tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41460731391292711802024-03-13T01:17:26.538-07:00me and you and ellieMe, You, or Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13159195620327366257noreply@blogger.comBlogger2670125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4146073139129271180.post-3583733838211141392022-08-29T05:00:00.106-07:002022-08-29T17:45:08.057-07:00The Corey Girls' Eulogies for Mary Beth<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPK0o-w1Mm9HGaofhAK2KZNpqE4ZfGA9doMNb26_3uMfKQnxuWRGlgJgp9L9l4LTn7dIQHBdsdRHWgDWdEgfIq9ASD6p5gPHozp7xqW6Fb7dH7lCsndxTwIyYF09Igr9t4y_UMrB6SKhWr2Q8Z7j08wv7FjqiMjH5w1sx3aR4vXGS-H1a_Nq9Pfqi/s2897/Mary%20Beth%20Corey,%20photo.jpg" style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2897" data-original-width="2382" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPK0o-w1Mm9HGaofhAK2KZNpqE4ZfGA9doMNb26_3uMfKQnxuWRGlgJgp9L9l4LTn7dIQHBdsdRHWgDWdEgfIq9ASD6p5gPHozp7xqW6Fb7dH7lCsndxTwIyYF09Igr9t4y_UMrB6SKhWr2Q8Z7j08wv7FjqiMjH5w1sx3aR4vXGS-H1a_Nq9Pfqi/w329-h400/Mary%20Beth%20Corey,%20photo.jpg" width="329" /></a></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b>4/20/60 - 7/27/22</b></i></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 27.600000381469727px;">Jacquie<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 27.600000381469727px;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hI6zRKxebh98z_7UPOgsg4wy8NLLudsWWC7H1Bp20YeMLRyPnrQzWNYkzp3UkviEpoWfHzA2UhvlJLAo11_mATO6IYFk7fdL8kYZi0pwpLk5offtpWWggIPIAlCJIf7n37rJB4CtFGmov4gC8lGBTvogfwdqL278QWnqnZQJ5P6rxTxUOHsc65Zo/s960/295670261_10223361895374315_4433730164865751096_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="946" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hI6zRKxebh98z_7UPOgsg4wy8NLLudsWWC7H1Bp20YeMLRyPnrQzWNYkzp3UkviEpoWfHzA2UhvlJLAo11_mATO6IYFk7fdL8kYZi0pwpLk5offtpWWggIPIAlCJIf7n37rJB4CtFGmov4gC8lGBTvogfwdqL278QWnqnZQJ5P6rxTxUOHsc65Zo/w394-h400/295670261_10223361895374315_4433730164865751096_n.jpg" width="394" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Hello everyone, we are so glad that you're here.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">I'm Jacquie, the youngest Corey sister.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">We are ... of course ... inconceivably ... here to honor the life of my sister, our sister, your friend, colleague, cousin, niece, Auntie, great Auntie ...<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Our Mar.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">She was small, but we called Mary Beth "Biggest"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">She was the eldest, the trailblazer, the OG.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Upon first glance, Mary Beth's slight stature might be perceived as encompassing a passive or meek disposition. But then you'd catch a keen glance, a perfectly executed grammatical sentence, a quiet zinger of a witty retort, and you'd know that this woman was, as I often describe my daughter Clara, small but mighty.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">When we were kids, Mary Beth towered over us physically and reigned over us proprietorially. She was taller, older, cooler, smarter, better dressed, and better looking. As we grew into women who morphed into basically the same physical form, she maintained her status as the uncontested best sister.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Who's better than you? (Mary Beth)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">I was the youngest to Mar's biggest, and we shared a unique dichotomy as bookends to the four middle children between us. We had a special bond that manifested in truly unique agreements ... she bailed me out of a few tricky circumstances when I was young and getting into trouble. In fact, l kept Mary Beth's phone number on hand in case there was ever a need for actual authorities to call my guardian (there never was, Clara. I swear). And we had a long running ritual of sharing a popular song that we'd adapted to express the love between us ... we'd write the lyrics to each other in birthday cards, on important papers, once on the wall of my closet, her jug of contact solution, and in the border of my beloved Shawn Cassidy poster (which was also defiled by a curly mustache which no one has owned up to to this day) ...<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">that special song went a little something like this:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Whenever I see your smiling face<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">It makes me want to puke<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Because you're ugly<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Yes you are<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">She was so funny, so irreverent, so engaged and connected and invested in her family, her friends, her city, her life. Her beautiful, enviable, adventure filled, achingly private life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">How can that life be so suddenly gone?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">It doesn’t make any sense. We all know that. We are all reeling, feeling the shock and disbelief and trauma of watching her light extinguish right in front of our eyes. It is impossible to imagine a world without the light of Mary Beth’s life, so let’s not. Let’s keep it illuminated. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">In sorting through Mar’s apartment this week, we came across a snippet among the eclectic and copious notes that surrounded us, and it seemed like a nice way to close.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">It’s a quote from Louise Penny that Mar had been compelled to jot down. It reads:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">We just don’t know<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">The key is to keep going<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Joy might be just around the corner.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">We’ll keep going, Mary Beth, but it won’t be as fun.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 27.600000381469727px;">Julie<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 27.600000381469727px;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihze_EV84oXFVjuD6v5-tGDtIqHPuxhUI62T0pad_Fw58WO31C9yR8CkYng075oG1N2RS4CJc_18c315M8csOK4DDNejdHVFz1VAfeOU0oyqoLy41OsurTW3F8rJ49XtP9kEtqnL3k0YT0azMvWHUeQ4-v8H0AfOV6Vf0VDZIwh1uA2KlvlX6hB5PC/s960/296959429_10225811260300806_622249966955427595_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="691" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihze_EV84oXFVjuD6v5-tGDtIqHPuxhUI62T0pad_Fw58WO31C9yR8CkYng075oG1N2RS4CJc_18c315M8csOK4DDNejdHVFz1VAfeOU0oyqoLy41OsurTW3F8rJ49XtP9kEtqnL3k0YT0azMvWHUeQ4-v8H0AfOV6Vf0VDZIwh1uA2KlvlX6hB5PC/w288-h400/296959429_10225811260300806_622249966955427595_n.jpg" width="288" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">My earliest memories of Mary Beth are of her sitting in the den reading a book and eating and apple, ignoring me. She was the oldest and just so cool, so she didn’t want much to do with me, but I noticed everything she did, and took note. She set the stage for her younger siblings. We watched her move gracefully through life, excelling in school and sports, listening to rad music, bringing home super cool friends. When she went off to college, I got to visit her one weekend and it was pretty much the highlight of my life. Her roommate’s little sister also came and we soaked it all up. There were gorgeous boys, our big sisters readying for their night out, and tales of a late night sledding accident, replete with a hospital visit for Mar’s date to get stitches. It was amazing. And I was just in the dorm room, eating pistachio nuts with my new friend. We got quite an education on college life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Then Mar moved to NYC and cemented her rock star status. For the ages, we had a place to crash and an expert tour guide when visiting the city. It wasn’t until I moved to the Virgin Islands that Mary Beth also developed an interest in me – she visited every year. Those were some great times with her. My babies were little and she got to be in it with them. And I was still a baby, so having her there brought a sense of home. But mostly fun and shenanigans.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">As time passed, and life flowed by, Mar continued to set the precedent. She never missed a birthday, and we’d always get a prompt thank-you note when she was the recipient. She was diligent in asking about everyone, and really wanted to know. She tended to us all, especially our mom in the years after Dad died. Her visits and commitment to their connection was everything to mom, and so comforting to us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">We got to have all six sisters together in April, when we gathered after mom died to clear out mom’s condo. It was such a sad time, but we got to be fully in it together, digging in to the photos and papers and mementos of the Corey Family history, laughing and crying and singing together, as we do. We were appreciating the novelty of it as we were in it, realizing the last time we six gathered without significant others, parents or kids was probably the night we saw Simon and Garfunkel at Shea Stadium in the 80s. We all stayed at her Woodside apartment. I got underaged trashed and, dancing to the music infamously exclaimed, “Come on, you guys, get into it!” When you hear my sisters say that, know that they are mocking me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">It's pretty amazing to me that we had Christmas together last year with mom, and that April weekend with Mar.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Notoriously private, Mar was reluctant to let us into the fold when she realized she was sick. She wanted to handle this and manage it for us. But very quickly she was very, very sick, and she understood it wasn’t manageable, and she let us in. The rug got pulled out from under our world, but I’ll be forever grateful to have had those last 18 hours with her. We got to take care of her, finally.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Mar lived a life playfully, but controlled, without spelling errors, with immense love for family, with dignity and with joy.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">She left this world peacefully and with utter grace.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Still showing us how it’s done.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Except it's hard to know what we do now without her.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 27.600000381469727px;">Ann<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 27.600000381469727px;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQCulXc8YyFws07GZcvVisSQZ9lDlnf0B7LHAmGpysbzIh0GIkukYen6jwiSlSIO-OHTXRIeJS4X8WFcmDhts2bDvYtp2KhkWMkGqH3vViZCkTgiHsSUGDYOztwmBIg7T0CWmIBioIgAjMXg5qJpBPfpDAkkIf7LUcg6-ujZ4LEdpJuDSO6yUYa2aq/s908/20220314_153700%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="597" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQCulXc8YyFws07GZcvVisSQZ9lDlnf0B7LHAmGpysbzIh0GIkukYen6jwiSlSIO-OHTXRIeJS4X8WFcmDhts2bDvYtp2KhkWMkGqH3vViZCkTgiHsSUGDYOztwmBIg7T0CWmIBioIgAjMXg5qJpBPfpDAkkIf7LUcg6-ujZ4LEdpJuDSO6yUYa2aq/w263-h400/20220314_153700%20(1).jpg" width="263" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Smile for the Ages (Todd Nigro)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Mary Beth, each day with you was special, it’s hard to express,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">I loved your voice, smile, laugh, and your sweet tenderness.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Your joyful, playful spirit was such a contagious one,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">A minute in your presence was bursting with fun.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">I always enjoyed our adventures playing on the beach,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">It’s heart breaking to realize you’re not within my reach.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">You were so amazing and beautiful in so many ways,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Sincere, giving, and loving through all of your days.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">I wish I could hug you right now, why did you have to go?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">These days are hard without you, but this you should know,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">When the day comes to join you in that heavenly place,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A beautiful smile for the ages will be on my face!</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 27.600000381469727px;">Ellie<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 27.600000381469727px;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCH5EhnTaW-XwxnvxTlOy4IwWCKQl5Bo-B4bq7LR5IXmyLbwFBTH8ePAHULMRXNPjUeSphJfx8R14GqsbGSg-EdHDO8JO3BC18AiGQoN3FnKB3JGwUM9lqLmcBvUvBlHvXBtqmqYS5Uv2OFX6nfu3g-SRbU-hB8FriLfjfW_--E6bHOXvWxTPEpdn/s2168/IMG_3965.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2168" data-original-width="1448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCH5EhnTaW-XwxnvxTlOy4IwWCKQl5Bo-B4bq7LR5IXmyLbwFBTH8ePAHULMRXNPjUeSphJfx8R14GqsbGSg-EdHDO8JO3BC18AiGQoN3FnKB3JGwUM9lqLmcBvUvBlHvXBtqmqYS5Uv2OFX6nfu3g-SRbU-hB8FriLfjfW_--E6bHOXvWxTPEpdn/w268-h400/IMG_3965.jpeg" width="268" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">I’m going to read a paragraph from my favorite book, <i>Charlotte’s Web</i>. I’m going to read the <i>last</i> paragraph of my favorite book, <i>Charlotte’s Web</i>. So if you haven’t read it . . . spoiler alert.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">E.B.White is a writer who wrote about writing. He wrote about <i>how</i> to write. He’s the best writer who ever lived, in my opinion. I’ve only been able to read children’s books since Mary Beth died -- I revisited <i>Stuart Little</i> and I revisited <i>Charlotte’s Web</i>, and I realized I wanted to share this paragraph with you, so I brought my copy from New London, from home. But then I got to Mary Beth’s apartment and of <i>course</i>, there was a copy on her shelf, her massive paperback fiction shelf, right there in the W’s. So I brought this copy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">The inside front cover says:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Ann Corey<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Mr. Yates<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Sister Cramer 11:30-1:00<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">And then the title page says:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Jacquie Corey<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Grade 3<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Sister Moroney<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">And the inside back cover has a little taped-on homemade library card, because, well, that’s how the Corey Girls roll.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Mr. Zuckerman took fine care of Wilbur all the rest of his days, and the pig was often visited by friends and admirers, for nobody ever forgot the year of his triumph and the miracle of the web. Life in the barn was very good—night and day, winter and summer, spring and fall, dull days and bright days. It was the best place to be, thought Wilbur, this warm delicious cellar, with the garrulous geese, the changing seasons, the heat of the sun, the passage of swallows, the nearness of rats, the sameness of sheep, the love of spiders, the smell of manure, and the glory of everything.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Wilbur never forgot Charlotte. Although he loved her children and grandchildren dearly, none of the new spiders ever quite took her place in his heart. She was in a class by herself. It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><i style="font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Charlotte was both.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 27.600000381469727px;">Jane<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 27.600000381469727px;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwTpndkwxT-1HW7HLZ9-eAmBVnW3Or1DmeNBDNM0dzwZUu26I80qGn0fufWhXDSIeYu5jkqXrusokTJRMnyKVkB3af6mQF-I4TcDX60cawAG1qFnQPJU5Lp9OD2TstdnSbWvDb0ewnjTIS6JSUVo6X24abD1VmViXIc4t8ZQSJUAO77hm4fgoGTYt/s750/296751531_10226272002418441_6202312291142173294_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwTpndkwxT-1HW7HLZ9-eAmBVnW3Or1DmeNBDNM0dzwZUu26I80qGn0fufWhXDSIeYu5jkqXrusokTJRMnyKVkB3af6mQF-I4TcDX60cawAG1qFnQPJU5Lp9OD2TstdnSbWvDb0ewnjTIS6JSUVo6X24abD1VmViXIc4t8ZQSJUAO77hm4fgoGTYt/w400-h400/296751531_10226272002418441_6202312291142173294_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">I am Jane, the fifth daughter.<span> </span>Mary Beth is 7 years older than me, so she went to college when I was 11.<span> </span>So much of our relationship really developed after she left home.<span> </span>But that does not mean that her influence on my childhood wasn’t significant.<span> </span>It was. I was thinking the other day about her role in our family.<span> </span>What’s interesting, on reflection, is Mary Beth’s style.<span> </span>We have a lot of alphas in this family, and MB was strong, to be sure, but she absolutely taught by example versus bluster or pulling rank.<span> </span>Yet her influence was profound.<span> </span>And she taught us a lot.<span> </span>I want to share with you some of the lessons I learned from Mary Beth, aka Biggest:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><ol start="1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">How to be an adult<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Before she headed off to Holy Cross, as I remember it,<span> </span>MB was sort of your typical sullen teenager, closed away in her bedroom at the top of the stairs.<span> </span>A lot of grunting and reading.<span> </span>But when MB came home from College in 1982, she lived at home for a while and reverse commuted to her first job, in Stamford.<span> </span>I was a sophomore in high school.<span> </span>So in addition to inheriting the sweet AMC Pacer she left when she moved into the city, I gained some lessons from watching a 22 year old who was just embarking out on the world:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">I learned that you take your work seriously. Mary Beth was a hard worker, she was loyal, she was professional, she was utterly reliable, if MB said she was going to do something, she did it.<span> </span>she was detailed, she was patient.<span> </span>She modeled the motto that I think we all adopted: to work hard and play hard.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">I learned that you should vote, that you shouldn’t be afraid to form and offer opinions, and that you should read the paper, (Ollie North story).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><ol start="2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">How to be a woman. <o:p></o:p></span></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">In a family of women, with a strong mom, there was a lot of attention both internally and externally to the issue of womanhood.<span> </span>And MB, as the oldest, set a strong example. She showed me that being a strong, independent woman is something to aspire to, that it was cool. She taught me that Aging is ok.<span> </span>I asked her, when she was turning 40, how she felt about it, and her answer was:<span> </span>awesome.<span> </span>Same for 50. And 60.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">She taught me not to let anyone get away with gender biased bullshit. And, related to that, that it’s cool to be a woman who likes and can talk sports (convo at bar story).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><ol start="3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">How to be a friend<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">MB tended to her friendships:<span> </span>Look around – NHS class of 78, Bettswood Rd & Jackson Drive, Shorehaven, Holy cross, BBDO, her OG friends Robin and Mary – she showed up, she participated, said yes.<span> </span>She was incredibly thoughtful and encouraging.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><ol start="4" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">How to be an Aunt;<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">She was so good to my kids.<span> </span>She always asked about them, and invariably sent cash, gift wrapped, that arrived on time.<span> </span>We are pretty good about thank you notes in our family, but there was one year when our kids, early in the bday cycle, had tarried a bit on sending those thank you notes out.<span> </span>MB called it out – and she was right! And they never forgot thank you notes again.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><ol start="5" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">How to be a daughter<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">For the past few years, w/ Covid, MB started visiting mom every other week, laden w/ food and flowers and wine.<span> </span>She understood that what Mom craved most was company, and Mar was generous with her time and gave that to mom. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><ol start="6" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Lastly, how to be a sister.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">She took care of us and took her role as eldest seriously. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Looking through old pictures, it’s so striking: she has her hand on one of our shoulders, or is giving us a bath, or is holding one of us as babies in every picture.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">She was good to us.<span> </span>She was sassy, but she was kind.<span> </span>There was no mistaking her authority, even as a little kid, but she was always nice to me and to my friends, never made us feel belittled or stupid.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">She was so affirming.<span> </span>Every email – there was a lot, she acknowledged every single thing each of us said.<span> </span>I miss that. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">And she showed up.<span> </span>Showed up to move Ann, showed up for my 40<sup>th</sup> and my 50<sup>th</sup>, for Jacquie’s 50<sup>th</sup>.<span> </span>Every time we came to CT, she came out from the city to visit.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">And she was fun.<span> </span>She was so game and her attitude was always YES.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">-I want to close with one of my favorite memories of MB.<span> </span>When Julie was still living on St. John, MB and I coordinated and visited for a week.<span> </span>The restaurant that Julie and Mike owned was busy, so Mar and I decided we would head over to Cruz Bay for dinner.<span> </span>Julie and Mike said we could take their truck, which was terrifying b/c they drive on the wrong side of the road there, but we went out to the parking lot and hopped in the truck, where the keys, as usual, were in the ignition. We got underway and after a few minutes Mar noticed that there was a birthday card<span> </span>that said “happy birthday to my son” on the seat, which we thought was weird, since Mike’s birthday was months away.<span> </span>But we filed it away as, weird but whatever, Mike must have given someone a ride.<span> </span>And then we sort of slowly noticed that the interior of the truck seemed odd, and not quite what we remembered. There was something hanging from rear view window that we hadn’t seen before.<span> </span>We looked at eachother with sort of dawning realization, and Mar reached into the glove box and pulled out the registration, and in horror we realized that this was not Julie and Mike’s truck.<span> </span>We were freaking out. We turned around, went back to the restaurant, intending to go inside and tell whoever’s truck it was, but then, as we pulled into the parking lot and saw the right truck, we both sort of nodded to eachother and got into Julie and Mike’s truck and drove away.<span> </span>We weren’t going to tell anyone, but, later that night we couldn’t resist, and told Julie and Mike, who immediately realized whose truck we had stolen. We roared in laughter and sort of stored that away as a crazy vacation faux pas.<span> </span>A couple nights later, in Cruz bay, Mary Beth and I were having a drink and got to talking to someone at the bar.<span> </span>Suddenly, the guy next to him said, you are julie’s sisters! You’re the ones who stole my truck!<span> </span>Word had gotten out.<span> </span>We bought him a drink, made amends, and have had a great story to tell for 30 years.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">It’s impossible to imagine our family without Mary Beth. We will press on, because we have to, but the Corey sisters have lost our mentor, our cheerleader, our OG. We love you, Mar.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzC11VTBsDz4H4pvtT-gj3nGxAcXkTkhGZ2eWGglo_3Wu9WUtw4p7g8gFawuDs9IOzhnzTAAs0eGVy5QeoaUn0CnFGxCLghqBzuqLAKL32zQPEuP_zTIKQJC4zCkYzlEZ2lUNbOpYHnD0_igdUj_en1nu6cTaRUlEWtCoLRLuM7Pnjf1FtgQ3kwqQ/s2912/IMG_2330.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2545" data-original-width="2912" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzC11VTBsDz4H4pvtT-gj3nGxAcXkTkhGZ2eWGglo_3Wu9WUtw4p7g8gFawuDs9IOzhnzTAAs0eGVy5QeoaUn0CnFGxCLghqBzuqLAKL32zQPEuP_zTIKQJC4zCkYzlEZ2lUNbOpYHnD0_igdUj_en1nu6cTaRUlEWtCoLRLuM7Pnjf1FtgQ3kwqQ/w400-h350/IMG_2330.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>We do. </i></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>We love you, Mary Elizabeth.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>And we miss you like crazy.</i></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.866666793823242px;"><span lang="EN"> </span></p></div>Me, You, or Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13159195620327366257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4146073139129271180.post-86614301808948279362022-08-02T14:30:00.008-07:002022-08-02T16:24:52.845-07:00Our Mary Elizabeth<div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXt772foRN3TES5jJKVswZcSIk1K9XHNXtiH4xwFi9lRQD4lNB59u84WiuLzlUhlEbJuu7SFXGxvoMBnyg17j-xKqVjY2KasGmu1WexfmvlDPXTWsHQhV1YZ0BqeLcs96zqQtTLP3rNYEYseOyK52U1VRozV5lmHnYWFYMx_7NnO9_lvptzHLIv5r/s2897/Mary%20Beth%20Corey,%20photo.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2897" data-original-width="2382" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXt772foRN3TES5jJKVswZcSIk1K9XHNXtiH4xwFi9lRQD4lNB59u84WiuLzlUhlEbJuu7SFXGxvoMBnyg17j-xKqVjY2KasGmu1WexfmvlDPXTWsHQhV1YZ0BqeLcs96zqQtTLP3rNYEYseOyK52U1VRozV5lmHnYWFYMx_7NnO9_lvptzHLIv5r/s320/Mary%20Beth%20Corey,%20photo.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>Mary Beth Corey, 62, of Manhattan, beloved sister, aunt, niece, cousin and friend, died at home with her sisters beside her on July 27, 2022 after a sudden and swift illness. <div><div><br /></div><div>Mary Beth was born in Worcester, MA and was raised with her five sisters in Norwalk, Connecticut. Mary Beth was a standout student at Norwalk High School, Class of '78, and graduated from the College of the Holy Cross, where she majored in English. </div><div><br /></div><div>Shortly after graduation, Mary Beth moved to New York City, where she lived and worked for the rest of her adult life.
Mary Beth's positive, supportive energy infused every relationship in her life; she was a truly selfless and kind soul, with a dazzling smile. Mary Beth was up for anything, always happy to meet for a drink or attend a concert or watch a game. She was unfailingly supportive and loyal to her wide circle of friends and family. She opened her cozy Manhattan apartment to visitors, and would often send helpful notes and maps in advance of their trip to the City. </div><div><br /></div><div> Mary Beth was everybody's cheerleader. She adored her nieces and nephews - they could always count on a birthday card in the mail from Aunt Mary Beth with some gift-wrapped cash. Her niece Colleen captured her beloved aunt perfectly when she described Mary Beth as "brilliant, independent, sarcastic and kind." </div><div><br /></div><div>The novelty of the six Corey sisters was celebrated by the family and marveled at by those who encountered them, especially because they were uniquely close, and the love shared by the Corey family was plainly clear. That the sister count is reduced to five is a heartbreak of its own, achingly compounded by the recent loss of the beloved Corey matriarch, Ellen. </div><div><br /></div><div>Mary Beth and Ellen had a deep and devoted bond. Mary Beth traveled to Connecticut every other Sunday to visit her mom. They would share drinks and snacks and catch up while watching sports, usually enjoying what mom always referred to as 'the golf.' Her parents loved their daughters fiercely, and although they made sure all six knew unconditional love, there was an obvious favorite. A common catch-phrase among the sisters was: "Who's better than you?" To which the correct answer was, always, "Mary Beth". </div><div><br /></div><div>Mary Beth was a voracious reader - the upper west side apartment where she lived for 30 years positively teems with books - and an avid sports fan, for the New York Giants, the New Jersey Devils, UConn basketball, and especially the New York Mets. The night before she died, with four of her sisters in the room, she flipped on the radio to listen to the Mets-Yankees game. Her eyes were closed, and if you didn't know Mar it might have appeared that she was dozing off. But when Torres struck out swinging in the top of the 9th, clinching the game for the Mets, she and her sister Ellie instantly and simultaneously raised their arms in a silent fist pump. </div><div><br /></div><div>Mary Beth worked for most of her career in advertising, and spent the last two decades as an indispensable member of the administrative team at Della Femina advertising in New York. Jerry Della Femina said to Mary Beth's sisters, "I don't know how I am going to manage without her." Her five younger sisters, and their families, feel the same way. </div><div><br /></div><div>Mary Beth is survived by her sisters and brothers-in-law, Ann Corey, Ellie Corey (Bill Hanrahan), Julie Corey Kelley (John Kelley), Jane Corey Holt (Doug Holt) and Jacquie Corey; her nieces and nephews, Colleen Young Murrell (Brenton Murrell), Erin Young, Joseph Young, Corey Holt, Noah Holt, Dylan Holt and Clara Kennedy; and her great-niece Hatten Murrell. She is predeceased by her parents, Joseph Michael Corey and Ellen Flatley Corey, and her nephew James Joseph Kennedy. </div><div><br /></div><div>A Celebration of Mary Beth's too-short but beautiful life will be hosted by her family and colleagues in Manhattan on August 19th. All who loved Mary Beth are welcome to join us. For details, please email MBCoreyNYC@gmail.com. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you would like to make a donation in Mary Beth's honor, please consider donating to the <a href="https://give.amazinmetsfoundation.org/give/358155/#!/donation/checkout">Amazin' Mets Foundation</a>.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWh94r2d_LD7fuEpXM4rWVSjKklkYHJCq3ngSuKhZctT-9MUwQQ8bH6o825yNU8jNyYZ9ODXcFI5I3DntT5TDn73GVdqzk7fp11tNGv4U4cPJea2Cw7cv0gHwF2p6x0pACvD5yy4rtraoKZGdRX8kvBzUWgegjJP-_-mUSmwDCQgBL0aNcPkqcpaLL/s793/Picture1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="793" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWh94r2d_LD7fuEpXM4rWVSjKklkYHJCq3ngSuKhZctT-9MUwQQ8bH6o825yNU8jNyYZ9ODXcFI5I3DntT5TDn73GVdqzk7fp11tNGv4U4cPJea2Cw7cv0gHwF2p6x0pACvD5yy4rtraoKZGdRX8kvBzUWgegjJP-_-mUSmwDCQgBL0aNcPkqcpaLL/w200-h104/Picture1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Me, You, or Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13159195620327366257noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4146073139129271180.post-18057904515742968072022-07-18T04:00:00.090-07:002022-07-18T04:00:58.713-07:00July 18<p>According to my extensive research (thank you, Mr. Google), July 18 is <b>National Caviar Day</b>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAa-OlGfcuIQE9aJCI_j_3jAXBazCUFHNuJS3PEnvNFYJ_dHvU7a_HoB-2b-djTeu5Rt9_SF0G6gEChBbnQBti158Yv41b03YpDhhY6dqc4ci-aRkE_cwTIv0S5EMJwraE2f6BOgFH818ImWlmMIeG6TwoN35OqEI052DxJDrGWqBOGQYry99LoyM4/s1024/National-Caviar-Day-July-18.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAa-OlGfcuIQE9aJCI_j_3jAXBazCUFHNuJS3PEnvNFYJ_dHvU7a_HoB-2b-djTeu5Rt9_SF0G6gEChBbnQBti158Yv41b03YpDhhY6dqc4ci-aRkE_cwTIv0S5EMJwraE2f6BOgFH818ImWlmMIeG6TwoN35OqEI052DxJDrGWqBOGQYry99LoyM4/w400-h200/National-Caviar-Day-July-18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>According to <a href="http://nationaldaycalendar.com">nationaldaycalendar.com</a>,</p><p><i>In simple terms, caviar is Sturgeon fish eggs. There are several species of Sturgeon fish. As a result, the caviar produced varies in colors depending on the species. Caviar is full of protein and vitamins making the delicacy a healthy meal.
