Memorial Day Memories 2012

May 28, 2012
Happy Memorial Day!           ( American Cemetery -- Normandy France)
 
 " Greater Love has no man than to be able to give up his life for another".  I am thankful for the note today at church addressing how it is important to remember those who have been lost, giving their lives for the life of others.   Being a student of history and WW2 I have learned so much about all the wars that have been fought, and are being fought now.

Memorial day brings back memories for me of going to Forest Lawn in Glendale for the Memorial day services.  Both my Grandfather's fought in WW1, with my Bonne Papa  a prisoner of war through most of 4 1/2 years. 1914-1918.  My Father and his brother served in WW2 and my brother was in Boy scouts earning his Eagle badge then.  I have a picture in my mind always of the 3 generations walking forward and saluting the flag.  My brother was the bugle player then.
This is how I spent my birthdays growing up.  I am a Memorial day baby.  And now after all these years its pretty special to think I can celebrate my birthday on such a special day.

One of the most touching places I have ever been is the American Cemetery in France, above the Omaha beaches of DDay.   I went there in 2004 with Rachel and 2 of her friends.  There were over 350 unknown soldiers here.  Young men who were never able to see their families again, or perhaps even have a family.  As we were walking around I met 2 such elderly men, who had actually landed at the DDay beaches.  I don't remember their names now.  I think one was Jack.  He had landed on June 6 or Day 2.  The other elderly gentleman had landed one week later.   They were touring with Operation Overlord I believe.  It's a tour group that took former Veteran's on battlefield tours with their families.  They had been to the Dover shores, and now were in Normandy.  What an experience for all of them.  I am sure they are gone now, almost 8 years later, but the memory lives on.

Back to my story though now.  I had said thank you for serving.  I was honored to meet them, heroes from WW2.  ( I just think of every VET as a hero).    They told me they were not the heroes.  Those men buried there in the fields were the heroes.  They had given the ultimate sacrifice.  They  had had lives well lived.  Families, children and grandchildren.  These men in the field, each buried under one of the white crosses never had a chance.  They are the heroes.  And their were there to honor the fallen heroes.

  I remember my Dad,  my grandfathers,  and Uncles.  My Dad was in transportation Corp in Belgium for the Bulge.    Uncle Clem was a tank driver, and was in battles from  Cherbourg all the way to Germany and VE day.  Uncles Joe, Clem, and Uncle Mike were in Battle of the Bulge.  Joe was shot the first day in battle, but survived.     I think about those who did not make it back.  My Uncle Alain, Mom's brother, who died because he was part of the Belgian Resistance.    He lived for 2 1/2 years in the concentration camp system, as a laborer.  He was sent to a camp called Sonnenberg a political prisoner camp.   He never made it back.

  I do remember, and I honor these men because they understood the meaning of serving their country.
Now today. ....   Memorial Day, I like to reflect back on that time.  I understand better now than I did as  young girl.  Do remember those who have gone before you.  It's not depressing  but honoring.    I am glad to have the memories of different Veteran's events honoring our fallen.  And I am glad to share my birthday with such an honor. 

And I will pray for those who are serving us now.  Especially Cousin Charlie!     That is an honor too.     LH

Our Boston Trip May 2012

Our Boston trip now comes to a close.  Getting ready to hurry and wait.  We are on standby for an earlier flight back to LA.    We shall see if we are so lucky. It's overbooked by one right now.  Sooooo  I thought I might as well take the time to reflect about the week.  

Looking back -- Friday.....

I think one of my highlights of the week was browsing the art galleries of Boston with Dorian on the famous Newton St.   We saw so many beautiful examples of different types of creative expressions in art.  I loved many of the galleries we went to.  But we only got to 2 blocks worth of galleries  before it was time to head back to our apartment.  Fritz took us for a nice sail in the little harbor near the Boston Half shell.  ( and MIT  sailing center).   Then off we went to Graduation for Johan.    

This last Friday  was filled with fun, and friends for Johan and Rachel.  After so many 1000 of hours of research and writing and editing,  Johan is finally a PHD.  Onward to be professor hopefully soon.  He is in the process of applying to different fellowship options.   Boston University graduated 6500 students altogether.  There were 205 PHD students. Eric Schmidt was the special speaker -- Ceo of google.  His message included  -- "this graduating class is more connected than any generation ever,  anywhere".  I do see that with this generation.   All our children  stay connected with friends all over the world.  With texting, skype, face time, face book,  cell phones, smart phones, and computers and Ipads, we have a whole new world.  With our 60's generation,  Fritz and I are  always just trying to keep up.  I think we are doing ok in the department.  We shall see if we can keep up with all the new technologies.  

