Emerson said, “The earth laughs in flowers.” Now that the summer sun has returned, there is an abundance of laughter inside and outside The Thanksgiving Home. Last month’s lovely tulips have been replaced with brilliant red geraniums and striking lime green hostas. The sun brought a dynamic energy to the home, and we came alive with laughter and a renewed sense of family. We had many June birthdays to celebrate including Jackie Renwick, Ireland Gable, Frank Miller, Mary Butler, Leon Rathbun, Dee Bouck and Donna Runcorn. As always, we partied in style in our cozy living room with lots of laughs and adelicious chocolate vanilla marble cake. A good time was had by all!
Our book club enjoyed Erma Bombeck’s “All I Know About Animal Behavior I Learned in Loehmann’s Dressing Room.”
Hilde Parr, Wally Pickhardt, Patsy De- Baun and Sandy Brown spent the afternoon giggling uncontrollably in the library. After we finished, we began reading one of Hilde’s books about ghost stories from local places in the Adirondacks.
It was fascinating to read about spirits and ghosts that are said to still inhabit this area. Now, we are reading articles by columnist Dave Barry and continue to fill our afternoons with laughter and fun.
We tried some new games for our surprise activities on Wednesdays. Pictionary was a big hit, though none of us will ever be Rembrandt! Deanna Gable and Janet Saporito exhibited superhuman talent at both drawing their words and guessing the right answers.
Last week, we played “Quiz Show,” featuring trivia from the 1940s and 1950s. Though it was a close game, it was no surprise that Art Laidlaw took home the prestigious title of “The Smartest Person in the Universe.”
After the formal game was finished, Ireland Gable quizzed Bill Bowes one on one to test his knowledge of trivia. Bill astounded us with his extensive knowledge and great sense of humor.
Finally, we held the Thanksgiving Home talent show! It was wonderful to see everyone’s hidden tale ts.
Carol Affourtit sang and danced to three songs karaoke style. Laura Black played three beautiful songs on her wooden flute. Art Laidlaw showcased his fortune telling talents dressed as “The Great Karmac.” Laurie Blatt, Wally Pickhardt, Ralph Veenema, Leon Rathbun and Kathy Lindberg brought down the house with their singing group, singing several songs that lifted our spirits and kept our toes tapping. Fred Blatt played the saxophone while Laurie and Kathy played guitar with the group. What a fun way to spend a morning!
Doris Blomquist moved to Keene, N.H., to be closer to her son and daughter. Though we will miss her sense of humor and wonderful stories, we are glad that she is able to spend more time with her immediate family. Our loss is their gain.
On June 13, we lost our dear friend Ellen Hankin. A beautiful celebration of her life was held on June 20 and attended by family, friends, residents and staff. Ellen was a gentle and gracious woman who always had a kind word to say to everyone. She was very intelligent and kept up on current events by reading The New York Times every day. Ellen was a treasure to the Thanksgiving Home. We will all miss her sparkling blue eyes and loving presence.
Columns
Home Notes: June full of fun, laughs at Thanksgiving Home
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Passing along advice of seeing the humor
The best advice given to me many years ago when I started teaching had nothing to do with my discipline, English. Rather, a former mentor insisted on the necessity of having a sense of humor
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The week that was ...
For a number of years now, we have not been in Cooperstown for the spring season. And we must admit that we had quite forgotten what it is like. But since we decided that travel was not on the docket for this year, we have become reacquainted with the Cooperstown spring. And we must say we rather enjoyed it with the possible exception of occasional uncalled for snow and seemingly frigid temperatures.
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Local Voices From Around the Globe: Mother's visit was a benchmark for this year
Last week, my mother made the 25-hour plane trip out to Thailand to visit her son, me, after nine months of having only choppy Skype sessions and scattered emails to give her an idea of what I look and act like since having left home last August.
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Local Voices From Around the Globe: World traveler calls Euro-Tour experience of a lifetime
While I've had a great time throughout my entire exchange, I can say hands down that the month of April brought me the best memories of my exchange if not some of the best of my entire life. What kind of wonder would bring me to say this? Simple. Euro-Tour.