The United States led distribution at 600 tons per year until around 1900. However, due to the over-harvesting of Sturgeon fish for the caviar, the U.S. banned harvesting for a time to protect the sturgeon fish from becoming extinct. The population has never recovered sufficiently since the ban, resulting in caviar’s continued status as a luxury item. Since then, harvesting, import, and export are restricted.
However, since sturgeon don’t reach maturity until they are between 6-25 years old, depending on the breed, establishing a farm takes time. Once they reach maturity, aquaculture needed to perfect methods for spawning. According to the North American Sturgeon and Paddlefish Society, by 2012 there were 21 sturgeon farms in the U.S. and Canada.
</i></p><p>Today also, apparently, is <b>National Sour Candy Day</b>. </p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC20SWLnc8u02RQqoIkDOMSBeuiz-XyNdvzRiDELaQrI5vR_DAVRZnt3uuCRdxYfD6l_GgcXAXn2qSgqG8aQZ7f6VJ4wli3IyGW2PBeSTyT_XZ1AsaBomU_XHA1Pmv5391aIgg39n2b1a0c8LMWa1rvfRhh9Sjvi9zUhSUuRWuNUM7tsd-sNPXZHwz/s1024/National-Sour-Candy-Day-July-18.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC20SWLnc8u02RQqoIkDOMSBeuiz-XyNdvzRiDELaQrI5vR_DAVRZnt3uuCRdxYfD6l_GgcXAXn2qSgqG8aQZ7f6VJ4wli3IyGW2PBeSTyT_XZ1AsaBomU_XHA1Pmv5391aIgg39n2b1a0c8LMWa1rvfRhh9Sjvi9zUhSUuRWuNUM7tsd-sNPXZHwz/w400-h200/National-Sour-Candy-Day-July-18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><i>In the candy world, sour candy is the young, energetic, and fun member of the candy family. It awakens the taste buds and adds a punch of youthful energy. Every flavor combination out there creates a dazzling taste sensation. Surprisingly, sometimes a sweet candy delivers a walloping tear-jerking zap in a bite-sized lozenge or sucker that lasts for several minutes. Other times, it delivers the punch in a chewy form. These fun sour candies come in a variety of entertaining shapes and sizes. From chewy twists and ropes to sweet bite-sized pieces and straws, each one creates a unique juicy tang, indeed.
On this sweet holiday, instead of trying regular old candy, celebrate by trying sour candy. It’s like having a birthday and not getting any older! </i></p><p>And who doesn't know that July 18 is <b>National Get Out of the DogHouse Day</b>? But I'm not copying and pasting that description because it is dumb and obvious. Basically, be nice so you don't end up *in* the doghouse. Take a tip from the <a href="https://nationaltoday.com/world-listening-day/">World Listening Project</a> because today is also <b>World Listening Day</b>:</p><p><i>Shhh… do you hear that? It’s the sound of World Listening Day on July 18. World Listening Day is hosted every year by the World Listening Project, a nonprofit organization that is “devoted to understanding the world and its natural environment, societies, and cultures through the practice of listening and field recording.” They explore acoustic ecology, a discipline that studies the relationship between humans and the natural world as mediated through sound. So quiet down, open up your ears, and get ready to study soundscapes on World Listening Day.</i></p><div>And finally, and best of all, July 18 is Nelson Mandela's birthday, and <b>Nelson Mandela International Day. </b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0SMefj-Zs9b5IFpEfd0FiglkdHY7QdY6Dk6ZC5oL0oEa2mk_t1dxA7jVOfyqxkuQmdmWtSJQkoI5a1vt5iz2oyDh26d_lypZtC1A75Wyu-vInr8ikUM8xFyoEcZ03HgTobVbWuwgLmeA31jsav8yTiMPwGju9vip76Yj84e0N_WP-J5vkRojH3o1/s650/9215883633_9c5008e1ed_b-650x300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="650" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0SMefj-Zs9b5IFpEfd0FiglkdHY7QdY6Dk6ZC5oL0oEa2mk_t1dxA7jVOfyqxkuQmdmWtSJQkoI5a1vt5iz2oyDh26d_lypZtC1A75Wyu-vInr8ikUM8xFyoEcZ03HgTobVbWuwgLmeA31jsav8yTiMPwGju9vip76Yj84e0N_WP-J5vkRojH3o1/w400-h185/9215883633_9c5008e1ed_b-650x300.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><i>From <a href="http://nationaltoday.com">nationaltoday.com</a>:</i><div><i>Nelson Mandela has many accolades. He’s an iconic figure that triumphed over South Africa’s apartheid regime. He was a human rights lawyer, a prisoner of conscience, and an international peacemaker. And he was the first democratically elected president of a free South Africa. So you see why the United Nations General Assembly would want to celebrate his life. Commemorated on July 18 — Nelson Mandela’s birthday — Nelson Mandela International Day celebrates the idea that each individual has the power to transform the world and the ability to make an impact. So, in honor of his 67 years of public service, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the U.N. ask that you spend 67 minutes of your time helping others.</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJMMz5nCCbIB9cBxQxeIbVUx6q1sXxsF16B4Vv941Nni3yymKaZVp_n5DKv5E219pbqBufFZNVgnJUGPY2wciNBdldGlpLTTEPf_RG0Tb3nrkw-wJboR61pfiBIAfrZXbC_lRy0WTszso18FncHf0Gk4GxhLM1tV_5567I87yA1HD610fZp3p6Sx7/s1200/_photo-by-per-anders-petterssongetty-images.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJMMz5nCCbIB9cBxQxeIbVUx6q1sXxsF16B4Vv941Nni3yymKaZVp_n5DKv5E219pbqBufFZNVgnJUGPY2wciNBdldGlpLTTEPf_RG0Tb3nrkw-wJboR61pfiBIAfrZXbC_lRy0WTszso18FncHf0Gk4GxhLM1tV_5567I87yA1HD610fZp3p6Sx7/w320-h320/_photo-by-per-anders-petterssongetty-images.jpg" width="320" /></a><i><br /></i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>I like that idea. 67 minutes of your time helping others today. You can help others by listening to them, I'm thinking. Then you can treat yourself to caviar and sour candy.</div><div><br /></div></div></div>Me, You, or Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13159195620327366257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4146073139129271180.post-14996832387253933082022-07-11T04:00:00.000-07:002022-07-11T04:11:33.241-07:00Summertime GloriousnessWe are fully in it around here . . . it is full on Summertime.<div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy58Mn9s1ZF3ZhOgEUk5OJSZod-CpZOD5f1d8WrcOL66roTbYNgZkvXsKi9P4njBhVGbpMmYdtyUgXaiAG4nkC28av4WyU5t6f2wD5oNgnWlsiKJ6f2VoWlVHs9g0AbhWwOy8-WIiDUz_O1WfZDtBbw7A7R_T-P2EWMPO6Owk-a0-F68Npot0FhZ1z/s4032/IMG_2001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy58Mn9s1ZF3ZhOgEUk5OJSZod-CpZOD5f1d8WrcOL66roTbYNgZkvXsKi9P4njBhVGbpMmYdtyUgXaiAG4nkC28av4WyU5t6f2wD5oNgnWlsiKJ6f2VoWlVHs9g0AbhWwOy8-WIiDUz_O1WfZDtBbw7A7R_T-P2EWMPO6Owk-a0-F68Npot0FhZ1z/w400-h300/IMG_2001.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><div>The beach is glorious . . . </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCc6jxWv6lsDcwE_3fSfLXonL6YJsIDMzbcg4V4rD3GQvf6iWou8EJmvpR0LqGZHfGyL5xuYl2V8WTNe2h33aZx9IdnskrwyzlMCxPJm2Y8-AskbH9yJVsZ1JfNI7KO7FonGlFslY4HXf1GQ0rnTvjrI7FzFQvpXoL65o-kafJYla000vipEtuBl8R/s4032/IMG_3834.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCc6jxWv6lsDcwE_3fSfLXonL6YJsIDMzbcg4V4rD3GQvf6iWou8EJmvpR0LqGZHfGyL5xuYl2V8WTNe2h33aZx9IdnskrwyzlMCxPJm2Y8-AskbH9yJVsZ1JfNI7KO7FonGlFslY4HXf1GQ0rnTvjrI7FzFQvpXoL65o-kafJYla000vipEtuBl8R/w300-h400/IMG_3834.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><div>Cacti Corey threw out blossom #s 9, 10 and 11 . . . </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGL4A3j7FDyCHWzeFQYlrFd-AMx416WVvwlPoaUjeSbStAq_g5qFBOp64UkwRfidZR0tap6y3NQVZdrW0YyZZd2kd1jJ43SCHogiCOpqnHz7hRTPeqe_R6wMBwO9sMF8tL49jv2U6jCizqwtg3iyx273DBXcgIAIBXkapAGlFM1u3R06Wnrsc3tazK/s1620/IMG_3842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGL4A3j7FDyCHWzeFQYlrFd-AMx416WVvwlPoaUjeSbStAq_g5qFBOp64UkwRfidZR0tap6y3NQVZdrW0YyZZd2kd1jJ43SCHogiCOpqnHz7hRTPeqe_R6wMBwO9sMF8tL49jv2U6jCizqwtg3iyx273DBXcgIAIBXkapAGlFM1u3R06Wnrsc3tazK/w400-h266/IMG_3842.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /> . . . we tried to emulate Tony's Tomatoes . . . </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9tjYLEfja5690ONuyGvOAN-Ktbq6yTr3kPm9IyWwRPzlRYucLylM1MRVNJrEd2oTkRAEiwtDZM345h42do7P9o0uUCpz54ck8MYjmSIXtv4rbl8PjPTmUBi1NXWxCtDjXfwZ1xY_dVdE1qfpr7O2OjJoNEuLAalpIB9RYLQrYYVL-FHuqC9Qy7_Td/s4032/IMG_3841.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9tjYLEfja5690ONuyGvOAN-Ktbq6yTr3kPm9IyWwRPzlRYucLylM1MRVNJrEd2oTkRAEiwtDZM345h42do7P9o0uUCpz54ck8MYjmSIXtv4rbl8PjPTmUBi1NXWxCtDjXfwZ1xY_dVdE1qfpr7O2OjJoNEuLAalpIB9RYLQrYYVL-FHuqC9Qy7_Td/w400-h300/IMG_3841.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div>. . . and did a pretty good job, I might add.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqpb6vrHEVZ03FE0hO2ZSWeTFhoKRcS4xOX9IYt6I0_XO8fbLQYpvJd057nGKJ-4KMTaz9S-HXZTBDjpJ8QQZT5sEZJ8HT5VTQ5Hp5yxo0I_unGXzH1JZEOUBfipv8Hy-ncJ8rd3QQELXQhSoNYlYotXDdvam9TKiGx3Mt5S-T1DCV9tUv5sVX5rA/s2048/290178194_5924760157538051_5153245677520710324_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1986" data-original-width="2048" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqpb6vrHEVZ03FE0hO2ZSWeTFhoKRcS4xOX9IYt6I0_XO8fbLQYpvJd057nGKJ-4KMTaz9S-HXZTBDjpJ8QQZT5sEZJ8HT5VTQ5Hp5yxo0I_unGXzH1JZEOUBfipv8Hy-ncJ8rd3QQELXQhSoNYlYotXDdvam9TKiGx3Mt5S-T1DCV9tUv5sVX5rA/w400-h388/290178194_5924760157538051_5153245677520710324_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div>The Sailfest Boom-Booms came back . . . </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9u-estn-FYGoS9DcNdGDSMlUsFAuQHg6n150CIxw3_xJhdMZVxEAyyE0xqYCZOAHauFmXmzJdOkX85L6QVJUSHyXxFbotHebS6TvyvxvcJUYg7ctd1NDLlEgTQzKnK7x52jNnF8IHb8ndwUNiicSkeQebifyCeWBlQqQyHU4NKWQ6BqHMji3oyX_/s2048/290192063_5924762994204434_3021452266421994251_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="2048" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9u-estn-FYGoS9DcNdGDSMlUsFAuQHg6n150CIxw3_xJhdMZVxEAyyE0xqYCZOAHauFmXmzJdOkX85L6QVJUSHyXxFbotHebS6TvyvxvcJUYg7ctd1NDLlEgTQzKnK7x52jNnF8IHb8ndwUNiicSkeQebifyCeWBlQqQyHU4NKWQ6BqHMji3oyX_/w400-h274/290192063_5924762994204434_3021452266421994251_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(Sailfest Boom-Boom photos stolen from Sailfest site)</i></div></i><div><br /></div><div>And if all <i>that</i> doesn't scream Summertime . . . </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnd8FGwuwTcP0Q85nJbteCcfh1b-LPUg6SU9B-RM7ZkNglNdH-fYGc9wYjSsmhn-_8JG0TlMFCG_XSapofoS1EmuDzKsuEpS9Xu2ci-dcxCAZX5sG_paIWjLlBokf1AulpsHEF87KZ38J1643iYSnj8mFxMyYb4jqsfo-0thKkOF8RKbdm1kVMctgY/s4032/IMG_3837.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnd8FGwuwTcP0Q85nJbteCcfh1b-LPUg6SU9B-RM7ZkNglNdH-fYGc9wYjSsmhn-_8JG0TlMFCG_XSapofoS1EmuDzKsuEpS9Xu2ci-dcxCAZX5sG_paIWjLlBokf1AulpsHEF87KZ38J1643iYSnj8mFxMyYb4jqsfo-0thKkOF8RKbdm1kVMctgY/w300-h400/IMG_3837.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div>. . . rum and pineapples certainly do.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Happy Summah!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p></div></div>Me, You, or Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13159195620327366257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4146073139129271180.post-27670775281009971322022-07-04T05:00:00.025-07:002022-07-04T05:01:00.354-07:00Fly the Flag<p> This 4th of July, we're going to fly the flag.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbD-oePIiBfQJQb9cmO0MMZjyyT6TFJli8XHEwlpuBUE5t5t6gqbOfyTAFBmRgKAGeyL5Ew-5E5EfauA6OhyygKvvsr45X-xnCG1WcK6ZN4whzZkEJ6_fC1hv3nRiP1pY3TaGwtWSRiaM0RmBhhZEo4yFsnhDlPnNLXczIUWMmj6WBFEcS_HmExHjO/s275/images.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbD-oePIiBfQJQb9cmO0MMZjyyT6TFJli8XHEwlpuBUE5t5t6gqbOfyTAFBmRgKAGeyL5Ew-5E5EfauA6OhyygKvvsr45X-xnCG1WcK6ZN4whzZkEJ6_fC1hv3nRiP1pY3TaGwtWSRiaM0RmBhhZEo4yFsnhDlPnNLXczIUWMmj6WBFEcS_HmExHjO/w400-h266/images.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>We're going to fly this one . . . </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjqKX50fqVgFh_zL7E7QRyEgYzHEkcAW9Qd7llzqO2w4mnJ3ZHaDwrkF6wjU1WZ0XyYtBSIHM1PJl82xonsv7aUS_hxFQZXcmX2ldXgwdMUFW1Kfe-HyqdqnF08-Grwo9YS8Jk9SaUENtwEz4xvncpyxmfqQl4eGIoRpszgPDOpgc4GXlnYCsK260/s1000/0x1296@16566604490d1d8d3e90.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="1000" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjqKX50fqVgFh_zL7E7QRyEgYzHEkcAW9Qd7llzqO2w4mnJ3ZHaDwrkF6wjU1WZ0XyYtBSIHM1PJl82xonsv7aUS_hxFQZXcmX2ldXgwdMUFW1Kfe-HyqdqnF08-Grwo9YS8Jk9SaUENtwEz4xvncpyxmfqQl4eGIoRpszgPDOpgc4GXlnYCsK260/w400-h356/0x1296@16566604490d1d8d3e90.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>. . . and this one . . . <div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-iQ_GRPLQ2oHD6TtrMuz3wqwvIRynw-HRh4FfSXPo042DhR53T9lcVbt9NGb_sxhLDEGfgW24S_6n7ApWNWjleR5VLGmgGCUuQ-r49xLnY609E9YclN6TJpJ9CMtOPqHjl_fJjYEsMN3-xHQhKOR06qYXlH_HCymkpFSV28fumbihP3pJhlXqiBjo/s1588/il_1588xN.4025795209_qmnq%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1588" data-original-width="1588" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-iQ_GRPLQ2oHD6TtrMuz3wqwvIRynw-HRh4FfSXPo042DhR53T9lcVbt9NGb_sxhLDEGfgW24S_6n7ApWNWjleR5VLGmgGCUuQ-r49xLnY609E9YclN6TJpJ9CMtOPqHjl_fJjYEsMN3-xHQhKOR06qYXlH_HCymkpFSV28fumbihP3pJhlXqiBjo/w400-h400/il_1588xN.4025795209_qmnq%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div>. . . and this one . . . </div><div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5HFh9eo3qUC8Qnasv5DcgQhSGR4_RywJQe9MdQ384OfotN1anWoBe-JlBOrL0pwOxM-CETberdeOAG9mo9mZR6emUr4z6O_unafJZ8u8ho-QWICkFCe8iVMs0OS8qlC9joluTiGH92SqjOqlqbIMYrKbNsuedPeCtj2bPm-IZRxNIscfaKlp12mw/s1588/il_1588xN.4021232249_eg28%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1504" data-original-width="1588" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5HFh9eo3qUC8Qnasv5DcgQhSGR4_RywJQe9MdQ384OfotN1anWoBe-JlBOrL0pwOxM-CETberdeOAG9mo9mZR6emUr4z6O_unafJZ8u8ho-QWICkFCe8iVMs0OS8qlC9joluTiGH92SqjOqlqbIMYrKbNsuedPeCtj2bPm-IZRxNIscfaKlp12mw/w400-h379/il_1588xN.4021232249_eg28%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>. . . and this one.</div><div><br /></div><div>And, of course, this one . . . </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZN9uZydHo8zbESkOk33o_UxdGjZZ4sipM201nxfDgG_U9yFQWMuhSvuX0oXb5cbvc-cthV25UbnE1BuQRAMTKyrmLaMAxIqrvZwDhpVkx72CT4RVyoT0SLeHLucPQDKwqq6Yldhf93LXncQjLkClBg20KPX1Rfk9PN-5HoPyWzCxON7URMu5TRq0/s1368/291706239_10228043443374556_5022718263653607283_n%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZN9uZydHo8zbESkOk33o_UxdGjZZ4sipM201nxfDgG_U9yFQWMuhSvuX0oXb5cbvc-cthV25UbnE1BuQRAMTKyrmLaMAxIqrvZwDhpVkx72CT4RVyoT0SLeHLucPQDKwqq6Yldhf93LXncQjLkClBg20KPX1Rfk9PN-5HoPyWzCxON7URMu5TRq0/w316-h400/291706239_10228043443374556_5022718263653607283_n%20(1).jpg" width="316" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Me, You, or Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13159195620327366257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4146073139129271180.post-40786831348601496192022-06-27T04:00:00.004-07:002022-06-27T04:09:35.215-07:00We Dissent<p>After the world turned upside down on Friday, we sought beauty and joy where we could find it.</p><p>We found it right here, in Cacti Corey . . . </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFfXdwPzCZH6WESdxDGxqy4gUN5PvNimyC3tXkb5F-7WHFesp8RxBNbjULjtvKRDUnVtPuJW1m2SPdx_HmcbdNabF7HTmFpWj83YmNVCDTjKufVvlBU8sJJ3XPua4OWY1cbUTcHb7rKkPgpsyGbd23EUDXRsP3E5SZGbJa9SF7YfmncggX1BT7oId/s3473/IMG_3763.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3473" data-original-width="2978" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFfXdwPzCZH6WESdxDGxqy4gUN5PvNimyC3tXkb5F-7WHFesp8RxBNbjULjtvKRDUnVtPuJW1m2SPdx_HmcbdNabF7HTmFpWj83YmNVCDTjKufVvlBU8sJJ3XPua4OWY1cbUTcHb7rKkPgpsyGbd23EUDXRsP3E5SZGbJa9SF7YfmncggX1BT7oId/w343-h400/IMG_3763.HEIC" width="343" /></a></p><p>And we needed it:</p><p><i>After today, young women will come of age with fewer rights than their mothers and grandmothers had. The majority accomplishes that result without so much as considering how women have relied on the right to choose or what it means to take that right away. The majority’s refusal even to consider the life-altering consequences of reversing Roe and Casey is a stunning indictment of its decision.</i></p><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3bXUGhrkqEw2wAcy3aevw_22N7oTRILZ3oCDjRxB48drJKkSF6BFURTzWlReF2IwxmkDcWFAbVccPGIYyIUG0PN3B1Xq_1BK2gT-pZSK45bLQ3vmedT3zWXnpQiWewqKuSh9lFUTzjH2G4cqTd8-ID_m0b_AY_e-DbNT4thPbBXoYrUTxryWoyP0/s2384/IMG_3756.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2126" data-original-width="2384" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3bXUGhrkqEw2wAcy3aevw_22N7oTRILZ3oCDjRxB48drJKkSF6BFURTzWlReF2IwxmkDcWFAbVccPGIYyIUG0PN3B1Xq_1BK2gT-pZSK45bLQ3vmedT3zWXnpQiWewqKuSh9lFUTzjH2G4cqTd8-ID_m0b_AY_e-DbNT4thPbBXoYrUTxryWoyP0/w400-h356/IMG_3756.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div><div><i>[The majority] eliminates a 50-year-old constitutional right that safeguards women’s freedom and equal station. It breaches a core rule-of-law principle, designed to promote constancy in the law. In doing all of that, it places in jeopardy other rights, from contraception to same-sex intimacy and marriage. And finally, it undermines the Court’s legitimacy. </i></div></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOuEuijfwZei9ZgS0UEdo84YZlSRtIjVrulODIeFSeeK2FyqJeQ2OAg3NJhCComH7aHI-XRXJE22fuO_U5jVdsx_Lf2la7YESUsozz-Bj-7BoiPZ0wy-N62SdggPpIJv1j3GD3smo7qr7nxLj9AdUyRscPn_q7Dz6sxSFTHUAdREv2sxjVNHGorLoy/s4032/IMG_1942.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2953" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOuEuijfwZei9ZgS0UEdo84YZlSRtIjVrulODIeFSeeK2FyqJeQ2OAg3NJhCComH7aHI-XRXJE22fuO_U5jVdsx_Lf2la7YESUsozz-Bj-7BoiPZ0wy-N62SdggPpIJv1j3GD3smo7qr7nxLj9AdUyRscPn_q7Dz6sxSFTHUAdREv2sxjVNHGorLoy/w293-h400/IMG_1942.jpeg" width="293" /></a></div><div><i>In overruling Roe and Casey, this Court betrays its guiding principles. With sorrow—for this Court, but more, for the many millions of American women who have today lost a fundamental constitutional protection—we dissent.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><i>-- Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan </i></div><div><br /></div><div>We dissent.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Me, You, or Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13159195620327366257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4146073139129271180.post-24600304052667210022022-06-20T04:00:00.000-07:002022-06-20T04:00:00.160-07:001 Time dayOur great and glorious friend Kat Murphy found this list yesterday and brought it over and nothing has been the same ever since.<div><br /></div><div>Bella and Addi have some ideas about the powers they wish they had. I wish I had <i>their</i> powers.<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_7mC69_QhVpfdA1m-JO0OVMW22cukMBI1j6eU0JPj_JOaXHqoryMIWM8gF1aiE0AncqLxs0uHPfX3fij70kwXQJYGt8t6meR6DMaVuc_APvw-9KzBlpci7l-dCfNZDR_BRNBsjqd4JI4W_EK8TE_D2GHcUZEl-DYQu_0RchMEjo8DkkwpdXekIM8/s2120/IMG_3741.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2120" data-original-width="1482" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_7mC69_QhVpfdA1m-JO0OVMW22cukMBI1j6eU0JPj_JOaXHqoryMIWM8gF1aiE0AncqLxs0uHPfX3fij70kwXQJYGt8t6meR6DMaVuc_APvw-9KzBlpci7l-dCfNZDR_BRNBsjqd4JI4W_EK8TE_D2GHcUZEl-DYQu_0RchMEjo8DkkwpdXekIM8/w280-h400/IMG_3741.jpeg" width="280" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif">Bella's list . . . <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif">1. Super Speed <sup>1<o:p></o:p></sup></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif">2. ice <sup>2<o:p></o:p></sup></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif">3. fire <sup>3<o:p></o:p></sup></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif">4. control weather <sup>4<o:p></o:p></sup></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif">5. green lantern <sup>5<o:p></o:p></sup></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif">6. Invisible <sup>6</sup></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif">Signed by a probably very young tiny tot Bello/Bella<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif">Addi, on the other hand . . . <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif">1. Read minds <sup>7<o:p></o:p></sup></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif">2. heal myself <sup>8<o:p></o:p></sup></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif">3. Move things with mind <sup>9<o:p></o:p></sup></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif">4. water <sup>10<o:p></o:p></sup></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif">5. when I touch people I see there past <sup>11<o:p></o:p></sup></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif">6. Teliport 1 time day <sup>12<o:p></o:p></sup></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif">Oh my darling girl.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif">My thoughts, you ask? Oh, I have many thoughts . . . </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">1 </span></sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><i>Of course.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">2<i> </i></span></sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic;">Sure. But, like, to *make* it? For beverages?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">3<i> </i></span></sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic;">Okay. Just be careful.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">4<i> </i></span></sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic;">Yes please. I like it hot and steamy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">5<i> </i></span></sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic;">Whatever you say, honey.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">6<i> </i></span></sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic;">Oooh, now we're talking . . . <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span face="-webkit-standard, serif"></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><i> </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">And Addi's ist? . . .</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">7<i> </i></span></sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic;">Good luck with that honey; better you than me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">8<i> </i></span></sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic;">Ohmygod. Okay. That stopped me in my tracks. Oh, Addi.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">9<i> </i></span></sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic;">I would dearly love to know what you would move.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">10<i> </i></span></sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic;">To swim in? To drink? For flowers? Elaborate. Please.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">11<i> </i></span></sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic;">Oh dear. Are you sure? Because that is a *lot* to take on, you gorgeous empathetic creature.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">12<i> </i></span></sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic;">Again with the stopping in my tracks. Because only </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic;">1? One time a day? Oh you modest glorious soul.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I love Addi. And I love Bella. And I need to teleport with them.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">1 time day.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p></div><div><p></p></div>Me, You, or Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13159195620327366257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4146073139129271180.post-8322273192711854162022-06-13T04:00:00.003-07:002022-06-13T04:02:35.910-07:00The Anti-Dust Bowl<p> It was a week. </p><p>Mom would have been proud, and I'm quite sure of that.</p><p>We finished clearing out Mom and Dad's place, and it was emotional and exhausting and has taken me all weekend to recover.</p><p>I drank approximately 75 gallons of wine, too, but that's not important right now.</p><p>In the meantime, Mistah and I can't keep up -- *nobody* can keep up -- with all that is growing out there in the Field and in the World, but who cares, really. I'd rather have this absurd amount of green growing than what the poor Joads* had to go through during the Dust Bowl years.