Word of the Day: Hiraeth

Word Porn. “@DalrympleWill: Love this word... and so know this feeling... pic.twitter.com/i3Jw3JqsrS”
— Inua Ellams (@InuaEllams) March 11, 2015

Notes from March 19, 2015 jotted down on my itouch

Sleeping on the train today, I was dreaming of my grandmother's house. I walked the farmhouse floors, I peered out windows, I talked to the trees. And I missed her. 

Further to these notes, and my sense memories re-triggered by the magnolias:

I have to change trains during my commute, and usually try and cat-nap during the 20-25 minutes of the second leg. For some reason, on this trip, I suddenly found myself dreaming of Grandma Ollie's North Carolina farmhouse. From washing my hands in the pink porcelain bathroom sinks, to brushing my hands along the grain of the pinewood hallway walls, to resting my elbows on an open window sill in the blue back bedroom looking out to the crepe myrtle glowing in the bright blue summer skies, and listening to clothes flapping on the laundry line, it felt like I was there and had just decided to wander around on a nostalgia tour. It was like I had just been transported to this place -- and a moment long lost in time. I could feel the breezes moving through the house, bringing with them the smell of crops ripening in the fields. I knew I was alone in the house, but it was as comfortable as it had ever been while I was there, with family visiting just down the road, or out in the fields. It was just so familiar and felt so real.

Given that this was a local train, with stops about every 5-7 minutes, with conductor announcements, flashing lights, and piercing door alarms, I couldn't have been in a dream state for very long. But ... what a dream it was.

I know it was probably just my subconscious processing the word: hireath - a word I didn't know existed until I stumbled across it on Twitter, but I'd like to think it was Grandma checking in. Or maybe it was Grandpa Jack? Maybe both of them? Maybe -- just maybe, one day I'll dream like that again.

 In the meantime, I begin to understand why I received this vision? reverie? visitation? what have you? It was preparation for news to come. And a reminder. This: Our connections to places last long after family ties are severed -- and all will be well. Home places are in our hearts, if not in our portfolios.

Driveway to The Farm house, NC c. 2010

Mary and Max are Going on a Mission

I Hope They Call Me On a Mission
 

Lyrics 

I hope they call me on a mission

When I have grown a foot or two.

I hope by then I will be ready

To teach and preach and work as missionaries do. 

 I hope that I can share the gospel

With those who want to know the truth.

I want to be a missionary

And serve and help the Lord while I am in my youth.*

 Words and music: Newel Kay Brown, b. 1932. (c) 1969 IRI

*These are the words of a traditional Mormon "Sunday School" song for the youth. As far as I know, there isn't a version for the more "mature" sets of missionaries that go out to serve. But there should be.

By the time you read this, Grumpa Max and Grandmary should be en route to/or in Salt Lake City, UT to get a few weeks of specialized training in preparation for about a year's missionary service at the Washington, D.C. Temple starting in October 2014. Here's a drones'-eye view of the Washington, D.C. temple.

If you can't view this video, click this link or cut and paste:  http://youtu.be/aDy81Wxqb8k

Pretty impressive, no?

Now, I'm sure there are questions.

Q: What's a mission? 

A: "Missionary (LDS Church) Missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church)—widely known as Mormon missionaries—are volunteer representatives of the LDS Church who engage variously in proselytizing, church service, humanitarian aid, and community service."
~ per a wikipedia entry

Q: What's a temple?

A: "...a temple is a building dedicated to be a house of God and is reserved for special forms of worship. A temple differs from a church meetinghouse, which is used for weekly worship services..."
~ per another wikipedia entry

Q: Why do they need retirees to do this?

A: Not to be flip, but some retirees LIKE to be busy AND they have the time. It takes a lot of work to keep humanitarian efforts going, administration churning, training ticking, etc. 

Q: But won't they miss [insert family celebrations here aka births of grandchildren, birthdays, holidays?]

A: Yes, they will miss them -- in person -- but thanks to technology, senior couples can be in contact with family more and more. Family can visit, within reason. If family emergencies or healthy issues arise, things are more flexible for senior couples. I remember visiting Grandma Ollie in D.C. when she was on her mission. I plan to visit the 'rents when they are in D.C. - and apparently I better put my bid in for a visit, since they already have reservations for others who want to visit. THEY AREN'T EVEN IN D.C. YET!


Q: Why do your parents want to do this?

