When husband John joined a train club four hours away, I told him my hobby was going out to eat. Bless his heart, he honored that. Before he died, we were in the habit of eating at a restaurant on grandson David’s day off and on Sunday. I began to take a photo of the two men across the table. I’m very pleased to have those shots now, keepsakes of relaxed times when we chatted and laughed together. David is working as usual these days, and Lise is transforming our house into organized living. What a whirlwind she is! All of John’s papers have been put into folders, and the office closet now houses games and jigsaw puzzles. She and David straightened up the hall linen closet, and the guest room storage space is now under scrutiny. Lise and I are dealing with paperwork for change of titles for large items, life insurance claims, retirement benefits, medical bills, and change of names on all joint accounts. We have continued our habit of eating out. Here are photos of my lunch companions across the table and David’s tuna wrap at Beach Mountain Diner.
We asked David to pose with both of us at Waynesville Pizza.
I’ve never spoken of the Maclin Pat, a new name for a goofy practice that my brother Bob and I began when we were teenagers. Maclin is our family name, hence the title. In a teasing mood, we’d cock our heads at an angle, put on a silly expression, and pat each other’s arms. David and I continued the practice when he came to live here, and Lise has joined in. Would you agree with me that the ritual needed to be documented?
Mehrling Muse 
You are lucky to have organizational help. There is so much to be done and often no ambition to do it. I can’t think of anything my family has that’s unique except maybe a smirk. My brother has it and I’ve been know to toss it right back at him!
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Having a family smirk is marvelous!
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You are so lucky you have help Lise for all paper work. So pretty photo with David. All photography are nice. I hope you well. God bless you!
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Lise is a tremendous help with all the things I need to go through.
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Thank! You are well. Iam happy!
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That’s love
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Send Lise my way when she finishes your house. I need her organizational skills.
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She would come highly recommended.
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How great to have someone to help you get things organized. Such a huge job but made lighter with help. I love your hobby.
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Lise is making everything easier. I’m glad you like my hobby of going out to eat. Since I can’t drive right now, I need others to join me. It’s always fun.
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Yes Anne, documenting by photographs has, is and will always be an important part of everyones life’s!
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I just met someone who said taking photos was not important in his family!!! I’m still not over that shock.
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never heard anybody say that? Might be more of a statement about their families state of affairs?
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I don’t know what was behind the man’s statement. In our family we share our lives with photographs. Having a visual history is certainly important to me. John disliked posing for a photo, but he prized the results and shared them.
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I wonder if that is something that changed with age. I generally noted in the England photos John was not smiling, but in all of the current ones, he was and seemed like he relished it. Perhaps it is the difference in responsibility as a young father, in a different environment and then later having your children and life work settled for the most part. I saw that in my dad. It was rare for him to be smiling in the family photos, and as he aged and mellowed, he seemed to always be smiling. Either way, I agree–documenting our lives is important.
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What a keen observation! I hadn’t noticed that John wasn’t smiling in England. He was probably chafing at posing. I didn’t take as many photos then as I did when we got a digital camera. Also, he didn’t see results until the film was developed. If he was scowling, I’d show him the image and ask if that was the way he wanted to be remembered.
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You are so blessed. Now…what to do with all these photos..they do add up.
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I will save my photos, and daughter Lise will enjoy them. She has most of them, anyway. How easy it will be to dispose of them with the delete button after I’m gone! No heavy boxes of albums are lurking in the attic or at the back of a closet.
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I did have to chuckle at that one, Anne. I am currently working on digitizing all the family photos and sending them on.
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It took me five years to scan all our slides. I have every picture I took since 1962. The process was slow, but it was worth it. Good luck with yours.
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I am a believer! All things should be documented. I smiled throughout this reacting to your, Lise’s, and David’s smiles. Great smiles seem to run in your family.
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Our mouth muscles are in good shape, and we all have good teeth. I should say good front teeth, the ones that matter for a smile. We are blessed.
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You do all have good teeth–I have noted that! You are really making my day with this post and the ensuing conversations. Thank you!
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You made my day with your comments.
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I’m so glad you have your tight-knit family to support you during what must be a difficult and emotional time. Bless them and you, so far you are handling things in a spectacular manner 🤗💕
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We have prayed and laughed our way through John’s death. He would have approved.
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The three of you are getting through these days with mirth and merriment and lots of fun pictures that reflect those moments.
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The more I think about it, the more I realize how the disease had ravaged his body. He was struggling. We wouldn’t want to pull him back to that, so we’ll be happy he has been set free.
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That’s how you have to look at it Anne. John’s spirit was willing; his body was not. That’s how I thought about my mom’s passing. Same thing – the pain and suffering were finally over … as you say, set free.
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I’m so glad Lise is there to help with all the paper stuff and reorganization, what a blessing! The Maclin Pat made me smile!
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Yes, those kinds of rituals live on beyond their origin. Family sayings, “baby-jokes,” and all sorts of inside jokes endure sometimes long after their meaning is lost. 🙂
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We have plenty of family rituals, many as yet not defined.
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I still remember being at Grandma’s and helping her set the table “for tea” every Tuesday afternoon. Her former sister-in-law showed up in the afternoon to partake of “Tea.” I was in my 70s when it suddenly dawned on me that it was about more than just cookies or little sandwiches, and hot tea in a fancy teapot. (I think I still have one of her tea pots.) When I went to England a few years ago, the family always had Tea in the afternoon. Ah-ha! My grandmother’s mother was born in England and moved to the US when she was 10. I admit that I’m kinda slow on the uptake sometimes. duh 🙂
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That’s lovely that you have tires to England, too.
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That particular branch (Mom’s paternal line) is “from” Australia. Back in the day they moved from various English and Scottish, and German roots. One of my Australian cousins has published several books on our family.
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You have interesting relatives!
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The further back, the more branches to the tree. Fascinating. In just a couple of generations the whole world seems to chime in.
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Such lovely photos Anne.
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As others have said, I’d like to borrow Lise as well, she’d have her hands full here! Lol!
Love the Maclin Pat!! So cute.
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We’re keeping the Maclin Pat alive. Lise has joined David and me using it, and we always laugh.
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