What we leave to be found

I've triaged what I believe is the last container of my mother's stuff. She'd kept many copies of things and even copies of annotated copies of things. Those copies and copies of copies, some of which date to the early 60s, when a xerox copy was a Xerox copy.
The theory which is mine is that people generally don't leave time capsules - collections of items that they expect future generations to find and think about. Most of the things that we have in our lives are things that have some utility. The table where I write, the clock that's ticking on the wall, the yellow mobile that casts moving shadows over my keyboard - these are all things that have some practical or aesthetic purpose. They are settled business. People who find these things later will get to decide if the things have utility for them. Do they need a table? Do they want a wall clock that must be wound manually once a week and changed when the gummint says that sunset will be an hour later? Do they want a colorful presence over the table?
What won't be so easy for them because it's not at all easy for me is the broad agglomeration of files (paper and, even more so now, electronic) that mean a great deal, but goodness knows who or why.
My mother kept a grad school paper that had a B- and critical comments about her disorganized writing. She had copies of her resume from the mid-70s, identical content, but with addresses from Amherst, Northampton, and Ann Arbor.
A short while before he died, my father's father was working on a grandfather's clock. "I guess you'll have to finish this," he said to my father.  It was a finicky clock that my father passed along to us and we to Adam. Something of value that lets the generations have a one-way game of Tag.

I found a couple of photographic negatives of my parents' wedding celebration along with a copy of their wedding certificate. Today would have been their anniversary. My birthday is in October of that same year.

In New England, we get it all

But, do we have to get it all at once?

via 7-Day Forecast for Latitude 42.33°N and Longitude 71.83°W

Crime in suburbia

From The Landmark (subscription required):

[Editor's note: There were 23 suspicious items this week.]

Holden

Monday, March 1

1:10 p.m. Party locked in garage, unable to get out because of damage to door, Hickory Cir.
8:27 p.m. Deer struck by car
11:57 p.m. Suspicious person, Reservoir St.

Tuesday, March 2

3:14 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, Reservoir St.
12:17 p.m. Suspicious people carrying TVs, Reservoir St.
1:25 p.m. DPW truck reported inconveniently parked, Mayflower Cir.
1:33 p.m. Suspicious calls trying to obtain bank account information
4:29 p.m. Husky found

6:24 p.m. Caller wants to know why several cruisers were in front of her house
8:08 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle parked at neighbor’s house, Brentwood Dr.

Wednesday, March 3

10:53 a.m. Caller arrived home to find front door/window smashed; advised to vacate area until home is checked
11:43 a.m. Dept. of Environmental Protection in Parsons Ave. area
12:30 p.m. Large pothole damaged vehicle, Shrewsbury St.; DPW advised
1:21 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle in church lot this morning
3:07 p.m. W. Virginia State Police calling about stolen gun
6:21 p.m. Caller reports suspicious vehicle in driveway; driver said teaching someone to turn around using their drive
8:11 p.m. Caller’s wife received suspicious calls at home

Thursday, March 4

7:45 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, Main St.
8:07 a.m. Inquiry about state police incident; referred to state police
9:59 a.m. Suspicious male putting items in mailboxes; OK, delivering phone books
11:42 a.m. Neighbor reports residence where individual is on vacation has door open; OK, back from vacation

2:48 p.m. Teens gathering in lot have been asked to move but won’t, Main St.

Friday, March 5

7:34 a.m. Wire down across Bailey Rd.
8:13 a.m. Wallet found
10:40 a.m. Car with two flat tires, Main St.
11:52 a.m. Vehicle on side of road, driver looks unwell
1:38 p.m. Caller inquiring about lost glasses
2:15 p.m. Suspicious group on S. Wachusett St.; Jehovah’s Witnesses
6:10 p.m. Possible craigslist.org scam
7:22 p.m. Walk-in to speak with officer regarding narcotics
11:46 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle running, side of the road, Shrewsbury St
11:57 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, Main St.

Saturday, March 6

1:27 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, Main St.; sent on their way
9:10 a.m. Caller concerned about ex-husband’s actions toward son; threw away son’s cell phone
10:17 a.m. Dispute at post office

1:01 p.m. Caller concerned for parties four-wheeling on ice, Unionville Pond
3:32 p.m. Request for information on public transportation to Arlington or Lexington; advised to call WRTA
5:53 p.m. Caller concerned about missing daughter, 19, may be with 40-year-old man; daughter not missing, chose not to come home

10:47 p.m. 911 caller hears female yelling, “help! stop!” on Forest Dr.; OK, group having snowball fight
11:35 p.m. Report of screaming, Parker Ave.

