March 22
Brace yourself, Bob!
1965
Bob's birthday - he's eighteen!!
Well, as I wrote above, today's Bob's eighteenth birthday. I didn't have any money for a present for today, but I've sent for a dictionary for him and I'm paying his way to the Talent Show.
Speaking of TALENT, I saw Vincent and he hurt his leg. He limps something awful. Everytime I see him my heart kind of pings. As they say, "My heart goes out to him". I do love him so much.
Comment 2006
That's my big brother Bob, the handsome devil. He and his small circle of friends were probably considered the local geeks. (Being into trainspotting, model railroads and bowling probably helped that image.) But to me, he was always my amazing, clever, talented and hilariously funny big brother. The only person ever capable of making me shoot milk out of my nose and pee in my pants at the same time.
Happy birthday, Bobby.
1979
What I want to do is fashion history — the history of cultural changes. Since “fashion” no longer has such a general connotation, it seems more appropriate to call it by its current name, life-style. Life-style historian sounds too trendy and unacademic, but maybe it will catch on.
Human ecologists need historical perspective, and a perspective that is useful to them. Their main objective is to help people adjust to change in their lives, and how can they do that if their main source of historical knowledge is their own immediate past?
1982
My brother is 35 today. Amazing. It makes me realize that we have grown almost completely apart over the last fifteen years. When Bob was 20, he was living away from home and I was off at Syracuse, being in love with Jim. No. I was in high school, living out my adolescence and planning to go to Syracuse. Bob had just moved out of the house that winter. He was dating Judy T__? Can’t remember her last name. He was still two years away from Canada…ten years away from marrying Bonnie…and fourteen years away from Naomi. Though it was just a matter of time (as we found out) before all these things occurred, fifteen years ago they were as distant as the moon. Of course, since then, the moon’s come closer.
My review went well. She’s pleased with my performance and has put in an additional merit increase for me. She was very guarded about any changes in my schedule next year. My impression was that I should be very visible when I am in, talk up research and talk down baby, and make every effort to be professional or even hyperprofessional in my behavior. It’s all a matter of maintaining my current image. (It may be illusion, but that’s my business.)
Comment 2024
Notice the advice to a pregnant employee from a female supervisor. Oh, the 80s.
1984
Bob’s 37th birthday. That’s hard to believe. When I saw him last year he had a bit of gray, so maybe it’s not that hard. My Wednesdays at home are the best part of my week. After months of struggling to get work done with Kiddo home, I am finally doing it. Most of my recent “success” is simply because she’s gotten older and more self-sufficient. She plays by herself most of the time now, only needs my help yo eat, get changed and haul out big toys.
I’ve also had an idea for another research area: studying the history of household technology via extension publications (federal and state) to see what has taught and how, and how successfully.
Comment 2024
Another research detour that I didn’t take (luckily).
1985
Bob is 38 today. Should have sent him a card, but just didn’t have time.
Kiddo has been a bit better in the last two days, after a fairly rough several weeks. She was just being so whiney and naughty. We knew it was the moving, but that didn’t make it any easier. I have started feeling more warmly about a second child. Oh my.
The house has cost us $1,450 today, in a furnace replacement. Is this the big leagues?
Comment 2024
Sorry about the card, Bob.
1986
Bob’s 39th birthday. I called him up to say hi and had a good long chat. He seems happy and settled. (Even with 18” of snow on the ground.)
I’ve been harping on Vince to return my pregnancy exercise book. He did — with a pregnancy test kit tucked in the bag with it. So I tried it and got a positive result! There’s a small chance of error, but at least now I feel pretty confident that I am pregnant! Funny with Kiddo around, I can’t be too exuberantly happy. Don’t want to tell her for a few more months.
1997
Kiddo 1 and I are far, far away at a retreat with the women of the church. It’s an interesting place: a small retreat center for women only, high on a ridge near the Pennsylvania border. It promises to be a lovely spring weekend.
2011 (Twitter)
Jealous. My brother shares a birthday with William Shatner.
2014
Gratitude for moments on the university mall when I have felt “in the place just right” in my chosen vocation. Sending ripples of gratitude to everyone who made it possible for me to be here. Noting that where the giving and gratitude waves meet, the surface is choppy sometimes. Paying it forward to the next generation of teachers.
2018
Happy birthday, Bob!
Today is Wednesday, - no, it’s Thursday. Wednesday we had snow, and lots of it, for once. Probably six inches of beautiful wet snowman snow. So we stayed cozy and warm home, and I did the taxes. Today is a work/fun day. Some planning, some cooking, some shredding of old records. Sandy and playtime. Choir.
2023
The older we get, the more I miss my brother. Because we moved so often, he is my closest “childhood friend”. I have no hard feelings about his moving to Canada in 1969, shortly after receiving his draft notice. How could I regret the choice that gave me my sister-in-law Bonnie and my wonderful niece and nephew? How awful person I would be to erase them and their children? Nope, I am sad that he lives four hours north of Toronto, and even sadder that COVID has kept us from traveling there. This is the year I go, come Hell or high water. As we hit our mid-seventies, it’s no time make excuses.
Happy birthday, my blues-playing bro.
2024
The trip still hasn’t happened. Ontario Northland needs to step it up on the return of the Northlander Passenger Service. In the meantime, it’s nice to exchange comments and posts here on Substack. (Follow the link to meet Bob and enjoy his poetry and songwriting.)
Thanks for all that, Jo! You made my day.