Board Retreat

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Board Retreat email #1 

Please give some consideration to what you are yearning to receive from our upcoming Board Retreat.  

How can I make this the most fulfilling and meaningful retreat for you at this time?  

Your vision and ideas are important to keep our Board on a path that nourishes us as well as offers a fun time together with our Center and our friends and family.   

Here are some questions you might want to ponder: 

  • What would bring you joy and fill your soul in our Board meeting?  
  • What do you think are the best ways to achieve your visions?  
  • Are there topics that you have liked before? Are there new topics you want to research?   
  • What are things that we can do as a group to support each other and our world?  
  • How do we keep Spirit central to our discussions? 

I am going to be mailing out an email almost every day leading up to our Retreat.  

Also, you might want to get out a large carry tote because I will also be asking you to bring some items with you to the retreat. 

I am going to spend some time talking about some topics that begin with letter “C” – these topics will be:  

*Curiosity 

*Comfort and Calm 

*Clear Vision 

*Centering the Center 

For each one of these topics, I will be asking you to bring an item along with you. If you can’t bring the object then perhaps you can describe it to us at our meeting. 

So- starting with Friday evening please bring something that you found outside in Nature (this will be for an exploration of how we can become more curious about our paths) and also bring along something that is comforting to you (examples: a soft flannel shirt, a blanket, a rock for your pocket, a teddy bear, a poem, a book, a photo). Comfort and Calm will be one focus word for our retreat as we strive to promote ease among ourselves as members of the Board and as we can project that sense of calm during some turbulent times in our world. How do we make a retreat for everyone? 

I have been an educator for many years, but the number of Board retreats I have done is ZERO. I hope that by starting these emails now you will feel a “calling” to offer an activity, a story, or some leadership role at this important event. 

Your friend, Claire Groshans 

Board Retreat email #2 

Send a photo of the books I am looking through. 

I am spending time putting together our Board Retreat – see photo (smile) 

In the past years, one fun activity that folks could do online was an on-line personality strengths assessment test https://www.16personalities.com/ 

Board Retreat email #2 

Do you want to have some fun and possibly get to know more about yourself and the way you interact with others? 

  

In a past board retreat, a website that helps gauge our personality strengths was used in the programming. This website offers a free personality assessment test. I usually don’t think tests are fun but this one was both fun and insightful. No surprise – I am an extrovert.   

  

We will not be using this test or the results during our upcoming retreat, but I didn’t want to keep the fun all to myself. So here it is: https://www.16personalities.com/ Scroll down until you see the link for personality tests. 

  

Now… Here are some things that you can expect at the Board Retreat. 

  

We will each take one or more note cards from a hat. The note cards will have one of these words starting with the letter “C”. 

  

*Curiosity 

*Comfort and Calm 

*Clear Vision 

*Centering the Center 

*Communication 

*Contributions 

*Care 

*Companionship 

*Challenges 

*Change 

*Connecting 

*Conversations 

(And my favorite) *Celebrations 

  

As we hold our cards, we will share the word with the group and then be asked to give a reflection or thought on that word and how it can connect with our Center. Some words will be easier than others, but I believe they are all important words for our Board to consider and will help guide our intentions and vision and also help us to delight in the many ways a word can be interpreted. 

  

Don’t forget to start thinking about 2 objects to bring along on Friday night. Item #1 will be anything from nature. Item #2 will be something that displays comfort to you. 

  

I am looking forward to this time together as the Board at Interfaith. As this is the first and only retreat that I have planned, I am anxious for any of you that may want to contribute or offer a suggestion.  

Paulette, I am sure we will all miss you at the retreat, but we certainly will wish you a happy retirement party. A celebration for sure! 

  

  

  

Your friend, Claire Groshans 

The times that we selected for the retreat are Friday, May 19th from 5PM to 8PM and Saturday, May 20th from 10AM to 5:30PM  

— 

Board Retreat starts THIS FRIDAY 

I am excited to be together for our Board Retreat. I have tried to put together a meaningful and relaxing retreat. Here is our agenda: 

Agenda: 

Friday: 

Dinner – As we dine together, we will chat about when we first arrived at the Center and how our experiences led us to serving on this board. 

Sign a group birthday card for Dave Bell. 

Team building exercise – Relational Psychology – Take a virtual walk with Claire  

Show and Tell – We will share the items that we brought with us. 1) A nature item. 2) An item that speaks “comfort” to us personally. HInt: the items will become part of a vision for the Center. 

Group Meditation by Brett  

Saturday: 

Opening Meditation by Brett and hopefully a song led by Layla  

Presentations by Layla and Delyth (topics include but are not limited to Board rules/ Carver model/ By-laws/ Documents/ Relationships 

Voting for the offices of Chair and Secretary 

Luncheon 

Everyone gets to take a word from this list – a time of discussion, recognition, and planning 

*Curiosity *Comfort and Calm *Clear Vision *Centering the Center *Communication 

*Contributions *Care *Companionship *Challenges *Change *Connecting *Conversations *Celebrations *Community  

Claire’s cartography – Art with a purpose – Mapping our path forward and noting our favorite ICSG landmarks. Sample map attached.  

Guided Question/ Answer Time on SWO– Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities.  

A sending meditation by Brett for our Board as we begin our new term. 

The retreat begins with dinner. A time to enjoy the delicious foods that Delyth ordered for us. I know we all must be grateful that the Bell’s have opened their home to us for this retreat.  

Today, is Dave Bell’s birthday. I purchased a birthday card and Delyth purchased a little plant as a gift. I hope that as you finish your meal, you will take just a minute to sign the card for Dave and in your note thank them both for being the venue for this gathering. “A change of place and a change of pace equals a change in perspective.” 

At dinner, if you feel inclined to chat with others about when you first arrived at the Center and what your experiences were that led you to now serving on this board. 

There are also a few experts of quotes on pieces of paper taken from an article that appeared for Crazy Wisdom https://www.crazywisdomjournal.com/featuredstories/2013/10/31/ann-arbors-interfaith-center-for-spiritual-growth 

Interfaith Center for Spiritual Growth has emerged on the Ann Arbor scene as a vibrant place for community events and a dynamic alternative to Sunday worship. 

 
Sunday service: an upbeat gathering in which attendees, alongside ministers, provide the texts, meditations, songs, and sermons that are shared, and engage with each other during an open-mic session. 

Members of the Interfaith Center include people from all walks of life. 

A community center where they can find meaningful connections with other spiritual seekers throughout the week, 

And, if you asked, a lot of the membership at Interfaith would identify as “recovering” — be it from institutionalized religion, their formal education, or a previous way of thinking or acting. 

Those who gather there seem to share a vital interest in charting a personalized approach to spirituality and enjoy doing so in this supportive community setting. 

