Memories Time

 Mary O'D called to let me know about a estate sale at 9110 next week. She hopes she can get a group together to check it out. Wow. Wish I could be there. Weird that Zillow doesn't think the house sold for near what it should have. Mom sold for 34000, now worth 569000. Times change.

How about all the memories? I've been flooded with my own since talking to Mary, all of them good. Who wants to keep bad memories? If you're going, please share as many pictures as you can.

I don't want to go back, Just revel in good memories.

Wasn't thinking too much about one of these, but then Amy and Peter reported that it's a big hit in their house. Bidets have come a long way from the stand alone units like the one Joaners had in her home. Easy to put in and works great. WooHoo!

 

Back to normal (sort of)

 We will be returning to Florida next March after a year Covid hiatus, thanks to Joyce's persistence in finding a place. It ends up looking like the best we've had so far. Wonderful location in St. Augustine, with ice cream shops and eating spots within walking. The beach is close enough for easy access and the St. Augustine beach is wonderful. So, let's hear it for Joyce!  https://t.vrbo.io/Rl7aMqWJGfb

We have 3 Buffalo grads this year: Dakota (Buffalo State College), Maddie (Canisius College), and Dewey (Canisius High School). Dew is planning on University of Dayton in the fall.

All the best to the Fishbacks who are welcoming Wren to her new home! It's been a tough go but what a great family.

In case you haven't heard,

 we're working on plans for a summer visit to Chicago. Most of us but probably not all. The only time that works is in the second week of August. We're looking to get an Airbnb somewhere convenient for south side family. Please look at your family's commitments and let us know if it doesn't work. I know, it gets harder to find everyone free. Maybe trying to find a good time that works for most is out of reach.

I imagine you are following parts of the Chauvin trial. It was neat to see that the most effective of the docs is a pulmonologist who practices a stone's throw from Matt and Jen.

Text me at 716 464 8392.

Ancestors or Influencers?

 My interest in genealogy has been based mostly on the question "Who influenced those who influenced me?" I suppose it's the psychologist in me. Somehow that became "What is my family (i.e., genetic) history?" In pursuit of that I, along with millions of others, sent in saliva to have my genes codified. We all get emails saying that dozens of 2nd, 3rd, 4th, ad infinitum cousins have been found. Well, I have no more than a mild interest in them. Genes are extremely important but not so much in answering the question I started with.

Often it's necessary to learn more. An example is my maternal grandmother, Ann Josephine Cullerton (Graver). Her parents died when she was very young and the Kelly family raised her until she married at 19. Here's the note added to her dewjoy genealogy.

So those two elderly women I knew as distant aunts were far more important in understanding my grandmother than her biological relatives. It's time to contemplate those kinds of connections more.

COVID-19: A Horrible Year

 And it's not over yet. Rates are dropping but could surge again easily. Joyce and I have pretty much been hibernating. Last year at this time we returned from Florida, where state police were greeting people entering on major highways, trying to turn them back. It was so good to get back home, where we seem to have isolated much of the time. So far more people died during the influenza of a century ago, the year my father was born, but unless we move faster on vaccinations, we'll beat them.

We are having our first full family celebration today, for Mary Fran's birthday. Most of us have been vaccinated. some may still wear masks. We are tentatively hoping to visit Chicago family in August. Surely it will be better then!  🙏🙏

MAAC Swimming 2020 Championship

The event is being held in Buffalo this year. Our Grace has competed in three events so far and placed in all. That's quite an accomplishment for a freshman in a conference with eleven colleges. Canisius does a good job using social media and I picked up this image from one of their Twitter accounts.

The entire meet has been streamed as well so I took video off the TV for two of the three events (50 Free and 200 Free Relay) with Grace getting her medal and celebrating with teammates who also placed. Not the best, but something.

50 Free Individual

200 Free Relay

Big sports fan (yeah, right)

Dew and Joy have season tickets for the Canisius College basketball games. The team played Marist yesterday and naturally we were there. A very exciting game, back and forth until Canisius won in the final seconds by 1 point. You can see the sports enthusiasm on Dew's face. Oh, wait---I'm looking at my phone. Never mind.

Then it was on to the Van Burens to watch the Super Bowl. Another very exciting game. Who won?  😂