Stop the Presses!

Where was I yesterday? 

Did you even notice that I didn't post? 

Did I even notice?

Well, I did notice. 

Why? 

Because I sat in front of my mini computer (remember the big one with all my files and photos and cool stuff died.) yesterday morning and couldn't think of a doggone thing to say. Oh, later in the morning I could have regaled you with the tale of my cat dropping the biggest tree roach I've ever seen onto my foot early yesterday morning and how bedlam ensued as I hopped around then scrubbed my feet, only to come back downstairs to see that he (the damn cat) was batting this hideous thing around the living room floor. A broom and dustpan were employed to shoo the cat and scoop up the roach, who while still alive was not going into the trash because, duh, still alive, ended up going back outside. I just know that he is plotting his return. 

Even later still, I could have told ya'll how I spent my morning at the Houston Chronicle talking it up with wonderful local residents about their experience growing up in Houston. That was actually the best part of the day. I know I don't want to go on and on about how great my job is but let's just say, it rocks and leave it at that. Anyway, all this week the Houston Chronicle is inviting local Houstonians into their offices to scan their old photos for a book that the Chronicle is publishing about the 175 years of Houston. They have graciously allowed me to hang around to meet these people. We also get a copy of every single image they scan. AWESOME! I'm also making appointments with any and all who are interested in giving oral histories of their lives and experiences, their parents and grandparents lives and experiences growing up or living in Houston. I am SO excited. I live for this kind of thing. This is what I've got so far:

1. I've been in touch with someone's 86 year old mother, who is in a local retirement home. She and all her friends are thrilled to have me show up for an afternoon to listen to and record their stories. I've been assured that they are even now (well, probably not right now as it is 6:25am) combing through their old photos looking for things for me to see. I didn't ask them to, they are just excited that someone is interested in their stuff and listening to their stories. And Boy Howdy am I!

2. I'm heading to Austin next week (for a meeting, totally unrelated) and on my way I'm stopping at a woman's small 150 acre ranch to look through her stuff and chat it up with her. Seems her family has been in the Houston area since the revolution in 1846 (?). And, she is the keeper of the stuff! She also invited us to her family reunion in October. 2 days of camping at the ranch, eating BBQ (JR will love that) and listening to blue grass, country and god knows what. I heard tell that last year they got 256 people to show. Now, that's a family reunion! Well, this year it will be 258!  I accepted the invitation with what I hoped bordered on gracious and not outright stalker zeal.

3. Talked to a woman who is going through her mother's things. Her mother passed  away in February. You could tell it was hard for her but she wanted to contribute. I was so impressed by her dignity. We talked on the phone later in the day about one of her photos, so I'll be doing a little investigative librarian work for her. It's the least I could do.

Then in the evening, I thought about posting about emptying more of our moving boxes and finding the tea tablecloths and matching napkins that I've drug from house to house but have never used because who has afternoon tea parties anymore? Complete with photos. I know! You can't wait can you? What about the linen set that was hand sewn by JR's great aunt in 1912 as a wedding gift to her sister, JR's grandmother (I think I've got all the great right), that's fascinating, right? I'm pretty sure that before I exhausted this topic I'd have to admit to my love affair with table linens. Another exciting blog topic. The hits just keep coming.

Then I went to bed. Not a topic of interest to anyone except myself and only because I slept through the night for the first time this week. 

So there you have it. Why I didn't blog post anytime yesterday. Aren't you glad I didn't?

Love,

M