porcupinequill61425776.files.wordpress.com · web viewit seems that 2017 has indeed been a year in...

We wish you time for reflections on the nature of peace, the sowing of love, careful nurturance of hope, and the exquisite experience of joy. We have tried to live at least a modest degree of each of these this past year.

It seems that 2017 has indeed been a year in which many of us, not just Jeff and I, have had to embrace these first three virtues in order to be able to hold onto remnants of that last one in a year that started with such grave concerns and disappointment for so many. Ironically, I found my commitment to political life revitalized when I started the New Year with an early January call to Jury Duty -- for the first time in my very peripatetic life. Spending four days in a criminal proceeding that challenged me in ways I did not expect provided an additional booster shot of civic-mindedness to shake off the Nov ‘16 despair.

December 2017

It was only natural, then, that Jeff and I join the procession down I-87/95 to Washington, D.C., for the massive and

marvelous Women’s March on January 21st . The energy and exuberance of half a million people, coalescing at every service plaza, rest area, filling station, and, of course, the non-stop, sardine-can-like transmission of these masses by the DC area Metro was too phenomenal to be irritating. We thanked every worker and service provider we encountered for their patience and assistance, and that seemed to be the norm for this massive crowd. No nastiness or anger. No “me first.” All mutual assistance and sharing. The only trash left were the posters intentionally delivered to the White House. We also thank our friend Ken Latta and his brother Vincent, in Centreville, VA, for providing us shelter and logistical support.

The momentum from the march inspired me to travel to and testify at a Women’s Town Hall in Hudson, NY, that was being filmed to urge our Congressman (John Faso, R, NY 19) to vote for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and this was long before the sexual abuse scandals erupted and the #metoo movement (for which I have also provided testament) swept across the country.

To continue the nurturance of hope, Jeff and I became active in NY 19 Votes, a hugely energetic progressive mobilization force here in our 19th U.S. Congressional district. We have helped host and participated in local voter canvasses, small local marches and protests (like after Charlottesville) including participating in the March for Science at the NY state capital in Albany, some of which were organized through district and country-level Indivisible chapters. And we continue to serve as regular Election Inspectors and as members of the Rensselaer County Democratic Committee. This year we engaged in a lot of

support and campaigning in our smaller community of Brunswick, as well as for some county level candidates. Interestingly, I will close the year pretty much as I opened it, in the same courtroom, watching one of our favorite candidates and new friends, Jennifer Sober, get sworn in as a county judge replacing the man who previously sat on that bench.

In addition to politics, the other keywords for 2017 would no doubt have to be babysitting, bereavement, and orthopedics. Clearly, as our Facebook friends know, Jeff and I revel in our continuing life as full-time care-givers for our two youngest grandchildren: Liam (4 ½) and Quinn (22 months). This brings us the exquisite joy mentioned above and compounds all the love we get to sow each day. We have a regular schedule of activities with Quinn while Liam is in preschool: several different “baby bounce” early literacy library

programs, a tot tumbling class, occasional “Moms’ Mornings” at the nearby mall with science activities, and we have finally gotten Quinn to accept the Child Care room at the nearby YMCA so G’pa Jeff and I can get in an occasional arthritis aquatics class. When Liam is off school we like to visit the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology, the Albany Pine Bush Reserve, swim at our complex pool in the summers, visit some great local parks, and other regional resources and special events.

This schedule also brings us into daily contact with my amazing daughter Rhea Drysdale and her exquisitely busy business life as continuing owner/CEO of Outspoken Media here in Troy. How she has time to snuggle and cuddle and dance with and teach and play with these kids is a wonder. Son-in-law Brad Cornelius is a valuable team member for her company and Super Dad around the house. We are very fortunate to be so involved in family at such an intense level. And a truly NEW THING for us this was the total foray in nurturance by way of cultivating our very first garden, a project we did ostensibly with Liam and named, no less: Liam’s Garden. Even little Quinn had rare moments of picking and loved being out

there with us.