A: Good question. I can't answer for them -- though I will ask -- but I suspect:
a) It's a family tradition. Grandma Ollie actually did a mission in Washington, D.C. Many of my great-aunts and uncles have been on senior Church missions. Both of my brothers went on missions; one to California, the other to Brazil.

b) Dad did not go on the "traditional" youth mission when he was the usual age. He instead served this country faithfully in the Navy during the Vietnam era.
c) Mom did not go on the "traditional" youth mission when she was the usual age. She was serving the youth of America by teaching them about English literature.

d) They have served the Church in other various ways throughout their adult life. While "retired" in Utah, they have worked together in Church service: at the Saint George Temple and in Church humanitarian work in a cannery.

e) They are healthy, willing, and able.

 I'm proud of these two!

I'm hoping to share Max and Mary's Mission Moments as we go through the year. I'm trying to make sure it's documented SOMEWHERE!

Family Trees: So Many (Broken) Branches

This will be a series of family genealogy posts all circulating around an obituary... so, I'm warning you.

You can skip ahead if not interesting to you. But as the family library/archivist/documentarian, I'm going to post these, so they are SOMEWHERE for future generations.

You know how people always make a list of things they would do if they won the lottery?

A new car!

A new house!

Vacations!

Cruises!

College funds!

Endowments Funds!

But more realistically, debt reduction!

Yes, to all of the above, but I would LOVE to have the resources to employ a team from "Who Do You Think You Are?" to  track down the information on a particular line of my family tree. That of my Grandpa Jack.

Maternal Grandma Ollie did such a good job back-tracing her family lines, back in the day before the Internet. My paternal lines are starting to come together - thanks to unique family surnames.

But my mother's father's side of the family?

Well, therein lies the mystery - and really only three to four generations back.

Bear with me ...

This is Grandmary (on a beach!)

photo c. Grumpa, this summer, Oregon Coast

 This on the left is her father's headstone, Grandpa Jack aka Jasper, and

 (right) a picture of a picture of Grandpa Jack. I don't have an actual copy of a photo, and this is a lousy one at that. This original is in Grandmary's possession. There aren't that many photos of Grandpa Jack. This is 8 years before I came along. He's holding up some of his tobacco crop; he was a farmer. The "Agrico" logo on the matte is for a fertilizer company.

 
This is the headstone for my great-grandmother Mary Ann, Jack's mother.

Here's where things get interesting.

Grandpa Jack had a brother, Ira -- pronounced in Southern as "Ory." You try taking an oral history thinking you hear Ory and it's written IRA! Not at all confusing. And the nicknames --- a curse for future genealogists.

Grandpa Jack and Great-Uncle Ira had the same mother, Mary Ann, but different fathers. Half-siblings, yes, AND different surnames. Ira's family used Mary Ann's surname of Bass. So very "interesting......." Something is up there, no?!

Anyway ...

Uncle Ira had children, Grandmary's cousins.

This is a picture of Uncle Ira with his wife Flossie.

taken at Cousin Ida's house in NC, 2010

This is Grandmary on the left with her cousin Ida on the right, c. the North Carolina road-trip of 2010.

See a similarity? (Reminds me: I need glasses - like last decade.)

That genetic legacy is on two sides of a branch of the family tree, and traces down to me, to my brother J, and to his daughter Amber. We can trace it back to great-grandmother Mary Ann. We'd like to trace it further back, but the family history is murky. So many questions, like: Why weren't Ira and Jack raised together? Who were the fathers? Who were Mary Ann's people? What was the story? Must have been a doozy. It's not been told. Also, where is the rumor-family connection to a possible Southern Native American tribe? SOME people in the family can tan like you can't believe. Others of us -- so, so, so, pale to the point of ghost-like.

Sadly, the connections to the past are being lost to time.

We learned this summer that another North Carolina relative, Grandmary's cousin and Cousin Ida's sister, Pauline - aka Ms. Polly - also died in July.

I had only visited Ms. Polly a few times, but Grandma Ollie made a point to keep in contact with Grandpa Jack's side of the family once he passed, and Grandmary continued/continues to do so. I am glad I got to visit back in 2010 and see Ms. Polly for the last time. She was frail even then, and you could see the decline, but she still made an effort for our quick visit.

I had to shoot these surreptitiously.  You need to be discreet when on a proper Southern "rock and talk" with the older generation of relatives.

I much prefer this picture from her obit. That's really how I remember her from when I was much younger.

