The "Smallest Wedding Chapel In The World?" Story

It was an ordinary day. Traveled with my wife, Carol, and friends Pat and Dale to Chesapeake City, Maryland to celebrate my wife Carol's birthday.   Our first stop was at the Chesapeake Inn for lunch.  The day was beautiful and beginning to get a bit uncomfortable due to the heat, so we decided to sit inside the restaurant rather than sit on the outside deck.  Our table was directly next to the window that yielded one of the best views of the dock below us and the water traffic that continued throughout our meal on the canal in the background.  Carol and I both had a lobster grilled cheese sandwich and fries while our friends, Pat had a burger and fries and Dale had a crab cake and potato.  We all had drinks to wash down the remarkable food that was served.  About an hour after our arrival at the restaurant we were back on the road once again, driving a block or two that took us into the nearby town known as Chesapeake City.  After finding parking, which was the hardest part of the entire day, we walked the main thoroughfare thru town.  The old homes that lined Main Street, reminded us of the city long ago.  Small wooden porches in a variety of colors stood in front of most of the homes on the main street of the town.  After a block or two, we came upon an extremely small wooden building that I remembered from past years as a gift shop.  Well, a hundred years ago, Cecil Country, Maryland was the Marriage Capital of the East Coast and  today is known to have "The World's Smallest Wedding Chapel".  Today it provides a "One-of-a-Kind" setting for intimate marriage and renewal ceremonies affordably priced to fit even the smallest budget"..... I copied that from a brochure!  The main room, or perhaps I should say the entire building, isn't more than 15 feet by 20 feet, maximum.  About enough space to get the person performing the wedding, a bride and groom, and maybe a few very thin people crunched into the room...with altar...if you're lucky!  Outside of the building stood a small group of people dressed in suits and gowns.  They were there for the wedding that was gong to take place next inside the small Chapel.  Wasn't long before the ceremony was over and everyone emptied and gave me a chance to take a look inside and snap a few photos of the Chapel.  The "minister," or whomever was performing the ceremony, offered me a chance to take the photographs of the "building" before the next wedding would take place.  The outside porch had a metal bench along one side while the door was about fifteen feet to the right of the bench.  The door was open so I stepped inside for a few photographs before stepping back onto the porch once again.  The person performing the services told me that they can handle about four to six people inside the room along with himself and the bride and groom. (And I must add...that has to be squeezing them in!)  I'm not sure if the fellow whom was performing the services was a minister or perhaps a Justice of the Peace.  The place was remarkable!  The interior was extremely small, but decorated very nicely and reminded one of stepping into an extremely small church.  I snapped a few photographs and thanked him for his time and headed down the street to catch up with the rest of my party.  Interesting start to my walk around the town known as Chesapeake City.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  Click on images to enlarge them.

The "Little Wedding Chapel

Information about the Chapel

Interior...that's it folks!

Pastor or Justice Of The Peace?

The rites of Matrimony?

Mat outside the front door.

Perhaps the names of all who were married at the Chapel!

The "An Unsolved Murder Is Finally Solved!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading an article in my LNP morning newspaper that brought back memories from when I was in college.  Article was about a man who had pleaded guilty a few days ago in Lancaster County's oldest cold murder case.  Fellow by the name of David Sinopoli had just been sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison for third degree murder, aggravated assault and burglary in the killing of Linda Sue Biechler nearly 48 years ago.  Sinopoli was crying on the witness stand as he apologized to everyone, including his wife.  Linda Sue's family also spoke during the hearing.  Linda Sue's husband, Phil, said, "I forgive you because my God tells me to, but you need to pay for your actions."  Biechler was 19 years old when she was murdered in her Manor Township apartment.  Her Aunt and Uncle had found her body on December 5, 1975.  She had been stabbed 19 times with a four-inch blade and a butcher knife.  I can sill remember driving past her house that same day on my way home from Millersville State Teacher's College and seeing quite a few police cars at her address.  So...just how did they catch the guy.  Prosecutors said Sinopoli was ID'ed through DNA genealogy, which uses a DNA sample in combination with family trees, public archives, databases and court records to pinpoint a suspect.  DNA collected from Linda Sue's clothing scene led CeCe Moore, a member of investigating Paragon NanoLabs, to a  suspect with ethnicity from Gaspeina, a small town in southern Italy.  "These restrictions further narrowed the scope of the subsequent research because there were very few individuals living in Lancaster at that time of the crime that were the right age, gender and had the family tree consistent with these origins," Moore said at the 2022 news conference announcing Sinopoli's arrest.  After Sinopoli was identified as a suspect, the police followed him to the Philadelphia airport and collected a used coffee cup from him after he had thrown it in a trash can.  His DNA was recovered from the cup and he was found to be the murderer!  At times it takes years to catch the bad guys, but the good guys will always come out on top, as long as they never give up!  Evil will always lose!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.    

