A Heavenly Birthday

I have been using some "down time" lately, and working on, updating, and filling in some of the blanks and gaps I have in my ancestry research. It was while working on some research last night, I was reminded that today would have been my Pépère's 112th birthday.

For those who have not been lingering on The Life of a Father of Five very long, you may not know the story of the nick-names we used for our grandparents.

 We called our maternal grandparents Mémère and Pépère.

These are French / French-Canadian affectionate names for Grandmother and Grandfather. Their first grandchildren were my cousins Janice and Cindy. They live in northern Maine right on the Canadian Border where many people (including my Uncle's wife, and their mother) spoke a version of French Canadian as well as English.  Their children (my cousins) "J" and "C" started calling our grandparents Mémère and Pépère before I was born, and (at least for my sister and I) those affectionate terms seem to have stuck.  We used them throughout my grandparents lives.  I still refer to them by these terms more than 37 years after their passing.

Having lost my paternal grandfather at the age of five, my "Pep" (a shortened version of  Pépère) and I became very close.


In the photo to the right, is my Uncle "G" in the Navy Uniform, Pep in his University of Minnesota Police Officer's Class A Uniform, and my Uncle "D" in the Air Force uniform.

It was Uncle D who eventually moved to Maine, and who's kids started the somewhat unique nick-naming of my grandparents. (Well, unique to the Midwest were we don't see a lot of French Canadian culture.)

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Now that I am thinking about Pep, and seeing as it is his birthday - I want to give you a shout-out!  HAPPY 112th BIRTHDAY PEP!!  Thank you for all the years we had together here, and thank you for all the years you have looked out for me since.  I have never gone more than a few days without feeling your presence one way or another.

HAPPY 112th BIRTHDAY PEP!!
You have been, and will forever remain in my heart!!

The Christmas Altar

When I was a little boy my grandparents - Mémère & Pépère (well, actually I am pretty certain it was more Mémère) did some very specific holiday decorating.  One of the things she did each year that seemed so unique, was to decorate her windows.  Window decorating is not that uncommon, but the method Mémère used to decorate her windows was!  I don’t remember seeing anyone else doing it then, and I have not seen anyone do it since.  (Maybe advancements in window technology makes it no longer practical or even possible).

(BTW -  Mémère is pronounced "Mem-May” and Pépère is pronounced “Pep-Pay”)

My Mémère used to build mini Christmas villages between her sash windows and the storm windows.  She had miniature cardboard buildings, cotton “snow”, glitter, a Santa in his sleigh with reindeer, and even used lick-and-stick stars on the windows.  Basically, she created Dioramas of Christmas scenes between the windows. 

Quite interestingly, while researching this post, I was not able to locate any images that were similar to what Mémère used to do with her windows.  I am hoping maybe my mom has a few photos of Mémère’s windows… 

MOM?? 

One of the other Christmas decorating traditions she had was her “Christmas Altar”.

The Christmas Altar is a tiered ceramic “structure” with several holes in it.  The holes hold glass “candles”.  I call them “candles” because the interior of the altar contains a light source and the glass “candles” collect, defuse and project the light from inside.  The altar is topped with a Sacred Heart of Jesus statue, and two guardian angels (one on his left and one on his right).  Each guardian angel also holds one of the glass candles. 

In the center of the altar, is a hand painted relief of the Holy Eucharist over a chalice.  Below that is a hand painted relief of the Last Supper.  On either side of the Last Supper are several hand painted pillars and a relief of a torch with a glass candle where the flame would normally be located. 

Often, while staying at Mémère’s house before Christmas, she would pull out and together we would set up her Christmas Altar.  I have many fond memories of being together while helping her set up the Altar.  At one point somewhere in my youth, Mémère told me that she wanted the altar to be mine one day.

