A Photo Blast from the (Distant) Past

My cousin Nancy Carol called this week to tell me she had spoken with a relative of Kate Wells (may she rest in peace), a very close family friend - at least I think that was the connection - and she received a bunch of old photographs mostly of my mom and dad, my brother John, me, as well as of Kate. 

By way of background, my paternal grandfather passed away at the age of 29 when my father's mother was pregnant with my father.  My widowed pregnant grandmother went to stay with Dr. and Sue Wells (whom she knew from nursing school) in Mississippi and my father was born in the Wells' home in Alligator, MS.  Not too much later, Dr. and Sue's own daughter, Kate, was born there.  My father and Kate spent the early years of their childhoods together and stayed close.  (My younger sister and brother are named Sam and Sue after Dr. and Sue Wells!)

Anyway, I'm going to post here a slew of the photos that Carol sent.  (That's today's consecutive thing.)  Here we go:

John - 3 months

John - our mother had a thing for saddle shoes! But I didn't know John wore them, too!

Alice and John - Myrtle Beach, SC  Dig the bandanna.  Wish I knew what book she was reading.

Alice and John - Myrtle Beach, SC  Alice was a babe!

A very rare photo indeed - the 4 of us together, my 1st birthday - may be the only such photo in existence

2nd birthday - I think back then I actually LIKED icing.  

On Long Island circa 1953 - I didn't know I went there before 1955

Long Island circa 1953

Long Island circa 1953

The formal portraits

Last, but certainly not least, Miss Kate Wells, who was a beauty in her time, and was beautiful throughout her long life in every way that matters - may her memory continue to be a blessing for our family:

Kate Wells 

That's it for today.

Peace.

This and that

I have now been "retired" for 2 weeks, and so far, I'm liking it.  If anything, I feel guilty.  Why should I be able to do this - stop working, do whatever my time, my brain, my aging body and my skinny bank account will permit - while others continue to have to slave away?  Then I remember that I slaved away for 40+ years myself.  I certainly don't claim to understand retirement yet.  It still feels like vacation.  But already I have taken advantage of it to attend a program at the local art museum at 1:00 pm on a weekday afternoon.  I'm still getting up at 5:15-5:30 for my morning walk with Ella.  I've done some gardening, weeding, mulching.  We have had Caprese salad with home grown tomatoes and basil for the past several nights. Yum.  The tomatoes taste like sunshine and the basil is as sweet as mint. So far, retirement is good.  

While I've been learning to be retired, David has worked on the boat.  The work is basically done.  He put another coat of varnish on today.  We plan to take her out this coming week to row.  Meanwhile we are researching some info on the sail plan.  We are going to modify it slightly to add a halyard and lazy jacks to have the ability to raise and lower the sail.  Here's what she looks like now.  (By the way, I'm debating whether to "name" the boat.  I don't think we'll paint her name on her, but still might like to have a name to call her.  Any suggestions?)

From her stern - see the beautiful oars David made?

Nice lines, eh?

Tomorrow our new furnace will be installed.  Actually, tomorrow AND Tuesday.  I have my fingers crossed that it goes well.  With a 150+ year old house, you never know what surprises may be waiting for you.  Reminds me of being a 10 year old camper on a hike near a stream.  The counselor lifts up a flat rock and out crawl many creepy crawlies.  The moral of the story:  be careful what rocks you lift up.  But this rock - our 40+ year old furnace - needs to be lifted up.

Meanwhile, from the "It's what's happening in Maine" column:  in purusing our local weekly, The Free Press, David has come across multiple items in the "Events" listings for a group called Temple Heights Spiritual Camp.  Today he decided to check out the group's website (if you are curious, or end up doubting what I'm about to cite from its pages, you can find it at  http://www.templeheightscamp.org).  On the "temple's" front page is a headline that reads "Mediums/Healers of the Week."  One of the "mediums/healers" is someone named Kristin.  Here is her bio blurb:

"Kristen is a Registered Nurse, Master Herbalist, and Professional Energy Healer certified through Barbara Brennan School of Healing.  She offers individual sessions utilizing a unique and multidimensional healing modality.  With the assistance of Spirit Guides, she works within the four dimensions of being (Physical, Auric, Haric, and Core Star dimensions).  In deep contact and connection with the client's energy field; she invites healthy and positive changes on many levels.  Results vary from deeply relaxing and enjoyable to deeply profound and transformative, depending upon the readiness of the individual."

Unfortunately - or perhaps, fortunately - I think I may be burdened with a low level of "readiness"!  Nevertheless, there perhaps is still a role I could play for the Temple Heights Spiritual Camp.  They are seeking "volunteers" and the particular skill set sought appears to be something I may be good at:  

"We are looking for people willing to do a few small things around the camp.  Our gardens are in need of some TLC.  If anyone is handy with consecutive things we are looking for you."

I never realized it, but now that someone has put a name to it, I think I do. I think I may in fact be "handy with consecutive things".  Like this morning I vacuumed, first one room, then another, until I had vacuumed the whole damn house, consecutively.  I hear David in the kitchen right now, washing dishes, also consecutively.  I think we may be very skilled - that is to say, handy - with consecutive things.

Like right now, I'm going to sign off this blog.  First, I'll type my Peace goodbye, then I'll save the posting, and then publish it.  All consecutively.

(It does make me wonder what I'm missing.  Should I go back to school to learn to be handy with non-consecutive things? Hmm...  Food for ... consecutive thought.)

Peace.