Paul, John, Jim and Ned (Edmund) Nolan. I found this locket in a box my parents gave me recently. It's one-and-three-quarter by one-and-a-quarter inches, and a little beat up. Late 1940s? I can only imagine how precious this was for my grandmother Isabel Curry Nolan (I.J.C. = Isabel Jane Curry.) Her father Vincent was killed by lightning when she was a child; her brother John by a sniper in WWI. Her new family she kept safe in scrapbooks and around her neck. Click either image to enlarge.
My grandfather, Paul Nolan, is on the far left. Wish I could make out the design on the jerseys better. It is not the Nike swoosh. Click below to hear my commentary about an illuminating P&L company newsletter from 1946, right after the war.
My grandfather Bengt Paul (Benekiki) was an amazing photographer, and used to send some of his shots as postcards. This one, of my mom and brother Chris, says: "Dear Christa and Jim—today 42 years since mother and I were married and yesterday it was 9 years since you got engaged. So my thoughts quite naturally go to you with all their hearts and pockets full of love. Hope you are all well and enjoy life. Next time I hope to send a new enlarging. P&K (Puss och kram: kiss and hug) yours Benekiki." It was nice that he wrote it in English so my dad could follow. Bengt picked up the name Benekiki in Hawaii, when he visited my parents there after his wife Hildegard's death in 1957. I've included the story below.
From a packet of newspaper clippings and photos sent to me by Barbara Sicherman. I've really enjoyed posting the four audio essays with Barbara this week on subjects from Well Read Lives: How Books Inspired a Generation of American Women. Barbara's dad Jake was my grandfather Paul's best friend, in high school and throughout life. Her mother, Esther, was a great friend of my grandmother, Isabelle. Here is an article about Jake debating a J.Y.M.A. team from Rochester at Temple Beth Zion. Thanks for this week, Barbara!
I love the sound of snowplows, typewriters, push mowers, and the Canadian National Anthem at Buffalo Sabres games. Thanks Ken Meyer for the great job editing. If you like these audio essays and cartoons, you can subscribe to the blog by email under my photo so you don't miss any. It's easy. Easy to unsubscribe, too.
My dad, demonstrating a certain confidence with a snow shovel that is the Buffalonian's birthright. I believe the street is Granger Place. For more on my people's prowess with snow removal, listen below.
Matt Georger works in the metal business and re-did his Buffalo Forge grill with a stainless steel pan and other parts. It is totally cool and utterly unique. Also note that Matt has hubcaps on his wheels, which my grill does not. I didn't even know they had hubcaps. Check out my interview with Matt below and learn how he did it. Matt, thanks for all the great Buffalo Forge info over the years and for finding me my grill.
Franca and Zoie cartoon by: Isabella Bannerman
We did make tunnels through the snow growing up in Buffalo. Three feet of snow though, that's a big storm. But it happened in 1977. School was cancelled two weeks.