A New Age vocabulary is commonly used, and many members are at home in the esoteric, just as many are self-identified healers. 

Though the Center’s location is unprepossessing, its interior has a homespun charm. David Bell explained: 

 
It is not surprising that “Namaste,” both word and gesture — palms together in front of heart, accompanied by a slight bow — is much in use here. Namaste is Sanskrit for “the Divinity in me salutes the Divinity in you.” 

“Interfaith Center for Spiritual Growth: founded on the common thread in all spiritual paths.” 

In the songs, invocations, benedictions, and incantations echo the credo of the Interfaith community:   

  • Honor the universal truths in all spiritual paths. 
  • Acknowledge the inseparable Oneness of Spirit with Humankind. 
  • Understand the power of our thoughts in our lives and of co-creation in our communities. 

A sacred Sufi poem: May the blessings of god rest upon you, / May god’s peace abide with you,/ May god’s presence illuminate your heart, / Now and forever more. 

To begin the retreat, I would like to ask you to think about the day after this retreat is over. That will of course be Sunday, May 21, 2023. 

I tried doing this as I was planning what activities to fill our time to the best advantage.  

I hoped that, on the day after this retreat, I would feel that I have formed a closer connection and understanding with each of my fellow board members.  That we had collaborated on some visions and learned more about the ways we can assist the people of the Center’s who are connected to us now and the people that have yet to come to the Center. Also, how we can continue to honor the memories of the work done by previous boards and members. How do we have vision without always recreating a wheel. 

I hoped that on that Sunday after the retreat, we would all feel great about having made some solid plans for the next year at the Center. 

I pictured a sense of knowing that we are ready to (at least figuratively) roll up our sleeves and begin to make sound decisions and support the amazing staff at the Center.  

I pictured feeling proud of being on this Board and knowing that together with each of you we might take us into whatever the year brings as a cohesive team.  

One of the highest values of a staff retreat is to deepen relationships and increase connections. 

I tried to google what a good board retreat should look like.  

No matter how many sites I visited, there was one thing that really stood out and that was doing team building activities. 

I didn’t want to do the trust exercises where you encourage someone to fall backwards as you catch them. Geez, I’m sorry but I would probably drop you. Sorry. 

I asked around and I had friends suggest some activities for retreats. Their ideas included such things as straws and marshmallows. As hard as I could think, I could not find a way that would offer any long-lasting insights. 

So, after an exhaustive google search, I decided to just use an activity that I have done in my past and that is using a relational psychology test. Now, since I never did anything professionally with my college experience as a psych. Minor … I am fairly sure that this will not be serious psychology but rather my own interpretations based on a long-ago memory of learning this technique. I learned relational psychology in college in the 1970’s. Everyone that I gave this test to were at least mildly entertained or on some lucky occasions they became a little enlightened.  Let’s try it… 

In some ways, I feel sad for you that I am the person leading such an important event because of my inexperience with this type of group. In other ways, I feel happy that my inexperience will make me and you lean into each other more and become a more interactive board. 

When I thought about that more and decided that maybe this is exactly what is at the core of the Center. That the Center is truly where we each can bring our beautiful, sometimes messy, sometimes naive, and sometimes tender selves.  

I had an image of a Viking Ship with all the rowers rowing away. In my vision, someone was pounding a drum and the rowers were all rowing with all their might to move their ship through the water. Now, the thing that concerns me is that in that image there is always someone who should be directing the ship to land.  Otherwise, the ship might be going in circles.  

But I don’t know on my own how to direct the figurative ship to land and so I am going to have to ask all of you to be shouting out directions as we go along on our time together. 

So… Before we begin the team building let’s ask this question. What is our Center? What is our mission? What is our purpose?  

A vibrant and diverse spiritual community welcoming and exploring all spiritual paths 

Interfaith Center’s Vision Statement: As expressions of divinity, we celebrate a world awakened to Love. 

Interfaith Center’s Mission Statement: Our mission is to explore universal truths underlying all paths of spiritual growth by providing weekly fellowship, learning and service opportunities, and social events to create and inspire a vibrant and diverse spiritual community. 

Life Abundant – We are many different religions and faiths, but we are just one community of humans who believe that a higher power is central to our universe. A community that cares deeply about inspiring each other. We are a group of people that stays open to learning about other faiths and wants to use that knowledge to work for good.  

The Forest Personality Test is of the type known as a “relational psychology” test — that is, it’s a mental walk-through adventure that works by taking you on a psychological journey of self-discovery. It builds up a scenario in your head step by step, ultimately encouraging you to reflect on the meaning and significance of each element of the scenario for you as an individual. 

Imagine yourself walking down some sort of path or road. Describe what you see. 

You come across a key. What does it look like and what do you do with it? 

Next you come across a cup or bowl of some sort. What does it look like and what do you do with it? 

You continue down your path and see a structure up ahead (a building or house, etc.) Describe what you see and do. 

You continue the path and come across a bear. What is your feeling, interaction, etc. with this bear? 

You arrive at a body of water. It can be anything, a puddle, stream, river, lake, ocean, etc. What is it and what do you do? 

Finally, you come to an obstacle to your path. What is it and what do you do? 

THE ANSWER GUIDE 

1. The PATH represents your life or the course your life is taking. Scenic, bumpy, hilly, straight, winding, miserable, etc. indicate how you interpret the ease or difficulty in your life. 

2. The KEY represents your education.  Keeping it means you find use for your education. If you don’t pick it up or take it with you, obviously you won’t be needing or using it. 

3. The CUP/BOWL symbolizes your family or friendships. Do you kick it to the side of the path, take it with you? Is it valuable, cracked, plastic, fine crystal, sturdy, etc.? Do you drink from it? Do you keep it with you? This might indicate that you maintain close ties with your family, and you value them. 

4. The HOUSE, BUILDING or STRUCTURE represents your mind or your religion. Is it a flimsy grass hut, a big expansive building, a warm and cozy house? Do you use your KEY to open the door? Do you linger there? Are you comfortable there? 

5. The BEAR is GOD. (Surprise, Pete! lol!) How you feel about the bear indicates your relationship with God. Frightened, calm, friendly, indifferent, angry, etc. Do you stay with him, avoid him, or run from him? 

6. The WATER is the symbol for your sex life or SEX in general. Splashing about the puddle, would indicate a very healthy sex life. Congratulations. As would swimming in the ocean or lake, etc.  

7. The OBSTACLE represents all obstacles/problems in your life. What was your obstacle? How did you approach it? Did you panic, master it with ease, contemplate it, turn around and go in another direction, etc.? I forgot to ask you what you saw on the other side… this represents how you see your future? 

I asked you to bring two items with you. Something that represents comfort to you and something from Nature. 

