Category Archives: Memoir

John’s death and funeral

Posted on July 21, 2010 by Old Woman

Inevitably, as time passed, John’s physical condition worsened.  He was supposed to have palliative chemotherapy, but in this instance the British Health system showed its weakness.  The wait for his evaluative appointment was too long.  When we were finally notified … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

The strange story of John, continued

Posted on July 19, 2010 by Old Woman

This is a continuation of The strange story of John begun in an earlier post.  As I wrote the history of John’s final months I found it was getting too long for one post.  The final days will come in … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

My tenuous brush with the literati and how I got an A- from Nabokov

Posted on June 28, 2010 by Old Woman

I don’t know the names of many movie stars, or other entertainment “celebrities” I don’t watch TV.  I get my news from NPR and the Economist and the New York Times, and I read The New Yorker and Science.  My … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

The strange story of John

Posted on June 16, 2010 by Old Woman

I met John on an airplane in the year 2000.  I was flying to England, in business class on frequent flyer miles.  As I stowed my bags I remarked to anyone listening that the plane was very hot.  A short … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir | 18 Comments

Notes from Manley

Posted on April 20, 2010 by Old Woman

On Sunday Jerry and I had dinner with 3 of our Manley friends.  We have been away for a year, and so we had a lot to catch up on. The new airport, which had been planned last year, was … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Day to day, Memoir | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

Stuffing my head with rocks

Posted on March 13, 2010 by Old Woman

When I was 12 years old I spent the summer with my grandmother, Julia (called Julie by her family including all her grandchildren), in Maine.  My grandmother had lived for years in Italy but left because of WW II.  She … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Day to day, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , | 22 Comments

Life drawing

Posted on February 18, 2010 by Old Woman

Since I was a child I have loved to draw.  I wanted to grow up to be an artist, but I didn’t manage to do that until late in life. My mother was excessive in her praise and delight at … Continue reading →

Posted in Day to day, Memoir | Tagged , , | 26 Comments

Cats, specifically, black ones

Posted on January 23, 2010 by Old Woman

There is at this time nothing new on the ferry, except that the county put out a press release saying that on the 26 th of this month the ferry and crew will practice docking in Fairhaven, a voyage of … Continue reading →

Posted in Island life, Memoir | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Hair

Posted on January 12, 2010 by Old Woman

My favorite among the long gone Burma Shave ads (a series of highway posts, each with a line of doggerel) was one that read: In this vale Of toil and sin Your head grows bald But not your chin. Burma … Continue reading →

Posted in Day to day, Memoir | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

I am in New Zealand, but where is my head?

Posted on December 2, 2009 by Old Woman

I think of my head as having little squares inside.  One square is in the present, here in New Zealand, looking around at the sights: flowers, ferns, tree ferns, undulating green hills, beaches and bays.  The country is largely agricultural, … Continue reading →

Posted in Day to day, In the news, Memoir | Tagged , , , , | 15 Comments