Dear Mary,
Happy Birthday to a very special person! I couldn't have asked for better friends and neighbors than you and Norm have been. You have been so kind and caring. Blake loved to come to your house before and after school. There were always fun things to do and good food to eat. Going to Little Falls to stay in a motel and to swim in the pool with the Schwisters was a great treat for Blake. You really filled a special need for Blake after his dad died. The Christmas cookie decorating was also great fun. Your kids have a somewhat twisted imagination when it comes to decorating cookies.
When I was recovering from surgery, you and Norm visited and literally brought hot soup. The drives to Northfield for the St. Olaf Christmas concert made great memories. Thanks for even being willing to try lutefisk. The memories of those concerts left a high for a long time afterwards. Then again, were you there the year that two Ole students, a guy and a girl, streaked the concert?
Best wishes to someone who has no equal,
Carol Rohrer
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
join in with the festivities
We are glad to see that you are doing something to recognize your mother on her 70th birthday. She is a loving caring mother. Too bad we don’t live nearby, so we could join in with the festivities. Greet you father as we think a lot of him also.
John and Miriam Payne
John and Miriam Payne
garden and memories are colourful
Dear Mary,
Happy 70th. They say we are not getting, but getting wiser. You are the proof of it. I feel richer when I think of memories: Jr. Great Books, Quilting classes (you too, Norm), book club, garden and nursery tours and more…
My garden and memories are colourful because of your friendship; and let us forget your mom’s craft books. I cherish them just like you and your family.
I tried to express myself but this is all the talent and grammar I have.
Happy Birthday dear friend.
Aynur Konar
Happy 70th. They say we are not getting, but getting wiser. You are the proof of it. I feel richer when I think of memories: Jr. Great Books, Quilting classes (you too, Norm), book club, garden and nursery tours and more…
My garden and memories are colourful because of your friendship; and let us forget your mom’s craft books. I cherish them just like you and your family.
I tried to express myself but this is all the talent and grammar I have.
Happy Birthday dear friend.
Aynur Konar
buns, prune pies, and fire in her eyes
Dear Mary,
Happy Birthday to you. What a privilege it's been to know you. We know that this will be a very special birthday. Sorry it's taken us so long to get our memories written.
Mid-America Dairymen didn't have you on the official staff roster, but you certainly were the one who kept the Northern Division together with a very special family feeling that all the other divisions envied.
One of our favorite memories is from our trip to New Zealand, more than twenty years ago. All those beautiful scenes that were "captured" on Kathy's camera. We don't remember exactly when it was discovered that there wasn't any film in the camera. But the memories are still in living color.
We stopped in Hawaii on our way home from New Zealand to celebrate both couples' 25th wedding anniversaries. While there Dave discovered a different Mary. Mary, you were always a cool, calm and collected person. However, Dave saw another dimension. You and Norm met a representative from the Aloha Funway Rental Car place. They had a Jeep the four of us could rent for sightseeing. It seemed like an ideal set up. The four of us walked a few blocks from the hotel to the agency really feeling quite exuberant about our plans for the day. We soon discovered that the Jeep did not come with a top. Since it rained every day, we thought we needed a top. "Sorry, you must come back and get the top put on when it starts to rain!" Dave started to see fire coming to Mary's eyes. Stronger than mere disappointment. Of course we could be soaking wet by the time we got back for the top. Really, none of us took the news very well. But we needed a car, so off we went in an old rusty Mazda with more than 65,000 miles on the odometer. I think we all thought it had been turned back a few times. But what could we do?
Another favorite story is the one about PRUNE PIE. We've often wondered how many waitresses were asked if they had prune pie by Mid Am employees. "You had it last time I was here." You, Mary, came through with a great surprise for Dave's birthday. Two kinds of prune pie. He brought the leftovers back to Fergus Falls and shared with Robin and me. It was very tasty. We've laughed over that for so long. It was a delightful joke.