The "Aging In Style" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading a story titled "How to keep a positive mindset about getting older."  Story began at a pool party when Johnnie Cooper climbed onto the diving board, executed a perfect dive and then joined a raucous game of Marco Polo.  The occasion?  Her 90th birthday!  Now, I added the explanation mark at the end of the sentence, since I felt it was needed.  I'm just about ten years younger than Johnnie and I doubt I could dive off a board into water anymore as she did.  You did pick up on the "she" part of the sentence, didn't you?  Perhaps it might be her enthusiasm for getting older that was part of the reason she has lived such a long, rich life.  While everyone's experience with aging is different, experts are increasingly finding that having a positive mindset is associated with aging well.  At times I feel as if I can do just about everything I used to do, physically speaking, until I try to do that thing!  Then, I sadly change my mind.  I know that everyone experiences aging differently, and I guess I have to get used to that.  I just can't do some things as well as I used to do them.  I can no longer hit a baseball and run to 1st base like I used to.  Actually, I'm not sure I could even hit the ball anymore.  But, put me next to a pool table and I can stick with just about anyone for a few rounds.  And...by that time the other person is just as tired as I might be.  A decades long study of 660 people published in 2002 showed that those with positive beliefs about getting older lived 7 1/2 years longer than those who felt negatively about it.  Since that time, research has found that a positive mindset toward aging is associated with lower blood pressure, a generally longer and healthier life, and a reduced risk of developing dementia.  Research also shows that people with a more positive perception of aging are more likely to take preventative health measures which in turn may help them live longer.  I know I can't stop aging, but I don't have to dread it!  I've found a few ways to help shift my thinking.  I could try a week of "age belief journaling" where I write down every portrayal of an older person - be it in a movie, on social media or in a conversation, then question if that portrayal was negative or positive, and whether the person could have been presented differently.  Simply identifying the sources of my conceptions about aging can help me gain some distance from negative ideas.  I read about a group of 100 adults with an average age of 81 who were exposed to positive images of aging and showed most had improved perceptions of aging and improved physical function due to the exposure that had with positive people.   Another way to help with my aging is to find a few people my age or older who have done something special that most have never done.  Find out how they accomplished their feat and strive to be like them.  Hey....sounds easy, doesn't it.  Then I read that research suggests that optimistic women are more likely to live past 90 than less optimistic women, regardless of race or ethnicity.  But, thinking more positively about aging doesn't mean papering over real concerns with happy thoughts - or using phrases like "You haven't aged a bit!" as a compliment.  Instead, try to look at the honest reality with optimism.  If you're feeling deflated that your tennis game isn't like it used to be, just remember that you can at least still play tennis!  Another way to feel more positive about aging is to examine what worries I may have and reflect on how troubling those concerns actually are.  For instance,  My left foot hurts from time to time when I try to walk for any length of time, while my right foot usually feels fine.  Then I might reason...they are both my feet and they should both feel the same...and perhaps they will if I think they will.  And... before long they just might feel the same!  The point is that while getting older may be contributing to my feet hurting, so believe they can both feel better and maybe they will!  Focus on what you're gaining.  Research has shown that emotional well-being generally increases with age, and certain aspects of cognition, like conflict resolution, often improves in later life.  With time, we're likely to develop more reliance!  Successful aging doesn't mean I won't get sick, encounter loss or require care at some point, and no one said that changing any mind-set is easy.  But, if you can, it may allow you to see yourself more clearly "as a person with lived experiences and wisdom" as you age.  Hey...I plan to live to be...well, maybe 95!  Betcha I can!  Try and stop me!!  And...before long I will be 95!  I did it!  Now, I have to live that dream!  I know I can do it!!  Follow with me and we'll see!  I'll keep you informed...as long as you can live to stay informed!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.    

The "John Fetterman Debacle!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading more and more about one of Pennsylvania's newest United States  Senators, John Fetterman for whom I recently voted.  I should tell you at this point  in my story that I will try and tie several stories together, so follow closely!  I continue by telling you, at this point in my story, that I taught high school Graphic Arts, which involved the skill needed to run a printing press, to both of my sons, older son Derek and younger son Tad, both of whom I had in my Graphic Arts and Photography classes as high school students years ago.  I wore a shirt and tie to school, but always covered myself with a full-length jacket to make sure I wouldn't catch my clothing in a piece of equipment.  I did get my hand caught in a printing press one day while showing my students how to run the press, but that was because I wasn't paying attention and not due to my attire.  Every time I look at my right hand, I still think about that day and what might have happened had I been wearing a loose tie around my neck that day!  Both my sons still work in the printing trades and find it necessary to dress appropriately when they go to work.  No reason to wear a coat and tie, since they didn't have to impress those around them with their clothing.  Well, you probably are aware of the stink that has cropped up in the past few weeks due to one of Pennsylvania's United States Senators arriving at work in shorts and a hoodie.  

Cover of "The Week" which features a likeness
 of Chuck Schumer and John Fetterman burning a tie.
Notice John's shorts and white hoodie!

