Retroblogging: Chicago Trip 2012, Art Institute

Art Institute of Chicago, January 2012

Arnold Rönnebeck
American, born Germany, 1885-1947

London Wedding, c. 1924

Bronze
35.6 x 15.2 x 15.9 cm (14 x 6 x 6 1/4 in.)
Signed: A. RONNEBECK Sc (second step edge)
Marked: KUNST-FOUNDRY N.Y. (rear top base)
Roger and J. Peter McCormick Endowments, 2004.490

For more information, click here.

Summer Weekends 2012: Holiday Honeymoon?

Even though the bosses gave us early dismissal on the Friday of Labor Day weekend, I decided to leave at my regular time*. I had no plans that required an early get-away, so I just stuck around. Metro-North has started adding extra trains for the evening rush, however, to accommodate all the traffic.

I got to Grand Central on Friday, to find that the boards weren't showing where my usual train was supposed to be. I headed into the vast room, to peer up and see if I could figure out what was up.

Of course, my train is the only one on these two display boards with no track showing.
In my head, I was muttering to people: "Get out of my way. I need to catch a train."
When I looked down, and said to myself: "WHOA! That's not the kind of train I was talking about."
Into the crowd of commuters, right in front of me as I looked up, blithely walked a bride and groom, who stood and posed for pictures for about a minute (look at her gazing up at him and the semi-blase New Yorkers)and then walked off---happily, I'm assuming--to their reception.Now, if I had left early for the weekend, I would have missed this little slice of NYC life. A scenario that lasted all of about 5 minutes total.

Taken with my iTouch - which I had out just to capture the irony that MY train (out of about 50) was the one with no listing.

*plus there was the fact that I left at 12 the day before for a lunch appointment, and simply put, just didn't go back to work at all. didn't tell anyone. didn't ask. just didn't go back.

Summer Fridays 2012: Afternoon in the Garden III

June, July and August have flown by, whipping through my allotment of Summer Fridays off from work. I decided that I should escape the Attic and the lists of projects and UFOs (unfinished objects) calling my name.

I filled my Sherpa bag with the camera, two books, a pillow, a huge thing of frozen water, a Toy Society donation, and a large floppy hat and headed off to the New York Botanical Garden.

I should have explored more. I know the roses are in bloom, the Monet Exhibition is changing for the season, plus there are his paintings in the Library, not to mention the Bronx River and my waterfall, but I headed back to my bench -- for the shade, nostalgia, and proximity to shops and restrooms. I lucked out too, the gardeners had two of those large fan sprinklers going on the hedges. When the wind was just right, I got a refreshing misting.

Afternoon rediscoveries: If you are still and really into your first book of the day, the sparrows will play in the puddles at your feet - drinking, dipping, and splashing in avian delight. If you move, you disturb them, so you learn. You learn to rest your camera on your chest and freeze until the other wildlife feels comfortable enough to come out and play. (Hello Mr. Chips.)

Solitude is a catalyst for innovation. ~ Susan Cain

Reading through Susan Cain's Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, you also discover answers and a fellowship of other introverts. You decide that you MUST copy pages and pages of this novel to present to supervisors and human resource representatives to explain your difficulties and dilemmas in your current working set-up. It's a relief to see written down the whys and hows, and oh, yes - that's me ... that's always been me and thank goodness someone else gets it, and discover that not only have you already learned how to cope/function with scenarios over the years, but why some other situations have been so much more difficult lately.

Seriously, even though I glossed over some of the more technical scientific/psychological stuff, I devoured this whole book in an afternoon -- in the quiet seclusion that I need and crave after a week commuting to New York and dealing with all my work stress. Check out the author's website about the book at: http://www.thepowerofintroverts.com/about-the-book/
[Yo - this means you DAD, J and Ms. Jenn!]

After finishing this book, the afternoon public hours at the Garden were drawing to a close, so I packed up and decided to meander back to the train. I inadvertently almost crashed a wedding. Nice venue - and later - whoops there's the bridal party. Let's get out of the way before the wedding photographer gets annoyed.