Over the years we've had lots of fun and laughter with both of you. The last story we want to share is the Buns Story. You, Mary, came to visit me while Norm was at the cheese plant with Dave here in Fergus Falls. I believe we were working on decorations for Chris' wedding. Dave brought Norm to our house after work. Dave came into our house hollering "Where's Buns?" For a moment, Norm looked shocked. He thought Buns was Mary. Then he realized it was our Beagle Bunny of whom he was speaking. That did cause quite a lot of laughter for years.
We could go on and on reminiscing, but we won't. What we both will say is Happy Birthday to a very special lady and we are so glad she came into our lives.
Love from Dave and Linda Waring
Happy Birthday to you. What a privilege it's been to know you. We know that this will be a very special birthday. Sorry it's taken us so long to get our memories written.
Mid-America Dairymen didn't have you on the official staff roster, but you certainly were the one who kept the Northern Division together with a very special family feeling that all the other divisions envied.
One of our favorite memories is from our trip to New Zealand, more than twenty years ago. All those beautiful scenes that were "captured" on Kathy's camera. We don't remember exactly when it was discovered that there wasn't any film in the camera. But the memories are still in living color.
We stopped in Hawaii on our way home from New Zealand to celebrate both couples' 25th wedding anniversaries. While there Dave discovered a different Mary. Mary, you were always a cool, calm and collected person. However, Dave saw another dimension. You and Norm met a representative from the Aloha Funway Rental Car place. They had a Jeep the four of us could rent for sightseeing. It seemed like an ideal set up. The four of us walked a few blocks from the hotel to the agency really feeling quite exuberant about our plans for the day. We soon discovered that the Jeep did not come with a top. Since it rained every day, we thought we needed a top. "Sorry, you must come back and get the top put on when it starts to rain!" Dave started to see fire coming to Mary's eyes. Stronger than mere disappointment. Of course we could be soaking wet by the time we got back for the top. Really, none of us took the news very well. But we needed a car, so off we went in an old rusty Mazda with more than 65,000 miles on the odometer. I think we all thought it had been turned back a few times. But what could we do?
Another favorite story is the one about PRUNE PIE. We've often wondered how many waitresses were asked if they had prune pie by Mid Am employees. "You had it last time I was here." You, Mary, came through with a great surprise for Dave's birthday. Two kinds of prune pie. He brought the leftovers back to Fergus Falls and shared with Robin and me. It was very tasty. We've laughed over that for so long. It was a delightful joke.
Over the years we've had lots of fun and laughter with both of you. The last story we want to share is the Buns Story. You, Mary, came to visit me while Norm was at the cheese plant with Dave here in Fergus Falls. I believe we were working on decorations for Chris' wedding. Dave brought Norm to our house after work. Dave came into our house hollering "Where's Buns?" For a moment, Norm looked shocked. He thought Buns was Mary. Then he realized it was our Beagle Bunny of whom he was speaking. That did cause quite a lot of laughter for years.
We could go on and on reminiscing, but we won't. What we both will say is Happy Birthday to a very special lady and we are so glad she came into our lives.
Love from Dave and Linda Waring
dog years
Not sure what year the picture was taken but the dog has been passed on to the next generation.
Happy Birthday, Aunt Mary.
Peter & Ellen
the dingbat trio
The "Dingbat Trio",
such a lovely group;
two vocalists, a pianist,
sometimes a traveling troupe.
People "dying" to hear them,
their music renown;
well, at least in our parish,
then a very small town.
The practices were special,
the laughter and tears;
the bonding and girl talk,
they were wonderful years!
Matching color ensembles,
we still can't explain;
like magic, still happen,
ss if sharing a brain.
The nickname was given,
by one loving man;
who when we would practice
would say, "No, not again!"
He'd laugh and he'd tease,
to the basement he'd head;
while the "Dingbat Trio"
would be spiritually fed.
Our families would gather,
to celebrate and play;
the memories couldn't be better,
yet to this day.
We love you, Mary,
you're a beautiful friend;
our love and God's blessings,
on this birthday, we send!