I am sure you could tell from my emails that we are going to use words that begin with letter “C” to help direct us into conversations about the Center. 

So, I would like to talk for a minute about Comfort. Think about a quilt patched with love, a wrap around your shoulders, a candle flickering in the corner, the feeling of sun on your face, sand between your toes, even your favorite chair. Think about baking bread, doing a puzzle or making a watercolor painting.  

Why did I choose the word Comfort to begin some conversations about the Center? 

Was it only because the word Comfort begins with letter “C”? I chose the word because I want us to realize how important it is to begin to feel comfortable with each other. Also, because I believe the Center is a place of Comfort.  

I am going to ask you to share your comfort item and also to tell us about how you have experienced (or if you have experienced) receiving and giving comfort at the Center. What are the things that you have tried to offer to promote comfort? How has someone at the Center offered you comfort? Please be as detailed as possible with your answers. 

As we go back to our Mission Statement’s words “to create and inspire a vibrant and diverse spiritual community.” In a state of comfort, it is always easier to find a path to create and inspire.  

How can we make our Board meetings, our Sunday service, and our events more comfortable and by that, I mean be a place that is active in giving courage, consolation, and sanctuary to others? This does not mean in the type of furniture we use, but instead thinking about how we make the Center a place to openly engage, relate and belong. Conversations on comfort are usually focused on the experience of newcomers and that is enormously important and vital, but I also want us to think about what it is that causes us to have that sweet moment of calm and comfort. What part of our programs offer that? Why and how do they do that? 

The opposite of comfort is being uncomfortable. Are there ways that you have experienced discomfort? Do you want to share your feelings on that topic? Are there things that have caused you to feel uncomfortable with our programs or messages?  

It is good to focus on a sense of comfort in just being. How can we give that sense of comfort in “just being” to others? How do we offer a place for people to meet each other with openness and respect?  The landscape of daily life is sometimes so challenging, what is it that gives our Center the feeling of a comfortable retreat? Can we create more programs with a focus on Comfort? 

Meditation – page 135 of Meditations on Everything inserting the phrase Feeling of Community. 

Give each person a notecard with a word on it. Tell them that this will be a word that they will lead the group in discussing. 

The words all start with letter C 

*Curiosity – Truth arises in every culture. We can be truth seekers if we are curious to learn. 

*Comfort and Calm 

*Clear Vision 

*Centering the Center – We are not on the same journey, but we are here to support others on their journey. 

*Communication 

*Contributions 

*Care 

*Companionship 

*Challenges 

*Change 

*Connecting 

*Conversations 

*Celebrations – including Sunday celebration services.  

*Community – some part of every service is about connecting to the community. During our time together we make a conscious practice of stopping and being more present to Spirit. Awakening people to the Divine power. 

Use Art for Reflection 

Saturday 

We will need to vote for the positions of Secretary and Chair 

Important to note that the Board speaks with one voice. Discuss privacy and policies. 

As I planned our board retreat, I wanted to make sure we lean into the spiritual side of leadership. I did not want to do all business and planning. I want to make sure we include spiritual development on our agenda. I am going to challenge us all to try to refuse allowing the retreat to become issues of maintenance. Instead, let’s focus on some of the words we have on our list and above all Spirit! 

Cartography project 

Your map project should have 4 city states. The city states’ names may be taken from the list of “C” words, or the city states could be called: Interfaith/ Center/ Spiritual/ Growth 

• Strengths: What has led to our Center’s successes (last year, last 4+ years)? What is our Center known for that can help us accomplish our mission? What are the good things that people say about our Center?  

Weaknesses: What do we need to improve on in order to accomplish our mission? What are the weaknesses within our structure, processes, systems, facilities, leadership, attendees, and culture that may hinder us from accomplishing our mission?  

Opportunities: What opportunities are presenting themselves to us based on our strengths and weaknesses? What should we do that we are not doing today in order to accomplish our mission?  

Threats: What are the issues, concerns, roadblocks, barriers, and threats to accomplishing our mission? What are the biggest barriers that could limit our growth and health as a center? What are we doing that does not align with our mission, vision, and values? Could we eliminate or stop doing them? 

We need to do write ups for Layla to put on the website 

https://www.crazywisdomjournal.com/featuredstories/2013/10/31/ann-arbors-interfaith-center-for-spiritual-growth

To bring with you: 

An object from Nature 

An object that speaks comfort to you personally 

Dave Bell’s address is 2 Eastbury Court, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 

What we need: 

Wi-fi password 

Post it Notes 

Pens/Pencils/ Sharpies are best 

Boxes of Crayons 

Plain xerox paper – a few sheets for each person 

A flip Chart pad 

A gift for Dave Bell (flower/plant) 

Agenda: 

Friday: 

Dinner – As we dine together, we will chat about when we first arrived at the Center and how our experiences led us to serving on this board. 

Sign a group birthday card for Dave Bell. 

Team building exercise – Relational Psychology virtual walk with Claire  

Show and Tell – We will share the items that we brought with us. 1) A nature item. 2) An item that speaks “comfort” to us personally. 

Group Meditation by Brett  

Saturday: 

Opening Meditation by Brett 

Presentations by Layla and Delyth (topics include but are not limited to Board rules/ Carver model/ By-laws/ Documents/ Relationships 

Voting for the offices of Chair and Secretary 

Luncheon 

Everyone gets to take a word from this list – a time of discussion, recognition, and planning 

*Curiosity *Comfort and Calm *Clear Vision *Centering the Center *Communication 

*Contributions *Care *Companionship *Challenges *Change *Connecting *Conversations *Celebrations *Community  

Claire’s cartography – Art with a purpose – Mapping our path forward and noting our favorite ICSG landmarks. Sample map attached.  

Guided Question/ Answer Time on SWO– Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities.  

A sending meditation by Brett for our Board as we begin our new term. 

As we go back to our Mission Statement’s words “to create and inspire a vibrant and diverse spiritual community.” In a state of comfort, it is always easier to find a path to create and inspire.  

How can we make our Board meetings, our Sunday service, and our events more comfortable and by that, I mean be a place that is active in giving courage, consolation, and sanctuary to others? This does not mean in the type of furniture we use, but instead thinking about how we make the Center a place to openly engage, relate and belong.  

Conversations on comfort are usually focused on the experience of newcomers and that is enormously important and vital, but I also want us to think about what it is that causes us to have that sweet moment of calm and comfort. What part of our programs offer that? Why and how do they do that? 

The opposite of comfort is being uncomfortable. Are there ways that you have experienced discomfort? Do you want to share your feelings on that topic? Are there things that have caused you to feel uncomfortable with our programs or messages?  

It is good to focus on a sense of comfort in just being. How can we give that sense of comfort in “just being” to others?  

