Columns
In These Otsego Hills: Welcome Boo...
We are most pleased
to announce the
arrival of Abigail
Gilpin Ellsworth, a.k.a. Boo.
Abby arrived on Monday, Jan.
18, 2010 at 8:13 p.m., weighing
in at six pounds, seven
ounces and measuring 19.25
inches in length. On hand for
her arrival were her mother
Annie, something which no
doubt goes without saying,
her father, Christopher, and
her maternal grandmother,
Judy Higby.
Christopher stayed at the
hospital with Annie and Abby
as he told us he just could
not be parted from the baby.
This left Grandmother Higby
to travel from the hospital
in Westerville, Ohio to the
house in Mount Vernon, Ohio
to care for the two dogs,
three cats, two goldfish and
two lizards. She also had to
take the cell phone chargers
from the house to the
hospital as the parents had
forgotten to take them with
them. Needless to say, the
cell phones rather quickly,
given their great use, lost
their charges.
We must admit that we
were delighted to have received
via the e-mail a cell
phone photo of Abby taken
and sent within an hour
of her birth. We have since
received three more photos
via e-mail and have viewed
13 more of the family’s
hospital stay via Facebook.
Plus we feel quite fortunate
that we are able to call Ohio
to arrange for an iChat visit
with Abby. Thus far she has
not had much to say, but
we do know, for her size, she
has a very loud voice and
doesn’t hesitate to use it to
express her displeasure with
something.
For example, during one
iChat visit, Christopher
unwrapped her to show us
her big feet something we
believe she inherited from
our side as many of our great
aunts, plus our mother, sported
a size 11 foot. After we had
admired the feet, Christopher
did not immediately wrap her
back up and it did not take
her long to express her dislike
of the temperature of her
unwrapped self. He immediately
re-wrapped her and she
quickly fell asleep in his arms.
We suspect she has already
figured out how to rule the
roost.
Abby did her first visiting
of friends on her way home
from the hospital by stopping
by Peg and Tom Turgeon’s
home so they could properly
admire her, which we
understand they did. And she
has also received a visit from
her maternal grandfather, Hal
Higby, who we gather, based
on the picture we received,
was more than happy to take
on baby holding duty.
And we were somewhat
relieved to discover that
the dogs, Barnaby and
Bella, seem to be adapting to
Abby’s presence quite well.
We gather they have not
quite figured her out, but
seem to follow her around
no doubt because of all the
attention she receives. And if
there is one thing we know
about Barnaby and Bella, it is
that, if there is attention being
handed out, they would
like to be on the receiving
end of it.
Many people have asked
us when we will be going to
Ohio for a visit and
unfortunately we
have to say that it
will probably not be
anytime soon. At the
moment, we need to
stay in Cooperstown
as we are having a
series of procedures
done on our back
which we need to
complete. And we
would really like to figure out what is going on with our right
hand before we venture forth again. So, for a while at least,
our visits with Abby will be done via iChat. And while we
are anxious to be able to see her in person, we are happy to
avoid the possibility, at least for a while, that we might find
ourselves in the position of having to change a diaper.
In closing, we well remember that when Christopher
arrived some 35 years ago, we could not help but wonder
what the future held for him. And while he has experienced
setbacks along the way, we are indeed most proud of not
only what he has done but also of who he is. Thus, as we
contemplate little Abby’s future we hope she takes to heart
the following quote from Harriet Tubman who said: ``Every
great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you
have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion
to reach for the stars to change the world.’’
PLEASE NOTE: Comments regarding this column may be made by mail at 105 Pioneer
Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326, by telephone at 607-547-8124 or by e-mail
at cellsworth1@stny.rr.com.
- Columns
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From Fly Creek: Passing fronts and settled weather
(I owe the first part of this column to an informal writers’ workshop sponsored by the Smithy Pioneer Gallery. The small group, led by Gallery Director Danielle Newell, meets Sunday afternoons and is open to anyone interested in the writing craft. As a warmup exercise on that very rainy afternoon, we each wrote a few paragraphs on the weather and emotions. Here’s what that keen group prompted me to scribble down) The dour old Scotsman, the one featured in jokes without number about buying lottery tickets, pinching pennies, scorning worldly ways, etc., once silenced a friend who was praising the beautiful weather.
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: We're back from Michigan ...
Unfortunately, we once again find ourselves stuck in a time warp. When we look at the calendar, we realize that Labor Day is fast approaching. Yet, we seem to be operating under the misconception that it is still early July due in large part to the fact that we spent the almost five weeks from July 15 to August 17 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We feel the summer has sailed by and we, unfortunately, have not kept pace.
Continued ... -
Otsego Herald: Censorship?
All those indebted to John Lawrence, Post-rider, and do not settle the same IMMEDIATELY may rely upon having to pay cost!! Otego, Aug. 24.
