Planes Planes Everywhere....

Before our daughter came along, we did the majority of our traveling with our longtime friends, Mike and Tracy.  The four of us, aside from being good friends and having a lot in common, traveled very well together for two main reasons:

1.)  We all love food - as long as vacation included a few good meals, we were happy.

2.)  We made a point of having each one of us browse through the AAA guide or look on-line to pick one attraction or activity that each individual really wanted to see, and add it to the itinerary.

As a family, we do that now.  Each trip, of course, has to include child-friendly stops, but we also try to include something for Mom and something for Dad.

This was Dad's.

My husband, although never having served in any branch of the military, has a thing for military aircraft, so naturally we go to a lot of air shows (which in our neck of the woods, have been put on hold until 2012) and any type of air/space museum.  After checking off the two in Washington, DC two years ago, the next one on our list was the National Air Force Museum just outside of Dayton, OH.  

And, since we just happened to be in Ohio, we dedicated our last full day in Ohio to having Steve fulfill his dream.... 

 The museum is a huge facility, basically a couple of hangars, jam-packed with planes.  Now, I don't know a P-51 from a XB-70, so there's no way I can identify all of these planes for you, nor do I have enough space to post the 650 photos we took (we, meaning mostly hubby).  Plus, the lighting in most of the museum is shadowy, at best, so many of my photos are dark.  But as usual, even though my interest in aviation ends at "Oh, that looks cool", I found that if you open your mind and your eyes, chances are there's something to interest everyone.

The self-guided tour takes you chronologically through the history of military aviation.  Actually, even earlier than that, for Wilbur and Orville Wright lived in Ohio, so the first exhibits are models of their aircraft.  After that, it turns mostly military, starting with World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam and all the way up through the Gulf Wars.  All along the way are volunteers, 99% of whom are veterans (who I just love talking to), eager to give you directions through the sprawling museum, advise you of upcoming tours or events, or just plain tell you a little of their own story.

This is one of those museums that, even if you have no real interest in the subject matter, you have to appreciate the sheer number of exhibits.  There was a "Women In Flight" exhibit, a Holocaust exhibit, a replica of the air traffic control tower at LAX, and naturally, a lot of educational exhibits based upon any war the U.S. was involved with that included aviation, including the Cold War years.

Did I mention there were a lot of planes?

One of the volunteer guides told us that they are slowing transitioning to making many of the plane exhibits a little more interesting...

There were several like this one, telling a story, and it really made it more interesting for us novices!

"Mommy?  Why is the Daddy yelling at the boy?"

"Because he crashed the airplane, honey."

They are even in the process of restoring the Memphis Belle, however she's not available for viewing right now.  If you happen to visit on a Friday, though, you can sign up for a tour to see the restoration in progress.  We were there on a Tuesday. :(

There were some interesting little touches, too. - like this quilt commemorating the USAF.  It was huge! And very beautiful.

Well into the WWII section, I happened across something that caught my interest.

During WWII, my Dad served in the Army, initially being sent to northern Africa in 1943, then transferring to the 988th Signal Corp and heading into in the China-Burma-India Theater.  Growing up, I never really knew what that part of the war was all about - my high school history teacher talked about Pearl Harbor and Nazi Germany, and that was it.  My Dad isn't the type of guy to talk about it, other than to share stories of the time a black panther ran across their path in the jungle,  or that his friend had died there, not in combat, but rather when his truck lost its brakes and plummeted over the edge of a cliff.   All I knew were those stories, and the fact that my Dad never ate rice again after coming home in 1945.

Oh!  And that General Joseph Stilwell once yelled at my Dad.  Cool, huh? :)

ANYWAY, I could - and should - dedicate a lengthy blog post to my Dad someday, but meanwhile, at the Air Force Museum I was happy to see this exhibit on CBI:

Now of course, this is an Air Force museum, not Army, but I thought these pictures were really neat!  Look at the elephant helping out!

My Dad mentioned seeing, of course, the panther, a tiger, and they used a lot of mules, also, to traverse the area that was not yet suited for trucks.   But no elephants.  Although, in books I've read it does mention that they were used a lot to clear the jungle.

