I posted the following scenario to Facebook on November 16, 2016, and decided it so typified the humor my parents shared with others that I am compelled to capture it in my blog about our family’s heritage. When caring for the elderly (our Matriarch and Patriarch who were 88 and 89 at the time), I … Continue reading Elderly Parents Say The Darndest Things
Health and Aging
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 … Continue reading 80 Days
Tuesday, March 22, 2022:
Marking the Death of John Rolfe - America's First Entrepreneur John Rolfe and Pocahontas Tuesday, March 22nd, 2022, is the 400th anniversary of John Rolfe's death. In his honor, my friend, Christine Dean, a retired College Lecturer, and fellow Pocahontas research enthusiast is planting a new mulberry tree at the Heacham Manor Hotel. Rolfe is … Continue reading Tuesday, March 22, 2022:
Weathering Life’s Storms
It was 10 years ago since the start of back-to-back blizzards left Maryland buried beneath more than 4 feet of snow. Two back-to-back, humongous blizzards rolled through. The first was the biggest. It started on the 5th of February, ended on the 6th, and dumped anywhere from 2 to 3 feet of snow. Days later, … Continue reading Weathering Life’s Storms
America’s Plaques–Endemic, Epidemic, & Pandemic
COVID 19 (Coronavirus) has consumed the media, politics, big pharma, the health industry, and too many facets of our lives for the past three years. I'm not aware of any families who have totally escaped it. Worldometer.info has maintained a living clock dedicated to the global statistics for COVID 19 cases from January 22, 2020, … Continue reading America’s Plaques–Endemic, Epidemic, & Pandemic
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 … Continue reading Our Friends, Family, Feelings, and Future
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 … Continue reading In The Wee Hours Of The Morning
In My Younger Years
I seldom write about myself, but the past few days I have been going through a few old plastic tubs where I store some keepsakes from my childhood. Inside this tub was now a very discolored, tattered, and torn 8" x 10" envelope that has to be about 65 years old. Inside it, were similarly … Continue reading In My Younger Years
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 … Continue reading Family Matters…
Mom’s Address Book
I set mom's address/phone book aside about two months ago when we first started cleaning out our parents home of 60 years. She had always kept her cookbooks, hotpads, and address book in a drawer under her wall oven in the kitchen which was in close proximity to their wall phone and kitchen table. That's … Continue reading Mom’s Address Book
A Harbinger of Better Days to Come!
I based many of my 18 posts written in 2020 (to date) on these globally unique times of extreme stressors, severe disappointments, and immense sadnesses. I, for one, will gladly embrace 2021 with anxious yet apprehensive hope for our world's future, and trust the rest to God. A positive sign that life goes on and … Continue reading A Harbinger of Better Days to Come!
Go Rest High on That Mountain
Go Rest High on That Mountain Author: Vincent Grant Gill It's been three weeks today, Saturday, September 12, 2020, since I told dad, "I love you, and am proud to have been your daughter, and you, my father." In fact, several in our family are struggling daily to get beyond the visible physical and emotional … Continue reading Go Rest High on That Mountain
The Spanish Flu, (AKA, the 1918 Flu Pandemic)
As my dad lies in Calvert County Hospital's ICU, where no visitors are allowed, I find a curious need to return to writing--not necessarily about our family's history as I usually do, but rather, to focus on other larger world issues for a momentary diversion. And this time, it's about our impending 2020-2021 school year … Continue reading The Spanish Flu, (AKA, the 1918 Flu Pandemic)
Life Interrupted
It's been nearly two months since I last sat down to write--a very long hiatus for me. Simply put, life interrupted! Daily routines became passé. God's plan and purpose redirected me from my to-do lists and preferences to His. In keeping with His timeline and focusing on His perspectives on my life in this season, … Continue reading Life Interrupted
Norma Florence (Ford) Boling: 22 Aug 1927 – 16 Mar 2018, Age 90
It is with great sadness that I share with you the passing on Friday, March 16, 2018, of my mother, Norma Florence (nee Ford) Boling at her home of nearly 60 years in Forestville, MD. She was 90 years, 6 months, and 3 weeks old and courageously fought a long battle with Alzheimer's and heart-disease-related conditions. … Continue reading Norma Florence (Ford) Boling: 22 Aug 1927 – 16 Mar 2018, Age 90
75 Years Later – Couple Avows Their Love and Commitment
The Bolings are celebrating their 72nd wedding anniversary on Feb. 5th, and the family will gather with them this weekend to honor this rare event in the world's history of lifelong marriages. The couple decided at ages 14 and 15 when they first met that they were going to get married someday and now, 75 … Continue reading 75 Years Later – Couple Avows Their Love and Commitment
YOLO–Carpe Diem, Folks!
Amidst the agony and pain of observing my parents increasingly debilitating aging process, we also have experienced a sprinkling of moments that remind us of better days when all their faculties were present and they were high functioning adults who volunteered and thrived within their family, friends, and social circles. I remember my dad, Frank … Continue reading YOLO–Carpe Diem, Folks!
I Remain in the Thicket, Hoping to Learn from our Children
Just one month ago this week, I began writing this post about a two-month-old article I came across that was written by Victoria Prooday, an internationally-known educator, motivational speaker, registered Occupational Therapist, and founder and clinical director of a multidisciplinary clinic. It speaks to a silent tragedy that is affecting our very own children all … Continue reading I Remain in the Thicket, Hoping to Learn from our Children
From Spit to SNPs: Decoding My DNA
A few years ago I spit a small amount (about two tablespoons) of my saliva into a specimen collection tube provided in a DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) testing kit that I ordered through Ancestry.com. My goal was to learn about my ancestors' through their genealogical beginnings and follow a familial chain of genetic links from generation to generation. … Continue reading From Spit to SNPs: Decoding My DNA
She’s Still Mom–Even With Alzheimer’s
In December 2010 after a fall on the sidewalk and a hit to her head and face, doctors ordered a CT (computerized tomography), scan of mom's brain. This CT scan was the first confirmation that mom had mild Alzheimer's disease. This was also about the time that mom had driven herself to church (just three … Continue reading She’s Still Mom–Even With Alzheimer’s
Our Unbounded Heritage: 12th Century & Beyond 