In the Old Testament's book of Genesis, Noah was the tenth and last of the biblical patriarchs. He was chosen by God as the only righteous man of his time and is known infamously as the hero of the Flood story (2,000-10,000 BCE). The name Noah peaked in 2016 when nearly 20,000 newborn babies were … Continue reading Love and Respect–Our Family’s Cycle
Children
My Children’s Books Page Launches Here
It might have crossed your mind that I had stopped blogging. Not at all. Through my blog's stories that provide mirrors to the future, I have been reflecting on the past and looking forward. With the end of 2022 closing in on us, I also have been searching for data about bloggers and blog readers. … Continue reading My Children’s Books Page Launches Here
Writer And Adventurer -I’m Still Going Strong!
I have authored three children's books since my last post here, and two of them have been released. My first book "If Only I Was Special" is about a little dog named Hashbrown, who has forgotten he is unique. His wish-filled quest for specialness is vividly illustrated in colorful images. My second book, "Hi I'm … Continue reading Writer And Adventurer -I’m Still Going Strong!
Celebrating Our Family’s Men on This Father’s Day
Our daughter reminded me that my nearly 500 posts over these past 10 years have failed to describe our family's men's occupations. Our men first migrated from Europe to America, many of them among the first voyagers to Virginia or on the Mayflower that landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts. They were well-educated and used their intellectual … Continue reading Celebrating Our Family’s Men on This Father’s Day
Play Fair
In the early 1970’s the women’s rights movement was recognized as the “second wave” of feminism. Every aspect of women's lives, including work, family, and sexuality were included in this movement. However, not everyone was on board with this equal rights for women’s evolution. In fact, some of the fathers and coaches on our Catholic … Continue reading Play Fair
Bless Their Little(?) Hearts
This post was originally published on December 28, 2021, and received 19 views at the get-go but lacked the podcast listening option which required me to republish. Sorry for any inconvenience. Know that the original content remains unchanged. In the Old Testament's book of Genesis, Noah was the tenth and last of the biblical patriarchs. … Continue reading Bless Their Little(?) Hearts
If Only I Was Special!
By: Joanne Carol Boling Dickinson and Grandson, Robert Joseph Dickinson IIIJune 12, 2021 Below is a short story that I wrote as a writing assignment when I was 13 years old and attending Junior High School. With help from my eldest grandson, Joe, we recently added a few descriptive adjectives and adverbs and updated the … Continue reading If Only I Was Special!
SLÛ-Bi`
By: R J Dickinson, II Note to readers: This account of SLÛ-Bi` is only to be read by those who first have read the post entitled “Fast and Furious on Bee Oak Road” dated May 27, 2021, by author Joanne Dickinson as told to her by my sibling. My tale that follows is a mere … Continue reading SLÛ-Bi`
Fast and Furious on Bee Oak Road
The Columbian Squires, the official youth organization of the Knights of Columbus, is a leadership and character development program for Catholic young men, 10-18 years old. My husband, Bob, was the Chief Counselor in charge of the St. Pius X Knights of Columbus Squires Circle in Forestville, MD. It was late summer 1978, when Bob … Continue reading Fast and Furious on Bee Oak Road
2020–A Tough Year and Formidable Fall Cleanup
During this month of September 2020, a few of us "Boling/Dickinson's" have been going daily to our parents home of 60 years to declutter it and to let go of family treasures before readying the property to go on the market. This task was definitely not our usual fall cleanup. Following our recent losses and … Continue reading 2020–A Tough Year and Formidable Fall Cleanup
My Sandlot Days…
By Aaron McDaniel - August 22, 2020 "1993 Sandlot Kids" Recently my teenage grandson, Aaron, was browsing Facebook and came upon a post with a picture of the Sandlot kids that included the following quote: "At some point in your childhood, you and your friends went out to play together for the last time and … Continue reading My Sandlot Days…
Hakuna Matata (No Worries)
Now septuagenarians, Bob and I just exited the Flagship Premium Cinemas--the same movie theatre location in Prince Frederick, Md, where we took our four grandchildren, one niece, and one nephew (ages 2-9) a mere 25 years ago to see the original June 24, 1994 release of "The Lion King," animated movie. The day was Saturday, … Continue reading Hakuna Matata (No Worries)
Life–Empty, Unfocused, or Purpose-filled?
Most often, I write about the past and how we can learn from it to change the future. But this weekend’s message at church so tore at my heart and shook my brain, and yes, so derides any logic, that I am compelled to ponder focusing on the now and how we, all God’s children, … Continue reading Life–Empty, Unfocused, or Purpose-filled?
America’s Post-WWII Baby Boom
As I sat down this morning to write about a couple of recent funny family moments involving the history of me and my youngest brother, I happened upon this article written by the Kahn Academy--an online non-profit organization whose mission it is "to provide a free, world-class education to anyone, anywhere." It was such an easy … Continue reading America’s Post-WWII Baby Boom
♬Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh.. Here I am at…♬
Camping has always been one of kids favorite activities. Hence, my lifting of the 1964 Alan Shermann song seemed an appropriate fit for this post's title. Earliest records show that girls attended camps as early as 1917 in the Washington-Metropolitan Area. In 1935, the Prince George's County Girl Scout Council was chartered from the Washington, … Continue reading ♬Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh.. Here I am at…♬
𝄞We are F-a-m-i-l-y ♬
If you are a grandmother you may be one of a select few who understands the gravity of your intimate relationships with your grandchildren and their parents who by the way are your children that hopefully you and their father raised together. Now, none of us was handed a parenting guide when we discovered we … Continue reading 𝄞We are F-a-m-i-l-y ♬
Sit’n on the Porch to Make a Stand
The year was 1981. The day was Friday, December 4. I had just finished a visit with Sister Kathleen, who was the director for the religious education program that prepared 7th-grade children for their sacrament of confirmation into the Catholic religion at Mount Calvary Church and School in Forestville, MD. The backstory goes something like … Continue reading Sit’n on the Porch to Make a Stand
Still Crazy – In Love – After All These Years!
On Your 69th Wedding Anniversary (1946-2015) It almost goes without saying for a couple such as you... As long as you have faith to guide you and prayers to carry you through... As long as you have memories to look back on and dreams to hold onto... As long as you have each other and … Continue reading Still Crazy – In Love – After All These Years!
Our Deaf Heritage, Part 2
Our Deaf Heritage Last January, I posted Our Deaf Heritage, that confirmed deafness in the Boling/Bolling/Bowling and Randolph families' ancestors from the 1700's in England and Virginia, and how they were responsible for founding the first schools for the hearing impaired in America, and later, the infamous Gallaudet University in the District of Columbia. Gallaudet was established in 1864 … Continue reading Our Deaf Heritage, Part 2
Really–Just How Important is Your Given Name?
In Act II, Scene II of Shakespeare's 1597 play, Romeo and Juliet, Juliet says in reference to Romeo's surname, Montague, that they should ignore his surname which is meaningless to them so they could be together. Map: Six Decades of the Most Popular Names for Girls, State-by-State I love infographics (graphic visual representations of information, data, or knowledge intended … Continue reading Really–Just How Important is Your Given Name?
Our Unbounded Heritage: 12th Century & Beyond 