Category: Milestones

Farewell Dear Nan

When I  was eight, my sister met her future husband. They were 13. They courted through letters, and occasional phone calls and visits either to Arlington where Ron lived or he came to Falmouth.

Since propriety called for a chaperone for my sister, I was nominated for the post. Everyone knew I had a big mouth and that if Mel and Ron did anything they shouldn’t I would rat them out. After all, what else do 8 year olds do?.

Consequently I met Ron’s mother, Nancy, pretty early in my life. She was studying to be an elementary school teacher, and I was a great way for her to practice.

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My Mom on the left and Nancy on the right. Two lovely ladies!

I remember her teaching me to read and to do simple math. She also read me stories, which I really loved.

When Melodie was invited to go to their cottage in Winchendon, Massachusetts, I was invited as well. Ron’s parents taught me to water ski, to shoot a BB gun, and what it was like to camp with no TV. At least I do not recall there being one there.

I remember Nan in her lovely bathing suit, being on the dock, in the boat and swimming, looking incredibly beautiful.

After Mel and Ron married, they lived with Ron’s folks while he went to school, and while Mel and Ron’s first child was born. I went up to stay with them and again, I spent time with Nan watching Boston Bruins Hockey. These were the years of Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito and Derrick Sanderson! Yes, a hockey team made in heaven!

Over the years, Nan’s life went in a different direction, but whenever we saw each other it was easy. After all, even though we weren’t technically related, she always treated me like one of her own.

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Ron and his mother Nancy.

This lovely woman passed away yesterday from complications of age and Parkinson’s Disease. Her death means that the last of our parents is gone and now Mel, Ron, Ron’s brother and I are the older generation. It’s hard to believe.

Nancy loved all of her family very much. She was proud of each of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. I think at the end, she fretted some, at leaving them all, but her body just plain gave out.

So, as I bid a very fond farewell, to a terrific lady, who made such an impact on my life, I send out my deepest sympathy to all of Nancy’s family and her friends.

Rest in peace, Nancy.

Remembering September 11, 2001

I think we all can tell you where we were, and what we were doing on that fateful day, ten years ago.

September 11, 2001

It was a beautiful day here in New Hampshire. Sunny, bright, clear with blue skies. I was taking a shower getting ready for a dental appointment, while Hubby was working on shingling the house. It was a day like any other here.
Hubby had the TV in our bedroom pointed out the window so he could listen to the morning news.

Suddenly, I felt a hand on my arm and Hubby told me I had to get out of the shower now, something was happening. I was a little dazed and confused. I shut the water in the shower off and grabbed my towel.

TOWER1

Hubby and I sat in our family room watching Fox News, ABC, and CNN. A plane had hit one of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center in downtown New York City.

TWINTO~1

EPLODI~1

While we watched, suddenly another plane came in and hit the other Tower!
We were both in shock. We listened to reports. No one was saying terrorism, not at first. But both Hubby and I knew.

sept-11-library-of-congress

I look at this picture, and I know that none of those innocent people got out alive. That thought brings me to tears each time.

We watched the Tower’s come down, one and then the other. We knew people had died. We just didn’t know how many.

At 12:30 I drove to my dental appointment. There was not another car on the road. Not one. I got to my dental appointment and found that I was the only patient that hadn’t cancelled that day.

When I got home we watched the TV all day. I called my family and my close friends. Just to hear their voices.

It doesn’t matter your political affiliations, or how you feel about the war. What matters is on September 11, 2001 innocent people died in New York City, In Washington, DC and in Shanksville, PA.

People like you and like me. Just because they were Americans.
That was the day I learned that we are no longer safe here at home.

12FLAG

I also learned that when our country is attacked in such a manner, we pull together and unify.

God Bless all who lost their lives that day, to their families, who will never be the same, and all who serve this country each and every day to protect and defend us.

