THE NATIONAL PARKS: My Parks

The first National Park I visited was Acadia during the summer when I was only an infant. I don't remember anything about this visit but it started a tradition within my family of visiting National Parks on our yearly summer vacation. Some years we visited more and some less but we have visited many of them. I am going to dig through those old photos and my Mom's personal history to list them here.

Conversation on Facebook

This is a recent conversation from Facebook. Friend J and Friend C lived in the neighborhood, friends of my daughter Becca and were also Girl Scouts in her troop when they were in middle school and I was the leader . They are all adults now.

Friend J
Growing up I heard stories about when & where people were when they heard that JFK was killed. Now I can understand somewhat how they felt. A man who fought for the rights of others is gone. The Kennedys have given themselves to us for many years & lucky for us, they will carry on that work. The lion of the senate, Ted Kennedy gave us 47 years of service, and for that we are forever grateful. RIP Ted Kennedy.
August 29 at 7:22pm

Friend CS
Isn't it interesting how as adults we start to understand the significance of what our parents and grandparents taught us?
August 29 at 7:32pm

Friend J
I know! Its so sad that we brush off all of these gems they give us until were adults.
August 29 at 8:06pm

Arlene Lipman
we tried!!
August 30 at 7:04am

Friend J
Arlene, looking back to the time I spent in your home, I feel sad that I didn't take advantage of what you had to offer. I wish I had asked for your stories about the peace corps, and asked you to tell me more about your life. Becaue now I realize how awesome that stuff is! Now I am an adult with my own hopes and dreams for this world, and I admire and appreciate the things you've done, and Becca is doing. So awesome!
August 30 at 7:21am

Arlene Lipman
Thank you so much for your comment. In your defense, you really didn't have a lot of contact with me when you were a kid. Most kids don't think about the experiences of their adult relatives, friends, neighbors, teachers, Scout leaders, etc. I know I didn't when I was a kid. We get tired of our parent's stories because we have heard them so many times. Now - all these years later, we wish we could sit at the knees of our grandparents and ask them! I am trying to write down some of the gems so that one day my granddaughters will be able to know a little bit about their ancestors!
August 30 at 7:42am · Delete

Friend J
That will be the best gift you ever give them!
August 30 at 7:45am

Friend J' mom
despite all prior indications i must have done something right! im so proud of who my children are today
August 30 at 6:36pm

Arlene Lipman
isn't it nice!!
September 1

Impossible

Impossible by Nancy Werlin


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I received this book in a GoodReads giveaway. Thank you very much!
I was lucky to have this book in my bag on a day when I could read a lot. I love the song that the book is based on. The author has taken this folk song and built a credible back story for it. A young girl's life takes a dramatic turn when she learns the reason behind the song that her insane mother sings. I will never hear the song "Scarborough Fair" again without thinking of Lucinda and her "true love".

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Cookies - Bite-Size Life Lessons

My friend Kathy gave me this cute, cute book to share with my grandgirls.
I love you Kathy. This is the best book. She also made cookies last night, YUM!

Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons by Amy Krouse Rosenthal


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the most delightful book. The illustrations are too cute and the thoughts are wonderful.

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Clean Water

Check out my recent blog about water:

Planning a trip

There is a lot that goes into planning a trip:  where to go, when, how long to stay, what to see, how to pack????  

Albania - two weeks from now - two weeks

Becca is planning the itinerary so I really don't have to worry too much about that.  We are making a list of what to pack - our PCV daughter wants us to bring stuff - things she can't get there and gifts from Colorado for her friends.  I just got some new shoes and I think I need a new bag too, my old one is coming apart at the seams.

I would like to go digital, but the SLR camera I want is $$$ so I may end up taking film again, how many rolls?  

Why Albania?  it is the up and coming tourist destination (see Becca's blog )

and of course because Becca is there.  She is our Peace Corps Volunteer daughter.

Also, because I can fly there with my benefits!  not free, but cheaper that paying full fare.

Conversations at the airport

Working at the airport, I meet many people in a day. Sometime there is time to actually have a conversation besides the business of boarding a plane, changing seat assignments, and getting people rebooked if they have missed a flight or are one of those who can't get on a plane because of overbooking or weight restrictions.
Today I had several interesting conversations:
I talked to a man reading a Michener novel about reading those and his work for FEMA and my past life in the Peace Corps and our plans to travel to Albania to visit my PCV daughter. I learned that one of the pilots that I see from time to time at my gate is the son of a Group 1, Philippines, Peace Corps Volunteer. We talked about Peace Corps and places in the Visayas in the Philippines. A third conversation was with a man headed to South Dakota. He works for the Bureau of Indian Affairs Educational Department. I told him about Becca's work with the Seeking Common Ground Building Bridges for Peace camps and her trip to visit friends at Pine Ridge. I also had time to visit with several friends who are members of our flight crews and to other agents about planning trips.
Last week I talked to several passengers about the books that they were reading. Last year I met an actor that I recognized from the 80's show "Hill Street Blues". He was waiting for a plane to Montana with a companion and had several hours to kill. We talked off and on for most of that time. We talked about TV characters and shows, education, Montana, skiing and other topics. I was working at the customer service desk and we weren't very busy. His gate was right next door. I was a delightful meeting. A week later when they passed back thru on their way home to California, they said hello to me. How nice.
Another day I met the grandson of Winston Churchill. We talked for only a few minutes but it was interesting. "6 degrees"!! A gentleman I saw one day was wearing military insignia. It turned out he was one of the "Code Talkers" from WWII. He and his wife were traveling for a ceremony somewhere. We often get sports groups going thru. They usually have matching bags or jackets. Today it was a track team from Iowa. Another day I had a roller derby team go on my plane to Colorado Springs. We had to alert the bag handlers working the ramp the day that we had a minor league baseball team coming thru. They didn't want to arrive without their gear. Cute guys!! Last week we had groups going up to Aspen for the DAV winter games clinics.
A woman I met one day was on her way to Huntsville, Alabama. Our conversation started out because she was wearing a beautiful necklace. I told her it was beautiful and she said,"Thank you, I used to be the president of the US Opal Society, but I am really just a rocket scientist." That lead to me talking about working for NASA during my college summers and her talking about her childhood in New Mexico where her father was also a "rocket scientist" and "Uncle Werner" and "Uncle Albert" came to dinner. What an interesting lady.
Each day brings it's challenges and a new cast of characters. I enjoy talking to my fellow agents, especially those who have come from other countries around the world. We like to see the crews coming through. Talking to them keeps it interesting.