How do we offer a place for people to meet each other with openness and respect?  

The landscape of daily life is sometimes so challenging, what is it that gives our Center the feeling of a comfortable retreat?  

Can we create more programs with a focus on Comfort? 

S W  O T 

Strengths:  

What has led to our Center’s successes (last year, last 4+ years)? What is our Center known for that can help us accomplish our mission? What are the good things that people say about our Center?  

Weaknesses:  

What do we need to improve on to accomplish our mission? What are the weaknesses within our structure, processes, systems, facilities, leadership, attendees, and culture that may hinder us from accomplishing our mission?  

Opportunities:  

What opportunities are presenting themselves to us based on our strengths and weaknesses? What should we do that we are not doing today in order to accomplish our mission?  

Threats:  

What are the issues, concerns, roadblocks, barriers, and threats to accomplishing our mission? What are the biggest barriers that could limit our growth and health as a center? What are we doing that does not align with our mission, vision, and values? Could we eliminate or stop doing them? 

Highlights from the Board of Directors Retreat 

On Friday evening, May 21st, and all day on May 22nd, the Interfaith Board of Directors had a dynamic and meaningful retreat. The Bell’s were gracious enough to offer their home as the venue for the retreat. It was such a lovely space to gather.  

The retreat began by discussing that the result of the gathering would be to create a strong and unified Board – a team that can work in concert with each other during the next year to look at all areas of the Center.  

As a fun way to review aspects important to the Center, the Board used several words beginning with the letter “C” as discussion launching pads. Those words were: Curiosity/ Comfort/ Clear Vision/ Centering the Center/ Communication / Contributions/ Care/ Companionship/ Challenges/ Change/ Connecting/ Conversations/ Celebrations/ and Community. 

For fun team building, the Board along with Delyth Balmer and Annie Kopko, participated in a relational psychology virtual walk, art (in the form of cartography) as a method of reflection, and lots of time for shared discussions of visions for our precious Center. Brett Koon offered meditations each day that powerfully guided focus and intent.  

Here are examples of some questions that were asked and answered during the retreat:  

What has led to our Center’s successes (last year, last 4+ years)? What is our Center known for that can help us accomplish our mission? What are the good things that people are saying about our Center? What should we do that we are not doing today to help us accomplish our mission?   

The Board was graced with presentations by Layla Ananda and Delyth Balmer. Their discussion topics included items like Board Rules, The Carver Model, By-Laws, Documents, and Relationships. 

I am very grateful for the bright spirit of hope shared at the meeting and for the enthusiasm of this Board to do the work (teamwork) of serving you as your Board of Directors.  

The current Board of Directors are: 

Marice Clark  

Claire Groshans 

Brett Koon 

Peggy Lubahn 

Darlene MacLeod 

Janet Somalinog 

Anna Cappadoro Bivona 1877 – 1976

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When Anna Cappadoro was born on November 30, 1877, in Sicilia, Italy, her father, Guglielmo, was 45, and her mother, Maria, was 44. She had seven sons and one daughter with Vincenzo (Vincent) Vincente Bivona between 1898 and 1918. She died on 10 July 1976 in Queens, New York, at the age of 98.

Anna is seated on the right side of this photo – date unknown. The magic wand on the caption means that I have made a digital enhancement to this photo.
I asked AI to take the above photo of Anna and restore it completely. I will wait for members of her family to let me know how well this photo edit worked and how realistic it is.This edit certainly helps to see the details of her lovely dress and her gold necklace. The smile is gorgeous!
The birth certificate for Anna. 26 Jul 1877. She was born in Custonaci which is a town and municipality located in the Trapani province of northwestern Sicily, Italy

I asked for AI for a translation of the birth certificate shown above:

Year 1877, on the 26th day of July, at the hour one after noon and minutes twenty,
in the Town Hall. Before me, Emanuele Occorso, Mayor and acting Civil Registrar
of the Municipality of Custonaci, appeared Cappadoro Luigi, 40 years old, stonecutter, domiciled in Custonaci, who declared to me that at the hour one after noon and minutes twenty, of the current day,in the house located on Via Salvo,
to Cappadoro Maria, his wife, housewife, living with him, a female child was born,
whom he presents to me and to whom he gives the name: Anna

The above declaration and presentation were made in the presence of the witnesses
Bascio Giuseppe, aged 40, stonecutter, and Casale Luigi, aged 30, bricklayer,
both residents of this municipality.

After this act was read to the declarant and the witnesses, they signed it with me.

Signed:
Emanuele Occorso, Civil Registrar

Wedding certificate for Anna. 27 Jul 1987 in Custonaci. Anna was 19 when she married. Her husband was 23 years old.

I used AI to translate this wedding document – see below:

Year 1897, on the 27th day of July, at the hour ten in the morning, in the Town Hall of Custonaci, open to the public. Before me, Dott. Luigi Quaranta, Mayor and acting Civil Registrar, vested in official form, there personally appeared:

Bivona Vincenzo Salvatore, unmarried, stonecutter, born in Gibellina,
resident in Gibellina, son of Giuseppe, resident in Gibellina,and of Giuseppa Foderà, resident in Gibellina; and Cappadoro Anna, unmarried, housewife, born in Custonaci,resident in Custonaci, daughter of the late Luigi, resident in Custonaci,
and of Accardi Maria, resident in Custonaci; who requested to be united in marriage.

For this purpose they presented the required documents, and from the examination of these, as well as of those already produced at the time of the marriage banns,
all bearing my approval and inserted in the volume of attachments to this register,
and finding no impediment to the celebration of their marriage, I read to the spouses the articles of the Civil Code concerning the rights and duties of husband and wife.

I then asked the groom whether he intended to take as wife the present Cappadoro Anna, and the bride whether she intended to take as husband the present Bivona Vincenzo Salvatore; each having answered affirmatively and mutually,
in the presence of the witnesses named below, I declared, in the name of the law, that they were united in marriage.

The witnesses present were: Coppola Giuseppe, 40 years old, laborer, and Di Carlo Domenico, 44 years old, farm worker,both residents of this municipality.

The documents presented were: certificates of birth, marriage banns published in this Civil Registry Office and in the Civil Registry Office of the Municipality of Gibellina,
and certificates showing that no impediment existed to the marriage. After this act was read aloud to those present, it was signed as follows.

Signatures:
Cappadoro Anna
Bivona Vincenzo Salvatore
Coppola Giuseppe
Di Carlo Domenico
Luigi Quaranta, Civil Registrar

According to my research, Anna’s two oldest children were born in Italy. They were Giuseppe “Joseph” Bivona 1898-1961 and Gugllielmo “William” Bivona 1900-1981.

