Over the weekend, I helped Ben with a project for his Communications class. I play the grandma in the last act.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WWM5h3Nodk
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Short Rib Dinner
Tonight I made short ribs from Trader Joe's for dinner. I didn't have a recipe so I just invented my own.
I heated a pan with butter and added some diced onion and apple slices. I then sprinkled the apples and onions with a little cinnamon. After sauteing them for a few minutes I added the mixture to a bowl and set it aside.
While the apples and onion were cooking, I was rubbing the short ribs with some seasonings given to me by my mother-in-law, Laurie. I rubbed both sides and then put them into the hot pan and cooked them on each side for 1.5 minutes each. I then topped them with the apple/onion mixture when they were done.
For sides, we had some rice, a salad (argula, blue cheese, and pear slices), and whole wheat toast.
I didn't take any pictures of the finished product but you can imagine it looked yummy ;)
I guess I'm starting to learn how to cook!
I heated a pan with butter and added some diced onion and apple slices. I then sprinkled the apples and onions with a little cinnamon. After sauteing them for a few minutes I added the mixture to a bowl and set it aside.
While the apples and onion were cooking, I was rubbing the short ribs with some seasonings given to me by my mother-in-law, Laurie. I rubbed both sides and then put them into the hot pan and cooked them on each side for 1.5 minutes each. I then topped them with the apple/onion mixture when they were done.
For sides, we had some rice, a salad (argula, blue cheese, and pear slices), and whole wheat toast.
I didn't take any pictures of the finished product but you can imagine it looked yummy ;)
I guess I'm starting to learn how to cook!
Saturday, September 24, 2011
What would you do if you won the lotto?
This was a question posed to me earlier this week by one of my 8th grade students. At the time, I told them a couple obvoius things I would do but said I'd have to get back to them on that later. I suppose part of that reason is that if I won the lotto, I probably wouldn't teach full time. I think, however, that I am meant to teach, so I would probably find a way to teach in some capacity--part time, most likely, though.
So what would I want to do if I won the lotto? If money were no object? Here are some of the things I've thought of so far.
1. The first thing I would do is pay off my ridiculously unaffordable condo so that I could either keep it as a rental property or sell it in the future.
2. Next, I would probably buy real estate. With the market as low as it is now, it makes sense as the best investment of our time. I probably wouldn't buy my dream home yet, though, since Ben is still in school and we don't know where we want to end up yet. (and yes, I think Ben would still want to go to school).
3. The next thing I would do is pay off my parent's and Ben's parent's houses and purchase a home for both Ben's sister, free and clear so they don't have to worry about them. For my sister, give her the money to purchase a home later when she knew where she'd want to live.
4. The next thing I'd do is join Ben in his adventure back in school. I'd finish teaching the school year full time but then request to go part-time the following year (or possibly take a leave of absence while I'm in school). What would I go back to school for? Well, I never finished my MA in English so I might do that. Or, I might get an MFA in Creative Writing or a PhD in Education since I already have my MA in that. Which one would I do for pure enjoyment? The MFA in Creative Writing, most def. And I suppose if I were rolling in dough, why wouldn't I pick the one that was for pure enjoyment?
5. I would begin to seriously learn how to cook--with whatever ingredients I wanted! Now, when I cook, I'm so conscious of the $$ I'm spending that it really limits the fun things I can do. If I had an unlimited grocery budget, I'd pick the meals that looked the most delicious and splurge on whatever ingredients they needed! I know that sounds like something I should be able to do now, but sadly it isn't. When you're a kid, you take for granted how hard one has to work even to put food on the table.
6. I would have kids sooner. Not a lot sooner, maybe one or two years sooner than what we're planning. People I know, keep saying, oh you'll probably have kids in 2 years. Right now, we're thinking more like 3 or 4, especially since our life is so uncertain with Ben in school, changing careers, and not knowing when we'll be able to get rid of our condo. I do look forward to more stability in our future.
