Lakeside's Crazy Pete

Two weekends ago when I was celebrating my birthday with Dennis, my cousin and some friends at Bob's Garage, both of my sisters texted me that a man at Lakeside had died. It made me so sad. This man was not family. He was not a friend. He was not really even an acquaintance. He was just a man.

 

I was so sad because of the circumstances. The man had only a sister. Everyone knew who he was but I don't think he had many friends. You could call him a loner but you could also call him a social butterfly. He died next to the dumpster.

 

The man's name was Alan and if you have come to Lakeside with me, you have probably seen him. He is notorious in Lakeside. He is the man on the bike with lots of plastic bags and other recyclables hanging off it.

 

From the first time we started going to Lakeside, Alan was there. You saw him once maybe a few times a day but he was always riding his bike and striking up a conversation with someone, whether it was a resident, store owner or complete stranger.

 

My sister, Annie, likened Alan to Crazy Pete from Now and Then. Both men were looked upon by the community as being different and someone who should be avoided, when in reality both were tired of being excluded for their differences and really did have kind hearts.

 

 

Personally, I don't think I ever had a conversation with Alan. Maybe because he never talked to children and as an adult, I never really was in the same place as Alan. Even on the dock, since I sat at the end of the "L". He loved to talk though.

 

My parents had daily to weekly conversations with him. Alan may have had a form of autism but he was incredibly intelligent. He always came right up to my dad on the dock and said "Bethlehem Lutheran, Glenshaw." Alan was Lutheran and that's how he came to know my parents.

 

He collected church bulletins, so my parents took him old ones from Pittsburgh. They brought him bulletins back from the Lutheran Churchwide Assembly in Orlando two summers ago and would have taken him ones from the upcoming one in Pittsburgh this August.

 

Alan also collected pens and ties. I'd like to think that many of the ties Alan sported were my grandpa's or dad's. He was always dressed in slacks, button down shirt, tie and trucker hat. Even if it was 90 degrees out! I heard he was buried with his pens and ties.

 

Even though many people disliked Alan and didn't think he should be allowed in Lakeside, he was always there, a constant in a changing community. Lakeside was exactly the family that Alan needed. It was place where he could find conversation and safety from an often cruel world.

 

The world lost a dear man when Alan died. Even though I don't know much about him or never spoke with him, my heart goes out at the sadness surrounding his death. There will definitely be a void on the dock now, one that used to be filled with his random conversations.

 

A lesson can be learned here. Just because someone is different or a little slower, does not many they are dangerous or someone to be avoided. Be kind. Sometimes all anybody needs is a friend or a little conversation.

 

That's just my two cents... "Bethlehem Lutheran, Glenshaw" signing off.

The End of An Era

As most of you know, I turned thirty a few weeks ago. It was a rather bittersweet milestone birthday. Sad to leave my absolutely fabulous twenties but also excited for what the next decade will bring as well - marriage, kids, job changes, travel. I'm not going to lie. I cried on my birthday because I was so depressed about turning the big 3-0! Don't laugh it's not easy! I've lied about my age for years, so in my mind I'll stay 25 for a few more years. Looking back, I'm happy with my twenties. No regrets.

 

(Celebrating the fact that I was more than halfway to my first colonoscopy - 2009.)

 

It's funny though. In high school, I thought I would be living in DC or overseas by this point in my life, working in international relations. Then in college I thought I would be in New York City working as an account executive at a major public relations firm. And then after grad school, I thought I'd be back in DC working at one of the museums libraries. My career aspirations might have changed in the last 10 years but one thing that I've stayed true to all these years...not wanting to get married until I was 30.

 

A few highlights from the last decade...

 

Transferring to La Roche College, where I met some of my best friends playing tennis.

 

 

Moving to Annapolis and spending a fabulous year working at RiverWest Marketing while living it up in Baltimore with Kristin and Katie or in DC with Sarah or Courtney.

 

 

Receiving my Master's from Kent State University in Library and Information Sciences.

Serving as the editor of the Lakesider where I met so many amazing people, including my newest summer sisters.