Her next 5 children were born in Argentina. They were; Juan “John” Bivona 1902-1975, Francesco “Frank” Bivona 1904-1969 (the direct ancestor to my brother-in-law’s family), Vincent E Bivona Jr 1908-2001, Antonio (Anthony Tony) Bivona 1911-1998,

Her youngest was born in New York. Angelo Bivona 1918-1993.

It is interesting to note that both Anna’s father and her husband were stone cutters.

Anna became a naturalized citizen of the USA in 1945.

I have a previous blog that I have not updated but it should have a great deal of additional information about the life of Anna. https://tellinglifestories.org/2018/08/11/francesco-frank-bivona-1904-1969/

The Canarsie Courier – 15 Jul 1976.

Nicholas Knapp

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Nicholas Knapp was my 8th great grandfather. Here is how my family relates:

When Nicholas Knapp was born on May 16, 1592, in Wells-Next-To-The-Sea, Norfolk, England, his father, John, was 42 and his mother, Martha Blois (or Blosse), was 27. He married Eleanor (or Elinor) Disbrow Lockwood and they had 11 children together. He then married Unity Brown on January 9, 1659, in Stamford, Connecticut. He died on April 16, 1670, in Stamford, Connecticut, having lived a long life of 77 years, and was buried there.

In my other ancestry posts, I’ve shared that I grew up believing my heritage was predominantly German. As my genealogy research has deepened, I’ve discovered that this assumption isn’t quite accurate. In fact, a significant part of my ancestry is English, a realization that has both surprised me and opened up new avenues of learning. The more I explore my family history, the more I see how much there still is to understand.

I had to look up information about Wells-next-the-Sea where Nicholas was born. At the time of his birth, it was a small port town on the North Norfolk coast of England.

Fishing was crucial in 1592, with Wells-next-the-Sea known for crab, lobster, and herring. The port facilitated regional trade, exchanging fish and agricultural products for textiles and manufactured goods.

The town was a close-knit community with most residents involved in fishing or farming. Houses were typically built from local materials like flint and brick. Religion played a significant role, with the Anglican Church at the heart of social life.

On 6 April 1630, Nicholas (my 8th great grandfather) and wife Eleanor (my 8th great grandmother) left for America and traveled to Salem, MA.

Topographical dictionary of 2885 English Emigrants to New England 1620 to 1650

There, they were a part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was one of the very early settlers of Watertown, MA. and Stamford, CT. His life in the colonies was one of living and working under the strict Puritan governance associated with John Winthrop and Richard Saltonstall.

Refugees of 1776 from Long Island to Connecticut

Nicholas appears multiple times in Massachusetts Bay court records. In one record, Nicholas was fined for pretending or claiming to cure scurvy by using a local water source that the court judged to have no medicinal worth. Oops!

His other legal woes included land disputes, fines, and behavioral or regulatory infractions. Specifically he engaged in, an unlicensed medical practice, misuse or promotion of land or water resources and making claims that could cause disorder or deception. As shocking as this may seem, it did not necessarily mean that he was a con man because early settlers experimented with remedies – I would love to see a movie about him!

He had enough of a standing not to be jailed but was fined.

Nicholas passed away on April 16, 1670, in Stamford, Connecticut.

Spring of 2020 – by Linda Claire Hess Groshans

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Spring of 2020 

The Spring of 2020 sprung full of sorrow and fear. In January of 2020, we had heard stories of a terrible virus. The virus was named Covid-19 because it had been discovered in the year 2019. This virus made the news by January, but it had not yet really changed our lives in the state of Michigan. But the clock was ticking, and the virus was ruthless. 

By March of 2020 there were the earliest signs of Spring but also the fear of a new life reality. The virus was now proclaimed to be a pandemic. It was here to stay for an unspecified time. I have always spent a lot of my time doing genealogy. I had studied a relative’s life who had died during the 1917/18 pandemic. I also knew that these pandemics appear around every 100 years. The horror of realizing that a pandemic would be a part of my life reality was devastating. I was more worried for my family than myself. But it was all a grave concern. I have several health conditions that put me at more risk for serious disease. One of those health concerns was obesity. I made choices to use the time of the pandemic as a time to rid myself of excess weight. I planned to walk daily. I walked off pound after pound. I walked miles every day either rain or shine.  

My fear level was high. I watched the news stories, and they were not good. Our nation was not prepared for this event. Our nation’s leader denied the science and denied the revered Dr. Fauci. I was in despair. My sense of terror was growing as my understanding of the implications to the future of humanity became more informed thru the science stories that I consumed by watching hours of TV news.  

On March 10, 2020 I went for a preparation shopping trip. I was going to shop like the preppers who plan for the end of the world. I wanted to buy enough to sustain myself for several months. You see at that time I still thought the pandemic would not last more than that. I did something that is hard to do when you live in a tiny house, I hoarded. I packed a grocery cart with over $300.00 worth of food, cleaning supplies, and paper products. I had big jumbo bags of rice, pounds of potatoes and cans of soup. I only have a tiny kitchen, so my closets had to become mini pantries. I had to use my laundry soap bottles as door stops, and a rather odd look began to emerge in my tiny dwelling. As I personally started to shed some weight, my tiny home suffered from an over stocking.  

The Governor of Michigan issued a “Stay Home and Stay Safe” proclamation in the spring of 2020. I decided then that I would wait out the pandemic in the safe bubble of my little house. I live alone, so this was an incredibly significant decision that began to change many of my priorities. I am a social creature, so this was foreign to me. 

One of the first good things that happened was the advent of Zoom meetings. I zoomed. I zoomed and zoomed. I zoomed with my family in Germany and in San Francisco. I zoomed with family in St. Louis Missouri, I zoomed with family in Atlanta Georgia and in Fargo North Dakota. Oddly enough, I was also zooming with family in Ann Arbor Michigan even though we lived just a few miles from each other.  

Still, during all the despair in the world, there was a change in our seasons. Spring finally was arriving by April and May of 2020. On my morning walks, I saw signs of crocus and other spring flowers. I spent a great deal of time engaging in my other hobby of photography and especially macro photography. I posted photos to my friends on social media. I posted photos on google maps and other places. 

I had many phone calls with friends. I also started a writing campaign to our state lawmakers. My social awareness had accelerated and there was clearly action to be taken. 

In May of 2020, I sadly realized that because of Covid and my isolation I would not be making my annual trip to the flower nursery. I adore flower gardens. I sat at my computer and ordered flower seeds on Amazon Prime. So strange. It was all so strange. I ordered zinnia seeds. By the end of summer in 2020, I had a new title in the neighborhood and on social media. I was now called the Zinnia Queen because my yard exploded with these flowers in every inch of soil available to them.  

