August 1969. Does anyone know what a Faculty Wife is? We’re on our way from Cambridge, Massachusetts to Columbia, South Carolina. When we married in 1965, we moved to Cambridge for D’s graduate studies.
For me, this meant liberation from sometimes intrusive expectations and scrutiny. Read the rest of this entry »
A gracious breeze blew through the air
and cooled my face this evening
The sky pale blue with rosy clouds
Wrapped up the faded setting sun
The moon gleamed high above it all
In white with shadowed face
Mosquitoes buzzed around my face Read the rest of this entry »
It’s July 1991. Diane’s sermon for the children is a foretaste of what’s coming down the road. It’s difficult to diagnose ALS. Small physical losses may be due to other things. Yet each loss invites her to reconsider the detailed plans for her life. Read the rest of this entry »
Do dragons and lop-winged birds sometimes howl around in your head and emotions? Earlier this week I felt a bit like George MacDonald–caught in ‘darkness dire.’ So where will we find him in today’s sonnet? My comments follow. Read the rest of this entry »
water cascades calm
in translucent fairy veils
rippling out toward me
Harvard Student Protests 1969
It’s spring 1969. Sentiment against the war in Vietnam, plus a laundry list of other issues, finally hits the Harvard University campus. Student protests erupt, Read the rest of this entry »
Through the Looking-Glass, Cambridge 1969
I’ve been dreading this post. That’s partly because I’m looking back at old photos from 1965 to 1969. Not wanting to leave them or their memories behind. So I’ve decided this won’t be the last Early Marriage post. It will be the next-to-the last, with a few more photos!
Early marriage and motherhood were magical. Yes, there were unexpected, often distressing ups and downs. Yet I was surrounded by people I trusted, and felt reasonably capable of being a mother without becoming overwhelmed.
Not that everyone and everything was perfect. It wasn’t. Still, I was glad to be married, redirecting my energy toward at least part of my new family of choice. I was also relieved that, on the whole, I’d managed to get through all those first-time-I-ever-did-that experiences. It was like hitting the jackpot several times–once and done.
Not that the rest of my life has been a downer. It hasn’t been. In fact, sometimes it had more drama and excitement than I wished for. But for me, getting through all those first things was an accomplishment in itself. It gave me confidence that we would be able to do this marriage and parenthood thing together–D and I.
I wish I could report that everything we worked on in our relationship was successful. I cannot. Between us, we carried a lot of unfinished business when we moved on to the next chapter of our life together. But that’s for another post and the next series.
For this post, I’ve chosen several old photos I especially enjoy. They convey hope for the future, beginning with the photo of our son at the top of this post. They aren’t picture perfect. They do, however, capture the beauty, tenderness and craziness of life during early marriage.
First, a couple of shots taken in and around Boston. No other city has offered us views of autumn wealth such as these.
Upscale Bird Castle in Cambridge, price unlisted
Pick a pumpkin–any pumpkin! Cambridge 1966
Fall in November, Cambridge 1966
Fall leaves along a road near Cambridge, Nov 1966
Finally, several photos that show our ability to have fun and fly by the seat of our pants!
D in the Stocks! Somewhere near Cambridge, 1967
Out for a day at the park, Cambridge 1968
A little incentive goes a long way, or Spider Walk 1968. Note the vaccination!
Taking off for a first walk! Fall/Winter 1968-69
Trip to the beach with our favorite son and beach towels – 1969
Bidding you all a fond farewell for now!
Elouise
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 22 July 2015
Photo credit: Elouise (two pictures of D, and trip to the beach); DAFraser (all others)
This morning I set out to respond to a post by my Australian blogging friend, John–at his invitation. I had no idea it would be this long. So, please go read his post first. It’s called “Take it. It’s free.” You can find it here. Two great, brief stories. The text he mentions at the end is Romans 6:23.
Here’s my response to John.
Your second story hits a nerve Read the rest of this entry »
Amy Carmichael wrote this delightful poem for children whose lives and wellbeing were at risk. Amy’s major life work was to rescue or receive these children and offer them an alternative. They lived together with staff members at the Dohnavur Compound in South India. Over the years, scores of children found safety and hope for a different future. Read the rest of this entry »
Telling the Truth 