Sunday, March 7

12:34 p.m. Caller reports inspection sticker expired; will get new one tomorrow
1:20 p.m. Caller from stables advising may have trouble with client behind on board fees
4:31 p.m. Suspicious male looking into windows of area homes; OK, homeowner’s grandson
6:16 p.m. Caller reports no water, Walnut St.
10:54 p.m. Eleven-year-old reports father beating her; OK, argument between brother and sister

Paxton

Tuesday, March 2

6:39 p.m. Suspicious vehicle in business parking lot, Pleasant St.

Wednesday, March 3

6:24 p.m. Person at station regarding incident in Auburn; referred to Auburn PD
6:36 p.m. Caller reports vehicles parked on Brooks Rd. and is concerned vehicle can’t get through if weather gets bad
9:32 p.m. Vehicle with hazard lights off the road, Paxton Rd. Found to be in Leicester

Thursday, March 4

4:35 p.m. Person at station to speak with officer, Pleasant St.
8:25 p.m. Caller’s orange and white Brittany ran off, Camelot Dr.
9:28 p.m. Caller lost her medicine in a Worcester store
9:32 p.m. Small dark-colored SUV in caller’s neighbor’s driveway and people with flashlight are looking around, Camelot Dr.; looking for their dog

Friday, March 5

8:52 a.m. Woman walking on Rte. 122 is being followed by two dogs, causing traffic hazard, Pleasant St./Brigham Rd.
8:54 a.m. Vehicles parked on both sides of the road causing traffic hazard. Police at scene to assist with traffic, Pleasant St. & Old Colony Rd.

Saturday, March 6

10:04 a.m. Mutual aid to Rutland, domestic dispute, Rte. 56; call canceled, verbal argument only

Sunday, March 7

12:37 a.m. Resident contacted to move vehicle into driveway, Richards Ave.
11:00 a.m. Black and chocolate Labradors running towards Paxton from Spencer, West Ave.

Princeton

Monday, March 1

7:57 p.m. Westminster PD reports suspicious vehicle in parking lot, Fitchburg Rd.

Wednesday, March 5

6:48 p.m. Wires arcing on tree, Lovers Ln.

Thursday, March 4

7:59 a.m. White dog in roadway in front of school, Sterling Rd.
7:03 p.m. Large pothole in middle of Rte. 140 N.
11:13 p.m. Two vehicles drove onto ski trail, executed several “doughnuts” and took off , Mountain Rd.

Friday, March 5

5:56 p.m. Power outage, Rocky Pond Rd.
6:15 p.m. Cub Scout tour of police station

Saturday, March 6

3:41 a.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, Sam Cobb Ln.
7:29 a.m. Light Dept. called to Rocky Pond Rd. Problem with transformer and subsequent loss of power
6:47 p.m. Westminster PD reports suspicious male wearing white tank top and no shoes, possibly intoxicated, on Rte. 140 going toward Rte. 31. Sterling PD asked for assistance; individual not found

Sunday, March 7

3:40 p.m. Call from hiker lost on mountain, later met another hiker who helped them find the way out, Administration Rd.
4:15 p.m. Motorist reports child shoveling snow onto roadway, Main St.

Rutland

Monday, March 1

9:38 a.m. Suspicious person trying to enter house, Rolling Ridge Rd. Family relative.
12:41 p.m. Suspicious male in church parking lot, Main St. Waiting for child
4:32 p.m. Dog officer in contact with dog bite victim, Main St.
6:30 p.m. Loose cows on Pommogussett Rd. and Rufus Putnam Ln. Officer to assist with traffic
11:48 p.m. Caller reports people upstairs making lot of noise, Maple Ave.

Tuesday, March 2

3:43 p.m. Suspicious truck in driveway, Glenwood Rd.
4:35 p.m. Complaint about dogs barking in middle of night, Patriot Ln.
4:47 p.m. Person at station to speak with officer, Main St.
6:13 p.m. Person changing tire beside road, State Park Rd.
7:10 p.m. Person at station for assistance installing car seat, Main St.

Wednesday, March 3

2:34 p.m. Person came to station to leave a firearm belonging to a family member, Main St.
5:36 p.m. Person came to station to speak with an officer, Main St.
5:40 p.m. Repossession employee came to station to advise he will be picking up vehicle on Pommogussett Rd. and wants police aware
10:09 p.m. Police respond to call of disabled motor vehicle on Pommogussett Rd.

Thursday, March 4

8:57 a.m. Person wants police to respond to Welch Ave. & Helen Ave. to view damage of a sign
3:54 p.m. Report that neighbor’s dog took off, beagle mix, Highland Park Rd.

Friday, March 5

8:53 a.m. Person came to station to pick up plates, Main St.
9:02 a.m. Person came to station to report fence rails pushed out due to plows and they are now sticking out where a vehicle may hit them, Main St.
9:45 a.m. Complaint of solicitor going door to door without a vehicle, Anthony & Nancy Dr. area
6:01 p.m. Possible domestic situation, verbal argument over the phone, Maple Ave.