By May of 2020, I was not sure how much longer I could endure. My weight was still going down. All the walking and gardening was good for me. I also am very called to be socially active. I became very disquieted by stories coming from meat packing plants across our country, especially Iowa. I saw the working conditions for employees of these plants where they worked in horrid conditions during this global pandemic. I made a choice to be fully vegan and then I lost still more weight.  

In the spring of 2020, I took a class on cartography and made a map. I made a map of a fantasy city/state land that showed my Covid-19 experiences. By this time, I also sadly had begun to hear stories of the souls who had perished. People who I had known. Life was fearful. And yet, in my morning walks, I studied and photographed flowers. I zoomed with friends. I stopped hoarding food when I realized how easy it was to order it on-line. I engaged in learning more about the issues of racial injustices. I put my efforts into joining writing campaigns and classes as I made not just a change in my weight but in my understanding of our culture and of white privilege. I yearned for change in politics, racial equality, economics, and a million other concerns. 

Looking back, the biggest thing that was happening was the change that I was undergoing. I was a socially conscious, active liberal, a vegan Zinnia Queen. I was more in love with my loved ones even though I was not able to share time in person with them. I met new people in on-line forums. Life was moving forward. The Spring was causing a metamorphosis.  

It is now approaching the spring of 2021. I just had my Covid 19 vaccine. I have more hope. I will forever be changed. This Spring, the lessons of 2020 will be very present as I prepare to finally step outside my tiny home and into the world. I still hope to keep my Zinnia Queen title. I yearn for healing. I yearn for all people to have the opportunity to be vaccinated. I know that I will leave this experience more aware, and thankfully still alive. I have sprung into a resolve to keep the lessons of the dark year we call 2020. 

520 North Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI

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I want to make sure that the family photos of 520 North Main Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan, are preserved. This family home holds an important place in the history of Ann Arbor, as it served not only as the home of my family line but also as a Main Street tourist home. It was also and always a home where love abounded!

My mother Gretchen Lois Ream with her Grandmother Amelia Grayer standing on the front porch of 520 N. Main Street, Ann Arbor. April 2, 1939. Grandma Grayer went by Amelia just like her daughter. Grandma Grayer’s given name was Emilie Louise Wisthoff Grayer (1861-1965 – immigrated from Germany)
My mother Gretchen Ream standing on the front porch steps of 520 N. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI. Photo date estimated as 1939 or 1940.
My mother on the front porch of 520 N. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI c1940
Gretchen Ream standing in front of 520 N. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI in June of 1943
Gretchen Lois Ream standing on the front lawn of 520 N. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI. c1943.
In the left photo, my mother is standing in the back yard of 520 N. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI. The driveway to 520 N. Main was shared with the Klotz’s home next door to the North. It looks like the photo on the right side is of my mother standing in the front walkway to 520 N. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI. c1943.

520 N. Main Street, Ann Arbor, was the home of my grandparents, Amelia and Grover Ream and their children Gretchen Ream (Hess) and Robert Emerson Ream. Also living there was my great grandmother Grandma Grayer.

The home was built in the mid 1920’s. As I understand it, my grandparents had lived at this address prior to that time in a smaller house. My grandfather, Grover Ream, was a highly skilled carpenter and a member of the Ann Arbor Carpenters’ Union. He played an integral role in the construction of many large buildings in Ann Arbor, including several fraternity houses on the University of Michigan campus.

Photo of Gretchen Lois Ream as an infant. My mother dated the photo as 4 Feb 1926 on the property for 520 N. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI
My grandmother Amelia Ream with her children on the front porch steps at 520 N. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI. c1930.
Robert Emerson Ream standing on the front steps of 520 N. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI c1933
3 generations. Amelia Ream, Gretchen Ream and Amelia Grayer. 1939. On the porch of 520 N. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI
4 generations of my family! Standing in front of the large garage in back of the house at 520 N. Main Street, Ann Arbor. 1954.

It is my belief that my grandfather planned and built this larger home on their property so that my grandmother would have a means of livelihood, knowing that his own health was fragile. He died of cancer in 1930, only a few years after the new home was completed.

If “location, location, location” defines a great home, this one was ideal. It is situated just a few blocks from downtown Ann Arbor’s shopping district, the Farmers Market, and the University of Michigan’s main campus.

The house is described as a three-story home with six bedrooms and one-and-a-half baths.

As I understand it, a tourist home was different from a boarding house. It was more akin to a modern-day Airbnb, offering short-term stays. The primary clientele were traveling salesmen (yes—men, as it would have been unheard of to host female guests) and visitors to the University of Michigan.

520 N. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI
A photo of 520 N. Main Street looking across the street.

The home itself was quite large. Bedrooms on the second floor were rented out, likely for a daily fee and intended only for short-term guests. After my grandfather died, my great-grandmother and grandmother slept on the main floor, while my mother and uncle had their bedrooms on the third floor. (This is to the best of my memory and may be subject to dispute. My grandmother died just one day after my eleventh birthday.)

The house had a large, detached two-car garage with an attic space above it. The driveway was shared with the house next door on the north side, owned by our beloved friends, Madalyn and Edward Klotz.

Things I Remember About the House

The Garage
My grandmother did not own or drive a car, yet there was a very cool, old-fashioned automobile stored in her garage for someone else. Think old gangster cars—Bonnie and Clyde style. On rare occasions, we were allowed to climb onto the running boards and pretend we were headed off on great adventures.

The Living Room (19′ x 13′)
The living room sat just beyond the front hallway on the right as you entered the house. It had windows on two walls. Two large, side-by-side west-facing windows looked out toward the front porch, and two additional windows—one on each side of the fireplace—faced south.

The tiled fireplace was a focal point, though I don’t recall it ever being used. In one corner stood an old-fashioned television on a stand—the kind you turned on and waited for while it warmed up. It was black and white, but my grandmother placed colored film at the top and bottom of the screen so the sky could be blue and the grass green.

We often watched The Lawrence Welk Show together and danced while the Lennon Sisters performed. My grandmother had a soft, tall-backed armchair where she would hold us on her lap. There was also a sofa for guests and a freestanding corner shelf filled with collectible figurines—ones we were actually allowed to play with.

The Kitchen (13′ x 8′)
This is where the real magic happened. Grandma was a wonderful cook, and when we visited, she took our orders like a short-order chef. I loved her French fries, cooked in a deep fryer built right into the stove top. My sisters loved the noodles we called nifflies (otherwise known as spaetzle).

The back door was off the kitchen and opened onto a generously sized porch with steps leading down to the driveway. We were allowed to sit on those steps and eat watermelon slices—and since all watermelons had seeds back then, we were also allowed to spit them into the dirt driveway.

