Comments on: Southie

By: bob

bob — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:20:06 +0000

southie is my home town and it was better in the 90′s and 80′s

By: Pearl

Pearl — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 07:32:53 +0000

Funny how a neighbourhood cycles. That’s a fascinating little stroll. I have an old album and have thought to recreate the footsteps of the family in the photos. Lovely antique photo for you to have.

By: colleen

colleen — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 10:27:08 +0000

I agree, Leslie. When I went to Ireland ten years ago, it was worth about ten years of psycho therapy as far as understanding myself better.

By: Leslie

Leslie — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 10:21:46 +0000

Not everyone seems to have the need, but I think knowing my roots and family history has been an important part of realizing my identity and place in this strange world.

By: A.E. Roman

A.E. Roman — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 06:53:30 +0000

Wonderful blog, Colleen. Pics and stories and all. Thank you.

By: Deana

Deana — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 22:36:47 +0000

I would love to explore Boston. It is on my cities to visit list. It has been fun catching up here tonight. From your cool poem below to your windblown look to your canon….as always you keep us very entertained!

By: ruth

ruth — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 20:28:26 +0000

What a neat picture to have and such an honour that your dad chose you to safeguard it and treasure it.

By: kenju

kenju — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 11:56:20 +0000

Coleen, what a wonderful selection from your history. I love the old photo. The newer cannon looks much smaller than the older one did.

By: colleen

colleen — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 10:27:52 +0000

Can you believe how thin she was? The other woman is Pa’s sister, Teresa I think. One of the kids is her daughter, Agnes Redman. Dad pointed her out in some of the other photos from that day. I remember it well because he talked about how Anges’s mother never married her father and she had the mother’s last name, very unusual in those days.
The photos are very small. I blew them up.
I’m so glad we went. Thanks to you and Nelson for taking me! Once home, I dug out the photos of the houses they lived in that Patty sent me. A couple were on 0 Street.

By: Sherry

Sherry — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 10:14:24 +0000

I never saw that picture Coll. I love it!!!!
I think the cannon looks almost the same, but of course not as big.
I really enjoyed that day and wish we were together again. I miss you
Our Nana looks a lot like Aunt Claire. The kids must be Joe, Bernard, Miriam, Gertie and Chun.

By: JOEYK

JOEYK — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 09:30:36 +0000

brilliant writing dear one. i expect we’ll be seeing it published in Hull Times at least if not the weekend section of the Globe!

By: Absolute Vanilla... (& Atyllah)

Absolute Vanilla... (& Atyllah) — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 03:40:20 +0000

Colleen, you write so beautifully and evocatively – thanks for sharing your trip down memory lane in such a way that I felt I might be exploring alongside you.

By: OldOldLady Of The Hills

OldOldLady Of The Hills — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 02:52:16 +0000

Hi Colleen…To answer your question about Orchids and growing…I have never tried to actually “grow” one….most people I know who do grow Orchids have a little greenhouse…Keeping them alive and well, once you have one can be a real challenge….But, I know people who seem to have that gift. The weather conditions in the house are very important….Moisture, too much moisrure, sunlight…or just light, period…Etc., Etc., Etc….I have found it quite difficult at times and than have seen that sometimes benign neglect works better than anything…LOL! I think it all depends on the individual plant….some seem to do better than others….But, I have had Orchids that kept their blooms for over three months….! They are amazing plants that certainly are, as you said, quite exotic…Hawaii is a GREAT place to raise Orchids and they seem to last a very long time there….So much of the vegation there is exotic and beautiful…Maybe we all should move there…(Just kidding…)

By: OldOldLady Of The Hills

OldOldLady Of The Hills — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 22:56:09 +0000

What a wonderful visit Colleen…to walk those streets where your relatives walked all those years ago….That had to be ab anazing experuence….In a way, like Revisiting the relatives themselves….!
All of the history of the area itself, too…Fascinating. It is also so interesting that the area has changed, yet again…! You have such a sense of history and family, too, Colleen…And such a true love of both.

By: awareness

awareness — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 22:25:41 +0000

Hi Colleen
Thoroughly enjoyed your post and your photos…..our ties to our ancestry and familial stories are so important in our feelings of love and belonging, don’t you think?
Michele says hello…….

By: Carmi

Carmi — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 22:08:13 +0000

As Boston has always been one of my favorite cities, your rich tapestry-like entries have fascinated me endlessly. Thanks, Colleen, for sharing it as only you can. I can’t wait to go back again soon, as I’ll see it through even clearer eyes. Thanks to you.

By: colleen

colleen — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 21:58:16 +0000

Be warned that it’s very violent. It has some good plot twists but maybe one too many. Mark Wahlburg has the most authentic Boston accent, coming from Dorchester, another working class neighborhood right right next door to South Boston.

By: jac

jac — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 21:37:51 +0000

what a lovely trip down memory lane! i really enjoyed reading this entry. now i have to watch the movie “the departed”!
i’m here by way of michele. have a great day.