With love, Bonnie
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
a few acres
My favorite childhood playground was located in the southwest corner of my parent’s fifty-nine acre farm. This corner of the farm was left natural and untilled as my father had no joined in the practice of neighboring farmers who had cleared and tilled every available inch of land except where farm buildings stood. A meandering stream bisected the farm at this point. It was a magical place for a child to play.
In the spring, the stream became a raging river and later on the banks of the stream were a mass of yellow buttercups and stinky skunk cabbage. There were some trees in this triangle-shaped piece of farm, enough that we always referred to this area as “the woods”. At the northerly end of the woods was a dump of the unwanted, unburnable refuse of the household and farm, mostly consisting of bottles and cans, but occasionally interesting stuff that could be used for the props of an active imagination.
I remember in particular an old car which was great fun. It was a really old car because as I recall it had little curtains that went up and down. We took many trips in that car until that summer that some nasty hornets decided to build a nest in the seat cushions. That was the end of our imaginary trips.
The glass bottles in the dump were a source of enjoyment for target practice with a BB gun. I think Donny used to let me try to shoot some, but my aim was never too good.
As the summer went on the stream would diminish to a trickle and finally along about August there would be no water left at all. Then we would go back to school in September and not have any time to play in the woods anyway. The fall rains would come and finally during Christmas vacation we would get back down to the woods and check things out. Usually by that time the stream would have magically filled again and there would be enough ice for skating. One winter we could skate for miles on that stream by following it to the neighboring farm on the south. There was a boundary fence and just on the other side was a wonderful hill for sledding.
To the east of the woods, across an area of cultivated land, were two deep ravines side by side that we always called the gravel pits. I believe that my dad must have used the gravel to put down in the barn as needed because there was evidence of some evacuation in the sides of the pits. In the spring the deeper of the two pits was transformed into a lake by the melting of the winter snow and added to by spring rains.
Donny always had some good ideas and the skills to carry those ideas to a conclusion. He built a good-sized raft of some logs and planks. We had a great time poling around on this until I had the misfortune to fall off. I don’t think he was the direct cause of this, but at the time, I sure thought so. It was April and the air still had quite a chill. It was a long walk home in my wet clothes, accompanied by evil thoughts of Donny all the way.
The other gravel pit was slightly larger in area, but not as deep. The summer brought an abundant growth of some willow-like shrubs that completely filled the base of the pit. The shrub which grew to a height of at least six feet, had a pungent, not unpleasant odor. I have in later years smelled that fragrance when we were on some of our day hikes while camping and had memories of our adventure in the gravel pit.
My cousins from Chicago came every summer for a week or two. Much of our time with them was spent in the gravel pits and the woods. Donny and Ken, Rosemary and myself, with Billy tagging along behind, spent a good part of the summer visit in what became know as the KenDon jungle. The boys used hatchets and knives to carve paths through the shrubs until in their enthusiasm the paths became so large that the jungle had almost entirely disappeared. We drew maps to be able to locate the treasure that was buried in a wooden box (hand-made by my talented brother and budding carpenter). We dug steps in the side of the gravel pit and buried the box at the top. Years later, I went back to see if I could find the box, long since rotted away, and the gold coins, which of course were gold-colored pebbles.
Some of our other adventures with Chicago cousins got us in trouble with my dad. One year we thought it would be a good idea to dig a cave in the side of the gravel pit. The cave was quite dark, so we decided to make holes in the ceiling for more light. Along about that time, my dad checked on us to see what was going on. Not only were we in danger of dying in a cave-in, he also was concerned about the cows falling in the hole. At that point, our mining careers ended.
Perhaps it was the same summer that the idea of a picnic in the woods sounded appealing. We borrowed the tractor and wagon, packed some sandwiches and marshmallows, and headed for the woods. After finding a nice picnic spot and eating our sandwiches, we realized that it was going to be difficult to find enough dead wood for a campfire to roast the marshmallows. Cousin Ken had a brainstorm and we started making piles of the dried hay from the edges of the field. No one had thought of bringing sticks to roast the marshmallows and Ken (an Eagle Scout, don’t you know) thought the rusty nails we found on the wagon bed would do just fine. My dad saw the smoke from our hay fire and came down to put out the fire and spoil our fun.