 

 

And of course...getting engaged!!!

 

 

There were many other fabulous adventures as well...watching my best friends marry and start having children, traveling the country with my family and friends and trying new things (sushi, kayaking, snowshoeing and running races). There were also many sad goodbyes...losing all three of my beloved grandparents, my dear great aunt Betty and two church members who served as substitute grandmothers.

 

So, a farewell to my twenties and a toast to my thirties! May they be happy and healthy, full of love and laughter and as fabulous as the last 10!

New Releases - Book Reviews

I'm not one to read new releases. Most of the time I don't have time or I don't like to wait for the book to be released; however, in the past two weeks I have read two new releases, The Engagements and The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story and I'm currently reading Sisterland. I'm definitely enjoying my summer deep in a book, so here are two book reviews since I've been slacking lately on the book reviews.

The Engagements

J. Courtney Sullivan

J.Courtney Sullivan is one of my favorite authors and her first two novels, Commencement and Maine I consider some of my favorite books. The Engagements, however, may be my favorite of the three. At my suggestion, my book club recently read Maine and much to my dismay did not like the book. Our meeting was the day The Engagements was released, so I in turn was quite hesitant to read the latest Sullivan work though. My gut reaction and previous excitement about her upcoming novel were right, I absolutely loved it!

The Engagements has an almost nonfiction feel to some of the segments since it is actually based on true facts about the diamond industry and the woman that created the slogan, "A Diamond Is Forever." The book opens with Francis, a writer at a large advertising firm in Philadelphia. From her point of view we see the historical value of the diamond ring throughout the course of more than five decades.

Intertwined with Francis' story are different perspectives of marriage from four couples. One couple is married following the untimely death of the wife's first husband, who just happens to be the second husband's best friend. Their story begins in the 1940s and the two believe that marriage does mean to death do us part, which is why they are having such a hard time understanding why their son is willing to leave his wife and family. The second couple is a struggling to get by in the late 1980s. The husband wants to prove himself to his wife and her family,who still after 10 years believe he is not worthy of her love. The third story follows a French woman who marries her business partner for comfort and companionship, only to leave him later for a much younger American. Finally, the last couple is not married but have been together for 10 years. They do not believe in the fuss surrounding a wedding and although they live and have a child together, they have no desire to ever wed.

Through these four couples, as well as the story of Frances, readers are taken through various aspects of marriage and what the diamond actually symbolizes and how it brings all four of these couples together in the end.

I would definitely recommend this book to fans of Sullivan's other books. It's a relatively quick read and I was sad when it ended.

The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story

Lily Koppel

We all know I love anything about space...all because of that wonderful movie, Apollo 13. I read the book by the same title that the movie is based on a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Apollo 13 was hard to read at times with all the space jargon. The Astronaut Wives Club is a much easier read. It still explains the space race but not in as much detail and all from the perspective of the wives. After reading this book, I can actually say I learned much more about the initial start of the space program, the programs leading up to the famous moon walk and what happened to he astronauts and their families following. Upon entering the program, the astronauts were required to be married. The United States wanted to present the perfect picture of the American family. Gordo Cooper of the Original Seven recruited for the Gemini missions actually asked his estranged wife and children to give him another chance just so he could enter the program. NASA didn't offer much support throughout the time that the astronauts were employed by them to their wives and children. Many of the astronauts had "Cape Cookies" as the wives referred to them at Cape Kennedy and since most of their week was spent their in training while their families were in Houston it was seen as OK. I found it ironic then that by the end of the book out of the 40 some astronauts from the Gemini, Mercury and Apollo programs, only seven of the marriages survived. To me that is ridiculous and NASA should be ashamed that they played such a role in breaking up marriages and families. It was definitely a great read and I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the space program!

Fireworks!

"And the rockets red glare.

The bombs bursting in air."

- The Star Spangled Banner

The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays next to Christmas and Thanksgiving. I've spent many fabulous Fourths at Lakeside, Kiwanis and in Baltimore. Yesterday, I started a new tradition.

