April 30, 2012 An Octogenarian Plus Four recalls himself as a grade school lad wonderfully coordinated athletically but little interested in the life of the mind or academic pursuit. His anxious mother would say in asides: “Er kann nicht lesen (German – ‘He can’t read’. His teachers, it is recalled, almost yearly, it seemed suggested that,Continue reading “CURE FOR ACADEMIC EXAMINATION PARALYSIS/ANXIETY”
Category Archives: Relationships
BECKETWOOD COOPERATIVE – WELLINGTON GALLERY AND ART MUSEUM
February 22, 2012 Becketwood Cooperative’s resident art curator announced the fortieth consecutive monthly art exhibition for March. Submitted art is to be accompanied with a descriptive statement of 75 words or less. SENTIMENTAL TREASURES PICTURES OBJECTS
VALENTINE DAY – WHEN THE LOVEBUG BIT THE BARTLINGS
Fred was not one to get into Valentine Day but he married a woman who was. So when the children were young and all under our roof Valentine Day was a day to celebrate. This was the evening we ate in the dining room using a white tablecloth and red candles. And I believe IContinue reading “VALENTINE DAY – WHEN THE LOVEBUG BIT THE BARTLINGS”
Grandma Schmidt’s Apple Kuchen Recipe
February 6, 2013 (See blog January 26, 2012 of which the following is a response by Grandma Schmidt’s relative. “‘Grandma Schmidt’s Apple Kuchen’ Disappears”. Hi Folks! After Prof. Bartling’s blog was published about the missing Apple Kuchen, people began requesting the recipe. We believe the secret to be the mixing with the hands and the specifics about theContinue reading “Grandma Schmidt’s Apple Kuchen Recipe”
“GRANDMA SCHMIDT’S APPLE KUCHEN” DISAPPEARS
January 26, 2012 Recently one morning my wife and I hosted the Concordia Retiree Book Club in the East Dining Room. The evening prior Ruth baked “out of this world” rolls and also “Grandma Schmidt’s Apple Kuchen”. Our guests enjoyed the pastries served on elegant silver trays along with hot steaming coffee or tea. Book discussion completed enough “goodies”Continue reading ““GRANDMA SCHMIDT’S APPLE KUCHEN” DISAPPEARS”
A SIBLING’S CELEBRATORY REQUIEM: Balancing Sadness and Gladness
Funeral service of Holy Communion for Victoria Ruth (nee Bartling) Bouman was observed on the Fifth Day of Christmas, December 29, 2011, at Grace Lutheran Church, River Forest, Illinois. My sister Victoria, eldest of six siblings, was born January 14, 1923 and died early morning Christmas Day. How to frame a eulogy for my sister? Really, very simple andContinue reading “A SIBLING’S CELEBRATORY REQUIEM: Balancing Sadness and Gladness”
FAMILY PHOTOS – MEMORIES – CHRISTMAS (2007), 2011
December 21, 2011 One of my daughters wishes to give her nephew her Christmas table yule log. Our daughter inherited this from her parents who in turn had inherited it from her grandparents (my folks). Did I have information, she inquired, regarding the origins of this family treasure? My wife knew how and when we acquiredContinue reading “FAMILY PHOTOS – MEMORIES – CHRISTMAS (2007), 2011”
THE NOVEL “PASSING” – LIGHT SKINNED ENOUGH TO PASS AS WHITE
October 8, 2011 Recently a program that reviewed new books in the Becketwood library one in particular caught my attention. Immediately I understood it to be the flip-side, or northern racial version of the novel and movie “”Help” set in the South. (See blog – Aug 21: HELP WANTED – MAIDS OF HONOR and “KILLERS OF THEContinue reading “THE NOVEL “PASSING” – LIGHT SKINNED ENOUGH TO PASS AS WHITE”
RULES FOR THE SUMMER
These rules were designed and decreed by wife Ruth in summer 1972 when she was employed outside the home. I was the househusband in charge of four daughters; Catherine 11, Elizabeth 9, Anastasia 8, Stephanie 5. Two older siblings, Victoria 19 and Fred 17, were beyond a rule framework and had the run of the city. Summer RulesContinue reading “RULES FOR THE SUMMER”
DOWNSIZING’S IMPERATIVE – “TRAVEL LIGHT”
Downsizing our household became imperative prior when moving to our new home, Becketwood Cooperative. A major project involved changing approximately twenty-five slide carousels to DVD discs. Recently we spent an evening reviewing the contents of several boxes of memorabilia and “treasures” we brought along from our separate offices to our Cooperative home. Little survived the scrutiny andContinue reading “DOWNSIZING’S IMPERATIVE – “TRAVEL LIGHT””
The Bartling Scholarship 