“Look at everything always as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time: Thus is your time on earth filled with glory.”Betty Smith. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn A stoop is a staircase ending in a platform leading to a house or apartment building entrance. In Brooklyn, a stoop is so … Continue reading Three Generations of Brooklyn Stoops
Author: Michael
Up On The Roof
While listening to Spotify a few months ago, a James Taylor cover of “Up On The Roof,” by Carole King and Gerry Goffin, began playing. To me, the song is quintessentially about New York. As luck would have it, I was putting together flash drives of old family photos for my siblings at that moment … Continue reading Up On The Roof
Memorial Day Remembrance: Sidney Kelly and Sons in the Great War
Note: Sidney John Kelly, Sr. was my great grandfather. My mother is the daughter of Sidney Kelly, Sr.'s youngest son, Bernard L. Kelly. What follows was brought together from source documents I have acquired from the National Archives, The Naval History and Heritage Command, and the library system of the National Defense University, specifically the … Continue reading Memorial Day Remembrance: Sidney Kelly and Sons in the Great War
My Second Week at Home
“We have always held to the hope, the belief, the conviction, that there is a better life, a better world, beyond the horizon.” Franklin D. Roosevelt Social Distancing continues after a week back in the office. Does anyone have a method for breathing through a mask that does not include fogging your glasses? I came … Continue reading My Second Week at Home
“Essential” and in the Office
We, collectively, are in strange times. I work for an organization in the Department of Defense. What we do, in a nutshell, is match forces to capabilities required either overseas or here in the United States. These days, the focus is on medical units and personnel that can be spared from military clinical practice … Continue reading “Essential” and in the Office
My First Week of Social Distancing is in the Books
I am confident that you will agree with me when I say this is all very odd. COVID-19 has altered our reality and our sense of community. Spring is arriving on time in Virginia, but nothing is as it has been in the past. Last week I posted a list of the things that I … Continue reading My First Week of Social Distancing is in the Books
Eight Days, What To Do?
We have split into two cells at work to keep the numbers down in the office. This allows us to alternate weeks of self-isolation. I work in the Department of Defense, so there is plenty to be done to support Civil Authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is also the job of protecting the homeland. … Continue reading Eight Days, What To Do?
Information Sources on COVID-19
I can reasonably say that 2020 is not going the way I expected it would as Jeanne and I rang in the new year in Savannah. We knew that there was an outbreak of a virus at the time, but I never dreamed it would lead the world to where we are today. I hope … Continue reading Information Sources on COVID-19
2019 was a Challenge, I am looking Forward to 2020
I was looking at my blog this morning, thinking it was time to dust off my brain and get back to writing. 2019 was a challenging year, personally and professionally. I had to confront, head-on, some old demons, deal with a minor medical issue and adjust to a promotion at work for which I did … Continue reading 2019 was a Challenge, I am looking Forward to 2020
The Passing of a Friend
The last time I saw Bill Cole was at the 40th Class Reunion in Tannersville, Pennsylvania in May. I knew he was ill. But until that weekend, I was not aware of just how sick he really was. We were part of the class of 1978 from Notre Dame High School in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. … Continue reading The Passing of a Friend