It was neat seeing pictures of the places he had been, and getting a little more insight into what it must have been like for him there.

Meanwhile, Steve was skipping through the museum like a kid at Disney, because he had managed to snag the last three seats on the bus ride to "The Presidential and Experimental Hanger".   Well, ok, I thought to myself, it will be cool to see some of the Air Force One planes and experimental aircraft.  We eventually boarded a bus - with no air conditioning and windows that wouldn't open, to make the short trip to the active part of the base where these exhibits were.  I couldn't take any pictures outside because it is an active AFB, and photography is prohibited.  I have to admit, it was pretty cool!  You can - literally - reach out and touch these planes, while in the main museum they are safely tucked away behind barriers, surrounded by "Do Not Touch" signs.

Not so, here.

They even remind you to watch your head!

And here it is....the moment Steve had been waiting for.

This is the XB-70, one of the world's most exotic airplanes.

Aw heck, you read about it - I'll probably mess it up!

The only downside was it's crammed into such a small area, with so many other aircraft, that we couldn't get a good picture of it.  But Steve was happy to finally see it in real life.

In the other hanger was the Presidential exhibit, including the "Air Force One" planes of JFK, FDR and a small one belonging to Eisenhower.  You can actually walk through JFK's and FDR's  but everything's encased in plexiglass leaving a 17" passageway at some points.  Translation: If you tend to get claustrophobic, you might want to stay outside the plane!

We took the bus back to the main museum, shopped in the gift shop then headed back to Columbus.  On the way out, we noticed a little memorial park, and ironically the thing that caught my eye was this.

Again, not Army, but still nice to see another acknowledgement of China Burma India. :)

Oh, and the other great thing about this museum - it's free!  

Columbus, OH - From A to Z

Ah, where were we?

Oh yes! Vacation - it seems like it was so long ago!  But I never did tell you about the rest of our trip.

Second stop was Columbus, OH.  We didn't really set out and explore the city all that much.  It was kind of more like a drive-by tour, but one thing I did notice was that Columbus looked like a pretty clean, cool, kinda happening place.   It does have some nice architecture, maybe not to the extent that Cleveland does, but Columbus is nothing to sneeze at.  It's just that Cleveland has a bit more architectural charm, thanks to the old buildings, bridges and factories.  

I have no idea what this area was, but apparently the entire block is being restored as a combination of residential and retail/office space.   I think it'll be nice when it's all done, and I like how they uncovered the cobblestone streets, although as much as I like the look of them, I can't stand walking on them.  I also like how they let each building keep its own characteristics - very reminiscent of the older cities we love, like our own Worcester.

 

My husband took this picture - I have no idea why, but it's a cool building and I like the little arch-thingy.  

This was an nice area - I think they call it "Short North" or something.  There were a couple nice outdoor cafe's - I loved the flower boxes at this one.

Then there was this neat little portion of the street filled with interesting little shops and restaurants.  We were here in the late afternoon, and it looked like we caught a lull between office hours and the evening dinner crowd, as people were just starting to filter in to this area.

I bet it would look nice at night, all lit up, too!

We drove around a bit, and us girls waited in the car while hubby went and snapped a few photos for his collection.  Having been with someone so keenly interested in architecture, I've trained myself to look for little things I might not have noticed before, like the detail on this building.

 

I snapped this because it looked like they were actual gargoyles, meaning part of a water drainage system, as opposed to just decorative touches, known technically as "grotesques".

THAT little tidbit of info was something that I actually taught my husband!  And I don't even have a degree in architecture!  But I do watch a lot of educational television.

Not that that's a good replacement for a decent education! 

Somewhat out of place was this corner in the center of the city.  It seemed kind of strange to have this electronic marquis in an area filled with classical architecture.  I wondered what it was about this particular corner that made it so special it had to beckon you from afar with flashing neon.

And then, I saw the light...

The beautiful pink and orange glow of a steaming styrofoam cup of coffee!

I suddenly felt just a wee bit homesick!   It was the first Dunkin Donuts I had seen in three days.

Earlier in the day we visited the Columbus Zoo.