Us with our 2 nephews, Logan & Landon (our ring bearers), and my cousin's girls, Cadie & Claire (our flower girls)
7. I would hire a housekeeper. Yes, it's true, I hate cleaning. I mean, a little light housework now and then, but who likes scrubbing the shower? I NEVER get it to sparkle the way I want it too.
8. A whole new wardrobe. Yes, it's sad, but most of the clothes I wear on a daily basis are 3+ years old. I have bought myself about two things this whole year. Part of that, however, is due to the wedding. If you count my wedding dress then my clothing budget this year was wayyy higher than usual years!
9. Regular self-care stuff. What do I mean by that? Facials, manicures, pedicures, massages. I know, it's self-indulgent but I love that stuff and right now I can't afford any of it.
10. Books. Yes, this one should probably go above #8, 9...haha! In my dream home, I'd have a huge, beautiful library of books. I'd buy a few first editions of my favs.
11. Travel. This one should also go up higher on the list. I have already been very fortunate in my life to have gotten to travel a lot more than the average person. But there is still so much of the world left to discover. Ben and I always have the most fun when we travel together, so I would make travel a regular part of our lives.
Me in Switzerland (2005)
12. Travel for charity. I've always wanted to travel somewhere to do charity. Africa? India? South America? Asia?
13. Design. Right now, we have no style at our house. Everything is a total mishmash of junk. It'd be fun to have enough $$ to buy new furniture and come up with a style we'd both like (which, by the way, would probably be our biggest fight yet!).
14. Publish a novel. Well, I suppose this one isn't guaranteed no matter how much $$ you have, but at least I'd have the time and resources to put toward it. And if I got that MFA in Creative Writing, then may be I'd have more of a shot.
15. Buy a vacation home in Cambria. Yes, that's my home away from home. I'm not sure Ben "gets" it. I mean, he likes the place alright, but I think he likes other places a lot more. I guess I associate it with my childhood, but I also think it's one of the most beautiful little coastal towns in the world, and I've been to quite a few gorgeous beaches (the Riveria in France, the Mediteranean in Italy, coasts of Ireland, Hawaii, Bahamas, Mexico, etc). I think I like it because it's rocky and cool and near the forest. As much as I like tropical beaches, there's something homey about a rocky cliffed, foresty beach.
16. Christmas. I would go ALL OUT at Christmas. I'm not talking presents. I'm just talking decor and activities. I'd love to have a fun Christmas party with yummy food and beautiful decorations. Our place is too small for that right now, though. I could only comfortably fit maybe two other couples in our living room and our dining room table seats 4.
I imagine many fun Christmas' ahead at my parent's cabin--what a winter wonderland!
17. A tortoise haven. I have 5 baby tortoises who are getting bigger and they need room to roam! I'd have a landscaper make them a tortoise heaven on Earth!
My youngest tortoise, Freddie.
18. Dogs and Horses. My husband would love a dog and horses and horse property and the like. I'd like it too, but I know horses are a TON of work. I suppose with that much $$ though we could hire help? LOL...look at me sounding like a snob.
19. Volunteering. I'd love to volunteer with Pro-Life groups like the one I used to volunteer with (the PCC). I just don't have time right now to do much for them except help with their annual auction.
20. Try more things. Yes, right now, I'm a little bored because we can't afford to go out and just do "stuff" like we used to whether it be going horseback riding, trying a new restaurant, seeing a concert, etc. It would be so nice not to have to worry about $$ when it comes to your social life.
Riding horses with Ben (March 2010).
So those are my top 20 things. What would be some of yours?
So what would I want to do if I won the lotto? If money were no object? Here are some of the things I've thought of so far.
1. The first thing I would do is pay off my ridiculously unaffordable condo so that I could either keep it as a rental property or sell it in the future.
2. Next, I would probably buy real estate. With the market as low as it is now, it makes sense as the best investment of our time. I probably wouldn't buy my dream home yet, though, since Ben is still in school and we don't know where we want to end up yet. (and yes, I think Ben would still want to go to school).