Pépère passed away in 1981, and Mémère joined him two years later in 1983.  After Mémère passed (when I was 14 years old) the altar came to our house.  Between 1983 and 2013, the altar was set up only a handful of times.  Most of those years, the altar was kept in the solitude of my parent’s crawl space. 

This year, while decorating for Christmas, my parents brought the altar out and decided it was time to “officially” deliver to me.  It arrived in (and will remain in) the original packing box.  The info located on the box helped me track down what little info I could about the “Christmas Altar”.  Since I found so little info, I decided to share the knowledge I have learned (and a few images) with the world.   

Below, are a series of photographs of the Christmas Altar.  Packaging, clean up (and a minor “improvement”), and some close up photographs to document as much as I can about the altar.   

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Here is how the altar arrived.  The box is marked Fragile.
(The contents are certainly all that – and more!) 

The Altar is still packed in the original box that Mémère (and subsequently) my parents kept it packed in.  Inside the box is the altar and a very old “Dayton’s” box that Mémère kept the glass candles in.

According to the package, the Altar was manufactured by Noma Industries, Inc – then shipped to S.H. Clausin & Co. – both located in Minneapolis.

I have done a bit of internet research on both Noma and S.H. Clausin. 

Noma is no longer a “business” but is still considered a registered trademark for holiday lighting products.  

S.H. Clausin & Co. appears to have been a jewelry (and gift?) shop.  I did not find a lot of info available on the shop, but I did locate a help wanted ad to fill an open “Material and Tool Man” position from the April 30th 1919 edition of “The Jewelers’ Circular”  

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Since I was already researching Noma and S.H. Clausin – I turned my focus to the actual altar.  I started searching terms like Noma and Ceramic and Altar – and over time (and a number of search combinations) I was able to piece together some tidbits of additional info about the Altar.

In addition to Holiday lighting, Noma made several other items. 
Of interest – it seems that they had a large production of “Chalkware” items. 

According to Wikipedia - Chalkware is items either made of sculpted gypsum or cast from plaster moulds and painted with watercolors - most typically made in one of two periods: the first beginning in the late 18th century and ending by the beginning of the 20th century, the second being during the Great Depression.

If you do a few internet searches, you will find links and photos to several Noma chalkware figurines, music boxes, statutes, and the like – including a few (very few) of these religious “altars”!

What little info I did find was that it appears Noma made these altars between the 1920’s-1930’s through the 1950’s.  I wish I had a specific date on MY altar, but alas – I do not.

I have also found them referred to as a Noma Glolite Altar, Noma Glolite Chalkware, Glolite Altar, Glolite Last Supper Altar and similar combinations of those key words.  

  

 

So far, I have seen a couple of different versions – some have the extended sides (and angel figurines) like mine does, but most other ones are a bit smaller.  These versions are missing the side extensions (where the torches and guardian angels are located).

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Examples below were located on Ebay and Etsy.

 

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I have yet to see a photograph of a Noma Chalkware Altar with the red tipped glass candles like mine has.  I do not know if that is original, or if the red tips are something Mémère did to modify (improve?) the original design of the altar.

Here you can see a close up of the solid glass “candles”.  The first set are shorter and thicker.  These are the candles that fill the holes in the bottom and second to bottom tiers.  Then, the four thinner and taller candles (with the cork spacers) fill the top tier.  Finally, the two longest and thinnest candles (these are about 6” in length) go through the guardian angel figurines and then down through the alter into the light chamber.  

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One of the things I also remember was Mémère never wanting it lit for extended periods.  If my memory serves me right (and that is often “questionable, at best”) she was worried about the altar overheating or being a fire hazard.

I looked very carefully at the altar and decided I was going to “upgrade” the traditional incandescent bulb (and all the heat it generates) with a newer (and slightly brighter) CFL (curly) light bulb.  CFL’s run much cooler.  While I had it apart, I took the time to give the alter a deep cleaning (with all the TLC I could give).    