My first thought was...how is John going to get away with that!  Isn't there some sort of law that says they have to wear a coat and tie?  Well, I found out that there isn't a law...just a presumption that the men will wear a coat and tie....no jeans please!  Makes you look more professional and makes you work harder.  Yeah..right!  If you are reading this.....I'm almost absolutely sure that you never saw John Fetterman when he was at work.  I certainly never saw him in the Senate!  So...what's the big deal if he doesn't wear a coat and tie?  Now, I realize that he may go a bit too far off the assumed state of attire when he wears a hoodie and shorts, but I don't think a tie is necessary.  Yes, I agree with all who believe long pants and a sport shirt would be an appropriate form of attire for the United States Senate.  He might be overdoing it with the hoodie and shorts.  Funny, but we were never told what he had on his feet, but my guess would have been sneakers and no socks or maybe sandals!   Almost every week there is something in the newspaper about his attire.  MUST YOU DRESS IN SUIT COAT & TIE WHILE IN THE SENATE CHAMBERS??  I'm guessing that many in the Senate believe in that form of dress, but I'll bet there are many others who would just love to come in a nice, pressed sport shirt with comfortable dress pants....even jeans.  No need for a suit and tie.  Seems that the Senate never really had an official dress code...as far as I know!  You were just expected to have a coat and tie.  Well, John has other visions as to what is expected as acceptable dress!  Perhaps there should be a secret vote in the Senate chambers to see what they really want to wear when they take on their "customers" (you and me) problems.  I do agree that you look more professional with the coat and tie, but all people don't agree with me, either.  All "Blue Collar" workers probably wouldn't mind if he came in blue jeans and short-sleeved shirt, or even shorts and neatly ironed shirt.  John's white "Hoodie" might have been a bit too much...especially since he stands a head or two taller than most everyone else in the room.  I propose they take a secret vote to see what and if they must all have coats and ties when in their chamber.  As far as the female congregation goes, I can't believe that any of them would come in anything else except something nice looking.  But, then again, what's wrong with a comfortable bikini!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Have You Ever Seen A Skunk Without Stripes?" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading that skunks can lose their stripes...and now we might know why.  Although skunks have long been known for their distinctive coats of black with a white stripe down the middle of their back, a new study recently examined why some skunks are evolving to have different fur patterns.  Interesting!!  Oh, the things that are done in the name of science.  Where did the skunks white line go?  A fellow named Ted Stankowich is an evolutionary behavioral ecologist at California State University and he studies "aposematism," or warning colorations, like the bright colors that adorn coral snakes and poison dart frogs.  Well, seems that he also is studying the striped skunk which is native to much of North America and sports some of the most recognizable colorations on the planet;  jet-black fur and white racing stripes that run from head to tail.  Evidently the strips are a warning signal to a predator that they have a strong, stinky defense.  But Mr. Stankowich and others have noticed something curious about striped skunks.  The animals possess different patterns, from a small patch of white on their heads to bold white stripes that merge into a cape-like pattern.  A skunk can also be an all-white or all-black animal.   This may seem odd, since "the more consistent a signal on an animal may be, the more the predator gets one image in their head and knowns when to avoid the animal."  But, a recent study might explain these varying patterns and how we humans may be influencing them.  As far as the skunk goes...their scent glands can squirt sulfuric secretions into a predator's eye, yielding the predator helpless at times.  The skunks foes generally include mountain lions, coyotes, jaguars and bobcats which are either hungry enough to risk the spray or who come upon a skunk with markings that doesn't  accurately convey the threat posed.  Recently, Mr. Stankowich photographed 749 striped skunk skins in museums across the continent and recorded factors such as stripe length and pattern symmetry, and then compared them with other variables such as the environments the animals and other potential predators inhabited.  In an area with  strong predation risk you get a much more consistent, traditional black animal with two long stripes on the body, but as the risk declines, you get more variation in a skunk's stripes.  It is suspected that when there aren't as many predators in waiting, there's less selection for strong warning stripes to get passed on through the generations.  Thus, as generations of skunks continue, you get wider and wider variations in stripe patterns.  Studies like this gives you the idea that we have this mosaic of selection pressures over North America.  And...since people have hunted and outright eliminated predators in the United States, from mountain lions to wolves, it seems logical to ask if humans are to blame for skunks starting to look less like a skunk by losing the white stripes on their backs.  Makes sense to me!  So, the skunk is a pretty smart character, being they know that by eliminating the strips on their back, we might not know they are a skunk...and therefore possibly leave them alone!  Pretty smart animal...if that is truly the reason for the loss of the white strips on their back.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

An Extra Posting For No Good Reason For Those Who Love Cats

It was an ordinary day.  Found a few fun photographs of cats that I found pretty funny.  If you too might be a cat fancier as I am, you might appreciate the pictures.  Just an extra posting for today...

 

The "Memories of Arnold Surface Once Again...Story"

It was an ordinary day.  Not just any ordinary day...but, a bow-tie-clad dogs bid farewell ordinary day.   On the front page of my morning LNP newspaper was the headline...At funeral, bow tie-clad dogs bid farewell. The story was about the untimely death of 53-year old Joani Sheaffer.   The sub-headline followed with: "Customers: Mail carrier 'a beautiful person,' always with treats!"  Now...I added that explanation point at the end of the sub-headline because I know just what a special person Joani Shaeffer must have been.  Joani loved dogs!!  The enduring cliche about mail carriers not liking dogs didn't carry over to Joani.  She was a sweetheart to her dog friends on her mail route and she likewise loved them.  The story in the newspaper brought back so many memories of years ago when my wife, Carol, and I lived with our three children on the 900 block of Janet Ave. in the Grandview Heights section of Manheim Township and our mail carrier was a fantastic guy known as Gary.  Gary loved all animals, but had a special affinity toward dogs.  And...they too loved him!!  Our dog, Arnold" could hear Gary's mail truck stop in the next block!!  No matter where Arnold was in the house, he would run to the front door when he suspected Gary was closeby.  His tail would wag as he kept his eye on the mail slot of our solid wood front door.   We had no window on the door, but Arnold just knew that Gary would arrive soon with our mail...and a bone or two for him.  Then in the summer, we would open the front door and allow Arnold to wait for Gary on the porch.  Our front screen door had a mail slot on it as well so that Gary could push a bone to Arnold through the mail slot.  Didn't matter if Gary had any mail for the residents in the home...as long as Arnold got his bone.   Carol and I, as well as our three children, loved Gary as well and appreciated his dropping off a bone EVERY DAY for Arnold.  Well, today's story must have been much the same, but only with a different mail carrier.  The newspaper's headline read: "Sheaffer and digs went together like letters and stamps."  Joani recently died from complications following surgery on October 14.  She was only 53 years old.  And...she was one of the best and greatest mail carriers there every was...right up there with our Gary.  She had worked for the U.S. Postal Service for over 30 years and kept boxes of dog biscuits in her truck.  Wow...did that sound familiar after reading it!  She delivered treats along with the mail to all the dogs on her route.  I noticed that the treats were mentioned before the mail was in the article!  Her route included Landis Farm, Parkside Estates and Hoffman Heights neighborhoods in East Hempfield Township.  Soon after those on her route found out about her death, black ribbons were tied around their mailboxes as well as around the necks of the dogs who will miss her tremendously.  The neighbors took up a collection to provide flowers for Sheaffer's service as well as a catered luncheon for her fellow postal workers.  They also sent gift cards to her family members and a donation to the Pet Pantry of Lancaster in Joani's honor.  Did these mail residents love her????  Many said,  "They never had a carrier like Joani!!"  One resident said "She would stop and play with her puppy Cavapoo Matches and give her treats."  Another resident in the Landisville area said his mini Goldendoddle Darla would get excited as soon as she heard Joani's truck arrive, knowing she would be getting a treat.  Another resident, Jim, said his French Bulldog, Hammy, would get so excited when Joani would arrive.  Joani's focus was definitely on Hammy when she arrived with their mail.  Seems that every dog on Joani's route knew her and the sound of the mail truck when it arrived.  Can you imagine how much her bill for dog treats must have been every week?  Boy....are those residents going to miss her!!  And...I'm not taking about the human ones...although I'm sure they will miss her as much as their furry friends will.  We went through the same spell when we moved from the Grandview area to a different home.