3. The next thing I would do is pay off my parent's and Ben's parent's houses and purchase a home for both Ben's sister, free and clear so they don't have to worry about them. For my sister, give her the money to purchase a home later when she knew where she'd want to live.
4. The next thing I'd do is join Ben in his adventure back in school. I'd finish teaching the school year full time but then request to go part-time the following year (or possibly take a leave of absence while I'm in school). What would I go back to school for? Well, I never finished my MA in English so I might do that. Or, I might get an MFA in Creative Writing or a PhD in Education since I already have my MA in that. Which one would I do for pure enjoyment? The MFA in Creative Writing, most def. And I suppose if I were rolling in dough, why wouldn't I pick the one that was for pure enjoyment?
5. I would begin to seriously learn how to cook--with whatever ingredients I wanted! Now, when I cook, I'm so conscious of the $$ I'm spending that it really limits the fun things I can do. If I had an unlimited grocery budget, I'd pick the meals that looked the most delicious and splurge on whatever ingredients they needed! I know that sounds like something I should be able to do now, but sadly it isn't. When you're a kid, you take for granted how hard one has to work even to put food on the table.
6. I would have kids sooner. Not a lot sooner, maybe one or two years sooner than what we're planning. People I know, keep saying, oh you'll probably have kids in 2 years. Right now, we're thinking more like 3 or 4, especially since our life is so uncertain with Ben in school, changing careers, and not knowing when we'll be able to get rid of our condo. I do look forward to more stability in our future.
Us with our 2 nephews, Logan & Landon (our ring bearers), and my cousin's girls, Cadie & Claire (our flower girls)
7. I would hire a housekeeper. Yes, it's true, I hate cleaning. I mean, a little light housework now and then, but who likes scrubbing the shower? I NEVER get it to sparkle the way I want it too.
8. A whole new wardrobe. Yes, it's sad, but most of the clothes I wear on a daily basis are 3+ years old. I have bought myself about two things this whole year. Part of that, however, is due to the wedding. If you count my wedding dress then my clothing budget this year was wayyy higher than usual years!
9. Regular self-care stuff. What do I mean by that? Facials, manicures, pedicures, massages. I know, it's self-indulgent but I love that stuff and right now I can't afford any of it.
10. Books. Yes, this one should probably go above #8, 9...haha! In my dream home, I'd have a huge, beautiful library of books. I'd buy a few first editions of my favs.
11. Travel. This one should also go up higher on the list. I have already been very fortunate in my life to have gotten to travel a lot more than the average person. But there is still so much of the world left to discover. Ben and I always have the most fun when we travel together, so I would make travel a regular part of our lives.
Me in Switzerland (2005)
12. Travel for charity. I've always wanted to travel somewhere to do charity. Africa? India? South America? Asia?
13. Design. Right now, we have no style at our house. Everything is a total mishmash of junk. It'd be fun to have enough $$ to buy new furniture and come up with a style we'd both like (which, by the way, would probably be our biggest fight yet!).
14. Publish a novel. Well, I suppose this one isn't guaranteed no matter how much $$ you have, but at least I'd have the time and resources to put toward it. And if I got that MFA in Creative Writing, then may be I'd have more of a shot.
15. Buy a vacation home in Cambria. Yes, that's my home away from home. I'm not sure Ben "gets" it. I mean, he likes the place alright, but I think he likes other places a lot more. I guess I associate it with my childhood, but I also think it's one of the most beautiful little coastal towns in the world, and I've been to quite a few gorgeous beaches (the Riveria in France, the Mediteranean in Italy, coasts of Ireland, Hawaii, Bahamas, Mexico, etc). I think I like it because it's rocky and cool and near the forest. As much as I like tropical beaches, there's something homey about a rocky cliffed, foresty beach.