Here's my little cutie, ready for a day of walking in the hot sun....

Like her mom and dad, she's an animal lover.  And I think she's got a bit of her dad's artistic flair, because she gravitates towards public art.

Or maybe not. Maybe it's just fun to climb on big, stone polar bear sculptures.

Personally, I liked looking at the bears with a pulse.  These two were orphaned grizzly bears form Alaska - their mother had been attacking people and dogs and was consequently killed.  They had actually been sleeping peacefully until some idiot started pounding on the thick plexiglass that enclosed them.

Kinda dumb, but I have to admit I got some good pictures of the bears!

This big guy was in the neighboring pen, licking his chops, wondering if said idiot was going to meander this way and try that crap with him.

Sheesh! And I though I needed a manicure!  I loved this bear - he looked old, but pretty happy in his habitat.

The big news at the zoo this summer is the new baby...

Aaaaaw! Cute widdle baby ewephant!  She was born in March, and was extremely active this day, running to catch up with mom.

Then she posed for pictures with the children.

Well, not really....

We loved the statues at the zoo, and the best part was that they actually encourage kids to climb on them.  

Which she did.

All of them.

Every...single...one.

Until it was time to go check out downtown Columbus, then head out to dinner and back to the hotel for a good night's sleep.

Daddy skipped all the way to the parking lot, because the next day was his special day...

Five-Layer Mexican Dip - A Healthy Version

A few weeks ago I happened to catch an episode of Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger on Food Network and she whipped up something that sounded...and looked...absolutely delicious to me.  I found myself daydreaming about it, much like I do gorging on chocolate or hitting it big in the lottery or finding myself stranded on a deserted island with Benicio Del Toro, until I could resist no longer.

And unlike overindulging in chocolate or fantasizing about being stranded in a desolate place with Benicio Del Toro instead of a somewhat more prudent choice, like Survivorman's Les Stroud, THIS fantasy is actually pretty good for me! 

My new best friend, Ellie, came up with a delicious and healthy version of a Five-Layer Mexican Dip, and let me tell you, it is absolutely refreshing and delicious!  Ellie's recipe can be found here, and you know me, I tweaked and have made this three times so far, usually from memory, so of course I have yet to make it the same way twice.  But if you just follow the basic theme, you really can't mess this one up.

Start out with your first layer - usually refried beans or even seasoned ground beef, but this time a simple but yummy black bean dip that is wonderful on it's own as a spread or dip.  And it's so easy!  

In your food processor, puree up some sauteed onion, garlic, cumin, and a chopped chipotle pepper (about 1 tbsp) with a can of drained and rinsed black beans.  Add a couple tablespoons of water to get the right consistency.

Next, spread the bean dip layer into the bottom of an 8" x 8" or 9" x 9" dish - glass if you like, because layers can be so pretty, but not necessary.

Then, mash an avocado with some lime juice and spread that over the bean dip layer.

I only had one avocado this time, and it was a bit on the smallish side, so it looks a little skimpy.  However, even just a taste of avocado is enough to give the dip some rich, creamy flavor.

Next, top with a layer of corn...

This time I used canned corn with chilis, but I highly recommend using roasted corn (I get it at Trader Joe's in the frozen section) with some chopped red or vidalia onion and some cilantro.  Adds not only color, but sweetness and crunch!  One time I didn't have corn so I used some chopped yellow pepper and zucchini with onions and cilantro - that worked, too!

Next whip up a simple tomato salsa - I used two big, juicy plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped, some chopped vidalia onion, lime juice, cilantro and a big jalapeno fresh from the garden.  Those beautiful tomatoes were NOT from my garden - we got hit with this really ugly tomato blight this summer, and the few tomatoes that survived are pretty sad looking.

Oh, and if you get to this point and realize you forgot to put the chipotle into the bean dip, just add it to the salsa here.

Next, top with just a little shredded cheese - I used a mix of full fat extra sharp cheddar and reduced fat mild cheddar.

Grab yourself some yummy Baked Tostito Scoops and dig in.....

Heavenly and delicious!  Thank you, Ellie!!! 

