Day of the Dead

Day of the Dead

Mexico

 November 2, 2025

My friends invited me to join them for this yearly celebration. They live in Mexico and I jumped on the opportunity as I have wanted to attend this festival for years. We mostly wandered the streets and looked at the Catrinas.

 

At The Bakery- NY- 2019

At The Bakery

Upstate NY

Summer 2019

This bakery was run by a group of cloisterd nun.  They made their goods, put them on a shelf and offered the honor system. Or they had a mail order account on the internet.  I asked if I could take a tour of the place and was told that the Head Sister never allows this but she let me in for some reason.

I Agree

An Anti-Trump Rally

January 2020

Philadelphia, PA

I agree wholeheartedly. This is a dreaful family that has grifted off the taxpayers and has been inhuman in his treatment of immigrants.

Sunflower Field- PA

 I have never seen a sunflower field this large. It was 260 acres, in South Central PA. This was its peak moment for the season. I saw this field mentioned in the news so I got in my car and drove there. The beauty was so extraordinary that I just about hyperventilated with excitement.

The Women

From L to R: Margaret, Sam,Tricia (holding Lauren) Joann, Sharon, Mom, Me

Bottom row: Deirdre, Heather and Deirdre

A Few of The Women

In My Life

Sharon's House

Wilmington, DE

Summer 1993

I remember when this photo was taken, 32 years ago. It seems like yeserday and it seems like a lifetime ago. The two older women have been gone for years now. The three girls are mothers and have six kids among them. The baby is also married.

Would I go back to this time? No, I don't spend my time longing for the past. It's over. Since this photo, I picked up one more sister in law and three nephews. I now have 16 nieces and nephews. Eleven of them have spouses/partners. And there are now 12 great nices and nephews. And I wouldn't want to give them up for anything.

A Few Delicious Flights of Beer-

😄😃😂😂

 

Our Kitchen 1964

 Our Kitchen Table

Philadelphia, PA

1964

There were six kids at this time. Six years later, another kid would arrive.  We all sat in the booth and my paretns sat in the two chairs.  I think we had this setup for another two years and then my parents bought a big wooden table with two long benchs and my father sat in a chair at the end, on the left.  My mom sat on the end of the bench, of the left so she could get to the stove if necessary. We sat, as a family, at that table for the next thirty years.

I found HIm Near the Bay- NJ

 A Turtle

In The Bay

Barnaget bay, NJ

Summer 2015

Rick had just died a few months ago. So several of us thought it would be a nice retreat to take Darcy, his wife, to the beach for a few days.  There were five of us and this escape to the shore was really just what we all needed.

We got in our kayaks and paddled in to the bay.  The sun wasn't too bright.  The air was still cool even though it was already June.  The company was fun and it was just what we all needed to deal with losing Rick.

I looked to my left of my paddle and noticed a slight ripple in the water. And all of the sudden, I noticed this tiny being paddling frantically in this big body of water.  There was nowhere where it could have rested. It must have been in some swamp area and got pulled away from the shore in a current. It seemed to be swimming for his life.

I scooped him up and he didn't resist. He stayed still in the bottom of my kayak and I released him to  clump of vegetation by our dock. He rested for a little bit and then he took off. I was sorry to see him go.

Graduation 1973

HS Graduation

Merion Mercy Academy

Merion Station, PA

June 1973

When I was graduating from high school in 1973, I went through the class photos from the last 50 years.  I remember looking at the photo of the class of 1923. These students looked to be about 40 at the time of their graduation. And I wondered if I would ever look as old as them.

Then, in 2023, I returned to my old high school and met up with the seniors of the Class of 2023 and they looked like 12 year olds.  I don't remember when I ever looked this young.

Bricks

 Bricks

Nepal

November 2017

In Nepal, they make bricks everywhere. They sell them. Everyone buys them, in quantities they can afford at that moment. They sit in piles and piles in front of every home, waiting to be used. One there are enough accumulated bricks, an exterior wall is built. And then more bricks are acquired over time and when there are enough bricks to continue with a back wall, that is built. And mostly, the homes are always unfinished or under construction. Few homes are ever complete.

The Cookie Contest

 For our Christmas in July party, we held a cookie contest. I didn't enter any cookies because I hate to cook.  I don't have any cooking ingredients in my home and I didn't care about this competition. The winner made cookies that looked like a Santa snowman was melting because it was July.  I thought that was clever and it's too bad that I don't have a photo of the winner.

This Moment Stopped Me In My Tracks

 This Moment Stopped Me In My Tracks

I was driving through Rising Sun, MD.  It had just rained. The moment was beautiful so I pulled over and just waited and watched as the sun went down.

The Young Artist

 The Young Artist

Tibet

June 1999

He was an orphan and lived in an orphanage run by a Tibetan monk who happened to be an artist. The monk taught the kids to paint rather then beg for money. This kid was ten at the time and so now he would be 36. He was so proud to sell me his painting, his first painting ever sold. I wonder what he is doing now.