16. Christmas. I would go ALL OUT at Christmas. I'm not talking presents. I'm just talking decor and activities. I'd love to have a fun Christmas party with yummy food and beautiful decorations. Our place is too small for that right now, though. I could only comfortably fit maybe two other couples in our living room and our dining room table seats 4.
I imagine many fun Christmas' ahead at my parent's cabin--what a winter wonderland!
17. A tortoise haven. I have 5 baby tortoises who are getting bigger and they need room to roam! I'd have a landscaper make them a tortoise heaven on Earth!
My youngest tortoise, Freddie.
18. Dogs and Horses. My husband would love a dog and horses and horse property and the like. I'd like it too, but I know horses are a TON of work. I suppose with that much $$ though we could hire help? LOL...look at me sounding like a snob.
19. Volunteering. I'd love to volunteer with Pro-Life groups like the one I used to volunteer with (the PCC). I just don't have time right now to do much for them except help with their annual auction.
20. Try more things. Yes, right now, I'm a little bored because we can't afford to go out and just do "stuff" like we used to whether it be going horseback riding, trying a new restaurant, seeing a concert, etc. It would be so nice not to have to worry about $$ when it comes to your social life.
Riding horses with Ben (March 2010).
So those are my top 20 things. What would be some of yours?
Friday, September 9, 2011
10 years since 9/11
It's hard to believe it's already been 10 years. I still remember where I was when I found out. I was in the S building at Reseda High School, and it was my senior year. My dad and I had just arrived at school and Vicki Arnold told us to come in her class room where she told us about the World Trade Center. We turned on the TV and watched the devastation. I don't think it really hit me that morning. I'm not sure it's ever fully hit me. I think 9/11 has unfolded itself to me over time as I hear the individual stories that have been told over the past ten years. Tonight I watched a two hour documentary in honor of the ten year anniversary, and it flooded me with memories of that day, but it also told me new stories of men and women who died who I had never heard of before.
I remember when I went to Germany, to Dachau's concentration camp, in the summer of 2005. I had been overwhelmed by the tragedy of the holocaust, but it was hard to make meaning of the loss. At Dachau, more than 33,000 people had died of malnutrition or flat out murder. What does 33,000 mean? It's hard to quantify the value of human life. Not without a face, a name, and a story.
But then a week later I was in Amsterdam visiting Anne Frank's house, looking at the board game which she described in her diary. The game she played with the young boy who also shared the attic with her and her family. And I was looking at this board game, thinking about how I read HER words when I was in 8th grade. That's when I "got" it. That's when the tears came. That's when I knew what the value of a single human life was. When I had a name, a face, a story, a memory. Anne Frank was a part of my own life when I read her diary many years ago.
And today, I found a single story to share with my students. A man named John Viggiano who lost both of his sons on 9/11. One of his sons was a fireman and the other a policeman. They both died trying to save other people. He spoke about his sons for a few minutes and I had the kids listen. My students are only 13. They were 3 when this tragedy happened, and I don't think they really "get it." But you know what? They "get" a father's love. They understand the pain in that man's voice when he described his last conversations with each of his sons.
So for John Viggiano and his family, I dedicate this post. Because I can't begin to comprehend the loss of 3,000 lives. But I can understand the loss of two.
So on Sunday, I know I will remember. I will remember standing in that hallway when I was 17 years old. I will remember watching the trade center collapse and I will remember moments over the past 10 years like when I saw United 93 in the movie theaters or when I saw an interview about a woman who talked about her husband who helped take that plane away from the hijackers. And I'll remember the Viggiano family. And I'll pray something like this never happens again even though I think we all know that as long as there is life on earth there will be evil and atrocity. I hope, however, that there will be more goodness and virtue to defeat the evil which we know will always be with us.
I remember when I went to Germany, to Dachau's concentration camp, in the summer of 2005. I had been overwhelmed by the tragedy of the holocaust, but it was hard to make meaning of the loss. At Dachau, more than 33,000 people had died of malnutrition or flat out murder. What does 33,000 mean? It's hard to quantify the value of human life. Not without a face, a name, and a story.