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Maryland port attacked
Havre de Grace, May 3. "This morning, a little after the break of day, a British armed force, under cover of armed vessels which anchored in front of this town ... landed below a small breast work which had been roughly thrown up, and in which were one 9 and two 4 pounders, manned by 50 militia.
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Memoir reflects on 'roller-coaster life and career'
Apparently, the third time wasn't the charm. The way Reynolds described him, the third husband was worse than the first two combined and that's saying a lot. Eddie Fisher literally walked away from Reynolds and their two infant children to chase a sex goddess. At least he got his just desserts when Elizabeth Taylor tossed him aside for Richard Burton.
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Imagine what might have been ...
A while back we got a telephone call from a reader of this column wanting to know why we had not written a column in support of Otsego Manor continuing to be owned and operated by Otsego County. And even though we have followed the debate over this issue in the newspaper, we readily admitted we did not feel we knew enough about the situation to take a stand.
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Herpes virus brings harness racing to a halt
I've been going to harness horse race tracks my entire life. My family has been in the business for years.
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Time, if not traffic, moves on ...
It is with sadness we note the passing of two people who we have known since moving to Cooperstown in 1982.
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Canadian capital captured
Dear Sir, I have just returned from Fort Niagara, where I saw a Captain of the United States' navy. He is just from little York, the capital of Upper Canada, and gives the following account, which is confirmed in official dispatches from Gen. Dearborn to Gen. Lewis ...
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Local Voices From Around The Globe: Exchange is like a life in a year
All exchange students realize the credibility of this statement. Like all lives no exchange is the same, all are incredible unique exchanges. The metaphor of life, from baby to old age, extends to every part of the exchange.
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Movie depicting legendary Jackie Robinson does not disappoint
Going to the movies is not something I do often. I can count the number of times I have gone on my fingers, unless you include trips to the drive-in. And even so, it took me years before I made it to one of those -- going for the first time two summers ago.
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'Dubious' about weather, Hawkeyes 'suitable' nickname
Unfortunately, it seems to us that this spring has, thus far, been anything but spring like. In fact, we are still more than happy to stay bundled up in our polar fleece.
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'Who's on Worst?' reveals the ugly in baseball
The Baseball Hall of Fame celebrates the greatest players, managers and owners from our national pastime. Any of us who have watched Major League baseball have inevitably seen some of these immortals practicing their craft. But we have also likely witnessed a sample of their opposite brethren, players who shouldn't have been in the Major Leagues. Has there ever been a definitive source that "celebrates" the non-accomplishments of the worst that Major League baseball has to offer?
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Swallow talk and bluebird vigilance
I assume the swallows have returned to Capistrano. They have returned to Hawthorn Hill as well.
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Local Voices From Around the Globe: Life in Hungry has taken a turn for the better
I can truthfully say spring has finally arrived in Hungary. It's almost time to wear shorts and sandals, for summer will be just around the corner. This brings me great happiness and great sadness, my adventure is coming to a close. Really what a time it was, I don't think I can compare it to anything else.
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The importance of speaking up ...
Over the years we have come to understand that, in writing a weekly column, it is not possible to always please everyone. And such was the case with our column that ran at the end of March in which we wrote about our experience as in inpatient following a total hip replacement.
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Public schools created
The Common School Act of 1812 marked the start of New York's public school system. Much of the credit for this was due to the radical Otsego County politician Jedediah Peck (1747-1821). To quote the NY Education Department:
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Book takes readers on path for equal rights
One of the most troubling aspects of our history is race relations. It takes a long time to achieve true equality in a society when the heritage of one ethnic group is slavery and Jim Crow laws. Even today African Americans are more likely to be stereotyped as athletes than doctors, lawyers or entrepreneurs. The path to a "color-blind" nation is still a work in progress.
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Local Voices From Around the Globe: Experiencing India at every new turn
Come, sit down. Hold this and, wait ... ah, there you go. Obeying these commands, I found myself seated on the pavement, wearing a turban and attempting to make sounds out of a recorder-like instrument for the black cobras in the baskets not two feet away from me.
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Passing along advice of seeing the humor
