On May 26th, in the year 1916, an angel was born to Rasmus and Sally Mahady, in their coal-mining camp home of Crumpler, WV.

She spelled her title "Nana" most of the time; though my cousins and I were quick to call her "Nanny" in all our southern glory. Somewhere along the way, I added "Potts".

You are no longer here with me my sweet; but your spirit is threaded through every fiber of my being. I remember your ways, your thoughts, your testimony of survival...I remember all that made you who you were while you were here with me; with our family.

I believe in you, and that you still live...because I know we never really die just because the heart stops beating within these temples we fill. We leave this place. Who am I to think that all there is, or ever will be of hope, is only what we see in our little here and now? I know better, and so I don't think such things at all. And though I don't know what it is that holds you, or just where it is you are now, I do know there is a somewhere.... beyond what this finite brain can comprehend. I am humbled enough through the living part to know this much, at least.

Happy Birthday, Angel Of Mine! I love you always...Your Tracy

She always leaned to watch for us,
Anxious if we were late,
In winter by the window,
In summer by the gate;

And though we mocked her tenderly,
Who had such foolish care,
The long way home would seem more safe
Because she waited there.

Her thoughts were all so full of us --
She never could forget!
And so I think that where she is
She must be watching yet...  (anonymous)

So glad to be home!

My experience in the little town of Brattleboro, Vermont was unique; and the foothills of Vermont were a different kind of lovely from these Blue Ridge mountains of home. There is no way to really define the way I feel about the differences, except to use the already used too often cliche', "there's no place like home."

The flight from Charlotte, NC. to Harford, CT. was most interesting. Of course since I hadn't been on a plane in 40 years, I was reacting to the whole thing like a kid in a toy store. Wish you had been there to share in the pure joy I was feeling as I sat glued to the window at take-off. You may have laughed at my excitement, but I was so thrilled that I wouldn't have cared.

A 75-year old gentleman was sitting next to me. He was talking. It didn't matter whether I would listen. He seemed to be reassuring himself as he gave a blow by blow description of each technical thing that was happening with the plane as we glided down the runway for take-off. At first I was okay with it; until he continued talking even after we were in the air...about the pressure in his ears, and things like that. I was kind; but feeling a little distraught and disappointed because I wanted so much to just sit there glued to my little window in silence. I made it through though; as I listened politely to this man who had served our country during the Korean war. He had been on many planes so it was not anything new for him...still, it seemed he really had to talk himself through the flight. I couldn't help but wonder about the many possibilities of things he had been through during the war...

I took pictures, and as soon as I get settled into being home again, I will post some of them.

I arrived home yesterday at around 5pm. or so. The drive to and from Charlotte is 2 hours. It seems so ridiculous that I was actually on the road for this trip longer than I was in the air. Last week when we landed in Hartford, I still had to drive another hour and 30 minutes into Brattleboro. And of course, yesterday I made the same trip back into Hartford. My rental car for the week was a 2008 Mitsubishi Galant. Would not have one if you gave it to me! Hated that car for too many reasons to mention.

The flight back to Charlotte yesterday was much more peaceful than my flight into Hartford last week. My neighbor was quiet and the whole experience was quite serene. The flight attendants changed my seat before I got on the plane, because I was wheeled into the plane (the knees are all to hell, you know; and my carry-on weighed every bit of 40 lbs.) and they didn't want me to have to sit way in the back. However, when I left Charlotte last week, I did have a back end seat, and managed fine. Anyway, I made sure to tell them, "It's okay if you want to move me; but, just make sure I'm still sitting by a window." Don't worry dear; you'll still have your window seat." Aaaah...I was fine and dandy.

More about the historical Brattleboro, Vermont later...I'm playing with all my babies for now. But, I surely am grateful to be reconnected with the world of technology. I had no access to any computer all week. I began to shake and tremble from the whole thing!