I also left a Toy Society token behind for someone to take home with them. Maybe a wedding guest found it? Or one of the bunnies grazing around the various beds and walls thought it was a special friend?

Hints of fall already are creeping in, (and I don't mean the Christmas Creep which is a whole other thing that is super annoying about the "end of summer"), with the beginnings of leaves falling, blooms moving into the yellows, browns, and golds of fall, and summer twilight casting a rosy glow.

Bye bye "official" Summer Fridays. I shall miss you, so much!

Unofficially, I will be "sick" a lot of Fridays/Mondays in September/October, just to tide me through 'til Thanksgiving. (Or something. I'm pretty sure my supervisor(s) and HR don't read this. I hope so anyway.)

40 Diamonds for 40: Winding Down Memory Lane with Wendy

Besides my friend Jenn, "brother" Dan, and my relatives, one of the other people that I've known for the longest amount of time is my friend Wendy. Wendy and her youngest child Ms. Emily have been featured on this blog before, when they've visited NY and I've gone back up to CT.

It's a wonderful thing to have friendships that have survived the test of time, teens, tempestuous relationships, and have transcended periods of time with little to no communications. It's a scarey thing, however, when they have the photographic documentation and/or other evidence of the past that might, or might not, be incriminating. Being "preacher's kids" means that what might not seem incriminating to others is almost scandalous for us. Also, being "mature" examples to the next generation means that only we can know the details of our deep "dark" secrets.

From church halls, church grounds when we played "hookey" from classes, church dances, church camps, to being attendant at her first wedding (my first time as maid of horror/honor), to phone calls from Connecticut and Utah to discuss parents, siblings, and/or the "current state of affairs", and now New York visits with and without kids and spouses -- it doesn't seem like it's been almost 30 years.

Perhaps now, with pictures* and dates, Ms. Emily will FINALLY get that her crazy mom and I have actually know each other since before we were her age.

Thanks Ms. Wend. See you in NYC soon. We'll "tawlk!"

Flashback to 1986

Having dads of authority at church tends to draw kids together. It also makes you wish that maybe you aren’t such a goody-two-shoes in the eyes of the rest of the kids. Unfortunately what I can find for photos doesn’t help our case.

This is July 4th 1986 at a church picnic with our families. Nope, no trouble here.

How about girls camp that same year? Yet again just some good friends hanging out. I am glad we always had each other.

Now in the process of looking for photos my kids have discovered two things. I couldn’t spell back then and maybe I should be reported to hoarders for the odd things I have saved over the years. But I think I must have just known back then I would need something corny for this particular reason.

Yes, going to the mall and out for pizza was a big deal for me because if it didn’t have to do with school or church we didn’t really go anywhere. To me, Auntie Nettie, you were hip and happening since you would go off to New York City and other adventures.

Flashforward to 2011-201?:

*It was the 1980s. Be nice. Also, apparently my new 'do isn't as radical as I thought. What's old is new again.

40 Diamonds for 40: Journeys with Mrs. Jenn

One of the perils of allowing photos to be part of this 40 Diamonds project was knowing that I was opening Pandora's box. It's one thing when it's family, it's a whole other thing when you have friendships going back more than 30 years.

One of the longest enduring friendships I have dates from middle school, one of my 27 Jennifers -- Ms. Jenny, once Jen, and now Jenn, MRS. Jenn. After all this time, we have been mistaken for sisters, which is almost true at this point. If you look on my phone, she's id'd as: Jenn, Practically Sister.

Our path to a pair of "besties" has ebbed and flowed. I first met one of our core group, Shannon, in third grade and we survived elementary school together -- paired as "advanced" students and we were off doing our own thing in a reading group of two, perusing materials from the middle school curriculum. Then we traveled up the hill to middle school, where we met Jenny. Jenny became Jen and then Jenn, and she, Shannon, and I had various classes and activities that overlapped, and for a time, it was really Jenn and Shannon that were the closest.

