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EDWARD JACOBS

Category: Living

  • Monday, November 16, 2020

    An anniversary today, of ma’s passing ten years ago. A relatively brief illness–fifteen weeks from emergency room visit to her death–that sent more than one type of tremor through our family. Tremors that didn’t only make us all orphans, but also leave still-gaping wounds, some deeply unexamined and unlikely to be healed through time, it seems.

    Our parents’ generation, born in the 1920s, was raised by 19th c. parents of the ‘old world,’ lived through a horrific economic depression, and served and sacrificed family and friends in an even more horrific world war and genocide. At least for our parents, it’s no small feat to have raised five relatively healthy children, put us through schools, and set us up to understand enough to be good parents ourselves.

    It’s odd that I’m offering a measure of their success in terms of what they did for their kids. What’s even more odd is that I don’t think I know how they would have measured their own successes beyond raising kids. I know more about my grandparents’ goals and achievements (grade school biography assignments, no doubt) than I do my parents. Was I just that clueless, unaware, and self-centered? Well, yes.

    Getting to know ma in the 24 years following dad’s death, seeing her emphasis on friendships, service/volunteering and, of course, family, did help me understand her perspective some, to be sure. Lots of good chats on the rides b/t Boston and Clearwater each spring and fall, some good memories of growing up with her brothers, their childhood trials during the war, and more. But I suppose I just missed out on such exchanges with dad, as I was barely an adult, newly married, and on the opposite coast when he passed in ’86.

    When he passed, I know there were issues lying unresolved for some of us. And that lead to working hard to open up lines of communication with ma, trying to say things that were always left unsaid in our family. In time, I think that worked for most of us, though perhaps for some not until nearly the end. It’s too bad that the same craving to communicate hard stuff didn’t permeate us, the siblings, as that might have prevented later ruptures.

    Hold ’em tight if you’ve got ’em to hold. And talk to them. Look them in the eye and make your love unmistakable. Do it now, do it again, and again.

  • Sunday, November 15, 2020

    The week just passed has brought increased activity to the house, as Ellie has been with us. Joe and Cristin adopted Ellie, a true mutt rescue, about 3-4 years ago from the SPCA in Queens. She’s an easy, older dog, about 7 yrs old or so. As Cristin’s folks’ place isn’t conducive to dogs, we’re keeping her with us until Joe/Cristin/Jackson pass through again on their return to NY, some time next week. At home in NY she doesn’t play all that much, but here, Frankie is constantly pestering her to play, and she’s really come around.

    Play with me!!
    A good exhibit of puppy vs. older dog energy

    And we’ve been getting some basic puppy training (more like puppy-owner training, to tell the truth) the past four Saturday mornings. Yesterday was the last class–

    Graduation day!

    The new graduate, and her older companion, are getting used to each other’s energies, for sure:

    Buddies waiting for dinner

    Dogs really are a great diversion, such wonderful and loving energy.

  • Saturday, November 14, 2020

    Posted this image in the spring, and now, here we are, seeing this massive 2nd-wave surge:

  • Thursday, November 12, 2020

    Jackson made it down to his grandparents in FL. Having not seen each other since last Thanksgiving, I know they’re in heaven as they get to see him thriving. (and he’s loving the pool!)

    And a brief video displaying the bond Jackson formed with Frankie while here in Greenville…they’ll stop by again on the way back north, some time next week.

  • Tuesday, November 10, 2020

    Spot on Op-Ed by Margaret Renkl

    and with this, the completely ethically vacuous McConnell takes the next step towards encouraging a civil war.

    I am truly astounded at how bereft of perspective these so-called patriots are.

  • Monday, November 9, 2020

  • Saturday, November 7, 2020

    ‘Nuf said.

  • Thursday, November 5, 2020

    A wonderful visitor joins us in Greenville, as Joe/Cristin road trip to see her folks in FL for the first time since last Thanksgiving. No doubt they are absolutely chomping at the bit to get their hands on Jackson and give him some loving.

    So they’re here for a few days to break up the long drive, and we’re enjoying each other, despite Jackson’s first head cold.

    Here’s the man, not so sure he’s ready for the open road just yet and, below that, showing us his one-man-band technique!

    Jackson on the Triumph with Pappy
    Shakin’ it up!
    Taking Frankie for a walk around the living room.

  • Wednesday, November 4, 2020

    In 2000, the victory of George Bush was enormously disappointing.
    In 2004, when George Bush won a second time, I realized that I was part of a minority in this country. I thought that’s what it felt like to be despondent.

    2016? A scene out of a bizarre fictional creation made real.
    The past four years a nightmare of global consequence, and of deeply-felt individual tragedies nationwide.

    That this election is as close as it is–that this hasn’t been a clear victory for Biden, and for so many Senate-seat challengers–redefines despondency.

    We’re in for a difficult few days, to say the least. Even with Biden taking a national majority (nothing new in US political elections for a losing candidate) neither candidate will win with an overwhelming victory. And this will mean that if Biden wins he’ll be in a pretty weak position; if Trump wins he’ll just continue to do what he’s been doing.

    I am so deeply disappointed in our citizenry.

  • Sunday, November 1, 2020