 

(Above Left) – The base bolts are sunk right into the chalkware of the altar. 
(Above Right) – The number 334 was written inside of the altar.  Is that a model number?  A serial number?

  

(Above Left) The old 25w incandescent bulb.  I did not get a photo, but this bulb was replaced by a CFL bulb.  CFL’s are know to run much cooler than their incandescent counterparts.
 
(Above Right) – Just a view looking up to the top of the altar from underneath (with the base removed) 

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Here is the assembled Altar, both unlit in the daylight and with the new and improved lighting in the dark.

 

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And finally, here are some additional photos (close up) of the Altar lit up in the dark…

   

While cleaning and setting up the “Christmas Altar”, I was able to feel Mémère’s presence with me.  It was so comforting.  Just handling the altar again, flooded me with many fond memories.

Mémère’s “Christmas Altar” has joined a very specific version of A Christmas Carol as being my most cherished Christmas treasures of all time – and as long as I am able to, I will set it up and and enjoy knowing that Mémère is watching over me and my family!

30 Days of Thankfulness – The First Seven

In an attempt to breath a little life back into The Life of a Father of Five, I am stealing 30 Facebook statuses and putting them together here in smaller chunks. 

The statuses??  “30 Days of Thankfulness”

I first noticed this “trend” when one of my former Youth Group chaperones updated her Facebook status with one of her “days of thankfulness”.  I immediately fell in love with the idea.   During November (the month that Thanksgiving falls within) simply post one thing you are thankful for each day.  That’s when it hit me..  These items would make great content here.  After all, the primary reason for this blog is… 

I am keeping this blog as a collection of thoughts for my children (but others are welcome to enjoy too). Someday I hope they have they chance to read this and get just a small glimpse into the mind of their father.

These first seven are more “grandiose” (and “obvious”) concepts.  They have much more detail, and explanation included, and are much more lengthy than the others that follow.  I hope  these offer a little more glimpse into what it is like to be a “father of five”.
     

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#1 - I am thankful for my AMAZING wife – The Mother of Five.

I could not have asked for a better partner in life. She has never been anything but loving, caring, and supportive – even when I have been less than perfect. She is beautiful – both inside and outside. Together we have built a astonishing family, and a wonderful place to call “home”. I can not even begin to imagine what my life would be without her by my side.

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#2 - I am thankful for my wonderful children…

All of them. They each bring a different characteristic and element of joy (and challenge) to my life. From the first moment I met each of them up to (and including) this very minute - they have all surprised me with their unique sense of humor, intelligence, thoughtfulness, caring and compassion for others, athletic abilities, artistic talents, and ability to "push my buttons" (each in their own special sort of way).

These kids of mine have made every day of my life since their birth just a little bit better than the last - and I look forward to watching them grow into amazing adults!

#1 of 5, #2 of 5, #3 of 5, #4 of 5, and #5 of 5.

I would not be living a delightful live as The Life of a Father of Five without each and every one of them!

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#3 - I am thankful for my faith in God.

Faith comes in as many shapes and forms as the name of God does (God, Yahweh, Allah, Jehovah, Elohim, Vishnu, just to name a few). Some people believe that (which I have been personally accused of) a faith in God is for the “weak minded” - but in my life I have been fortunate enough to personally feel (and benefit from) the tremendous presence of God – many times over. The knowledge that there is a power greater than “us”, responsible for the creation of all as we know it comforts me in ways I am not fully able to articulate.

Not only am I am grateful for my own faith, I am grateful for a faith strong enough to have a healthy curiosity and interest in beliefs beyond those of my own and the ability to recognize that not everyone must believe in the same way I believe. I have learned that by educating myself about other’s beliefs (include a lack thereof) – I further strengthen my own.
 

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#4 - I am thankful for my parents.

