WINTER
JANUARY 22, 2015, 4:43 PM
Sunset Time.
(Notice the lack of snow)
The calm before the storm. Boston had a historic, record snowfall last winter.
9:47AM, Historic record snowfall; it was like walking through snow tunnels for those brave enough to go out. They were higher than me on both sides.
FEBRUARY 15, 2015The snow was halfway up the trunk of those trees.
March 17, 2015Still freezing.
SPRING
March 24, 2015 Brookline Town Hall, Board of Selectmen meeting. Volunteer work for Mass.Sr. Action campaigning for increased insurance coverage for seniors and folks on disability.....
April 26, 2015
This is what Spring looks like in Boston in mid-April. Still freezing...but gorgeous color 'Spring Green.'
'SPRING SUNSET', April 28, 2015
Still no leaves and still cold.....
May 10, 2015
Michael died. Different world now...
When Roby died, I saw Bernice throw herself onto the coffin at the end of the service. I never saw anybody do that except in the movies. I had not experienced that depth of grief...until Michael died, unexpectedly at 62. I could feel the severing of our 30+ year relationship, friendship, colleagues like a deep wound - the world went silent and surreal. Life felt like slogging through quicksand.....slow motion.....really there are no words for that loss....
I didn't touch the camera again until July. It was hard to move at all, just putting one foot in front of the other.....Roby 2010, Shirley 2012, Mike, 2015.....the arrival of Spring, budding green leaves after such a harsh winter, historic record snowfall, usually brings excitement and happiness for those of us cooped up with cabin fever; not this year. The world dimmed. A light went out. It's not as bright.
SUMMER
Still no leaves and still cold.....
May 10, 2015
Michael died. Different world now...
When Roby died, I saw Bernice throw herself onto the coffin at the end of the service. I never saw anybody do that except in the movies. I had not experienced that depth of grief...until Michael died, unexpectedly at 62. I could feel the severing of our 30+ year relationship, friendship, colleagues like a deep wound - the world went silent and surreal. Life felt like slogging through quicksand.....slow motion.....really there are no words for that loss....
I didn't touch the camera again until July. It was hard to move at all, just putting one foot in front of the other.....Roby 2010, Shirley 2012, Mike, 2015.....the arrival of Spring, budding green leaves after such a harsh winter, historic record snowfall, usually brings excitement and happiness for those of us cooped up with cabin fever; not this year. The world dimmed. A light went out. It's not as bright.
SUMMER
Nevertheless, it was bright despite my mood. I can't resist the puffy clouds. They don't have clouds like those in California...
Approximately the same view without the leaves....winter light. Or as I like to call it, 'relentless grey.'
AUGUST 9, 2015
Another loss. I loved The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. The news is so horrible, I like my news with humor. Comedy Central took out a full page ad in the New York Times thanking him. Due to Jon Stewart, first-responders on 9/11 finally got their health care benefits that our do nothing Congress refused to fund permanently all these years. He became their advocate and walked the halls of Congress, strong arming legislators who did not want to speak to them until he finally shamed them into it.
An unexpected, surprise. Out of the blue, I got a call from Noemi, an old friend from Berkeley. We haven't been in touch since the last time I saw her. That was over ten years ago. At that time, she called me and said, "I'm in New York visiting family. I would like to go to a game at Fenway Park because they are talking about tearing it down. Can I come and visit and let's go to Fenway, my treat ! "An offer I couldn't refuse. We went to a night game, sat in the bleachers and had a fabulous time ! In the meantime Noemi got married to Jeff.
Sunset time....
SUNSET
SEPTEMBER 11, 20152:48pm
Brigham + Women's Hospital
45 Francis St., Boston.
Bobbe died in the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, now the Brigham + Women's; clearly, the hospital construction has overtaken those lovely triple deckers with triangle roofs; the new Cardiac building looms above them; leaving the hospital after appointment with Jeff Katz re. my meniscus tear.
Hospital construction never stops. It's the most congested area in Boston. Along with Beth Israel and the Mass. General Hospital where Ted Kennedy went, hospitals seem to have unlimited funding for building, building, and building... our job here in America is not to let the doctors, the food industry and the pharmaceutical industry kill us. Boston has beautiful architecture. You would never know it by this new construction. Those triple deckers are better examples.
Discovery of old family photo sent by Ken.
Ken, Aunt Ruth, Shirley, Carol, 1998
AUTUMN
1:47pm, mid-day, bright sun.
Yours truly. Going for coffee at Starbucks on Beacon Street. Indian summer, very warm day. Standing next to new shop, Trycaviar.com. It's the We Deliver part that's hilarious. I am living in the wrong place. Note the yellow leaves. It was in the 70's but the leaves were turning anyway.
1:27pm
Family of bluejays living in the tree right outside my window.
9:39AM
Where's Waldo ? Can you find the nest, the home of the Blue Jay family ?
4:26pm, Sunset. Shorter days.
Naked trees. All the leaves are gone. A lot of light at that time. Now it's dark, but the days are gradually getting longer. I love the trees on Beacon St. I missed them. They don't have these beautiful deciduous trees in California.
4:44PM
Eighth floor view of same trees in summer.
9:18 AM, View from 8th floor lobby
5:50PM
CHANUKAH
5:51 PM
9:15pm
8th floor Chanukah party
10:04pm
Chanukah party
Betty, Kenny, Gary, Clarice + Meadow
9:22 pm
Meadow, Clarice's dog
3 comments:
Bernice emailed and said: I just read your 2015 roundup. I was so touched that you mentioned how distraught I was at Bob's funeral. It was a truly unexpected response from me. I did enjoy reading your blog entries, even though there were so many losses.
Thanks a lot Bernice ! Great to hear from you. I am not finished with this post - I am still working on August - December.
SUCCESS ! I am so happy to see your comment in the comments section ! I have figured out what the problem was. I just went to Amber's blog. She does Not have an envelope at the bottom of each post. The only option is to click on Comments ! If you wanted to email my blog to a friend,you would click on the envelope + it sends a link to my blog. After I read your long, newsy comment which I really enjoyed, it occurred to me to look at Amber's blog. Sure enough, no envelope. Mystery solved. Good to hear about your telephone visits with your kids and that they stay in touch. I had a long telephone visit last night too with my friends Ron and Pam in Willits, California. I've known Ron for over 30 years. I knew him before I met Michael. They are really enjoying life in Mendocino County and I keep threatening to pack up and join them….Kudos to you Bernice that you kept trying. I appreciate it. Have a great day.
Love, Carol
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