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In the spring, the stream became a raging river and later on the banks of the stream were a mass of yellow buttercups and stinky skunk cabbage. There were some trees in this triangle-shaped piece of farm, enough that we always referred to this area as “the woods”. At the northerly end of the woods was a dump of the unwanted, unburnable refuse of the household and farm, mostly consisting of bottles and cans, but occasionally interesting stuff that could be used for the props of an active imagination.
I remember in particular an old car which was great fun. It was a really old car because as I recall it had little curtains that went up and down. We took many trips in that car until that summer that some nasty hornets decided to build a nest in the seat cushions. That was the end of our imaginary trips.
The glass bottles in the dump were a source of enjoyment for target practice with a BB gun. I think Donny used to let me try to shoot some, but my aim was never too good.
As the summer went on the stream would diminish to a trickle and finally along about August there would be no water left at all. Then we would go back to school in September and not have any time to play in the woods anyway. The fall rains would come and finally during Christmas vacation we would get back down to the woods and check things out. Usually by that time the stream would have magically filled again and there would be enough ice for skating. One winter we could skate for miles on that stream by following it to the neighboring farm on the south. There was a boundary fence and just on the other side was a wonderful hill for sledding.
To the east of the woods, across an area of cultivated land, were two deep ravines side by side that we always called the gravel pits. I believe that my dad must have used the gravel to put down in the barn as needed because there was evidence of some evacuation in the sides of the pits. In the spring the deeper of the two pits was transformed into a lake by the melting of the winter snow and added to by spring rains.
Donny always had some good ideas and the skills to carry those ideas to a conclusion. He built a good-sized raft of some logs and planks. We had a great time poling around on this until I had the misfortune to fall off. I don’t think he was the direct cause of this, but at the time, I sure thought so. It was April and the air still had quite a chill. It was a long walk home in my wet clothes, accompanied by evil thoughts of Donny all the way.
The other gravel pit was slightly larger in area, but not as deep. The summer brought an abundant growth of some willow-like shrubs that completely filled the base of the pit. The shrub which grew to a height of at least six feet, had a pungent, not unpleasant odor. I have in later years smelled that fragrance when we were on some of our day hikes while camping and had memories of our adventure in the gravel pit.
My cousins from Chicago came every summer for a week or two. Much of our time with them was spent in the gravel pits and the woods. Donny and Ken, Rosemary and myself, with Billy tagging along behind, spent a good part of the summer visit in what became know as the KenDon jungle. The boys used hatchets and knives to carve paths through the shrubs until in their enthusiasm the paths became so large that the jungle had almost entirely disappeared. We drew maps to be able to locate the treasure that was buried in a wooden box (hand-made by my talented brother and budding carpenter). We dug steps in the side of the gravel pit and buried the box at the top. Years later, I went back to see if I could find the box, long since rotted away, and the gold coins, which of course were gold-colored pebbles.
Some of our other adventures with Chicago cousins got us in trouble with my dad. One year we thought it would be a good idea to dig a cave in the side of the gravel pit. The cave was quite dark, so we decided to make holes in the ceiling for more light. Along about that time, my dad checked on us to see what was going on. Not only were we in danger of dying in a cave-in, he also was concerned about the cows falling in the hole. At that point, our mining careers ended.
Perhaps it was the same summer that the idea of a picnic in the woods sounded appealing. We borrowed the tractor and wagon, packed some sandwiches and marshmallows, and headed for the woods. After finding a nice picnic spot and eating our sandwiches, we realized that it was going to be difficult to find enough dead wood for a campfire to roast the marshmallows. Cousin Ken had a brainstorm and we started making piles of the dried hay from the edges of the field. No one had thought of bringing sticks to roast the marshmallows and Ken (an Eagle Scout, don’t you know) thought the rusty nails we found on the wagon bed would do just fine. My dad saw the smoke from our hay fire and came down to put out the fire and spoil our fun.