Saturday, March 6

1:21 a.m. Assist Hubbardston PD with citizen transport, E. County Rd.
10:00 a.m. Report of missing pitbull
11:59 a.m. Caller spotted license plates beside the road, Main St.
12:47 p.m. Request to speak with officer about issues with cell phones, Main St.
4:39 p.m. Person at station to drop off cell phone found near business, Main St.
6:56 p.m. Person at station to speak with officer, Main St.

Sunday, March 7

9:43 a.m. Person at station to pick up license plate, Main St.
4:06 p.m. Caller saw dog bite someone on Maggies Way

Sterling

Monday, March 1

3:42 p.m. Police stand by with disabled motor vehicle, Justice Hill Rd.

Tuesday, March 2

8:10 a.m. Attempt to deliver summons; Old County Rd. Person no longer lives in Massachusetts

Wednesday, March 3

8:44 a.m. Complaint about two dogs barking, chasing someone down Pikes Hill Rd.
4:06 p.m. Complaint about many feral cats in neighborhood, Goulding Rd.
6:14 p.m. Suspicious van with two males inside working on computers, Upper North Row/Justice Hill Rds.

Thursday, March 4

1:34 p.m. Officer wanted, DCR possible meeting, small amount of controlled substance confiscated, destruction of property, Brookside Ln.
2:44 p.m. Report that someone stole vehicle from garage, Bean Rd. All set, found to be taken by a family member

Friday, March 5

5:44 p.m. Caller requesting officer regarding youths who ran into woods, Princeton Rd.

Saturday, March 6

3:02 p.m. Caller reports chocolate Labrador in yard for long time, John Dee Rd.
6:49 p.m. Assist Princeton PD looking for male, possibly intoxicated, walking on Rte. 140 

Sunday, March 7

2:04 p.m. Missing Old English dog, Colby Rd. Dog later found

Spring break

With the snow gone and the trees still months away from leaving, the train sounds very loud as it rumbles along Main Street just a half-mile away.
On Tuesday morning, the Canada geese arrived, honking over our back yard as they banked a turn toward the small pond at the bottom of the hill. They landed on a neighbor's lawn. While on my way to school on Tuesday morning, I saw them march across the road and onto the top.

So far, I'm doing well in the course, Legal Research and Writing. My professor, Jim Korman, J.D., is one of the best. He knows his stuff and calibrates his teaching techniques to the abilities and circumstances of his students. (Most students at community colleges have complicated lives outside of school.)
After class on Thursday, Jim and I discussed the courses that I would need to complete the requirements for a paralegal degree. I brought transcripts that covered my 40+ years of college attendance. (I wasn't able to bring a copy of my transcript from my time at the Mount in the 70s because that was still on microfilm; I've made the request for the transcript and it'll be ready in a week.)
It looks as though I'll need three or, perhaps, four courses covering litigation, real estate, and family law, along with a seminar that gets us ready to do real work as paralegals.
Oh, and one more thing. I'll have to take gym.
They don't call it gym, but it's gym.
My mother went back to college in her 30s. She had to suit up in gym clothes and play volleyball with the 19-year-olds.
I'm not in my 30s. I'm ready for 

SilverSneakers®

Back where we started

Starting, well, now, this blog has a new old name - Hakkarainen Clipping Service.
In the 1950s, my mother would send newspaper and magazine clippings, books and other items of interest to friends, family, and chance strangers. She nicknamed this practice Hakkarainen Clipping Service with the tag line "No obligation to read, acknowledge, or return."
She continued the service through decades of growth, change, hard times and good, divorce, remarriage and name change, in sickness and in health, until her death in 2000.
The service was driven by a spirit of entanglement, knowing that an idea was important to someone else and it was her job to get news of that idea to that person. The ideas could be about history or politics or Jungian analysis or religion or music or economics or medicine or technology or any and all in between.
In reclaiming this name, I get to take a fresh look at the ways in which I learned how to think and write, at my mother's knee, the smell of mimeograph ink filling the room.

We'll be wet but we'll be walking

On Saturday, March 13, we'll be participating in the Annual St. Patrick's Road Race/Walk in support of the The Barton Center For Diabetes Education. Specifically, we're raising money to help our granddaughter, Tess, attend the Clara Barton Camp this summer.
Tess was diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes two years ago this past weekend. She attended the Barton Camp program for one week last summer and we're walking to raise money for her and the Barton Center so that she can attend for two weeks this year.
The weather forecast for this coming weekend looks lousy.

And even more so.

We've been wet before and we'll be wet again. We will, however, be walking with and for Tess.
If you'd like to contribute, you can do so via PayPal at this link, or check or even that most old-fashioned form of legal tender, cash. You can find out more on our Facebook group page, ()Let's help Tess go to Clara Barton Camp this summer.