</p><p><i>*I'm reading The Grapes of Wrath**</i></p><p><i>** for the first time <b>ever</b>***</i></p><p><i>***I know, right? It's awesome.</i></p><p>Anyway, here it is green. And here are some photos of the green side of things. The other side of that green wall has purple and orange and yellow and white and red.****</p><p><i>****You'll have to trust me on that one.</i></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFM6CLxiGR_-VEMHDi7A66qgRScivbc1-p7uqkdyjfVSwpRe_GeWm8uq4J1qzJ_JHI32MD-FJ1E9o3cpaxaIvRM1s2D7473jfxCKyABePTEPEMNXqaoqsLAYYeXP9Bzor7OcHLyneENXmSc1PSkQL9U1Kx_4WHTwz0lvIjTqRbXPjeOkt5h65XIkT0/s1620/IMG_3719.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFM6CLxiGR_-VEMHDi7A66qgRScivbc1-p7uqkdyjfVSwpRe_GeWm8uq4J1qzJ_JHI32MD-FJ1E9o3cpaxaIvRM1s2D7473jfxCKyABePTEPEMNXqaoqsLAYYeXP9Bzor7OcHLyneENXmSc1PSkQL9U1Kx_4WHTwz0lvIjTqRbXPjeOkt5h65XIkT0/w400-h266/IMG_3719.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2piMnxerguTfQStgCKtFY_TvbN_wvYmNCvSYu5c9O3ALYMaOzPVEzEtUJH29ueea97IaxOn5FY2e0o61LwJ7dSLvBPU90mMX0LNMWSF7DxNLuOIFXu8zbFMzdZwBJbJBesi9DtBHkiuwrtfc3LFOqWXZy0VZ3b1z4Gi_fqsgvCbD0rww7HFNn9IJx/s1620/IMG_3718.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2piMnxerguTfQStgCKtFY_TvbN_wvYmNCvSYu5c9O3ALYMaOzPVEzEtUJH29ueea97IaxOn5FY2e0o61LwJ7dSLvBPU90mMX0LNMWSF7DxNLuOIFXu8zbFMzdZwBJbJBesi9DtBHkiuwrtfc3LFOqWXZy0VZ3b1z4Gi_fqsgvCbD0rww7HFNn9IJx/w400-h266/IMG_3718.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3Fi1eZVtS6zW_96D57ps5-A4_Zr97QRejtwfqOQfIuJLWMaaAJ1WnD9E768JYX0wfoTnD64LiVGSMCAzW4uB2jY0Z6TX4IG2VgbtRtee5iICC4Or7wBwle2Fgib3LCqBGN-LHMPKW2f_46wIyUkfzLA_tYQYKsOK-NtckqwHT70hHYWdtSiwtbhr/s1620/IMG_3717.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3Fi1eZVtS6zW_96D57ps5-A4_Zr97QRejtwfqOQfIuJLWMaaAJ1WnD9E768JYX0wfoTnD64LiVGSMCAzW4uB2jY0Z6TX4IG2VgbtRtee5iICC4Or7wBwle2Fgib3LCqBGN-LHMPKW2f_46wIyUkfzLA_tYQYKsOK-NtckqwHT70hHYWdtSiwtbhr/w400-h266/IMG_3717.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>The <a href="http://meandyouandellie.blogspot.com/2022/05/happy-memorial-day.html?m=0">new tree</a> is happy.</p><p>Oooh, here's some color! Of the sugar snap pea variety . . . </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTzDad-v1vHEtHweMxBoX8CLki6aemsgIh59CLkgF8Oowpy133MpPsdoFJjHVDhc8S1dazxuU2kqI2CP3vNQjTkEZTJsN-aGSHFyFAa40E3u9Sace_nG8fqdJfzKkXiSUFb4cppUi8LZWirU1Z3sibCKYxzUxkGCoaOo97weKSdT8-0kCmE9jBEmvy/s4032/IMG_3714.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTzDad-v1vHEtHweMxBoX8CLki6aemsgIh59CLkgF8Oowpy133MpPsdoFJjHVDhc8S1dazxuU2kqI2CP3vNQjTkEZTJsN-aGSHFyFAa40E3u9Sace_nG8fqdJfzKkXiSUFb4cppUi8LZWirU1Z3sibCKYxzUxkGCoaOo97weKSdT8-0kCmE9jBEmvy/w300-h400/IMG_3714.jpg" width="300" /></a></p><p>And here's some more . . . </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKsaXStzSqE2NGZrjG-Sbmvr_8nhlAkYL6ByFTlISy7J6Fh2mODApmYlHHG3MH3uPrrUe2oXJdfcz_1G1k9EGEYBtpBWQjXG1B304gq6ScaPVENmqB30dajeNz2qp0X8jKVccAdyuWsH7Hx94VsQfJ8cFTMVLHQ6VGjWiIUjWVTtAYN7ddyqMd6Pk/s4032/IMG_3697.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKsaXStzSqE2NGZrjG-Sbmvr_8nhlAkYL6ByFTlISy7J6Fh2mODApmYlHHG3MH3uPrrUe2oXJdfcz_1G1k9EGEYBtpBWQjXG1B304gq6ScaPVENmqB30dajeNz2qp0X8jKVccAdyuWsH7Hx94VsQfJ8cFTMVLHQ6VGjWiIUjWVTtAYN7ddyqMd6Pk/s320/IMG_3697.jpg" width="240" /></a></p><p>. . . compliments of Lydia and Sebastian at the Dutch.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoo2yI3qHeNmhenPv6cwo7LLITltJDaO6Nz1U7x9O42I4KFuLNJj2PNUKrdXzqSFLynZSAjCgceHCCvZp7JnEv7f0661JZhyweI0wvimnnC_dPeIHI7IKKyHwYiEodSg9KI3eE99bz5s56emLxpQVoenIsy7ddABhuMXGx7RR3VTZbKCiNIN799xzm/s2796/IMG_3721.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2796" data-original-width="2435" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoo2yI3qHeNmhenPv6cwo7LLITltJDaO6Nz1U7x9O42I4KFuLNJj2PNUKrdXzqSFLynZSAjCgceHCCvZp7JnEv7f0661JZhyweI0wvimnnC_dPeIHI7IKKyHwYiEodSg9KI3eE99bz5s56emLxpQVoenIsy7ddABhuMXGx7RR3VTZbKCiNIN799xzm/s320/IMG_3721.jpg" width="279" /></a></div><div>And here is our absurdly awesome Nancy orchid.</div><div><br /></div>And let me tell you this, my people . . . <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicVtJtUFq7Pic_4dJsfFsDAEr-WmbxgGp1zXuXeEOgeyx2Mzq9Yxebk5fqSJQU_e3kryPsjmuChTHJL9ADoGmhWJSKs4Ve016Iv1werjUkbJ6UpbPEeLCvrc4Hiewi7AFjKJK0w-dnO1FYMXe_YlVjSQ3OceLpUDIzNEjAcRLV-MPlVpZqkm7A9ua_/s4032/IMG_3590%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicVtJtUFq7Pic_4dJsfFsDAEr-WmbxgGp1zXuXeEOgeyx2Mzq9Yxebk5fqSJQU_e3kryPsjmuChTHJL9ADoGmhWJSKs4Ve016Iv1werjUkbJ6UpbPEeLCvrc4Hiewi7AFjKJK0w-dnO1FYMXe_YlVjSQ3OceLpUDIzNEjAcRLV-MPlVpZqkm7A9ua_/s320/IMG_3590%20(1).jpg" width="240" /></a></div>. . . keep your eyes on Cacti Corey.<div><br /></div><div><div>Talk about ready to Bust Loose . . . </div></div><div><br /></div>Me, You, or Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13159195620327366257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4146073139129271180.post-12755912226383982582022-06-06T04:00:00.001-07:002022-06-06T04:13:21.967-07:00Bustin' Loose<p>When I talked to Mom at <a href="http://meandyouandellie.blogspot.com/2022/04/444.html?m=0">4:44</a> every day, I'd regale her with stories of our Field Work. She'd always said we were (well, *I* was) working too hard but I always said, "But it's not work; I love it." </p><p>I love it.</p><p>There needs to be a different phrase for Field work.</p><p>Work is work. But gardening is fun. Hard, yes. Taxing, sure. But fun. And ever so rewarding.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9QxEC_E-VUgFxgs6JvtD3C1QdD7TsdSYfHwWUoSSHv7ufr047LMO_cN-IBAPLSpizs8PodmntRUcqXrQez9TO97g_Gh0fuc9gl7YQnaghvMTYvIEQxp3hKuxztx5uj9g8eTPxe3cSw80re7ksqxJKZVso0U4FTT1bJMU-R0NMODc_erTNDItmjL5/s4032/IMG_3586.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9QxEC_E-VUgFxgs6JvtD3C1QdD7TsdSYfHwWUoSSHv7ufr047LMO_cN-IBAPLSpizs8PodmntRUcqXrQez9TO97g_Gh0fuc9gl7YQnaghvMTYvIEQxp3hKuxztx5uj9g8eTPxe3cSw80re7ksqxJKZVso0U4FTT1bJMU-R0NMODc_erTNDItmjL5/w300-h400/IMG_3586.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>Exhibit A. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-fbP9ADhMKrNYU09Uno5hHLaML7gddjx-tS8roUiDg3kA1hu0BzrL7_7maS3tlDk0tD6iKOPnm06nWUDRq0jHwNAmHiERVs2jsyxT5rU-La_5vZvwbaTRSTf2z8BZWmPKW7OtY6ZZtSuiJCkSGZSiE8p4q6ea_2RNQvoTBEmeUOtFmjbLcK1PhCg/s4032/IMG_3589.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-fbP9ADhMKrNYU09Uno5hHLaML7gddjx-tS8roUiDg3kA1hu0BzrL7_7maS3tlDk0tD6iKOPnm06nWUDRq0jHwNAmHiERVs2jsyxT5rU-La_5vZvwbaTRSTf2z8BZWmPKW7OtY6ZZtSuiJCkSGZSiE8p4q6ea_2RNQvoTBEmeUOtFmjbLcK1PhCg/w300-h400/IMG_3589.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Exhibit B.<div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtg-wwOYG1dRlaX7axCkyCQs8vUFIpyRO7f0JZLXsL2lTf0fQUsniH2tTGy9Z-6gDzDjHM5yV37UsAwPKylFTkhwtdDmOpxGqZyhDTjga92OK-TVKeWtGrO8pgPbBYiXUTznkFwgQQnnBmiRol6_-Fy2XSbWBQWjai7LUs1ss9Py9_XMq-DN4L_oeD/s4032/IMG_3592.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtg-wwOYG1dRlaX7axCkyCQs8vUFIpyRO7f0JZLXsL2lTf0fQUsniH2tTGy9Z-6gDzDjHM5yV37UsAwPKylFTkhwtdDmOpxGqZyhDTjga92OK-TVKeWtGrO8pgPbBYiXUTznkFwgQQnnBmiRol6_-Fy2XSbWBQWjai7LUs1ss9Py9_XMq-DN4L_oeD/w300-h400/IMG_3592.jpg" width="300" /></a><br /><div>Exhibit C.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Okay, we can't go on like this, plus I'm a terrible photogrophist, but let me tell you this . . . </div><div></div></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuloXmY0RUKWpoNYyg936DttQupS5She-JkeNoSiimg8ojYkvWqwndUNg1jUB_Crt-iaMvBmrX56qL3xRIfGsspMPZqvS2pkqT3WqrbtGav-cOrULlON7fFxKoqGdQqsZafIMuhuTftv0DHZEsOEwnbAiU6FJRWDevoEQ8B83uLv_-lirdXjQPJNx1/s4032/IMG_3590.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuloXmY0RUKWpoNYyg936DttQupS5She-JkeNoSiimg8ojYkvWqwndUNg1jUB_Crt-iaMvBmrX56qL3xRIfGsspMPZqvS2pkqT3WqrbtGav-cOrULlON7fFxKoqGdQqsZafIMuhuTftv0DHZEsOEwnbAiU6FJRWDevoEQ8B83uLv_-lirdXjQPJNx1/w300-h400/IMG_3590.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>Cacti Corey is about to bust loose . . . </div><div><br /></div><div>And we will be there for her.</div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div>Let's just call these next photos Exhibits A through Z . . . <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ08Yc3WjhF0cO42VgVJDrLImlC_y6fyHPfuQ-VLU4i16K_R_GTW4VuMULYRlGLbd2VzL6ZbFpyncqsA2crovlE2c32tfjyvATYb06hlCOG_-QruQTkNrlb3WzWQgLDI1S9xDu7KSn2wrsKQ8yK2-DGALWIYRuHY44CGtZ6fPFUKxJS1Oe2Bc7zivA/s4032/IMG_3594.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ08Yc3WjhF0cO42VgVJDrLImlC_y6fyHPfuQ-VLU4i16K_R_GTW4VuMULYRlGLbd2VzL6ZbFpyncqsA2crovlE2c32tfjyvATYb06hlCOG_-QruQTkNrlb3WzWQgLDI1S9xDu7KSn2wrsKQ8yK2-DGALWIYRuHY44CGtZ6fPFUKxJS1Oe2Bc7zivA/w300-h400/IMG_3594.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>. . . everything is busting loose.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWDPWqWoy3AdrTf-G4aNmOZy90mluE9JzaXZOXukIKqbzocKWzMqAcJQYTwaaryhCqt98sMWYDdTWgis3PWkq7rw2OnHOb0ddFiC7SCQVPWKxjq_TFmrWqrBnTgbkQVMiGHsGrmftCkuv5rs-IDfyNuw1EY2ZdaTOP9C4sH_vupv12JyCgZcMXLRg/s4032/IMG_3596.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWDPWqWoy3AdrTf-G4aNmOZy90mluE9JzaXZOXukIKqbzocKWzMqAcJQYTwaaryhCqt98sMWYDdTWgis3PWkq7rw2OnHOb0ddFiC7SCQVPWKxjq_TFmrWqrBnTgbkQVMiGHsGrmftCkuv5rs-IDfyNuw1EY2ZdaTOP9C4sH_vupv12JyCgZcMXLRg/w300-h400/IMG_3596.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>These make me happy.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdJpCI4fOVnZHTTy9cB87RvuLGAh1v-vmXgo52zCErkJvvQ0mLBNCjCXlyKvpvCc1K95fzcLobttLlAYJE_HWMa9soOIO9cGvXcJ8Zby5lgl8g6vJbx0Z_nJNveQ0ApnTEq0Gr_mp0hpslICcN8NgPFn7fJebF_GE7wx-Fgan-EaLD6AZeqIuUBjf/s4032/IMG_3597.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdJpCI4fOVnZHTTy9cB87RvuLGAh1v-vmXgo52zCErkJvvQ0mLBNCjCXlyKvpvCc1K95fzcLobttLlAYJE_HWMa9soOIO9cGvXcJ8Zby5lgl8g6vJbx0Z_nJNveQ0ApnTEq0Gr_mp0hpslICcN8NgPFn7fJebF_GE7wx-Fgan-EaLD6AZeqIuUBjf/w300-h400/IMG_3597.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>And these make me happy and are soon going to make me even more happy. When they, you know, bust loose.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4N8KJEoVGRo9PzvtQQG55bXGPkppIZSMjQdW70v6DgCOtY7LFALfcylPUMFsCeBHzi0jkeL-GPo5EfOrgEYGgkie70QR0xDOWmU3Q9DE9-U7JwDMvk4ruEWAW-4MlfqmNufzUj6hfY3S26HRsZt3Xnaa0LFVpeJrtrhXE0hogd7jOBHaC9rW76FYT/s4032/IMG_3598.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4N8KJEoVGRo9PzvtQQG55bXGPkppIZSMjQdW70v6DgCOtY7LFALfcylPUMFsCeBHzi0jkeL-GPo5EfOrgEYGgkie70QR0xDOWmU3Q9DE9-U7JwDMvk4ruEWAW-4MlfqmNufzUj6hfY3S26HRsZt3Xnaa0LFVpeJrtrhXE0hogd7jOBHaC9rW76FYT/w300-h400/IMG_3598.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>And the hydrangea? Oh, loose it will bust.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5WTrvVMTXDV263LPvSuroy3BvgBLvBQDOznZQ5cH8VwZXT079KIdVII8bXBw90IF1mX8WI_w9ZRTxEv2fGm70Q24_FpkLccBWsxV8wcnrTKYVGRuNS29gOLR163YrakaRd_4HCeQeOC4mX6IYbKR-26yAm_P38d5FVc3qJ5I11NoFCTrRsD9yqfR/s4032/IMG_3600.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5WTrvVMTXDV263LPvSuroy3BvgBLvBQDOznZQ5cH8VwZXT079KIdVII8bXBw90IF1mX8WI_w9ZRTxEv2fGm70Q24_FpkLccBWsxV8wcnrTKYVGRuNS29gOLR163YrakaRd_4HCeQeOC4mX6IYbKR-26yAm_P38d5FVc3qJ5I11NoFCTrRsD9yqfR/w300-h400/IMG_3600.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>The Iri have already done all their busting, and have made this season so spectacular, and are handing it over to their next friends . . . </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRiepwIxtjBhw_VjUwVQNnXhQdoMl6ss9kZOj_nQvspqB8GBoik2_bOswVgPS03_Rpu9kV8kjCer4VAWjr3G8LhHQ1Ho1dE68yZwPYjBfrXAqOWvA4hXeMtFTBpphnOJ-GEEbds94KQZz17AUB92eRSmiAIITO2P3FIMIlDt83q3R8Lu9azwd_M9N/s4032/IMG_3602.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRiepwIxtjBhw_VjUwVQNnXhQdoMl6ss9kZOj_nQvspqB8GBoik2_bOswVgPS03_Rpu9kV8kjCer4VAWjr3G8LhHQ1Ho1dE68yZwPYjBfrXAqOWvA4hXeMtFTBpphnOJ-GEEbds94KQZz17AUB92eRSmiAIITO2P3FIMIlDt83q3R8Lu9azwd_M9N/w300-h400/IMG_3602.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>. . . these guys . . . </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXETUggvnMwU4bFAVepOrlQ-VfAhmqpLmBFvlo9ZtSVi1Tx1NIOdXq3eS4C5LKWr_WVos1Gy1RbjLWvCRN03dyZq5Y17alUbRurOBu650sy91OspKhQwiMlnDLUnJRX2QB7ZdYIu1vViNx_Y2dQjlEDSJRZh6PI1F3TNhs-4VuVVTEez9zb9px7Qzv/s4032/IMG_3603.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXETUggvnMwU4bFAVepOrlQ-VfAhmqpLmBFvlo9ZtSVi1Tx1NIOdXq3eS4C5LKWr_WVos1Gy1RbjLWvCRN03dyZq5Y17alUbRurOBu650sy91OspKhQwiMlnDLUnJRX2QB7ZdYIu1vViNx_Y2dQjlEDSJRZh6PI1F3TNhs-4VuVVTEez9zb9px7Qzv/w300-h400/IMG_3603.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>. . . and this butterfly bush guy . . .</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirJ_r2SmgiDySMqH8jCscr555WzTD-NY-MUlmnzcIVfd6pbvyddPj6l1lgCCPEqNNl3QogFh6nFhiX8gS2WMR6DKQs0kfn6ADXJt2qhpfGSUPbfDFeegU1EJPXniJfAamOvdD42wEhKWfBkpyzqFyQqupG_byS2Vj4wJAEj32z1nUo4YqdPQ55jkB/s4032/IMG_3604.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirJ_r2SmgiDySMqH8jCscr555WzTD-NY-MUlmnzcIVfd6pbvyddPj6l1lgCCPEqNNl3QogFh6nFhiX8gS2WMR6DKQs0kfn6ADXJt2qhpfGSUPbfDFeegU1EJPXniJfAamOvdD42wEhKWfBkpyzqFyQqupG_byS2Vj4wJAEj32z1nUo4YqdPQ55jkB/w300-h400/IMG_3604.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div>. . . and these grape vine guys.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We are all about to bust loose together.</div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Me, You, or Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13159195620327366257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4146073139129271180.post-19618220582318510732022-05-30T08:09:00.001-07:002022-05-30T08:53:03.932-07:00Happy Memorial Day!<p>Around these parts, we celebrated by planting a tree. In honor of the Field, and Summer, and being in our home for 14 years, and everything that is good. Because there *is* good out there. There is.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-MlPZE7ej9Ynzjsb7oZ8qUyg2TZWkG7J2pLMht88rNT_ShFMZ5ttTM53ig_w8G0TGuNcrgEOswh3dwLIA7JqShMdDdtH0yMlCOGY485Ll7BV_eciXrLg5f07McFCNLIQMjKw_KkGu-1UFPATL5iS7zY32dSSu-JHlG77px6cGSUBIdJO88yGUI24/s3000/IMG_1812.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2250" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-MlPZE7ej9Ynzjsb7oZ8qUyg2TZWkG7J2pLMht88rNT_ShFMZ5ttTM53ig_w8G0TGuNcrgEOswh3dwLIA7JqShMdDdtH0yMlCOGY485Ll7BV_eciXrLg5f07McFCNLIQMjKw_KkGu-1UFPATL5iS7zY32dSSu-JHlG77px6cGSUBIdJO88yGUI24/w300-h400/IMG_1812.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>Have a spectacular day.</p>Me, You, or Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13159195620327366257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4146073139129271180.post-53008234502247749662022-05-23T04:00:00.003-07:002022-05-30T08:09:47.602-07:00Roll With It<p> You never know what Life has in store for you . . . </p><p>. . . so you roll with it.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFroqhUqEflXUzdV5nHsTefmwSAol2XTDeOdKcoCPSguytnZgdZ3mPyqoMheagLT-c_NjgTCG6D2Tf4R23eYpqybrZtYOjbiGCedZz4HSPgIeVwTvmsANB8Q2-NTZm48t4PfRGFt-9u3zZyi9Y020dPL7gHah_1pSXDooerg0aIxZQm6Z4fF9qPVm6/s4032/IMG_1766.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFroqhUqEflXUzdV5nHsTefmwSAol2XTDeOdKcoCPSguytnZgdZ3mPyqoMheagLT-c_NjgTCG6D2Tf4R23eYpqybrZtYOjbiGCedZz4HSPgIeVwTvmsANB8Q2-NTZm48t4PfRGFt-9u3zZyi9Y020dPL7gHah_1pSXDooerg0aIxZQm6Z4fF9qPVm6/w400-h300/IMG_1766.jpeg" width="400" /></a></p><p>When your sisters send you plants . . . </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEywIJp-p9kWhsBBuFPvYZCM2qyBTS7aR7P7yberLTYO_Xc5ysxPtmIQGwNdvwwJSbAFMeT2Cd6Iy4sSvurg9VYyjLxuhTLoP9J7UXf8a4QXZeh-stamQBGBbViy9eoH_HrkJDGDRqQU_-N_bJGdSwdhFWL9EwEaeH9_0hgpdjWge2sLNisXzSetX/s4032/IMG_3533.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEywIJp-p9kWhsBBuFPvYZCM2qyBTS7aR7P7yberLTYO_Xc5ysxPtmIQGwNdvwwJSbAFMeT2Cd6Iy4sSvurg9VYyjLxuhTLoP9J7UXf8a4QXZeh-stamQBGBbViy9eoH_HrkJDGDRqQU_-N_bJGdSwdhFWL9EwEaeH9_0hgpdjWge2sLNisXzSetX/w300-h400/IMG_3533.HEIC" width="300" /></a></p><p>. . . you plant them in the ground.</p><p>When Nancy gives you a gorgeous orchid for Christmas . . . </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIyySMVORLoTQ9S0_7IrdYPI8IWAcDMNntp7tiV0EZUjIsSSUKz0DKQEj9euxKFy3B9v1PF0LY-7Tuc2mwRcVmvksugTX8C8rkatH5xa26jwScKxHpuwZF65VlU2QSSsEiYY4VEi7P0SXG4FSzn5jt3gq9_I6uaRdDaZ6ChYSicjMxtR_d7DlhRfb/s4032/IMG_3532.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIyySMVORLoTQ9S0_7IrdYPI8IWAcDMNntp7tiV0EZUjIsSSUKz0DKQEj9euxKFy3B9v1PF0LY-7Tuc2mwRcVmvksugTX8C8rkatH5xa26jwScKxHpuwZF65VlU2QSSsEiYY4VEi7P0SXG4FSzn5jt3gq9_I6uaRdDaZ6ChYSicjMxtR_d7DlhRfb/w300-h400/IMG_3532.HEIC" width="300" /></a></p><p>. . . you bring it outside for some sun.</p><p>When a rouge band of bees builds a new hive . . . </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GDKWE3VcGVOvKTaxj72h1KIVPJgwuOBsY1kaP3sjFY1IzygNP_JfEKl4AExx0SGQwTiW-P-VaxztBNfzszzPRtN3IJ41KlWFNa7grVNUoCdSdQW1he-SlvS2t4uX2ZZdGa3HkJ6XNWHet0NZ18HJ0gM1IPfow4LlRJBlBiyhIsbDPHZXx-zFq6jD/s805/IMG_3504.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="805" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GDKWE3VcGVOvKTaxj72h1KIVPJgwuOBsY1kaP3sjFY1IzygNP_JfEKl4AExx0SGQwTiW-P-VaxztBNfzszzPRtN3IJ41KlWFNa7grVNUoCdSdQW1he-SlvS2t4uX2ZZdGa3HkJ6XNWHet0NZ18HJ0gM1IPfow4LlRJBlBiyhIsbDPHZXx-zFq6jD/w400-h366/IMG_3504.JPEG" width="400" /></a></p><p>. . . you watch Science in action.</p><p>When you bring Big Cacti out for the season . . . </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0_NFB6uDk5111pAvmgmRq001L0CAQVLrWJm5KDlCJ2ni9_xPCyWLoa8lMt32Bfgb3H4_b8amRG8QG__olW6x7wq3PG1graA6tglEmkQQtBtuFi6T_-7GnQd7lAfA9hFD3kPW2cxROPW6wzP-8HTC6WWreLhCsDkqbpDcypCiOZzSXdkg3CHOj4bB/s4032/67432867728__D39A207C-AC8B-4322-A2B2-F685F97F9F8D.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0_NFB6uDk5111pAvmgmRq001L0CAQVLrWJm5KDlCJ2ni9_xPCyWLoa8lMt32Bfgb3H4_b8amRG8QG__olW6x7wq3PG1graA6tglEmkQQtBtuFi6T_-7GnQd7lAfA9hFD3kPW2cxROPW6wzP-8HTC6WWreLhCsDkqbpDcypCiOZzSXdkg3CHOj4bB/w400-h300/67432867728__D39A207C-AC8B-4322-A2B2-F685F97F9F8D.HEIC" width="400" /></a></p><p>. . . you give your kitchen floor the rock-'n'-roll dance party treatment.</p><p>And when your lovely eldest sister is in town and it's a spectacular 80-degree May afternoon . . . </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-0yiu8_4s2rNzx-YYgjDY_r3Q1oWGZ6I-JLzyuH3QZrFNwZ_LnW39AzlfcYgQ7KdIILJbbLUOrNrwBn12exh8mO4PJdIBPxYQs_my1_dKEIzXbeOwzGEjWfI-pevi8e9vVYxD2VxjIUUjAMGcWb2xxYiCrKYRanSdQde43HBHX9BPiOG6RNXtO0D/s3088/IMG_3534.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-0yiu8_4s2rNzx-YYgjDY_r3Q1oWGZ6I-JLzyuH3QZrFNwZ_LnW39AzlfcYgQ7KdIILJbbLUOrNrwBn12exh8mO4PJdIBPxYQs_my1_dKEIzXbeOwzGEjWfI-pevi8e9vVYxD2VxjIUUjAMGcWb2xxYiCrKYRanSdQde43HBHX9BPiOG6RNXtO0D/w400-h300/IMG_3534.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div>. . . you know what to do.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p></div>Me, You, or Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13159195620327366257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4146073139129271180.post-64295751952381094052022-05-16T04:00:00.010-07:002022-05-16T04:22:40.216-07:00The Greening of America<p>I think that every year I post about the Greening of America but here's the thing. It happens every year.</p><p>And every year it is magical.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8s8zA3kGieEZD5LqoAv5QwSykUAWW-jXmsn3OmLO_uPxsgf8NqOdd8_1h0HtrJVYzPIfQTsIqP6h9J_Ll4CxDu0Vl92Do2GTBYlcZU5jPyCeLpDR4_0FQAzTICptVTYPuh94DbrUlQck9DSk7sqPuCptlrpdHrG3GeNpQTiBZVT_l-AWoUNnggxJ/s6016/DSC_3871.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8s8zA3kGieEZD5LqoAv5QwSykUAWW-jXmsn3OmLO_uPxsgf8NqOdd8_1h0HtrJVYzPIfQTsIqP6h9J_Ll4CxDu0Vl92Do2GTBYlcZU5jPyCeLpDR4_0FQAzTICptVTYPuh94DbrUlQck9DSk7sqPuCptlrpdHrG3GeNpQTiBZVT_l-AWoUNnggxJ/w400-h268/DSC_3871.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>This year is no exception.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuG9-kBOLyFr66l9I4AuvnwrmKCP-0gfZUsfDkVAlSibiUyvC7qqefgzmzgK8WbvvL2-gMR1Z361LcQzQWy_P3iUk6dUfA4s8hly7SA-XPHYduTZ6PR6I3BhnTAGKygzfflwLfUF7WzsLvWz89eSwx8AqGquN79Kz4cDzOsX7oRjTIULZPnZFqYCT/s6016/DSC_3974.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbuG9-kBOLyFr66l9I4AuvnwrmKCP-0gfZUsfDkVAlSibiUyvC7qqefgzmzgK8WbvvL2-gMR1Z361LcQzQWy_P3iUk6dUfA4s8hly7SA-XPHYduTZ6PR6I3BhnTAGKygzfflwLfUF7WzsLvWz89eSwx8AqGquN79Kz4cDzOsX7oRjTIULZPnZFqYCT/w400-h268/DSC_3974.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The grass is deeply green, the flowers are going nuts, and the grape leaves . . .<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNm70ydwPx5ESzY4duUt-Q8uJupu-PQ_ipCDHtuJcekEkeAzv6eZsCZ8ghOBZlm3GGf0LVRA7bnjAhBEWS_zYBm3AV_Qr7_bt4MiU8Ubx9Pg1vxOtDvlxQINYQJlyaOmnsRJzNMQXBiivkJm0a_ZWB2LZnhKeLt1cv9w6yCWNoqI66-Q3tiTw9Pn5Z/s6016/DSC_3975.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNm70ydwPx5ESzY4duUt-Q8uJupu-PQ_ipCDHtuJcekEkeAzv6eZsCZ8ghOBZlm3GGf0LVRA7bnjAhBEWS_zYBm3AV_Qr7_bt4MiU8Ubx9Pg1vxOtDvlxQINYQJlyaOmnsRJzNMQXBiivkJm0a_ZWB2LZnhKeLt1cv9w6yCWNoqI66-Q3tiTw9Pn5Z/w400-h268/DSC_3975.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>. . . are starting their annual entrance into this world of ours.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fYs66VK_O2eZs52Ei8lJr8URS3W1n2gaHpHwSEkC07hX83x7LKkoaVwXkthLoAX_VwGLjwT6BvQ-T78ZYbbQ49rkL3z7cUt59dmc0t9QHgl48dJMpYiz_hVcdCwaK_WMU_UXYcTPCfQ8oROCMhhLU6OrrGIgmxW6XwW0FT6hiMkU86PZiqv4GCMW/s6016/DSC_3976.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fYs66VK_O2eZs52Ei8lJr8URS3W1n2gaHpHwSEkC07hX83x7LKkoaVwXkthLoAX_VwGLjwT6BvQ-T78ZYbbQ49rkL3z7cUt59dmc0t9QHgl48dJMpYiz_hVcdCwaK_WMU_UXYcTPCfQ8oROCMhhLU6OrrGIgmxW6XwW0FT6hiMkU86PZiqv4GCMW/w400-h268/DSC_3976.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I love them because you can't quite tell if they're flora or fauna . . .</div><div> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlWiHGEeoK9biJVMDIaJh_mkz4UADbZcRwu6VPb7mGpJFbznOV1kMWkJ_8HvmN5jTaY664tG3X2s4tlaZ_J4A13hEuwYfRuKsblqB4ir8ZqhcDMFQE-ZW5iOEF6xbhNMEVMQGcobU6GAITJeYsqlp9NTQfolWQonAwTkz84o9wXnowgVR1P-rWi9o/s6016/DSC_3977.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlWiHGEeoK9biJVMDIaJh_mkz4UADbZcRwu6VPb7mGpJFbznOV1kMWkJ_8HvmN5jTaY664tG3X2s4tlaZ_J4A13hEuwYfRuKsblqB4ir8ZqhcDMFQE-ZW5iOEF6xbhNMEVMQGcobU6GAITJeYsqlp9NTQfolWQonAwTkz84o9wXnowgVR1P-rWi9o/w400-h268/DSC_3977.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I love them for a million reasons because they're so weird and awesome.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipI--B--OUMZxxOF-gJu47lns0NOIJy_eYxVWxLkOy9scEc8AUUbSp7ih1TvCLG96uujB1IqcPgDrN762lunmZ8uX8Ozg78I_nOzZmaDb1PiBRut_8FO-xd6yzAfxRWOwmiOA_i3w0uwkAQAIIbH3gXl9Kzj6BugzNRiZIcpkmBh_7dmpp5swCl5Vu/s6016/DSC_3975%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipI--B--OUMZxxOF-gJu47lns0NOIJy_eYxVWxLkOy9scEc8AUUbSp7ih1TvCLG96uujB1IqcPgDrN762lunmZ8uX8Ozg78I_nOzZmaDb1PiBRut_8FO-xd6yzAfxRWOwmiOA_i3w0uwkAQAIIbH3gXl9Kzj6BugzNRiZIcpkmBh_7dmpp5swCl5Vu/w400-h268/DSC_3975%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div>One might call them weirdly awesome.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4wGJmioRF61h9m0IEyWXF9nC_s0XG-6Vs6pw99e3nCgAZZ2w91z42eGIlp0IigyfDA5RiY87CLtHlvLgpmVuK8h8dqS1N1VGjkLRcuCSrX6JVYnSR-yGGqVUCQTrXKsfJofJT94pA5SrZvh9O4-CMYSFh9wRyFjgRzlvtQtE5ublwcUrN_Howmm2/s6016/DSC_3982.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4wGJmioRF61h9m0IEyWXF9nC_s0XG-6Vs6pw99e3nCgAZZ2w91z42eGIlp0IigyfDA5RiY87CLtHlvLgpmVuK8h8dqS1N1VGjkLRcuCSrX6JVYnSR-yGGqVUCQTrXKsfJofJT94pA5SrZvh9O4-CMYSFh9wRyFjgRzlvtQtE5ublwcUrN_Howmm2/w400-h268/DSC_3982.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Steven's house loves this time of year . . . </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZR4lZqefMwkMDLPoLYEzQLFEnq7cnQBxR5UDG60pReZaLvDuULDTjsY5MftybhIqPCrRH2lAVc3Ztb4QQdLYIOaJCa1XARg7wxTEjMTdHoVa1DsctdqUl1sH6a6Y2X_bcWV-JKJn2V89F18LzG62cKcJt6c9MzMl8UU-t3WDWa0LVHrfoqXtoJh03/s6016/DSC_3988.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZR4lZqefMwkMDLPoLYEzQLFEnq7cnQBxR5UDG60pReZaLvDuULDTjsY5MftybhIqPCrRH2lAVc3Ztb4QQdLYIOaJCa1XARg7wxTEjMTdHoVa1DsctdqUl1sH6a6Y2X_bcWV-JKJn2V89F18LzG62cKcJt6c9MzMl8UU-t3WDWa0LVHrfoqXtoJh03/w400-h268/DSC_3988.