But then a week later I was in Amsterdam visiting Anne Frank's house, looking at the board game which she described in her diary. The game she played with the young boy who also shared the attic with her and her family. And I was looking at this board game, thinking about how I read HER words when I was in 8th grade. That's when I "got" it. That's when the tears came. That's when I knew what the value of a single human life was. When I had a name, a face, a story, a memory. Anne Frank was a part of my own life when I read her diary many years ago.
And today, I found a single story to share with my students. A man named John Viggiano who lost both of his sons on 9/11. One of his sons was a fireman and the other a policeman. They both died trying to save other people. He spoke about his sons for a few minutes and I had the kids listen. My students are only 13. They were 3 when this tragedy happened, and I don't think they really "get it." But you know what? They "get" a father's love. They understand the pain in that man's voice when he described his last conversations with each of his sons.
So for John Viggiano and his family, I dedicate this post. Because I can't begin to comprehend the loss of 3,000 lives. But I can understand the loss of two.
So on Sunday, I know I will remember. I will remember standing in that hallway when I was 17 years old. I will remember watching the trade center collapse and I will remember moments over the past 10 years like when I saw United 93 in the movie theaters or when I saw an interview about a woman who talked about her husband who helped take that plane away from the hijackers. And I'll remember the Viggiano family. And I'll pray something like this never happens again even though I think we all know that as long as there is life on earth there will be evil and atrocity. I hope, however, that there will be more goodness and virtue to defeat the evil which we know will always be with us.
A great article about teachers and parents
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/06/living/teachers-want-to-tell-parents/index.html
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Our Wedding Video
For those of you who didn't make it to the wedding or who just couldn't see the video that well (due to the sun!), here it is! It only took 4 hours to upload...hehe. At least I could read, clean, exercise, etc, while it was loading!
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Reflecting on how good things are...
I am so happy. I am so in love with my husband and feel so grateful to have found him. This week was a bit of a struggle for us with him going back to school, but by the end of the week I realized how much of a team we are and how well we work together.
In the next few years we may not have much money to do fun things, to take fancy vacations, or save much money, but we have something so much more precious. We have each other. And together we are moving towards a goal that will give us and our future family options.
I am so proud of my husband for taking this risk to make his and our lives better. I pray that we can bless each other each day the way I feel so blessed right now. I know I am one lucky girl. When I hear about people I know, children I know, who are losing parents, who are sick, or who are dying themselves, I think about just how much I have to be grateful for. My parents and Ben's parents are healthy and happy. My sister, Bree, is doing well in college and just got a job after trying for nearly 4 months to find one! She and her boyfriend both actually just found jobs which is awesome because now they can work towards the hours they need to graduate. I have two nephews and two nieces who are SOO cute and many other family members who are an awesome support system.
I have a great job that allows me to grow as a person and as an educator, and my co-workers are great people who make it nice to come to work each day. This year I get to teach a class I've always wanted to teach but never have till now: Creative Writing. It's fun being able to teach at least one class where I get to design the curriculum.
What else am I grateful for? Well, this past summer was incredible. Between having my dream wedding and traveling all over the place all summer, I had so much fun!! Since turning 16, I have gotten to travel all over the world...Europe (England, Ireland, France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Holland, Austria, and Switzerland), the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, Belize, the Grand Cayman Islands, Mexico, Canada, Massachusetts, Florida, Missouri, Illinois, Washington, the Bahamas, and Costa Rica.
What else? Well, I'm grateful for my education which has enabled me to get good teaching jobs.
Friends. I'm so grateful for my friends (including family members) and the people in my life who bring joy to me on a daily basis.
And I guess when it's all said and done, I'm so grateful to God for all of this but most especially for bringing Ben into my life. I prayed for years to meet him and I often amaze myself when I look down at my hand and see my wedding ring or when I wake up in his arms on a Saturday morning like I did today and I see him smiling up at me telling me how beautiful I am. Really, what could be better?
