Teacher's Pet?

What an adorable photo for my 40th post since I started this blog back in August 2008! I actually picked up this image today at an antique shop in Ipswich, Massachusetts, where I spent my formative years as a young student. It is fairly obvious that this cute little kid's mother must have made sure he had his best suit of wool clothes on, and the ruffled collar/handkerchief is hilarious. One wonders if he hated it or was teased by his friends. The cap in his right hand and book in his left only adds to the pure charm of this photo from the late 19th century, which was taken at "Reed's Studio, 72 Market Street, Lynn." This would of course be Lynn, Mass. where both of my parents grew up and ironically my late aunt Diane was a teacher for more than thirty years! I apologize for the lack of posts lately but I will try my best to do better in the coming weeks. Thanks for stopping by!

A Cat's Tale

Those of you who know me well understand that I am a serious feline addict. Spending eighteen years of my life with the same cat will do that to you (ages 4-22). Since my aunt Diane died very unexpectedly in December, she left behind a son and also three other "boys", her beloved cats, Sammy, Harry, and Paddy. Amazingly, they (and me) survived the journey to my house in New Hampshire without a scratch! They are doing well, and a few weeks ago I picked up this great old photo of a cat at an antique shop in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. Interestingly, there is an inscription on the back which reads:

"Kadal, the Delta Chi Cat."

This makes me think this cat once upon a time lived at a frat house at some New England college. I'm sure he had a very good time!

Life's a Long Song, But the Tune Ends Too Soon For Us All

Matt Herrick, my very good friend, bass player, and old roomate from my freshman year at Wheaton College, passed away very unexpectedly a week ago today. He was one of the most talented, generous, and funny human beings I have ever known, and I will miss him dearly. The picture I have posted is recent history, from one of our final performances as members of the Wheaton Jazz Band in May 2001 before we graduated. Yesterday, a bunch of musicians who had played with Matt from high school through college and beyond got together and played a musical tribute to Matt at the beautiful and historic Chapel at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, where Matt worked. I had the opportunity to sing/play the song "Wildflowers" by Tom Petty, which was requested by his wife and family. Here is a sample of the lyrics:
"You belong among the wildflowers
You belong somewhere close to me
Far away from your trouble and worries
You belong somewhere you feel free
You belong somewhere you feel free"

Matt, we will meet again.

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2009 everyone. That has a very strange ring to it! Weren't we just complaining about Y2K? Anyway, I picked up this very interesting image a few months ago, and this young lady really seems to have an academic look to her. Maybe it's just the glasses, I'm not sure, but this young lady from the late 19th century/early 20th might be a very young teacher or high school student. Embossed on the front of the image is the following: "Yarmouth Portrait Co. 267 Main Street, Yarmouth, N.S." The "Gateway to Nova Scotia" as it is known, was named after Yarmouth, Massachusetts, the hometown of the first European settlers in that area in 1759, shortly after the end of the Seven Years War and the forced relocation of many French colonists in that region. This unknown lady could be a descendant of those intrepid pioneers, or of one of the many Loyalist families who escaped the American Revolution and found safe haven there. We'll never know!