The saddest news of the year is the passing of my mother, the indomitable Joan Metke O’Brien, this June. Her decline, after breaking her wrist in at the end of July 2016, was tragically swift. Our sister Michelle O’Brien, with help from brother Jack and his wife Linda Haworth O’Brien and a 24/7 caregiver, kept mom in her old condo with Michelle until the final days of Hospice care. Her middle son, Tim O’Brien was on the solo night watch when she finally left us. All of us six children; her long-term guest child, Jackie Moynihan; her brother Bob Metke; and many of her grand and great grandchildren were able to sit vigil with Mom during those final days. Her passing was peaceful, albeit a little crowded and even, at times, a tad humorous. She would have expected and appreciated no less. Her services were as lovely as she. This is a haunted Christmas for us, as you might imagine.

Family Cornelius: Brad, Rhea, Quinn & Liam, Halloween 2017

Corie Skolnick, Kitty Sheehan, and Linda Schreyer -half of the “Women Writing Their Lives” panel, created by the amazing Amy Ferris. You should all look up Amy and get to know her voice and words. And my Irish peeps, you ALL need to read Kitty’s essay, “Irish Wake-up Call.” All of you, yes! Now. Cripes! Just go buy all their books and enjoy.

After that long sojourn in south Chicagoland, we spent some much-needed time after the funeral healing among my son and daughter-in-law, A.J. & Tina Lear Catalanotte, along with Rhea & Brad, and their families, all at my son’s house in Waukesha, WI.

Earlier in the spring Jeff and I took a brief dip down to Cape Cod to revisit my old digs in Woods Hole and enjoy some drizzly days at the Cape Cod National Seashore. Then in August we set out in search of the Great American Eclipse. On the way we spent a few days doing genealogical research in small towns and backwoods areas of West Virginia; then we made our way to the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area not far from the eclipse’s point of greatest “totality” – Hopkinsville, KY. We camped there for several days with the ever-delightful Susan Mullen, a former teaching colleague from Jacksonville, and her husband Dennis. On the trip home we managed a night with my niece Megan O’Brien Theophilus, her husband Jon, and their little sons Owen & Ben (whom we had never met before) in Indianapolis; then snuck in a breakfast date with second cousin Laureanne Nordstrom.

This has also been a year demanding a lot of medical attention, particularly on my end. Double cataract surgery opened a vibrant new spring to me, but a short hospitalization for pancreatitis – recurring after three years, from an equally undetermined origin – dampened the fall. Serious food restrictions are in place as we struggle to determine the triggers. Jeff and I grimly joke about flipping a coin to see who gets the first shoulder surgery. I’ve lost count of the cortisone shots administered to the two of us, among hips, knees, shoulders and changing seasons. I’m awaiting recent MRI results to see if I might be the first one in 2018.

While home in Troy, Jeff and I still like to frequent our Riverfront Farmers’ Market, attend lectures at the Troy Library, and sometimes attend Science on Tap where experts raise a mug with citizens and discuss topics of interest. I periodically drop into to a poetry discussion group and a bi-weekly writers’ group at the local “maker space,” the Tech Valley Center of Gravity. I’m also in another productive group simply called, “Shut-up and Write.” And we do… together…at a local Starbucks. Much of this was spurred by my visit to the Milford (PA) Readers and Writers Festival in September. My amazing high school classmate, Corie Skolnick, who has inspired me so much these last few years, was on a panel that I needed to hear. She generously shared her room and introduced me to an entire world of WOMEN WRITING THEIR LIVES. I was enticed to read at the “Raw” open mic, and, with much encouragement, have continued to welcome the muse, especially as I process my mother’s loss and its meaning. Through those connections, I enrolled in an at-home writers’ workshop appropriately called “Slipper Camp,” run by the gracious, talented, and generous Linda Schreyer. I look forward to more collaboration with these brilliant, insightful women.

Jeff and I pushed into December with a 16-day and nearly 4,000-mile road trip. Prompted by the wedding, in Jacksonville, FL, of former students Jay Bilderback & Janet Harper, we started with a stopover in DC – again staying with Ken Latta, so we could all visit the emotionally moving Newseum and Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture. While in Jax, we also managed to attend an art opening that included work by former student Marcus Williams; had a beachy brunch with another dear student, Caleb Radugge and his partners; and met-

Dennis & Susan Mullen with Kate & Jeff at Wranglers’ Campground, Land Between the Lakes, Kentucky for the Solar Eclipse.