Thanks God for everything. And for all the difficult parts of our life, I just pray that you help us to focus on the positive and stay strong and work hard. I pray that I don't complain and that I am able to find joy in the smallest of pleasures.
I love how handsome my husband looks as he kisses my forehead. Ben, I love you.
In the next few years we may not have much money to do fun things, to take fancy vacations, or save much money, but we have something so much more precious. We have each other. And together we are moving towards a goal that will give us and our future family options.
I am so proud of my husband for taking this risk to make his and our lives better. I pray that we can bless each other each day the way I feel so blessed right now. I know I am one lucky girl. When I hear about people I know, children I know, who are losing parents, who are sick, or who are dying themselves, I think about just how much I have to be grateful for. My parents and Ben's parents are healthy and happy. My sister, Bree, is doing well in college and just got a job after trying for nearly 4 months to find one! She and her boyfriend both actually just found jobs which is awesome because now they can work towards the hours they need to graduate. I have two nephews and two nieces who are SOO cute and many other family members who are an awesome support system.
I have a great job that allows me to grow as a person and as an educator, and my co-workers are great people who make it nice to come to work each day. This year I get to teach a class I've always wanted to teach but never have till now: Creative Writing. It's fun being able to teach at least one class where I get to design the curriculum.
What else am I grateful for? Well, this past summer was incredible. Between having my dream wedding and traveling all over the place all summer, I had so much fun!! Since turning 16, I have gotten to travel all over the world...Europe (England, Ireland, France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Holland, Austria, and Switzerland), the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, Belize, the Grand Cayman Islands, Mexico, Canada, Massachusetts, Florida, Missouri, Illinois, Washington, the Bahamas, and Costa Rica.
What else? Well, I'm grateful for my education which has enabled me to get good teaching jobs.
Friends. I'm so grateful for my friends (including family members) and the people in my life who bring joy to me on a daily basis.
And I guess when it's all said and done, I'm so grateful to God for all of this but most especially for bringing Ben into my life. I prayed for years to meet him and I often amaze myself when I look down at my hand and see my wedding ring or when I wake up in his arms on a Saturday morning like I did today and I see him smiling up at me telling me how beautiful I am. Really, what could be better?
Thanks God for everything. And for all the difficult parts of our life, I just pray that you help us to focus on the positive and stay strong and work hard. I pray that I don't complain and that I am able to find joy in the smallest of pleasures.
I love how handsome my husband looks as he kisses my forehead. Ben, I love you.
Friday, September 2, 2011
What's up in our world?
Well, this week was stressful and Ben and I defintely need a date tonight. Thankfully, one of the wedding gifts my parents gave us was a gift certificate to Los Toros, so we will be heading over there for some margaritas tonight!
Last night, my dad and I went to Hollywood to meet a friend of my grandfather's (my dad's dad). My grandpa, "Popo," died when I was only 11 in 1995, but I still have fairly strong memories of him because we saw him so frequently when I was a child, especially during the several year period that he lived right around the corner from us.
About seven or eight years ago when I was in college I was taking a class on the history of the American West, and I decided to do a paper on the cowboys of Hollywood who became stuntmen known as the Gower Gulch men. The leading expert on these men is a woman named Diana Carey. She was "Baby Peggy" in the early 1920s (kind of like the Shirley Temple of westerns). Well, anyways, her father, Jack Montgomery (also known as "Poncho") was my grandfather's friend even though he was a lot older than my grandfather. Popo was acutally just a few years older than Diana (he was born in 1913 and she was born in 1918).
So I found Diana Carey online and emailed her explaining that I was the granddaughter of her old friend, Leo McMahon. She was delighted to speak with me, and I was amazed at how lucid this 80-some year old woman was. We have kept in touch through email (and now facebook) correspondance (yes, a 93 year old woman facebooks!), and yesterday she was in town for an event in Hollywood. My dad and I drove down to meet with her and had a lovely time discussing my grandfather.
