Time marches on, and we're all in the parade.

Happy Birthday, Larry!

Time to celebrate cashing in on Social Security! Dad/Larry/Paco/Grandpappy is officially getting some of the money back that was taken from his paycheck for all these years. Spend it wisely, Larry!

Little Rennie Potts, almost 3!

Remembering Grandpa Charlie

Eulogy for Charles Robert Reps (1923-2010)

September 18, 2010
Lawrence W. Potts

Good afternoon. I’m Larry Potts, Jill’s husband and Charlie’s son-in-law. Charlie often called me his “Larry-in-Law”. I remarked to Fr. Steve after his fine eulogy in this morning’s service, that what I wrote and say here today will touch on most of the points he made in his eulogy. That was the pattern at the wake last evening; we heard the same good things over and over.

Charlie Reps was an easy man to know and like. I liked him when I first met him at the family Mother’s Day dinner in May of 1970. Jill was introducing me to the rest of her family that day, a group that included my future mother, father, uncle, and grandmother-in-law, as well as Jill’s brothers and sisters. About two weeks later Jill and I went to Spring Valley (hitch-hiking) so that I could ask her parents for permission to marry her. The young people here will not recognize this old custom, but most of you know the pressures of the situation. Charlie, never overtly the romantic, said, “Well, she’s over 21.” At the time I thought it was gruffness, but more recently I have thought it was just that he was so surprised he was stuck for something to say. I knew by Irene’s reaction what he had in mind, and that it was all OK. He reminded Jill and me for at least 10 years after the wedding that there was still a balance due in his Master Card from the event. Charlie and I became good friends, a late-arriving father and son-in-law pair without the baggage of teenage rebellion, high school report cards, begging to use the car, and so forth. I could and did talk about things with him that I had trouble discussing with my own father; he understood that and was always ready to listen and offer advice and help.

There were many things to admire about Charlie. He was a bright fellow with a quick wit and was a good story teller. He was also an excellent, old-school methods teacher of mathematics. He was a disciplinarian and understood high school students well: He once showed me a Vulcan nerve-block pinch of the triceps muscle that rendered overly sociable math students mute immediately. Yesterday at the wake I learned about the side-poke and the ear twist. I was unable to use any of these tricks in my own classrooms at Gustavus, but I appreciated his creative solution to an age-old problem. I admired Charlie’s commitment to being coach and athletic director in a small school with very limited resources. He did almost everything in administering athletics, including laying sod for and (for a while) mowing the field that now bears his name. In the early 70s, as he was on his way to winning 100 football games, he looked to me a lot like Don Shula, coach of the Dolphins (but without benefit of the great runner, Mercury Morris). Despite his tremendous success as coach and AD, he was always humble. I asked him one year how his football team was shaping up. He said, “Well, pretty good…they’re small but they’re slow.” I won’t tell you which year that was.

I admire and appreciate particularly the active role that Charlie played in the lives of his grandchildren and great grandchildren.  He was present at every important event for his grandchildren: football games, track meets, homecoming coronations, graduations, birthdays, weddings. To show you something about Charlie’s devotion, two months after Irene passed away he drove over to attend freshman orientation for his granddaughters Karla and Annie at Gustavus Adolphus College. He met their advisors, attended the welcoming convocation, saw the girls’ new dorm rooms and met their roommates. He was extremely proud of all of his grandchildren and delighted in talking about their accomplishments. Even in the last few weeks of his life, his first questions to Jill when she visited were about “the babies”, meaning his great grandchildren. On one visit, two-year old Miles pushed Great Grandpa around in his wheel chair, much to Grandpa’s delight.  Two weeks later, Miles asked Jill all on his own, “Is grandpa getting stronger?” We thought yes, but we were wrong.