Obits - for genealogical purposes 

Pauline “Ms. Polly” Bass Gardner

 

Goldsboro Daily News (N.C.)

July 19, 2014

July 19, 94, Pikeville (N.C.)

Pauline “Ms. Polly” Bass Gardner, 94, passed away on Saturday, July 19, 2014 at Wayne Memorial Hospital surrounded by her loving family.

Pauline was born in Johnston County on January 19, 1920, to the late Ira and Flossie Mitchell Bass. She was married to the late Grover Gardner. Pauline was a member of Pleasant Grove Free Will Baptist Church. Although Pauline leaves a vacant place in our hearts, we know she truly earned her special place in heaven. Pauline will always be remembered as a loyal woman of faith, love and respect for everyone who touched her life.

Funeral services will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 20, 2014 in the chapel of Seymour Funeral Home with the Rev. Barry Stallings and Rev. Anderson Barnes officiating. Interment will be on Monday, July 21, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. in the Pikeville Cemetery.

Pauline is survived by her daughter Pat and husband Nick Sutton of Pikeville; sons, Jimmy Gardner and wife Joan of Pikeville, Kenneth Gardner and wife Mary of Pikeville; sisters, Helen Thorn of Goldsboro, and Ida Padgett of Goldsboro; seven grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and her husband she was preceded in death by her sisters, Hilda McManus and Maebelle White and brothers, Ira D. Bass and Eurice Bass.

The family will receive friends following the service at Seymour Funeral Home and at other times at the home.

The family request memorials be made to Lancaster Bryan Sunday School Class, % Pleasant Grove FWB Church, P. O. Box 36, Pikeville, N. C. 27863

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com

The Goldsboro News-Argus (N.C.)

Published in Obituaries on July 20, 2014 12:39 PM

Pauline Bass Gardner

Jan. 19, 1920-July 19, 2014

Pauline "Ms. Polly" Bass Gardner, 94, passed away on Saturday, July 19, 2014, at Wayne Memorial Hospital surrounded by her loving family.

Pauline was born in Johnston County on Jan. 19, 1920, to the late Ira and Flossie Mitchell Bass. She was married to the late Grover Gardner. Pauline was a member of Pleasant Grove Free Will Baptist Church.

Although Pauline leaves a vacant place in our hearts, we know she truly earned her special place in heaven. Pauline will always be remembered as a loyal woman of faith, love and respect for everyone who touched her life.
Funeral services will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday, July 20, 2014, in the chapel of Seymour Funeral Home, with the Rev. Barry Stallings and Rev. Anderson Barnes officiating. Interment will be on Monday, July 21, 2014 at 10 a.m. at the Pikeville Cemetery.

Pauline is survived by her daughter, Pat, and husband Nick Sutton of Pikeville; sons, Jimmy Gardner and wife, Joan, of Pikeville, Kenneth Gardner and wife, Mary, of Pikeville; sisters, Helen Thorn of Goldsboro and Ida Padgett of Goldsboro; seven grandchildren,10 great-grandchildren; and three great-great grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Hilda McManus and Maebelle White, and brothers, Ira D. Bass and Eurice Bass.

The family will receive friends following the service at Seymour Funeral Home and at other times at the home.
The family requests memorials be made to Lancaster Bryan Sunday School Class, Pleasant Grove FWB Church,
P. O. Box 36, Pikeville, N. C. 27863

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
(Pd)

WEB-CAST VIDEO CLIPS

There was even a 36 minute recording made of the web-cast of Ms. Polly's funeral service/sermon. Now, that's a first! My Grandma Ollie would NOT know what to do about that.

For the link, please go to: http://webcast.funeralrecording.com/events/viewer/6234/hash:86115587E8FF0965

So much Southern twang, but some stories and preaching bring her to life beyond the words of a printed notice.

Obituaries contain a wealth of family history information. When you can, always include them - and all versions you can find. You may think it's redundant, but sometimes, a slight variation in an obit will have a clue that another version will not. 

Last Trips: Take Pictures, because you never know ...