A handful of the wonderful former students who turned up for this event: JJ Grindstaff, Christen Winters, Jared Mathis, Marcus Williams, Lisa Austill, and legacy middle school English teacher Justin Pressly behind Mr. Palmer, Keri and me.

up with four former teaching colleagues from Landon Middle School. The highlight of the Jacksonville stay was the heart-warming and inspiring poetry reading Keri (Mezo) Foster organized as a reunion of my former gifted and creative writing students from both Landon and LaVilla, many of whom continue to use their talents in their adult lives today. I was honored by the abundant and well-reputed local talent she drew to this reading at Bab’s Lab, including my illustrious poet-friend-colleague, G.M. (Mike) Palmer and the burgeoning poetic voice of young Keri, herself. Rising local talent such as Andres Rojas, moving and powerful spoken word artist Lady G (Cetiva Green), former Chicagoan and the awesomely funny Johnny Masiulewicz, young nonbinary poet “Argi” (Ian Manuel Cleary-Collazo), Tyler S. Norris who squared the circle by coming in as the spoken word coach from LaVilla’s Creative Writing program, the very middle school track that I carried into this new magnet school back in 2000; James Hunter who also provided phenomenal photos of this night, and the ravishing storytelling talent of “Bab,” herself, Barbara Colaciello. I WAS HUMBLED TO

SHARE THIS STAGE! The open mic at the end even brought our beloved friend, Sus Austill up to read. After all the times she sat in school audiences as her daughter read, I LOVED that Lisa Austill was there for her mom...and me, too. Too many former students attended to name them all in this letter - ranging from my first year teaching HS in 1984 through those middle school programs in the ‘90s - 2002. I just melted from the love and creativity of this event,

and know it will not be another TEN YEARS before I get back to Jax.

Jeff was delighted to get in a too-short coffee date with old Navy comrade Bill Spann on our way out of Jacksonville Beach.

A handful of the wonderful former students who turned up for this event: JJ Grindstaff, Christen Winters, Jared Mathis, Marcus Williams, Lisa Austill, and legacy middle school English teacher Justin Pressly behind Mr. Palmer, Keri and me.

We reunited with Susan & Dennis Mullen for lunch in St. Augustine before we fulfilled a big dream for Jeff: we visited his heretofore unmet “5th cousin twice removed,” Amy Wooddell Giannotti and her wonderful family (husband Paul, daughters Allie -foreground & Maren - back in sling, and the coon hounds), plus her parents, Jim & Linda Wooddell next door, and her sister Jill and family down the street in Winter Park, FL. We all enjoyed a family dinner and early birthday party for Jeff & Amy, and shared the Winter Park Lakes and Canals Scenic Boat Tour the next morning, especially since Amy is the lakes’ water quality manager for the area. This meeting and incredibly warm family welcome was a highlight of the trip!

We looped up to Atlanta and spent two nights with Adam & Louise Francois Watkins former World Teach colleagues from our time in the Marshall Islands. It was great to finally meet their three amazing children: Oliver, Lono & Georgia.

While there Jeff and I visited my elderly first cousin “once removed,” Bill Markham, also previously unmet, and his lovely wife of 63 years, Vivian.

Then we had one final heart-smashing visit with former student Jonathan Wells, his stunning wife Brianna (Gwen) McGuire and their charming son Micah, and a stealth drop-in from the inimitable Gillian Harvey-Swinton and her young son James. This was a face-breaking session of smiles and hugs

…and even a few tears.

Then we blazed on to Chicago for the annual O’Brien family holiday party…

So…the 8th Annual O’Brien and Extended Family ‘Tween Holidays Party took place on Dec. 9th at my middle brother Tim’s house, as usual. The best thing was that he was able to have ALL FOUR of his children there this year, with my nephew Tony now out of the Army and back in Illinois, and his brother Tim, the younger, back living at home. Their older brother Dan showed up, of course, as did their big sis, Megan, with her family from Indianapolis. Their step-mom Jane popped in and out, while their lovely teenaged step-sister Danielle braved the night with this wacky crew. Tim always feeds us well, headlining our family potluck with “the meat” and plenty of beverages in a well-decorated holiday ambiance and regaling us with side-splitting impersonations of selected family members.

