Before arthritis (also known as the time period B.A.), I used to go to the Family History Center in Oakland once or twice a month. I spent many hours pouring over the microfilm for Achada, Nordeste, Sao Miguel Island, Azores. I had a mystery to solve and the answer was in those microfilms. I had…
Advent Calendar: Give the Fruit Cake to Grandma
(Day 14 of Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories: Fruit Cake, Friend or Foe?) My family was born and raised on chocolate. Chocolate cake, chocolate candy, chocolate ice cream. So on the rare occasion someone made the faux pas of sending us a, there was only response: Gross! Wrap it up for Grandma! None of liked…
Advent Calendar: The Lost Pajamas
(Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories Day 10: Gifts) As I wrote about my doll, Tippy Toes, for the Smile for the Camera Edition #19, I thought I’d bring back my story about Grandma’s pajamas. Though the pajamas weren’t necessarily my favorite gifts to receive (what five year old dreams of pajamas?), but they do bring…
Dolls That Did Something
The fresh faced kid with the Christmas glow in her eyes is me. It was Christmas morning 1967. Each year Santa gave me a doll. But, not just any doll. I only wanted dolls that did something. This doll is Tippy Toes. She could ride a bicycle, scoot on her horse, and she was learning…
Advent Calendar: Snowflakes in the Bay Area
(Day 9 of the Advent Calender of Christmas Memories: Grab Bag) At my first job with the County Library system, I worked with a elderly woman. She was all business, no play–very serious. She was a former member of the military who took everything seriously. You can imagine my surprise when I learned a week…