I was talking to Grandmary on Sunday night, as I do --

Aside: The 'rents and I have a standing 9pm Sunday night phone call -- a custom that has dated back to the college days when there was no such thing as e-mail, blogs, FaceBook, or other things with which to keep track of far-flung family. They actually have standing Sunday phone call checks-in with all of their off-spring. Sometimes the schedule works. Sometimes it's a FaceTime or a Skype call. Sometimes the call with with the maternal one. Sometimes the paternal one. Sometimes, woe be unto you for calling during a SportsBall Evening. Sometimes the parental unit is chatty; other times, one gets the impressions that they ... rather not be talking to you at all, and you feel rushed off the phone. Sometimes you are on a speaker-phone conversation and you don't know it. (AWKWARD!) Sometimes it's a tag-team production because nature has called unto the bladder of people on either end of the call. So -- you know... The usual. It's a family thing.


and we were conversing about this, that, and the other thing.

I haven't mentioned it here (yet), but Grandmary and Grumpa Max will be leaving soon for a year-long religious service mission in Washington, D.C. The application, acceptance, and organization of this mission has been a longer more drawn-out process than they anticipated, for reasons that have only been revealed, as we say: "in the fullness of time."

Apparently HE knew things that we could only begin to realize, and it was important that Grumpa, particularly, be around this year for his extended family. Sadly, some grand old broads, my great-aunts on my father's side passed away this year. (I will blog about that soon.) It was important that Grumpa be available to travel to the funerals, which he might not have been if he were in D.C.

Given the age of my maternal great-aunts, and the fact that my parents will be on the East Coast, we have also been worried about my northern-Utah great-aunties. Mom has been doing trips to Logan, Utah a lot this year to check in with them.

But, apparently, we also should have been keeping tabs on the North Carolina relatives.

[But Nettie? How's all this relevant? I'm getting there.]

I asked Grandmary on Sunday, after listening to her rattle off the names all the family and friends that had gathered for their "farewell" ceremonies, if anyone had taken pictures. My brother Jed, wife Kelli, Drew, and the twins were there; my father's sister, my aunt Cora and uncle Kevin were there; some of my father's California cousins had come in; and lots of CT and UT friends were there ...

But no one took pictures.

When Grandmary was last in Logan, "because you just never know" ... she didn't take pictures.

[UPDATED LATE TODAY because of an email from Grandmary:

I did too!
I did too take pictures in Logan. No pictures on Sunday, but we were all too busy keeping track of Sarah and Cannon.

With four pictures of the aunties from the Logan trip. I stand corrected. Sarah and Cannon are two times the mischief and go tearing off in either direction with chortles of devilish glee.]

It wasn't until the conversation was beginning to wrap up, that Grandmary just happened to mention:

one of my last photos of Ms. Lucille, as I was getting in the car

"Oh, and Lucille died."

Turns out -- Ms. Lucille (in the respectful parlance of the South) passed about a month ago, but we just found out. The North Carolina family tree is large and extended and full of many, many branches, and sometimes ... it's hard to stay in touch if you aren't in the immediate family.

With this news, the sense that more time is passing and I'm losing more connections to my grandmother(s). Though, their presences have both been very close this summer. (More on that later).

Immediately, I flashed back to the North Carolina 2010 Roadtrip with Grandmary (most memorable for the e coli I picked up on the last leg), and how I am SO GLAD THAT I TOOK PICTURES.

I have documentation of the last time I saw Ms. Lucille, who was family, and should/could have been considered another one of my honorary aunties.

Grandma Ollie and Ms. Lucille were long-time friends AND family, cousins through the Aycock line, hearty North Carolina farm wives, church companions, quilting circle ladies, and a comfort to each other through long widow-hoods. While I didn't get to spend much time with her, I am so grateful to her for all that she did for Grandma Ollie, especially during Ollie's last years - even when it was hard for Lucille to communicate (she got so deaf, the poor dear), and for her gracious Southern hospitality for the long traditionally Southern slooooooow "rock and talks."

I am particularly glad I TOOK PICTURES of the last time I ever got to visit back in 2010.

Grandmary showing off family pictures to Ms. Lucille

 Some of Ms. Lucille's farm

TAKE PICTURES.

LOVE YOUR RELATIVES.

STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOUR RELATIVES

TAKE NOTES!

REACH OUT TO YOUR RELATIVES

because ...

YOU NEVER KNOW!

Time flies and life, even after 95 years! ... is too short.

Obits - for genealogical purposes

(Grandma Ollie had scrapbooks of newspaper clippings of obits. I have a blog/book archives.)

Goldsboro Daily News (N.C.), July 23, 2014

Lucille Gordon Aycock
July 23, 95, Fremont

Lucille Gordon Aycock, 95, 1058 Aycock Dairy Road died, Wednesday night at Kitty Askins with her family by her side.

