Rita

16 years ago today my Mother died.  That is the word we use when the heart stops and breathing ceases.
But although her heart stopped beating and her spirit left the flesh and blood space that we knew as Rita Mary Agnes O'Donnell Fries, she continues to exist for me.  She isn't gone.  She lives on in all the journals she wrote. She lives on through my arms and hands as I stand at the kitchen counter and prepare "Apple Pan- Dowdy" or as lament about "what should I do with my hair?'  or as I enjoy the people and activities in my life or as I prepare, with joyful anticipation, for this or that next social get-together.   I know where I learned all these things.  I know that she remains with me in  immeasurable ways as I walk through my days on this earth.  I know when I fill up with love for the people in my life that she is the one who gave me this most marvelous gift. 
Thanks Mom, for loving me and showing me the way.  

Hannah Byrne Coleman's Parents, Christopher & Mary Ann Welch Byrne- 1898

This photo was given to me by Mary Bahan who was a first cousin to my maternal grandmother, Margaret Mary Coleman O'Donnell.  Her father, Patrick, was a brother to Hannah, making Margaret & Mary Bahan first cousins.    This photo was taken in approximately 1898 and I can only assume that it was taken in the farmhouse in Friendsville, PA.  The house is no longer there but it was on the right side of the dirt road when you take the road in Friendsville that leads to Carmalt Lake where the O'Donnell children and other family members went swimming in the summertime. In 1994 my mother, Rita O'Donnell Fries, used some of the money she inherited from her sister, Anne O'Donnell to reprint the poetry books, "Idyls of Lakeside" (copyright, 1909)by the O'Byrnes (the O'Brynes dropped the "O" and became known as the Byrnes.  She also reprinted a small book by the same authors entitled, "Susquehanna and Other Poems" (copyright 1914).
My mother told me that there was a little "ditty" or small poem about her great-grandmother, Mary Ann Welch.    It was a play on words that went like this - "She got her M.A. at Oxford",  and then the reader would assume that Mary Ann went to Oxford University in England and got her Masters Degree there.  But the last part of the ditty told the truth of the matter when the verse read, "when they baptized her there "Mary Ann".   You see, the truth of the matter was that she was baptized Mary Ann (M.A.) in a little town in upstate New York known as Oxford.
My mother was very proud of her ancestry and was thrilled by poetry.  My sister, Meg, read some of these poems to our dear Mother as she lay on her deathbed and hearing them once again, this  familiar poetry brought a smile to my mother's face.
In case you are wondering, I don't have any photos of Christopher and Mary Ann's parents!!

May Coleman Geary & Margaret Coleman O'Donnell

 

I have no idea when this photo was taken but I am guessing this was when May & Margaret were still Coleman's.  It is in rather bad shape but the faces are clear.  I wasn't sure this was May since I always remember my great Aunt May as a rather thin woman and she is a bit robust in this photo.   But my mother wrote on the back of the photo" Mother & Aunt May".  For those who may not know the history, Margaret was the oldest daughter and then came May.  Their parent's photo was sent out awhile ago - Hannah Byrne and Frank  Coleman.  

Geary's Valley Rest, Route 106, Lawton, Pa

I'm not sure if I ever sent this photo out on my Blog before but will do it again anyway since the Geary Family is so receptive!!
My Mom and Dad loved this place and told many stories of arriving from the heat, hustle and bustle of Brooklyn, NY to the fresh air and open spaces of my Mother's Aunt May Geary's little get-away.  It seemed from my parent's tales that this spot was a little bit of heaven for them.
By the way, I'm suppose to be cleaning out my computer room and instead I am drawn right into this photo and other photos, letters, postcards, etc.  Why am I like this, I wonder?

Messed up My Blog

I can no longer click at the top of a blog entry and attach an alert & link to my Boomerfrontrunner Blog on my Facebook page.   I have no idea why or how this change occurred.  Does anyone have a clue what I did or why this happened or more importantly, how I can correct it?  Actually, in a nutshell, this is an indication of my computer skills or rather my lack of computer skills.  I love to write and use my blog as a motivator but do not know enough regarding all the other stuff.   It can be such a frustration and time waster, especially for someone fast approaching 70, who understands quite clearly that their isn't much sand left in the hour glass.   

Sweetness Personified at Mike & Shelby's Wedding

These two little girls brought such joy as they walked down the isle at Mike & Shelby's Wedding.  It never ceases to amaze me at the wonder and joy that radiates from children.   No matter what else is going on in a person's life, children make us happier and put a smile on our faces. 

My Father Sat in Back of Me in Church Today

Was this just a coincidence?!
So, today is my father's 99th birthday.  It is also "All Souls Day".  We rarely ever go to the 9AM Sunday liturgy.  Almost always we attend the 4PM Mass on Saturday afternoon.  But we were lucky enough to be invited to dinner at our friends' - Joanne & John's - home in Greenville yesterday and we waited until today to go to Mass.
Now, ever since my father died on September 11, 2013, I noticed an elderly man at the 4PM Mass who had a striking, uncanny resemblance to my Dad.  I honestly never saw him in church prior to my Dad's death.  It has been a great comfort for me to look over my shoulder and get a glimpse of "my father"when I am at Mass.    I look for him every time we are at the 4 o'clock Mass.
Today when we walked into the hall (our church proper is undergoing renovations), the seats were just about full. Bob and I went to sit in chairs along the wall, when one of the ladies of our parish, said, "grab a chair and pull it up alongside of me".  So we did, and I sat down.  I was feeling a bit lonesome, thinking about my Dad on his birthday and remembering how many Masses we attended together.  I started to slip my arms out of my coat when I felt the person behind me reach up to help me.  I turned around to acknowledge the help and low and behold it was my "Dad".   He is always at the 4PM and he never sits directly behind us.  This morning he was at the 9AM Mass and is seated right behind us and he reaches up to help me.  I honestly cannot help but believe my Dad had something to do with this coincidence.  Even my practical, down-to-earth husband was astonished.
So, yes, I got your "hello" Dad and thanks for the wink.  I love you too and hope your birthday is going well wherever your Spirit resides.

I never ever saw this man again after this encounter!