A pantry in the kitchen held the joke jar—a Mason jar filled with riddles Grandma cut out of the newspaper. Two side-by-side windows faced north toward the Klotz’s house.

The Hallway
The front hallway featured a wide wooden staircase with about twelve steps leading to a landing, where the stairs then turned and continued upward for another half flight. Halfway up was a lookout window.

The only telephone in the house sat on a small table in the hallway, paired with a simple straight-back chair. The front door was distinctive, with three small windowpanes arranged diagonally. A radiator stood near the door, as if to greet you with warmth as soon as you entered.

The Dining Room (14′ x 12′)
An arched opening connected the living room and dining room. Two standard-sized doors led from the dining room—one to Grandma’s bedroom and one to the kitchen. Three side-by-side south-facing windows filled the room with light.

A highboy held a candy dish on top. Grandma especially liked Neapolitan coconut candies from the dime store candy counter. Another tall cabinet displayed interesting curios, and a wall shelf held a collection of miniature pitchers.

We could all fit around the dining room table, though at one point I remember a daybed being squeezed into the space as well.

Grandma’s Bedroom (12′ x 10′)
Grandma’s bedroom held what I believe was a double bed and a nightstand. One window faced the garage, with a radiator beneath it, and another window was positioned above the bed.

When we spent the night, we were allowed to sleep beside her. Before falling asleep, we always listened as she recited the 23rd Psalm.

The Main-Floor Bathroom
This was a very small half bath—just a toilet and a pedestal sink. The floor was a distinctive black-and-white tile. A window sat above another radiator.

Despite having only a sink, this bathroom was used for bathing. Grandma went weekly to a hairdresser for shampooing and styling, and at home I learned how to bathe using a sink full of sudsy water and a washcloth. I think we called them “stand-up showers.”

The Basement
Because my grandmother lost much of her mobility due to a very aggressive form of arthritis, we rarely went up or down the stairs. When she did climb stairs, she had to use a crawling motion, placing her hands on the steps above her.

She must have lived with constant pain, yet she was always sweet and full of laughter.

The basement contained a large mangler and a coal storage area.

The Front Porch
These were the best seats in Ann Arbor for parades traveling south down North Main Street toward downtown. The porch was roomy and lined with wooden rocking chairs.

It was also the perfect place for Grandma to serve one of our favorite treats—purple cows: floats made with purple soda and vanilla ice cream. I was warned more than once that if I rocked too wildly, I would tip over.

I did.

Parades on North Main Street, Ann Arbor 1967
parade on North Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI 1968

The Second and Third Floors
The second floor held three bedrooms and one full bath, with bedrooms measuring approximately 14′ x 11′. The third floor had two bedrooms, each about 14′ x 13′. The second floor was for the tourist rooms and the third floor was the location for my mother’s and uncle’s bedrooms.

Family Pets

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I promised my father that I would continue to tell the stories of our family. One way I have tried to keep that promise is by preserving and sharing our family stories and legacy. I also simply enjoy looking back and remembering. In this blog, I reflect on some of the beloved pets who were part of our lives.

By exploring the animals our family has cared for, we are able to share happy and tender memories, funny anecdotes, and heartwarming moments. Each of these pets had a unique personality, and each became a meaningful part of our family’s story.

Whimpy was our first cat. This photo must have been taken at the back door of 1517 Harbrooke. Whimpy was free to roam outside.
Whimpy in an antique buggy at 1517 Harbrooke, Ann Arbor, MI
A beautiful photo of Mary Ann with Whimpy on the sofa at 2629 Danbury Lane.
Mutti was our second family cat. Her name was fitting because she was a mother to a quite a few kittens. Her kittens were either all black or all white.
Mutti with some of her kittens.

The Groshans got a black kitty and named her Valkyrie. This photo looks was taken at our apartment on Bemidji in Ann Arbor.

Check out the fun kitty toy and our old TV set! I’m not even sure what type of beverage Jack in enjoying?!

Amy pets Valkyrie – photo approx. Nov 1981

Amy, Valkyrie and a bottle on the sofa. The stuffed animal dog was a gift from Grandma and Grandpa. Later, this stuffed animal would no longer stand up after he was used as a sort of riding toy. LOL

Ruh-Roh! Valkyrie is on the desk. Photo taken at 609 S. 1st Street.

Love that slipped away. Email from 28 Mar 2010 to EKB

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dearest ernest,


I know that quite some time ago you slipped away from me.  I know you still love me, but the distance was there and growing.  Lately,  I have had the more disturbing feeling that I am now slipping away too.  I have had a few quiet moments this evening to ponder this.  Moving forward, starting new chapters, all comes with a price.  I am moving forward, but the price is sad.  I seem to have a memory playing through my mind today and it is of two best friends and soul mates who delighted in each other and the world they lived in. We laughed, loved, memorized every detail and held hands till the dark. We played. We laughed. We cried and we held hands. Those were the moments of my life.
I know that is going away and I do not totally understand why. I used to see something spectacular and want to share it with you.  Now, my thoughts travel somewhere else.  Is this what happens?  Does love fade?  Has this already been what you accepted?  Did you find a replacement?  Why could something so wonderful, so spectacular, so divine be going away from me?
I know that I always felt deserving of love and that love does present itself again in the universe.  I am not unhappy with a new love, just finding it so difficult to wonder how a love as great as ours slipped through my fingers. As I move forward, I am fully present in the knowledge of all I learned from you.  Were you in my life to teach me how to accept great love?  Were you there to teach me how to find joy in the journey?   Were you in my life to teach me how to be loved and accept love more fully?   It is so goofy… I always thought so much of myself that I thought I was there for you.  Now, I am humbled and know that you were there for me.  Thank you. I am on the journey…moving forward…

It is like my life journey had a seat next to me on a train.  I guess – the part that surprises me is that I thought we would sit together for the end of the ride.

My dream – 01/25/2019

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Dream:
I had a dream that EKB was standing at my front door. I knew he was supposed to be dead, yet there he was, alive and knocking. The weight of disbelief hit me as I opened the door. I told him how heartbroken I had been, how many hours I spent crying, mourning, and saying my farewells. I admitted that I’d even confided in my lawyer, questioning whether his death had been a lie — or perhaps, orchestrated for reasons I couldn’t understand.

EKB, with a tired and fragile look, explained softly that he “had to do that”—pretend to be dead. The exhaustion was clear on his face as he sank onto a nearby surface, gazing up at me. He spoke in a low voice, revealing that his death had been a ruse, part of a larger, dangerous situation he had no choice but to escape.

I turned to go back into the condo, trying to process the surreal encounter, but when I entered the kitchen, EKB was suddenly there with me. Without warning, he opened a massive barn-sized door—one I had never noticed before, hidden in the back of the kitchen. It led into a cavernous room, one so vast it could have housed four garages. Inside, the room was filled with odds and ends: old furniture, janitor sinks, forgotten relics from neighbors’ condos. And then, I noticed something strange—a square area, completely empty.