The Literary Lunatic

I'm surrounded by books. Piles of them. And it's all my fault.

I'm talking about those darn New Year's Resolutions! Back at the end of last year I came up with a list of New Year's Resolutions. I've been doing pretty good so far, although there's only (YIKES!) four months left to knock 'em all off.

Let us recap, shall we?

1.) LOSE WEIGHT.... I'm workin' on it! I am down a good 15 lbs. from January 1st...was down a couple more, but then I sort of fell off the wagon this past month. I'm back on, though, and like I've said about the time I quit smoking...it doesn't matter how many tries it takes, the end result is all that matters. I was kicking myself and then I finally stepped on the scale last week...and although my first thought was "You gained three pounds", I stopped myself before the tears came and said "You lost fifteen pounds." So, I'm going to go ahead and say: Lose Weight? CHECK! (Besides, we ALL KNOW this one will make the list again for 2010 anyway...)

2.) VISIT MY PARENTS MORE OFTEN... Um, yep. Check. Except for this month - August has been horrible at work, hectic at home and the folks have been neglected more than they should have. I talk to them often, but haven't seen much of them. The good news is, that sometimes it's because of their busy social lives that we have been unable to hook up. And those bingo games, dinners and other social obligations are what keep my parents going, so God bless 'em for being too busy to sit around waiting for me to show up. ;)

3.) CLEAN HOUSE...Let's skip this one.

Well, technically, I did clean house the week before the masses descended upon my house for my daughter's birthday. So, CHECK! (Pay no attention to those marauding dust bunnies standing behind me...)

4.) VISIT TEN NEW PLACES...Ah! This one is all but complete! I won't count things like "spending 3 minutes going through the drive-thru at Burger King in Wilkes-Barre, PA", yet already I've accomplished something here....Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton (Air Force Museum...oh wait, I forgot to tell you about that, didn't I?), Buffalo (OH BOY! Do we have catching up to do....) and even though technically I had been there before, Niagara Falls. And even some little local places - blueberry picking at Tougas Farm, a jaunt to Hartford, CT where we actually got out of the car, for a change, and I even pulled over and got out of the car to visit this place...

Cool, huh? If I had a nickel for every time I said "We've got to check out the Old Stone Church"...I could probably BUY the Old Stone Church. Anyway, more on that to come....

5.) READ...Now this one I'm pretty proud of, and I have paperbackswap.com to thank for it! It's a great website! You get books for free - you can keep them if you like or pass them on when you're done. The only cost is when someone requests a book you have made available for swapping, you agree to pay the postage (media mail rate). I've sent books all across the country and have never paid more than $3.50, and that was for a hardcover copy of "Twilight". Best part is, it's addicting. These books keep showing up in the mail, or I send out books I've read and book credits keep showing up on my account! Why, actually I think I can say I have cleaned my house, because I've gotten rid of at least 20 books...oh wait. I have about 25 sitting around waiting to be read. Never mind on the cleaning thing...but did I tell you I cleaned the week before my daughter's birthday party?

Anyway, I've read a couple best sellers, as well as a couple of off the grid books. Here's a little sample (and my reviews/ratings!):

"The Life and Legend of Leadbelly" by Charles Wolfe and Kip Lornell

"Biography of one of the most famous black folksingers of American history", this meticulously researched story of Huddy Ledbetter, who began his career singing and playing guitar in the red light district of Shrevesport, LA, to a couple stints in prison - one for a murder he may not have committed - to his rise to fame in New York City, Leadbelly has been cited as an inspiration by other artists, such as Woodie Guthrie and Janis Joplin. ****

"Autobiography of A Face" by Lucy Grealy

This one had been sitting in my closet for years. Diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma at a very young age, Lucy Grealy's childhood is filled with memories of cancer, a disfigured face (she had half of her jaw removed), to countless surgeries - most of which failed to rebuild her face - and the desperate loneliness of being "different". I would have said it was an inspirational story, but when I was searching on-line for an image of the cover, I found that Lucy died in 2002, at the age of 37, of a suspected drug overdose. *****

