Reading genealogy records. My 5x great grandmother was born in 1775 in South Carolina, moved to Texas at some point, and lived to her late 80s at least. That means she was successively a British colonist, an American citizen, a Mexican colonist, a charter citizen of the Republic of Texas, Continue Reading
I recently went on vacation with Abbey and friends. An annual trek to a lakefront house in the wilds of Virginia, for a long weekend of swimming and cooking, music and drinking, talking and sleeping. The weather held up this year; so much of the days were spent on the Continue Reading
Yesterday morning, my mother, Catherine Calder, passed away. Although she was being treated for something at the time, I think it was all her health problems of the last few years finally coming together at once. She was a Head Start teacher’s aide for roughly 25 years. I once calculated Continue Reading
I swear it was father’s day when I started trying to type this. But then… computers. My father really was a computer nerd. Of all the things he got called in life, computer nerd seems the most unlikely. He grew up as that little kid from the Grapes of Wrath. Continue Reading
I absolutely loved Christmas growing up. I loved the snow, when it happened. I loved the town being decorated. I loved the family gatherings. I loved buying just the right presents for people. I loved wrapping my sister’s presents in ridiculously sized and shaped packages. Three years ago, I was Continue Reading
Recently passed the anniversary of my father’s death. And like I’ve seen several people do in the last few days, I was tempted to post a picture of my father on Facebook or somewhere, as a memorial. But very quickly I decided I don’t want to celebrate someone’s death… I’d Continue Reading
On my way back from a family picnic in NY. Looking at the photos… my family is so very white.
The family reunion was at the bass club in San Angelo again this year. Same old everything, but that’s kind of the point. Took Heidi. Family likes her better than they like me. But they’re quite disappointed to learn i’m not gay.
Taken at the family reunion in Texas this weekend.
Today, I’m wondering if the hardest part of losing someone is that you keep having things you want to share with that person.
My father died on January 5. It’s a horrible thing to contemplate. It’s a macabre thing to discuss with the doctors. And it is without a doubt, the worst feeling I’ve ever had, when it finally happened. And yet I’ve had very little obvious reaction. I cried the morning it Continue Reading
From left to right: his daughter Reta, his brother Jerry Don, his aunt Alene, his sister-in-law Linda, his uncle David, and his wife Ann.
David “Chunky” Calder June 1, 1940–January 5, 2010
