Not Everyone Loves the Holidays

Up off of the sofa, across the floor, and out the door she went.  It was the day before Thanksgiving, and being strong like she was, she had allowed herself to celebrate.  Newly divorced, the kids all grown and gone, she went by herself to shop for the first Thanksgiving meal to be had by only herself.

Iwo Jima

Below is a wonderful photograph of my Uncle Bob standing larger than life before the Iwo Jima memorial, in Iwo Jima, in the 1950’s.  On the back of the photograph is handwritten “John Wayne Dahlgren”, no doubt a humorous jab at a man that entered the military underaged and later served in four of the five branches of the armed forces.

Uncle Bob was missing a few toes, a finger, and half a thumb when he died.  But he sacrificed everything in the service of his country.

Here are a few more pictures taken at the request of Aunt B.

Uncle Bob’s day at Arlington

And a story written about Aunt B and her love of Uncle Bob…

Happy Birthday Aunt B

Just Because

The Christmas Season isn’t the best time of year for many a sad soul. While seemingly everyone delights at the commercial symbols of Christmas, others feel an opposite emotion.

I never spoke with my son outside of the confines of his Mother’s womb.   Perhaps the lack of a voice to remember relieves me of one less thing on which to grieve. I’m lucky, I suppose. The less, the better.  Unlike the cold of winter, the loss of a child never goes away.

History of the Singing Christmas Tree

A bit of history behind The Singing Christmas Tree, open to the public this weekend. This is an article written by Lisa Currie, printed in the Shenandoah Valley Herald on December 15, 1999!  The Dorothy Lambert mentioned is my Aunt Dot, who’s beating cancer at the moment, yet still singing this year, bringing the inspiration heard from The Tree’s branches to a whole new level.

Devotion

She was probably twenty-years old.  Five foot, 9 inches tall with dirty brown, shoulder-length hair.  Her wheelchair was nothing special, pretty much run-of-the-mill as far as handicapped accessories go.  It was 95 degrees outside this afternoon and she was wearing long pants.  For a twenty year old, she wasn’t making much of a fashion statement, but she was sporting some pretty cool-looking Nike’s.

Fishing Lessons

Back when I had my own one-man fishing guide service…

Today, I took three mentally challenged women and their mentor out for a day of fishing. The cosmetic reason for our excursion was to learn the art of fly fishing…but the ultimate, real reason was to have a great day out in nature, on a spectacular Wednesday in October, during the peak of leaf season. Not in a group home setting in Richmond, but here in the middle of God’s country, the Valley in all of its Fall glory.
I’ve got to admit…I was very apprehensive at the prospect of fishing with people with such extreme challenges. Liability issues, will all three ladies actually enjoy the idea, am I even capable of teaching such an elite group?

Video-Church letting out on Easter Sunday in the early 1950’s.

Men in suits.  Ladies with festive hats.  Children in their Easter outfits.  It’s the fifties on film.  Saint Paul’s UCC.  Woodstock, Virginia in 1950.

 

 

Americana and a Motorcycle

Here’s a look back in time to the 1950’s in the United States.  This is  An old Homemovie of a Family and their Motorcycle  (that was a link to my ‘yet to be massive’ Youtube channel:)

My Adventure in Beautiful Bulgaria

This gallery contains 35 photos.

Uncle Bob’s day at Arlington

This gallery contains 8 photos.

Audrey Hepburn

Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!

Audrey Hepburn

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“Rocky Top”

In the folk’s basement, in 1978, my friends and myself were recorded on a cassette tape while making some music and sharing good times.  Kindda makes you want to tap your toes and sing along:)

Rocky Top recorded Live, in the basement

Boys in the Basement

This cracks me up.  I’m an old rocker, but Live Music of any kind is Good Music.  Originally recorded in my parent’s basement, almost 40 years ago, this was practice night for The Central Brothers and The Green Apple Gang (who backed us more than once).  It Ain’t perfect, but 9 teenagers hanging out together–pickin, grinin’, and singin’ is a pretty good thing.