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>. . . the juniper loves this time of year . . . </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoalYZFp4d-vxUJ6eiduMtLf_E1-RqcApoq_SBLl3ENVlI4v9ktcOdfAufR1qqu_sxu8PBpl4H2H3FupKWbftu8gMc04g4kOnoDAQgrTS2eHXsclcXt2lfx3O5XccxoNqK0dmzSEAnQy8DZ-D4-XoCyYvc1tmVz6rOHSVqNyzsLLvM3iWK8TJK_ug/s6016/DSC_3992.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoalYZFp4d-vxUJ6eiduMtLf_E1-RqcApoq_SBLl3ENVlI4v9ktcOdfAufR1qqu_sxu8PBpl4H2H3FupKWbftu8gMc04g4kOnoDAQgrTS2eHXsclcXt2lfx3O5XccxoNqK0dmzSEAnQy8DZ-D4-XoCyYvc1tmVz6rOHSVqNyzsLLvM3iWK8TJK_ug/w400-h268/DSC_3992.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>. . . everybody loves this time of year.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>It's the Season of the Greening.<br /><p><br /></p></div>Me, You, or Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13159195620327366257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4146073139129271180.post-70822920704233109312022-05-09T04:00:00.000-07:002022-05-09T04:20:27.113-07:00Sometimes . . . <p> . . . a photo says it all.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAPOpwnTvMyBAYLnilWv8-thBJyfYeXxtcCCBraRddFOqscLMh7_KSC4_SaEhTYa4M03vjiEJwOlRAXNYiz-sJaqSU0OCC_XSZEZLpJ2gexRY-M2il3zcVTOEY-ROton7-yMdPYuQRPPIRuL9yMgXDa58zyWdCySZx0rXKE9TftM02zcWrT8oZUnH/s1600/fullsizeoutput_38c.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAPOpwnTvMyBAYLnilWv8-thBJyfYeXxtcCCBraRddFOqscLMh7_KSC4_SaEhTYa4M03vjiEJwOlRAXNYiz-sJaqSU0OCC_XSZEZLpJ2gexRY-M2il3zcVTOEY-ROton7-yMdPYuQRPPIRuL9yMgXDa58zyWdCySZx0rXKE9TftM02zcWrT8oZUnH/w384-h400/fullsizeoutput_38c.jpeg" width="384" /></a></div><p>It was Mother's Day a few years ago and it was covid and we brought Mom bruncheon which we ate in her driveway, in the sun, separated by feet or was it yards? or was it miles? and we had so much fun.</p><p>Was it easy? No. Did Mom roll with it? Of course. Was it one for the ages? Oh yes.</p><p>Mom's strength and resiliency, her ability to roll with it, that's what I miss. And her empathy and interest, I miss that too. And her confidence in us? I miss that woman having my back and cheering me on.</p><p>May I say for the seven millionth time? I'm thankful and grateful we had her for the entirety of the well-lived life she shared with us.</p><p>And I am supremely grateful that this photo wasn't our last Mother's Day with Mom. Oh no. The <a href="http://meandyouandellie.blogspot.com/2021/05/motherly-love.html?m=0">next year</a>? We got to hug.</p>Me, You, or Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13159195620327366257noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4146073139129271180.post-16363819615686784642022-05-02T05:00:00.000-07:002022-05-02T05:12:56.043-07:00Deconstruction<p>It's hard to dismantle a home. </p><p>But we're doing it. And we're doing okay.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDgpH3S_9q9_vHLIsejq3SVK0KupggOZrWpFcXvE8sy2jSUcWQX3i5uSnnFckXh27aMdOix1ARuIgknaG1XvyllSuTV7vZCrT-jz-9MltzcBlOHmA5ueuLLcDm7-RXH6F5l4So045Kpl49-RJb_XcWJ9OgtiFzg-jsuFuM48ChF4VvmrmTdLtVRQB/s3088/IMG_3371.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDgpH3S_9q9_vHLIsejq3SVK0KupggOZrWpFcXvE8sy2jSUcWQX3i5uSnnFckXh27aMdOix1ARuIgknaG1XvyllSuTV7vZCrT-jz-9MltzcBlOHmA5ueuLLcDm7-RXH6F5l4So045Kpl49-RJb_XcWJ9OgtiFzg-jsuFuM48ChF4VvmrmTdLtVRQB/w400-h300/IMG_3371.HEIC" width="400" /></a></p><p>Well, we're doing okay-<i>ish.</i></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXK1HoUx-HDld5ftM0RBk3pTyCpj1ZZK3lj-vcTo9wEbRnzWRKenCBLdn2vhTVtUdx8PxNkzJfBJzmmn59sFwTBYv2z2GZSgyiwb-wu4B9zSUCLzVUruzjZOflBHZX2R7lUUSxsaBpeHBkaP7EyKNQvdcndPMWEked4iKI_RYPzcj0g7AEp-Kq5qga/s3088/IMG_3415.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXK1HoUx-HDld5ftM0RBk3pTyCpj1ZZK3lj-vcTo9wEbRnzWRKenCBLdn2vhTVtUdx8PxNkzJfBJzmmn59sFwTBYv2z2GZSgyiwb-wu4B9zSUCLzVUruzjZOflBHZX2R7lUUSxsaBpeHBkaP7EyKNQvdcndPMWEked4iKI_RYPzcj0g7AEp-Kq5qga/w400-h300/IMG_3415.HEIC" width="400" /></a></p><p>It's hard and it's weird and it's emotional and it's exhausting, but we're getting 'er done.</p><p>And so far the only blood has been from minor flesh wounds.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6iCmNctw6JaQXzxUzBvOXqWS-eG7WhOz6_B6ATQT0SlLwS4EmvMrwwjLtExOyQpQq8m2GXANWySL1P7mnZYxuLz4C28lxx0lVQkQupffR1bVodCa1CFooB2zthnVnnA7gSkqQbzurDqoOEwowkEA9QAjabfrrJ4vXU5r6b3CyIsfP91V9Z6l2WFi/s4032/IMG_3421.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6iCmNctw6JaQXzxUzBvOXqWS-eG7WhOz6_B6ATQT0SlLwS4EmvMrwwjLtExOyQpQq8m2GXANWySL1P7mnZYxuLz4C28lxx0lVQkQupffR1bVodCa1CFooB2zthnVnnA7gSkqQbzurDqoOEwowkEA9QAjabfrrJ4vXU5r6b3CyIsfP91V9Z6l2WFi/w300-h400/IMG_3421.HEIC" width="300" /></a></p><p>Well, <i>relatively</i> minor.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpGfEAGa7rFJp2A2g0kRNgYv2solQzd7151WU9V37nviRPbFwIRQUpljij4JkOVbPAabq9etZege7rCVRwPuQl55-_KrM-BaK2bzWVTHn40oqBLWMZGnRwoIzl_DC8stBrwBZ6lqlfeKid0NN0xLDWXjmmqwZa-ZRwQ_PR3LE5nGfpddsh7tAd9ja/s3088/IMG_3414.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpGfEAGa7rFJp2A2g0kRNgYv2solQzd7151WU9V37nviRPbFwIRQUpljij4JkOVbPAabq9etZege7rCVRwPuQl55-_KrM-BaK2bzWVTHn40oqBLWMZGnRwoIzl_DC8stBrwBZ6lqlfeKid0NN0xLDWXjmmqwZa-ZRwQ_PR3LE5nGfpddsh7tAd9ja/w400-h300/IMG_3414.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div>We're thinking about Mom and Dad constantly as we're clearing out their home while <i>living</i> in their home, all together, all weekend . . . <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>. . . and although as Jacquie hilariously pointed out yesterday, there is still plenty of time for estrangement . . . <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2mmJvz3TndMcM29Qqd-NiP05btW4d9RRekF3bGfvesyMX_YwA7SOFYm3BzHIWGRNzcfCkJZypVtgQgYVVGwDEYHC8FZsHMw6Qsf05pRMWTF0rX5Y4GMvtxwN7MpyBoSuGjidsnw2F_eVlW_xfIKKFk_8Gtbp7wiGjaZwKUf00iQsRuSY_yIT2bON/s3088/IMG_3433.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2mmJvz3TndMcM29Qqd-NiP05btW4d9RRekF3bGfvesyMX_YwA7SOFYm3BzHIWGRNzcfCkJZypVtgQgYVVGwDEYHC8FZsHMw6Qsf05pRMWTF0rX5Y4GMvtxwN7MpyBoSuGjidsnw2F_eVlW_xfIKKFk_8Gtbp7wiGjaZwKUf00iQsRuSY_yIT2bON/w400-h300/IMG_3433.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><p>. . . I think we're doing Mom and Dad proud.</p><p>Well, so far.</p><p>I love you guys. As Dad would say, you done good.</p>Me, You, or Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13159195620327366257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4146073139129271180.post-10529540547460074032022-04-25T04:00:00.000-07:002022-04-25T04:01:12.508-07:00Parentals, Redux<p><i>I've been feeling the presence and the loss of Dad almost as much as the presence and the loss of Mom these days, and I thought it was a perfect opportunity for a little Look Back . . .</i><i> a Look Back with Love . . . </i></p><p><br /></p><h2 class="date-header" style="color: #335577; font-size: 10.718500137329102px; letter-spacing: 0.2em; line-height: 2em; margin: 0px 28px 0px 43px; text-transform: uppercase;">MONDAY, JULY 31, 2017</h2><div class="date-posts"><div class="post-outer" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.609999656677246px;"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="border-color: rgb(157, 25, 97); border-style: dotted; border-width: 1px 0px; margin: 0.3em 0px 25px; padding: 0px 13px;"><a name="6261973871874336777"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-image: url("https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/rounders/icon_arrow.gif"); background-position: 10px 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-color: rgb(157, 25, 97); border-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 1px 1px; font-size: 17.023500442504883px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 2px 14px 2px 29px;">Parentals</h3><div class="post-header"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6261973871874336777" itemprop="description articleBody" style="border-color: rgb(157, 25, 97) rgb(157, 25, 97) rgb(255, 255, 204); border-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 1px; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em; padding: 10px 14px 1px 29px;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-_-Bs-_B2FiZGxugwaZgD8VbYHFJ7El7crz0wpAsalNzymfVDckVx9rCQS4gEXz2HRcNrbZ2oBIjh355yr81ruv_WPz-LG4WlWIJ8bdACWHCLdVNSPof_nzSHs8fJTXpMDm3lwbME5-X/s1600/mom+and+dad+1.jpg" style="color: #666666; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-_-Bs-_B2FiZGxugwaZgD8VbYHFJ7El7crz0wpAsalNzymfVDckVx9rCQS4gEXz2HRcNrbZ2oBIjh355yr81ruv_WPz-LG4WlWIJ8bdACWHCLdVNSPof_nzSHs8fJTXpMDm3lwbME5-X/s400/mom+and+dad+1.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(157, 25, 97); margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 4px;" width="300" /></a></div>These two.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWantzXBwWiwTF752NrgSwvmSjYwJXg3byyRgOrpFdroIuaAUiVOkpf18wXYphONRN69Dm19RvG6bwfoteWy33fi1-YBLnCSbkqWCda8NS8BRayUcQ4T4ykIdDSKLwpRPH4NBLXYtTxQu/s1600/mom+adn+dad+2.jpg" style="color: #666666; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="710" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWantzXBwWiwTF752NrgSwvmSjYwJXg3byyRgOrpFdroIuaAUiVOkpf18wXYphONRN69Dm19RvG6bwfoteWy33fi1-YBLnCSbkqWCda8NS8BRayUcQ4T4ykIdDSKLwpRPH4NBLXYtTxQu/s400/mom+adn+dad+2.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(157, 25, 97); margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 4px;" width="295" /></a></div>Julie flipped through old photo albums this weekend during her fiery swath through Connecticut, and we couldn't help notice a theme developing . . .<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTlH9MDYTBGXYC3HOuhcIQSse0bXCWxjGVQFOY-AdGjXdDTO3iBOtDhGLRGJlS6d-8LJM3sKyZRIwowaZbnY1BtpuBI7HwFsEj83jf_X7MEJfpbtK_OPYLH4PwyHsjFT6lHha_x0ZQRSZ/s1600/DSC_0140.JPG" style="color: #666666; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1110" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTlH9MDYTBGXYC3HOuhcIQSse0bXCWxjGVQFOY-AdGjXdDTO3iBOtDhGLRGJlS6d-8LJM3sKyZRIwowaZbnY1BtpuBI7HwFsEj83jf_X7MEJfpbtK_OPYLH4PwyHsjFT6lHha_x0ZQRSZ/s400/DSC_0140.JPG" style="border: 1px solid rgb(157, 25, 97); margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 4px;" width="278" /></a></div>These two.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLWX-f2CkpA2pv5FKBZ_D9FCKYcpdeT6R9R_v9batvZtYMPP3Citz85U1Q83zQDqAaR2u7dnszDhSchjRfVDqjzrKz_HLJ1UvX2xjVb-DYF54AeUxJE7w7qzA_lNb8OoLg1OxWUUUiUnz/s1600/DSC_0178.JPG" style="color: #666666; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="1321" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLWX-f2CkpA2pv5FKBZ_D9FCKYcpdeT6R9R_v9batvZtYMPP3Citz85U1Q83zQDqAaR2u7dnszDhSchjRfVDqjzrKz_HLJ1UvX2xjVb-DYF54AeUxJE7w7qzA_lNb8OoLg1OxWUUUiUnz/s400/DSC_0178.JPG" style="border: 1px solid rgb(157, 25, 97); margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 4px;" width="400" /></a></div> Mom and Dad.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQFMepie15sYH5S_rDwnqy3vZXRliBpBDyfPwdz5-kvQDtskqb1AH2w8-VzNVlsCDuP4Y-oc1ehRanLqamRqCzGTPc2tA5R234mviIWZT9bY3onfissc-_6U5wyYBO8plbxJ0L-jPc_6R/s1600/DSC_0231.JPG" style="color: #666666; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="1600" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQFMepie15sYH5S_rDwnqy3vZXRliBpBDyfPwdz5-kvQDtskqb1AH2w8-VzNVlsCDuP4Y-oc1ehRanLqamRqCzGTPc2tA5R234mviIWZT9bY3onfissc-_6U5wyYBO8plbxJ0L-jPc_6R/s400/DSC_0231.JPG" style="border: 1px solid rgb(157, 25, 97); margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 4px;" width="400" /></a></div>There were many photos, there were many meals -- oh, the meals -- there were many drinkie-poos, there were home movies and a visit to the Old Homestead but that is a topic for another day . . . and there were many, many photos of our Mom and Dad.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjFNBfKNN0B7QTgN0Dmneruq6ahyir2z0W-wAg8Ea3feHFA_FXv4z0rdR0MCBDDfptUtuwAkQ4Z75JPLhSzvqpqNV20vUKSjUevyW_x8paLMKhSds9IbYeA9B5DTPLVuE_CtMiJcMjXF1/s1600/MB%2527s+40th+b%2527day+party-NYC+.jpg" style="color: #666666; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1236" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjFNBfKNN0B7QTgN0Dmneruq6ahyir2z0W-wAg8Ea3feHFA_FXv4z0rdR0MCBDDfptUtuwAkQ4Z75JPLhSzvqpqNV20vUKSjUevyW_x8paLMKhSds9IbYeA9B5DTPLVuE_CtMiJcMjXF1/s400/MB%2527s+40th+b%2527day+party-NYC+.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(157, 25, 97); margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 4px;" width="309" /></a></div>They had a Thing, these two.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHNVPTIDYrtdYLPYszLk2beNEiNIMtNRNlFNDXXpoEBOOmd8chCtX4pbVJZza7EDdnV3O4gvRz4bjKi3jt_S_4HphEWfoHOFkfAiUOn-2Eo6AQ9kUyHQOZxz-jHYoEZzN-BZKA23wAUDnB/s1600/Julie%2527s+wedding.jpg" style="color: #666666; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1075" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHNVPTIDYrtdYLPYszLk2beNEiNIMtNRNlFNDXXpoEBOOmd8chCtX4pbVJZza7EDdnV3O4gvRz4bjKi3jt_S_4HphEWfoHOFkfAiUOn-2Eo6AQ9kUyHQOZxz-jHYoEZzN-BZKA23wAUDnB/s400/Julie%2527s+wedding.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(157, 25, 97); margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 4px;" width="269" /></a></div>A Thing for the Ages.<br /><br />Irish? And Lebanese?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Euex0gBBB8GjzTn7MiWHAWukL_P2QvFHWKY5AmCQD0rcsrGo7D7Dr_fH5A_-8jtnJDSIy_sf70hsRjgUo1ETrDJBlCS9tFWJfpOYgWy7r0WvZM4hz7nUrxyT5vM-qLw_N06_od1Eko2o/s1600/Di+%2526+Dodi.jpg" style="color: #666666; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Euex0gBBB8GjzTn7MiWHAWukL_P2QvFHWKY5AmCQD0rcsrGo7D7Dr_fH5A_-8jtnJDSIy_sf70hsRjgUo1ETrDJBlCS9tFWJfpOYgWy7r0WvZM4hz7nUrxyT5vM-qLw_N06_od1Eko2o/s400/Di+%2526+Dodi.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(157, 25, 97); margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 4px;" width="400" /></a></div>Bring it on.<br /><br />The mixture of those ethnicities and their love and strength and warmth and humor and passion and intelligence and <i>joie de vivre</i> just worked. Really well. For decades and decades.<br /><br />We were less than a full contingent this weekend -- we desperately missed our #s 2 and 6 -- but we were a quorum, and had enough members to study the results of this Irish and Lebanese lovefest our parents built over nearly 60 years . . .<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vH2CfNC8wHLu3jVms4XD1TUJIAZeU1TZKSfHuNbHzhdE8KlpDUSxe1wp86XbtbZJopg7Dyx_38u8k6qBOJtXw08hyphenhyphenDnJSODjIcZysw1pQLydKeStEgYVX2UBZtF5lxYmz8-a4qzREvil/s1600/IMG_3194%25281%2529.JPG" style="color: #666666; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vH2CfNC8wHLu3jVms4XD1TUJIAZeU1TZKSfHuNbHzhdE8KlpDUSxe1wp86XbtbZJopg7Dyx_38u8k6qBOJtXw08hyphenhyphenDnJSODjIcZysw1pQLydKeStEgYVX2UBZtF5lxYmz8-a4qzREvil/s400/IMG_3194%25281%2529.JPG" style="border: 1px solid rgb(157, 25, 97); margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 4px;" width="400" /></a></div>I'd call it a smashing success.<div style="clear: both;"></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="background-color: #ddeedd; border-color: rgb(157, 25, 97) rgb(157, 25, 97) transparent; border-style: dotted; border-width: 1px; color: #666666; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 2px 14px 2px 29px; text-align: right;"><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1" style="min-height: 1.5em;"><span class="post-author vcard" style="display: block; float: left; margin-right: 4px; text-align: left;"></span><span class="post-timestamp" style="display: block; float: left; margin-right: 4px; text-align: left;">at <a class="timestamp-link" href="http://meandyouandellie.blogspot.com/2017/07/parentals.html" rel="bookmark" style="color: #225588;" title="permanent link"><abbr class="published" itemprop="datePublished" style="border: none;" title="2017-07-31T05:00:00-07:00">5:00 AM</abbr></a></span><span class="post-comment-link"></span><span class="post-icons"></span><div class="post-share-buttons goog-inline-block" style="display: inline-block; margin-top: 0.5em; position: relative; vertical-align: middle;"></div></div><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-2"><span class="post-labels">Labels: <a href="http://meandyouandellie.blogspot.com/search/label/by%20Ellie" rel="tag" style="color: #225588;">by Ellie</a></span></div><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-3"><span class="post-location"></span></div></div></div><div class="comments" id="comments" style="border-color: rgb(157, 25, 97); border-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 1px 1px; clear: both; margin: -25px 13px 0px; padding: 20px 0px 15px;"><a name="comments"></a></div></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>Me, You, or Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13159195620327366257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4146073139129271180.post-91731534712018615052022-04-18T04:00:00.000-07:002022-04-18T04:03:11.006-07:00Springish Spring has sprung and yesterday was Easter . . . <p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrM3HTMEJ8H8mIpRudPoj7P1-etB7BEmea0JjOo65MPp6XsVmKpMnphYq9Axdgt4rpMO-tZOLcvEAL4uku4YOCWHhQHA-nV7-CHS8_mv9pfobVcVemrCDBOKPbIOO5SnJNCzEQOdiXZRJW8JCekFY9ZhKGhhaZBeYkHpG-IRlJWvguMxHT2bV_KbxR/s3858/IMG_1628.JPEG"><img border="0" data-original-height="2220" data-original-width="3858" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrM3HTMEJ8H8mIpRudPoj7P1-etB7BEmea0JjOo65MPp6XsVmKpMnphYq9Axdgt4rpMO-tZOLcvEAL4uku4YOCWHhQHA-nV7-CHS8_mv9pfobVcVemrCDBOKPbIOO5SnJNCzEQOdiXZRJW8JCekFY9ZhKGhhaZBeYkHpG-IRlJWvguMxHT2bV_KbxR/w400-h230/IMG_1628.JPEG" width="400" /></a></div>. . . and I can say unequivocally . . . <br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_ihOOJG-UqoH_mNNCciHbwZYWujDsmAZu8ao7J-O1_rQMjWQbDv5Tek2LNJp0aKEbwP6H_pK63Z4TBuku1sgzFZHRHuNbBZWSBsbX3Px4xfaYzhFpFVGHZX9Z6hcyUncozltZvI4HeSoo2GYnTRi6D08tilxWQBIBG_CZeUnS6h4r3CqIPlGEHo3/s4032/IMG_1632.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_ihOOJG-UqoH_mNNCciHbwZYWujDsmAZu8ao7J-O1_rQMjWQbDv5Tek2LNJp0aKEbwP6H_pK63Z4TBuku1sgzFZHRHuNbBZWSBsbX3Px4xfaYzhFpFVGHZX9Z6hcyUncozltZvI4HeSoo2GYnTRi6D08tilxWQBIBG_CZeUnS6h4r3CqIPlGEHo3/w400-h300/IMG_1632.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>. . . Mom would have loved it.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_fIeuE97rlCRCTOitxPi37KsBza38FSuxlwDaljZYf291tCXarrcG-GEDNiTW4OmG6A_EPIlRWvS-_XWtAt7s2Nn8X7N1WnFRLTu3jJOb1BvpA77FPNfK4Q8og7OQv01wQ6OpLaOook5cRIclsVtkEhmKrKuE8zszoKUiCGlrlJ8kX8xn7_bDlsM/s960/IMG_3312.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="944" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_fIeuE97rlCRCTOitxPi37KsBza38FSuxlwDaljZYf291tCXarrcG-GEDNiTW4OmG6A_EPIlRWvS-_XWtAt7s2Nn8X7N1WnFRLTu3jJOb1BvpA77FPNfK4Q8og7OQv01wQ6OpLaOook5cRIclsVtkEhmKrKuE8zszoKUiCGlrlJ8kX8xn7_bDlsM/w394-h400/IMG_3312.JPG" width="394" /></a></div>I mean, right?</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2uvxVxmnWJIIl0ayj_c7SdEfKUboDR4I7a49HxbXj-AuBysBQU0AIpAE-BjWvK7rG-3cZvogazS5hdZ8TAOSUqu0mXeilD6u5vKEHGczOnCSKRZ5BjE-IIm0WgJRrDPxiRX5H56yAcxw9vsZanG6aPtrIo2lPKJKo7hVIL7J8mHL2dc8oow0u-fS/s960/IMG_3313.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="940" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2uvxVxmnWJIIl0ayj_c7SdEfKUboDR4I7a49HxbXj-AuBysBQU0AIpAE-BjWvK7rG-3cZvogazS5hdZ8TAOSUqu0mXeilD6u5vKEHGczOnCSKRZ5BjE-IIm0WgJRrDPxiRX5H56yAcxw9vsZanG6aPtrIo2lPKJKo7hVIL7J8mHL2dc8oow0u-fS/w391-h400/IMG_3313.JPG" width="391" /></a></div>Mom loved spring, Mom loved warm weather, even though "warm" is a strong word for the weather in April . . . </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuZF-bd1IK4IvANS9Qcz7855pJYDF5cHYtprnqpiJTj7uwVBQoYQFaDRug-yDcTrjtNEv0h5Eau7yQNdrVP7fs-iz6x4n794wDLdxKurY_OPKa5A0gNxr4j9l4_UyOFvtSkjw99SZ68TL2LCSB3s0w3tK0yfheqkw-XAKxXHZ8lwGw1yDKBxqd106/s960/IMG_3314.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="954" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuZF-bd1IK4IvANS9Qcz7855pJYDF5cHYtprnqpiJTj7uwVBQoYQFaDRug-yDcTrjtNEv0h5Eau7yQNdrVP7fs-iz6x4n794wDLdxKurY_OPKa5A0gNxr4j9l4_UyOFvtSkjw99SZ68TL2LCSB3s0w3tK0yfheqkw-XAKxXHZ8lwGw1yDKBxqd106/w398-h400/IMG_3314.JPG" width="398" /></a></div>. . . but Mom was ready for winter to be over and for this day to come.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBGJ4eYMrg2SOn5a-TnhAQ4nlF3yBJvuCyHdFJ0l2PGGJSobEolUIB6_Vu4UxyxfZRxJb7Y24xr35gBx_mBsuX6--uN9xNNn5I-NCRnPGxO4kf4Xdl7Vua3Wwrx5-tNEakAIkaz-86_SqG0w16tVNNbjNEkLzIX5Md6-XNaxL7vttOEP-8TXKaWsZ/s3088/IMG_3316.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBGJ4eYMrg2SOn5a-TnhAQ4nlF3yBJvuCyHdFJ0l2PGGJSobEolUIB6_Vu4UxyxfZRxJb7Y24xr35gBx_mBsuX6--uN9xNNn5I-NCRnPGxO4kf4Xdl7Vua3Wwrx5-tNEakAIkaz-86_SqG0w16tVNNbjNEkLzIX5Md6-XNaxL7vttOEP-8TXKaWsZ/w400-h300/IMG_3316.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div>It's almost here, Mom. The warm weather is almost here . . . <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5cC2OoWqR6hPW9RP-ZVbrzaBF1dwEpjljraCtnHjb0YhYDvfqMTVq0cthjVndN9khrSJNSY2d1Q88UYM3w66KUDcrLBZfh3l-0Cut4ciAwGUQK0TcdxnmmJNtm6wxqt5nLScFb7zNGClr92skA4Jx-1a9YpXtU2Pr9qmNk7CqTBbIVHyicM08T8H/s4032/IMG_3318.HEIC"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5cC2OoWqR6hPW9RP-ZVbrzaBF1dwEpjljraCtnHjb0YhYDvfqMTVq0cthjVndN9khrSJNSY2d1Q88UYM3w66KUDcrLBZfh3l-0Cut4ciAwGUQK0TcdxnmmJNtm6wxqt5nLScFb7zNGClr92skA4Jx-1a9YpXtU2Pr9qmNk7CqTBbIVHyicM08T8H/w400-h300/IMG_3318.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div>. . . we promise.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRFoetdpz5CrpxmERvTVPZ4oPexYJqek9LTrx7msZaOgeuGXv7rb-wz8z3lxBy2Nt4D3f7Z6Nd-yH-SY3uXrG_GGwKvdCcoaWQ4wfTz1GwfB_B3De0HMu-rnsE43aBbwC5QjojTQBnvU6PDF-23AP1fBLwQHv4d-P5_5m0y27wNWqoM8RsFEyR87P/s4032/1%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRFoetdpz5CrpxmERvTVPZ4oPexYJqek9LTrx7msZaOgeuGXv7rb-wz8z3lxBy2Nt4D3f7Z6Nd-yH-SY3uXrG_GGwKvdCcoaWQ4wfTz1GwfB_B3De0HMu-rnsE43aBbwC5QjojTQBnvU6PDF-23AP1fBLwQHv4d-P5_5m0y27wNWqoM8RsFEyR87P/w400-h300/1%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Even Mermaid is on the lookout. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p></div>Me, You, or Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13159195620327366257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4146073139129271180.post-30073546007655917942022-04-11T04:00:00.001-07:002022-04-11T04:08:41.827-07:00Mom Flowers<div>Oh the lovely <a href="http://meandyouandellie.blogspot.com/2015/01/fleurs.html">flowers</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lots of lovely peeps sent so many lots of lovely things and we are so grateful.</div><div><br /></div><div>The prevailing feeling around these parts is . . . still . . . always . . . we are so grateful.</div><div><br /></div><div>For mom's long life, for her quick death, and for her many myriad friends and family who showed up in droves to share the love.</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, the love.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm a local so I was able to avail myself of some of Mom's lovely flowers, and I am so grateful for those too . . . </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xCOblg8jWaMoWF_Q54foZtB0vUyl-00xjv-_nxX50nxot-WH8a13b8kEEvZjJAX5mMPr6G_Y6hAIPHuuhT_cL4aQTUSmhI4j67YN7qtqg5W1qI0MRlKhROYmF2IKtiWnckFApqOf3fXPSN3CfLKFNibSz6eAZSTOie9GrDvN9plyuKZ-zkZgRLkl/s1620/IMG_3264.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xCOblg8jWaMoWF_Q54foZtB0vUyl-00xjv-_nxX50nxot-WH8a13b8kEEvZjJAX5mMPr6G_Y6hAIPHuuhT_cL4aQTUSmhI4j67YN7qtqg5W1qI0MRlKhROYmF2IKtiWnckFApqOf3fXPSN3CfLKFNibSz6eAZSTOie9GrDvN9plyuKZ-zkZgRLkl/w400-h266/IMG_3264.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><div>. . . for those from Nancy and Jonny . . . </div><div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lAt5ZC10MNJqyiC8SUMvEnx4_bbslksP_eAmuWxrt1VlkN4zcQFYlOvpSpHrq-gU9M6gy78fMkodtKffJqPVCzkWdWh1Y_nXjJ-jzh7Z3Qn5NVlM366_Jj-amEAprV-lpoeRPBgQpOk9jj_07d7MsbRR8D8EmKqsLd9YTZrBqwPXqarj6j4SevyH/s4032/IMG_3224.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lAt5ZC10MNJqyiC8SUMvEnx4_bbslksP_eAmuWxrt1VlkN4zcQFYlOvpSpHrq-gU9M6gy78fMkodtKffJqPVCzkWdWh1Y_nXjJ-jzh7Z3Qn5NVlM366_Jj-amEAprV-lpoeRPBgQpOk9jj_07d7MsbRR8D8EmKqsLd9YTZrBqwPXqarj6j4SevyH/w300-h400/IMG_3224.