It saddens me to note that, now, with the loss of Charlie, the family will no longer have a living presence in Spring Valley. We haven’t begun as a family to talk about where and when we’ll get together. We all remember fondly the holiday get-togethers, the shared stories and traditions.  We remember Charlie’s deep sadness at losing Irene, and his efforts to remain active and independent and engaged in his church and his community. We also remember the wonderful care that was extended to him by all of you who survive him. His lingering presence in your memories eases our profound sense of loss. We also take comfort in knowing that you join us here today in giving thanks to God for the life of Charlie Reps.

Backyard explorer

Miles hung around on the back steps this afternoon, admiring a little critter for the better part of a half an hour. Fortunately for Miles, the object of his interest was either handicapped or intoxicated, because it was slow and witless and didn't make any sudden moves toward the little blonde guy.

Here's the critter:  A hornet, or as Miles referred to it "a special kind of bee".

After the hornet disappeared into a pile of tiny rocks, Miles went off on another adventure. He really wanted to find bunnies today, but no luck.

Addendum to September 1 entry

Here's the picture that is online in the SV Tribune, related to the story in my September 1 post. Now is the time to identify the current football coach by his real name. He's not Wayne, he's John. 

   Knights meet former coach, football field namesake

Kingsland coach John Fenske goes over the O’s and X’s with  
Charlie Reps, a longtime coach for Spring Valley High School.

Boston, Part Three: History

It's the first day of classes at Gustavus. Just thought I'd mention it.

Okay on to Part Three of the Boston travelogue. This is the nerd entry--some highlights of historical Boston. Such a great place to learn about American history, both the big stuff, and more obscure details. Whether walking the Freedom Trail, riding a duck boat, or on a harbor cruise, there is something to see at every turn that is a reminder of the early history of the United States. To anyone who wonders if we saw the Liberty Bell, the answer is NO. It's in Philadelphia.

To save my brain from having to think and produce information, I'm adding pictures and captions. If you want to know more about any of the historical features of Boston, look 'em up on the Internet. 

Boston Common

Why is it important? Because Elisabeth and Evan were married in the gazebo in 2002.  Some other things happened there throughout the course of history, but as I said, look it up.

Site of Potts-Dellon wedding in '02.

The Boston Freedom Trail is an excellent way to learn about the history of Boston and its place in U.S. history. Follow the red brick line.

Near our hotel is one of my favorite places in all of Boston:  the Granary Burying Ground. It is the burial place of Samuel Adams, Crispus Attucks, and many who died in the Boston Massacre. Throughout the cemetery are names from history, interesting markers, and a feeling of the past. Did you know that Mother Goose is buried there, too? Yup. She was a real person.

Franklin family tomb

Paul Revere's grave

Where Mary Goose, a.k.a. Mother Goose is buried. 

Honk when you walk by.

Memorial to Boston Massacre victims

Two who got away

Old State House: the Declaration of Independence is 

read from the balcony each 4th of July.

This intersection near the Old State House

is the site of the Boston Massacre.

Old South Meeting House

Pulpit in Old South Meeting House. 

Some people see a ghost standing in front of it, but I didn't.

Pews in Old South Meeting House--aMAZE-ing, don't you think?

Statue of Paul Revere near Old North Church in Boston's North End

 

Old North Church

Staircase in Old North Church sanctuary

One if by land...

Home of Paul Revere and the Missus and the little Reveres,

also in Boston's North End (close to Mamma Maria restaurant). 

Paul's new pick-up is parked in front.

This park is on the site where Paul Revere's horse was taken 

from him by the British. He shouldn't have stopped to play on the swings.

Site of first public school in North America,

the Boston Latin School. This mosaic is

in the sidewalk.

Closer view of top section

That's it for now. I am thinking there is room for one more travel commentary, such as they are. Stay tuned.

On another topic

Here is a website that I stumbled across this morning:  http://www.cozy-mystery.com/.  