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In These Otsego Hills: 1984 comes to a close ... finally
As we continue traipsing through 1984, we realize that even though we were supposed to be covering the comings and goings of Cooperstown, we actually were able, even then, to touch on a number of pressing community, as well as personal, issues. Of course, much to the relief of the powers that were at CCS, the school was not among them. The he-we ran for the school board in 1984 and was elected. Thus the school was deemed off limits by the powers that were at the paper. But we discovered there was still a wide range of issues upon which we could write.
Continued ... -
Otsego Herald: New school book
From the Otsego Herald for Saturday, Aug. 18, 1810
Continued ... -
Book Notes: Books offer tennis insights
Professional tennis sometimes seems to be the ultimate life. Where else could you travel the world, earn gobs of money, get in great shape, and have groupies from the opposite sex chasing you all the time? And you get all your equipment free to boot (which may explain why players smash racquets without remorse). Quite a glamorous life, isn’t it?
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: Continuing our 1984 musings
Now that we have undertaken the beginnings of this column, we fear we find ourselves unable to stop our review of the early writings. In fact, we seem to be completely addicted to the project. And thus, we will continue to explore the very foundations on which this column has been built.
Continued ... -
Book Notes: Burnett's book recalls 'Golden Age'
It’s a shame that today’s young generation missed the golden age of television from the 1960s and 70s. The fact that Hollywood studios with their ``original’’ ideas of constantly remaking hit TV shows from that era into new movies and reunion specials is quite telling. Even Fox with its ``That 70’s Show’’ is a reminder of that whimsical time.
Continued ... -
Home Notes: A place to cherish
As we enter into the middle of summer, let us pause and relish in the fact that we have been blessed with such lovely weather.
Continued ... -
From Fly Creek: Hurray for Mother Bassett!
Just back from my annual week at Lake George’s Silver Bay, in company with about 600 other Quakers. As always, it was a great time: Friends shared silence in the early morning by the lake and during the day in the big brown-shingled tabernacle. (Silver Bay is an old YMCA camp.)
Continued ...
Plenty of fine stringed music and singing in the evenings; lots of daytime rocking-chair stints on the deep veranda, facing across rolling lawns and lake to green mountains and skies of startling blue. -
In These Otsego Hills: In the beginning
Our remembering Jerry in last week’s column has now lead us to muse about our early days of writing a weekly newspaper column.
Continued ... -
Book Notes: Prohibition should not be ignored
I was an American history major in college and one topic that my professors never discussed was prohibition.
Continued ... -
Otsego Herald: Elopement
From the Otsego Herald for Saturday, July 21, 1810 Compiled, with comments BY HUGH C. MACDOUGALL
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Home Notes: Personal Care is a rewarding occupation
When I was a young girl in the early 50’s my family would often take rides through Cooperstown and the Cherry Valley area.
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In These Otsego Hills: Remembering Jerry ...
Difficult as it is to believe, we have been a widow for eleven years this week. And yet it seems as if our late husband Jerry just died yesterday. The memory of it remains most vivid in our mind. We suppose there is much that we don’t remember about July 20, 1999. But we do remember just how much that day changed our life forever. We lost not only our spouse of 28 years, but also our best friend.
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Otsego Herald: Celebrating the 4th
From the Otsego Herald for Saturday, July 14, 1810 Compiled, with comments by
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Our Opinion: What’s good for the goose...
The board of trustees has decided to hire an engineer to review the work of CLA Site, the firm hired to do the site assessment and design work for the Village Gateway Project _ now known as the Cooperstown Intermodal Transit Project. That review will cost up to $12,000.
Continued ... -
From Fly Creek: ‘Thump-thump, dum-lum’
Since I last wrote to you I’ve been several times embraced to Mother Bassett’s bosom.
Continued ...
(Oh dear, I hope that’s not a disrespectful metaphor. But if you’ve seen photos, you know she was a handsome, dignified woman with an ample superstructure.) This time, for variety, the hospital visits at first seemed to have little to do with Parkinsonism. But a new problem had turned up that had me tested in every part of the hospital except obstetrics. -
In These Otsego Hills: Travels with The Widge...
We have decided that the role of grandmother is quite to our liking. As we have been told any number of times, as a grandparent it is perfectly acceptable to hold, play with and fawn over the grandchild until such time as said grandchild becomes fussy. And then, and this is the best part, it is completely within the purview of the grandparent to return the fussy grandchild to the parents. We love it.
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Otsego Herald: Shocking accident, American arrested
On Wednesday last, as Joseph Faulkner, esq. of Middlefield, was returning home from Cherry-Valley, a gust of wind arose up suddenly, a large Elm was blown across the road, directly on Mr. Faulkner, who, together with his horse was instantly killed.
Continued ...
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From Fly Creek: Passing fronts and settled weather