I was raised by two very loving and very caring parents. They created (and provided) my sister and I a wonderful home and nurturing environment in which to thrive in. They made many sacrifices so that our lives were comfortable. It was through their sacrifice that I can say I was never in "need" of anything, and very few "wants" went unfulfilled. I have become the man (and father) I am today as a result of the example my father has shown me through his life, and I can see many of my mother's best traits within my wife. I have no doubt that the example she has shown me on what being an amazing mother is all about has helped guide me to finding someone just as wonderful to help me raise my family! I could not have asked for two more wonderful parents! It is just simply not possible to express my level of gratitude for ALL they have done for me throughout my life.

I am not only grateful for my parents, I am grateful for my in-laws. I know the running joke is for a man to not get along with his mother-in-law and to tolerate his father-in-law. In my case nothing could be further from the truth. My in laws have been accepting of me from the moment I met them. As with my parents, my in-laws raised my wife to be the wonderful person she is by their example. My wife is an amazing mother, and (I like to think) she selected a wonderful husband based on the traits she saw in her parents. Let's also not forget that they have entrusted me with one of their most precious gifts. Their daughter. I am a better man, a better husband, and a better father because of them. I will be forever grateful for having these two wonderful people in my life.

I will take it one step further.. My Grandparents. Those of you who know me best know just how much my grandparents meant to me. Not a day or two can go by without one of them popping up in my head for one reason or another. I have often felt their presence with me at various moments throughout my life, and I can still feel their influence in my life to this day. Many fond childhood memories are based on times spent with my grandparents, and I miss them all so much. I would give almost anything to spend just one more day with each of them.
 

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#5 - I am thankful for my friends.

True friendship is a very powerful thing. Not many are aware of the internal struggles I deal with that interfere with fostering the bonds of friendship.

That being said, I wish to share how very grateful I am having made a number of significant and long lasting friendships I have throughout my life.

It was not until many years later that I fully realized and comprehend the friendships I was making through my elementary and junior high school years at Nativity of Mary, and during my high school years at The Academy of the Holy Angels. My college years were made truly unforgettable by the almost family-like-bond I developed with a small group of very close friends.

As life progressed and my family grew, the spare time I had to spend with my friends had all but dwindled. Despite the lack of time I have to invest in my friends, a select few significant friendships have endured the test of time (and / or the lack thereof). I am able to sit right down with these very special friends and pick up right where we left off as if nary a day had passed. I am not able to fully express just how much these friends mean to me. Their dedication to our friendship seemingly knows no bounds – and I will be forever indebted to them.

Time limitations and technological advances sent me in an unexpected direction. Little did I know some seven (plus) years ago what the wonderful world of blogging would open up to me. Through my blog I have made some amazing connections. Most of these folks I may never have the privilege of actually meeting. A few of these connections I have been fortunate enough to meet, a couple others I am looking forward to meeting one day. Meet, yet to meet, or never will meet matters not. Categorizing the folks I have connected to through blogging (and other various social media technology) as anything less than REAL and TRUE friends would be shameful on my part. These “virtual” friends (and I HATE using that term) have been there for me in ways that supported me others cannot. They have provided me an alternate method to circumvent some of my internal struggles, and have provided me confidence in areas that I did not even imagine they could.

Just know that by the mere fact that YOU are reading this status update, that YOU are considered a friend – and I will forever be grateful for the friend you have been, remain, or will be to me now and into the future!

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#6 - Removed for privacy

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#7 – I am thankful for my siblings

I have previously spoke of my mother and father, grandparents, and my in-laws – but I could not forgive myself if I did not take a moment to mention how thankful I am of my sister.  My sister and I are very different, and yet very similar in many ways. I actually enjoy both the similarities and difference between us!  My sister is just slightly younger than I am – and therefore she has always been my “little sister” to me.  Like some “big brothers” – I sometimes (even now as adults) feel a little protective of her.  I have in the past, and still would take “whatever means necessary” to protect my little sis.  As life progressed, my sister and I have dealt with a challenges in “geographic proximity”.  We have (for all of our adult lives) lived across country from each other – but I am very grateful that we have been able to remain as close as we have across the miles.