I've been on a kick reading the Claire Malloy mystery series by Joan Hesse, thinking it was my childhood addiction to Nancy Drew that compelled me to read one, then two, then fifteen Claire Malloy books in the last several months. That, and a recently acquired mindless approach to reading in general. Summer? Could be. I'm not a "beach book" or "chick book" fan, nor do I find Nora Roberts and other romance novelists intriguing, so I have to find mindlessness elsewhere.

I was looking for other mystery series titles that might be fun to read, and found the Cozy Mystery site. I first came across the term "cozy mysteries" in the Joan Hesse book I'm just finishing up reading. I didn't know if it was a term for a sub-genre, or if Hesse was just using that phrase on her own. I found out there is indeed a "cozy mystery" sub-genre, and the website defines what it is and shares titles and authors. 

A committed series book reader when I was a kid, I find comfort and enjoyment in reading series books as an adult, too. Always nice to know the personality and quirks of a main character. That's what I've loved about Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta character. She got older as the series progressed, and her relationships with friends and family were always a part of the story line. Cornwell's books don't exactly fit into the cozy mystery genre, however!  Hesse takes a much lighter approach than Cornwell, although there are an equal number of murders committed in both series. Less blood in Hesse's books, and more humor.

Boston, Part Two: Transportation

Our thoughtful children provided us with functional AND fun transportation when we were in Boston. They gave each of us a "Charlie Card" for riding on the T, which we used immediately to get from Logan Airport to our hotel, the Omni Parker House, home of Parker House rolls and Boston Cream Pie, neither of which we ate while there. Just couldn't fit in one more meal!

Lobby decor, Omni Parker House--
it appears to have been Sunflower Week while we were there.

Our trips on the T involved a lot of stair-climbing and descending, jostling, and sweating---but the price was right and a person can get anywhere in Boston via this mostly-underground form of transportation.

Going on a Boston Duck Tour is a must in Boston. Okay, it's touristy and all that, but it is fun to ride in a World War II amphibious vehicle on city streets and in the Charles River, learn about Boston's history while en route, and enjoy hilarious but really bad jokes shared by the captain. In our case, Captain Danny Disco, replete with curly black wig, shiny disco clothing, and high-heeled dancin' shoes, kept us entertained. About half of the folks on the tour didn't speak English and didn't understand enough of it to appreciate the jokes, so I'm guessing they thought we were a little off because we laughed so much.

View from our Duck Boat while in the Charles River

Pilings in the Charles...

Zakim-Bunker Hill Bridge: view from below, in the Charles River

We enjoyed the Duck Tour so much we decided to go on a Boston Harbor boat tour the next day. Lots more history shared by the tour guide as we enjoyed sitting on the top deck in low 70-degree sunshine. Most of the other tourists on our boat were elderly Vietnamese nationals. Interesting perspective for them, I imagine. Here are some modes of transportation we saw on the harbor tour.

The U.S.S. Constitution, a.k.a. "Old Ironsides"

A pretty blue tugboat that is really a luxury houseboat--

it doesn't go anywhere, but apparently is a beautiful home for someone!

Who owns a yacht like this, anyway?

The Nantucket, a lighthouse boat that served the Boston Harbor area

Dad/Larry/Grandpappy leads the way!

We also road in a tour-type bus back and forth to the convention center, and in a couple of taxis, and of course we saw the famous Boston trolleys tooting around town giving tours. Reminded us of the trolley rides to and from ESPD/ESD's wedding reception. 

Two more photos need to be included, even though they aren't transportation-related. The first is the gazebo on the grounds of Boston Common, where E & E got married in 2002. The day I took this picture there was a rather off-beat theater troupe performing nearby. Or not performing. Or maybe not even a theater troupe. We weren't sure.

And finally, a shot of the "Destination: Boston" package we received before going on our trip. Thanks again for the terrific gift, kiddos and grand-kiddos, and for being so nice to us all the time! A special thanks to Ethan and Owen for their taste in stickers!

I have sufficient photos and themes for at least a Part Three, so keep your eyes open!