Palmer

 

These cool pins belonged to my great-aunt Inez. I regret that I don't know when/why she took Palmer Method courses, but I assume that she used the handwriting skills she learned in order to get some sort of office job.

Happy Father's Day

 

My cool cat dad has been gone since 2009, and he is missed terribly by all of us. 

Happy Father's Day to those of you who mark the day.

(This photo looks pink because it is terribly faded and efforts to sharpen it in its digital form altered the color...)

Happy Mother's Day 2020

 Happy Mother's Day! Here I am at my high school graduation with my two grandmothers and my mom (who is sporting some VERY cool 1980s glasses!).

And this is one of my favorite photos of my sweet mother--she still has this wonderful smile. I love you, Vivi Sue!

The Big 8-0

Happy birthday to the nuttiest, sweetest, most loving, goofiest, giggliest mother in the land: my mom, Vicki Sue, turned 80 years old today.

"So today is your birthday, that's what I've been told...what a wonderful birthday, you're one more year old. On a cake there'll be candles all lighted for you...and the whole world is singing 'Happy Birthday to You.'"

We love you, Vivi!

Happy Mother's Day 2018

Happy Mother's Day to my sweet mommy--cheers! I love you!

80 Years Ago Today...

...my handsome father was born! He passed away 8 years ago, and he is sorely missed and always loved. Happy birthday, daddy!

Drinking, Knowing

I think my family knows us well!

A great Christmas 2017--thank you all! (And it was nice not just because of presents but because we were all together!)

Big Brother Love

Yesterday would have been my brother Ted's 60th birthday.

I had Accuradio on yesterday, randomly playing 1970s songs--the first song that played was "Stairway to Heaven," which I had to think was some sort of sign from above--the boy did love his Led Zeppelin. (The third song that played was "Free Bird," also a sign from above--nobody pronounced "Lynyrd Skynyrd quite like Ted did; number two was "Stayin' Alive.")

You were greatly loved, are hugely missed, and will never be forgotten, big bro.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day!

Here's a favorite photo of my daddy--I do miss him...

Hug the ones you love!

Happy Mother's Day 2017

Happy Mother's Day, Vivi--wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, mother-in-law--and big sister, as seen here. (A priceless photo, don't you think?)

I love you, Mommy!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all!

I'm very proud to share the Little Debbie gene with these two beautiful ladies. Love you, Vivi Sue!

Happy and Sad

Happy Birthday to my sweet mommy who I love so very much.

Vivi Sue, have a big old piece of cake with lots of frosting roses on top, and wash it all down with a margarita! We're celebrating with you in spirit.

And a farewell and rest in peace to my wonderful father-in-law, who passed away two days ago at the age of 90. He was a gentle, dignified, erudite man who loved his family fiercely in his own quiet way and thoroughly enjoyed life. I am so happy to have known him.

He also enjoyed a good toast, both the "Cheers" sort and the bread sort. So "Cheers," Scotty...you will be missed by so many.

Happy Father's Day

We love you, daddies! Happy Father's Day to all the dads--young, old, dog dads, those still with us and those who are not--that we've known and loved. We couldn't have done it without you!

Here's mine with my gorgeous mom and my older brother...I think about him and miss him every day, and I'm so happy to have had him as my father.

Gone...

...but never ever forgotten and always always loved: it's been five years (yesterday, actually) since my father died (and five years since my big brother died, as well; he died in May of 2009). It seems like almost a lifetime ago, somehow.

The weirdest things remind me of them. I have a little smile, usually followed by a few tears. They are not here, but they are always in my heart.

Happy Birthday to Someone Very Special

Mommy, wife, daughter, grandmother, sister-in-law, niece, great-grandmother, aunt, friend, mother-in-law, big sister...you are loved!

Happy happy birthday, Vivi Sue!

Happy (Belated) Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day, a day late (computer madness yesterday!). This is my glamorous mommy--just 19 years old here, holding my big brother. I love you, Vivi Sue! You're the best!

So Today Is Your Birthday...

Happy Birthday, Vivi (aka Mommy!)...you're beautiful, inside and out.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day, everyone! That's my cute mommy up there in the 1970s...look at that smile.

I love you, Vivi Sue!

Up the Coast, on the Tracks

 Today...

 I took a train...

 Up the coast...

 By a nuclear plant (hold your breath!)...

 On the way home, a quintessential California scene...

And the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean.

(I took the train up to Anaheim to visit my sweet mom, sister-in-law, niece, and great-niece--they were there to go to the Happiest Place on Earth, and I was there to visit with them [but not at Disneyland.])

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day, everyone.

I miss you, my Daddy...you did look mighty fine in a hat (this actually was taken around the time of the current season of Mad Men...funny...).