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Monday, June 15, 2009
poetry in motion
When Mary was a little girl she wanted to be a ballerina. It’s probably a good thing that didn’t work out.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
a clinker that would make your teeth ache
Hi Mary, First of all, Happy 70th Birthday from the O'Briens. We are so happy to be able to add our greetings to the avalanche of wishes coming your way. May you have a wonderful, happy, blessed, peace filled new birthday year and many years to come.
My memories of Mary, are many and they are all enjoyable, happy, fun filled, miracle making, memories. Many of them revolve around the Theater group. (that's where most of the miracles occurred.) How we were able to do what we did on the non- existant budget we had, and get so much cooperation from so many and discover talent in people they didn't know they had, along with bringing fun and laughter to the community was truly a miracle--especially when we really didn't know what the heck we were doing!
Another memory I have of Mary involves her musical talent. Our daughter Mary, a 5th grader, was learning to play the organ in our church. Mary Schwister, with her beautiful voice carried the musical load at church as the Catholics hadn't learned to sing yet. One Sunday our organist,Thelma,(our organist for over 50 years), was unable to play so 5th grader Mary offerred to play. She was playing, and Mary Schwister was singing. Little Mary hit a clinker that would make your teeth ache, but big Mary didn't hesitate for a second. She hit that clinker right on key with the organ. I had a feeling half the congregation had no idea what happened. It took a ton of talent to sing THAT far off key so accurately! I was very impressed with Mary's ablility to sing and adapt. I doubt Mary ever hit that note again, at least I hope she never had to hit it again.
Thank you so much, Mary, for generously sharing your time and talents all these years. Wherever you have lived, you have brightened up your world. God Bless. Love, Yvonne and Pat
My memories of Mary, are many and they are all enjoyable, happy, fun filled, miracle making, memories. Many of them revolve around the Theater group. (that's where most of the miracles occurred.) How we were able to do what we did on the non- existant budget we had, and get so much cooperation from so many and discover talent in people they didn't know they had, along with bringing fun and laughter to the community was truly a miracle--especially when we really didn't know what the heck we were doing!
Another memory I have of Mary involves her musical talent. Our daughter Mary, a 5th grader, was learning to play the organ in our church. Mary Schwister, with her beautiful voice carried the musical load at church as the Catholics hadn't learned to sing yet. One Sunday our organist,Thelma,(our organist for over 50 years), was unable to play so 5th grader Mary offerred to play. She was playing, and Mary Schwister was singing. Little Mary hit a clinker that would make your teeth ache, but big Mary didn't hesitate for a second. She hit that clinker right on key with the organ. I had a feeling half the congregation had no idea what happened. It took a ton of talent to sing THAT far off key so accurately! I was very impressed with Mary's ablility to sing and adapt. I doubt Mary ever hit that note again, at least I hope she never had to hit it again.
Thank you so much, Mary, for generously sharing your time and talents all these years. Wherever you have lived, you have brightened up your world. God Bless. Love, Yvonne and Pat
Saturday, June 13, 2009
70 years, millions of tears
I know a young lady who cries when she's sad.
She cries when she's happy, and I bet when she's mad.
She cried at her wedding and honeymoon.
I think that she felt that she married too soon.
The tears they do flow at all kinds of stuff.
But rarely they fall when things do get rough.
Her father was stern, and mommy was too.
So why she cries I will leave up to you.
Will we change her I really can't say.
But I sure do love her for being that way.
She cries when she's happy, and I bet when she's mad.
She cried at her wedding and honeymoon.
I think that she felt that she married too soon.
The tears they do flow at all kinds of stuff.
But rarely they fall when things do get rough.
Her father was stern, and mommy was too.
So why she cries I will leave up to you.
Will we change her I really can't say.
But I sure do love her for being that way.
very steamed up windows
happily ever after ... that Saturday nightI have a little tale to tell that you might enjoy...