"The Twentieth Wife" by Indu Sundaresan

I bought this one off the bargain book table years ago...what made this one interesting to me was that, although a work of fiction, it is a historical novel. The main character actually lived during the 15th century, and using historical facts, the author created a very realistic portrayal of her. Towards the end, it is revealed that the real-life sister of the main character was the woman who inspired the building of the Taj Mahal. (The one in India, not New Jersey...) ****

"The Shack" by William F Young

There was a lot of hoopla around this one - both hype and controversy. A young girl is abducted and presumed murdered, and two years later her grieving father, who has lost his faith over this tragedy, receives a mysterious note from God, inviting him to revisit the scene of the crime for a weekend. I flipped through some pages, as I thought it was kind of cheesy, but I must say I did get something out of this. Maybe not to the extent that the author intended, but there were things I can say helped me further whittle down what my personal beliefs are about God and religion and faith, including the occasioanl differences between the three. ***

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

I just love poignant memoirs! This is one of the best I've read. Ms. Walls' childhood is just insane, raised by two of the most irresponsible, "free spirit" parents I've ever heard of, yet you never get the feeling she wrote this looking for sympathy. She tells her story matter-of-factly, and she's a perfect example of how some people grow up successful and well-balanced despite having not so great parents. Fascinating and inspiring read! *****

"The Day The World Came To Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland" by Jim Defede

My husband says they should make a movie about what happened in Gander on 9/11. I totally agree. This tiny town of about 5,000 took in and cared for thousand of travellers left stranded while U.S. airspace was shut down. They opened their hearts and homes to these strangers - just an amazing story. Not many books make me laugh out loud or bawl my eyes out - this one did both. *****

"The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

I love a book that gives you the ability to clearly visualize the characters, the culture and scenery, so you feel you are connected. I feel like I was not only entertained, but I learned something without feeling this was a history lesson. I felt there was no boring "down time" in this book, it moved seamlessly from one chapter to the next and kept my interest the whole time. Without giving too much away, I also like that the story is true to life in a way - the ending is neither too tragic not too happy, yet at the same time it is both. *****

"The Zookeeper's Wife" by Diane Ackerman

Over 300 people owe their lives to the zookeeper and his wife - during WWII, the Warsaw Zoo became a sort of underground railroad and hiding place to Jews trying to escape from the Nazis. The book does focus mainly on the wife, hinting at the husband's own involvement in the resistance. Fascinating wonderful people, and a beautifully written book that makes you want to visit Warsaw.

"The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society"

One of my all-time favorite books! I first read of Guernsey and its fascinating history, particularly during WWII, in an Elizabeth George novel. This book is written as if it's a collection of letters written between the characters, and at first it's a little annoying, but as you read on you really become emotionally atteched to these characters. Because of Elizabeth George's novel and now this one, Guernsey is on my list of "must visit" places! *****

"The Weight of Water" by Anita Shreve

Great mix of truth and fiction - a photographer travels to the Isles of Shoals off the coast of New Hampshire to photograph the scene of a horrific double-murder (which actually did occur in real life) 100 years earlier. The author shifts back and forth between then and now, creating a spellbinding parallel between the one survivor of the attack and the modern day photographer. I had already seen the movie but didn' quite understand things so I looked forward to the book - the book answered my questions, but also threw in a twist at the end. Beautifully and hauntingly written. *****

"The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox" by Maggie O'Farrell

A young woman receives word that the aunt she never knew is being released from an asylum that is due to close. Bouncing around between characters and past/present, it was a bit confusing at first, but when it clicks it's an amazing suspenseful story. My only complaint is that it ends abruptly, leaving you wanting one more chapter. ****

"Twilight" by Stephanie Meyer

Yep. I got sucked in, too. Wanted to know what all the hype was about. An entertaining read, but coming from someone who was on the Anne Rice bandwagon years ago, this is definitely written with teens (and maybe tweens, judging by my niece's obsession) in mind. I liked it, but I found myself wanting to reread Rice's Vampire Chronicles instead. ***

So, there you have it! My summer reading list! And I have about 17 books on my To Be Read list, and another 33 on my Wish List. I may just have to quit my job!

