La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
I’M NOW WORKING WITH SAN Geraldo on his genealogy book in which he has only gone back in any detail to the year 1288. I’ve always been his sounding board (and proofreader) but, given that my background is in all facets of publishing, it makes sense for me to help with the actual production. The other day, I started editing the 470 photos to prepare them for print. I finally got my rhythm going yesterday and already have more than 50 done.
SG has some fascinating photos that tell stories of his family over the past 150 years or more. Today’s top photo is a snapshot of SG’s paternal grandmother on a trip “out west” in the 1930s. Our grandmothers could both be very proper. But San Geraldo’s knew how to have fun. And mine never owned a pair of trousers. San Geraldo met my grandmother three weeks before she died; we had been together about two years at the time. She liked him very much, although she couldn’t understand why we both weren’t yet married. “Sure,” she said, “Now you’re young and handsome and successful. But who will take care of you in your old age?” I knew his grandparents for 12 years. They treated me like a grandson and I even called them Grandma and Grandpa. They were an inspiration. (San Geraldo called them Gramma and Grampa.)
We had thunder and lightning. (And, no, I did not find it very, very frightening.) No matter how hard I tried, I was unable to get a photo of the lighting. Every time I turned off my camera, the lightning flashed. Every time. High tides have been washing over the lounge chairs and umbrellas along the beach. I keep missing high tide, so you’ll have to trust me.
Dudo and I continue to make our daily visits to the hallway. Moose sometimes follows. I sit on the stairs to ensure neither cat does any further exploring. It’s very exciting. Last week, a bird alit on a vent pipe outside the window at the other end of the hall. The bird had nesting material in its beak, but sat for quite some time. Dudo froze. He stalked the bird for about 10 minutes. Now the first thing Dudo does every day is check for the bird on the vent pipe — from every possible angle. Moose, meanwhile, continues to surprise us. The other day, for the first time in nearly 9 years, San Geraldo found him comfortably settled into his office chair. I’m sorry, I meant to say Dudo’s office chair. Had Dudo been in the room, there probably would have been a war. Fortunately, he was asleep on the terrace — dreaming of birds.
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AHORA ESTOY TRABAJANDO CON SAN Geraldo en su libro de genealogía en el que solo se remonta en detalle al año 1288. Yo siempre he sido su caja de resonancia (y correctora) pero, dado que mi formación está en todas las facetas de publicar, tiene sentido para mí ayudar con la producción real. El otro día comencé a editar las 470 fotos para prepararlas para imprimirlas. Finalmente conseguí mi ritmo ayer y ya he hecho más de 50.
SG tiene algunas fotos fascinantes que cuentan historias de su familia durante los últimos 150 años o más. La foto principal de hoy es la abuela paterna de SG en un viaje “al oeste” en la década de 1930. Nuestras abuelas podrían ser ambas muy adecuadas. Pero la abuela de San Geralod supo divertirse. Y el mío nunca tuvo un par de pantalones. San Geraldo conoció a mi abuela tres semanas antes de morir; llevábamos juntos unos dos años en ese momento. Le gustaba mucho, aunque no podía entender por qué los dos todavía no estábamos casados. “Claro”, dijo, “ahora sois joven y guapos y exitosos. Pero, ¿quién te cuidará en tu vejez?” Conocí a los abuelos de SG durante más de 12 años. Me trataron como a un nieto y hasta los llamé abuela y abuelo (grandma y grandpa). Fueron una inspiración. (San Geraldo los llamó gramma y grampa… como se dice en Dakota del Sur.)
Anoche tuvimos tormentas de truenos y relámpagos. (Y no, no lo encontré muy, muy aterrador.) No importa cuánto lo intenté, no pude obtener una foto de la iluminación. Cada vez que apagaba mi cámara, el relámpago brillaba. Cada vez. Las mareas altas han estado lavando las tumbonas y las sombrillas a lo largo de la playa. Sigo perdiendo la marea alta, así que tendrás que confiar en mí.
Dudo y yo seguimos haciendo nuestras visitas diarias al pasillo. A veces sigue Moose. Me siento en las escaleras para asegurarme de que ninguno de los gatos explora más. Es muy emocionante. La semana pasada, un pájaro se posó en un tubo de ventilación fuera de la ventana en el otro extremo del pasillo. El pájaro tenía material para anidar en su pico, pero permaneció sentado durante bastante tiempo. Dudo se quedó helado. Acechó al pájaro durante unos 10 minutos. Ahora, lo primero que hace Dudo todos los días es comprobar si hay un pájaro en el tubo de ventilación, desde todos los ángulos posibles. Moose, por su parte, sigue sorprendiéndonos. El otro día, por primera vez en casi 9 años, San Geraldo lo encontró cómodamente sentado en la silla de su oficina. Lo siento, quise decir la silla de la oficina de Dudo. Si Dudo hubiera estado en la habitación, probablemente habría habido una guerra. Afortunadamente, estaba dormido en la terraza, soñando con pájaros.