Funeral, Friday 11:00 AM, Simon Aycock Cemetery, 1022 Aycock Dairy Road, Fremont.

Family will receive friends at the resident Thursday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM and following the committal service.
Mrs. Aycock is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. A native of Wayne County and was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Charles Aycock, Sr., a son, Larry Steven Aycock, her parents, Azzie Belle Barden Aycock and Ralph Gordon Aycock, brothers, Elton Aycock, Hubert Aycock, Wilton Aycock and Elbert Aycock, and grandson, Charles William Aycock.

Surviving, four sons; R. Charles Aycock, Jr. (Mary Ann) of Pikeville, Allen Glenn Aycock, Sr. (Jan), Phillip B. Aycock (Nanette) both of Fremont and Roger S. Aycock (Josephine) of Roper. Grandchildren; Connie Johnson (Jimmy), Russell Aycock (Paula), Brad Aycock (Kristi), Melissa Dobbs (Steve), Marie Littleton (Ken), Glenn Aycock, Jr., Julie Johnston (Jay), Suzanne Aycock, Jennie Ledford (Marty), Missie Brady (Chris), Molly Oliver (Chris), Phil Aycock (Veronica), Nancy Corbett (Mark) and Ryan Aycock (Amanda). Great-grandchildren; Hannah Aycock, Heather Johnson, Paige Johnson, Ethan Aycock, Rusty Aycock, Olivia Aycock, Sarah Aycock, Mitch Hurlburt, Stephanie Hurlburt, Megan Littleton, Garrett Littleton, Nathan Littleton, Sara Aycock, Elizabeth Aycock, Hunter Ledford, Fischer Ledford, Christine Oliver, Porter Brady, Katie Brady, Bella Oliver, Jacob Oliver, Wyatt Aycock, Wade Aycock, D. J. Terrell and Gwyneth Terrell

Goldsboro News-Argus (N.C.)

Published in Obituaries on July 24, 2014 1:48 PM 

Jan. 13, 1919-July 23, 2014

Lucille Gordon Aycock, 95, 1058 Aycock Dairy Road, Fremont, died Wednesday night at Kitty Askins with her family by her side.

Funeral Friday 11 a.m. Simon Aycock Cemetery, 1022 Aycock Dairy Road, Fremont.

Family will receive friends at the residence Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. and following the committal service.
Mrs. Aycock was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

A native of Wayne County, she was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Charles Aycock Sr.; a son, Larry Steven Aycock; her parents, Azzie Belle Barden Aycock and Ralph Gordon Aycock; and brothers, Elton Aycock, Hubert Aycock, Wilton Aycock and Elbert Aycock.

Surviving four sons, R. Charles Aycock Jr. (Mary Ann) of Pikeville, Allen Glenn Aycock (Jan) and Phillip B. Aycock (Nannette) both of Fremont and Roger S. Aycock (Josephine) of Roper; 13 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Kitty Askins Hospice Center.

Arrangements are by Evergreen Funeral Home of Goldsboro, and condolences may be made through www.evergreenmemorialservice.com.
(Pd)

Letters from Ollie J -- Sept. 10, 1981

Unless Mom has yet another stash tucked away in the 17-20 buckets of family photos, genealogy, and documents she has yet to deal with, I suspect that this probably will be the last of the letters from my grandmother.

It is so her though, set on the farm, the syntax, the chickens, mention of her siblings, a list of chores, and advice for me and the boys. Plus her love.

I wasn't quite 10 yet when I got this letter. Now Jed is all grown up and his kid is in 2nd grade - a year more than he was when Grandma wrote this and J.J.'s little Nathan is in the same position his Poppa was - home alone without his big siblings for the first time. And finally, that new bed in the basement she mentions at the end of the letter? I'm still sleeping on it - all these years later here in the Attic. Time has passed, and we're both banged up, bruised, scrapped, and dingy with white highlights, but ... we're still functional.

I love you too Grandma -- even if this new fangled computer and Internet and whole public journal/sharing of feelings thing would have made you totally uncomfortable.

10 September 1981

Dear Granddaughter,

Thank you for the nice letter. I read it with pleasure.

So glad you like your dress and hope it will last you a long time.

I'm fealing better. Had a cold and got some medicine which helped. I am staying busy. Helped Uncle Hyrum put down floor tile Saturday. So was up and down on my knees. There for I am sore muscle wise.