My (TMI) Timeline

OK, I'm crawling out from under my rock because of two things:


1.) I owe a lot of wonderful people "7 things about me" for thinking of me when passing out awards!


2.) I happened to catch up on my blogroll reading and find that Willoughby, 5thsister and Muddy Runner , and hopefully others (I'm still catching up!) have posted these timelines - what a cool idea!!! So I figured I'd work on mine...and in about a half hour I had basically typed this out.


How I love to reminisce! And it's funny, until someone prods you for information or they talk about their own history, sparking memories of your past, you tend to forget things. It's so important to remember, because even the littlest things play a part in shaping who we become.

Caution: I got carried away - it's kind of a long read, so if you have to go to the bathroom, you'd better go before you start reading...


MY TIMELINE TO DATE
(In 5-year increments)


Today, 8/20/09:
I’m a 44 year-old mom of a kiddo who starts preschool in a couple weeks and I’m excited for her! I’ve also realized that I need to take about 4 weeks vacation before the end of the year (use it or lose it deal) so I’m scouring the calendar, trying to pick the perfect days to take off. It may include a trip to Disney World in December. Summer is coming to an end, although here in New England we really didn’t HAVE a summer until a couple weeks ago – it’s been a very gloomy, rainy summer. Nevertheless, I am still looking forward to fall – the Big E (Eastern States Exposition) in September, apple picking, fall festivals and fairs and foliage. Married life has been challenging lately, but we are working on it. We just started eating dinner at the dining room table every night, and no later than 6 o'clock. (We'll give us some slack on weekends, though!)

Five Years ago, 8/20/04
I’m a few months into my 39th year. We are finalizing plans for our big trip with friends, Tracy and Mike – Flying to Las Vegas on 9/12, two nights there, then driving to the Grand Canyon (South Rim), two nights there, then on to Sedona for one night, then driving to Phoenix for the flight home. Little did I know, it would be the last “BIG” vacation for a while… I pee on a stick on October 23rd and am shocked to see a plus sign. I think I must be in menopause or something. My hairdresser is the first to know, because I have an appointment to get my hair foiled, and I feel the need to ask if she thinks it's ok. I decide to wait until AFTER my ironically scheduled annual check up on Monday, Oct 25th to tell my husband, because I figure those home pregnancy tests are not reliable so I’d rather hear it from a doctor. Turns out, if it’s “yes”, they’re usually right! I’m going to be a mom!

Ten years ago, 8/20/99:
I’m 34 years old, a year into a new job that’s 5 minutes from my house in a tall shiny office building, for a great company with lots of opportunity for advancement. I’m a comfortable size 12 and not really thinking about what I’m eating, and I feel pretty comfortable with the woman I have become. My boyfriend and our two dogs and three cats are my life. However, my co-worker just had her first baby, and I’m getting twinges of baby envy, especially when I think “I’m 34 years old….”. But that’s not what’s on my mind… My mother was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in June, has had a mastectomy and is undergoing her first (of what will eventually turn into two) series of chemotherapy treatments with a dose of radiation thrown in at the end. So far she’s holding up well, considering our beloved 94 year-old landlady passed away in May, and soon after my parents received an eviction notice, (which was later rescinded when said landlady’s brother found out about it “You stay as long as you want…I’m in no rush”) and we are sifting through 30-plus years of family life accumulations to determine what goes to the new 1 bedroom apartment, what goes to sister and me, and what gets tossed. In four months I will endure the worst Christmas of my life, filled with recent images of firefighters sifting through the burnt-out wreckage of a tragic local fire, my bald and weak mother preparing for her second surgery to remove scar tissue, and the sad, sad story of a little girl in western Massachusetts who drowns in an icy river trying to save her brother – my boyfriend (now husband) is there when they recover her body. I think it was his worse Christmas, too.