I stepped inside, a feeling of awe washing over me as I realized the space was mine. It felt like an undiscovered treasure, a room I had never known existed. As I moved my eyes across the cluttered space, I saw other people, their figures distant and blurry—some were moving things around, others casually strolling with baby carriages. Despite the chaos, I felt a profound sense of joy and amazement. How could I have missed this all this time? It was as if a hidden part of my life had just been revealed.

But EKB, still visibly drained, tried to lay down on a small, uncomfortable piece of furniture. I offered him my bedroom, but he was too weary to stand or even make it up the stairs.

At some point, I glanced out the window. There, in the shared driveway below, a strange scene unfolded. On the opposite side of the drive, children’s riding toys were scattered about, and it looked like a garage sale was set up, a jumble of items waiting to be sold. I told EKB we should go outside. Slowly, he dragged himself up the outside stairs with his hands, each movement a struggle.

When he reached the top, I noticed his legs—swollen, bloated, and painful. His feet looked the same, as though the weight of his suffering had seeped into his very body. I told him, my voice filled with concern, that this wasn’t good. With great effort, I reached out, pulling him upright, my arms straining to lift him. But then, something magical happened.

In an instant, we were dancing, as if the very air had shifted around us. EKB’s strong arms enveloped me, lifting me off the ground, and together we danced among flowers that seemed to bloom from nowhere. The world around us was vibrant with color, flowers cascading in every direction, filling the air with their fragrance. I felt weightless, suspended in his arms, lost in the pure joy of the moment. I pointed out each flower, naming them for him, as if they too were part of this fleeting dream.

There were arbors draped with blossoms, arches overhead that seemed to stretch into infinity. We moved effortlessly, the rhythm of the dance carrying us through a landscape of beauty and peace. In that moment, I was free, surrounded by love and the sheer beauty of the world. But as quickly as it had come, the magic disappeared, and EKB was gone.

The Moon – a short story by Linda Claire

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The summer night sky was sparkled with stars and a bright full moon. The little girl was seated in the backseat of her grandfather’s Chevy station wagon as they traveled the dirt roads towards his home. It was special for her to be out this late and it made her feel almost like an 8-year-old instead of the mere 7-year-old she was. 

“Grandpa, I think the moon is following our car.” She made the declaration with great and serious consideration. 

“Hmm,” he replied and then continued, “What makes you think that the moon is following us?” 

She became more animated. “So, every time you make a turn in the road, I can still see the moon right there. It has to be following us otherwise we wouldn’t be able to see it when we turned those corners.” And when she explained this to her grandfather, she felt even a wee bit older still. 

The old man adjusted the rear-view mirror a bit to glimpse his lovely granddaughter. He felt again the joy of grand parenting. He loved being let into her innocent childish thoughts, so he replied to her comment with a challenge. “Should we take the long way home and make a lot of turns and really check out your theory?” 

“Oh yes Grandpa” she was thrilled. 

The old man veered about and made many turns so his beloved granddaughter could continue to test her moon theory. 

“Grandpa, it’s working. It is still following our car.” She exclaimed and then asked, “Do you think there is a man in the moon, Grandpa?” 

“Well, I don’t know about that. What I can tell you is that the moon has always been a good friend to me. I call this friend Luna. And, I think Luna can be your friend too.” 

“Luna” she said the word with some reverence, and she was delighted to know that the moon could be her friend. “Grandpa, does Luna ever talk to you?” 

He gave a serious reply, “Oh, not in the usual way. But Luna does listen, and she sends a light out for our path. In fact, when I was in the great war, I talked to Luna right above the decks of our Navy cruiser right in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.” 

“Oh Wow!” she exclaimed and again thought to herself what a super grandfather she had. She had seen the pictures of him in his sailor’s uniform and remembered the impressive photos with the big machine gun ports. She would have to remember to ask him to show her the photos again. 

The Chevy station wagon neared the old man’s home. 

“Grandpa look your house is right here and Luna followed us the whole way. She even got here a little ahead of us.” 

Once they were in the driveway, he waited for her to get out of the car and then he took her small hand in his. The moon was indeed bright this evening. The breezes were warm. 

“Grandpa, can we just look at Luna for a while?” she implored. 

“Pumpkin let us do something else. OK?” he replied. 

“What, what else should we do Grandpa? Should we talk to Luna?” she wanted to know. 

“Nope, turn around and let Luna be at your back.” He answered. 

“Grandpa, that is funny. You are the one who told me we don’t have eyes in the back of our heads.” And again, she felt quite mature. 

“Look.” he said. “Look at the tops of the pines. Do you see it? The moon beams fall right along the tops of each pine. Look all around you and carefully. Can you see Luna shining on any other objects that we usually do not pay much attention to in the light of day? This is what it means to see things in a different light. It really is one of the best lessons Luna taught me.” 

“I do see it, I do!” she replied. She had noticed the roof of his home and the brick chimney lit by the moonlight. She noticed some gray clouds and different shadows. And then she told her grandfather the words he loved the most. “I love you so big.” When she said it, she held out her little arms wide to each side. 

“I love you to the Moon and back” he told her. 

“Grandpa, did you mean you love me to the Luna and back?” Then she smiled broadly, and the old man could barely hold all the love he had in his heart. 

A story that tells why I am here… 

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A story that tells why I am here… 

My brilliant father told stories. He was a scientist who founded a large research facility for the University, and he was a scientific advisor at the Pentagon. Yet, he was also a man who told me that an elf might be apt to carry a briefcase while walking in his woodland home. 

Because I had such a magical introduction to the world of stories, I became fascinated with telling my own tales. My stories have frequently been about such important topics as squirrel detectives or pirates feeling ill at ease in proper society. 

I bring that joy of stories told to me in early childhood to my adult life. I write new stories in my mind. I usually practice telling a story many times before I tell it. I do not always write the story down. I use my voice to help become different characters in the story. I like stories with mishaps and several fumbles by the well-meaning characters. 

My fan club includes my grandson in Germany. He frequently likes the same story told to him repeatedly. He corrects me if I forget mention of a certain event in the story and helps me write the story as it is being told. I have also done story telling circles for adult crowds while trying to engage them in telling me something too. 

I am a genealogist. I have my own website and blog written stories on the lives of my ancestors or other folks that I have researched for my friends. Even in my historical blogs, I like to find out something beyond a list of dates. A blog might start like this: “She was 10 years old when she arrived in America…” 

I am always excited to receive comments, a new idea, or any feedback that makes the story breathe itself into one that can be told and retold.