♥ ♥ ♥

Happy Anniversary, Maria and Josh!!!

♥ ♥ ♥

SOLO Flight

I must do some bragging ~ Not only is it Casey and Amanda's 4th Wedding Anniversary, but this morning he flew his first SOLO cross country ~ 128 nautical miles from Mount Pleasant, SC, landing in Orangeburg and departing back to Mount Pleasant.  I am so proud ~ he is fulfilling a long time dream.

HAPPY 4th ANNIVERSARY, Casey and Amanda 

♥ ♥ ♥

Throwback Thursday

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

Canton's Own Alice, Patricia Gallagher

Not positive, but I believe this is 1951.  The movie, Alice in Wonderland, was premiering at the PALACE THEATRE in Canton, Ohio.  My sister, Patty, won a contest that made her Alice in Wonderland for the day.  I was only 3, so I didn't understand the excitement of her being carried around downtown Canton that day.  It had to be a thrilling experience.  If you look closely behind Patty's crown, you can see Mom in a big hat with a smile to match.  I know she had to be SO proud.

For all  my Kopka cousins, I see your Mom is in the photo, too.  Aunt Beulah was the BEST!!  Patrick and I talked of her a lot. 

  

The last tweet Maya Angelou posted 4 days ago for her 385,000 Twitter followers:

"Listen to yourself and in that quietude you might hear the voice of God."

Maya Angelou

R.I.P.

  Maya Angelou

Author * Poet * Historian * Professor * Songwriter * Playwright * Dancer * Stage & Screen Producer * Director * Performer * Singer * Civil Rights Activist

4-4-1928  ~  5-28-2014

"Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it."

Memorial Day 2014

Throwback Thursday

My fifteen minutes of fame!!  I was active in the Canton Players Guild when I was young.  This is a scene from HANSEL AND GRETEL (1961).  I played the part of Gretel ~ Hansel was played by Jim Taggart. I remember this being a very exciting time in my life. 

Studio Time

Spent some time in my studio tonight ~ Background painting in progress.

Throwback Thursday

This Throwback Thursday goes back to July 29, 1954.  I was 6.  Patrick was 11.  He loved to fish.  Mom would take him down to the park to fish occasionally.  He would also fish with our Uncle Steve and Aunt Fran and sometimes with his friends.  So, I have no idea where he caught this fish or who he was with.  I just see that I was honored to hold his fishing pole while he showed off his prize!!!!

Full Moon

Photo by Audrey

89*... Sunshine... Refreshing Thunder Shower...  Comfortable Evening... 

Family Visiting From Ohio... 
Gorgeous Full Moon...

A Perfect Day

Mother's Day Evening Moon

Photo by Audrey

Mother's Day

 

On this first Mother's Day without you, I am trying to not be sad.  You graced this earth for 96 years and I was blessed to have you by my side for 65 of them.  You deserve to be at rest now.  In my heart I know that I will be with you again one day.  Thank you for your constant love, Mom.  You were beautiful and you were amazing.

As I look up toward Heaven today, I know you can hear me say... Happy Mother's Day, Mom!  I love you.

♥

Wounds

"It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.'  I do not agree.  The wounds remain.  In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessons.  But it is never gone."

~Rose Kennedy

Throwback Thursday

Throwback Thursday ~ September 1951

My sister Patricia, Sister Mary Audrey, Me (3 years old), Patrick, and Mom.   The background looks like the side entrance to Central Catholic High School.  Not sure why we would have been there at that time other than to visit Sister.  The three of us graduated from Central, so dear Mom spent a total of 12 years worrying until we were safe at home.  The school was far from where we lived.  We had to take 2 buses each way every day.

Jake

My sweet love, silly goose, punkin', little monkey, centipede, doggie, baby, little one, sweet one, sweetness, little miracle, AND, of course, Jake.

All names this adorable little guy gets called on a daily basis.  He is definitely a gift from God.

Cinco de Mayo

HAPPY CINCO de MAYO

Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican civic holiday held on May 5 that commemorates the Mexican army's victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

The United States best recognizes the date as one to celebrate the experiences of Americans of Mexican ancestry.  Cinco de Mayo is observed by many Americans regardless of ethnic origin.

KSU May 4, 1970

The Kent State University shootings ~ May 4, 1970

44 years ago today, we were in shock ~ unrest and turmoil led to the death of 4 students. 

I was there, working in the Alumni Relations Office, which was in the building behind the jeeps in the top right hand corner of this photo.  Minutes before the shooting, I was standing on the edge of the commons looking at the unbelievable scene before me.  Little did I know what was about to take place.

I wasn't at my desk long before we were notified about the shooting.  The office doors were then locked and we were not to leave.  There were rumors of snipers on roofs and mass confusion.  About an hour or two later, we were told that we could leave at our own risk.  

I was living in a house directly across the street from the campus.  I ran and didn't stop till I was in the door of that house.  I lived with 9 other girls there (it was a 3-story old house that still houses students to this day) and we were all packing ~ we just wanted to get out of Kent.  The streets coming into the city were all closed ~ no cars could get in to pick anyone up ~ so we had to find ways to get out of town.  I remember many details from that day, the week before, and the weeks after, but I will leave that for another time.  

Today, along with many, I am remembering the events of that day.  I am saying a prayer for those who lost their lives, as I do every year on this anniversary.

We were all so young.  It was a frightening day.  A sad day.  A day that I will never forget.

Throwback Thursday

This THROWBACK THURSDAY takes me back to April 1952 ~ time spent with my Grandpa, Andrew Kopka.  It looks like we were enjoying some back porch time on a cool Spring day.  We must have been discussing that rabbit that seems to have made it into another photo.  I was 4 ~ I wonder what profound things I had to say.  Grandpa is laughing, so I would guess there was more humor involved than anything else.

Remembering That Special Day

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, Jim and Pat !!

Where did the years go?  It doesn't seem that long ago that we celebrated your marriage in a special church in the city where we grew up.  The garden scene where we enjoyed your reception was a perfect setting amid the colorful flowers and the shade of the trees.

Like all marriages, there have been bumps in the road.  But, it was smooth sailing for the most part and your love produced three beautiful children.  Now, your hearts are full with the joy that grandchildren provide.

How wonderful that you have spent all these years together, building a family, making friends, enjoying life.

Congratulations and Happy Anniversary!  May this day, once again, be special for you.

♥