Dad sent out a text to the family thread on March 10th. Mom's birthday was coming up, the first since we lost her last August. Since then, our family has been dealing with a year of firsts. I received my first solo singing of "Happy Birthday" on my birthday in November. Up until now, it … Continue reading Medium Format Negative
Brooklyn
Regina Ellen and the Cyclone
I received the following text from Dad on Monday, August 26: "Mom and I loved riding the Cyclone back in the day. Last Thursday, the cables malfunctioned, and that roller coaster has been suspended indefinitely." The "Last Thursday" in Dad's text was August 22, 2024. This is as Dickensian as I can be. You, dear … Continue reading Regina Ellen and the Cyclone
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Just Because Something Is Written In Stone
While I was taking the introductory course (online) in genealogy from Boston University, it was pointed out that you can't always take things at face value when you are searching for information about your ancestors. There are a few reasons for this. People don't always remember facts and stories correctly; some information passed down may … Continue reading Just Because Something Is Written In Stone
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The old Brownstone is for rent…
The "Siblings & Dad" thread on my phone pinged a few weeks ago on a Sunday morning. Bob, my brother, forwarded a link about the brownstone on 4th Street in the Park Slope neighborhood in Brooklyn that was home to my family in the 60s and early 70s. It is for rent. Wouldn't it be … Continue reading The old Brownstone is for rent…
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Small World…
The universe has a way of reminding us that we live on a small planet. I work in a government office in Southeastern Virginia. I am part of an eight-man team; six are government civilians, two are active-duty military officers. Of the eight, three have childhood roots in Brooklyn or Nassau County on Long Island. … Continue reading Small World…
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Three Generations of Brooklyn Stoops
“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 … Continue reading Three Generations of Brooklyn Stoops
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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
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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 Joint … Continue reading Memorial Day Remembrance: Sidney Kelly and Sons in the Great War
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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
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Family Genealogy: Anthony Cooke and the Photo of BFD Ladder 10
When it came to me, it was a copy. It was probably a copy of a copy. At some point, my maternal great-uncle, Edward O'Connell, sat down and drafted several pages of notes on the Cooke, Boyle, O'Connell, and Kelly families. I am not sure what his motivation for doing this may have been. When … Continue reading Family Genealogy: Anthony Cooke and the Photo of BFD Ladder 10
Michael's Monologue 