Winter Wonderland

Yesterday we had a beautiful winter day with the sun shining. Today it is snowing for the past 5 hours  and it looks like we have a few more hours. Very small flakes so it isn't to deep ( about 2 inches). New England at its finest!

Chip

I went with Bob Salvatelli today to visit an old friend who is suffering from a form of dementia. Raymond "Chip" Schneider is in an assisted living residence in Ashland, MA. Chip was a fellow educator as well as a friend I spent a lot of time with during my 20's. I didn't see him in the last 6 or 7 years as our lives changed. I was made aware of Chip's situation about 1 year ago. I have been trying to go see him and finally got the chance. Chip did not recognize me at first but after my name was said he smiled and said David Hay. We spent an hour with him talking about old times. Chip couldn't add much to the conversation but he would chuckle and smile every so often. I plan on asking a few other friends to visit with Chip in the near future. He needs to see people that care about him.

Natisha's Letter 2016

Family Holiday Parties in my youth

Each year our family who go to my Aunt Jean's for a family gathering. My aunt lived in a beautiful home on Ashby State Road across from Green' s Ice Pond. Most of my father's side relatives would be there. My aunt would make her own chex mix and they had a finished basement room as well as their living room and kitchen. Nice memories of a time where the different generations of a family would gather to enjoy each other.

My mother's side of the family would gather at my Uncle Leo's home on Rindge Road during Halloween time. In their basement room we would have games set up like trying to completely eat a donut hung on a string without using our hands. My other memory is that my uncle would have different animal felts stretched for drying which he would sell.

Childhood Memory - Goody-Goody- New Year's Day

On New Year's Day my father would bring my brother Bobby and myself to the Goody to help clean after a busy night of dancing and drinking by about 150-200 people. We were very young and we enjoyed gathering up the noise makers, leis and colorful hats. We would store the extra hats, etc. in the small attic which had an opening that was big enough for a small person to fit thru. We also took our fair share of noise makers and other things home to enjoy making noise for my mother. The Goody would hire a band for the night ( believe it was Freddy Porter's Band). This morning waking up this memory popped into my brain ( a fun memory).