My sister married a wonderful man whom I TRULY enjoy spending time with.  He (and his family) have been a gift to our family.  They have also provided me with two twin nephews which I simply adore.  When I get to spend time with them, I am in another world.  I get to do things / be someone very different with them than with my own kids, and in a “slightly devious” way, I LOVE IT!  Every time I take a moment to look at what my little sister has grown into – I am nothing less than humbled and amazed!

I only have one BIOLOGICAL sister, but through my marriage – I quadrupled that number.  Just like with my Mother and Father in-law, my Sisters and Brothers-in law have also blessed my life in many ways.  I was accepted into the family from the first time I have met them – and have been rewarded by their trust, generosity, and friendship.  Like my sister, we deal with “geographic proximity” challenges with most of my brothers and sisters in laws.  Earlier this year, my wife and her siblings (and us spouses) had an opportunity to get together.  We sat around my in-laws deck “shootin the breeze” till the wee hours of the morning.  It’s one of the more  enjoyable evenings of the entire summer!

Like with my sister, I also have two nephews through my in-laws – and I love getting spend time with them!  Through the time I spend with them, I am also allowed to play the role of “crazy uncle”!

I am thankful for such wonderful “brothers and sisters” (bio or in-law)!  

Thank you Mémère

I lost my Pépère when I was twelve years old.  Afterwards I spent a lot of time with my Mémère. 

After Pépère passed, one thing I heard Mémère repeat over and over again was how she could not wait until I got my drivers license.  She frequently told me how she was going to “make” me come pick her up and take her to the grocery store.   

She came from a generation where women did not have drivers licenses.

One could argue that she was only looking for a driver, but it was more than that!  She enjoyed pending time with me (and I with her). 

Mémère passed away two years later - when I was only fourteen years old.  

I never got that chance. 

I believe that sometimes we do not fully understand how some things may be a blessing in disguise.

Two years after Mémère (and four years after Pépère) passed away (at the ripe ol’ age of 16) I got my drivers license. In the twenty-six years since - I have been pretty lucky.  I have had a couple of (small) accidents, and had a couple of close calls, but nothing that anyone would consider “significant”. 

I have also been able to (for the most part) maintain good driving habits as a teen (not always the easiest thing to do) and have kept my cool and have used a level head even in the most difficult and stressful driving conditions.

I have always felt as if I had a “guardian angel” looking after me while I was driving. 

Since she never got the chance to let me “drive her to the grocery store”, I have never had one single moment’s doubt that when it came to all things driving - Mémère rode with me as my guardian angel instead. 

The feeling has been so strong, that I can say this with 100% certainty.   

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Last week, #2 of 5 took, and passed the Minnesota written “permit” test.  He is now the proud owner of a Minnesota “Instruction Permit”, and will soon be spending more and more time behind the wheel and on the roads.

        

Today I am officially thanking my “guardian angel” for her past twenty six years of dedicated service, and am asking her (through some special prayer requests) that she now take up the cause of helping me by watching over #2 of 5 (her great-grandson) with the same vigilance as I know she did with me.

He may not feel it, or understand it, but I am comforted knowing that she will be looking after him as she has done for me all these years. 

I have no doubts. 

Thank you Mémère…

Amateur Archeology

Archeology is defined (by Wikipedia) as…

The study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that has been left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes (the archaeological record).

Recently my parents were conducting an archeological dig of their own by doing some cleaning in their “crawl space”.  The “crawl space” is an area that you put stuff that you really do not want throw away, but you will never really want or need ever again.  It’s what every good “hoarder” needs!

While down there they unearthed some Father of Five “relics”.

