The Origin Of Our 59-Year Romance

I met Bob Dickinson on Tuesday, September 15, 1964, (a leap year), one week into my senior year at Suitland High School. I remember this date well because it was the day I started my first job behind the soda fountain at People's Drug Store (now CVS), located in Forestville's Penn Mar Shopping Center. Then, …

“We Do Not Remember Days, We Remember Moments”

On January 30th, we celebrated our son-in-law's 50th birthday! Yet another instance of moments in our lives passing too quickly. Our daughter, Jennifer, first introduced Brian to us 31 years ago. Our introduction to Brian's father, Bill, (who was 50 years old when Brian was born), gives way to an amusing story. Jennifer's dad, Bob …

Celebrating America’s Veterans On This Day!

Our family's men after the colonial days became fighters in the Revolutionary, Civil, 1812, and yes, even the Indian Wars between 1850-1890). My maternal great-grandfather, John Carpenter Ford, was born January 15, 1864, (a Capricorn like myself), in Wake County, North Carolina (a Confederate state) in the midst of the American Civil War. According to …

Uncommonly Close

This picture is not of our boys and their uncles, but it reminds me of some of their adventures and escapades. They were, in fact, uncommonly close like a band of brothers. They explored abandoned areas, on dares from neighbors, they walked on gutters across our roof, made their own backyard fires, and built forts …

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 …

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 …

A Caring and Adventurous Heart

Nineteen months after the birth of our first son, Bobby, we welcomed Jeff into the world. Bobby was a happy, contented, and quiet baby. Jeff, by contrast, had a temperament that proved his personality was larger than life. He weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces, and measured 21 inches long when he was born in 1968. …

80 Days

It was Friday, November 26, 2021,My waiting game of 11 days had just begun,I'd like to say those waiting days passed quickly But that was not the way.As the Doc entered the room,He looked at me, then at my charts.He said, "Frank, it's urgent thatWe tend to your erratically beating heart." I seemed to have …

What Is Life Without Change?

When I was growing up families made Sundays their day of worshipping together and the gathering afterward which culminated in that wonderful Sunday meal prepared for us by grandma, mom, and aunts. Our families helped found the local churches and their children were born and raised in the same churches where other family members had …

Boyhood Adventures

The picture shown here is not that of our boys and their uncles, but it reminds me of some of their adventures and escapades. You see, our two sons, Bobby and Jeff were born in 1966 and 1968. My brother, Frank, the eldest uncle was born in 1958 and my younger brother Johnny was born …

Language Isn’t About Being Perfect…It’s About Creating Authentic, Human Connections

Let it be known that I excelled in English and writing course assignments despite the English language's ranking as one of the most difficult languages to master. Because of its unpredictable spellings and difficult-to-learn grammar, it challenges native speakers and second language learners, too. The poem below is a prime example: In contrast, language experts …

” FUNNY AND NOT SO FUNNY MOMENTS “

Our son-in-law, Brian, turned 50 on January 30, 2022! Our daughter, Jennifer, first introduced Brian to us 31 years ago. Our introduction to Brian's father, Bill, (who happened to be 50 years old when Brian was born), gives way to an amusing story. Jennifer's dad, Bob was on call at Maryland's Forestville Volunteer Fire Department …

More Memories of My Brother, Frank Roy Boling

I spent most of today responding to expressions of sympathy and condolences from neighbors, friends, near and distant relatives, and many people that I don't believe I knew, but that my brother, Frank Roy Boling, did. It's amazing how uplifting a few words can be--just to know that others thought much of him, too. Thanks …

Obituary: Frank Roy Boling 03/16/1958 – 01/20/2022

Frank Roy Boling, age 63; of Chesapeake Beach, MD; childhood resident of the Berkshire Community within District Heights-Forestville, MD, passed away on Thursday, January 20, 2022, at the Anne Arundel Medical Center, Annapolis MD.  (Frank just learned on December 7, 2021, that he had late stage lung cancer. Three hospitals and 20 doctors later he …

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. …

Together We Make A Family–Let’s Celebrate!

This post is a follow-up to my somewhat somber December 5 post; "Our Friends, Family, Feelings, and Future". After reflecting on my pre-holiday frustrations, preparations, and in general, the chaos in the world today including the COVID pandemic's social distancing and isolations, my key takeaway remains the importance of my family to me and how …

I Age Not By Years, But By Stories

As some of you may be aware, I reached another of life's milestones on Wednesday, January 5. To those who posted warm sentiments for a happy birthday, I only can say "thank you," and express to you how much I always enjoy hearing from you. Moving forward, the ever-turning wheels in my head raised my …

Our Friends, Family, Feelings, and Future

I'm sitting at my computer on a chilly Sunday afternoon feeling rather dispirited in a season where we should rejoice the almighty and gather with family and friends for quality times. Playing in the background as I write, I'm listening to 8 HOURS ✰ Christmas FIREPLACE ✰ ACOUSTIC GUITAR ♫ ☆ Christmas Music Instrumental. With …

Remembering Our Mount Calvary School and Community – Part 2

My first post in May 2016 about Mt. Calvary School's history and its closing drew much interest and even today continues to do so. Further, the Mt. Calvary Catholic School Alumni-Forestville, MD Facebook page with its 1.5K members remains active on a daily basis since opening on October 23, 2008. Regardless, of where their live …

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 …