finger print shell

I found this shell on a beach on the coast of Ireland. In Portmarnock, while taking "a bracing walk" (the walk was great).

June 15, 1918

"Well here comes the sad news - we are leaving next week - I think about Thursday or Friday and Yenez, it really makes my heart ache to think of going so far from home. If only I could have to got to see sister once more before I left. I know papa + Cecil will be all right but my sister I hate to leave behind..."

This was part of a packet of letters I found in a flea market. They were written to a woman living in Geyserville. Most were from one serviceman in the "Big Red One" who later went on to marry (and divorce) her (from what I could tell).

Most of the letters were from after the war serving in Germany, most are filled with trivial details, or asking after the woman and her life. A few were tear inducing with what was not said.

I sent most of these to the Division One museum after pondering a while what I might do with them.

This letter above, the one letter I kept, was one of the tear enducing ones, from a different young man (who may have very well got to Europe too late to see fighting).

The Goblin in the Graveyard was written for the students I volunteer for at George R. Moscone Elementary school in the Mission District of San Francisco, and for their most excellent teach, Ms Patricia Frank. Enjoy!

yes we did

At the election party at the Rio Casino I was waiting for liz when yet another excited group of people walked by chanting Obama. This man passed me by and I snapped a few photos of him. I think I'll be remembering this night for a long time to come.

Where were you when you heard the news?