Marty, Louie, Richard ("Killer"), Tom, Pete, and Kenny “Saturday morning was come, and all the summer world was bright and fresh, and brimming with life. There was a song in every heart; and if the heart was young, the music issued at the lips. There was cheer in every face and a spring in every … Continue reading The Mountains of Braidwood →

The Scene It is the 21st century in Washington D.C. in a full session of Congress. The legendary coach Gordie Gillespie has been asked to address the 535 lawmakers prior to the new session. The intent is his talk would be to inspire and motivate the leaders of the country. As in the past, this body … Continue reading If Gordie Gillespie Spoke to Congress →

"There are times when my journal writing includes thoughts and ideas that were instigated by midnight insomnia and other quiet times when random unanswerable questions take over. While in Joliet for a few days, I wrote some responses (not answers) to those questions."  Ownership is a Fallacy To think that I own a piece of property, … Continue reading Random Thoughts in Joliet →

“Have you no sense of decency, sir?” (Joseph N. Welch, Chief Counsel for U.S. Army, to Senator Joseph McCarthy on June 9, 1954 Speech that society might label as course, rude, and gross – bordering on outright bigotry, hate, and fear-mongering – has, over the past several years, become the norm for segments of our nation’s … Continue reading Regaining Decency in America? →

Allegiance is: “...the obligation of a feudal vassal to his liege lord; the fidelity owed by a subject or citizen to a sovereign or government; the obligation of an alien to the government under which the alien resides: devotion or loyalty to a person, group, or cause." Merriam-Webster Dictionary In a world/country divided into many subparts, allegiance may be … Continue reading I Pledge Allegiance to…You, You, and You →

Grandfather Dan Kennedy I Sit Here and Wait Seems like I do this a lot, Sitting, waiting, remembering days of long ago, Knowing that my time is nearly over, Hoping that the end will be fast. Time to remember the good days, Days when the family was together. My beautiful wife was happy, Past her … Continue reading Waiting with Grandpa Dan →

Flat top Dad with Carole Ann, Tommy Ray, and Kenny Joe “Fatherhood requires change blended with stability. Without changing, a father becomes distant; without stability, he loses his anchor.”    TRK My dad’s relationship with me changed as I morphed from one growth phase to the next: from my early childhood and pre-teen, to teenager, to … Continue reading Different Fathers, Same Man →

Hometown of the Kennedy Family “The dash between dates holds the essence and spirit of the deceased. It doesn’t take long for memories to fade. Precisely why every family needs a historian to capture and relate stories of each member.” Sharon Mosier, Educator I am swimming in genealogic facts: birth and death dates, names of … Continue reading Jim Kennedy (1836 – 1919): the First Kennedy to Arrive →

Typical sailing ship that sent immigrants to America in 1836. It isn’t very often that one has the opportunity to talk with a deceased ancestor. The circumstances have to be near perfect. My chance to visit with one of my 16 great, great grandparents did happen on a morning a few weeks ago between sleep … Continue reading “Granny, why did you get on the boat?”  →

The name “Van Duyne” is often synonymous with the City of Wilmington. Seldom do you read a box score or school rosters without seeing that name or an immediate relative. It all started in Holland with the births of Pieter Klaver (b.1837) and John Van Duin (b.1835), fathers of the bride and groom. In addition … Continue reading Pieter Klaver Transplants Trees in Wilmington →