One afternoon (while visiting their house with #2 of 5, #3 of 5, and #5 of 5) my parents thought it would be fun to bring out their “find” to share – allowing the kids (and myself) to sift through the collection.  As I perused the items, walking down memory lane (and while the kids were teasing me about some of the weird junk I have collected) it suddenly occurred to me that these “treasures” really did constitute a relatively accurate “snapshot” of various stages through my life.  As I sat there (feeling all nostalgic, simultaneously being mocked by my children) it occurred to me that this would make a really FUN blog post.      

In return for sharing this with you (and allowing you the opportunity to tease me alongside my children) I want to hear YOUR analysis (as an Amateur  Archeologist) of your thoughts about the owner of these items!  They are listed (as best as I can) in a slightly chronological order and/or grouped with similar items as to their relevance in my life.

Good luck, and enjoy! (But don’t tease me TOO badly)

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$3.00 in loose change

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A 1973 Rhodesian 1c coin

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Four die cast toy cars
- 1975 Hot Wheels “Hot Rod” (sans it’s front wheels)
- 1976 Tomica Porsche 911S
- 1976 Shinsei “Thunder Bird 3” This is from the UFO Commander 7 series.  It is broken and missing pieces.
      I found this in the sandbox at the park as a boy.
- 1979 Hot Wheels Greyhound Bus 

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Harris Pioneer World-Wide Postage Stamp (collection) Album – Copyright 1977

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Five Star Wars figures.
- Star Destroyer Commander
- Boba Fett
- C3P0
- IG-88
- Tusken Raider

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The detachable laser from the wing of a Star Wars X-Wing Fighter toy.

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The book of questions and rules that came from Milton Bradley’s “Go to the Head of the Class” board game.  (unknown series)

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Three Books
- Here Comes Snoopy
- Dr. Who – Programme Guide Volume 2 by Jean-Marc Lofficier (Yes, with an “e”)
- Dr. Who – And the Planet of the Dalleks by Terrance Dicks

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A bookmark from Uncle Hugo’s Science Fiction Bookstore
(Where I picked up the Dr. Who books from above)

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Adam’s “The Mysterious Hearts” Magic Card Trick

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Two green six-sided dice (not from the “Go to the Head of the Class” board game).

To be honest, I am sure these dice were kidnapped from some sort of board game and used to play Dungeons and Dragons.

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A solid brass Minnesota Voyager belt buckle.  This is part of the "Great American Buckle Collection" from 1980.  It is hand cast in solid brass (with very high relief) by Heritage Mint Ltd. and individually numbered (LE-2474).  This buckle was commissioned by Twin City Federal Savings and Loan in 1980 to pay tribute to the fact Minnesota is the outdoor capital of America.

(I have an unfinished blog post about my connection to Twin City Federal Savings and Loan.  I’ll see about finishing that one up sometime soon.)

 

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My junior high school “World Geology Timeline” project (Graded a “C” – I deserved better.)

This is a scrolled up paper approximately 10 to 12 feet long representing the earth’s Geological history.  (Thank you #4 of 5 for helping me “model” this artifact)

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A plastic “calligraphy” letter template.

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Five cassette tapes.
- 1 unmarked.
- 1 marked “Christmas 1975” on one side and “Star Blazers” on the other side.
- 1 marked “Little Mr. Bojangles”, “Go Team Go (up-down)”, “Bouncing Ball” and “Blast off!!!!” – Data on  cassette for the TI-99/4A
- 1 labeled “Quest for the King” and “Pennies and Prizes” – Another data cassette for TI-99/4A.  These are modules for the Tunnels of Doom cartridge.
- 1 marked “Adam Ant – Friend or Foe” (Note, the "D" in Adam Ant is written backwards just like it was on the album.)

I was a fan of the 80’s anime series “Star Blazers” – and one Saturday morning I was unable to watch the show, so I set up a tape recorder to record the audio in order to listen to it later.

Before flash drives, DVD ROM’s, CD ROM’s, Hard Disk Drives, and even before floppy diskettes, people saved their digital data on CASSETTE TAPES…   These are only a couple of the DOZENS I had saved my BASIC computer programs on.