September 11, 2001: Basic Facts

Chronology
8:46 AM Plane crashes into the north tower of the World Trade Center.
9:03 AM Plane crashes into the south tower of the World Trade Center.
9:17 AM The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shuts down all New York City area airports.
9:21 AM The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) halts all flights at U.S. airports. It is the first
time in history that air traffic has been halted nationwide.
9:38 AM Plane crashes into the Pentagon. Evacuation begins immediately.
9:45 AM The White House evacuates.
10:05 AM The south tower of the World Trade Center collapses.
10:10 AM A portion of the Pentagon collapses.
10:10 AM Plane crashes in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
10:22 AM The State and Justice Departments, as well as the World Bank are evacuated.
10:28 AM The World Trade Center’s north tower collapses.
10:45 AM All federal office buildings in Washington, D.C. are evacuated.
1:44 PM Five warships and two aircraft carriers are ordered to leave the U.S. Naval Station
in Norfolk, Virginia to protect the East Coast.
4:10 PM Building 7 of the World Trade Center collapses.

The Flights
American Airlines Flight 11
From: Boston, Massachusetts (Logan Airport)
To: Los Angeles, California
Lives: 92 people on board
Crashed into North Tower of World Trade Center at 8:46 AM

United Airlines Flight 175
From: Boston, Massachusetts (Logan Airport)
To: Los Angeles, California
Lives: 65 people on board
Crashed into South Tower of World Trade Center at 9:03 AM

American Airlines Flight 77
From: Washington, D.C. (Dulles Airport)
To: Los Angeles, CA
Lives: 64 people on board
Crashed into the Pentagon at 9:38 AM

United Airlines Flight 93
From: Newark, New Jersey
To: San Francisco, California
Lives: 44 people on board
Crashed into rural Pennsylvania (southeast of Pittsburgh)

Victims
Victims came from more than 90 countries around the world.
The following are the number of people who died at each site:

World Trade Center 2,823 (includes airline passengers)
Pentagon 125 (not including plane victims)
Flight 11 – 92 people on board
Flight 175 – 64 people on board
Flight 77 – 64 people on board
Flight 93 – 44 people on board

The initial numbers are indelible: 8:46 a.m. and 9:02 a.m, the times the Towers were hit. Time the burning towers stood: 56 minutes and 102 minutes. Time they took to fall: 12 seconds. From there, they ripple out.

Fact Sheet
U.S. Department of State
Washington, DC
August 15, 2002

 

Happy Twenty Ninth Anniversary

Today Hubby and I celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary. It’s funny, after all this time, it just feels like we have always been with each other. Through thick or thin, good or bad, sickness and health, we’ve somehow stuck it out.

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Twentynine years ago, we married in my hometown of Falmouth, Massachusetts. It was a bright sunny day, with just a trace of a nip in the cool wind.

It was a nice wedding, and little did I realize then, that when I said I do, time would pass so quickly and here we would be, 29 years later, still sharing our life and our love. Time flies!

Never Forget, 15 Years Ago

I think we all can tell you where we were, and what we were doing on that fateful day.

September 11, 2001

It was a beautiful day here in New Hampshire. Sunny, bright, clear with blue skies. I was taking a shower getting ready for a dental appointment, while Hubby was working on shingling the house. It was a day like any other here.
Hubby had the TV in our bedroom pointed out the window so he could listen to the morning news.

Suddenly, I felt a hand on my arm and Hubby told me I had to get out of the shower now, something was happening. I was a little dazed and confused. I shut the water in the shower off and grabbed my towel.

TOWER1

Hubby and I sat in our family room watching Fox News, ABC, and CNN. A plane had hit one of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center in downtown New York City.

TWINTO~1

EPLODI~1

While we watched, suddenly another plane came in and hit the other Tower!
We were both in shock. We listened to reports. No one was saying terrorism, not at first. But both Hubby and I knew.

sept-11-library-of-congress

I look at this picture, and I know that none of those innocent people got out alive. That thought brings me to tears each time.

We watched the Tower’s come down, one and then the other. We knew people had died. We just didn’t know how many.

At 12:30 I drove to my dental appointment. There was not another car on the road. Not one. I got to my dental appointment and found that I was the only patient that hadn’t cancelled that day.

When I got home we watched the TV all day. I called my family and my close friends. Just to hear their voices.