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div> . . . from our beautiful cousin Liz . . . </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghuFCM7tawFvKhyjCPwHr6NTltErkUa-A4RohG5b_wzDZY2gND9mXSM_BLyatmOAJSl0gG7qxX-m9xdqOZhkZUnmmgX2_V1MSdNvoS_aXL0ihYYP8bvwTg25FulPxERbw18Xli-Vkb2KSBfHNrHAxcv6Im3sGn0HNXR7VNcblX6jtSb-ikNP_2GmTD/s1620/IMG_3239.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghuFCM7tawFvKhyjCPwHr6NTltErkUa-A4RohG5b_wzDZY2gND9mXSM_BLyatmOAJSl0gG7qxX-m9xdqOZhkZUnmmgX2_V1MSdNvoS_aXL0ihYYP8bvwTg25FulPxERbw18Xli-Vkb2KSBfHNrHAxcv6Im3sGn0HNXR7VNcblX6jtSb-ikNP_2GmTD/w400-h266/IMG_3239.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div>. . . and for a combo of a few bouquets.<br /><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kd2S5D1yEuZf9MCD3EkzD8IZbAByaWXNNkphKxk5AgQ1VYDx9C901y6LTu-hggk7ifsy0Hqq-cgONxuuUmPDx0PaMsx0-zcgnIfWb0OcvXnv7cNaltfH-dcOCLHHVld16dh2yV_Zt_y8hBicd13V9Eq9ASFDVT-It2xHVlhBKeMfmF5l4uAFwqOH/s4032/66924495816__BEF9C297-7F9F-4925-A67B-17EFA99E186A.jpeg"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kd2S5D1yEuZf9MCD3EkzD8IZbAByaWXNNkphKxk5AgQ1VYDx9C901y6LTu-hggk7ifsy0Hqq-cgONxuuUmPDx0PaMsx0-zcgnIfWb0OcvXnv7cNaltfH-dcOCLHHVld16dh2yV_Zt_y8hBicd13V9Eq9ASFDVT-It2xHVlhBKeMfmF5l4uAFwqOH/w400-h300/66924495816__BEF9C297-7F9F-4925-A67B-17EFA99E186A.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For peonies planted all the way out in Brooklyn, by Kelly . . . </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLr3FGmZ9FHkUc7X9MtSejbnRB3346KI8XkZBprX_Uyzf2A35GdJWZavUZNFijgeUF_BCguB7eAmlBVVzfORLX8NCtMK6Cx4CRKDVWBB1d9Lyox8-Jm7fGVagR3m80f0pR18sqHmyDrmR48LthIvNTNrBVxJ0jmrzenLC0kN88rRIhVR52JnFxFH-g/s4032/IMG_3185.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLr3FGmZ9FHkUc7X9MtSejbnRB3346KI8XkZBprX_Uyzf2A35GdJWZavUZNFijgeUF_BCguB7eAmlBVVzfORLX8NCtMK6Cx4CRKDVWBB1d9Lyox8-Jm7fGVagR3m80f0pR18sqHmyDrmR48LthIvNTNrBVxJ0jmrzenLC0kN88rRIhVR52JnFxFH-g/w300-h400/IMG_3185.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div>. . . for those from Brian and Rory . . . </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5iTJ80_fcPI2RC0MHnS1wVv6YHo56hu4TDQIJu4BDUgHPjx64HWIvX40DiOzS3H8Z_wWOzk04uDiDsAjdEQgagG51Uuq4_HP3uPH_ehfwgGjf363fF7J85AZfbSgOyFUl6QizIG4g3PsKwzRbVImjwG56Q21xv2aVvP6qDosIEcfZdwIzE4zefoib/s4032/IMG_3223.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5iTJ80_fcPI2RC0MHnS1wVv6YHo56hu4TDQIJu4BDUgHPjx64HWIvX40DiOzS3H8Z_wWOzk04uDiDsAjdEQgagG51Uuq4_HP3uPH_ehfwgGjf363fF7J85AZfbSgOyFUl6QizIG4g3PsKwzRbVImjwG56Q21xv2aVvP6qDosIEcfZdwIzE4zefoib/w300-h400/IMG_3223.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div>. . . and the bouquet from the Corcillos. </div><div><br /></div><div>Jacquie and I were looking at the flowers in the funeral home together, saw the card, and yelled out together, "<i>Jane</i>!"</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34rzFe41v--m1WUAGnNyEw3LDn-elM8V7-aAv8SYxsdVeT67sFI0Ilg9MtuLa9vNOgTG3T5FkZ-TArBvpKu68arZ1_dIkROXoPiGqIWK7BU6_deBQ3naTsQ3fgvK0JF_PfEIHUXZ23WNiiV8tR6nW2BSrvcXHNSNdANKGvllIx4d6T7Vi8INGE2_T/s4032/1.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34rzFe41v--m1WUAGnNyEw3LDn-elM8V7-aAv8SYxsdVeT67sFI0Ilg9MtuLa9vNOgTG3T5FkZ-TArBvpKu68arZ1_dIkROXoPiGqIWK7BU6_deBQ3naTsQ3fgvK0JF_PfEIHUXZ23WNiiV8tR6nW2BSrvcXHNSNdANKGvllIx4d6T7Vi8INGE2_T/w300-h400/1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div>The three of us worked in that magical place for years. (And the three of us also worked at SoNo Seaport Seafood Restaurant, <i>harumph.</i>) </div><div>(And <i>ha</i>.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway.</div><div><br /></div><div>There were gorgeous flowers everywhere and Mistah and I loved having them in our home. When they met their demise, we said to eachother ...</div><div><br />Let us always have flowers in honor of Mom . . . </div><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuHomktkbq5II6RwMKGx6gmsf4pWXV-XoboXF9oKW4FkXS-qp5-N96T9GF5_NiMIZUSRaRnfrK_LWhyCLNmC_H7RA8vcc_UyT6E4T46myvI1YfuS8-pvCAykrliNhTjiD27-SHhCNPP5GHUY9U8iPY-_HyA1Q7d1Yz2xhbi4ieFWffIY1kfDIoHpq/s4032/IMG_1606.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuHomktkbq5II6RwMKGx6gmsf4pWXV-XoboXF9oKW4FkXS-qp5-N96T9GF5_NiMIZUSRaRnfrK_LWhyCLNmC_H7RA8vcc_UyT6E4T46myvI1YfuS8-pvCAykrliNhTjiD27-SHhCNPP5GHUY9U8iPY-_HyA1Q7d1Yz2xhbi4ieFWffIY1kfDIoHpq/w400-h300/IMG_1606.HEIC" width="400" /></a><p></p></div></div></div>
. . . and so we begin.<div><br /></div>Me, You, or Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13159195620327366257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4146073139129271180.post-38854582619546761152022-04-04T04:00:00.001-07:002022-04-05T17:39:16.432-07:004:44
<p>One million years ago, or possibly 12 years ago, after Dad died, Mom suggested -- nay, demanded -- we all get together for Christmas. </p><p>"But Mom, we don't get together for Christmas; we get together in the summer."</p><p>"We're getting together for Christmas."</p><p>Mom had spoken.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TWc3JLkYmr_98CBV5bvhxH9BfK7VYFloQZg15pUNxTZ69m-o9otmjNXkoZ5rgMDfFkypi0XUWXz7PicMPZqKlrTMF5Xtlj0-V3UiTZfYXtMicLeFtsLuPWkivXAGkfszoDm3nrm7Vn0q2mgCuu8JYXZGrbq0_ZmD8Jb8y-BGmdQlsCSWzYkHxuzC/s537/Mom%20our%20Mom%20-%201%20(3).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="537" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TWc3JLkYmr_98CBV5bvhxH9BfK7VYFloQZg15pUNxTZ69m-o9otmjNXkoZ5rgMDfFkypi0XUWXz7PicMPZqKlrTMF5Xtlj0-V3UiTZfYXtMicLeFtsLuPWkivXAGkfszoDm3nrm7Vn0q2mgCuu8JYXZGrbq0_ZmD8Jb8y-BGmdQlsCSWzYkHxuzC/w400-h391/Mom%20our%20Mom%20-%201%20(3).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This was not that Christmas. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This was Thanksgiving a few years ago. </i></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>As you were.</i></div><p><br /></p><p>Jane graciously volunteered to host at her lovely home in Chicagoland, and all the sisters and their wee chitlins made arrangements to get there.</p><p>Mistah and I, of course, planned to drive.</p><p>And Mom planned to drive too.</p><p>So the three of us decided to drive together, in what had been Dad's Lexie but now was Mom's Lexie. Three drivers, 12 or 13 hours, no problemo.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8BaXY0ti5cbjTcSP2z79hxSTUCP0vqxUkKCSHM3qOHnyyROsj6VMDrKocICKdjAKRU8TDMcuTBEVUlK_cPW4bIACjTtUYZHudFIbwIDI-ukyenIlCWedSxNVrNh-LhPu4lKpFjZNKJypIltRx_5JXFBGMIJinH-D829iuTue2kRLdWYClWCzHmln/s1080/Mom%20our%20Mom%20-%2013%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8BaXY0ti5cbjTcSP2z79hxSTUCP0vqxUkKCSHM3qOHnyyROsj6VMDrKocICKdjAKRU8TDMcuTBEVUlK_cPW4bIACjTtUYZHudFIbwIDI-ukyenIlCWedSxNVrNh-LhPu4lKpFjZNKJypIltRx_5JXFBGMIJinH-D829iuTue2kRLdWYClWCzHmln/w400-h300/Mom%20our%20Mom%20-%2013%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOs2QNPX9fHu0UW6iXe6dQAXWuTvvZyG3F_Lj8bSt5uY-9zW94yRLvllBWYgQ_fMaR3lGesdV1uer04hx3RTDOlXiL4l_9JveUDipy_9vCbxUIEhmRAztBURbiQddx0DTDXnDRpDBRBWkfYeo8_RYJbeRNBwG2aIWqDf0QAXnPcAR7tCz5V-IDAY7f/s1280/Mom%20our%20Mom%20-%207%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="1280" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOs2QNPX9fHu0UW6iXe6dQAXWuTvvZyG3F_Lj8bSt5uY-9zW94yRLvllBWYgQ_fMaR3lGesdV1uer04hx3RTDOlXiL4l_9JveUDipy_9vCbxUIEhmRAztBURbiQddx0DTDXnDRpDBRBWkfYeo8_RYJbeRNBwG2aIWqDf0QAXnPcAR7tCz5V-IDAY7f/w400-h264/Mom%20our%20Mom%20-%207%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Photos are separate from my tale, </i><i>as is now I hope eminently obvious.</i></p><p><br /></p><p>Bill and I drove down to Mom's the night before and the three of us had ourselves a lovely time -- because of course we did: the three of us always had so much fun together -- and we decided we would leave at 5 am.</p><p>We went to bed early, and in the morning I was *trying* to sleep when I heard Mom and Bill yakking in the kitchen. I was like, "Guys! You said five! What are you <i>doing</i>?"</p><p>They both said, "We're awake, let's go."</p><p>"<i>I'm</i> not awake."</p><p>"Come on, let's go."</p><p>I got up, we poured coffee for ourselves, it was black as night out there -- well, it <i>was</i> night out there -- we got in the car, and Mom insisted on driving the first leg.</p><p>"Mom, why? It's nighttime; let one of us drive."</p><p>But once again, Mom had spoken.</p><p><i>Sigh</i>. Mom.</p><p>Mom started driving, said, "Oh, let's see what time we're hitting the road . . . "</p><p>It was 4:44.</p><p>And so it began.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBi4Af_g7xk3j74kgDxdLLCxZ77RlFYSKpJX71deogRTPZenYCGb0ucyvVwiQw4cXzFAwM3QXt-qDYF2oV6DhD7UPe1frmOQW0mYPrS4Z9EaI-rsk-nFOJCkkyDoaN7Mb4jqrXY3DEBBk7WRXnNwYe9V0XRpBgqTVOHuddtWVkbeVDk2Pv1rR4GUKk/s2048/18156075_10155351723634165_1817158686248733779_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBi4Af_g7xk3j74kgDxdLLCxZ77RlFYSKpJX71deogRTPZenYCGb0ucyvVwiQw4cXzFAwM3QXt-qDYF2oV6DhD7UPe1frmOQW0mYPrS4Z9EaI-rsk-nFOJCkkyDoaN7Mb4jqrXY3DEBBk7WRXnNwYe9V0XRpBgqTVOHuddtWVkbeVDk2Pv1rR4GUKk/w400-h266/18156075_10155351723634165_1817158686248733779_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_daUdIXCWIV8R0Vz89VVypv-4ctvkpPGabnud6MDy5fboDYwOOxAapfq-Z4Dvz6H7kiETLO-Naqm_BWdmpShGyUKayAxOeJ3laQgiUBp9AQ7_558coU1Zhc0yaXPH8_QwK8Ye_sTvXEWm36wxdb8g4i7jqgvzSejRbN1Xw7GX2vLHxEMRUk4Zo4P/s574/10258696_10153319061149165_5678611812588173734_n-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="574" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_daUdIXCWIV8R0Vz89VVypv-4ctvkpPGabnud6MDy5fboDYwOOxAapfq-Z4Dvz6H7kiETLO-Naqm_BWdmpShGyUKayAxOeJ3laQgiUBp9AQ7_558coU1Zhc0yaXPH8_QwK8Ye_sTvXEWm36wxdb8g4i7jqgvzSejRbN1Xw7GX2vLHxEMRUk4Zo4P/w400-h400/10258696_10153319061149165_5678611812588173734_n-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>Mom and I have had a thing about 4:44 ever since. It's a magical time of day. It's just before happy hour -- well, for our strictly-5:00-pm-Mom it was just before happy hour; for me, happy hour had already begun. Ha.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9r0bYBPYzDK_D_YXdcWBEI5YhAWEvTjHYv4Hv-bKz1NUMML9sFW2_5g-NXQEa87c5SS-PFs3bmseUGyqgfe4CGdOeKQw-4LyAdJjqVZBtkvRo1z1UNvqMnMSiK6acB6X18mxNxCpjQyUPf1T6ZhEnT_dF0ossAGSV3PqRmuDEGQRVqPBe2dH9M2je/s1280/Mom%20our%20Mom%20-%204%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9r0bYBPYzDK_D_YXdcWBEI5YhAWEvTjHYv4Hv-bKz1NUMML9sFW2_5g-NXQEa87c5SS-PFs3bmseUGyqgfe4CGdOeKQw-4LyAdJjqVZBtkvRo1z1UNvqMnMSiK6acB6X18mxNxCpjQyUPf1T6ZhEnT_dF0ossAGSV3PqRmuDEGQRVqPBe2dH9M2je/w400-h300/Mom%20our%20Mom%20-%204%20(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLONGDd6UHkZB_SzwAIWq2jKGSyDuTk8ixQdksyyTRSjK6kYscWbwVmf4ZF0jd9XzaUcZl2OJfDQ6sifNKsaI9AyooNd2spRwgROp7Nd6GNddWgihNpZVnBGcEcElWPnkwNI-2IcWodOWYEpFSEUS_S22Q8T0jIq1KBhUA5vDEu0KVuQdkjvF9TfDv/s1280/Mom%20our%20Mom%20-%205%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLONGDd6UHkZB_SzwAIWq2jKGSyDuTk8ixQdksyyTRSjK6kYscWbwVmf4ZF0jd9XzaUcZl2OJfDQ6sifNKsaI9AyooNd2spRwgROp7Nd6GNddWgihNpZVnBGcEcElWPnkwNI-2IcWodOWYEpFSEUS_S22Q8T0jIq1KBhUA5vDEu0KVuQdkjvF9TfDv/w400-h300/Mom%20our%20Mom%20-%205%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Two selfies taken at the Dutch, both blurry. I blame poltergeists.</i></p><p><br /></p><p>Fast forward to March 2020. Bill and I spoke to Mom the day covid shut the world down, that afternoon on March 16. When we said goodbye I said, "I'll call you tomorrow." "You don't have to." "I'll call you tomorrow, Mom. I'll call you at 4:44."</p><p>And Mom and I spoke at 4:44 every day ever since. </p><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQoJt0pNPsar1CG1kIgObkTkomZwm-OaYYMPwTds84OD5IES7P6UD20bRRD-81Fk3Pipi-eeAq9eSx7Sp7kRien-o7v02JKTe8SyTwHPBGw4X5mfluqJw-1aoyTWl3RFTGY-dgrMxKjjWayfGuaxHjDPUDWyQUfHeCWpxnDSlxS4gIuruJMaqCLv9/s1080/Mom%20our%20Mom%20-%2011%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="1080" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQoJt0pNPsar1CG1kIgObkTkomZwm-OaYYMPwTds84OD5IES7P6UD20bRRD-81Fk3Pipi-eeAq9eSx7Sp7kRien-o7v02JKTe8SyTwHPBGw4X5mfluqJw-1aoyTWl3RFTGY-dgrMxKjjWayfGuaxHjDPUDWyQUfHeCWpxnDSlxS4gIuruJMaqCLv9/w400-h300/Mom%20our%20Mom%20-%2011%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxs4EdMmj4UR_JTV6iVrWlNdKXIwrWj29-089PD3I3LQVeCaPfK7VL24p5jpb-HeXdjCTK05gDbm0u_aDMSOA_9r5ecXy_vG4wj2RMXswHxcHoO9EQ3VxgxXVBQEKu5VHnT_dZ0FXLShjfzjjfvakIyMnipb_BQA7DELhC9gXt8BPpZRz0cfzHQc2z/s1080/Mom%20our%20Mom%20-%2012%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="1080" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxs4EdMmj4UR_JTV6iVrWlNdKXIwrWj29-089PD3I3LQVeCaPfK7VL24p5jpb-HeXdjCTK05gDbm0u_aDMSOA_9r5ecXy_vG4wj2RMXswHxcHoO9EQ3VxgxXVBQEKu5VHnT_dZ0FXLShjfzjjfvakIyMnipb_BQA7DELhC9gXt8BPpZRz0cfzHQc2z/w400-h300/Mom%20our%20Mom%20-%2012%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Our far-apart covid-visit series . . . </i></p><p><br /></p><p>As I said at Mom's funeral -- <i>sigh</i> -- "our conversations weren’t always deep or impactful or profound: we talked about what we were going to have for dinner (of course), what we did that day, all the things. Mom was ready to get <i>off</i> the phone the moment she got <i>on</i> the phone, but I was dogged; I wanted details." </p><p>I still have my phone set for 4:44 every day. And I toast Mom every time. If Mistah is home we hug, I either laugh or cry or keep chopping veggies or keep reading, and keep living life, because that's what we do. Happily and proudly.</p><p>We keep living life.</p><p>And I'm going to keep that alarm set on my phone for a long long time.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjtfho9Koecoptftk2YdXkluGRFTaZirsdPVmdyqBbpadev-AHCfdz--5BdqnFcXWU1bvnIUti1uyHkwQ4UiZyi_jxjR41fwTFdwxTyjP5YLOvhrSeoAX8Sxq4zQOhB4JEwHSyTYpVS8UjL6XC1iYQJ7emznH8dTi0GtrTTGY_FayiTM0qyLNalXX/s1080/Mom%20our%20Mom%20-%2014%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="1080" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjtfho9Koecoptftk2YdXkluGRFTaZirsdPVmdyqBbpadev-AHCfdz--5BdqnFcXWU1bvnIUti1uyHkwQ4UiZyi_jxjR41fwTFdwxTyjP5YLOvhrSeoAX8Sxq4zQOhB4JEwHSyTYpVS8UjL6XC1iYQJ7emznH8dTi0GtrTTGY_FayiTM0qyLNalXX/w400-h300/Mom%20our%20Mom%20-%2014%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">Happy 4:44, Mom.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpG7WTFTM0pzpmyHzP7SQnG3QvnI5L4oSpkohjOmkRpH1TcD65jXJOV2BlJNMJ_RD93LKPp4z1-x7jbpvyvQr8RwY6j3c_w3JxAfIhy9m1KzMUpU8N9M8HTk30PW6UH5b1_WZunwrulL0M_DYAWj87CM2Y-vCcNPJoJNRKn1Veu5MaNvRhWlw-ZvYy/s873/Mom%20our%20Mom%20-%202%20(3).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="873" data-original-width="691" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpG7WTFTM0pzpmyHzP7SQnG3QvnI5L4oSpkohjOmkRpH1TcD65jXJOV2BlJNMJ_RD93LKPp4z1-x7jbpvyvQr8RwY6j3c_w3JxAfIhy9m1KzMUpU8N9M8HTk30PW6UH5b1_WZunwrulL0M_DYAWj87CM2Y-vCcNPJoJNRKn1Veu5MaNvRhWlw-ZvYy/w316-h400/Mom%20our%20Mom%20-%202%20(3).jpg" width="316" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">We miss you, quite literally, every day.</p></div></div>Me, You, or Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13159195620327366257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4146073139129271180.post-25373933564792184552022-03-28T04:30:00.014-07:002022-03-28T04:39:51.371-07:00Mom<p> Let's gaze upon photos of our Mom, shall we?</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5K6eoXqEg7JWXnT89DyaeCAnP6RsPbOqJshGkynCzfSntZj3j8ifeU27qSnG3dNMZVvnug2x8iCvnImREVVfXb3-ZyJt6ICQ54cyKZ-9xtiWU-OiTJKF6MAzE7fePMGAcly-ikYcNvVM43KrGzTPIEJq1pomubzHsTI9IZ0JBMge-TEg1UHSdejt/s1686/IMG_4501.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1686" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5K6eoXqEg7JWXnT89DyaeCAnP6RsPbOqJshGkynCzfSntZj3j8ifeU27qSnG3dNMZVvnug2x8iCvnImREVVfXb3-ZyJt6ICQ54cyKZ-9xtiWU-OiTJKF6MAzE7fePMGAcly-ikYcNvVM43KrGzTPIEJq1pomubzHsTI9IZ0JBMge-TEg1UHSdejt/w400-h268/IMG_4501.JPG" width="400" /></a></p><p>She was one for the ages, that Mom of ours.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9nTJzLZY3NF3BBsyRri8KD-bZIO3lpVleIY7wTOGItjI8xULCur7VfXGXdCeaLXU21FpsTsu2P9AQl1cGo2cw5MUGFMKM3lYEUIqVddRfmPDsd_MI7J6c2bIQ4jjolIj1sNZWKRDXme8NFzmboHr_cAk08TZLlLuwKxLEGG8wYDg1JHcUKSrW42M/s2048/18156075_10155351723634165_1817158686248733779_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9nTJzLZY3NF3BBsyRri8KD-bZIO3lpVleIY7wTOGItjI8xULCur7VfXGXdCeaLXU21FpsTsu2P9AQl1cGo2cw5MUGFMKM3lYEUIqVddRfmPDsd_MI7J6c2bIQ4jjolIj1sNZWKRDXme8NFzmboHr_cAk08TZLlLuwKxLEGG8wYDg1JHcUKSrW42M/w400-h266/18156075_10155351723634165_1817158686248733779_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I'll write more about her; I will . . . <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9caa3gv18ao02_bolARdbsaWKkMKoDps1bRFQtcpWcfM7fDwLEdpVk8JKraKArYPL_cy0xsEnKRojp5kypsU5kDI-lYxgM8_sFERVB3lR0EVDnirZKPbu8-vsrvE5KMskKwC5f6yT2L89VqoZG2w1jkozgX5jFFsWqXz7whQaPQQE-pExznZhEloH/s2048/IMG_3159.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1654" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9caa3gv18ao02_bolARdbsaWKkMKoDps1bRFQtcpWcfM7fDwLEdpVk8JKraKArYPL_cy0xsEnKRojp5kypsU5kDI-lYxgM8_sFERVB3lR0EVDnirZKPbu8-vsrvE5KMskKwC5f6yT2L89VqoZG2w1jkozgX5jFFsWqXz7whQaPQQE-pExznZhEloH/w323-h400/IMG_3159.JPG" width="323" /></a></div>. . . but for now . . . </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxsnotyHqFi-13TaAn0TgMLbdwxCblYBKnpQICKd2qDv335tqMxcIaiPVsa3E0_ED5uUxu9L6x4FhyU6QtJenWi28-MVItfMSn_XtFNF7aOhv3vsYOaEgCAE5Rd4JQaQRebmCUItq7vau2Ca1iFi12Mjb3KzQYDZQtaQZCzh5HrtVOOuFlUXXzxX_/s534/IMG_0190.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="534" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxsnotyHqFi-13TaAn0TgMLbdwxCblYBKnpQICKd2qDv335tqMxcIaiPVsa3E0_ED5uUxu9L6x4FhyU6QtJenWi28-MVItfMSn_XtFNF7aOhv3vsYOaEgCAE5Rd4JQaQRebmCUItq7vau2Ca1iFi12Mjb3KzQYDZQtaQZCzh5HrtVOOuFlUXXzxX_/w400-h334/IMG_0190.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div>. . . let's just gaze, don't you think?</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihy2CxudBvET5fk0y6esolSHJGONl8pSr2mW0BExyWzVDuFkwrNqg7fjFsqGK_avMTfO72WRrEEMYYh6BrTecz8aio_fmdzOVDLGZLZXKxRXbNyv5UikC_FatQDtrNkK3bAr0BydSLBYqKjCUCvCUU2ZA-4XpXBG8dmVJq8NTax9PTzWXXm9zXaBKx/s960/IMG_2234.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihy2CxudBvET5fk0y6esolSHJGONl8pSr2mW0BExyWzVDuFkwrNqg7fjFsqGK_avMTfO72WRrEEMYYh6BrTecz8aio_fmdzOVDLGZLZXKxRXbNyv5UikC_FatQDtrNkK3bAr0BydSLBYqKjCUCvCUU2ZA-4XpXBG8dmVJq8NTax9PTzWXXm9zXaBKx/w400-h266/IMG_2234.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqonNp_bwRSdI_87vdzXwPL0SLODB5WC6wdGvg_ogzcCjAD4nIkgZaUBgV6RaiFdpcfdkZS_jrH6Y0bzWqJr-hDGQUyX9kccLv7JzTuxVIJWXYHjPgkX8bGeGw8VaeUlI-9tnxREPA84OVhk5iDUI3z_wNhzPAzcVPQFC7n1u6KnPgiXJt_E5xKdv/s785/DSC_0054.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="639" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqonNp_bwRSdI_87vdzXwPL0SLODB5WC6wdGvg_ogzcCjAD4nIkgZaUBgV6RaiFdpcfdkZS_jrH6Y0bzWqJr-hDGQUyX9kccLv7JzTuxVIJWXYHjPgkX8bGeGw8VaeUlI-9tnxREPA84OVhk5iDUI3z_wNhzPAzcVPQFC7n1u6KnPgiXJt_E5xKdv/w325-h400/DSC_0054.JPG" width="325" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWD4bL7k4biuserh7Jb44jc7ZR4hWZElIQdHU0-dq68_5zVlxwvK5JqA5l8GDK6GLaqjgpy-wQ7urgKT0k4YWTd0r7TRcLir-TTdPHXXUpBrhW8Sunp753C_dpMZ89tCauZWE3Eu35ede2GCtp9tqp_yaQzLOZwAXR3RNCzovBPTl3N34oXqyf1XD/s733/DSC_0049.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="642" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWD4bL7k4biuserh7Jb44jc7ZR4hWZElIQdHU0-dq68_5zVlxwvK5JqA5l8GDK6GLaqjgpy-wQ7urgKT0k4YWTd0r7TRcLir-TTdPHXXUpBrhW8Sunp753C_dpMZ89tCauZWE3Eu35ede2GCtp9tqp_yaQzLOZwAXR3RNCzovBPTl3N34oXqyf1XD/w350-h400/DSC_0049.JPG" width="350" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I mean . . . </div></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KLbNr0PGos4eBlSFriWhOABXA3cxESQ1mzH4UPw9vs-cKmnBDRpesBmYXdJCziysdVXrawCNi8rJ_2ElD0SyPWFKa62CsiTt2SA_yBx_46OvYTWJzsVyhXMZl7yLKPmiBkkm1G1DdXMw3L9fhz6gfqMAjv7sKIq1IYMrkj-XYMO13xWp6i78dRuR/s755/DSC_0047.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KLbNr0PGos4eBlSFriWhOABXA3cxESQ1mzH4UPw9vs-cKmnBDRpesBmYXdJCziysdVXrawCNi8rJ_2ElD0SyPWFKa62CsiTt2SA_yBx_46OvYTWJzsVyhXMZl7yLKPmiBkkm1G1DdXMw3L9fhz6gfqMAjv7sKIq1IYMrkj-XYMO13xWp6i78dRuR/w371-h400/DSC_0047.JPG" width="371" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2YSgYyKU7Zf7vug3-SxXFIBdki9o_EA0Xz_MSc23ah9rJ2-cuoKot9sA8FhBnF21YEjFlr7fCvvTbUxvKWIxhr_PesBNZ12av_E2Ne0Z9dDtMK1k31kq_JJuQwhJ0SsihlJCEJd1pTE1Vo8fh3mDVJgHxhDMR331Rvboar42NKUCAUMzX726R-KJ/s3318/11%20-%201%20(9).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3010" data-original-width="3318" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2YSgYyKU7Zf7vug3-SxXFIBdki9o_EA0Xz_MSc23ah9rJ2-cuoKot9sA8FhBnF21YEjFlr7fCvvTbUxvKWIxhr_PesBNZ12av_E2Ne0Z9dDtMK1k31kq_JJuQwhJ0SsihlJCEJd1pTE1Vo8fh3mDVJgHxhDMR331Rvboar42NKUCAUMzX726R-KJ/w400-h363/11%20-%201%20(9).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKTYOAL73qFepsJoZkznj8onUav15fahCSWLyooFJcpEsqJHq0wRL_OvdsbgyK0p2bbAa33zi2611RhCpEXlD2RhwG3AuHWwNnFkJH9WRwArq5c7c9JeEVi_qju_HrwR1GqEcPJzqMTHgtuJ2yLF2WFi88pRwgeT1esbMaq8JB9NuwCHHvbCwUsVh/s651/11%20-%201%20(18).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="651" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKTYOAL73qFepsJoZkznj8onUav15fahCSWLyooFJcpEsqJHq0wRL_OvdsbgyK0p2bbAa33zi2611RhCpEXlD2RhwG3AuHWwNnFkJH9WRwArq5c7c9JeEVi_qju_HrwR1GqEcPJzqMTHgtuJ2yLF2WFi88pRwgeT1esbMaq8JB9NuwCHHvbCwUsVh/w400-h310/11%20-%201%20(18).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div>Thanks to everyone for helping us celebrate this singular </div><div>Mom of ours . . . </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rVw7hPdkMY2u8orSVZqPFyEcs2FnvO97rYElF-iH_X5Z0qqhBdPdu5o-2BZO3afFUI2E6gcFp9GPgJPKGhJ10xSnrOBioNQ-WsV9Hq6AcRZdB_yxiLs4CLCFNQeWdE3Tt00jupL1ltgZfC-YH1Yh5YuMXK1hss8uwI4NJ9b0YDYLX61Ncd6RevL5/s4179/Ellen%20Flatley%20Corey,%20photo,%208x10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4179" data-original-width="3343" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rVw7hPdkMY2u8orSVZqPFyEcs2FnvO97rYElF-iH_X5Z0qqhBdPdu5o-2BZO3afFUI2E6gcFp9GPgJPKGhJ10xSnrOBioNQ-WsV9Hq6AcRZdB_yxiLs4CLCFNQeWdE3Tt00jupL1ltgZfC-YH1Yh5YuMXK1hss8uwI4NJ9b0YDYLX61Ncd6RevL5/w320-h400/Ellen%20Flatley%20Corey,%20photo,%208x10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>Mom, the celebration is just starting.</div></div><div><br /></div>Me, You, or Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13159195620327366257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4146073139129271180.post-41405042482158752342022-03-21T04:30:00.005-07:002022-03-21T05:10:43.669-07:00Eulogy for Mom<div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Good morning. I am going to try to channel the strength of those two Ellens who came before me, as their namesake . . .</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">On behalf of my sisters . . . <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Mary Beth<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Ann<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Julie<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Jane<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">a</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">nd Jacquie <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">My husband Bill <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">My brothers-in-law Doug and John . . . </span></p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVezgJhZSpMLxtrpbOT2RWRDRLRfeR9DtGnuj6Q2Kxe2uMXpnGB3cPvApTOihIFkyy2ldh6zJvsSdRRhv-NdrxJsVQIgavoQAT1ASVVv4QjwFrGTez4uDFZd8w1cBwf12GJsz5pD0APRSQtwIz_tSK0Wq-on5JAlDxzL3TF3vdEgvfRpm-tYMUakRH=s4032" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVezgJhZSpMLxtrpbOT2RWRDRLRfeR9DtGnuj6Q2Kxe2uMXpnGB3cPvApTOihIFkyy2ldh6zJvsSdRRhv-NdrxJsVQIgavoQAT1ASVVv4QjwFrGTez4uDFZd8w1cBwf12GJsz5pD0APRSQtwIz_tSK0Wq-on5JAlDxzL3TF3vdEgvfRpm-tYMUakRH=w400-h300" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">And our glorious nieces and nephews . . .