Arnold was lost for a few weeks, being we had a mailbox at the end of our driveway and not in our front door.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.     

The "Lighting Up The Night By Solar" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just finishing taking another photograph of my stained glass window I made years ago for display next to the front door of my home on Harrington Drive in Manheim Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. My wife, Carol, and I lived in a semi-detached, Tudor-style home on Janet Avenue in Manheim Township for many, many years.  We enjoyed the home where we raised our three children and a variety of household pets, but it just wasn't the style of home that we loved.  When our children were out of high school, we moved to a very modern home on Harrington Drive.  Next to the front door was a full length window that was 24" wide.  Great for seeing those who arrived at our home, but didn't allow for much privacy in case we wanted to walk around in our PJs in the evening.  Carol thought it would be a good idea to cover the window with drapes or perhaps something like a stained glass window which you can't see through.  Well, I ended up taking a class in making stained glass items and eventually made the window that fit perfectly into the opening.  It featured a heron that was standing leg deep in a pool of water with a sand bar behind it and the sky and red sun in the background.  I made a frame from cherry wood in the shop at Manheim Township High School where I was an Industrial Arts teacher for 35 years.  It fit perfect in the opening and cast an array of colors onto the tile floor next to the window.  Then, a year ago we decided to move to a retirement community so I no longer had to take care of the one acre property and all that went with it such as mowing, raking, shoveling snow, etc.  Well, we told all those looking at the home on Harrington that the stained glass window DID NOT go with the house.  As soon as we sold the home, in about a week, I removed the stained glass window so we could take it with us.  And, after moving to Woodcrest Villas we found the perfect place for the window.  We have a large, tall window in our dining room that was the perfect match for the stained glass window.  One of the workers at the retirement community helped me install the window and it looks great.  My wife thought that it would look great if we would illuminate it in the evening.  So, we purchased a solar spot light and my friend and co-teacher at MTHS, Hal Hopper,  helped me make an outdoor stand for the spotlight.  Last night, shortly after I had placed the light outdoor by the window, Carol and I were watching TV in an attached room when she walked past the dining room and said...Wow, does that look neat!  Sure enough, the window looks fantastic.  So glad we brought it with us.  Now our late-night guests and family will get to see the window, just not in daylight, but at night.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Stained glass with solar light at night

Stained glass during daytime

The "Praying Mantis" Story

It was a ordinary day.  Reading about one of my all-time favorite insects...the Praying Mantis.  I used to find them in my backyard when I was a young boy, but haven't found one anywhere for many years.  If you ever see one... they hold their front legs close to their body as if they were praying!  The insect is a notorious predator and is of the order Mantodea.  There are approximately 2,000 mantid species worldwide.  The majority of them are found in Asia, but there are about 20 species of the insect that are native to the USA.  It has a three segmented body with a head, thorax and abdomen.  The abdomen is elongated and covered by the wings in adults.  Females have strong and large paired appendages on the rear-most segments.  

The first segment on their thorax, the prothorax, is elongated and from it arises the modified foreleg.  They have huge compound eyes mounted on a triangular head and have a large range of vision.  They use sight for detecting movement of prey and swivel their heads to bring their prey into a binocular field of view.  They can rotate their head 180 degrees as well as pivot it.  Their antennae are used for smell.  Pretty neat insect, so they are!  It feeds primarily on other insects such as fruit flies, crickets, beetles, moths and bees.  The larger Praying Mantis can consume a small reptile, bird or even a small mammal.  To capture their prey, they use their camouflage to blend in with the surroundings and wait for the prey to be within striking distance.  They then use their front legs to snatch the victim as well as position the victim so it can eat it.  The Praying Mantis is found around the world in areas with mild winters and sufficient vegetation.  They enjoy staying in a garden, forest or other vegetated area.  Their primary predators are frogs, bats, monkeys, large birds, spiders and snakes.  At times, they will prey on each other, usually during the nymph stage and during mating as well as when their is no other prey.  If and when they are threatened, they stand tall and spread their forelegs to allow them to penetrate the target, with their wings fanning out wide and their mouths open.  The only time they fly is when the adult female begins to emit pheromones which attracts males for mating.  

Males fly at night, since they are attracted to lights.  The reproductive process in a large majority of mantis species is marked by sexual cannibalism whereby the female eats the male after mating has taken place.  Hey...so glad I'm not a praying mantis or I might not be typing this story today.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Jack Brubaker Presents "Phebe Gibbons" Story

It was an ordinary day. Reading an article in my Sunday LNP newspaper about a Thaddeus Stevens museum being eyed for Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  The story, written by one of my favorite columnists, Jack Brubaker, carries the headline..... Thaddeus Stevens museum eyed for Gettysburg.  

                                                              Jack Brubaker

                                                    Story Teller Extraordinaire

He tells the paper's readers that the Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Center for History and Democracy is coming to Steven's former home and office on Lancaster's South Queen Street in 2025.  The world-class museum will examine the lives and works of Stevens and Smith, as well as the Underground Railroad that they and others used to help African Americans free slavery.  The story also tells readers that another museum will open soon in Gettysburg  that will feature mostly items and works by Stevens.  Seems that the Thaddeus Stevens Society will launch a fundraising effort soon to create the new museum in Gettysburg.  The new museum will display Stevens' letters, period books and newspapers, stoves manufactured at his iron furnaces and other artifacts related to Stevens' early life in Gettysburg and after he moved to Lancaster.  I'm anxious for the new museum to open so I can make a visit to see more about Lancaster's own Thaddeus Stevens.  Jack Brubaker, known as "The Scribbler" to those of us who live in Lancaster County, has been writing his column in Lancaster's Sunday News for years.  I enjoy it since it almost always deals with the history of Lancaster County and surroundings.  Today's (Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023) column tells mostly about the new museum that is expected to come soon to Gettysburg.  As for Jack...well I got to hear a talk by Jack this past week when he made a visit to Lancaster's Woodcrest Villas which is a retirement community in Lancaster County.  The event was well attended and Jack gave a great talk about Phebe Earle Gibbons, who is recognized as the first national writer to draw attention to the Pennsylvania Dutch, especially the distinct group known as the Amish.  Phebe was primarily a writer who was sympathetic to the plight of fugitive slaves and supported the abolition of slavery as well as other progressive causes.  Among other things, she was the least active of the operators of the Gibbons' Underground Railroad Station along Mill Creek in Upper Leacock Township, just north of Bird-in-Hand.  Jack's talks and stories are always a treat to listen to and are tremendously historical, especially to those of us who were born and raised in Lancaster County and now live at Woodcrest. Jack's well attended talk should have been an indicator to Jack that we love his talks and hope he returns soon.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS- Jack, the photo of the two of us wasn't the best...so I didn't post it!  PPS -  A few of the covers of books that Jack has authored follow.  Click on to enlarge.

