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PROGRAMMING NOTE from the Author and Archivist


So obviously I just stopped blogging on this platform. I'll get back to it eventually. Or not. I'm taking a break from all social media. It seemed necessary for my mental health.

The last few years have been busy and … challenging:

- 2015 Happened.
- 2016 Let's call it The Lost Year. (Obviously words failed me.)
- 2017 about broke me. Literally. Mentally.
- 2018 was ridiculous, proving 2017 was just a warm up. (Good thing I was already broken so it couldn't hurt as much.#2018TrashCanFire I thought things were going okay, but maybe not?)

- 2019 was such a blur. I know there were highlights, but then stuff happened and carried into the next year...

- And then in March#2020 really took a turn. Who can even categorize 2020? Do we dare?


I kinda want a do-over of some of the last few years. But life doesn’t work that way.


So for now, I'm hunkering down. Regrouping. Trying to stay safe and sort some stuff out.


Stay safe everyone. Stay well.

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Saturday, April 24, 2010

Letters from Ollie J - April 24, 1983

I was about 11 at this time, and my brother was about 8 or 9. I don't know why she didn't want a picture from J as well. Toddlers scribble wouldn't display as well or something?

Apparently I was being a grouch at this age too. By this point I had been taking piano for about four-five years or so.

24 April 1983

[Temple Mission
Kensington, MD]

Dear [Granddaughter],

How’s my grand daughter? Smilling[sic] I hope. Be loving and kind.

Grandma has to work at this too. We get tired and grouchy but that wasn’t the way that Jesus acted. He Loved and showed kindness.

Thanks for your letters to me. Now I want you to take a sheet of Note book paper size and draw me a picture. So I can display it at Relief Society with the other Grandma’s in June. I’d proudly show one you draw – a Animal, Church house, parents & children going to Church, you choose what you’d like. Could be a idea from your Book of Mormon reading course.

Jed can draw one too if he’d like.

I love all my grand children and want them to be servants of our Father in heaven.

Obey Mama & Daddy too. They may seem tough but they love you and are trying to guide to be kind and loving as Jesus would have us all be.

Work hard on your music you want[sic] regret it years from now.

Love you

Grandma

Its has been a rainy day but we had a good Stake Conference.


Note: Grandmary came down to visit recently and brought along some samples of our early artwork, as well as some of my correspondence with Grandma Ollie. Grandmary is FINALLY going through files and boxes that were brought back from NC and being stored at the CT house. I can't wait to see what other bits and bobs she unearths.

These early watercolors were done when I was younger than 11, but it's fun to include them here with this particular letter. Jed did the car and I did the ice cream. What does that say about our personalities?

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