Tag: Community

I Just Want To Bang On The Drum All Day

Check out these squirts, circa WWII, conducting a “lively aluminum salvage campaign” out of pots from their neighbors on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. A grumpy bearded gramps doesn’t seem nearly as thrilled about the pursuit as the youth, but I think that’s just the face old folks make.

Bear Each Other’s Burdens, Part II

August 1947, National Geographic
August 1947, National Geographic

A member of the Finnish Red Cross hands Helsinki housewife Sirkka Michelsson a package, including a sweater knit by the Nashville American Red Cross chapter, pajamas for her children from Connecticut, a dress, and more. Michelsson, weeping tears of gratitude, was one of thousands of people helped by American generosity in the post-WWII years.

Sunday Mourning Coming Down

oct-9-9

I just learned from Mark at markbialczak.com that our blogger friend, Paul Curran, just passed away. Ever the walking wikipedia, gentleman Paul, living in Ottawa, Canada, had recently survived some serious surgery and (seemingly) come out stronger. But today I learned that he was no longer with us. I went outside and looked at the sky and thought about him, never seeing any more sunsets, but maybe seeing something better than we could ever comprehend.

And if you never got to chat with Paul, here is one of his many tales and tidbits he shared over the years. This one was from last May 5th.

My Nan was born in 1900 (she passed away in 1992 after living in the same house all her life until the last week she spent in hospital). She always dressed in a floral print dress with low heels and a sweater – usually knitted. The dress she would have made herself until about 1960. Except for gifts, she always made all her sweaters up until the day she passed. Nan always had her knitting bag with her and she would sit and chat or listen to the radio while she knitted. She would not think about going out unless she had dressed carefully and put on her heels and make up and did her hair. And she absolutely loved going for drives in the car. You could load her up and go anywhere and she would be happy. We used to take her on vacation and she was awesome – we went to Virginia, New York, Boston (visiting each), Toronto, Montreal, etc. Just sit her in the back seat, give her the occasional cup of tea and she was content. When I was young, we had a station wagon and my parents had the front seats, Nan had the rear seat and my friend and I owned the rear of the station wagon. We pulled a travel trailer (and later rented motor homes)and all the luggage would be in there.

Perhaps you are riding in a station wagon with Nan right now. Here’s to you, my blogger friend.