It was like stepping out of time for a second. My dad's parents have been gone for so long. His mom died when I was three and it's been nearly 16 years since his father passed away. To see and speak a woman who is my grandfather's contemporary and friend amazed me because if my granfather was still alive he'd be 98 years old.
At the end of our conversation my dad presented Diana with a gift. Just before her father died in the 1970s, he had given my grandfather his lucky silver dollar that was so worn down you couldn't really see the impressions on it anymore. Just before my grandfather died in 1995, he passed that lucky silver dollar on to my dad. So my dad decided to give it back to the rightful owner, Jack Montgomery's daughter. We didn't know if she'd know what it was when he pulled it out, but this 93 year old woman's eyes grew wide and tearful and she exclaimed, "That's dad's lucky silver dollar!" She was so astonished and pleased that it warmed my heart to see my dad making this friend of my grandfather so happy. She hadn't seen that silver dollar since the 70s but she remembered it instantly.
I hope I have that kind of memory when I'm her age (if I make it that long). What an amazing thing to have lived through an entire century, to remember the Great Depression, WWII, and so many life changing moments in history. And she is one of the most self-reflective people I have ever met. I wish my grandparents could have been there with us last night. I miss them.
Btw, the photograph is of Diana Carey when she was playing "Baby Peggy" in the early 1920s.
Last night, my dad and I went to Hollywood to meet a friend of my grandfather's (my dad's dad). My grandpa, "Popo," died when I was only 11 in 1995, but I still have fairly strong memories of him because we saw him so frequently when I was a child, especially during the several year period that he lived right around the corner from us.
About seven or eight years ago when I was in college I was taking a class on the history of the American West, and I decided to do a paper on the cowboys of Hollywood who became stuntmen known as the Gower Gulch men. The leading expert on these men is a woman named Diana Carey. She was "Baby Peggy" in the early 1920s (kind of like the Shirley Temple of westerns). Well, anyways, her father, Jack Montgomery (also known as "Poncho") was my grandfather's friend even though he was a lot older than my grandfather. Popo was acutally just a few years older than Diana (he was born in 1913 and she was born in 1918).
So I found Diana Carey online and emailed her explaining that I was the granddaughter of her old friend, Leo McMahon. She was delighted to speak with me, and I was amazed at how lucid this 80-some year old woman was. We have kept in touch through email (and now facebook) correspondance (yes, a 93 year old woman facebooks!), and yesterday she was in town for an event in Hollywood. My dad and I drove down to meet with her and had a lovely time discussing my grandfather.
It was like stepping out of time for a second. My dad's parents have been gone for so long. His mom died when I was three and it's been nearly 16 years since his father passed away. To see and speak a woman who is my grandfather's contemporary and friend amazed me because if my granfather was still alive he'd be 98 years old.
At the end of our conversation my dad presented Diana with a gift. Just before her father died in the 1970s, he had given my grandfather his lucky silver dollar that was so worn down you couldn't really see the impressions on it anymore. Just before my grandfather died in 1995, he passed that lucky silver dollar on to my dad. So my dad decided to give it back to the rightful owner, Jack Montgomery's daughter. We didn't know if she'd know what it was when he pulled it out, but this 93 year old woman's eyes grew wide and tearful and she exclaimed, "That's dad's lucky silver dollar!" She was so astonished and pleased that it warmed my heart to see my dad making this friend of my grandfather so happy. She hadn't seen that silver dollar since the 70s but she remembered it instantly.
I hope I have that kind of memory when I'm her age (if I make it that long). What an amazing thing to have lived through an entire century, to remember the Great Depression, WWII, and so many life changing moments in history. And she is one of the most self-reflective people I have ever met. I wish my grandparents could have been there with us last night. I miss them.
Btw, the photograph is of Diana Carey when she was playing "Baby Peggy" in the early 1920s.
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