It doesn’t matter your political affiliations, or how you feel about the war. What matters is on September 11, 2001 innocent people died in New York City, In Washington, DC and in Shanksville, PA.

People like you and like me.
That was the day I learned that we are no longer safe here at home.

12FLAG

I also learned that when our country is attacked in such a manner, we pull together and unify.

God Bless all who lost their lives that day, to their families, who will never be the same, and all who serve this country each and every day to protect and defend us.

September 11, 2001: Basic Facts

Chronology
8:46 AM Plane crashes into the north tower of the World Trade Center.
9:03 AM Plane crashes into the south tower of the World Trade Center.
9:17 AM The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shuts down all New York City area airports.
9:21 AM The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) halts all flights at U.S. airports. It is the first
time in history that air traffic has been halted nationwide.
9:38 AM Plane crashes into the Pentagon. Evacuation begins immediately.
9:45 AM The White House evacuates.
10:05 AM The south tower of the World Trade Center collapses.
10:10 AM A portion of the Pentagon collapses.
10:10 AM Plane crashes in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
10:22 AM The State and Justice Departments, as well as the World Bank are evacuated.
10:28 AM The World Trade Center’s north tower collapses.
10:45 AM All federal office buildings in Washington, D.C. are evacuated.
1:44 PM Five warships and two aircraft carriers are ordered to leave the U.S. Naval Station
in Norfolk, Virginia to protect the East Coast.
4:10 PM Building 7 of the World Trade Center collapses.

The Flights
American Airlines Flight 11
From: Boston, Massachusetts (Logan Airport)
To: Los Angeles, California
Lives: 92 people on board
Crashed into North Tower of World Trade Center at 8:46 AM

United Airlines Flight 175
From: Boston, Massachusetts (Logan Airport)
To: Los Angeles, California
Lives: 65 people on board
Crashed into South Tower of World Trade Center at 9:03 AM

American Airlines Flight 77
From: Washington, D.C. (Dulles Airport)
To: Los Angeles, CA
Lives: 64 people on board
Crashed into the Pentagon at 9:38 AM

United Airlines Flight 93
From: Newark, New Jersey
To: San Francisco, California
Lives: 44 people on board
Crashed into rural Pennsylvania (southeast of Pittsburgh)

Victims
Victims came from more than 90 countries around the world.
The following are the number of people who died at each site:

World Trade Center 2,823 (includes airline passengers)
Pentagon 125 (not including plane victims)
Flight 11 – 92 people on board
Flight 175 – 64 people on board
Flight 77 – 64 people on board
Flight 93 – 44 people on board

The initial numbers are indelible: 8:46 a.m. and 9:02 a.m, the times the Towers were hit. Time the burning towers stood: 56 minutes and 102 minutes. Time they took to fall: 12 seconds. From there, they ripple out.

Fact Sheet
U.S. Department of State
Washington, DC
August 15, 2002

 

Happy #28

Today is our 28th wedding anniversary. Through good or bad or thick or thin, we have somehow managed to make it. Quite honestly, he is still the first person I want to speak with in the morning and the last person I want to talk to before I go to bed at night. He is my husband, my best friend, my family.

So Happy Anniversary, Hubby! Here is to the first 28! Let’s hope we have many, many, more! I love you!

Anniversary from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

Never Forget

I think we all can tell you where we were, and what we were doing on that fateful day.

September 11, 2001

It was a beautiful day here in New Hampshire. Sunny, bright, clear with blue skies. I was taking a shower getting ready for a dental appointment, while Hubby was working on shingling the house. It was a day like any other here.
Hubby had the TV in our bedroom pointed out the window so he could listen to the morning news.

Suddenly, I felt a hand on my arm and Hubby told me I had to get out of the shower now, something was happening. I was a little dazed and confused. I shut the water in the shower off and grabbed my towel.

TOWER1

Hubby and I sat in our family room watching Fox News, ABC, and CNN. A plane had hit one of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center in downtown New York City.

TWINTO~1

EPLODI~1

While we watched, suddenly another plane came in and hit the other Tower!
We were both in shock. We listened to reports. No one was saying terrorism, not at first. But both Hubby and I knew.

sept-11-library-of-congress

I look at this picture, and I know that none of those innocent people got out alive. That thought brings me to tears each time.