<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Colleen<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Erin<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Joseph<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Our beloved Corey, in South Korea<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Noah<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Dylan<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Our beloved James, forever in our hearts,<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">And Clara . . . <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">And Uncle Brian and Mom’s siblings,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Welcome, and thank you for being with us today, to remember our Mom, to mourn our loss of her, to celebrate her. The outpouring of love for her and for us has been overwhelming and incredible, and we are all so grateful.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">I was with my Mom last Monday evening – we co-hosted book club at her place and had a great meeting and a wonderful evening. Two days later, my sisters got on a zoom that evening, to try to figure out how we were supposed to navigate this world without Mom, and what to do next. Mary Beth said, “Mom was the last person who loved me unconditionally. I mean, I know you guys love me, but I know you have conditions.”<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">We agreed. We do.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgx1xWBx8SSU_NGuTn32rF_PlDzLzkJARdvsAqVQsIDFsyJlcUXF5gwCnlBLIvjWoWR4_bz5QS1zIwR8MxCQh6aaWQJay_fqdjV2PSy2UwVObLVTWvH-uOAlpDmIxjzb6eHKCfIn0mzypLTXSETwl22VCGSPveNHruPCPALswnD2c2Wvw69Sj98PnyO=s3688" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3688" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgx1xWBx8SSU_NGuTn32rF_PlDzLzkJARdvsAqVQsIDFsyJlcUXF5gwCnlBLIvjWoWR4_bz5QS1zIwR8MxCQh6aaWQJay_fqdjV2PSy2UwVObLVTWvH-uOAlpDmIxjzb6eHKCfIn0mzypLTXSETwl22VCGSPveNHruPCPALswnD2c2Wvw69Sj98PnyO=w400-h328" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">The six of us have been emailing and texting and calling to share memories of that singular, vivacious, beautiful, smart, and adoring woman we got to call our Mom . . . . and the same themes kept coming up.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheL1vhg3jK9d8oPmU_sv6Ihs6WOnL3KL1WhanyMfk8_Fc_YhYPjsk3RZTSrXYzXUXY5xo3NeVVkn_ArX1SW61dJc_l5WrjpNoykgWTwUqMqO7IyxNY6YTs3twOtnKhG2VW0Ws2xmmsKk3YRgeDJr8F3tPu-I9tK3La0LNQDPLgpik-BJisH6Gx078U=s4032" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheL1vhg3jK9d8oPmU_sv6Ihs6WOnL3KL1WhanyMfk8_Fc_YhYPjsk3RZTSrXYzXUXY5xo3NeVVkn_ArX1SW61dJc_l5WrjpNoykgWTwUqMqO7IyxNY6YTs3twOtnKhG2VW0Ws2xmmsKk3YRgeDJr8F3tPu-I9tK3La0LNQDPLgpik-BJisH6Gx078U=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u>Holidays</u></div><div style="text-align: left;">Mom loved holidays. She had decorations and accessories for every <b>holiday</b>, special occasion, <b>change</b> of season. In fact, when Mary Beth, Bill and I (the locals) returned to her condo from the hospital on that horrible day last week, we saw Mom’s big St. Patrick’s Day wreath on her front door. This was March 2nd – a good two weeks before the day. </div></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><div style="text-align: center;"> </div></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">St. Patrick’s Day was huge for us as kids with our Irish mom. We set the table with green placemats and green carnations and danced to The Happy Sounds of Ireland record and ate Irish soda bread from Grammy’s recipe, and our Lebanese Dad always wore his “honorary Irishman” pin.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Mom loved Christmas, although when we were kids there was always a certain amount of stress involved, mostly centered around whether the six piles of gifts were equal in size. <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Ann reminded us of Mom’s huge red </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">stocking that Dad filled for her every year – mostly with tools and things that *he* needed.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">And there were a few mishaps over the years that are infamous in Corey lore. Every Christmas Mom made her delicious, labor-intensive chocolate mousse cake, which entailed separating eggs, whipping heavy cream, splitting and placing ladyfingers around the perimeter. We all loved it and were so excited to dig into our Christmas dessert. <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Mary Beth remembered </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">one year we heard a ruckus in the kitchen and when we went to investigate, there was our dog Yobo, paws up on the kitchen counter, digging into Mom’s masterpiece.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">We spent one memorial Christmas on St. John when Julie lived there. It was magical and beautiful and we all fell in love with our niece Colleen, who was two. In the course of putting together dinner one night, the vat of marinara Julie had made at Shipwreck Landing </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">ended up on the floor , Cape Fear style. It was a sea of red and looked like something out of a horror movie. It took Mom a little time to laugh at that one…</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYwxbx_BEMrKv61QCqnJN4ZcdmcZ_bT4e-2LAUY9kov1r2i1ldt7-GB69nKvk27OLyDtCrrOWPlCDKXtEJwNnIl1aWkHR5m_Lqd02nGQwytrhltSVPp6FDbb8QRV39aUfvy2QgLth_P9kZLkm1D6i221ZNbpzYTlivG-logKEZgfdneoNtNJDl73Hc=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYwxbx_BEMrKv61QCqnJN4ZcdmcZ_bT4e-2LAUY9kov1r2i1ldt7-GB69nKvk27OLyDtCrrOWPlCDKXtEJwNnIl1aWkHR5m_Lqd02nGQwytrhltSVPp6FDbb8QRV39aUfvy2QgLth_P9kZLkm1D6i221ZNbpzYTlivG-logKEZgfdneoNtNJDl73Hc=w400-h300" width="400" /></a> <br /></span><u><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Music<br /></span></u><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">We grew up to the sound of opera playing every Sunday morning, with Dad making omelets for everybody. Those magnificent arias from La Boheme and La Traviata are forever etched into our souls . And it wasn’t just at home – Mom and Dad and Uncle Brian had season tickets to the Metropolitan Opera House for many years. Which means we girls got to have Uncle Brian visit, which was pure gold for us. (He recently reminisced about his young nieces running down Bettswood screaming in joy when we saw him in the driveway.) Mom and Dad took an Italian class at one point, so that they'd better understand what they were listening to. Jane remembers mom saying that Dad studiously did all his homework. Mom, not so much - she would sit in the back of class and pray she didn't get called on. <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">And Mom loved classical music. Bill and I took Mom to the symphony in New London not long after Dad died, because they were playing Beethoven’s Fifth, and we thought mom would love it. She did love it, but she also didn’t stop crying through it. <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">We are a family who cries. And we are a family who sings. We know and love all the show tunes, from Jesus Christ Super Star to A Chorus Line. We girls sang Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in its entirely every time we went on a road trip, *AND* when we were together this past Christmas, much to the chagrin of every single person in Mom’s condo who was not a Corey sister. One by one they left the living room and hid in mom’s small den to get away from us. Which is ridiculous because we were really good.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdiWilhZGOqyfrcM66cFDzUzIeMrqefrIW-4junCyJcIPUVJyWZ71jGFlkWHQIXLEe9ySYg7wa72CGod1wbBqKNmMsg4K0A2mHcI5zM3KrpPNvrNBH3KH7Fahxr-53luHN9POTPzaNkCdKppj_cNPWMVXsgkvA2HQRlki_fpVvWdeRGywcjNYnRF57=s4032" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdiWilhZGOqyfrcM66cFDzUzIeMrqefrIW-4junCyJcIPUVJyWZ71jGFlkWHQIXLEe9ySYg7wa72CGod1wbBqKNmMsg4K0A2mHcI5zM3KrpPNvrNBH3KH7Fahxr-53luHN9POTPzaNkCdKppj_cNPWMVXsgkvA2HQRlki_fpVvWdeRGywcjNYnRF57=w400-h300" width="400" /><br /></a><u><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Wit/Intelligence<br /></span></u><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">She was sassy – she loved a good, snide aside – we heard many <b><i>many</i></b> comments about those good snide asides at the wake yesterday – and she was smart. Mom was an avid reader – she took our book recommendations and we all constantly emailed eachother about what we were reading. The librarian at Mom’s local Library actually emailed me last week to offer us condolences and ended her note, “</span><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">We all at Pequot Library will miss one of our great readers.”<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Mom said reading books, reading the New York Times, and doing its crossword puzzle every day, was what was getting her through this long winter (mom was not a big fan of winter). Well, that, and Mary and Teri Brown hosting Mom every Thursday night for dinner, and their leaving of meals at Mom’s doorstep throughout the week. </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEY-dvvwiLvXvi4ECGYlvaFokZHcOxah8ZhC1Nso21uFSeHvFeMlSMvhRE9Ts2yUMYA8ddVVTCVfVWC5qHE5_wBB0P2qCeU6HioVoj5e3ALX7cUwU5wx1xn_7WBDLAwhWRiSOfM085vW1E5FFHAWzv6Fb69lHhpXXBSOaXQZm7IxuY3gm5mfAWcPmN=s4032" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiEY-dvvwiLvXvi4ECGYlvaFokZHcOxah8ZhC1Nso21uFSeHvFeMlSMvhRE9Ts2yUMYA8ddVVTCVfVWC5qHE5_wBB0P2qCeU6HioVoj5e3ALX7cUwU5wx1xn_7WBDLAwhWRiSOfM085vW1E5FFHAWzv6Fb69lHhpXXBSOaXQZm7IxuY3gm5mfAWcPmN=w400-h300" width="400" /><br /></a><u><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Food<br /></span></u><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Because we are <u>also</u> a family who loves to eat, and to talk about food, and to make food. Mom made dinner every night while we were growing up, and the eight of us sat down together at 6 pm, for spaghetti or pork chops or Mom’s famous meatloaf every Monday night (Dad loved that meatloaf). In the last few years, though, Mom was happy to let someone else take charge, especially if it was one of her culinarily-talented daughters. When you cooked for mom, she thought you were magic. But our Irish Mom – along with Dad in the old days, and her daughters later – could put out a fabulous Lebanese meal.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAb_QOrgUn9dBNn_xg9-OujgaOFdEjCq30yT9auKEEI1bEtJMrQKJSF6_OzemksKNmt0p9Qb8c3Eivh9UG1cxSGfpMSguaJEGhIgSQl6gT7iLPrG2wcWptaYeL1bxIL2i_-3WMLW6nTyekT8HZrIdL3rspXbUj9WmP8a5bAxq47rcpjA-G_8GS0_R-=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2264" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAb_QOrgUn9dBNn_xg9-OujgaOFdEjCq30yT9auKEEI1bEtJMrQKJSF6_OzemksKNmt0p9Qb8c3Eivh9UG1cxSGfpMSguaJEGhIgSQl6gT7iLPrG2wcWptaYeL1bxIL2i_-3WMLW6nTyekT8HZrIdL3rspXbUj9WmP8a5bAxq47rcpjA-G_8GS0_R-=w400-h225" width="400" /></a><br /></span><u><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Faith<br /></span></u><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Mom was a devoted catholic, and a firm believer, and went to mass daily when she could. She prayed to God for help, and thanked God <b>for</b> his help. Mom’s faith helped her through the very hardest times in her life – when our Dad, her beloved husband Joe died, and when her grandson James died.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgg0f6WVr4lTMHIliPD4VSahlSJLmHlXy6_LbOfbfn4fCrK0NdPD0_S4nAxJFt7DKPMV3llG_xNDpU8PfJX_R3J0VsrdEbQ6TxYrDbyCvhuKomZOb8BfI_xZ4hvV87oJH8_3by2rhWHxiuOV99vPpJ9Ruao4nyNu6aerQpR-lOtE8pJsJq82PKnRWOZ=s4032" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgg0f6WVr4lTMHIliPD4VSahlSJLmHlXy6_LbOfbfn4fCrK0NdPD0_S4nAxJFt7DKPMV3llG_xNDpU8PfJX_R3J0VsrdEbQ6TxYrDbyCvhuKomZOb8BfI_xZ4hvV87oJH8_3by2rhWHxiuOV99vPpJ9Ruao4nyNu6aerQpR-lOtE8pJsJq82PKnRWOZ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><u><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Sports</span></u></div><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Mom loved watching Sports on TV, especially golf (which she always called “the golf”), UConn basketball (Go Huskies), the Mets (and the red sox from her boston days), and the football team she affectionately referred to as “the stupid Giants.” She said the Masters – which she especially loved watching with her son in law John – was her Super Bowl.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8kArq1POJ1q706-C3eHnQ_0JbWNeAS60m6kAvrB-YPExYmOu2AmnuCrjOp6POtspomiRnUYp9tAiGFKXFzDF89T-3FvxNAB20qJ2r3iUm_fWx29I_bphCj9PYr20cimXzBeMQab-TXwUNnDBAE197gJNaU8ABf5v8KGG7tVv1W0xpxsTjN9-UpTys=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8kArq1POJ1q706-C3eHnQ_0JbWNeAS60m6kAvrB-YPExYmOu2AmnuCrjOp6POtspomiRnUYp9tAiGFKXFzDF89T-3FvxNAB20qJ2r3iUm_fWx29I_bphCj9PYr20cimXzBeMQab-TXwUNnDBAE197gJNaU8ABf5v8KGG7tVv1W0xpxsTjN9-UpTys=w400-h300" width="400" /></a> </span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><u><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Beauty</span></u></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Mom was a knock-out. One of my favorite stories is when Mom and the then-five of us were headed to San Francisco then Seoul, South Korea to finally join Dad, who had been drafted to serve as an army doctor and was living across the world without us, (and he wasn’t happy about it). Family housing finally became available , and mom got her daughters inoculated, packed us up, rented out our house, arranged to have the car shipped, and got us to Korea. Mom’s siblings and friends were gathered in the airport to see us off, and – being a big group of Flatleys – were a crying, sniffling mess, having to say good bye to us for a year or two. Dink Brown remembered that Mom came around the corner, holding hands with a couple of her girls, looking like a movie star. Heading to Korea to see her man.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDdFst8aK5qcVeJwA1cIgXahq_ZL_rHQuQ5x04iTs5CIrs7pLOq3WI21Xicsof5C0-w7yZrWGizmQM6YnRxQKv53Vs7Rq-h5xHD87ZOUDaEhby6JIrNbPcB-ih4WxingZpoqXv5p6nq5YYnoFAIOba2Kt6jJjiiV-VQbzMKiQo1lE2HHwrHv0oYyVY=s4032" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDdFst8aK5qcVeJwA1cIgXahq_ZL_rHQuQ5x04iTs5CIrs7pLOq3WI21Xicsof5C0-w7yZrWGizmQM6YnRxQKv53Vs7Rq-h5xHD87ZOUDaEhby6JIrNbPcB-ih4WxingZpoqXv5p6nq5YYnoFAIOba2Kt6jJjiiV-VQbzMKiQo1lE2HHwrHv0oYyVY=w400-h300" width="400" /></a><br /></span><u><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Dad<br /></span></u><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Oh, Mom and Dad. They made it hard for us, those two, with their beautiful partnership and devotion to eachother. They were tight. They were in love. They set the marriage bar HIGH.</span></div><div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsjqhR4nJ6ApggaTdKF-3h7WNZm1XzVVIzl6d85WsaTvv-KQfB_rRHSUyuKzcWUNDDPdF0Ydbbku5nD1gxG0QGGERhMKZInI5zWLe6zifcpt6zSWd7fbnc-4APCxCwaHAh7WOKnxApnxSAg9qBeoAAlNTIKaX2YiW8fKTWYCsTozW2RtcI-Bm_YxSc=s1080" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsjqhR4nJ6ApggaTdKF-3h7WNZm1XzVVIzl6d85WsaTvv-KQfB_rRHSUyuKzcWUNDDPdF0Ydbbku5nD1gxG0QGGERhMKZInI5zWLe6zifcpt6zSWd7fbnc-4APCxCwaHAh7WOKnxApnxSAg9qBeoAAlNTIKaX2YiW8fKTWYCsTozW2RtcI-Bm_YxSc=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div></span><u><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Positivity<br /></span></u><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Mom was relentlessly positive. And it wasn't an act, she was a firm believer that you could find the positive in any situation. At times, though, it made it hard to get information, because she always framed bad news with the eventual upside. When dad was first diagnosed with kidney disease and was in the hospital, Jane and i joked that we had to find a spy in the hospital so we could get the <b>facts</b>, because every time we talked to mom she'd say, oh he's going to be fine …..<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">She encouraged us to carry that positivity, too. She always expressed utter certainty that we would figure things out ourselves, that we should trust ourselves and our judgement. She'd say things like, you'll know what to do, trust yourself, you’re doing great- All. the. time. And it worked.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjGRXL7zM5tnGgGIe0-2NbmZxzMw5gM_TdX_oLZ14yOjvp39nTYbBi8lURiL0NWX3eW44ahPuvFr3-SZe-LO1IaC_qCpva-CBvugFknT44WXIHuvxh8dNwDCQqdbo6nXWEq5QjiaSjT3h-k_DW1UQ168dT17AePaIwp3ExrjlP49VMiaIy617pQ0TG=s4032" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjGRXL7zM5tnGgGIe0-2NbmZxzMw5gM_TdX_oLZ14yOjvp39nTYbBi8lURiL0NWX3eW44ahPuvFr3-SZe-LO1IaC_qCpva-CBvugFknT44WXIHuvxh8dNwDCQqdbo6nXWEq5QjiaSjT3h-k_DW1UQ168dT17AePaIwp3ExrjlP49VMiaIy617pQ0TG=w400-h300" width="400" /><br /></a><u><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Resilience<br /></span></u><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Mom was good in a crisis</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> and was resilient.<br /><o:p></o:p></span><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Jacquie remembers: “When mom went to San Diego for James’ high school graduation, she took a fall and had to spend a good chunk of her first day in town at urgent care just to make sure that nothing was broken. Jacquie assumed that they would adjust their evening plans to allow rest and recovery, but mom wasn’t having it. If you look very closely at the photos from their seats behind home plate at that night’s Padres game, Jacquie said, you might notice some slight bruising, but it is almost impossible to see anything other than mom’s big smile and sparkling eyes. <br /></span><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Yes, resilient. And tough. We really never knew her to give in to pain, sadness, or grief. Even when Dad died, she was adamant in her resolve to carry on with her head held high. She refused to become a person shrouded in sadness.<br /></span><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Indeed, it was only a few months after Dad died that Mom went with Julie to visit Colleen in Ecuador, and we were stunned to see photos of Mom zip-lining with them through a tropical forest.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNWtGzmbXJJubx3jJdM0kOyKFKSekpSSnwVMqpil5-O8314XL3X3xzNiwQ-syqfSIm28Po71G02nQUdYRM3HMIdpQbtxRKu-3I7wYrkN0yjbLTPSD-LGX_WRG7cPBR1Nhm9pNzpG8UVoeTNTOOrcyer6FkMrmLB73f189vBwzBMv9a71rYWE0wzt2G=s4032" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNWtGzmbXJJubx3jJdM0kOyKFKSekpSSnwVMqpil5-O8314XL3X3xzNiwQ-syqfSIm28Po71G02nQUdYRM3HMIdpQbtxRKu-3I7wYrkN0yjbLTPSD-LGX_WRG7cPBR1Nhm9pNzpG8UVoeTNTOOrcyer6FkMrmLB73f189vBwzBMv9a71rYWE0wzt2G=w400-h300" width="400" /><br /></a><u><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Comfort/Nurturing<br /></span></u><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">But as tough as she was, Mom was also so nurturing.<br /></span><b><u><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /></span></u></b><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">And to quote Jacquie again: “One night when I was really young - probably 6 or 7 - my friend got homesick during a sleepover, and mom came in to help. She said it was okay if my friend wanted to go home, we could make that happen, but asked if she could read us a story first. I was across the room on my own twin bed watching mom read to my friend. It was a familiar book, and in listening I came to realize that mom was embellishing the story, adding to it to make it longer when she saw that it was having the desired calming effect. In that moment, I saw my mom’s heart. How lucky were we that she was *our* mom?”</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicGL3s8ue7gOmuyAIi-CmEGNifb-Ay8jS3L4k4pLPaVoFODgOJH9lzLnk4WyOm06RjAxVJfT9txMcALfZmB-k_5kOFJYCfx_4U7TUvQF5llQPj1g1BRze-gNsmwTuiAHrPH03UDlPk9gvjdDJhdgL5yZ0aduzAz6HFkOltZZkuyIBQtbGTwXxOL-y4=s4032" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicGL3s8ue7gOmuyAIi-CmEGNifb-Ay8jS3L4k4pLPaVoFODgOJH9lzLnk4WyOm06RjAxVJfT9txMcALfZmB-k_5kOFJYCfx_4U7TUvQF5llQPj1g1BRze-gNsmwTuiAHrPH03UDlPk9gvjdDJhdgL5yZ0aduzAz6HFkOltZZkuyIBQtbGTwXxOL-y4=w400-h300" width="400" /><br /></a><u><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Relationships/Friends/Community<br /></span></u><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">One of mom's superpowers was that she tended to her relationships. She cultivated real connections with people and she fed those relationships. She kept in touch with people. Her daughters, her siblings, her friends - she checked in, she showed up, she spent time. <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">She’s always had friends in multiple generations – from Molly in the Bedford School Nurse years, to Kristen and Gordon upstairs in Southport Woods, to the members of the book club Mom and I are both part of (well, <b>I’ve</b> only been in it for eight or nine years; I’m still new), and – speaking for myself – with my friends. My friends *love* mom. Bill and I joke that all we have to do to get people to come over to our house in New London is tell them Ellen is in town. They come running.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Mom has always had such strong connections with, and truly loved, the <b>community</b> she was a part of at every point in her life – That was so evident yesterday, wasn’t it?<br /></span><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Her formative years in Brookline with her parents and 12 siblings were her solid foundation. That Flatley clan is a club those aunts and uncles of ours *love* being a part of, and we’re so glad you’re here with us. Mom and her </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">siblings and in-laws have zoomed every Sunday for the past year or two and when you asked Mom how the call went, she always <i><u>always</u></i> replied, “oh, so great.” She loved it. And she loved her pack of nieces and nephews and their babies. That family has suffered a devastating blow in losing two siblings and a sister-in-law within a few days, and we feel so deeply for you all. <br /></span><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Then the Norwalk years. She loved raising her family in Norwalk, and Mom & Dad had a vibrant circle of friends. They celebrated Friday night cocktails every week at the home of one of the circle that included the Cronins, the Browns, the Champagnes, the Gardellas, the Lawlors, the Cioffis. They and the Shorehaven crew are lifelong friends.<br /></span><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">And Mom adored her Southport Woods community, where she & Dad moved to after their retirement. After Dad died, we daughters were so grateful that Mom had so many friends surrounding her, and looking out for her. And she loved being part of a community with so many social activities, from Wine Wednesday at the clubhouse every week, to yesterday’s St. Patrick’s Day party – for which Mom was still getting rsvp phone messages last week.<br /></span><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">And my sisters and I are even more grateful for that Southport Woods community now – that community has utterly taken care of us this past week. They have fed us and checked in on us and <b>housed</b> us, soothed our souls with food, wine and firewood and we are forever grateful.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">We’ve talked about Mom’s siblings, we’ve talked about mom’s daughters, we’ve talked about her communities, but really, let’s face it. For mom it was all about her grandchildren.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPeHacddXQUYfdh7NKVogBoliSSzjAsnMODKhQfzJSMJIgmMQLovEt_JStL5b95t9ABOWkrgJPg4V2BkVSeazkZLfo4W4_oVWzJeEFrlJ8lXj4TI5wvvYDmnahJn4pOhRRAQOnA6fgQqgeBV76jbKqIlQ73PFyC0r17r4yeUn1Q3yoPRDrjEOphTE-=s3193" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="3193" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPeHacddXQUYfdh7NKVogBoliSSzjAsnMODKhQfzJSMJIgmMQLovEt_JStL5b95t9ABOWkrgJPg4V2BkVSeazkZLfo4W4_oVWzJeEFrlJ8lXj4TI5wvvYDmnahJn4pOhRRAQOnA6fgQqgeBV76jbKqIlQ73PFyC0r17r4yeUn1Q3yoPRDrjEOphTE-=w400-h356" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPeHacddXQUYfdh7NKVogBoliSSzjAsnMODKhQfzJSMJIgmMQLovEt_JStL5b95t9ABOWkrgJPg4V2BkVSeazkZLfo4W4_oVWzJeEFrlJ8lXj4TI5wvvYDmnahJn4pOhRRAQOnA6fgQqgeBV76jbKqIlQ73PFyC0r17r4yeUn1Q3yoPRDrjEOphTE-=s3193" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><u><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Grandchildren<br /></span></u><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">In thinking about and talking about mom this last week, Julie, Jane and Jacquie all said essentially the same thing, about how incredibly helpful mom was when their babies were born.