Mary and Norm were dating and so were Don and I. It was Saturday night and Mary and I had planned to do something the next day so we agreed I'd stay over that night so we could go on our outing the next day. When Don and I got back to Wayside after our night out, Don thought that it was odd that the garage door was closed (way back when no one needed to lock or close up anything while they were gone). He checked and saw that Norm's car was in the garage and we knew there was mischief going. Don could not let that alone. So he threw open the garage door and found a car with very steamed up windows and pretty much scared the two lovers inside. Mary says that there was a lot of talking going on.
She'll just love me for this one.
Love,
Marianne
Friday, June 12, 2009
don't show the kids
Mim and Jer say:
Happy Birthday Mary!!!!!!!
Just thought you might enjoy some OLD
pictures....It sounds like you won't be home on your birthday but hope you are
having a good time. Some of these pictures are good black mail
pictures. Maybe don't show the kids?? Anyway Happy Big 70th
Birthday!!!!
It's far too late to shield the tender-eyed kids from these controversial, explosive photos, I'm afraid. The kids are in charge of the blog.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
picture memories
Mary and Don casting shadows
babes in overcoats: Judy Hehn, Joan Sollar and Mary Gibbons
the ladies in the kitchen: at Weronke Cottage with Jane and Ann 
Mary with Don (doesn't this smell nice?) 
with Amy at Sean and Katie's wedding - Long Island, NY
a flattering picture taken in Jenny and Ron's backyard
New deck on farm one month before we moved to town
interesting conversation... Happy Birthday, Mary! - Love Marianne and Don
de pere days
And then there was the De Pere Days. I'm sending along a few of my black and whites to remind you of the fun we had. Working in those days didn't seem like a job... it was fun.
Wishing you a birthday surronded by those you love most. May you have a day of joy and happiness. Have a wonderful birthday!
With love to a dear friend,
Bev and Ron Kiekhaefer
Wishing you a birthday surronded by those you love most. May you have a day of joy and happiness. Have a wonderful birthday!
With love to a dear friend,
Bev and Ron Kiekhaefer
what a great age to be
Happy Birthday, Mary!
What a great age to be. I'm 92 in November, wish it were 70, but I keep going, just not in the fast lane! I enjoy the pictures you have sent me of your family and I remember the times we had with Steve in Alaska. What a great time we had with him up there. Miss those trips.
Have a great time with your family and friends on your birthday. Maybe see you later this summer.
Vera Peloquin
What a great age to be. I'm 92 in November, wish it were 70, but I keep going, just not in the fast lane! I enjoy the pictures you have sent me of your family and I remember the times we had with Steve in Alaska. What a great time we had with him up there. Miss those trips.
Have a great time with your family and friends on your birthday. Maybe see you later this summer.
Vera Peloquin
Friday, June 5, 2009
girl-y
Top 10 survival strategies growing up with four brothers:
10. Learn double-pig Latin to talk with Marianne on the telephone party line
9. Use bedroom floor grate to spy on brothers
8. When swinging off rope and jumping into hay in barn, avoid hidden pitchforks
7. Only pretend to enjoy playing in the Kendon forest with Ken and Don
6. Remember to pull the shades when reading mystery novels in the small TV room downstairs to avoid being scared by Donny who's standing in window with his stocking cap down over his face waiting to scare you
5. If you're going to break into the old school house on 'G' insist that your brothers take the fall when you get caught.
4. Remember to use the restroom before leaving for the "downtown" Wayside theater to watch serial movies. Keep a sharp lookout for Donny hiding in the ditch as he will try to jump out and scare you.
3. Cry that you can't live without him when Billy gets lost in corn
2. Scream really, really loud when the Christmas tree starts on fire and stand back as Gerry carries it out of the house.
1. Just ignore him when Donny when he calls you girl-y
Friends in spite of WCT pigeons
Happy Birthday Mary,
Our friendship actually started in the ‘60’s when WCT originated. We had big ideas to save the stage in the old city hall to be moved to the theater, but the pigeons won out and so we moved on. Such fun!
