My Thanksgiving in Acton Massachusetts 2002

A very Massachusetts Thanksgiving. The Mass Pike was completely jammed with holiday travelers. There was a light dusting of snow on the ground. The house had actually been renovated by Bob Villa on "This Old House" back in the day. The women were all busy cooking the wonderful Thanksgiving dinner. The men, well we were of course all gathered around the tube watching Dallas or Detroit play somebody. Before dinner everyone held hands in a big circle while Aunt Ginny the nun said a prayer and then we each added what we were thankful for.

I was the "new boyfriend" so I was tasked with taking that years photo of the whole crew with everyone's cameras. I guess if I'd made it to two years I'd have been included in the next one. It's a pretty good technique for keeping the transients out of the "permanent record." Still I was thankful to be welcomed there for a memorable Massachusetts Thanksgiving.

Dinner on the Alley in Honfleur

Dinner with John and Mike. France 2002

Congolese Marching Band on a Side Street in Brussels 2002

Because they just appeared unexpectedly, seemingly coming out of nowhere, this makes me think of a scene from a "Pink Panther" movie or the old "Get Smart" TV show. I can just see Clouseau or Max following someone up this alley and trying to get by these guys as they keep pushing him back! I ended up seeing them later in the Grand Plaz where they were performing for some official EU gathering. I'll post those pics later.

Michelle's Blue Bottle Collection Circa 2002

Michelle kept her blue bottle collection on the window sill by her front door. I contributed the glass Milk of Magnesia bottle with the flowers in it. I found it when I was a kid spending part of the summer with friends who moved to a farm in West Virginia. We were exploring the ruins of an old farm-house that we had run to after being scared by the sounds of "The Motorcycle Mamas" gang as we called them (yes it was the 70s) coming down the road on their choppers. Once inside we poked around and I found that beautiful blue bottle and kept it for years until I found it a better home, with "family" on Michelle's windowsill.

Church Among the Greens

Somewhere on the road from Paris to Amien. 2002

Stone Buddhas Have It Easy

Detachment may not be much of an accomplishment for them but they sure set a great example.

The View From 3 North Bank Street

The bathroom window in Michelle's New Haven house circa November 2002.

Variation on the Theme

The-Atomium in Brussels, Belgium continues the stainless steel architecture theme perfectly.

"Omaha Beach", Normandy

Today it is hard to imagine what transpired here on D-Day.

Break from animation at an Ottawa museum.

My friend Temah looks through a display case with reflections of dinosaur skeletons adding to the interesting imagery. The Ottawa International Festival of Animation is a great event and the city is a lot of fun. October 2002.

Boycott France? Why don't I just call it "Freedom Land" and continue to enjoy.

Visiting Mike, a high school buddy who now lives in Paris, we celebrated Bastille Day with Roman candles. Would they shoot off Parisian Candles in Italy?

Fergus and the Fish

I have a couple of friends who got a little Highland Terrier and liked him so much they started being foster parents for other ones. Now it seems they usually have 4 or 5 at once and peace and quiet are things of the past! Having a lot of little dogs is more hectic than having a baby, I think!

Rainy Night in Belgium.

Waiting for Michelle to get back from Italy, I wandered the wet, winding streets of Brussels, encountering a Congolese military marching band and a big official EU gathering in the Platz. July, 2002.

This tree is really showing off.

This Japanese Maple near Edgerton Park loves to strut it's stuff. November 9, 2002