The "Mighty Susquehanna River!" Story

It was an ordinary day. Since moving to my new home at Woodcrest Villas, I have found that I am a bit closer to one of the greatest rivers in the United States...the Mighty Susquehanna River.  It's quite an honor living only a few miles from the Susquehanna which stretches, or should I say winds, from Cooperstown, New York, which is at the south end of Otssego Lake, all the way to the beginning of the Chesapeake Bay at Havre de Grace, Maryland.  That's approximately 444 miles of river which flows through three states - New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland.  And...I now live only about 10 minutes, tops, from the Mighty Susquehanna river!  It travels through major cities such as Binghamton in New York and Wilkes-Barre, Williamsport and Harrisburg in Pennsylvania.  The West Branch of the Susquehanna River meets up with the main branch of the river at Northumberland and Sunbury, Pennsylvania, just north of the Shamokin Dam. The Susquehanna is a great river for fishing and taking a ride on a canoe, kayak or motorboat. "Visit Central PA" notes that the Susquehanna river is the longest river on the east coast of the United States and is the 16th longest river in the country.  The Susquehanna River has many islands along the way.  "Wikipedia" lists eleven named islands in New York State alone, all in the Southern Tier including Beerkalew, Hiawatha, Crocker and Squaw Islands among others, and four named islands in Pennsylvania including City Island in Harrisburg which has a baseball stadium, home to the AA baseball Harrisburg Senators.  The Susquehanna River has had its "not so good moments" in the spotlight in the past according to Wikipedia with Environmental threats from the Three Mile Island incident in 1979, and excessive pollution that gave the river the name of "America's most endangered river for 2005, from American Rivers, an environmental group.  You might also have read about The Statue Of Liberty in The Susquehanna River in a previous story I have posted recently.  My wife, Carol, and I have had the honor on several occasions to ride tour boats on the Susquehanna from one level of the river to another level further downstream.  There are many, many feeder streams along the way which makes the river an interesting and impressive body of water as it maneuvers itself throughout the north-eastern United States.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

The "The Art Of Kimekomi" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Of all things...I'm reading a magazine titled "WHAT WOMEN CREATE/Inspiration For Your Imagination.  Now...this isn't just any woman's magazine...it is a magazine that has no advertisements!  Just about every page in the magazine is in color or partial color and it has some of the best photography in it that you will ever see.  Now...the price of the 160 page magazine is $17.99!  Would you pay that much for a magazine that is totally stories and photographs and has no advertisements.  Well...someone did.  My oldest son recently dropped it off at my home with a few other magazines in the same ritzy category.  He works for a printing company nearby that prints quality work.  One of the articles in the latest issue of "WHAT WOMEN CREATE" featured work by Jenni Barry.  Jenni is a kimekomi artist who lives in the mountains of Northern Idaho.  Kimekomi is a technique that combines the painterly quality of impressionism with the warmth of complex quilting.  She has worked hard to resurrect, reinvent and educate people about kimekomi and her version of this unique art.  In case you are not familiar with the art form...I will share with you what she shared with her readers in the magazine.

Jenni Barry

Kimekomi was created in the middle of the 18th century (1736-1741).  The resident artist of the Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto (which was the capital city of Japan at the time), Tadashige Takahashi, is said to have made dolls from willow bark and wheat paste.  Then he cut grooves into them, were he tucked fabric pieces recycled from the priests' kimono robes.  Originally, they were called Kamo dolls for the Kamigamo Shrine.  Traditionally, kimekomi used no glue.  Pieces of fabric were simply tucked into the grooves cut into the fibrous modeling material called paulownia.  Paulownia is made of sawdust and wheat-starch paste and was used to create both dolls and, later, spherical ornaments.  Modern kinekomi is applied to Styrofoam balls (often with glue) to create ornaments with a unique appearance.

Jenni Barry writes...I began teaching several times a month to artists in the communities of Northern Idaho, Spokane and San Francisco.  While teaching a workshop in San Francisco, I was surprised to find that although some people had heard of kimekomi, they had never seen or experienced this medium the way I do it.  I start by drawing a simple sketch on the foam-coat.  I cut along the lines into the foam, creating grooves.  Then I tuck the edges of each piece of fabric into the grooves.  I add highlights and shadows by tucking thin strips of fabric into some of the grooves after the main pieces of fabric are already in place.  Although I do create some landscapes, I really enjoy making images of animals, birds and fish.  Fur, feathers and scales are a lot of fun and utilize busy fabric well.  Jenni prefers to use printed patterned material rather than single colors.  She can spend between 20 and 30 hours on each piece.  She loves to do custom pieces for her customers.  Art made with sentimental pieces means so much more to customers than common patterns.  Jenni says that she is honored to get to know the people she creates for.  She feels as sentimental about the art as the family does when they receive their custom work of kimekomi art. 

The following designs that were done by Jenni were from the magazine that I was viewing.  To see them in this blog story certainly does not do justice to the work.  Even the photos in the magazine certainly do not do justice to the pieces Jenni has done, but at least I have had the chance to see her work, just as you are now viewing her work.  If you can, enlarge the images to view them better.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - her work follows.....