These are some of the earliest surviving shots of the trio circa middle school. (The 1980s were not kind in so many fashion areas!)

Our middle school trio expanded to a quartet in high school with the addition of Rachel. We ate together, lockered near each other, had overlapping classes and interests, had sleepovers, traveled to NYC on school trips and Trips by Mary (tm), watched Anne of Green Gables and swooned over Gilbert Blythe together, and even all played "hookey" all at the same time (thanks Mom!).

High School: Senior Photos and Yearbook Candids o' Nettie and Jenny

I perfected my guerrilla photography techniques in the halls of the high school. From banquets, to ambushes by the lockers, Jenn was in the action -- with Rachel (l) and Shannon (c and r).

Don't let Ms. Prim and Proper fool you. She'll flip you off when the flash hits too. The '80s were the perm years, for both of us, but by senior year the layers were growing out - to 'fro status.

Graduation led all of us in different directions, first to college, then to different states and coasts, and different life and career paths. Even with social media, e-mail, and cell phones, we've lost track of people. From two, to three and four, now we're back down to two. Whenever I head back to New England, a trip is not complete without visiting Jenn, in whatever home she's residing. Even though one childhood homestead is gone, I know I always have a place at the White House Inn B&B with Jenn and her family.

Speaking of trips: No mention of Jenn could be complete without mentioning all the trips to the Cape, starting with a graduation trip with Shannon, my mom and grandma -- leading to duo trips with just me and Jenn. From whale watching trips, to exploring P-town, to old piers, and winding our way up and down Route 6A to Mashpee and back, the Cape is where we need to go to retreat -- preferably sometime soon, after a 40th trip to Newport.

Thanks Mrs. Jenny from the W-Block!

Happy Birthday to Auntie Nettie! The big 4-0!

So folks, here is my "Nettie story"...

I met Auntie Nettie when we were in 6th grade in Mrs. Moore's reading class at Kramer Middle School. Who knew then that so many years later we would still be friends, and actually I am happy to report--Best Friends. We’ve survived middle school, high school and college and are now enjoying the "Real World," as they call it.

To an outsider looking at us, we do have very different lives: I am married and living in the suburbs with my family and Auntie Nettie is single and living in/near the City; however, we have a past that ties us together, a present that keeps us in weekly contact and a future that may include us rocking together on a front porch when we are in our eighties!

We’ve been through good and bad, happy and sad and I consider myself lucky to have a friend like Auntie Nettie. While we have spent many happy times together exploring the Cape, watching USA network shows and discussing our Ranger vs. Morelli theories, I also know that if I am having a bad day, week or even month that Auntie Nettie always has an ear to listen to my troubles and a shoulder to cry on.

One of my happiest days was when she stood up for me as my Maid of Honor at my 2002 wedding. (Of course, she called in Maid of Horror! That is Auntie Nettie for you!) Hopefully she will attach the pictures as proof!

So Happy Birthday Nettie, and here's to 40 more for us! Meet you on the porch!

Love,

Jenn

(Only for Jenn -- bridal shower photos and bridal shots)

Happy Anniversary Grandmary and Grumpa Max!

Appropriate words for my parents on their anniversary:

For you there shall be no longing,
for you shall be fulfillment to each other;
For you there shall be no harm,
for you shall be a shield for each other;
For you there shall be no falling,
for you shall be support to each other;
For you there shall be no sorrow,
for you shall be comfort to each other;
For you there shall be no loneliness,
for you shall be company to each other;
For you there shall be no discord,
for you shall be peace to each other;
And for you there shall be no searching,
for you shall be an end to each other.

~ Kawaida Marriage Commitment

Happy 15th Anniversary!

If I have a hard time wrapping around my head around one sibling being married for a decade, I really have a hard time contemplating the fact that the other one has been married now for 15 years.

Congratulations you crazy kids. Here's to an infinity more.

I've ducked back into the photo albums to post pictures from Jed and Kelli's backyard reception at ye old Connecticut homestead. The funny thing is that the little boy in the bottom left photo is actually this gigantic 6 foot Military Man.