We watched the Tower’s come down, one and then the other. We knew people had died. We just didn’t know how many.

At 12:30 I drove to my dental appointment. There was not another car on the road. Not one. I got to my dental appointment and found that I was the only patient that hadn’t cancelled that day.

When I got home we watched the TV all day. I called my family and my close friends. Just to hear their voices.

It doesn’t matter your political affiliations, or how you feel about the war. What matters is on September 11, 2001 innocent people died in New York City, In Washington, DC and in Shanksville, PA.

People like you and like me.
That was the day I learned that we are no longer safe here at home.

12FLAG

I also learned that when our country is attacked in such a manner, we pull together and unify.

God Bless all who lost their lives that day, to their families, who will never be the same, and all who serve this country each and every day to protect and defend us.

September 11, 2001: Basic Facts

Chronology
8:46 AM Plane crashes into the north tower of the World Trade Center.
9:03 AM Plane crashes into the south tower of the World Trade Center.
9:17 AM The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shuts down all New York City area airports.
9:21 AM The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) halts all flights at U.S. airports. It is the first
time in history that air traffic has been halted nationwide.
9:38 AM Plane crashes into the Pentagon. Evacuation begins immediately.
9:45 AM The White House evacuates.
10:05 AM The south tower of the World Trade Center collapses.
10:10 AM A portion of the Pentagon collapses.
10:10 AM Plane crashes in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
10:22 AM The State and Justice Departments, as well as the World Bank are evacuated.
10:28 AM The World Trade Center’s north tower collapses.
10:45 AM All federal office buildings in Washington, D.C. are evacuated.
1:44 PM Five warships and two aircraft carriers are ordered to leave the U.S. Naval Station
in Norfolk, Virginia to protect the East Coast.
4:10 PM Building 7 of the World Trade Center collapses.

The Flights
American Airlines Flight 11
From: Boston, Massachusetts (Logan Airport)
To: Los Angeles, California
Lives: 92 people on board
Crashed into North Tower of World Trade Center at 8:46 AM

United Airlines Flight 175
From: Boston, Massachusetts (Logan Airport)
To: Los Angeles, California
Lives: 65 people on board
Crashed into South Tower of World Trade Center at 9:03 AM

American Airlines Flight 77
From: Washington, D.C. (Dulles Airport)
To: Los Angeles, CA
Lives: 64 people on board
Crashed into the Pentagon at 9:38 AM

United Airlines Flight 93
From: Newark, New Jersey
To: San Francisco, California
Lives: 44 people on board
Crashed into rural Pennsylvania (southeast of Pittsburgh)

Victims
Victims came from more than 90 countries around the world.
The following are the number of people who died at each site:

World Trade Center 2,823 (includes airline passengers)
Pentagon 125 (not including plane victims)
Flight 11 – 92 people on board
Flight 175 – 64 people on board
Flight 77 – 64 people on board
Flight 93 – 44 people on board

The initial numbers are indelible: 8:46 a.m. and 9:02 a.m, the times the Towers were hit. Time the burning towers stood: 56 minutes and 102 minutes. Time they took to fall: 12 seconds. From there, they ripple out.

Fact Sheet
U.S. Department of State
Washington, DC
August 15, 2002

My 4000th Post

Today is my 4000th posting on Dackel Princess! In 15 years it has been a joy for me to write each day and share my world with all of you! Thank you for reading and commenting!

1. It’s hard to believe, but next week’s Hodgepodge will find us in the month of September. What’s one thing you want, need, or hope to do still before summer officially ends?

Have our Lobster Bake with my cousins, Janet & Dave. They are coming up on Sunday and we will share a wonderful New England Lobster meal!

2. When were you last at ‘your wit’s end’?

Yesterday. It seemed no matter what I was doing, nothing was coming out right. Frustration mounted, and at one point I just broke down into tears!

3. Describe a time you were figuratively thrown into ‘the deep end’?

I think with the cancer surgery and repair afterward. I do not think anything could have prepared me for that. I felt like I was tossed into the deep end of the pool, and it was sink or swim. Fortunately, I am a strong swimmer!