   

The "The Big Screw-Up!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Was recently filling out my mail-in ballot for local representatives when I realized that the directions didn't make any sense.  After filling out my ballot I was supposed to place my ballot in the white secrecy envelope that says "Official Election Ballot" and seal it.  I was then to take that white security envelope and place it in the white mailing envelope that had already been addressed to my local ballot drop-off location.  Well, I spent maybe 5 minutes voting for my favorites and then I began looking for the white secrecy envelope as were the direction sent with the ballot.  Wasn't to be found.  What I did find was a plain yellow envelope that I had no idea what to do with it.  Well, my wife and I figured that somehow the directions didn't match up with what was placed in the mailer...so we decided that we would put our file-in ballot in the yellow envelope, which we assumed was the secrecy envelope and placed that envelope in the white mail-in envelope.  With a bit of common sense, it was the only way it could have been accomplished.  Somehow we were told to place our ballot in the white secrecy envelope when in fact it was yellow in color.  We both said, "Wait and see how many people get this all screwed up and we'll have to do it all over again.  Well...we were partially correct.  The election board made a major mistake and said the secrecy envelope was white and not yellow like they had sent to us.  Most fairly intelligent people can figure it out, but they must have had so many calls and people mailing in their ballot in the white mailing envelope without placing it in the yellow envelope.  Wouldn't you think that the plain yellow envelope was placed in the mailer for a reason.  Yeah! they got the color wrong, but what other envelope could we have placed it in.  After reading this story are you totally confused?  I can see how you could be.  I guess we were one of the lucky ones, or perhaps we were one of the reasoning ones who just knew they had made a mistake and they had wanted us to place our ballot in the envelope that had no printing on it before placing that envelope on the mail-in one that had the address to where it was to be mailed.  Are you confused yet?  No big deal...I guess.  I hope they don't make everyone do it all over again and send out new ballots.  What a waste of our money.  Perhaps the people who made the mistake could pay for the new mailing!  Only fair!!  My wife and I talked about our choices and we agreed on just about everyone.  And....there is no way I want to do it all over again!  If I have to do that I will list my name for every slot on the ballot.  Maybe I might win some post in our local government.  Hey, I have plenty of time to do nothing as some of them do.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "What A Neat Place To Go To Sunday School" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Traveling back in time by exploring, by means of Lancaster's Morning Intelligencer Journal, a story titled "You can travel back in time by staying in these local Airbnbs.  There along the bottom of the Intel was a story titled "Places To Stay."  Close by was a color photograph of what is known as "Historic Lancaster Church House."  My first thought was...'Did they actually have a church painted bright aqua with white windows?'  And...was that really a photograph of a church?   How many parishioners could they possibly have fit into that church?  I'm sure I could have thought of many more questions, but I thought I should read about it first before making any judgements about the church.  Well...the story told me that if I was visiting on East Farnum Street nearly 175 years ago, I probably was attending Sunday school as part of Lancaster's Methodist Episcopal Church congregation.  The Rev. Dr. Jesse T. Peck, President of Dickinson College, presided at the dedication service for the church school in August 1849, according to "History of the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Lancaster," published in 1893 by John S.J. McConnell.  Ah Ha!  So it was only a place for Sunday school!!  Well, six years later, the building was sold to Lancaster Reformed Mennonite Church, and future articles in the newspaper reported that the miniature church would change hands many more times over the history of the building while becoming home to numerous other congregations.  Today, real estate developer Dan Wolgemuth calls it home!  He finally decided this past year that since he travels so much in his business, he might as well make the aqua-colored old church/Sunday school home an Airbnb!  This tiny place actually has two suites with separate baths; one for guests and one for Dan when he is in town.  The newspaper article telling about the place says that the exterior of the building speaks for itself!  "It's a very simple kind of humble design.  You see some old churches that are just so elaborate, and this one just kind of speaks to that Lancaster County Mennonite kind of humble nature."  No church features still remain in the building, but the walls are still exposed brick along its entire East side with millwork detail and two 8-foot doors with 2-foot transoms built by Amish carpenters.  The home is just around the corner from the new Southern Market on East Farm Street.  That end of town just oozes a ton of history that is coming back to life once again.  If you happen to be close to the Southern Market, drive by and take a look at the neat old home.  You can't miss it. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.       

 

