MaryAlice Musings and More

I have spent the morning keeping busy,  trying to locate things that I couldn't find at first, and remembering.  In 1991, my dearest friend Perry Tilleraas was at home would the next day die from AIDS.  The "Perry Helpers" had been doing round the clock help, assistance and vigil for many days, I am not sure what day it was that I was in the kitchen and Perry was sleeping he had not been out of his bed for awhile and we all knew including Perry that he was very close to passing over.  He had been talking out loud to people on the other side,  had scolded folks for praising the lord over his bedside and was being his most profound self to the very end.   In the kitchen was a little cabinet style television, and I was sitting at the small table watching the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearing.  Anita Hill was testifying, and I found myself crying in that kitchen.  Crying for Perry's imminent death and my feelings of loss, crying for Anita Hi...

A Picture of Things to Come - Not Today Though!  Still Green and NO Snow! Today is Labor Day,  in years past I might have gone to a Labor Rally.  It would mean the last day of Minnesota State Fair .  The unofficial end of summer.  The day I would leave for a week at Stout's Island Lodge !  I have had a very low key holiday weekend.  Yesterday I had some good phone check in's:  Kathy and Irv, Katherine and Robert, and Sasha.  Besides talking on the phone, I did a little "transitioning" - taking the most summery of my clothes and put them away, and got out a few more light sweaters and long sleeves!  I made a Pear Upside Down Cake that I took for supper with the Moscone's and the Fanjoy's.   After phone calls and baking I watched the 4th games of the WNBA Playoffs , wow what basketball!  Both teams that were facing elimination won and we are on to game 5 on Tuesday night.  What a series!  I am still rooting ...

After an evening of up and down basketball, with both of my teams losing.  I went off to bed very late.  I read for awhile, until I finished the book and then fell promptly asleep.  The coolness was welcoming and the weather today had been an exquisite mirror for the last day of August.  You could feel in the day the wonders of summer and the coming of fall.  I think that August, September and October are my most favorite months.  And we are just getting into them.  I woke early this a.m. checked in on the world and once again fell right back to sleep, and slept for another 2+ hours.  I could not believe what time it was when I woke up.  Now I have had a cup of my favorite tea some toast with almond butter and peach jam (from the Amish farm-stand) and am ready to resume me Tour de loop while sitting on the porch watching the clouds float by along with a few planes dropping people out for a little parachute jump.  Ok,  the ...

As you turn off the Hwy 11 Scenic Hwy (aka the Grindstone Road) and head towards this monument,  this is the view today.  I like to stop all along the way to snap photos from my phone.  Today was beyond postcard picture perfect.  I was able to do my "loop tour" with my friend Betty.  Betty had not been on the land since before the monument was designated and when she asked if she could come with me I was so very happy to say yes. We had a fine ride up the Grindstone, traveling along next to the East Branch of the Penobscot River. And it was fun to make the left hand turn onto the logging road that heads into the Monument land. 1st Stop Sandy Bank Stream....No one camping there, walked out to the water....bliss. I am blogging and watching the WNBA Game Washington/Atlanta on the computer, I just accidently closed the blog site after I had downloaded all of the pictures I wanted to use on my Tour de Loop for you.  When I download a photo, ...

Last week at this time we had the kick-off of the 2nd Anniversary of Katahdin Woods and Water National Monument Celebration, held by the Friends of KWW .  The picture above is the setting up of the Big Top Tent at Lower Shin Pond in Mt. Chase, it was an idyllic setting and a great celebration.  I have been thinking all week of what it means to be a "friend".  Our friends group formed less than six months after the Monument was designated by President Obama.  I don't know exactly how many "friends" there are but I think close to a 1000.  Being a volunteer and a member of the friends group is one of the ways that I have created community for myself here in Maine.  The strategic planning and mission development of the Friends has helped me to see how I can focus my time and energy, working as a part of group committed to our National Monument.  Tomorrow I have a volunteer day at the Monument.  There are quite a few visitors right now and I am a l...

On this steamy end of August day, this photo popped up in my FB memories.  This is Luke and Myah starting Freshman and Junior year at Cretin Derham High School.  Now Luke is the Junior and Myah is not there she is in Chicago at Loyola University.   I had a lazy morning after late night basketball and a BIG win for Seattle against Phoenix, and a heartbreaking loss by Washington to Atlanta.  It is far less nerve wracking to have a favorite in a playoff game, but your own team is not playing!  Great basketball, late night!  I did a little gift shopping today, put together my first "Gramma Special" box for Myah.  She will get it on Friday.  I told her to watch for MAIL!  It is so fun to just walk around town doing my errands,  waving to folks I know and stopping to visit because I didn't have to be anywhere at any special time today.  I visited with Anita Mueller ( Mooseprint Gallery and Gifts) she had some tasks to do and I...

Yesterday was the first day of school for both Myah and Luke.  Myah started her classes as a Freshman at Loyola University of Chicago and Luke started his Junior year at Cretin Durham High School.  I got a little text time with both of them, and the report was all was good.  They are both glad to be back in school and they like their classes and teachers.  I also got a long phone call with Sasha and she was doing well after a day of work that included some face time with Myah and check in's with Luke. I can't help but remember 1st day of school pictures of them from previous years,  thinking about Sasha as she went off to school and getting little flashes of the pictures of Bobby (my brother) and I in our saddle shoes as we went off to school. I had a less eventful day in Millinocket.  Had a lazy slow starting morning.  Then walked downtown and stopped in at AT Cafe, said hello to Jaime, had an iced tea and before I left Tim Hudson stopped in ...