I helped set fireworks up for Zambelli! Dennis is a pyrotech, so he asked if I could help also. I spent hours in the hot sun unloading tubes from a truck and then carefully placing the bombs in each tube.

Due to my limited firework skills, my duties ended there. I spent the rest of the afternoon reading in the picnic pavilion waiting out the rain. 

I have no desire to shoot because I'm scared of getting hurt.  And another selfish reason...I don't want to give up actually watching the fireworks.

I will admit there is something special about watching a fireworks display knowing that you touched each of those bombs and that now they were being fired by your fiancé and future brother-in-law.

I enjoyed every colorful expulsion despite the rain, smoke, ash and falling debris. It was like my own private fireworks display.

At the end of the show, after everything cooled down, we had to break down the tube, load up the truck and pick up the trash. It was all worth it thinking about the awesome display and cheers at the end.

Today, I'm exhausted, a little burned (I ran out of sunscreen that 's how much I had on and I still burned) and incredibly sore from all the lifting but it was worth every moment!

It was another wonderful holiday! Happy Fourth of July! God Bless America!

Suggestions for Beach Reads

Ah friends, its been so long since I had a post.  I'm slacking again.  My life is just too busy.

 

With the passing of Memorial Day, summer has officially started!  For a librarian like me, that means summer reading starts this week!  My favorite time during the library year.  I've been thinking a lot about what I want to read this year.  One of my favorite things to do is read on the beach, at the dock, in my hammock or at the pool while getting some sun (or more likely burned in my case).  I'm still working on my list but here's a list of my beach read recommendations.  I compiled this for our last Library newsletter.  The majority of the books I like to read in the summer either take place in a vacation community or about friends.  See if one piques your interest and head outside to read!  Who knows maybe 10 or 20 years from now you'll be reading my great American novel on the beach! I can assure you that it is beach read worthy.  I'm working on it.

 

 

Castaways and Summer People

Elin Hilderbrand

Read my blog post about Castaways by clicking the title.  I haven't had a chance to write a review for Summer People.  It was a great book but definitely not as good as Castaways.  Both take place on Nantucket, which is why I think I enjoyed them so much.  The characters are likable and the plots engaging.  I'd like to read some more of Elin Hilderbrand's books this summer.

 

 

Maine and Commencement

J. Courtney Sullivan

* Sullivan has a new book coming out in June called The Engagements that I will definitely be reading this summer.  I am also rereading Maine for book club this month.

Click on Commencement above to read my Good Reads review for the title.  I must not have written one for Maine, so I will when I finish it this month.  A little bit about the novel though: the story follows the Kelleher family through their many generations of summers spent at a Maine beach cottage.  It's a great combination of a beach read and family saga.

 

 

The Last Summer (of You and Me) and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Series

Ann Brashares

No explanation necessary for the Sisterhood Series but they are definitely worth reading the entire way through, especially since the final segment, Sisterhood Everlasting (an adult book), was released two summers ago.  (The link is to my Good Reads review). They are even worth rereading as adults! The Last Summer was Brashares first adult book and it is wonderful. It chronicles the lives of two sisters and their summers working on Block Island.  Warning - it's a tear jerker, so be ready!

 

 

Summer Sisters

Judy Blume

This is one of my favorite books and I have reread it so many times I've lost count.  In recent years, I love it because I have my own summer sisters now.  The book is about two lifelong best friends and their annual journey to Martha's Vineyard from childhood to adulthood.

 

 

Moon Shell Beach

Nancy Thayer

 It's not one of my favorites but its another great beach read that takes place on Nantucket.

 

 

 

The Summer I Turned Pretty Series

Jenny Han

 Absolutely loved these books! These YA titles may become repeats each summer.  The first is called The Summer I Turned Pretty (Good Reads review), the second is It's Not Summer Without You (Good Reads review) and We'll Always Have Summer is the final segment in the series.  The series follow Belly, her brother and two friends throughout their summer as teens and into college.  I was so disappointed when this series ended.