4. Does the end always, ever, or never justify the means? Explain.

No. I believe in following the rules and doing things honestly. It may take longer, it may be harder, but in the end, I will be proud of my efforts.

5. What makes your hair stand on end?

A serious thunder and lightening storm. Not a fan. My cousin, Janet loves them, but they make me nervous. Imagine my scare when lightening hit the transformer outside my home in Florida! I was lying on the sofa one moment and on the floor the next!

6. I read an article on the website Eat This! Health, that listed 11 foods we can eat to help end bad moods. Basically it’s a feed your brain so you’re less anxious, grouchy and lethargic. The foods are-mussels, swiss chard, blue potatoes, grass fed beef, dark chocolate, greek yogurt, asparagus, honey, cherry tomatoes, eggs, and coconut. Which of those do you think would most help end your own bad mood? Which do you fear, if forced to eat, would put you into a bad mood?

All of the above would put me in a good mood, and since I am a lifetime member of Weight Watchers I will tell you that since I am a food-a-holic there is not much that makes me get into a bad mood. Maybe collard greens, but that is about it!

7. What project around your home, office, or life in general feels like there is ‘no end in sight’?

Painting. I need to repaint the entire interior of the house, as well as the trim on the outside. I’m thinking I will hire someone for the outside, but the inside I think I can handle!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Me 15 years ago with my Shubi, when I started Dackel Princess.

(no subject)

greta

Greta.

Nov. 1 004a

Arnie..

IMG_0373 (2)

Anneliese

IMG_0368 (2)

Lili

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And me, 15 years later.

The Party

The weekend was a sort of crazy one. Although Saturday was easy and laid back, Sunday was crazy busy, and it was hot, hot, hot, while I attempted to get things done.

There was a wonderful party for my former mother in-law’s 90th birthday, which I attended, down in the big city (at least for New Hampshire) of Manchester. I saw so many of my former husbands family and that was so nice. These are people I spent a lot of my youth with, and after 30 years, it was wonderful to see them again! Here is one of dear Alice, the birthday girl!

Alice Bday

The cake not only looked good, but was delicious!

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Alice and her sister Georgette.

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Savi, watching the events.

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Miss Savannah, enjoying the delicious cake.

The party was wonderful, and everything went as planned. I can hardly wait to see more pictures from the event!

As I said, it was brutally hot, and after the party, I still had to get dog food, and groceries for us. All of that meant I had to drive up a very busy rte. 93 home. Between Manchester and Meredith I saw 3 accidents. I have decided that there are far too many impatient drivers, who end up causing these accidents. I just stayed in line, carefully driving, and so far I have made it around New Hampshire this summer. But I have seen so many crazy drivers and I am not surprised at the number of accidents this year.

By the time I arrived home at Casa Dackel Princess, the heat had drained me of any energy I had. I was glad to have picked up a rotisserie checkn, and that is what Hubby and I had in the evening, for our meal. I also fell asleep instantly, after going to bed (in a nice air conditioned room), early!

Have a great week Everyone!!!

TBT: 2005 When It All Began

Looking back, May 2005 was when I started writing Dackel Princess. Sometimes I like to go back and read my thoughts. It’s been a lot of fun. We all have my cousin, Janet to blame, as she got me into writing. 10 years! And even though I have not been as diligent in the last year, I am going to try to be better about keeping my blog up and running. So, here is what I wrote that first day.

As this is the opening day of The Dackel Princess, I would like to welcome everyone to my site! As I write, spring is upon us here in the mountains of New Hampshire. With temperatures on the high 70’s my apple trees are starting to blossom and the trees on the hill are starting to leaf out. It is so beautiful! All three dogs have been running around in the yard this morning. Currently the two dachsies are taking their second nap of the day, (more like one long, long nap) and Fritz is outside asleep on the patio. His favorite spot to be. Me? I’m sitting in front of my computer trying to figure out a new bit of software. So here’s to the first entry! With many more to come!!!

This is Shubi!

June 29 008

Greta

image003

Fritz

Oct 14 004