Leann did much baby-sitting for your kids which she enjoyed so much and consequently we were like family through her.
We had such a grand time at your place in Phoenix. Even your place in the mountains brought us togher. Thanks for being a great friend. Many more Happy Birthdays.
Ray and Margaret
Our friendship actually started in the ‘60’s when WCT originated. We had big ideas to save the stage in the old city hall to be moved to the theater, but the pigeons won out and so we moved on. Such fun!
Leann did much baby-sitting for your kids which she enjoyed so much and consequently we were like family through her.
We had such a grand time at your place in Phoenix. Even your place in the mountains brought us togher. Thanks for being a great friend. Many more Happy Birthdays.
Ray and Margaret
How hard can this be?
My mom can do anything. In her world, everything is possible, and nothing is too daunting to tackle. Where some might spend hours studying and planning, she rolls up her sleeves and gets to work.
Over the years, she has perfected the domestic arts of sewing, quilting, cooking, and gardening. She's created macrame owls, hook rugs, terrariums, and a harp. She's made curtains, beanbag chairs, sleeping bags, and wedding dresses.
She doesn't throw things away, she fixes them. She patches holes, fixes zippers, recovers couches, refinishes furniture, and repairs canvas-sided trailers. Nothing is too unpleasant to clean - pigeon coops, barns, or even my house. Stain removal is a snap and window cleaning is her specialty.
She's mastered the craft of home remodeling and deocrating. She paints, sands, stains, seals, lays tile, hangs sheetrock, hangs pictures, and hangs doors. She has learned the trades of upholster, carpenter, electrician, plumber, tiler, roofer, and architect. She also excels at demolition. She has a sledgehammer and knows how to use it.
My mom is not afraid to try new things. She rides rollercoasters, waterslides, and mountain bikes. She hikes, skis, and geo-caches. She's tried waterskiing, snorkeling, wall climbing, and ballroom dancing. She's been a Sweet Adeline, a cantor, and an extra in a Coen brothers' movie. She's attended political events and she's on Facebook.
My mom is a life-long learner. She listens to public radio. She reads, writes, listens, and asks questions. She does the New York Times Sunday crossword puzzle. She plays Scrabble. She has a library card and knows how to use it. She has a computer and knows how to use it.
Okay everyone, let's get going. After all...how hard can this be?
Over the years, she has perfected the domestic arts of sewing, quilting, cooking, and gardening. She's created macrame owls, hook rugs, terrariums, and a harp. She's made curtains, beanbag chairs, sleeping bags, and wedding dresses.
She doesn't throw things away, she fixes them. She patches holes, fixes zippers, recovers couches, refinishes furniture, and repairs canvas-sided trailers. Nothing is too unpleasant to clean - pigeon coops, barns, or even my house. Stain removal is a snap and window cleaning is her specialty.
She's mastered the craft of home remodeling and deocrating. She paints, sands, stains, seals, lays tile, hangs sheetrock, hangs pictures, and hangs doors. She has learned the trades of upholster, carpenter, electrician, plumber, tiler, roofer, and architect. She also excels at demolition. She has a sledgehammer and knows how to use it.
My mom is not afraid to try new things. She rides rollercoasters, waterslides, and mountain bikes. She hikes, skis, and geo-caches. She's tried waterskiing, snorkeling, wall climbing, and ballroom dancing. She's been a Sweet Adeline, a cantor, and an extra in a Coen brothers' movie. She's attended political events and she's on Facebook.
My mom is a life-long learner. She listens to public radio. She reads, writes, listens, and asks questions. She does the New York Times Sunday crossword puzzle. She plays Scrabble. She has a library card and knows how to use it. She has a computer and knows how to use it.
Okay everyone, let's get going. After all...how hard can this be?
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
my one and only
I met an attractive young girl in 1957 and married her a few years later. I have had the pleasure of spending the last 52 years documenting the pictoral history of one of the most beautiful women in the world. There have been many different cameras, but only one Mary.
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