       Historic Lancaster Church House

The "How Far Can I Go!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  The kind of day that makes you want to go for a walk, wash your car or even mow the grass.  Luckily I no longer have to mow the grass, but I do have to wash the car if I want it to look great.  As far as the walk goes, I get enough while walking around my new home and environment at Woodcrest Villa in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  I've often wondered how well I would be able to operate when and if I would turn 80.  Not quite to that number yet...but it is fast approaching!  Faster than I want to admit.  Recently read a story that was in my local newspaper that had a bold headline that read..."How to keep a positive mindset about getting older."  The sub-head read...People who think positively about aging often live longer, healthier lives; find role models and challenge your own concerns.  I've often wondered what I would feel like when I was 80 or even 70.  Well, I've passed 70 quite some time ago and will get a chance to see how I can operate at the age of 80 in another couple of xxxxxxx.  I'm trying to stay as enthusiastic as I can about aging, but at times it's a real chore.  I have been told, and have read, that having enthusiasm for getting older is one of the reasons I may live a long, rich life.  I know that everyone's experience in aging is different, and having a positive mindset about aging could allow me to live another 10 years or longer.  So, I plan to beat the curve and make it to 100!  When I get there, you will be one of the first to know it when I write my story about my 100th birthday.  I know, no one can stop the march of time, but I should still give it a good shot in trying to reach my goal.  Seems I need to have a positive attitude if I want to reach my goal, and I also read that people can strengthen their positive age beliefs at any age.  You too can set a lifetime goal at anytime in your life.  Seems that people who are exposed to positive images of aging showed both improved perceptions of aging and improved physical function.  If I associate aging with only loss or limitation, I'm never going to make it to 100.  I also read I should strive to find a good role model.  Now....that might be tough!  Perhaps I could be that model for others!  I read that I should try a week of "age belief journaling" in which I write down every portrayal of an older person...whether in a movie, on social media or in conversation.  Then question if that portrayal was negative of positive, and whether the person could have been preened differently.  By being exposed to positive images of aging, I have a much better chance of reaching my goal.  Both my mom and dad lived into their late 80s, so my goal it to top both of them.  No reason I can't!  Right!  We have better medicines and well-trained doctors than in years past.  Keep reading my daily stories and you'll see how far I can go!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Preserving Times Past" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just finished taking a few photographs of the interior of the new Hamilton Watch building in downtown Lancaster which is located at 147 N. Duke Street (at the corner of N. Duke and W. Chestnut Streets).  For many years, the building was known as Ezra F. Bowman Technical School.  My father, Paul, after graduating from high school, went to Bowman School to learn how to repair watches.  At the time, the school was on the second floor of Bowman Technical School  at 147 N. Duke St.  He graduated sometime around 1940 and took a job at Meiskey's Jewelry Store which was located about 2 blocks from Bowman School, on West Chestnut Street.  He did watch and clock repair as well as wait on customers who had come in to buy jewelry.  If I remember correctly, the store was both for a retail as well as a wholesale business.  Eventually Meiskey's was forced to move from Chestnut Street and ended up on West King Street, about 3 blocks from the square in Lancaster City.  My dad eventually got married and a few years later I was born.  Loved going to Meiskey's in the evenings and over the weekend with my dad so he could catch up on all the work that was brought to the store.  Dad often talked about his time at Bowman's, learning the jewelry trade and how to repair clocks, watches and jewelry that was brought to the store.  Many an evening he brought work home to try and keep up with the repairs that kept coming in all the time.  He was well known for his knowledge of both watch and clock repairs.  Well, as time goes by, so did the Hamilton Watch Company that was located along Columbia Ave., to the west of the city of Lancaster.  I was recently passing the old Bowman School and saw a brand new name above the front door which is located on N. Duke Street.  It read..."Hamilton Watch!"  They were back in business, but only as a retail store, I assume.  Stopped in and brought back memories from the late 1940s when I would stop in with my dad from time to time to pick up parts for the watches he was repairing at the time.  Store is all retail now and is beautiful inside.  A few cabinets lined each side of the store and a gentleman was busy working on watch repairs at the rear of the store.  I naturally had to go back to watch the gentleman, whose name was James.

James at work on a few watches

James was working on a few watches and I spent a few minutes watching and bringing back memories from when I would do the same thing when my dad was doing the repair work at Meiskey's.   We talked and he pointed to a cabinet that had a few momentos in it from times-gone-by.  Old watches, jewelry and even an LP with Elvis on the cover!  Naturally, I had to ask him about the Elvis Record Cover and he pointed to the bottom right of the cover and said, "Take a look at what's on his wrist!"  It was a Hamilton wrist-watch!  Elvis kept time on a Hamilton Watch!  You learn something new every day...I thought.  Well...I snapped a few photos of the surroundings inside the new Hamilton store and thanked them for allowing me to take photographs.  Hope they have a chance to read this story and realize how much fun it was for me to visit some one my favorite places when I was a child.  I wish the new store the best and hope to get back soon to see what else I might be able to photograph for another story for you to read.  And...if you get a chance, stop in 147 N. Duke Street (at the corner of N. Duke and E. Chestnut) and ask for Armoni or James and tell them the guy who was taking photographs of the place recommended they make a stop to see all the jewelry and watches.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

Armoni

The "Making My Monthly Visit To The Lancaster Train Station" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Looking at a video that appeared on my computer screen of a fast moving train's wheels as they passed by the photographer.  Brought back memories of long ago when I would walk or ride my bike a block to the Lancaster Train Station and watch the trains arrive and leave.  Would often park my bike and hustle to the side of the tracks to get a better view of the trains wheels.  Every now and then I would get yelled at by the people who worked at the train station to get back from the tracks.  Back then, the wheels seems to be almost as big as I was and at times the sparks would shoot from the wheels as they went by.  I knew not to try to get too close to the moving trains since they could throw rocks at you.  I still enjoy visits to the train station to watch the trains arrive, load and then leave the station after everyone has entered the cars.  At times I think back to when I was that young boy, curious, but at times afraid to get too close to the tracks for fear of sparks striking me or the wheels of the train throwing stones at me.  When you are down at the level of the trains wheels, you get an entirely different perspective than when you are standing on the train platform.  I loved my sometimes daily visits to the train station where I had the chance to be in another world...watching the passengers as they boarded or exited the train cars, seeing the doors close and the trains whistle would blow as they left the station.  At times I would find my way to the side of the station's tracks where I could see the wheels of the cars as they passed by, throwing sparks.  That, if I remember correctly, was rather scary, but I knew better not to get too close to the tracks.  A few times my parents were called telling them to talk to me about getting too close to the tracks.  But, the trains weren't the only attraction at the station.  That shiney, double wide, brass railing was always fun to ride down from the upper level to the ground level.  And...nobody really yelled at you except maybe a passenger or two from time to time.  Actually, that's still fun to do...as long as no one is closeby to see me.  Could be embarrassing for someone almost 80 years old to get caught sliding down the brass railing in the train station.  I must admit I try to make double-sure no one is around when I do it!  And...putting a piece of newspaper under you makes for a faster ride down!  Wouldn't you do the same thing if you had the chance?  Now...be honest!  It was another extraordinary day in life of an ordinary guy.  

