Dear readers, perhaps you have thought I've written enough about J.K. Gill over the past years? Certainly I dedicated parts of several chapters of my memoir to this great-great-grandfather of mine, including a chapter aptly titled Books. If you are new to these ramblings, though, you might first catch up with this 2019 blog, J.K. … Continue reading The J.K. Gill Building renewed
A circle is forever
Expensive jewelry has not been a big thing in my family. Our few sentimental pieces lack significant financial value. When my paternal grandmother (Who Who) died, as her youngest granddaughter and namesake, I inherited her jewelry box as determined by my older female cousins. Then at 21, living life simply and more interested in mountains … Continue reading A circle is forever
Irish Tenors and all that jazz
I wasn't planning to write today, instead working fewer hours to make time to contemplate, read, be in nature. Until I realized it is St. Patrick's Day! Gone, at least for now, are the days when I would make our kids a simple breakfast of green milk on cereal or pancakes, the table dotted with … Continue reading Irish Tenors and all that jazz
127 nights to treasure forever
For 127 days I greeted Mom in the morning, sang Barges at night and recited the Lord’s Prayer. She lay in her hospital bed, dining room table pushed to the wall, chandelier cabled close to the ceiling. Most nights she joined me in phrases as we sang about barges flickering lights, resurrecting distant memories for … Continue reading 127 nights to treasure forever
The ice cometh and the power goeth
Yes, I admit it. I was excited about our snow forecast. And not just a puny amount, but inches–no, I hoped for a foot of the cold, white stuff. Just like when I was young (listen to My Music Man Chapter 2: Ice and Snow below). I envisioned fastening on my skis and puttering around … Continue reading The ice cometh and the power goeth
February 14 anniversary memories
For much of my life February 14 meant Valentine's Day. During childhood we would cover shoeboxes with construction paper and red hearts, cut a slit on top and arrive at school armed with the box and valentines for each kid in the class, our bellies primed for chocolate and sugar. (Except the day I had … Continue reading February 14 anniversary memories
Love letters
June 10, 1955, Piedmont Presbyterian Church, Portland. Esther Holmes Daum, Merrill Daum, Patricia Daum, Richard Gill Montgomery, Jr., Dorothy Haradon Montgomery, Richard Gill Montgomery, Sr. I was updating Mom's new social worker a bit about her life the other day. He wanted to know the important details, and soon agreed the part about Mom and … Continue reading Love letters
Music is the one thing
Thank you to Portland Youth Philharmonic for sharing music to be enjoyed by all. A partial remedy to the absence of live music during the pandemic is the potpourri of livesteamed opportunities. A silver lining for us, Mom would not be getting out to any of them even in the absence of a pandemic, nor … Continue reading Music is the one thing
The mountains beckon
Maybe it's the glimpse of January sunshine inviting me to daydream both ahead and back to moments of wilderness glory. Or, perhaps it’s the claustrophobia of being sandwiched during the pandemic, between telework and caring for a mostly bed-bound loved one. I peer outside to catch the summit of Mount Hood to the east, and … Continue reading The mountains beckon
A typewriter click-clacks forever
Dad graduated from University of Oregon's journalism program and was considered more useful as a PIO than in the infantry while based at Fort Lewis. One would think I've written enough about typewriters. After all, not only do I share memories of Dad's click-clacking away in My Music Man, but even after that I featured … Continue reading A typewriter click-clacks forever