Fifteen years ago, 8/20/94:
I’m 29, work in the accounting department of a printing company that sends me to conferences twice a year. Just got my tickets for the first national meeting in…LAS VEGAS!!! I work with someone who will become one of my best friends, but I have not met my husband yet! That will happen on November 17th, on a blind date. These days my life is pretty busy – I golf (if you want to call it that…I’m really just there for the happy hour afterwards…), I am taking classes towards a degree that I never actually earn, and I adore my 9 year-old niece and 7 year-old nephew. I’m a pathetic, part-time Mary Kay Consultant with visions of pink Cadillacs floating in my head, but no ambition. But my Team Leader and my Director are two of the most amazing women I ever met, and their enthusiasm is contagious…when I’m with them. Meanwhile I give away more than I sell, realize that pink is NOT my color, but I do learn how to file an itemized tax return! I attended a first-time home buyers workshop in June, and am kinda-sorta looking at buying a house, but all I can get approved for is a “condo” …and I use that term loosely. It’s really a cheesy one bedroom apt in an apartment building.

By this time next year, though, I will make an offer on a house with my new boyfriend – it will not be accepted, and we will not accept their counter offer. A half-acre lot around the corner is on the market, and we look into buying it while my boyfriend designs “the perfect house” to suit it. At the same time, a caravan of construction equipment is busy doing the site work for a new 12-house subdivision less than ¼ mile up the street. Charlie, the builder, prices out our design and thinks he can fit it in next year, but the land proves to be too expensive for us. So Charlie shows us a few available lots in his development, but the house was designed for a different piece of land and just doesn’t quite work. Our lives change when Charlie says these words: “Why don’t you guys just buy the model home?” October 1st, we give him our deposit, and on December 1st, we close! (We’re still here!)

Twenty years ago, 8/20/89:
I’m 24 years old, working at that same printing company. In March I went to New Orleans on a business trip, and but the economy catches up to us…seriously, it was NOT the $75 lunch we had at the famed Brennan’s Restaurant, but the girl I went to New Orleans with was laid off last month, and they can’t afford to send me to the September trip, which is in St Louis. I’m depressed about that because something happens to me when I’m out in the world with groups of people that don’t know me – I can carry on a conversation – even initiate one – and I’m confident enough to tour a strange new city on my own. I even stand up in front of a group of 90 credit managers to explain how I’ve written my company’s first ever Credit and Collections Policy. But I don’t have that confidence at home or at work. Still, I’m thankful for my job, love the people I work with and am in the process of leaving a bad relationship that has haunted me for six years and twelve days. Last October I met a long-time pen pal – flew down to Staten Island, NY for a two-week visit. It was scary, taking that first step! But she and I became great friends, and since then I’ve visited her about every three weeks (airfare from Worcester to Newark was usually $69 round trip). We’ve decided to make the pilgrimage to L.A. in October of ’89 – my first time on the west coast! We pack trunkloads of clothes, spend one week in a crappy motel on La Cienega near an IHOP, the other in a much nicer one on Sunset Strip across the street from Sunset Strip Tattoo. My first California meal is at Barney’s Beanery, and the first “star” I see on Hollywood Boulevard is Lou Costello’s, and I marvel at how appropriate that was because my whole family loved Abbott & Costello. We meet Axl Rose, I fall flat on my face in front of David Lee Roth, get my picture taken with Alice Cooper, but I never do meet Nikki Sixx (crush), although we later realize they film the video to “Kick Start My Heart” while we’re there. In fact, we see the searchlights from our hotel balcony and wonder if we should walk down Sunset to check it out, but frankly, we went to Disneyland that day and were too darn tired.


I did have my picture taken with Tigger, though. So it wasn’t a total loss.

Twenty-five years ago, 8/20/1984:
I have no way of knowing this, but this time next year I will be an Auntie!
I work at a crappy, low paying retail establishment, but I’m skinny (think 1980’s skin tight size 5 jeans) and have a cool car, a silver 1973 Firebird Esprit. The cassette (tee-hee!) player doesn’t work and the trunk doesn’t open, but I feel good driving it! A week before my niece is born, my neighbor died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Sometime in 1986, I will see what I believe is his ghost walking on the side of the road. In 1987, my best friend will die from a four month battle with bulimia, where her 5’6” frame will go from 126 lbs. to 87 lbs in less than four months, and her death will destroy me, but also probably save my life. I will realize I have been kinda-sorta addicted to diet pills since high school, taking up to 6 Extra-Strength Dexatrim a day, and suffering through ridiculous fad diets and double aerobics classes whenever I can. I’ll quit a month after her death, when I experience chest pains and palpitations while exercising. I’ll gain 15 pounds over the next year, and my life will focus on my niece and new nephew. Between watching them grow up and learning to cope with the loss of a friend, I find my spirituality.

