WILLIAM WOLF DAVIS 10/30/2000

To: Mindwalker1910@aol.com
Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2000 07:11:21 EST
Subject: William Wolf Davis

The Reynolds branch of my family may have the more distinguished heritage but the Davis side is rich with interesting characters.

My grandfather, William Wolf Davis, outlived three wives. His first and the mother of his children was Katharine Rebecca. I am named for her. She died when she was 45 years old. At that time, everyone thought she'd lived to a good age. Since she died before I was born, I have no memories of her.

I barely recall Grandfather Davis' second wife. In fact, I cannot remember her name, just that we called her Mom-Mom. That woman was a piece of work. When she cooked anything, she went strictly by the recipe, cooking something no longer and no shorter than it called for in the recipe. This was back in the days of wood-heated stoves, without the temperature controls we take for granted these days. My grandfather developed a stomach condition because of eating too much undercooked food. The kitchen was her department,so he would not say a word. One time, my mother made an early dinner for her brother, Aram, who was going out for the evening. Mom-Mom chewed her out, saying that if Aram could not eat with the family, he would not eat at all. She was a real tartar.

I do have more distinct memories of Sarah, my grandfather's last wife. Sarah was attractive to the eye, but inside she seemed to be a dried up, withered prune. A maiden lady when she married Grandfather Davis, he got the surprise of his life when she denied him the privileges of the marriage bed. Sarah said that, at their age, they were too old for that sort of thing. I got the impression from my mother that my grandfather did not agree, but what could he do.

As a staunch Methodist household of that period, there was no drinking, no dancing, no cards, no nothing at my grandfather's house. He only took liquor if he was having ”a spell”. It amazed me how many spells that man had.

I recall one time when he was visiting at our house in Arbutus. My brother Al made ginger ale and bourbon drinks for everyone, except grandfather. Grandfather Davis perked up and asked if he could have one too. Al was only too happy and poured a generous serving. Just as he handed it to Grandfather Davis, who should walk in but Uncle Aram.

Now, Uncle Aram was the staunchest of the staunch when it came to the "thou shalt nots." Everyone shot around a look of "what next?"

Uncle Aram looked at them all holding their highball glasses and grilled, "What are you drinking?"

My brother Al remained completely unflustered. (I was quivering in my boots.) "Why, we are all enjoying some ginger ale. Could I get you some?"

"Yes," replied Uncle Aram, "But add some water - ginger ale is too strong a drink for me."

So there we all were on the wraparound porch, Uncle Aram with his ginger ale with a splash of water and the rest with more spirited beverages.

A toast - to the characters in our families who help build the character of our families!

Love to all – Gocky

TONCHE October 30, 2000

Subj: Tonche
Date: Mon Oct 30 08:32:43 EST 2000

Almost a month without a posting from me. All is well. In fact, all is beyond the beyond. I think that the reason I haven’t written is because words are inadequate to describe what I have experienced this month.

Miracles do happen.

Earlier this month, I attended the Women’s Weekend at Tonche (outside of Woodstock, NY). I wanted to go last year, had planned on going, but could not make it because I was still recuperating from my “episode.”

This year, I got there.

It is awful, the way that words fail me when I am most deeply, deeply moved. My vocabulary does not include the words to describe what I saw and felt over that remarkable weekend. I felt totally wrapped up in love.

It was a weekend filled with old and new friends, renewed energies, and an unexpected chance to get in a good visit with my older daughter, Mim. I do not know who was more surprised to see the other person there – Mim or me! My age made it almost unthinkable that I would actually get there and keep going under my own steam for the whole time; Mim’s lack of transportation and own physical challenges make it equally challenging for her. What a blessing that we both overcame any obstacles to be there, in the heart of caring women.

Elsa was informed right off the bat by Deanna Nelson Odhner that she and the others would take care of me over the weekend. I felt like a mountain woman version of the Queen of Sheba, with my every wish and want taken care of. So much love, wonderful homemade food AND a view of the Catskills that would knock your socks off.

The one thing that I am going to share is a realization that came during ”sharing” time with the small circle of women I met with in the morning and evening. I had, over the two days, discussed bits and pieces of my life. I think it was on the second evening – or maybe it was on the last morning – that I mentioned that life had been easy on me. One of the young woman looked at me in disbelief and blurted out, “Mrs. Lockhart, from what you’ve described, your life has been anything but easy!” That got me thinking – it feels like the right word to describe my life is “easy,” but I can see what she meant. Perhaps “fortunate” is better.

