so much that I try to do the same.

Paula tells me the Bruce street house is for sale.  She also recommended that I check out the pictures of the inside, which I did.  You'll want to as well.  Click here or search Ogden Real estate listing 83694.  I have forgotten what we sold the house for but they are asking $125000.  Someone was very generous with the measuring tape in the bedroom listings--Chris' room is listed as 8x8!  Not in my memory.  The Bruce Street house wasn't my favorite (Buffalo St was) but it's linked pretty solidly with how I remember Mom especially.

So here's a favorite Bruce St memory:

So much in this picture worth a mention--not the least of which are those damned swimming trunks.  1987 so they were only maybe 25 years old.  Who painted the stone?  I kind of wish it were allowed to be at the cemetery with him.  

Cheers Mom, Dad and 42 Bruce Street!

Graduation, Retirement and Hummingbirds

It's been quite an extraordinary start to the day and to the summer of 2012.  I slept til 10 AM which is nearly unheard of for me.  It meant that I missed graduation, which I was wavering on anyhow so to have the decision made for me in this manner seems like a clear message.  I wasn't meant to go.

I was watering the plants this morning and heard a fluttering rustling noise nearby.  I thought it was a large butterfly or moth but I realized it was a hummingbird.  He stuck around long enough for me to figure that out and to stare at him for a bit.  I doubt he was considering me nectar especially since popular opinion would give you just the opposite viewpoint.  Although he may have been trying to tell me his feeder needed a refill, I prefer to think he was delivering some good will.  It felt magical, that's for sure. 

So I believe this grants some positive karma on our graduate today Ryan Patrick.  Congratulations!  We are all very proud of you and I am sure your grandparents are smiling down on you with great pride today.  Someone get Judy another tissue. 

It's also Calvin and Claire's first birthday.  Twins are blessing enough but I am especially happy for Cathy and Chris and Julia and wish them all well.  We don't get to see them enough but we hope to stay in contact enough that the kids will know who we are.  This morning's events here in my little world seem karmic for them as well.

This time of year brings retirements to mind as well (especially when we are so very close).  I often think about Mom's age at certain turning points but I haven't given much thought to Dad's.  I can't remember exactly when he retired but I do recall it following some rocky times with new administration.  And I think he may have retired fairly young though it didn't seem so to me at the time.  He would have been 55 in 1982 so he could have retired June 1983.  I realize now that he must have felt some discomfort (and probably anger) at the changes he saw near the end of his tenure.  I realize that because I'm feeling that as well and I think it must be a pretty standard pattern--one that helps you separate from your work life.  A natural progression.

I hope you have an extraordinary weekend!

Random June thoughts

We have just returned from a weekend with the softball state tournament.  I don't know how many years we've been doing this, but it's great to go do something where you feel competent and appreciated!  As well as to get to watch some softball.  But since I'm a little worn out, this is just going to be some random thought related to June.

Last weekend we were at a wedding on Long Island for one of Jim's cousin's children.  You always hear about June brides and this bride got a special symbol of good fortune blessing the beginning of their marriage when a bright double rainbow appeared over the water just as if it was set up for pictures of the newly married couple.  And everyone else.....

One picture of us I don't find too objectionable!  The rainbow does the trick.

June also brings the last day of school, at least for New York students.  I remember just loving that last half day to get your report card and come home to start SUMMER!  Seemed like summer days lasted double the time and the summer months nearly endless.  Swimming lessons were one of the highlights of the summer.  Sometimes there'd be a camp to go off to.  It was a great feeling.

June 24 1966 must have been the last day of school.  Us older kids stayed with the Valvos.  I had to wear one of the girls' dresses on that last day.  A dress!  It was scratchy and I wasn't one bit happy.  

One of my latest projects has been to study our backyard birds.  I've learned that sometimes you might even be able to get a blue jay or cardinal to eat from your hands.  I've been sitting out there watching them and taking pictures trying to learn a bit about habits and behaviors.  There was a time I couldn't fathom being interested in birds and I was a little mystified by this interest that suddenly developed.

My theory is that there were many many days when I'd spend 2-3 hours sitting still watching field hockey, basketball, football or baseball trying to learn about the game.  Now that I'm not doing that, there's room in my brain looking for something else to fill it up with odd details such as with birds.  Plus taking the pictures is a challenge for me and I like to learn from doing.  But here's one I'm especially proud of

I

I remember Mom would seem to pick up various interests along the way and try them out:  calligraphy is one I recall.  I didn't really understand this changing of hobbies and interests, but now I might be doing the very same.

Welome Home to Lake Erie

I think I've mentioned previously that I find it interesting that Lake Erie is playing such a big role in the lives of the current generation.  It continues.  Don't you remember swimming lessons on the lake?  It wasn't so nice on the lake down on Sunset Bay in the 1960s as it is today (thank goodness).  I spent some time fishing there as well as a little boating.  And now it's the next generation's turn for the same!

Paula and Ryan took a trip to Erie to see Tim, Pam and Amy last weekend (thank you Paula).  They went out on the lake and Ryan got his first tubing experience.  I was greatly relieved to know he was being driven around by a member of the Coast Guard! What struck me -- of course-- were the pictures and how they reminded me of the Hollow Lake Ontario Canada pictures from the Nevins family.

I love this picture of Paula and I call it the "Papa Hemingway" shot because this shot below of Henry Nevins reminds me of Ernest Hemingway:

Each of these pictures seem to reflect how lake activities bind the generations together.

This has always been one of my favorite pictures of Weenie and I:

There are no less than one gazillion pictures of lake activities in the Nevins collection and it was fun to be reminded that history indeed repeats itself. 

Memorial Day tribute

I wanted to find a way to honor some of the "lost souls" in our family tree and Memorial Day provides an opportunity to do so for John J. Bentley. This John Bentley is a grandson to our Captain John Bentley.  He was a lifelong resident of Gloucester and worked as an attendance supervisor for the school district before he leaped off the A. Piatt Andrew Bridge into the Annisquam River on September afternoon very shortly after school began for the year. This newspaper article tells the story, though I read elsewhere that John was "never right" after he returned from serving during World War I.  He was 58.

Not only did John serve during World War I when he was in his early 20s, but he also registered for the World War II draft at the age of 47.  Servicemen and women cannot help but be affected by their military experience and John may have been driven to suicide as a result.  In light of the recent news coverage about head trauma for current soldiers and their difficulties upon return to society after active duty, I find this story a compelling link in the chain of history repeating itself.  Memorial Day serves as a reminder of this.

If you get nothing else out of this blog ever, please remember that Memorial Day is May 30 every year.  It's great to celebrate a long weekend but sometimes May 30 gets lost and I find this very sad.  Here's a 4 minute tribute featuring another Bentley (so far not related!):