 

 

Leeway Cottage

Beth Richards Gutcheon

This is a great novel.  It was recommended to me by my parents and you know if Marcus read it that its well-written with somw historical value.  Leeway Cottage is a family saga that spans decades and intertwines the husband/father's story being a Jew during the Holocaust with tales of the family's summers at a cottage in an elite summer colony.

 

 

Prep

Curtis Sittenfield

 

 

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Little Altars Everywhere and Ya-Yas in Bloom

Rebecca Wells

 

HAPPY SUMMER READING!!!

Thursday Book Reviews

A few titles I read in the last two weeks...

I'll be the first to admit that I'm critical when it comes to books. If there is one mistake, I don't like it. If it seems predictable or too similar to other books, I don't like it. I absolutely love the Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand. Not only does it take place in Nantucket but the plot engaging and the characters strong. I could not put this book down.

The book starts with the death of Greg and Tess, a couple trying to recover from some marital problems. After leaving their twins with friends, the couple sets out on a sail for Martha's Vineyard, drowning on the trip. The rest of the book details the summer following their deaths and how the three other couples that Greg and Tess are friends with deal with the loss. There are so many surprises along the way that I don't want to write anymore to give it away.

This is a perfect summer read by the pool. I'd recommend it to fans of Ann Brashares, J. Courtney Sullivan or even Jenny Han. It would be great for those who love books about friends and summer, as I do. Enjoy this one and treasure your friends and the time you spend with them.

The Pregnancy Project is an interesting memoir by college student Gaby Rodriguez about her experience conducting a senior project about faking a teen pregnancy. Rodriguez is the daughter of a teen mom and the sibling of seven brothers and sisters who were also teen parents. Her entire life she heard people saying that she would have the same future as the rest of her family and Rodriguez did not want to become just another teen pregnancy statistic. So, she decided to fake a pregnancy for her senior project and see how others would respond to her being pregnant, despite being a good student and well-rounded individual. What starts as a well-thought out senior project that only Rodriguez's boyfriend, best friend and mother know about to a lesson in life and an international media sensation. This book starts a little slow but overall its an wonderful recollection to be the stereotype. I think adults would enjoy it but it would be most meaningful for teens to read.

A Hidden Hobby

I have a hidden hobby that many people don't realize.  Lately, time and money restrict me from pursuing it more.  I build and furnish dollhouses.  Miniatures to be exact.

When I was in middle school, I got my first dollhouse kit for Christmas.  My Grandpa and I worked together all winter to complete it.  We worked so meticulously to make sure that every piece was just right, from the shingles to the doorknob on the front door.  It was a time that I will treasure and am grateful that I had the opportunity to build it with him.

  

The dollhouse has moved from Pittsburgh to Annapolis and back again and now resides in our office.  It has survived a crash landing caused by Mittens but withstands it all.

Throughout the years, I have traveled to various miniature stores and shows, collecting pieces for my dollhouse.  I want it to resemble a hat and dress shop, so I have a number of hats and stands.  The best piece in the dollhouse is the mannequin wearing the wedding dress.  My mom made the dress out of pieces from hers and my grandma's wedding gowns.  It's incredible!

(my hat collection)

(the dress my mom made from material from hers and my grandma's wedding dresses)

A few weeks ago, I decided I'd actually unpack the furniture and set the dollhouse up on my bookshelf again.  I opened the box to discover that more than half of the furniture was broken.

My handcrafted and painted rocking chair from a show, the beautiful and very delicate side table and the glass store display were in pieces.  It was devastating to see these treasures that I had saved so much to buy and represented so much of what my mom, grandpa and I had worked on.  Hopefully, my mom can fix it but I was devastated.

Miniatures was such an important part of my life and I hope that one day I can focus on it again but for now I will treasure what I have and hopefully it can be fixed.  It's such a discussion piece and I meet more and more people that collect as well.  That's just my two cents on miniatures.

(it's always Christmas in my dollhouse)

Check out this link from one of the blogs I follow about a life-size dollhouse on display in New York and designed by Target.