A LOVE STORY
“Where do you begin to tell the story of the first and most important people in your life? This is the story of a man and woman who were everything to me. As a very little girl I was so proud of my Dad and Mom. He loved my Mother passionately, played baseball, smoked cigars, and won enough money play poker to buy all of us hoola hoops. Does it get any better than that? I have often thought how much Dad would have enjoyed 2004. ESPN, remote control, picture in a picture, recording programs for future viewing, 2004 Red Sox champs, Arnie’s Army still intact. Not to mention all of us; Andrew smoking the basketball court, Bob’s first child, Caitlin working in a chic story at Armory Square, Hannah and Hunter in their Steeler outfits, Ben and Tommy doing so well in college, the diversity of Ned and David playing musical instruments, chess and baseball, beautiful Emma with her kissable lips, Paulie hitting a home run during a Babe Ruth champion ship game and Kelly a factory working mother of two. We are truly blessed. How many Dads use ivory soap to wash their hair and is vitalis still on the market? Mom did it all. Her early years were preoccupied with diapers, washing dishes and talking on the phone. She will tell you they were the best years of her life. Mom what wonderful lessons you gave to us. The best example is how you and Dad looked at each other as you walked up to bed each evening with a big much of coffee and the air conditioner going hmmmmmm …..” (-Nancy 2004)
TAP THE PICTURE “MUSINGS” - Michael Ringwood
THE SUN STILL RISES
Sometimes a gift turns into a treasure! Christmas, 2004 - Nancy gave to Mom a gift certificate for TIME IN A BOTTLE (William and Paula Schmitt). This was a local (Cayuga County) business and their focus was to work with individuals to put together an autobiography. I am short on detail on how this all happened (comments please) but they assisted with the text and photos and the end result was a hard-cover book. This gift turned into a Christmas 2006 treasure that 10 Ringwood children love today! (Tap on the photo for the stories and more photos. Enjoy!)
Ringwood Review
It was September 1985, and this is what Mom had to say ...
"Greeting from the Editor
For a long time now it’s been a great problem to me to know how to keep in touch on a regular basis. With all the busy schedules, ten letters is too much for anyone so in the hope that this format will keep us all up to date, let’s give it a try. I promise it won’t replace an occasional phone call. Let me know what you think."
For 17 years (1985 - 2002) Mom composed a hand-written newsletter that was photocopied and mailed to each of her ten children. It was filled with an update, photos, newspaper clippings, address updates, birthday and holy day reminders and so much more. Each issue has been retyped for easy reading. (Tap the picture and jump into reading the RRs!)
I JUST MADE IT
“I JUST MADE IT”
(A family of ten remembers the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s)
The size of our family - ten children, a mother, a father, and a grandmother dictated that we have dinner in the dining room. You will note the characterization “in the dining room” rather than “at the dining room table”. There is a reason. While the dining room table, a beautiful dark stained, claw legged oak piece, was more than sufficient in size to hold our family and the more than occasional friend or two, dinner actually began in the kitchen. You see we always ate smorgasbord, filing our plates from the food first laid out at the kitchen table, thereafter, marching to our places in the dining room.
For our family the was a day-to-day experience. We never gave it a second thought. To guests, or to those who would hear us describe such a daily dinner ritual, it was unheard of - it was amazing. We found their amazement rather amusing.
At that large and boisterous table there was always a medley of conversation taking place simultaneously. More often than not it would increase in volume at least until we all heard that sharp tap of my father’s college ring on his dinner place. The “TAP” brought immediate silenced sprinkled with the honest giggle or two from the little ones.
There were many other instances when the dinner conversation din would stumble upon a common these. This organized us in somewhat of a military fashion such that from oldest to youngest we would all get our moment in time to offer our own remarks, thoughts, memories or comments.
One evening at the big table the conversation turned to memories of our individual births. Mom set the stage with each of us starting with Nancy, the oldest. we then all had out turn to comment.
It must have been late in the year because it was dark outside. We weren’t running in place at our seats anxious to burst out to our large side yard in order to gobble the remaining daylight up in play. I was in my usual seat, to the right of Dad. Mom was at the end across from Dad - closest to the kitchen. Bobby, the youngest, was in his usual place immediately to the left of Mom.
The conversation finally reached baby Bob. He was likely no more than 5 years old. Bobby had been listening rather intently. His eyes were bright and blue. He was our little red-haired boy. Regarding the significance of timing of his own birth, his comment was pure and true. “BOY, I JUST MAKE IT!”
-Mike
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