Saturday we were happily off to shop in Boston. Rachel's knows all the places with great deals.  And then I was taking Fritz back to the art galleries.   That evening we had a fine party and celebration of Johan's accomplishments.  joined by his many friends as Rachel had arranged.  ( I mentioned about this in the blog before)       

Sunday we slept in.  The kids were up very very late.  Fritz and I walked in the beautiful Boston Gardens.  Dorian and Fred went bike riding along the St. Charles river, as Fritz had done the day before.    We just relaxed.  We did make a trip to the Isabella Gardner ART Museum in the afternoon.  It is a 3 story home full of art work collected over a lifetime.  Tapestries and sculptures, paintings of all kinds. Sort of a San Simeon Hearst Castle on a small scale.      Very small but enjoyable.  

Monday morning we were up early for a good start to Martha's Vineyard.  I must say, moving out of the apartment was quite the accomplishment.  All over Boston students were moving out of their apartments, getting ready for their trips home.  We just had suitcases to lug down stairs.  They had so much more.  Anyway, we rented a car, and then made our way back to the Beacon hill apartment, to lug 6 floors down all our suitcases.  I think there were 12 of them, plus all the handbags, shopping bags,  plus our left over groceries, etc.  Needless to say, we did not fit into a chevy Tahoe.  No worries.  a Mini van was a better fit for 6 people plus luggage and cheaper by $40 a day.  Yeah! We saved over $100 on this deal.    and then......  off we go.  Onward to Wood's Hole, in the boot of Cape Cod.  

We made it in plenty of time to meet the Ferry, drive a car on board ( new experience for us for sure)  and pleasantly make our way to Cape Cod  and Martha's Vineyard.    If you have never experienced the East coast, let me tell you that the first thing I ever noticed was the forests of green trees and bushes.  Whether you are driving  or flying.  the Land is mostly flat.  And Green. Bright Green in the Spring like we have experienced.  Weather changes from sunny to foggy, to beautiful at this time of year.  Humidity is unbearable  in the Summer.  BUT WE ARE HERE IN SPRING!  So wonderful.     Also you will notice the beautiful homes all neat "Salt boxes".  Cape Cod style is really a style. aged wood siding, or bricks.  Lots of white wood trimmed windows and doors.  And shuttered windows everywhere on every house.  No stucco walls like California, or mix of styles like in Santa Barbara.  No Italian villas, Spanish colonial styles and early or late Calif.  houses.  Just Cape Cod style.  I do find I like the continuity.  Adds a lot of charm to the area.  

Martha's Vineyard is the same.  It is an original fishing, whaling town from the 1600's.  In 1999 I went on an East Coast trip with Casey and Jill, and their 2 younger kids.  We went to Martha's Vineyard for a very short ferry ride, 5 hours wandering around Oak Bluffs and Edgartown, had a bowl of great Clam chowder and headed back on the last ferry of the day.  At that time, I had told myself,  I want to come back here.  It was one of the charmingest little cities I had every experienced.  I loved it.    In 2009 I had a girlfriend trip back here with marilyn ( celebrated 40 years of friendship)  and now finally I was able to take Fritz and at least part of my family back.       I can see why people have 2nd homes in the vineyard.  It really is a wonderfully peacefull place to visit, or live.  The Vineyard has about 15, 000 year round residents, and grows to about 80,000 in the summer.  Plus all the day visitors from the East coast looking to cool off along the coast.  

So in Martha's Vineyard we discovered grand cuisine Island style --- I loved the crab cakes at the Atlantic fish company. They are a work of Art.    Clam chowder and the lobster rools, Tomatoe Bisque and not to forget the truffle fries!  An expericence not to forget.    Needless to say we ate everything.    We stayed at the family compound of a friend.  This farm has been in their family I understand for 200 years.  It is heaven on earth to me.  So peaceful and relaxing.  I felt so at home. 

Tuesday was a nice day to take a scenic drive around the Island.  Its only 6 miles long, full of beaufitul scenic places to see.  Especially charming lighthouses.  After experiencing so many different weather conditions in our few short days, I can see why the light houses are so important.  There was wind, rain, fog, and quiet areas on the island, changing very quickly from place to place. 

Tuesday night we decided that it would be our special night to cook again.  When you are with Dorian and FRed.  They like to cook culinary delights and they like to eat well.   Soooooo   Fred made some wonderful Austrian style veenersnitichel (sp?)  and Dorian made a traditional Holland style Belgian Endive and ham dish.  I will try to replicate this next week for sure.  Rachel created a lovely strawberry whip cream cake.  It was most similar to the cover lately of Martha Stewart magazine.  