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">As Julie – or was it Jane – said, “She’d come and know just what to do - relieve you of all the housework so you could enjoy that baby and so you could sleep. it was extraordinary. She'd whisk those babies away, walk them, sing to them, then bring them back when they were ready to nurse. Most importantly, she would never overstep, never coach; would only offer advice when asked. She had a perfect touch.”<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">And in Jacquie’s case, after she’d walk and walk those babies, she’d return with a burrito for lunch. (Mom did love those San Diego burritos.)<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">She always had mini muffins for breakfast for the grandchildren, and <b>smarties</b> and <b>hershey’s</b> <b>kisses</b> – <b>smarties</b> and <b>hershey’s</b> <b>kisses</b>, always – and she’d pretend to sneak them from her pocket to one of the kids’ pockets, and was fooling no one. She also may or may not have snuck them an occasional spoonful of ice cream before breakfast.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">And when the kids got older, their Grammy was utterly engaged in their lives, though they all lived a plane ride or long, long drive away. Mom went to all eight of their high school graduations, and to the college graduates’ graduations, too. She wanted to hear everything, and to know everything about each of them.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Actually, so many people made that point to me yesterday, too. Mom looked at you with those blue eyes and asked about you and wanted to hear the answer. She listened. Bill was just saying yesterday how much he appreciated that. “She listened to my stories and laughed at my jokes.” That’s big. One can get lost in a big family and she made a point of singling everyone out.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_K5kjJzhs2ddwFkjLuLPMPlij-g_LhVEiUvyksjj7NByYe0ir7wrxcml4SiNSbL-i4rMf8Utgxruus2F6kPmB5p1YP9TAf7CbrRNtAqlJXBSBdgsJLOSzF8nT4Ehh-ONHM2QKv7oEMBFoMrdsAxL-R-vguLvD_v-SX_HkEpxGeFf8ly0EdW7hBkMA=s4032" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_K5kjJzhs2ddwFkjLuLPMPlij-g_LhVEiUvyksjj7NByYe0ir7wrxcml4SiNSbL-i4rMf8Utgxruus2F6kPmB5p1YP9TAf7CbrRNtAqlJXBSBdgsJLOSzF8nT4Ehh-ONHM2QKv7oEMBFoMrdsAxL-R-vguLvD_v-SX_HkEpxGeFf8ly0EdW7hBkMA=w400-h300" width="400" /><br /></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">********************<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">When we were kids, and were walking with mom, she’d get a little ahead of you and then reach her hand back and wiggle her fingers for you to catch up and grab her hand. Any of us can make that gesture to any other one of us, and we know exactly what it means. It’s sort of the universal sign of Mom.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">She pronounced bagels “bah-gulls” and was very very stingy with the cream cheese.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Her generosity bordered on compulsive. We sisters joked that if you complimented mom on something, she'd make you take it. Take it! I don't need it anymore! You'll love it in your home. never mind that they were flying home and taking a platter in their carry-on wasn't practical.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Her drink was Vodka, lots of ice, splash of water, stem glass. <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Mom loved sunshine and warmth. Mom <b><i>was</i></b> sunshine and warmth.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqGKxF7GwqCGfiQNkOdfN2dsBjXLL7j1dg2eG5cacawUTDe618iSacojjBJKSLx2XIIcJGQZVyyX8OhHe-wgf3YzziQ5Zv9DOgpfOxYoJATqJMQEChZw-oBxk4APfKitWveZkJG6rSsD4VTVr2pSIZpLgxJNeciF7RFQqFosgqkDoqcKQDRiQfViPW=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqGKxF7GwqCGfiQNkOdfN2dsBjXLL7j1dg2eG5cacawUTDe618iSacojjBJKSLx2XIIcJGQZVyyX8OhHe-wgf3YzziQ5Zv9DOgpfOxYoJATqJMQEChZw-oBxk4APfKitWveZkJG6rSsD4VTVr2pSIZpLgxJNeciF7RFQqFosgqkDoqcKQDRiQfViPW=w400-h300" width="400" /><br /></a></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">**********************</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Personally, a couple years ago, when covid began, I started calling Mom every day. Every day at 4:44. It meant so much to me, and it meant so much to Mom. Our conversations weren’t always deep or impactful or profound: we talked about what we were going to have for dinner (of course), what we did that day, all the things. Mom was ready to get <u>off</u> the phone the moment she got <u>on</u> the phone, but I was dogged; I wanted details. And after she and I spoke, Mrs. Cronin and my mom spoke. I’ve been talking to Mrs. Cronin every day since last week and she said to me, “we talked about stuff we didn’t talk to anybody else about. It was just . . . the stuff you talk about with your best friend.”<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Your best friend.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Mom was a best friend and a mom and a sister and an aunt and a sister-in-law and a Grammy. And a GiGi. <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">And a Friend.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">That woman was adored.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">And she made <b>us</b> all feel adored. <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">She had friends everywhere and we’re <b>all</b> heartbroken because we <b>all</b> felt adored. I don’t know how you have that much room in your heart, or your brain, to <u>know</u> all those people, and to <u>love</u> all those people, to be <u>friends</u> with all those people.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">But she did. She had all that room in her heart for <u>all</u> that love for us. She loved us.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">She loved us unconditionally. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7DPoT43-JnOLK5lQAbOahobNLhWa7vTkZCZvyCSJ8uCXowDD7gvLw6StrMcwFjPOTvYk6qkEkFzRVZGOi7LzEeQGdYVFtmKNcObz9Ea5hiV_V4BEy4kcCSzIIZqGttjRi_WGw6fdjcXhU-05Ix2vQdBWuVG39ZWq01MkPGsnDzq6O1Jgsf4yOct6G=s4032" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7DPoT43-JnOLK5lQAbOahobNLhWa7vTkZCZvyCSJ8uCXowDD7gvLw6StrMcwFjPOTvYk6qkEkFzRVZGOi7LzEeQGdYVFtmKNcObz9Ea5hiV_V4BEy4kcCSzIIZqGttjRi_WGw6fdjcXhU-05Ix2vQdBWuVG39ZWq01MkPGsnDzq6O1Jgsf4yOct6G=w400-h300" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">March 14, 2022</span></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span></div><p></p>Me, You, or Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13159195620327366257noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4146073139129271180.post-78888421570246068142022-03-07T04:00:00.000-08:002022-03-07T04:00:00.191-08:00Our Gorgeous Mom <p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJR2p8hhNyyuhTqV7ZNz6y30DMHFjUjc14pzcTWC0VWdCw4muc5qCNX7VB6HBqeurv85Ph_FmuXC7AzA1xSkZM5JFin3GkKd2w1i8IQoqwZYqrJcyff-rdgtmyFKY0lV-kEFq_qMkeOkFWXS5xmR-eVehDhX7HzQKQFCxJvkVgDei03cO0yJwHXftC=s4179" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4179" data-original-width="3343" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJR2p8hhNyyuhTqV7ZNz6y30DMHFjUjc14pzcTWC0VWdCw4muc5qCNX7VB6HBqeurv85Ph_FmuXC7AzA1xSkZM5JFin3GkKd2w1i8IQoqwZYqrJcyff-rdgtmyFKY0lV-kEFq_qMkeOkFWXS5xmR-eVehDhX7HzQKQFCxJvkVgDei03cO0yJwHXftC=s320" width="256" /></a></div><div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Ellen Flatley Corey, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, and everyone’s favorite member of the community, died unexpectedly on March 2, 2022. She was 86. <br /></span><span style="font-family: "New serif";"> <br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Born in 1935 in Brookline, Mass., to Irish immigrants, Ellen was the 7</span><sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 6.5pt;">th</span></sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> child in a raucous and loving family of 13 siblings. Ellen graduated from St. Mary’s High School and St. Elizabeth’s School of Nursing in Brookline. As a nurse at St. Vincent's Hospital in Worcester, Mass., Ellen agreed to a blind double-date with her friend Rita and two young resident doctors. When she realized that she was not matched with Joseph Corey, Ellen persuaded Rita to feign illness, and the rest, as they say, is history. Joe and Ellen were married in 1959 and returned to his hometown of Norwalk, Conn., where they made their home on Bettswood Road and raised six daughters.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "New serif";"> <br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Ellen and Joe’s young family faced a daunting challenge in 1967, when Joe was drafted to serve as an Army Doctor in Seoul, South Korea. He and Ellen were dogged in their determination to shorten the family’s separation, ultimately moving the (then) six Corey women clear across the world to reunite with their main man. They were joined by one more girl shortly thereafter to complete the Corey family. Of their time in Korea, Ellen and Joe said</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">: “</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Our two-year stay in Seoul was a wonderful family time, made even more wonderful because after all those lonely months, we were all together.” In the days just before her death, Ellen and the older girls – also known as “the big ones” – reminisced about the years in Seoul with her granddaughter and (almost) namesake, Corey Ellen, who is currently living and working in South Korea. <br /></span><span style="font-family: "New serif";"> <br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Ellen’s life was full and vibrant. Her days were a busy mix of interaction with family, her wide circle of friends, her faith, watching sports, and Jeopardy! In the early 70s, she arranged care for her six young girls and took the train to New York City on two consecutive days to appear as a contestant on the game show, which resulted in a period of celebrity that was brief by network standards but eternal to her real fans.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "New serif";"> <br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Ellen was an avid athlete, playing tennis for many years, and then becoming a golfer. She returned to nursing after her girls were older and was the school nurse at Bedford Middle School for decades. She had a busy social life – her daughters often mused that their 86-year-old mother was busier than they were. She was the life of the party and, to the end, was constantly planning social events and dinners out with friends. But her true love was her family. Ellen was married for 51 years to the love of her life, and she and Joe were so proud of their daughters and especially their grandchildren. Grammy and Jidoo doted on them, and each knew with certainty that they were her favorite, at least until her great-granddaughter Hattie came along. She was there to help her daughters – “the little ones” – when the babies were newborn and traveled to celebrate each grandchild’s high school graduation. Her warm yet fierce acceptance of individuality inspired strong, close relationships with her descendants, and Ellen’s spirit of progressive fortitude was a transformative influence in the development of their character.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "New serif";"> <br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10.5pt;">In the years after losing her beloved Joe in 2010, Ellen traveled often to the cities where her girls live. In each neighborhood she found her favorite places to walk and to eat, where to go to Mass, and where to get the NY Times for her daily crossword puzzle. She visited Ecuador, Rome, Hawaii, and frequently drove up to the Boston area to visit with her cherished siblings and large extended family. She rarely missed a wedding or a funeral, and she was a highly sought-after guest at both. To be at Ellen’s table was the best seat in any house; when she trained those bright blue eyes on you, she made you feel like you were the only other person in the room. <br /></span><span style="font-family: "New serif";"> <br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Ellen emailed her six daughters to say good morning every day, and always ended her messages with a closing that varied according to the general sentiment of the season. On the day before she died, her morning message was bright and happy. She had hosted a successful gathering the night before for the multigenerational book club of which she had been an active participant for 21 years. She felt great and was going for a walk with her friend Alice, as she did most days. On that day she closed with: “more later…keep safe and warm. I love you. mom”<br /></span><span style="font-family: "New serif";"> <br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Ellen is survived by her heartbroken family: her daughters and sons-in-law, Mary Beth, Ann, Ellie (Bill Hanrahan), Julie (John Kelley), Jane (Doug Holt) and Jacquie; and her grandchildren, Colleen (Brenton Murrell), Erin, and Joseph Young, Corey, Noah and Dylan Holt, Clara Kennedy, and her great-granddaughter Hatten Murrell. She is predeceased by her beloved grandson, James Joseph Kennedy, and her siblings Fran, Jim, Peggy, Tom, Paul and Monica. Ellen is survived by her siblings Bill, Mary, Kitty, Brian, Kevin and Ginny, and many nieces and nephews and sisters-in-law, who adored her. <br /></span><span style="font-family: "New serif";"> <br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Visiting hours will be on Sunday, March 13, from 2-5 pm at Shaughnessey Banks Funeral Home, 50 Reef Rd, Fairfield. A funeral Mass celebrating Ellen's life will be held on Monday, March 14 at 10 am at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1719 Post Rd, Fairfield (Fairfield, not Norwalk). <br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10.5pt;"> <br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Donations in Ellen’s honor can be made to:<br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10.5pt;">The Kennedy Center, 2440 Reservoir Avenue, Trumbull, CT 06611<br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Attn: Stephanie Campbell</span></div><p class="ydp8aee9a5eyiv8295351366ydpf60300a6MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: #26282a; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "New serif";"></span></p><p class="ydp8aee9a5eyiv8295351366ydpf60300a6MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: #26282a; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "New serif";"></span></p><p class="ydp8aee9a5eyiv8295351366ydpf60300a6MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: #26282a; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "New serif";"></span></p><p class="ydp8aee9a5eyiv8295351366ydpf60300a6MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: #26282a; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "New serif";"></span></p><p class="ydp8aee9a5eyiv8295351366ydpf60300a6MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: #26282a; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "New serif";"></span></p><p class="ydp8aee9a5eyiv8295351366ydpf60300a6MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: #26282a; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "New serif";"></span></p><p class="ydp8aee9a5eyiv8295351366ydpf60300a6MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: #26282a; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "New serif";"></span></p><p class="ydp8aee9a5eyiv8295351366ydpf60300a6MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: #26282a; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "New serif";"></span></p><p class="ydp8aee9a5eyiv8295351366ydpf60300a6MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: #26282a; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "New serif";"></span></p><p class="ydp8aee9a5eyiv8295351366ydpf60300a6MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: #26282a; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "New serif";"></span></p><p class="ydp8aee9a5eyiv8295351366ydpf60300a6MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: #26282a; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "New serif";"></span></p><p class="ydp8aee9a5eyiv8295351366ydpf60300a6MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: #26282a; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "New serif";"></span></p><p class="ydp8aee9a5eyiv8295351366ydpf60300a6MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: #26282a; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "New serif";"></span></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: #26282a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #007c89; font-size: 10.5pt;">info@kennedyctr.org</span></div>Me, You, or Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13159195620327366257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4146073139129271180.post-22561578397374899602022-02-28T04:00:00.000-08:002022-02-28T04:10:18.094-08:00OuterwearAround these parts, it's Winter.<div><br /></div><div>Winter is long and Winter is not always easy, but let's face it, Winter is part of Life. Around these parts at least. Although I used to hate winter with a deep abiding passion, well, now I accept it. Because for the love of pete's sake, what am I supposed to do? Wish my life away? </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm against that.</div><div><br /></div><div>Plus? Outerwear.</div><div><br /></div><div>Although I still don't own boots, I now have a parka.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizC-Zk-bFqnJRl2PZxXzYYx6scl6xaSAsyWnNzIWNHOHEyAN1B8ja8kaYRujjE1ZYGciaw4wKPWWgD168RRYtkg2GrkJUdFemZN2l5yMRD6xMd0kEvzXZRtSOBexHs4YMKnsfCxM4nsi-ShhCqFDSkIBq1L0ef7sfMfTkyMrXyvqPndAF34MTE-ll1=s6016" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizC-Zk-bFqnJRl2PZxXzYYx6scl6xaSAsyWnNzIWNHOHEyAN1B8ja8kaYRujjE1ZYGciaw4wKPWWgD168RRYtkg2GrkJUdFemZN2l5yMRD6xMd0kEvzXZRtSOBexHs4YMKnsfCxM4nsi-ShhCqFDSkIBq1L0ef7sfMfTkyMrXyvqPndAF34MTE-ll1=w400-h268" width="400" /></a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">A Parka. With a capital P.</span></div><div><div><p>Winter is *all* about the outer layers, 'round these parts.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrO-sUPZkTV3hcIDOuE9NqKvbNXWk7NqcjmnzVfQkdAhvhjyYyy974k7lae_u8lGdvP6OQU6zCXhfDFCXGj5yxf4rdeOjq_bceLXYlH8DP3ZR-56RH9pRnUq322DQn5GcyjkyBxfngo10_IZ8vfauK08ZNBH5nXfimlylTGwP4iyrKBkE_eBJvxqsn=s4758" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3374" data-original-width="4758" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrO-sUPZkTV3hcIDOuE9NqKvbNXWk7NqcjmnzVfQkdAhvhjyYyy974k7lae_u8lGdvP6OQU6zCXhfDFCXGj5yxf4rdeOjq_bceLXYlH8DP3ZR-56RH9pRnUq322DQn5GcyjkyBxfngo10_IZ8vfauK08ZNBH5nXfimlylTGwP4iyrKBkE_eBJvxqsn=w400-h284" width="400" /></a></div><p>Hmm, some have cuter outerwear than others . . . </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhardaHbaw25PJhN5rFWkHISFAMJ4ack8i1rMr6giqC8zvhUmf-wvT7IWsqfLB4Zqg8RpYK1x0G7fxoawKAF2yR-je42tiJgyrUm1zOHX033iHe9KMyD5asegjCnygPOa1Zz8dSPvbhi5TnAv_u9CtSqddNbF73uwpRgCPP1USLVKY5vTnybkQtHNID=s6016" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhardaHbaw25PJhN5rFWkHISFAMJ4ack8i1rMr6giqC8zvhUmf-wvT7IWsqfLB4Zqg8RpYK1x0G7fxoawKAF2yR-je42tiJgyrUm1zOHX033iHe9KMyD5asegjCnygPOa1Zz8dSPvbhi5TnAv_u9CtSqddNbF73uwpRgCPP1USLVKY5vTnybkQtHNID=w400-h268" width="400" /></a></p><p>. . . well, some are just cute no matter what.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdKU5gRlOWwv602lB9guZTTpCX8qewDHtNmKMPsQIdAU1SEP-IgndjOOJ3HrXfrYrt-D2GGXpuYcsWjhM3A3nVmdhex6MFBomwc1--4roVtp5DEgkV-aKbCHAEhm8DBFOWTagZamtxOQkE4DBZmuhyOeSFbi86qtkp43j1O50Sn6ZkeZlqBtRAcKR2=s5406" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3860" data-original-width="5406" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdKU5gRlOWwv602lB9guZTTpCX8qewDHtNmKMPsQIdAU1SEP-IgndjOOJ3HrXfrYrt-D2GGXpuYcsWjhM3A3nVmdhex6MFBomwc1--4roVtp5DEgkV-aKbCHAEhm8DBFOWTagZamtxOQkE4DBZmuhyOeSFbi86qtkp43j1O50Sn6ZkeZlqBtRAcKR2=w400-h285" width="400" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>See comment about "cute" above . . .</i></div></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhw4VyluCDY_AOmKwiZsKvN6YnoAG00hWqKTMBjY6LSYPPN0zHCgtOMuFXSKDIVweqlTrH6E-85wLDf7SrnYBLTcNxsvaOfGPxCVY3xoE2Y_TqMYNO0_AqR_BS9NhlRc1AnKzPPJJCmo4EGR7KEM7zcBPSFE8P6QN-2MH09x1-tsgAh1FOz-Haqdgye=s6016" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhw4VyluCDY_AOmKwiZsKvN6YnoAG00hWqKTMBjY6LSYPPN0zHCgtOMuFXSKDIVweqlTrH6E-85wLDf7SrnYBLTcNxsvaOfGPxCVY3xoE2Y_TqMYNO0_AqR_BS9NhlRc1AnKzPPJJCmo4EGR7KEM7zcBPSFE8P6QN-2MH09x1-tsgAh1FOz-Haqdgye=w400-h268" width="400" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">. . .<i> ditto</i> . . . </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirAxGJQQe3YNryKTV0qk348rxvP7_0crJZO7khnAnAy6hqlu36N_nnzDc4z50nHwEOHiWJOFCB24wWzapif8DmFG2PHEzIZKA-yNDs9Iz_4qj84Z4enyy2pXktqRUCjRSVY58ZrqAqK5GCErxalE3ku_m4GOHIzZSXRFEkEf8mEfqDAsXRbuIRQZTG=s6016" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirAxGJQQe3YNryKTV0qk348rxvP7_0crJZO7khnAnAy6hqlu36N_nnzDc4z50nHwEOHiWJOFCB24wWzapif8DmFG2PHEzIZKA-yNDs9Iz_4qj84Z4enyy2pXktqRUCjRSVY58ZrqAqK5GCErxalE3ku_m4GOHIzZSXRFEkEf8mEfqDAsXRbuIRQZTG=w400-h268" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>. . . ditto redux.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSj9hfyGKlzmbSTJpzlinC-2ZSOn-rDESSOFLdzX5Al_11stVCMhS2nI0tB11M_KKTloYR-rwL1idV5iCk4cyPKlLIUzSiXKnypc4IZ_A7SNVqZEpijnjq3bVslKQiK_i4p0puFoLW4MRdbRxdWLCQfUFHM3QCmbjeU0NP6XZH1cBCW56th2Vak25t=s921" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="921" data-original-width="709" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSj9hfyGKlzmbSTJpzlinC-2ZSOn-rDESSOFLdzX5Al_11stVCMhS2nI0tB11M_KKTloYR-rwL1idV5iCk4cyPKlLIUzSiXKnypc4IZ_A7SNVqZEpijnjq3bVslKQiK_i4p0puFoLW4MRdbRxdWLCQfUFHM3QCmbjeU0NP6XZH1cBCW56th2Vak25t=w308-h400" width="308" /></a></div>Hey Mistah, where's your Parka?</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1PEIHTROv30qqkhq0ki2eqXimm_dqcaysCN8BqJx3JTxAlZBBIc-TIQqAllHM8CSZiDOUvW0r2E0foHl33d_awrduccJ4rAUwvifqLX1bgmI50b9ySS3qAZ4uALgLMoF8XeF2BDSfDAnSA43YzQYjoqBr42ClHEBAaOp6_mwy-S3PrDmy0KdoYmPx=s1024" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1PEIHTROv30qqkhq0ki2eqXimm_dqcaysCN8BqJx3JTxAlZBBIc-TIQqAllHM8CSZiDOUvW0r2E0foHl33d_awrduccJ4rAUwvifqLX1bgmI50b9ySS3qAZ4uALgLMoF8XeF2BDSfDAnSA43YzQYjoqBr42ClHEBAaOp6_mwy-S3PrDmy0KdoYmPx=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><i>There</i> he is.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8wdn6HTExA0UmlZrZ2Pie8Pw_3I9vcmY6I_Fs14he4MtqJep-hZVtFHRrXcaCwimKvdCJ3tVHgiRwenSLeWqWik3pdXd4SA2cssZShUc95tkuAKZpr62_R3yr_zjRro5yPlJbDfE_pFPNBZPBxZpN8jdU7LiBNlUnT5Siv6eP15P-mgA52Vk144N_=s6016" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8wdn6HTExA0UmlZrZ2Pie8Pw_3I9vcmY6I_Fs14he4MtqJep-hZVtFHRrXcaCwimKvdCJ3tVHgiRwenSLeWqWik3pdXd4SA2cssZShUc95tkuAKZpr62_R3yr_zjRro5yPlJbDfE_pFPNBZPBxZpN8jdU7LiBNlUnT5Siv6eP15P-mgA52Vk144N_=w400-h268" width="400" /></a></div>If it weren't for Winter we wouldn't have sap running . . . </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMDHNfX8Pm6GdbAwOC9gM9CyKOFkC_5hY4r3-lWCxwaLcLnZoL1ejzttP3nkFa7kQnVNJ4HByMy3ddaCxzCJ6lNHlc1nZZv6Qbx4Len-YhdAIkjry9me8mBSSHqcr4D4DrgyOM0kFeyp6x7Mk5NWyAphLI_KGhfkwWd0qb-1hPs0t3aEfx5lFyrNre=s6016" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMDHNfX8Pm6GdbAwOC9gM9CyKOFkC_5hY4r3-lWCxwaLcLnZoL1ejzttP3nkFa7kQnVNJ4HByMy3ddaCxzCJ6lNHlc1nZZv6Qbx4Len-YhdAIkjry9me8mBSSHqcr4D4DrgyOM0kFeyp6x7Mk5NWyAphLI_KGhfkwWd0qb-1hPs0t3aEfx5lFyrNre=w400-h268" width="400" /></a></div>. . . and sugar flowing . . . </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdsEe99UkzM3XWTpY7xr4oMDy0S-KH74gufy8F9uwTlvyxiZRjf9qq3ERpjqLPCDK6mvpPWW5xZUvhZ1D0X0dZrolxNeYKr43DOitgZ55YE07PlbU3Lq9bq7mDva3s80myVqFxrhePj8c4ad-vQymUWv-7hADNd9ZuJ9K0oiUISZ6sE0GlWZDb2AI-=s6016" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdsEe99UkzM3XWTpY7xr4oMDy0S-KH74gufy8F9uwTlvyxiZRjf9qq3ERpjqLPCDK6mvpPWW5xZUvhZ1D0X0dZrolxNeYKr43DOitgZ55YE07PlbU3Lq9bq7mDva3s80myVqFxrhePj8c4ad-vQymUWv-7hADNd9ZuJ9K0oiUISZ6sE0GlWZDb2AI-=w400-h268" width="400" /></a></div>. . . or whatever they call the monochromatic hocus pocus science nature witchcraft they do every year that results in pure joy.