One of the key blessings to come out of the weekend has been the gift of seeing things in a new light, with a richer awareness and a deeper appreciation. For 2 ½ days, I basked in the happiness of being there with both of my daughters. I developed new friendships, especially with Julie Conaron, and increased the depth of old ones, particularly with Deanna.

I was up every morning bright and early and down to Danna’s house in plenty of time for breakfast, and I stayed up until the end of each program/discussion group. I felt strong mentally, spiritually and physically.

I said I was going to go and I went!

If only I could share all that was in my heart, all the images in my mind – what a glorious posting this would be!

Love to one and all, especially to my fellow mountain women – The Queen of Sheba (aka Grammie)

WHAT A WEDNESDAY 07/27/00

since Mom took an inexplicable hiatus from writing Mindwalker1910 e-mails throughout most of October, am taking the liberty of posting some earlier,out-of-order musings of Mom's:

Subj: What a Wednesday
Date: Thu Jul 27 23:33:08 EDT 2000

It has taken me 24 hours to write about what a wonderful day I had yesterday. Two major visits on the same day and I still felt up for going to the hairdresser today. That is progress.

Jeremy Simons stopped by yesterday afternoon to talk with me about the role of New Church women in the ministry. It was so stimulating. He brought several pamphlets by for me to look over and we shared how we see the current discussion going on around this issue. I remember a couple years ago when Gay Pendleton had dropped by and the two of us were discussing women seeking a recognized role within the General Church ministry. Gay asked Elsa what she thought and Elsa replied, "Nature hates a vacuum." I did not understand what she meant at first, but Gay got it right off the bat.

I think there is nothing so beautiful as men taking a strong masculine role and women taking a strong feminine role, the two beautifully fulfilling each other in different ways but on the same plane. I think of Pete and how much delight he took in building a secure foundation for his family. We did not have a lot - for many years we were comparatively poor (and poor within a wealthy town) - but we never went hungry and always had a roof over our heads. I took the greatest delight in being a wife and mother. It was heaven on earth. Unfortunately, these are not ideal days when it comes to the concept of conjugial - or true marriage - love. Men and women TOGETHER are to safeguard that priceless pearl, conjugial love. Women cannot be held responsible for the confusion about gender roles or the breakdown of marriage. That is a 2-way street.

My goodness, this has nothing to do with what Jeremy and I discussed; just shows to go you that his visit got my little grey cells sitting up and taking notice. What we said was private to us, although I am delighted to say how uplifted I was by the clearness of his thought and opinions. Jeremy, please drop by again!

Jeremy stopped by in the afternoon. In the evening, Elsa getting together with a young friend to discuss the young lady's upcoming wedding. The original plan was for the two of them to head off to Barnes & Noble to discuss wedding plans. Then, a couple days ago, Elsa got the great idea of having Jessica come to our house for supper, so I could get in a visit. That snowballed into Darryl coming too, when his baseball game was rained out and he was left high and dry with nothing to do. It still amazes me that I was not too bushed from the stimulating afternoon to do justice to their visit.

Jessica and Darryl are getting married next June and Jessica asked Elsa to help out, since her Mom is far away, in (western?) Canada. There are few things that Elsa loves more than helping out with a wedding. She becomes a sort of "Adopt-an-Aunt." I remember the fun she had helping Stella Rose with her wedding and helping Rebekah Darkwah with hers and Aline Cooper with hers and the incredible time she had last year helping out with Shada Rabone's wedding.

There were so many things that I loved about Darryl and Jessica's visit. They have such an ease with each other, like good friends. It was lovely to see how they batted ideas about the wedding back and forth ideas.

I liked hearing them talk about their circle of friends, which includes some young people who dear to my heart - Mike and Stella, Aline and Jeff, Doug and Carla, among others. It makes me smile thinking that if Scott and Kimberly were here, they might be part of that same circle of friends. Scott was Mike's best man, Mike would have been Scott's if he could have gotten down to Australia, and Mike is Darryl's. A lovely connection of sorts to a couple who are too far away.

We talked about so many things - Jessica's teaching position in Toronto, Darryl working on his degree in architecture, their families, discussions taking place within the church, friends and friendship, and glimmerings of what they might be considering considering for their wedding, and lots of other things that I am too tired to recall. I enjoyed their visit very much. I would like to keep track of them. I hope I am up to going to their wedding. If I am not there in presence, I surely will be in spirit.

It was a wonderful Wednesday. I am so pleased that I had the get up and go to fully enjoy both visits. I feel like I am getting stronger every day. Who'd a thunk it?