Jack and Linda made it with their teenage daughter Maggie, and I was thrilled to see Jack’s adult son John O’B and his wife Lynn along with their adorable little Emma and young Jack (IV). Debbie O’B and husband

Erik Magni made it, with Erik bringing his usual armload of homemade Italian specialties. Baby brother Terry O’B came and went, making taxi runs throughout the night, but his sweet and sassy teenaged daughter Allyson stuck around and hung with Danielle all evening. Jeff and I were super thrilled that my son A.J. and his lovely wife Tina and my two grown-up grandsons, Tyler and Nathan Catalanotte, all made it down from Wisconsin. We had cousin Bridget and her husband Joe LaPietra, their daughter Rosina, her son Michael, and her new friend Steve.

Even though it was our first Christmas without Mom, and since our Aunt Marytherese has since been relocated to a permanent residential facility, we were extremely happy to still have our Uncle Bob – Mom’s brother – to serve as the titular head of family. We all missed a few local rellies and the long distance cousins, but had a very nice turn out and tons of food, as usual. We hope everyone can make it next year, or for a mid-year family picnic or whatever.

Tim led a toast and prayer for Mom. Then sister Michelle passed out extremely moving gifts for all of the six siblings: small chapel rosaries made by the Augustinian nuns from the roses that had been tossed onto Mom’s casket as she was rolled out of the funeral chapel,

and DVD versions of an old VHS tape that had been made of the original Super 8 home movies from our childhood. For a change we had a little party game, a variation on Pin the Tail on the Donkey, except instead of a donkey there was a wall chart with the main characters from the Netflix show, SHAMELESS, and a bunch of cards with the names of everyone in our family. On your turn each person had to place their relative’s name on the SHAMELESS character they most resemble, and state the reason for their choice (even if it seemed sort of obvious in some cases). Since most of us were fans of the show and many believe it has direct correlation to some aspects of our life, those who played had a lot of forthright fun. I have declared young Danielle the winner for giving the gutsiest and most spot-on answers of the night.

Jeff and I then wrapped up our trip by heading to Waukesha, Wisconsin, once again, for a couple days with my son and the fam, but not until we stopped to visit my much beloved Aunt Marytherese Healy, settling – not so willingly - into her new permanent residence in Westchester, Illinois. We filled her in on our visit to her cousin Bill in Atlanta and showed her lots of pictures of the family. Hugs and kisses only brought bittersweet tears. It was a hard good-bye, especially after my experience with Mom.

As usual, AJ and Tina took excellent care of us. And most amazing of all: both Tyler and Nathan were home during most of our short stay. It is a true delight to get to hang and chat with them now in their adult selves. Tyler is a sophomore at Carroll University in Waukesha, interested in Animal Behavior, having transferred “home” from UW-Stephens Point so as to find a major that was a more precise match to his interests. Nathan, a high school senior, has his college apps in the mail (and one “safety” acceptance so far), but his biggest excitement will be spending the winter with a host family in Park City, Utah as he joins the Park City Snowboard Team for three months of traveling competition. He will have expert coaching and a tutor to help him through his independent studies. This will take him up to the Nationals, once again, at Copper Mountain, Colorado, in April. G’pa Jeff and I hope to catch a northeast competition or two before then in Maine.

Jeff still frets the health of his mother, Anne Church, after her double bypass surgery two years ago, and regrets the 3,000 mile distance between Troy, NY and Deer Park, WA. One of our goals for this year is to manage a trip for him, having learned how important these latter years and expressions of love truly are. He would also like to be able to be more of a help to his sister Pamela Ramsden in this regard. He’s gotten a little more excited about family history lately, especially having met the WV/FL Wooddell cousins and made some online family acquaintances through them. We’ll see what his recent Ancestry DNA test (a Christmas gift) reveals. Meanwhile, his identity as “G’PA” is a thing of beauty. He is truly smitten by this little girl who unfolds before our eyes, in ways that he has never witnessed in such detail. And the G’Pa-Liam buddy thing is a really heart-warming relationship to watch. Albeit around the frustrations that come with preschool moods.

So each day we find peace as we wrap our arms around these precious children and thank Rhea and Brad for trusting in us and allowing us to share this love. We sow love with every little detail we must be attentive to. Our interest and engagement in the larger world and political processes that might help to correct its course attest to our hope for their future, and it is all done in exquisite joy, indeed. No explanation needed.

May your New Year be as grand as our last year!

Kate & Jeff Wooddell