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2hke1s8g4gczoxeglMpDKYotaNQTOboygvbvIhF0Ep0hhgmevZOXZpx4oZxw7nPSGmDS28PDJXg8VpR5Grruzdok4rET9l9HlGsE_x-sjImJ3Way1BsxQVuJbX-LzrGdWoTMoY1cOgaqK8Vmw0m9GRRAxdD8K-sWAa3xvbePfd_XxF71hP83tkVrZ=s6016" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2hke1s8g4gczoxeglMpDKYotaNQTOboygvbvIhF0Ep0hhgmevZOXZpx4oZxw7nPSGmDS28PDJXg8VpR5Grruzdok4rET9l9HlGsE_x-sjImJ3Way1BsxQVuJbX-LzrGdWoTMoY1cOgaqK8Vmw0m9GRRAxdD8K-sWAa3xvbePfd_XxF71hP83tkVrZ=w400-h268" width="400" /><br /></a>I'm just glad we get to attend . . . </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhooYqTcEiyb0-JOMNYHWheHRxsGtCQOAdjKRHqR_8oDsCEz77bc3z10d8IAxR84b8Y1Eit7-SJrwyZ26ftd_y9A5OQFbSQKTU61OUnRbuxat8kQmLClb9TmNJvl64yRLqvxIj6bqGMkcWcORX-itZXl0ueffJc80QLumVZbv9UjrX4E5c_kN_HOAt3=s6016" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhooYqTcEiyb0-JOMNYHWheHRxsGtCQOAdjKRHqR_8oDsCEz77bc3z10d8IAxR84b8Y1Eit7-SJrwyZ26ftd_y9A5OQFbSQKTU61OUnRbuxat8kQmLClb9TmNJvl64yRLqvxIj6bqGMkcWcORX-itZXl0ueffJc80QLumVZbv9UjrX4E5c_kN_HOAt3=w400-h268" width="400" /></a></div><div>. . . and admire the outerwear . . . </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDtW-PHKk2P79gQL2r59ApDe_IO2PbRm3XuaaZ_4uNdw3349DzWDgpGR7nMQHrer80ItH7JD9jzPmJAsEC3esdHf89MU3CiMz39EupGAKqPcZwE2EftIvvdVXbdwWkoUgEAzDouGUMpMXq6lkEPYEHBR9jYTkBMyH3hOUpsOFOkbbK02_Zyr5Eqcfy=s6016" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDtW-PHKk2P79gQL2r59ApDe_IO2PbRm3XuaaZ_4uNdw3349DzWDgpGR7nMQHrer80ItH7JD9jzPmJAsEC3esdHf89MU3CiMz39EupGAKqPcZwE2EftIvvdVXbdwWkoUgEAzDouGUMpMXq6lkEPYEHBR9jYTkBMyH3hOUpsOFOkbbK02_Zyr5Eqcfy=w400-h268" width="400" /></a></div><div>. . . get a glimpse of the hardware . . . </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRZIn6eY4-M2IRZgtcieOC-F5smCLPvba43C5Nvvj1OQ9cAthwLJ8l33djPFkADZ2s8IciNrJD4TxOzv9Krba5sieaaqBZ3NwLrXt4wlq5DLk8nAXPd66cD8dZStR57I4VA9BTzdMDEsMDDB8D2oIJ8bKhzPvaq55xNaU24OysiwpUxFdLkJOBMxBN=s6016" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRZIn6eY4-M2IRZgtcieOC-F5smCLPvba43C5Nvvj1OQ9cAthwLJ8l33djPFkADZ2s8IciNrJD4TxOzv9Krba5sieaaqBZ3NwLrXt4wlq5DLk8nAXPd66cD8dZStR57I4VA9BTzdMDEsMDDB8D2oIJ8bKhzPvaq55xNaU24OysiwpUxFdLkJOBMxBN=w400-h268" width="400" /></a></div><div>. . . and sometimes both.</div><p></p></div></div>Me, You, or Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13159195620327366257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4146073139129271180.post-72656195807156423882022-02-21T04:00:00.003-08:002022-02-21T13:51:24.995-08:00Blog Ideas<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I didn't have an idea for today, so I googled "blog ideas," and now I have a </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">lot</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> of ideas. </span></p><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">• Self improvement / personal development (how you overcame some obstacle or started a new habit, and what you learned)</span><br /></span><i style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i><div><i style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>Yeah, no.</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• Health & fitness for busy people</span><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>Yeah, no.</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• Learning a new language</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>No, I'm too dumb.</i><br /><span style="color: #171717; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #171717; font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040;">•</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040;"> </span>Animal rescue</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>I'm not a dog person.</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, etc.)</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>Please</i><span style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">.</span><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• Working in uncommon fields of expertise while location independent</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>That's mumbo-jumbo corporate speak.</i><br /><span style="color: #171717; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #171717; font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040;">•</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040;"> </span>Recipes for couples without children</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>Recipes for what?</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• Body-weight training</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(23, 23, 23); color: #171717; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(23, 23, 23); color: #171717; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>Where's the interesting stuff?</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• Disc golf</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>Oh, there it isn't.</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• How to be a good friend</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>Be kind, duh.</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• How to train for a triathlon</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>Ohmygod, who wrote this list?</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• Mind strengthening (mind over matter/ lucid dreaming)</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>I dream vividly; I'll get back to you.</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• Beyond the basics of personal financial management</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>Don't spend more than you make.</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• Healthy eating during times of stress</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>Eat carrots.</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• Ghost-hunting</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(23, 23, 23); color: #171717; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(23, 23, 23); color: #171717; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>Why would you want to hunt a ghost?</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• Self defense training (“for women” or “for children” or “for business executives”)</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>Why "the parentheses"?</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• Indie video game development</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>Oh, *now* we're talking. Right up my alley. </i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• Video game tactics shown through video tutorials</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>I was kidding.</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• Starting and running your own social network</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>There are already enough.</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• Point and shoot photography (how to create incredible photographs with your phone or whatever </span><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">camera you have in your pocket)</span></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>I'm a terrible photographist</i><span style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">;</span><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"> talk to the Mistah.</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• How to write an e-bestseller (documenting the process of creating an Amazon Kindle bestseller.)</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>This has never happened.</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• Rapid language learning for moving abroad</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>See "I'm too dumb" above.</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• How to become a better writer</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>Read more.</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• Modern vegan diets</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>Carrots.</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• Urban commuting by bicycle</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>I call it, simply, "riding my bike to work."</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• Interior design on a budget</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(23, 23, 23); color: #171717; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(23, 23, 23); color: #171717; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>Buy your friends' art.</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• How to become a famous rockstar online</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>Okay, finally a good one.</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• Speaking in public (how to overcome the fear of the audience, minimal approaches to presentations, </span><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">etc.)</span></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>Ew.</i><br /><span style="color: #171717; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #171717; font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040;">•</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040;"> </span>Learning the Ukulele and other less common instruments</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>Oooh yes. I wanna learn.</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• How to win arguments without losing friends</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>Buy the house a round.</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• Becoming a wine connoisseur or sommelier</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>Make stuff up about vanilla and blueberries and hints of chocolate.</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• Build a custom boat and cross the Pacific in it</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(23, 23, 23); color: #171717; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(23, 23, 23); color: #171717; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>Dude. </i><br /><span style="color: #171717; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #171717; font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040;">•</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040;"> </span>Getting good at tennis and qualifying for tournaments</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>Watch King Richard instead.</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• Windsurfing</span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• Stand-up paddle boarding</span></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>But first get rich enough to afford the equipment</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• End of the world prophecies throughout time</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>Now this one I can get my head around. But first you'll need cardboard and a sharpie.</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• Car maintenance for non-gearheads</span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>Okay fine, I like this one.</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• Running a small agile business </span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>Agile? Really?</i><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">• Inspired bootstrappers </span><br /><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>I <b>do</b> need a new pair of boots.</i><br /><span style="color: #404040;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64);"><br /><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">Wow, now I have </span><i style="font-family: inherit;"><b>so</b></i><span style="color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"> many ideas . . . I think maybe two?</span></span></span></div><div><span style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">Okay everybody. Get out your tennis racquet, wax up your paddle board, and sharpen your sharpies. Let's get on </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040; font-family: inherit;">our bikes and rescue doggies . . . and start blogging about it. </span></div><div><span style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="caret-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); color: #404040;">And don't forget your golf frisbee.</span><p></p></div><div><br /></div>Me, You, or Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13159195620327366257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4146073139129271180.post-58000877631570945422022-02-14T06:00:00.090-08:002022-02-14T13:27:51.650-08:00Super Snack Bowl LVIGet a load of this spread, wouldja?<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLIDrCBojrRomU3kweMY7xNKa-03d2XD6GH2opk2dUwOYc9A1qi6e-qo4_QT9lcg4PX-jmKXVWLjp1htQJEwuIhXPhEnmkVGTWzdgDgcT-SL1WveIjfKiJ2YtqNBQLkFb8M5oeCJ8ouH1vDM6uOTKkkmAgSRqLoDT-4J6suPOKskYXzya2fpsv7FCr=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLIDrCBojrRomU3kweMY7xNKa-03d2XD6GH2opk2dUwOYc9A1qi6e-qo4_QT9lcg4PX-jmKXVWLjp1htQJEwuIhXPhEnmkVGTWzdgDgcT-SL1WveIjfKiJ2YtqNBQLkFb8M5oeCJ8ouH1vDM6uOTKkkmAgSRqLoDT-4J6suPOKskYXzya2fpsv7FCr=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>(Please excuse the chicken bones.)</i></div><p>We had ourselves a <i><b>feast</b></i>. </p><p>But the best part of all? . . . </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2JnVCQa4ca3NotXZbbtftACTWFAIMZ7c15QkdYHemcKRXCjUVMYVO-_a4tF8ikYez0qeE1ya_PkTQQhVn-DZhhD_YedCKQcKXGNscnpOrIFNz3Nw8i6v_eBaSy8U2c42_LeHq2K80345s3-LrgzilMQGttn7exjefOWJFCKjm3syvf8yRk7ry8o85=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2JnVCQa4ca3NotXZbbtftACTWFAIMZ7c15QkdYHemcKRXCjUVMYVO-_a4tF8ikYez0qeE1ya_PkTQQhVn-DZhhD_YedCKQcKXGNscnpOrIFNz3Nw8i6v_eBaSy8U2c42_LeHq2K80345s3-LrgzilMQGttn7exjefOWJFCKjm3syvf8yRk7ry8o85=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div>. . . we got to see our peeps.<div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnkD6NqYCY9DhQpXCx2uHpqe76lj-JVrc0Vt3YM_vwaIclilCEh1YeJFCr-NBsg2N2DkQn7gECe7gNTUa9HMFjGPw_6Qzv0pIG_kSg3agRvyy14RKSqS7GM6NXD9vGJI1zuesRxiJJB259ZFsNIgIRbCc96mTPWMHnSbliu74nKH5kUDSsRxWG3JjD=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnkD6NqYCY9DhQpXCx2uHpqe76lj-JVrc0Vt3YM_vwaIclilCEh1YeJFCr-NBsg2N2DkQn7gECe7gNTUa9HMFjGPw_6Qzv0pIG_kSg3agRvyy14RKSqS7GM6NXD9vGJI1zuesRxiJJB259ZFsNIgIRbCc96mTPWMHnSbliu74nKH5kUDSsRxWG3JjD=w300-h400" width="300" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And how we love those peeps of ours.</div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiH9ckFrCh_XK5wW2oNWSDL3oLdBPv-Li5rxjGXZpLE1pepLA_9HO7CJDjoPskqNLaDizNjD_BgiG9Ds96W-1U9SbKVVIpPqNOXKebIy_QN3cpbPmBACRd1R2VmxwnRJM_mV2zgryZ3HGIt7ZAmFdR2Av-egNhbeeBRdAM34Sb4JFBjWitMAorP9aGo=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiH9ckFrCh_XK5wW2oNWSDL3oLdBPv-Li5rxjGXZpLE1pepLA_9HO7CJDjoPskqNLaDizNjD_BgiG9Ds96W-1U9SbKVVIpPqNOXKebIy_QN3cpbPmBACRd1R2VmxwnRJM_mV2zgryZ3HGIt7ZAmFdR2Av-egNhbeeBRdAM34Sb4JFBjWitMAorP9aGo=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We had delicious beverages . . .</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiA2PICQY4gO8_I5HTykEbIPe1eoiYB8arUeY4o_d-5GmWCRLETyDEWN_mYQ8mq59kbJr-jOFheJrNVZgBcn0kQjVbNCnFoIqXdV-lhyG_pKwWqGewkVDv4auvuSvl8awruHOHRWGwRKGo8bfqj_yd24ASZAj4MWrBUXcpj2d9to5_aGpzje6EKsCVW=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiA2PICQY4gO8_I5HTykEbIPe1eoiYB8arUeY4o_d-5GmWCRLETyDEWN_mYQ8mq59kbJr-jOFheJrNVZgBcn0kQjVbNCnFoIqXdV-lhyG_pKwWqGewkVDv4auvuSvl8awruHOHRWGwRKGo8bfqj_yd24ASZAj4MWrBUXcpj2d9to5_aGpzje6EKsCVW=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div>. . . and gorgeous course after gorgeous course . . . <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjs-jEtMEv4LUnfLWLQAUQSorXXNck5ItNd6CvFi6PwGv6g9TivDiJUSKwG7RvPB2JIxLQTajp40N-PcHkO30Q0VXH3rWblkVLEeRdplGDpua0Q2d3wtwl5UGdah4oNDiLD5sBPbt_RyXbdhlz1LCSMkvV1LQdRbGw3HyboDHUQd432bCHEsVbjXoE=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjs-jEtMEv4LUnfLWLQAUQSorXXNck5ItNd6CvFi6PwGv6g9TivDiJUSKwG7RvPB2JIxLQTajp40N-PcHkO30Q0VXH3rWblkVLEeRdplGDpua0Q2d3wtwl5UGdah4oNDiLD5sBPbt_RyXbdhlz1LCSMkvV1LQdRbGw3HyboDHUQd432bCHEsVbjXoE=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">. . . including obligatory wings from New London . . . </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">. . . and pretend we took a photo of my <a href="http://meandyouandellie.blogspot.com/2022/01/blizzed-out.html?m=0">world-famous chili</a> with its accompanying avocado and red onions and cheddar and cilantro. It was delish, I promise.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But the best part of all . . . </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwpCgFZRWDfMAMP7dwjJM3t68Z71xEqTJ5hOCgdUgBwqXjiqx73WidgwZhkYsvxF605S6-CC2EZilRi4zvqrj1C2_Tm8sTIzm9vNErwtHbaDlUGzC75YumgkAYR4d9E7zJhLFK2KywGpYh67MbeZbfFVQQxtrQ6yBxPUGlbKYvv2-RO2nq8M5iwE_5=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwpCgFZRWDfMAMP7dwjJM3t68Z71xEqTJ5hOCgdUgBwqXjiqx73WidgwZhkYsvxF605S6-CC2EZilRi4zvqrj1C2_Tm8sTIzm9vNErwtHbaDlUGzC75YumgkAYR4d9E7zJhLFK2KywGpYh67MbeZbfFVQQxtrQ6yBxPUGlbKYvv2-RO2nq8M5iwE_5=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div>. . . what a joy to be with My Girl Nancy.</div></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxoAbStnYp9rT6EHf0N1Tm1-oxys9ZJPjD7aPAm-SAc5DtNrg-AnyFC9XYDIaJ-WbHa6s3_N5DHqn3zUuVhRZKrwosJ6lsh70WVL3UDLpdhjw558Rzik8yhmyRYldCNMGLrFHWgWIemZE_cx4KImAMuxOgI8MVKQK80WTZlh8uySOhh5Xofc1o7GX6=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxoAbStnYp9rT6EHf0N1Tm1-oxys9ZJPjD7aPAm-SAc5DtNrg-AnyFC9XYDIaJ-WbHa6s3_N5DHqn3zUuVhRZKrwosJ6lsh70WVL3UDLpdhjw558Rzik8yhmyRYldCNMGLrFHWgWIemZE_cx4KImAMuxOgI8MVKQK80WTZlh8uySOhh5Xofc1o7GX6=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div>Thanks for the lovely time in your lovely home, dudes.</div><div><br /></div><div>And thanks for those killer snacks.<br /><p><br /></p></div></div>Me, You, or Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13159195620327366257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4146073139129271180.post-38723427974915120402022-02-07T05:00:00.000-08:002022-02-07T05:04:22.065-08:00XLIIIFor all intensive purposes -- which is my favorite malapropism of all time -- Hygienic Art XLIII was a huge success.<div><br /></div><div>Mistah and I? We stayed home and looked at our own art.</div><div><br /></div><div>But, man, look at this year's posters . . . </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqkpPkwEnflbv9-1TyHCeFT6M2LcEuyuYC2Q2tEgRESFWwIwf4tOFKAui5BopEZ7IKRjJ3e63eCu8xkns8pA_mzky3VkJQEsyAszmtGJ8a_EtPP_35vyDlTNJNCp4TK6UhzXs8PrNxHauerTSoPEtYojCusd0IKbrw_-g7UbwXjhs98qCiID2CUoSq=s1913" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1913" data-original-width="1238" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqkpPkwEnflbv9-1TyHCeFT6M2LcEuyuYC2Q2tEgRESFWwIwf4tOFKAui5BopEZ7IKRjJ3e63eCu8xkns8pA_mzky3VkJQEsyAszmtGJ8a_EtPP_35vyDlTNJNCp4TK6UhzXs8PrNxHauerTSoPEtYojCusd0IKbrw_-g7UbwXjhs98qCiID2CUoSq=w259-h400" width="259" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkSVbA2v_4VwJBdflouoVyc0zdlYE9d9ZzA3ggSup4ymhwfx3bejOqLITjmq9_ihljAt-G8CBZDkI61XIJ7Ts2b2ZV_Mq2gSJGYLFna5NJV2pV7neSqYNpKndrWzuMlPuXzTfNxPRnF02SpZiXjBMyYknYoGAfOk37VT-P3SZ6yCkVEDalddt0GAqL=s1844" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1844" data-original-width="1413" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkSVbA2v_4VwJBdflouoVyc0zdlYE9d9ZzA3ggSup4ymhwfx3bejOqLITjmq9_ihljAt-G8CBZDkI61XIJ7Ts2b2ZV_Mq2gSJGYLFna5NJV2pV7neSqYNpKndrWzuMlPuXzTfNxPRnF02SpZiXjBMyYknYoGAfOk37VT-P3SZ6yCkVEDalddt0GAqL=w306-h400" width="306" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8pWQuqhPwWFmgZgKy7ztrog9v3xcwNkz3LWsuDy-MO1uYWa45M-NB2x1Sa-dfi2Zyfi1v2JhbQRcrzlhyApf0jArDAOe6D1kD0bmZXgQZd67tjTdc61oFjc_GuBVnwY0Pbxvu_MXPsPtXZUadK7s_oHyKo3KpRy6t5WeIY5PxThdaDCzO5Bisbd8E=s1077" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1077" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8pWQuqhPwWFmgZgKy7ztrog9v3xcwNkz3LWsuDy-MO1uYWa45M-NB2x1Sa-dfi2Zyfi1v2JhbQRcrzlhyApf0jArDAOe6D1kD0bmZXgQZd67tjTdc61oFjc_GuBVnwY0Pbxvu_MXPsPtXZUadK7s_oHyKo3KpRy6t5WeIY5PxThdaDCzO5Bisbd8E=w279-h400" width="279" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjz6gCI-9vKK902nEBroHQ0UPiIuqtlNt0NeLHLDSjvbj77bsT2h_1MxFjKRWvwjmVldRU2czYC9pPXcgTiTgZpSBi0yI3A-P4IUDsKxKP6A-_HcRBjRAZTVxzCD7Ck-z00Cll3NFa-qlAwFMgXj-kFtCdh_qkSXCyv2i-brnT60X7Mc1IILR2szL_B=s1800" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjz6gCI-9vKK902nEBroHQ0UPiIuqtlNt0NeLHLDSjvbj77bsT2h_1MxFjKRWvwjmVldRU2czYC9pPXcgTiTgZpSBi0yI3A-P4IUDsKxKP6A-_HcRBjRAZTVxzCD7Ck-z00Cll3NFa-qlAwFMgXj-kFtCdh_qkSXCyv2i-brnT60X7Mc1IILR2szL_B=w320-h400" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And look at this sampling -- photos thanks to the Hygienic's social media pages:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAgcxEosL_SNprQAr5cAdrUY0bzWXYhY42wP7Nd5z2Hkx9KpmIsUbs6uqBEIc9ws5YnRSgRYDf6uXjPqgXknjV3y_1t7fL3tyROfhU6DLh-yAzF05iThR0OsdovYsIr4hdQ76Z2N43yF4IppzAxJlkJWQIIkpMDhIbxL0Smp8nCRXf4QBebCFM_LjC=s1875" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="1875" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAgcxEosL_SNprQAr5cAdrUY0bzWXYhY42wP7Nd5z2Hkx9KpmIsUbs6uqBEIc9ws5YnRSgRYDf6uXjPqgXknjV3y_1t7fL3tyROfhU6DLh-yAzF05iThR0OsdovYsIr4hdQ76Z2N43yF4IppzAxJlkJWQIIkpMDhIbxL0Smp8nCRXf4QBebCFM_LjC=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLqvjsiEtXefuTT0W_zNLTzF_bKVYVVWLKzEwSAD6g1lAlVs-7Quzqyj2R-fcufSOVVODgWLar_SmiGdNk7Pv8sN3CEJ_YlaZWuUw0Oumx7wdDw6lueofoCW0NjqzLFXu27NKh8rZxlfF_cuSgDlzWZ1_nu3rLT3Z5n7fZ7YjBP3MeA8rwmSVpdgrQ=s1875" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="1875" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLqvjsiEtXefuTT0W_zNLTzF_bKVYVVWLKzEwSAD6g1lAlVs-7Quzqyj2R-fcufSOVVODgWLar_SmiGdNk7Pv8sN3CEJ_YlaZWuUw0Oumx7wdDw6lueofoCW0NjqzLFXu27NKh8rZxlfF_cuSgDlzWZ1_nu3rLT3Z5n7fZ7YjBP3MeA8rwmSVpdgrQ=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPEFuEr0RYYXrCuM8QU0-_td2GeVn4xoe6R-l3Xp6WmhoAtw34O9oeR-qCas9Of_G2oq44X1lz0Z7BxL5uLrCWff0V-6G2F5R0EqcgLNubcww3-OB284-TSci5hjfRyY3jEPRL5CY7eKEC28BQO6UMXAljqJfLH2ux-3gQBKS3vuwCQtCg3qVABoEa=s1875" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1875" data-original-width="1250" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPEFuEr0RYYXrCuM8QU0-_td2GeVn4xoe6R-l3Xp6WmhoAtw34O9oeR-qCas9Of_G2oq44X1lz0Z7BxL5uLrCWff0V-6G2F5R0EqcgLNubcww3-OB284-TSci5hjfRyY3jEPRL5CY7eKEC28BQO6UMXAljqJfLH2ux-3gQBKS3vuwCQtCg3qVABoEa=w266-h400" width="266" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqIeNFxCbOirSQG-5MASgK6mCceFPpbv47paMN5r8ueVmTANQj5I_ofRCB7SlR8mu3OvlgrXUN4Yzl1ygtFQXo_p-L5p-blg-eywjztuEZomb6_eNce7UZZs1FvtNXm8-FiTyfOi7-NK8rTsJ8DklQGbRYOlZEBaee667US835U1JxUJg7aplHNS4x=s1800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqIeNFxCbOirSQG-5MASgK6mCceFPpbv47paMN5r8ueVmTANQj5I_ofRCB7SlR8mu3OvlgrXUN4Yzl1ygtFQXo_p-L5p-blg-eywjztuEZomb6_eNce7UZZs1FvtNXm8-FiTyfOi7-NK8rTsJ8DklQGbRYOlZEBaee667US835U1JxUJg7aplHNS4x=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Cheetah Rhythm" by our young friend Greta</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Glorious, that's what art is. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's humanity's gift to itself. </div><div><br /></div>Me, You, or Elliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13159195620327366257noreply@blogger.com1