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. …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

In The Words Of A Young Woman

Generation Z (those born between 1997 and 2012-15) includes ages 6 to 24-years-old and there are about 2 billion worldwide, and 68 million in the United States, alone. "Gen Zers" want to belong, to feel loved, and to fill their lives with significant and meaningful activities and contributions to help make the world a better …

Life, Love, & Peace: New Born On Easter

On Easter Sunday 2021, God showered our outside family gathering of 35 (including 8 of our 9 great grandchildren) with His continued blessings of love, peace, and perfect weather. Hosts Jeff and Penny truly outdid themselves. As usual, there were plenty of scrumptious fruits, vegetables, and desserts; Jeff grilled hamburgers, hotdogs, barbequed chicken, and Megan …

In The Wee Hours Of The Morning

Listen to on Spotify Last night was one of those nights when I had a restful sleep which is becoming more and more rare to me.  Most times I suffer from a racing mind that refuses to shut down or restless legs and arms syndrome that compels me to get up and do something--anything--except just …

Home, Sweet, Home

This is an open letter to house-seeking buyers. Real Estate deals are said to be one of life’s most stressful undertakings. Yet, one of Americans’ greatest aspirations is to acquire a house and to take pride in your ownership--it’s like one more step up that ladder to success. In contrast, just as equally or more …

Family Matters…

As a result of the clean up and out of my parents items in their home for up to 61 years, to prepare for its sale, I made a specific promise/decision to myself and my children. That decision: not to leave my family with such a task when I go home to be with Our …