Swede 111 x 365

Toothless, ancient and heavily accented, Swede was a regular visitor at my grandparents’ home in Chetek, Wisconsin. He trapped, fished and foraged. He knew poisonous mushrooms from the safe variety, and taught my grandma the difference. It was said he was a recluse, but he seemed too friendly for that.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

(Uncle) Don Youngs 62 x 365

Image
First close person in my life who died, Uncle Don called me “Little Miss America”. (He had high expectations for my appearance). He was a short man who worked for the railroad and raised Dobermans. His love for me was genuine and he gave me a lasting gift: my name. Note : Don is the one on the left - the shorter of the two. (the other man was abnormally tall)
Read more

Mrs. Wewell 11 x 365

When Mrs. Wewell, our next-door neighbor, said I should pray for her instead of the soldiers in Vietnam, I complied. The next day she caught her arm in the wringer of her old wringer-washer. When I tried it again, a car ran over her dog. I quit praying after that.
Read more

George 167 x 365

Image
George, Tim ’s friend from Columbia, Maryland , must have often worn clothes that matched because I called him color-coordinated. He replied: everyone who lived in that planned community was color-coordinated – it was a rule. I now live about thirty minutes from Columbia and, still think of it as Color Coordinated Columbia.
Read more