• Ayer por la tarde.
• Esta mañana.
Tides will be higher during full moon so those chairs will be swamped…..maybe?
I find it intriguing what SG is doing. The end result will be so valuable to so many in his family…..and beyond I am sure. Moose always looks so guilty. Good thing Dudo was preoccupied.
Jim:
The surf has calmed, so maybe no swamping. Moose does seem to look guilty in that photo. Dudo’s the one who actually KNOWS when he’s being bad. Moose is usually more, Is something wrong? What’d I do? The book is a fun flash through SG’s generational stories and a fascinating trip through history.
I love a stalking cat! All you have to say to Consuelo is, “Are there birdies outside?” and she runs to the nearest window on the prowl!
And I kinda like Moose taking over the chair.
Bob:
If Jerry spots a bug (silverfish) in the bathroom, all he has to do is whisper “Dudo!” and he comes running. If Moose is in the bathroom with me (is he ever not) and I spot a silverfish, I whisper Moose and he stares at me. I physically direct him to the silverfish, and he stares at it until it crawls into a crack. Moose taking over the chair is just another opportunity to annoy Dudo.
my girls make clicking noises to the birds/squirrels outside. nice pix of moose!
anne marie:
Dudo and Moose did at first make those noises. I haven’t heard them for a while.
Gotta love Dudo’s optimism about catching the bird and Moose’s chutzpah sitting in Dudo’s chair. And mine for choosing one of several versions of how to spell that Yiddish word….
Mary:
That’s the way I would have spelled the word! Moose likes to live dangerously… when it comes to annoying his brother.
Dudo looks like you looking for chocolate.
David:
Fortunately, I’ve been much more successful with chocolate than Dudo has been with birds.
When Dudo’s away, the Moose will play, LOL!
Tundra Bunny:
I’m so glad Dudo wasn’t there to see that, although I’m sure he sniffed it on his towel after the fact. He would have been seriously bent out of shape.
Love the photo of SG’s grandmother! I can’t tell if she’s wearing jodhpurs or breeches (according to Mr Google, there’s a technical difference) but either way, rowrrrrr!
Debra:
I’ll share a portrait photo of SG’s grandmother. She was a beauty and way ahead of her time. She taught at a one-room schoolhouse in South Dakota and even started (and played) in the school football team, which must have been a sight — all ages, male and female. We’d have to see the ankles to know if they were jodphurs or breeches (I just googled that, too). My guess is jodphurs… or breeches.
I love that San Geraldo has this family history book going– amazing research. I love the grandmother photo!
Judy C:
SG’s family history is fascinating and he has so much (and so many stories) documented. I’ll share more photos.
Wonderful photo of SG’s grandmother holding a SNAKE! Very daring lady. SG’s genealogy project is project is massive – what a commitment he has made. I hope we get to see more of the photos you are working on. I love old photos and to have the context makes them incredibly special.
Speaking of commitment – Dudo! What a cat.
Take care yourself.
Wilma:
I will definitely share more photos. Dudo never forgets and never gives up. And if he does something once, it is a daily routine.
I laughed about the family history tidbit about your grandmother never wearing trousers. Mine never did either, didn’t even own a pair. And as progressive as my two remaining aunts are, neither one of them will be caught dead in pants!!! I guess my mother is the rebel. When my Aunt Barbara, at 85, still goes out, she even still wears stockings and kitten heels. Even when she took the ambulance to the hospital.
Mistress Maddie:
I never saw my grandmother in anything but heels when she went out. But it wasn’t a fashion statement. She was four-foot nothing.
That bird must be sitting there trying to figure out if it’s safe to build a nest in the area, given the obvious predators nearby!
Steve:
It was funny to see the bird sit for so long. There seems to be a lot of nesting in our neighbor’s laundry/utility rooms with their open brick walls. Most of our neighbors are only here for summer and other holidays.
Bird dreams are the best ones. If you are a cat.
Urspo:
I have a feeling you’re right.
Only 1288? SG isn’t very thorough, is he? Mother wore pants, but only dress pants or, god help us all, a jumpsuit. No jeans, ever. I love that photo.
Love,
Janie
Janie:
Oh, SG goes back long before that. 1288 is as far back as he can directly trace his paternal surname.