Our last day,  Wednesday, the sun came out  beautifully.  Perfect day for a nice bike ride.  Off we went to Edgartown and we road bikes around the cute little town. Then off of Chappaquidick island.    This island is small and quaint with miles and miles of sandy shoreline.  We biked to a hidden Japaneze garden called Mytoi.  A peaceful place to walk around.  Then we rode on to an area called Podge???  Not sure. But anyway,  this bridge became sadly famous when one of our past MA senators sadly had fatal episode here back in the 70's or early 80's.   It was a very narrow bridge, and very shallow water.  How someone drowned here is very surprising indeed.  

We continued riding around the island, going to the most eastern tip of the USA .  Closest to Spain.    then finally back to the Ferry to MV Island.  It was a 3-4 hour day of riding.  I am definitly the slow poke.  Tortoise and the hare..  I am the tortoise,  slow and steady, moving along and not at break neck speed.  But when we are all done,  guess who still has energy!!!!       

Thursday we are headed home.  It will be a very long day of travel.  Ferry crossing, driving,  waiting at the airport, long flights and bus trip home from LAx.  Right now I am typing away, thinking back through our week.  Thankful to be on our way home.  Thankful to have had the opportunity to experience  this special place.     

I think my dream would be to come back again, only as an artist, and bring other artist friends.  We all could paint all day some of the lovely scenes of the area.   I noticed an art school in Edgartown.  Hmmmmmm   Maybe for a future time.????  

Anyway, if you got this far,  that's pretty good.  Thank for joining me as I Journaled this far.  

LH

Happy Graduation Day for Johan!
 He now has his PHD.   Many years working on his dissertation to get this far!   He is an expert in European History, International Studies, and really an expert is all that is going on in the world daily.  You have a question?,,,,  You have heard of "Ask Jeeves". ... Well I say, "Ask Johan".  Watch out though,  you may get a 5 page answer to your question.  Be ready......

Just so everyone knows,  we are all so very proud of him.  It has been really a treat to be in Boston for this event with Dorian and Fred. Rachel  had been in touch with many east coast friends, who all showed up last night to celebrate with Johan and Rachel.  ( Rachel had planned a special surprise 30th Birthday and Graduation celebration for Johan).  The farthest friend came from Germany even. Amazing friends.

Special advise every one gives to Johan " Get a Job"........ Easier said than done these days. He has been applying all over the world actually.  Research fellowships,  teaching positions, etc etc.   We are hoping and praying for good opportunities for Johan and Rachel.   We shall see what their next opportunity will be.  ....  So if you have connections out there, be sure to let us know.

An Addition:   Johan's dissertation was "Party Systems change in the Netherlands: Intra-Party Cohesion, Discourse, and the Socio-Cultural Cleavage "  How is that for a mouthful!  Lots of research and over 50 interviews for the base of his work.

Tomorrow the adventure continues......  Off to Martha's Vineyard.  Rain or shine.  ....

Happy Graduation Day tomorrow for Johan!  We are so happy to be again in Boston, especially to celebrate with the family, Johan's graduation from the PHD program at Boston University.  The last many months have been busy ones.  I realize though that I have not updated this blog in way too long of a time.  So.... well..... I don't always write very much, so then.  via Facebook, I update with pictures.

Last week we celebrated Mother's day with Grandma Dottie and the family.  We had a nice visit and a dinner out with everyone.   So nice to all be together.  We are a traveling family. Now Dottie is off to Hawaii,  We are in Boston, Phil is off to Hawaii and Ryan takes off for Mexico next week.  What is it about his family.  We have the travelbug itch so easily it seems.
No really,  It really just happened, and its all just timing.  We all just happen to be on the road or the airplane.  

Yesterday, our travel started with a 3:00 AM wakeup call from the Taxi driver to pick us up, ONLY, he was supposed to be there at 3:00 PM. big difference.  Needless to say,  Fritz and I were awakened quite early and found it hard to sleep afterwards. After a wonderful luncheon for SBRM, and busy day for both of us.  a different Taxi driver picked us up at 3:00 PM and off we went to SB air bus, Lax, and finally on to Boston.  12hours all together.  But we made it, met up with Johan and Rachel who flew at the same time from San Diego.  Thankfully we were able to get our apartment early at 8:00 am.  We crashed and caught up on our sleep.

Dorian and Fred arrived also in the afternoon.  We are having a lovely dinner and relaxing around the nice apartment.  We are right by the Boston Gardens,  American's first public park.  A few blocks away is the Boston Library, American's first Public Library.  Boston is a city of firsts as you might imagine already.  First fire station, first medical school ( Harvard),  first public school. It has over 60 colleges within the Boston area, and 27 within the city limits.  Academia Capitol of the USA.  There are more students here than any other city in the US is what I understand.  Something like 60,000 graduates every year.  

 And we love visiting this place too.   Home of Fenway Park, the Celtics, the Patriots... so much in so little area geographically.  We are looking forward to Graduation Day for Johan tomorrow.  Big Day!

Time to catch up on the Zzzzzzzzzzzz!