The "Through The Viewfinder" With Suzette" Story

 It was an ordinary day.  Just finished reading a "Through The Viewfinder" article that was in my October 15, 2023 Sunday newspaper.  The half-page article features a photograph as well as a story about the photograph that was written by one of Lancaster Newspaper's professional photographers.  The story today was written by Suzette Wenger.  Suzette has been a photographer for many years at the Lancaster Newspaper office and always comes up with fantastic articles as well as photographs to illustrate the article.  Today's story featured a photograph of a black swallowtail caterpillar having a feast on her backyard parsley in late August.  She quickly ran for her camera.  In her story she tells that to process this photograph, nine images were used, and all were focused manually at different positions on the caterpillar and stacked together in Photoshop.  The goal was to gain better depth of field even though the f-stop was set at f-25.  When you shoot so close to a small subject such as the caterpillar, the depth of field is a very minimal distance.  Suzette listed the many, many steps she followed while taking the photograph in the story that appeared in the newspaper.  If you are not a professional photographer, you might have had trouble understanding all the procedures needed to accomplish her goal.  Well, she finally opened the image in Luminar to tone Mrs. Cate R. Pillar to her liking after completing the necessary steps that were involved.  Eventually, the image was transferred back to Photoshop for minor adjustments and than cropped with some minor dodging and burning.  Alas!  The result was complete.  Suzette has been a staff photographer at Lancaster Newspapers for many years and her work is always unbelievable!  The "Through The Viewfinder" story appears in the Sunday edition every week.  I must apologize if the photograph that accompanies this story isn't as good as the copy that appears in the Sunday newspaper.  I had to make my copy from my Sunday Newspaper and the quality I ended up with wasn't as clear as what appeared in the newspaper.  But, I think you can get an idea as to what Suzette had to go through in order to create her beautiful black swallowtail butterfly photograph.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "The Real History Of Halloween" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading about the history and origins of one of our nation's special days...Halloween!  Remember when you dressed in costume and went from door to door...trying to get as much candy as possible?  After walking around the neighborhood, I would return home and lay out all my candy on the kitchen table at 929 N. Queen Street in Lancaster, PA and count how many or this candy and how many of that candy I had collected from the neighbors.

Well, the origins of Halloween date all the way back to the Celts of ancient Ireland, who celebrated the new year on November 1. That day marked the transition from the warm, fruitful summer months to the cold and dark winter, a period that was most often associated with death. So, on October 31, the night before the new year, they celebrated what was known as Samhain. It was a night when the boundary between the living world and the world of the dead became thin, and ghosts could return to walk the earth. Now...how scary can that be!  These meddlesome ghosts damaged crops and caused trouble, but the blurred line to the spirit world also made it easier for Celtic priests to make predictions about the coming year.  Those same prophecy-speaking priests commemorated the night by building huge bonfires that became the hub for evening activities. People gathered around in costume to disguise themselves as ghosts, tried to tell each other's fortunes, enjoyed a big feast, and made lanterns out of gourds.  Here's another bit of info: those big bonfires attracted insects, which then attracted bats. That's why the flying critters are now associated with the holiday.  These pagan traditions continued until Christianity extended its influence into the Celtic lands, and the celebration became generally toned down. The name "Halloween" came from the Christian All Souls' Day celebration, also known as "All-hallows."  That name was eventually shortened to Halloween.  Today, Halloween brings us traditions we know and love? When it comes to bobbing for apples, we can possibly attribute their introduction to early Roman conquests and the Romans' own fall holiday which was symbolized by an apple. 

As for black cats, the idea of being spooked by the felines actually has roots in the Middle Ages. Back then, many believed that witches avoided detection by turning themselves into black cats. Then there's the traditional Halloween colors of black and orange. This theme once again dates back to the Celtic festival of Samhain. For the Celts, black symbolized the “death” of summer while orange represented the harvest season.  The Halloween that we know today is a result of the great American immigrant melting pot. At first, celebrations were pretty limited in colonial New England as the Puritans weren't on board with the holiday's pagan roots. Because of this, Halloween was more common in Maryland and the southern colonies. But as different European ethnic groups began to mix, a distinctly American version began with public events to celebrate the harvest. Neighbors would gather at these "play parties" to share stories of the dead—also known as ghost stories—and enjoy some mischief-making. Still, it was not until a large wave of Irish and Scottish immigrants came over during the 19th century that the holiday became widely celebrated across the country. 

Historians estimate that by the early 20th century, Halloween was celebrated across North America by most everyone.  Wondering how trick-or-treating came about? Well, there's actually several theories about that. One idea is that the custom came from Ireland where young people once took part in a tradition called guising where they would dress in costume then sing, tell a joke or perform another sort of “trick” before collecting a treat of fruit, nuts or coins. There's also the act of souling, which traces back to 15th century Christians who would go door-to-door asking for treats or "soul cakes." They would take these pastries in exchange for a promise to pray for the souls of those homeowners’ dead relatives. Later, American children took a note out of the European book and began going door-to-door asking for treats.

As the more serious, life-or-death parts of the Celtic traditions began to fade, new lighthearted variations emerged: Fortune-telling, for example, turned into bobbing for apples in which women could find out which suitor (the apple) she would eventually "bite into". Young Irish and Scottish kids helped bring about the tradition of costumes: The pranksters went from dressing up as priests to putting together scary creatures intended to spook the neighborhood.  As for carving pumpkins, the Irish had a custom of carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them near doorways and windows to frighten away wandering spirits. One of those spirits is known as “Stingy Jack,” a man who outsmarts the Devil and avoids Hell. Because of this, his soul cannot go to Heaven and he instead wanders the Earth. In trying to avoid Jack and his sinful dealings, the Irish idea of Jack-o'-lanterns came to be. In time, the Irish brought this tradition with them to America and found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make for even better Jack-o’-lanterns.  Eventually, the games, mischief-making, and hunt for sweets all melded together into trick-or-treating, and the whole thing became more about community than anything else. By the time the 20th century rolled around, it was an essentially secular holiday centered on neighborhood get-togethers and parties. Today Americans still love Halloween and put modern twists on their celebrations. You can find the most haunted states and visit their haunted houses or a corn maze, or even order your state's most popular candy to leave at your door.  As for me...I bought a big box of Hershey bars so I can watch TV and enjoy my chocolate bars.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

PS - Thank You to "The Pioneer Woman" website for much of the information you just read.