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Tag: John

Gary chopping silage
A farmer’s guide to Coronavirus

A farmer’s guide to Coronavirus

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Okay, so technically I’m a farmer’s wife, but after 37 years of marriage, I know a thing or two – and nearly everything about farming applies to tips for getting through this Coronavirus pandemic. (1) Wash your stinkin’ hands! Farmers get dirty. Whether it’s dirt, sweat, animal entrails, manure, or some combination of the above, your wife doesn’t want you dragging it in the house. Wash up. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) says scrub for 20 seconds. That’s exactly…

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Dead Skin Eater story, with John and Tom
Gary’s grossest story

Gary’s grossest story

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Gary is never at a loss for a good story. It’s part of his charm. Thing is, as parents, you just never know who might be listening in … We got that big fluffy sheep-dog toy for John as a gift when he was seven or so. (It’s actually a puppet. And very soft.) When we asked John what he named the fluffy beast, the answer took us by surprise: His name is Dead Skin Eater. “What? Why would you…

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Julia Child
Julia snorted!

Julia snorted!

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The year was 1991. I was editor of the now-defunct magazine Catering Today. We sponsored a popular “Catering Expo” in New Orleans. The amazing chef and author Julia Child was the keynoter for our “Crystal Pineapple Awards” luncheon that year. It was a memorable experience and we lapped up every word from this American treasure. Ms. Child was 79 years old at the time, but still going strong. When Julia moved from stressing “use real cream and butter – but…

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Gary, Tom, and Gagook
Monsters, Puh-pows, and Gagook!

Monsters, Puh-pows, and Gagook!

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Mom collected “-isms” as we grew up. When one of us used a word or phrase in an unusual or mispronounced way, it became part of the family’s lexicon. There were Harry-isms, Dave-isms, etc. We’ll no doubt revisit this topic as my brothers and I dust off our memories from long ago, but for now here are some from Gary’s and my sons. Uh-oh! Monsters! Youngest son James never missed a chance to visit Grandma’s side of the farm (she…

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Captain Tony, John, and the big fish
The young boy and the sea

The young boy and the sea

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One of the hardest parts about living in Indiana is being so far away from the ocean. Growing up, we vacationed in Ogunquit, Maine, and in earlier years, Leetes Island, Connecticut. Both spots were within walking distance to the beach. It was glorious! But we waved goodbye to all of that when we moved to Indiana in 1973. My parents relocated to Connecticut four years later and eventually retired there, but I stayed put. As our sons grew up here…

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1917 Cecelia Regan class photo
My pen pal

My pen pal

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Back in the ’60s, I was a Junior Girl Scout from the fourth to sixth grade. This was at Sacred Heart Elementary School in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. No matter what you’ve heard about Thin Mints, let me assure you that back then Scouting was all about filling up that green sash with badges. Any girl with a drop of competitiveness in her soul worked every angle to earn more badges that her sisters in green. I scoured the thick blue Girl…

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John in 2nd grade
Glasses half full

Glasses half full

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On Saturday, future daughter-in-law Aubrie and I spent the afternoon together in New Harmony. Brunch at the Red Geranium, a long walk, fun conversation, gorgeous weather – it was just lovely. I could kick myself for not talking a few photos, but despite decades as a publicist, my instincts lean more toward preserving memories with words. This is the only photo I took: This book drop-off outside of the Working Men’s Institute charmed us up the stone steps and inside…

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USA Today article about Pizza Today
A pizza my life

A pizza my life

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Although most of my career was spent at the park (with the nickname Raven Maven), for a handful of years in the late ’80s I was known as The Big Cheese. When I told park peers that I’d formerly served as editor of Pizza Today magazine, I’m not sure they believed me. They’d give me that side-eye thing. With a grin and a shrug, I’d make a mental note to bring an issue in someday as proof. Like this one:…

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John and Aubrie are engaged
John’s forever love

John’s forever love

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Such wonderful news – John is engaged! Aubrie is delightful. She’s brimming over with kindness, brains, and a sense of humor. Plus … she tells great stories. “How was your day?” I asked her last Friday when we got together to celebrate Gary’s birthday and the engaged couple’s happy news. “Well, no one threw poop at me today, so it was a good day.” Aubrie is an Occupational Therapist. She helps people, even those who don’t want to be helped….

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James in Detroit on 9/16/17
When pirates dance

When pirates dance

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I miss the brudders every day. They’re all where they need to be – and want to be – at this point in their lives, and that’s how it should be. But there are more than a few sighs around here as Gary and I reminisce. One of my happiest ongoing memories is of driving each one of our three sons to school in the morning. They were born so far apart in years (in 1984, 1991, and 1999), that…

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