Thirty years ago, 8/20/1979:
I’m a fat 14 year old, painfully shy girl, and acne has reared it’s ugly head. My super-cool older sister researches every old wives tales and every new ginnick to try to help clear up my skin. I’m only comfortable with my extended family, my small circle of friends and the horses I started riding, every Friday afternoon and more often during the summer. Heaven to me is either at the barn or on the island where we rent cottages every summer or Sundays at Uncle Paul’s. My closest friend is my cousin, Maureen – her dad nicknames us “The Gold Dust Twins”, even though we are not twins and not golden. We’re obsessed with KISS. I have one other best friend, and two or three other good ones, but I cannot bring myself to speak in front of anyone else…unless I’m near a horse, then I’m a chatterbox! You wouldn’t know it, but I’m a pretty messed up kid. I crank call a cute guy who works at a local gas station almost daily, and in January of 1980 I will run away from home…because I have an oral report due in Earth Science and simply cannot stand up in front of the class and speak. I’m back home in a few days. Little by little, I work things out, although horses and heavy metal are my main loves. I never do go to a prom, I’m a total wallflower at parties or “hanging out”, but I lose 65 pounds my junior year in high school (’81-’82), and by the time I graduate in 1983 I am a social butterfly, traveling, partying and meeting my first real boyfriend (scroll back up to 1989 to see how THAT ends up…). I start college at Southeastern Massachusetts University (now UMASS Darmouth) but I skip more classes than I show up for, and end up with a well-deserved .50 GPA. My choices in January are take everything over again or get a job. I get a job as a cashier, paying $3.35/hour. I will work in that store until 1988.

Thirty-five years ago, 8/20/1974:
I’m 9. We go on our first non-West Island vacation to visit relatives in Indiana, driving there in our blue station wagon. In a year or two, I start getting my sister’s hand-me-down records and develop a love for music. I watch the Wonderful World of Disney every Sunday night, and my favorite episode is the one about the mustang (I think it was actually called “Mustang!”). I’m into Marguerite Henry’s “Misty of Chincoteague” series, and will visit Chincoteague and Assateague, VA in a couple years. My dream is to own a horse some day. For now, I take turns riding Uncle Frances’ pet pig, Thelma, or setting up jumps in the back yard for my aging dog, Kelly. My childhood is pretty much idyllic – bike rides, swimming in the pond, a neighborhood full of kids my age, a menagerie of pets: a dog, a cat, two gerbils (that morph into eight), a guinea pig, a turtle that I found near the local pond (and will set free after keeping him for a year) and an assortment of fish. Next year I will write a story about Sammy the Turtle. My teacher, Mrs. Durgin, will write something on that paper that instills a love of writing in me.

Forty years ago, 8/20/1969:
I’m 4. I like purple things, candy and animals (especially horses!) and I fear nothing. Except hippies. My best friend, Brian, said that hippies will kidnap you, chop you up, wrap them in a box and mail them to your mother. Then I realize my sister is a hippie and Brian’s full of shit. But he’s still my best friend. At least until we get to the second grade and he starts hanging out with boys…. My extended family starts a summer tradition to going to West Island. We rent beachfront cottages and have more fun that you can imagine. We even bring our dog and cat. The cat, Snagglepuss, disappears one week, but my cousins, Peter, Michael, Bobby and John, manage to hunt him down and bring him home on our last night on the island that summer. I am eternally grateful.

Forty-five years ago, 8/20/1964:
I am, shall we say, a twinkle in someone’s eye?

So, Timeline or TMI (Too Much Information)? HA! No matter, I truly enjoyed traipsing down memory lane - the good and the bad. I'm learning, as I get older, that the difficult memories are an important part of who I am, and for that I embrace them.

The future? I'm clueless! But I'll see what I can come up with for you!