Love to you all, a tired - but well-coiffed - Grammie

PADDINGTON ABROAD 07/20/00

Subj: Paddington Abroad
Date: Thu Jul 20 21:28:32 EDT 2000

A little book popped up in my top bureau "treasure" drawer, a very short story handwritten and bound by Mim to honor a special day and time. It took me back to July 4th week, 1976, when the three of us Lockhart ladies hot footed it down to Philadelphia eight (8!) times over seven days.

It was not planned.

The first time we headed down was an evening. The three of us sitting around the living room at 2501 Woodland Road, having a wonderful time with Ian Cole, who was just a toddler, and watching Channel 6's coverage of the special Mummer's Parade, which was just starting its way up the Parkway. "This is a GLORIOUS sight. If you can, come on down." That was all we needed to hear. We piled into the van and were downtown in no time. I would not have missed that for the world (remember, I was just a kid of 66). Ian, enjoying a front row seat in his stroller, thought it was all for him and him alone. That is what I remember most - the look of complete delight on that little boy’s face.

We went down every day that week; once, twice in one day. On the actual 4th, which fell on a Sunday (postponing Bryn Athyn’s celebration to the next day), we went to the Du Pont Hotel for brunch, then to Philadelphia for the rest of the day. They set off fireworks from the tops of building on three sides of Independence Mall. I have never seen anything to come close to touching it. Just as wonderful as the fireworks and more genuinely awesome was the short shower we had that afternoon that ended up in a double rainbow over the Delaware. God's very own light show!

We were surprised on how painless the drive home was - people who had gone to Willow Grove for fireworks and who told us we were nuts to battle the Philadelphia traffic, got home long after we did!! As for the BA celebration, we still had that to look forward to the next day. Double blessings due to our nation's 200th birthday falling on a Sunday!

Just the two girls got down for the event on which Mim based the story - the
visit of the Queen of England and Prince Philip to Philadelphia. I remember Mim describing the shock she felt when she looked at the yacht Britannia and realized the royal standard was flying over the Delaware River instead of over Buckingham Palace. That made it real.

Anyhow, this is the story Mim wrote about it. It is dear to my heart and, I am sure, will be to Paddington lovers everywhere (she really caught Michael Bond's style).

PADDINGTON ABROAD
Paddington scurried along behind the crowd. He was trying desperately to keep up although he had nary a clue where they were going or what they would see. All he knew was that if he was lost in this big city it would be quite nasty. And he was grumpy about having to leave his vegetable garden. It did need weeding so!

Everyone was hurrying, hurrying. Their legs could take it in stride, but Paddington's were growing tender. He was beginning to wish they would stop.

It was bad enough to run along the bumpy sidewalks; now they were in a construction area. Up and over, around and under ~ WHEW!

By the time they had reached Front Street, the dust and heat were choking and burning him. "Bother," puffed Paddington.

All of a sudden, they came to a dead halt, smack up against a large wall. "Hmmm," mused Paddington, "They do have odd ideas of sights in America."

However, he was aware of a great excitement all around him, and snatches of strange phrases - "There she is!" "She's lovely!" "I'll take him any day."

Slowly, it dawned on Paddington that perhaps there was something on the other side of the wall. But no one was paying any attention to him, which was distressing.

Accidentally-on-purpose, he trod on Elsa's toes.

"Ouch," exclaimed Elsa, glancing down at Paddington. "Oh dear, excuse me, you can't see way down there."

Elsa lifted him up onto the wall. He stood stock still with his mouth wide open. Mercy me! Mercy me! He could only stare.

Way out, across a huge road, riding at anchor at Penn's Landing, was the Britannia. Snapping in the wind, high about the deck on the main mast, flew the royal standard.

Paddington stared. Suddenly, Elsa picked him off the wall and ran to a low barricade. She put him down and shoved a small Union Jack into his hand.

They were just in time! Along the road roared a brace of motorcycles. Following close behind the motorcycles came a big black car full of somber men.

"How delightful," thought Paddington. "A parade!"

Further down the way, another big car, with flags on it, was slowly progressing. As it slunk past Paddington, he suddenly raised his flag and saluted.

The Queen smiled a warm smile. It wasn't every day that she was greet to a big city by a small English bear with tears in his eyes, his hat over his heart, and the British flag held solidly aloft.

******* Mim concluded with the postscript "To commemorate the visit of her
royal majesty Elizabeth II July 6, 1976, in honor of the 200th anniversary
of the birth of a new nation, the free and United States of America, on July
4th 1776."

