Happy Halloween!

What a DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jonathan Weigel!

The golden ticket! Thanks Kate and Carrie!

"Now, I know that the President of the United States coming to Boston is not the most important thing happening here today." B.Obama

Thanks to Carrie's friend, Kate Gage, who once did advance work for the Obama campaign, we were given two tickets to hear Barack speak at Faneuil Hall yesterday.  After a long wait and a talk by Gov. Deval Patrick,  Barack came to the podium. He came to  Massachusetts to address the concerns and promise of universal health care since universal health care has been so successful here. He wanted to highlight the success of the program here in Massachusetts while acknowledging that it didn't happen instantly. A program the size of this one will take time to run smoothly.

Most of all it was fun to see him, to see him in action, to stand 24 feet in front of  him and to witness such a great teacher and public speaker. The President!

We took the MTA back to Alewife, drove home on Rt. 2, and made dinner.
Then at 8:00 the World Series came on TV. What a game.  On October 30, 2013, the Red Sox beat the St Louis Cardinals and won the World Series in front of their fans in Fenway Park. Hear that Dad?

As I said, it was quite a day.

Happy Birthday to my biggest blog fan!

My brother Donny comments frequently on my blog. He understands  what I am trying to communicate and often his comment illuminates something I didn't know was there.

Donny was the one who told me about One to One lessons at the Apple store many years ago. It was there that I gained my confidence on the computer, learned how to use iPhoto, make movies, make books and organize my documents. Donny has always set the example for me to stay current, to be up on the latest technology. He put all of our family photos on line, scanning hundreds and hundreds of images so that we all now have access to photos of our relatives and ourselves across the years.

 Donny has become the glue in our family- a patriarch of sorts. He keeps up with each of his siblings, checking in to see how we are, asking about our latest ventures, offering support when needed. 

I know I speak for Ruthie and John when I say have grateful we are to have such a great big brother.

It was important to our parents that the four of us stay in touch. 

They would love to know how close we all are.

Much love to you, Donny. 

and Happy Birthday! 

The girls

Mt Massive Summit Ascent

Hello All!

Last week, during the second-to-last day of my 10-day backcountry with High Mountain Institute students, I led my group up Mt Massive, the 2nd-highest peak in Colorado (14,421 ft). Though not all students were able to summit, it was one of the few clear days on a very snowy trip, and I took advantage of the incredible weather by video-taping the ascent. HMI recently acquired a very fancy camera, and I have been having a blast playing with it!

Mt Massive Summit Video

I hope you all enjoy.

Love,
Eliza

corn on the cob

A recent visit with my cousin Tom revealed some family photographs that I have never seen. He has generously sent the ones I requested.

I am joining my brother Don in becoming the family archivist. I realize that although my siblings smile knowingly when they see a photo like this, our kids may not know who this is or where they are!

So here is my grandmother, Ruth Lamb Dobson, with her second husband Perry Dobson. Years after my grandfather, Henry Lamb, died of kidney disease and her five children were grown up, Granny married Perry.

This photo was taken at Lake Memphremagog, perhaps on the Pines beach. I recognize my sister Ruth but do not know who the boys are. As is true of so many of the iconic events that took place in our family, I was not born yet.

Corn on the cob, anyone?

The Privet Hedge

Sid, Barby, Martha, Ruth (their mother), Peggy, Ruston

Martha, Sid, Ruston, Barby, Peggy

Here is a photo of my mother's family in front of the privet hedge in Stanstead, Quebec.

Look how it grew over the years!