The aunts in Utah are doing fine. They were pleased with your gift. Aunt Shirley said she missed you. She went to California with Uncle Preston to a reunion with his Navy buddies. Hope they enjoyed themselves. Were to be gone three days.

So you are in fourth grade? How time flies. Been or seems such a short time ago when you were born. Now you are fast growing into a young lady. Study well and learn the things the teacher teaches you which are true.

Jed in first grade that's a big step for him. Help him learn what you already know.

I glad you could come and visit with me in Wayne County, N.C. Love having you all.

Well that old rooster is waking me up. Don't he crow like he's proud to be alive? The hens are not laying the eggs so fast right now. They take a rest period.

But your mom will fix you up a good lunch to take to school. One which will make you grow and learn well. You'll be proud to carry your pretty lunch boxes.

J.J. will be lonesome while you and Jed are at school so be kind to him when you get home.

I'm washing as I write this letter. I stop reload machine. So you can bet it is a beautiful sunshiney day. Was just a little cool to being with (fallish)

Uncle Hyrum sends his love. Uncle Carl is so busy not sure he heard me when I told him you said hi.

Your Mom told me on the phone you had a new bed in the basement. It must be pretty from what she said.

Take care of yourself and be a good girl. Help look after your brothers and love them not boss them.

I love each of you very much.

Kisses for all

Grandma [Ollie]

Have fun while Grandma [Roa] visits you.

Letters from Grandmas/40 Diamonds for 40 extras

Many of the blog entries this summer are due to culling through various materials that my mother had accumulated over the years, moved from Utah to CT, and ultimately, left in my possession when the CT house went on the market and they moved back west.

I've been staring at the Rubbermaid tub of stuff (stuffed animals, accordion files bursting with cards, "art," letters, reports cards, assignments, certificates, pictures, etc.) for over a year and half. I finally started tackling the stash, and have been sorting and sharing.

In doing so, I came across a treasure trove of birthday cards and notes from my aunts, great aunts, and most wonderfully, my grandmothers. I now have additions for the Letters from Grandmas installments, which went up a year or two ago. Touchingly, I have birthday cards that reflect my Grandpa Jack's presence in my life from birth to my 7th birthday.

Since this is my big 40th year, I feel that finding these forgotten gems are little touches from above, to let me know that my 40 Diamonds at 40 birthday wasn't forgotten.

Love you all Grandma Roa, Grandma Ollie J, and Grandpa Jack.

THANKS MOM!

Letters from Ollie J -- 1980 Extras

Note in my 8th Birthday Card. Please note that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) are baptized after a child has reached the age of 8, which is what my grandmother is referring to here:

9 Feb 1980

Hi honey,

We have plenty of snow on the ground here - And looks like we will get more.

I am fine and staying warm.

Hope you have a special Birthday. Would love to be with you today and when your Daddy Baptizes you - But can't in person but will be thinking of you.

Learn and be good.

Keep well and happy.

Love Grandma Ollie J

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

If you've been reading along in the Retroblogging 1980 entries, you'll remember that Grandma Ollie came to Utah to visit with us. Which was really fun. I don't remember sharing a room with her. Though, apparently, I did.

A little later this summer, we ended up moving to Connecticut. On the long ride east in the car with my Grandma Roa, and my two young brothers, we stopped by Grandma Ollie's Farm in North Carolina for a bit of a break. Two visits in one summer? Unprecedented, and probably not repeated.

12 August 1980

Dear granddaughter,

Thanks for sharing your bed room with me. Love being with you.

Thanks so much for the pictur you made and gave me. I will treasure it long.

I had a very nice trip home. Nice weather all the way.

Have been busy cutting grass and washing.

Yesterday I picked butterbeans shelled and froze them. So was very tired last night. Have helped Uncle Hyrum with his garden too.

Aunt Dot has [Uncle Hyrum's wife] her contact lins and hopes to get more help today so she can see again.

Hope you have a lovely trip.

Be good so your mother can drive careful.

Love you
Grandma [Ollie]

What would my grandmother think of her granddaughter gallivanting all over NYC by herself like I have been doing this summer? She'd probably keep her comments all to herself. After all, I'm just going where my mother has gone before me.

40 Diamonds for 40: Valentine from Daddy

It is said that a girl's first true love is her father, so it's only appropriate that my first love's entry for this project be posted on Valentine's Day.

