52 Ancestors – #25 – "How Did I Get My Name?"

Continuing my goal of documenting my generation’s story, this week I am attempting to tell the story of some of the names in our family. Five years ago, I posted about the “Winchester Tradition” in Scott’s family. For several generations, all the children were given the middle name of “Winchester” to honor a beloved stepmother. […]

Read More

52 Ancestors – #24 – Father’s Day

Let me apologize in advance for the short post last week and what will undoubtedly be short posts for the next few weeks. Last week, my husband Scott and I spent a terrific week in Colorado celebrating grandbaby #3’s 1st birthday. Oh – and we also enjoyed a doubleheader concert: Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan!! This […]

Read More

52 Ancestors- #23- Going to the Chapel

A very timely prompt this week as Scott and I just recently observed our 35th wedding anniversary! After nine years or so of courtship and two previous engagements, the ring was permanent installed on my finger on May 28, 1983. It literally was “Going to the chapel, and we’re going to get married…” for us […]

Read More

52 Ancestors – #22 – A Heritage Trip – Amsterdam to Austria

This week’s topic for the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge is “So Far Away!” It couldn’t have come at a better time! In just a few weeks, Scott and I will be joining my sister Jeanne and her partner, Suzi on a very special trip, a river cruise beginning in Amsterdam and ending in […]

Read More

Scott W. Holman, PFC Army – 1971- 1974

NOTE: This is an edited version of the post I wrote for Memorial Day, 2018. It was also our 35th wedding anniversary! I will warn you: This is a very long post. I wanted to capture Scott’s story, much of it in his own words, for our children and grandchildren. Scott is a man of […]

Read More

52 Ancestors – #20 – Why I Chose to Study German

This week’s prompt for the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge is “Another Language.” Continuing with my theme this year – telling the stories of my generation – I’ve decided to share why I chose German as the foreign language I would study in school. My mother came to this country from Vienna, Austria, with […]

Read More

52 Ancestors – #19 – Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is a time for children to show their moms how much they are loved. I’m pretty sure that was the motivation behind this “lovely” masterpiece I gave to my mother. And moms show their love by displaying these masterpieces as if they were the Mona Lisa – no matter how sad the artwork is. […]

Read More

52 Ancestors – #17 – Another Name Not on the Wall – Gilbert Goodgion

Gilbert “Gerry” Goodgion passed away on August 29, 1991, just a few months short of his 48th birthday. Gerry (pronounced “Gary”) was an officer in the Navy, serving two tours in Vietnam and retiring from the Naval Reserve as a commander. Exposure to the chemicals used during the Vietnam War may have been a major factor in causing […]

Read More

52 Weeks – #16 Storms – The 1989 Hamden Tornado

Monday, July 10, 1989, was just another summer day. After I finished my day teaching summer school, I picked up our daughter Caitlin from her grandmother’s house. Cait and I headed home, a 6 ½ minute ride. Once home, I noticed the wind was picking up and the sky was clouding over. It was about […]

Read More