The book was unillustrated, but I can see it all in my heart. All these years later, that little story and all that went with it brings happy tears to my eyes.

Lots of love to all & sundry - Mim's Mom

MOM DIDN'T WRITE POSTS IN OCT 2000

We had no idea how the entire month practically slipped by without so much as a peep from the Gramster, but she didn't post until 10/30/00. Maybe I'll post some from Feb-June 2000. Or just wait until 10/30/10. We'll see.

AQUARIAN 09/30/00

Subj: aquarian
Date: Sat Sep 30 22:03:42 EDT 2000

So many thoughts today that connected to water, starting simply enough – with taking a last, lingering look at September of our Mary Engelbreit calendar.

Although it is the last day of the month and I have seen it every day, for some reason it was as if I saw it with new eyes today. It is a picture of children swinging out over a pond on a rope swing. I was suddenly back at the pond with the older children, watching them swing out over the water and back and out over the water and back, then finally swinging out and letting go and dropping - kersplash! - into the pond. There seems to be something universal about rope swings. Do they have them in Darkest Peru and Deepest Africa? I am sure they do.

The most recent youngster I saw swim was Karen. Karen has a lithe and lean body, well suited for swimming. She swam in Sydney's Olympic Pool when I was down there in 1995. That lass took to swimming like a duck to water. What I would give to watch her make a splash and slice through the water.

Speaking of the Olympics, late this afternoon Elsa shouted up from the den and turned to volume up so I could hear “The Star Spangled Banner.”

I was so frustrated that these antiquated legs cannot scootle down the steps. I had to be satisfied with her description of what sounded like a fine sight - American yachtsmen being presented with gold, the American flag in the foreground and the glory of the Sydney Opera House in the background. They raced right there in the harbor! Oh my, that must have been an incredible sight.

Finally, as Elsa was massaging my face with Oil of Olay, we started talking about Connie Rosenquist who introduced me to O of O and who took me down to Bermuda several times to keep her company. A water baby such as myself was right in my element. I will write about it sometime, but not tonight - bed beckons and I must obey.

Love to one and all, especially to Donna and Jason. Nite nite and God bless
- Grandma L

reposted in sweet memory of its author, KATHARINE REYNOLDS LOCKHART, by her scribe/daughter, Elsa Lockhart Murphy aka Deev, in celebration of the 05/14 centenary of Grandma L's birth

OF LOVE & LOSS 09/29/00

Subj: of love and loss
Date: Fri Sep 29 22:06:55 EDT 2000

This is a happy weekend. I do believe, if my calculations are right, that it is Donna Heldon's wedding day as this posting is posted, it being afternoon in Australia. Donna was just a tadger when I first clapped eyes on her 25 years ago, on my first trip Down Under. I do not know what is more shocking - that she is old enough to be getting married or that it has been 25 years since my first visit to the Hurstville society. Lots of loving thoughts and best wishes to the happy couple from a loving Grandma L'.

More Southern Hemisphere happiness - a dear-to-my-heart friend from Brazil just announced her engagement to a Bryn Athyn lad, which delights me for several reasons. First of all, I am happy for Claudia. I remember the first time I met her and asked how to pronounce her name - it is CLOUD-YA.

If you know Claudia, you understand when I say that I connected to her instantly. One short talk and she was in my heart. Kelly-Carolyn-Natalya-Claudia formed a special circle of young women in my life. Having their friendship is a special grace.

Adam is a lucky man and I thank him for keeping such a special woman stateside.

My thoughts turn to another Claudia - Claudia Cranch Gladish and to her sisters and family. I am still getting used to the thought that their sister, Nora, is gone. It does not seem possible. It was just a blink of an eye ago that she was packing up and heading off to the West Coast. I am grateful for Galadrial's wedding, which brought me back into contact with Nora, and for our women's discussion list, to which she belonged. A friend who attended memorial celebration shared her impressions. It was held in the beautiful Wayfarer's Chapel - the reading from the Gospel of John about the Samaritan woman at the well, the soaring piano piece, a recording of Louis Armstrong singing "What a Wonderful World" and closing with the Laughter song from Mary Poppins.

As the woman who shared it said, it was a "celebration of a wonderful woman's short life on earth, beautiful, touching and inspiring."

I head up the wooden hill with a sense of joy and sadness and joy -
Grammie Kay

reposted in sweet memory of its author, KATHARINE REYNOLDS LOCKHART, by her scribe/daughter (who messed up the last two days' repostings) in celebration of the centenary of Grammie Kay's birth