Despite the nasty face shown below, I know this is exactly where Grumpa diligently spent hours uploading photos and text for this project. He's been my rock for years, through adolescence angst, auto-mechanical adventures, and employment exhaustion, and by staying steadfast in navigating the rapids of sibling and mother/daughter relationships.

I love you Daddy.

In the beginning

The beginning came on a early morning in Logan, Utah, February 1972 with this little bundle arrived with lots of dark hair. (Something that has not changed over the past 40 years. She shares those locks where ever she visits for weeks after she departs.)

It was not until April 2, 1972 that this little girl received a proper name and father's blessing.

The picture was taken that afternoon.

If I remember right the name given had been selected even before she was a gleam in her mother’s eye; a name that goes way back into family history. A name, it was later to be discovered, was 100 years earlier given to another little girl. (AN: That little girl’s headstone still hasn’t been found, poor tyke. RIP 1872-1878).

A better addition to a family could never be found for a first child. Warm, willing to be held, and, in spite of the picture, nearly staved for lack of food for the first months of life. Good thing she has grown up with a desire to share her baking with others. Still loving and warm to all she meets.

Yep, that is my little girl. And always will be!!

Sunday morning before Christmas 1975

If I were not so sure this was my three-year-old, I would think we were in Idaho looking at Miss Amber.

This is at the Logan home with Grandma Roa’s bowling ball Santa looking over your day. Those bowling ball holiday items have been back and forth across the country as many times as you have.

My, how you did like to show off for the camera way back then. I wonder what brought on the desire to stay behind the camera lens? (AN: Adolescence)

Five snap shots in the year of 1976

And you didn’t think you got to travel when you were little. This is also a way to show three different generations of women in your life.

January 1976 just before bed time: Could this be Auntie Nettie with Miss Amber last year? No this is mommy Mary and her special, quiet little girl at a time when being close was good for both. (AN: Mommy Mary is probably keeping an eye out on teeny tiny baby Jed most likely just out of view.)

Great Grandma Cora (Grandpa June’s mother) in what I think is her Delta, Utah house. (I don’t believe that Grandma Cora was up in Ogden at Grandma Roa’s house but I may be wrong.) Interesting that a hair cut took place between Jan. and May. (AN: Probably because Grandmary couldn’t deal with the feet of long hair that I would shed all over the house. This was the first of the short hairstyles I now wear. Also, I'm pretty sure that's a stash of yarn by the chair. What do you know: My addiction to acrylic polybends is hereditary!)

May 1976 at the same location as above (maybe), but not the same day!: This is Grandma Roa (my mother) with you and your brother Jed. Seems you liked each other enough then to sit in the same lap, for at least two minutes.

Our Miss Liberty in the summer of 1976, on her way to a Primary activity for the 4th of July: I think that was the last time you were allowed to pound with sticks on a drum. This is in the back yard of the Logan home.

Why we were traveling in October of 1976 to North Carolina, I don’t remember, but there you are sitting with Grandma Ollie and Grandpa Jack in their living room on the Farm. Grandpa Jack was still getting use to the idea of having happy feet in the house. Grandma Ollie was o.k. with the idea though. (Someday we will share the tractor photo with the world.)

So as you see, travel and parties took up a lot of your time for that year. No wonder you like getting out of the City to explore other places.

Note: Some of those same quilts are in the back room here in Utah even now.

Three more photos to complete this part of your life in review

All children should be so excited to attend first grade as you were to go to the Logan City, Wilson School in 1978. That was back when they wanted to get children into school early and teach them lots.

The hair cut and style was one that really made for a pretty girl.

July 8, 1979 Grandma Ollie made a trip to Logan to see her sisters and the grandchildren.

Looks like she still liked having you sit in her lap.

Always looking for a photo op you were.

Just two years later (October 1981) you were in Willimantic, CT playing the piano, and, even though she is not in the picture, Grandma Ollie was in the side room listening to your musical talents. Many an hour you sat there in the “Piano Room” getting ready for the many programs you performed in, not to mention the other piano and organ playing you were asked to do for high school programs and church meetings. Here you are, not yet a ten-year-old and showing great promise in a field that you have never been far away from since. (AN: Grandma Ollie actually gave me that piano for a birthday and I played the heck out of it. Poor keyboard.)

As your dad this review of your first few years of life has been very rewarding. Too many events to share with the world, but a ton of love to feel from the journey.

I really hope you know how proud both your mother and I are of all you have done, are doing, and have the ability to do, as you move forward in a life waiting for you to find the fulfillment you are looking for.