Homer and His Daughters

In the 1880 Federal Census, my great, great grandfather (Homer Hoyt) is listed as “Homah Hoyt.” Homer was from Vermont (and living in Lake Mills, WI at the time) and I can just hear the long-time New Englander telling the census taker, “Ah said, mah...

Growing Up in Waterview (Portsmouth)

In 1953, my father took a job at Skippy Peanut Butter in downtown Portsmouth, necessitating a move from their home (and family)in California to Virginia. They rented homes in Park Manor and then in Shea Terrace, and then they decided it was time to buy a home of their...

Rediscovering Innocence

On June 10, 2011, my 91-year-old father passed on. Almost to the day – one year prior – we’d moved him into an assisted living facility. This blog (below) was written soon after that event. In June 2010, my 91-year-old father moved into assisted...