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
Memories
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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The Few, The Proud, The Centenarian Marine
I shall pass through this world but once. Any good thing, therefore, that I can do or any kindness that I can show any human being let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it for I shall not pass this way again. Stephen Grellet I immediately said yes when Jeanne asked … Continue reading The Few, The Proud, The Centenarian Marine
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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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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
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Finding Modoc Stash or How I Detoured Three Hours For an Old Geocache
Before I tell you my story, I should take a moment and explain that I am a Geocacher. Geocaching is a hobby in which people use multimillion-dollar satellites to find Tupperware in the woods. That may be a flip oversimplification. A little more of a concise definition for Geocaching may be: hunting for and finding … Continue reading Finding Modoc Stash or How I Detoured Three Hours For an Old Geocache
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Gotham Writers Workshop Assignment
I recently completed a creative writing course through the Gotham Writers Workshop. The following short post is the updated draft of the third week's assignment for Individuality. It is a rant piece on something I hate. Sand I hate sand. I have always hated sand. When I was a child, my mother would take my … Continue reading Gotham Writers Workshop Assignment
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Serendipity, Thy Name is Goat
The text of the email read as follows: "Don't ask how I got to your page but I may have what you are looking for..." Sometimes the universe surprises me. Something incredible happens, and I have no explanation for it. My father would call that a miracle. I will call it serendipity. We all have … Continue reading Serendipity, Thy Name is Goat
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Brooklyn Tour
It was my youngest sister's idea. In recognition of our parents' 60 years of marriage, we would return to where it all started. Brooklyn! The plan was pretty simple, Mom and Dad would come down from their home in Massachusetts with my sister and meet up with the rest of their children in Brooklyn. I … Continue reading Brooklyn Tour
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Addressing My Past
If you know anything about me, you will know I like to research and discover things about my ancestors. I do because, until a few years ago, I did not know all that much about them. Either side of the family was pretty much a mystery except for the O'Connells. For me, the O'Connells were … Continue reading Addressing My Past
Michael's Monologue 