I did play the “Christmas 1975” tape after I got home.  I got to hear my Mémère and Pépère’s voices talking to me for the first time in thirty years.  (They passed in 1981 and 1983). 

I cried listening to it.  I miss them so much.  

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A cassette player Microphone.   It is most likely the one used to record “Christmas 1975”.

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A box of 6 sparklers.

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A box of Coghlan’s Waterproof wooden safety matches.

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A pocket knife I found in the street – Marked “Colonial – Prov U.S.A.” on one blade “Made in the U.S.A.” on the other blade. 

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Pocket knife sharpening stone and non-matching leather pouch.

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Po.Do brand Deluxe Plastic Coated Playing Cards – Horse print – in gold colored box.

Note:  This is a COMPLETE deck!  Ahem… Did you hear that kids??  Somehow I managed to keep a whole deck of cards complete (a task my five of my children have been unable to attain in their (collective) seventy years of life).

If memory serves me correctly, this was a gift from “Walter”. 

Walter and Lydia were our next door neighbor before we moved to Bloomington (from birth through age eight).  They were my and my sister’s “Mr. and Mrs. Wilson” (of “Dennis the Menace”).  They were an older married couple with no children.  We would stop over unannounced, or spend time with them while they worked in their yard.  Lydia loved having us over and baked cookies and treats for us all the time (she was an AMAZING baker).  Walter (on the other hand) was a little more curmudgeonly in nature,  but always had little gifts and stories for us – and would frequently perform for us on his harmonica from “his chair” in the corner of their living room. 

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A paystub from my days working at the Valley West Coast to Coast hardware store.  This was truly a wonderful place to work – and I have so many fond memories of the friends I made there!

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Four birthday cards.
- One from my grandmother marked “15th”.
- Another from my grandmother (unknown year)
- One from my sister and another from my parents from my 18th birthday.

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A Mötley Crüe and Twisted Sister denim jacket button.

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Several various photographs (in chronological order as best as I can determine)

Polaroid photos of my sister and I with Darth Vader, Chewbacca, and C3P0 characters during the height of the Star Wars craze (yeah, I was am a BIG fan!).

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Polaroid photo of our family standing in our back yard.

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A black and white photograph of my parents.  I think I took this photo, but I do not recall where.

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Photograph of myself and my good neighborhood friend Steve after I caught and we landed an 8 lb northern pike while fishing at his cabin.

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Four photographs from my first trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area

A freeze dried meal

One of the Canadian border obelisks

A “mossbox”
(wooden “toilet” (and I use that term loosely) in the woods frequently covered with moss – hence the name)

A small miscellaneous waterfall

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A photo of Cassandra and I on the transatlantic flight home from our High School’s trip to Italy and Greece.

(Cassandra is a friend I made from the other school we journeyed with – I lost contact with over the years, but through a very odd set of circumstances a number of years ago I “virtually” bumped into her again.)

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These are a series of photos from a later BWCA trip of my friends Joe and Louie (one of each individually, and one of them together) taken in the boys bunkhouse at Tuscarroa Outfitters the night before we headed out for a week-long trip into the BWCA. 

Joe can be seen sporting a rugged “Duluth Pack” over his tighty-whities, while Louie is donning the sheik and all too shear Duluth Pack LINER (the plastic bag that goes inside the Duluth Pack), along with a pair of his very own tighty-whities.  Louie tops off his ensemble with a pair of turquoise colored Chuck Taylor Converse All-Star Tennis shoes. 

Don’t they look Daaarrrling?!?

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All these archeological goodies were delivered to me in a glossy plastic Normandale Community College bookstore bag.

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Now that you have seen the recently unearthed “Father of Five Collection” for yourself, I really want to hear your observations (as an amateur archeologist) about the person who “left this stuff behind”…