Mary Louise Eklund

Author: Mary Louise Eklund

  • Memoir Monday – Other People’s Memoirs

    Postcard 1 front

    Postcard 1 back

    I’ve decided not only will Monday be my memories but memories I find. I like to go through antique, resell shops, and see what’s there. I enjoy postcard affordable pieces of the past, glimpses into people’s lives from another time. It’s like eavesdropping in on text messages and e-mails today. So on some Mondays I’ll share a post card in my collection and transcribe the message as best I can. Then I offer you to speculate on the bigger story of the sender and receiver. Today’s is rather interesting I wonder how Miss Mattie’s lover has sinned. Did she answer soon as s/he asked? What does the choice of the postcard say about them? Why is the woman higher on the ladder? Why on the ladder to kiss any way? I give you my best transcription of the message.

    Oh if you catch an error in my transcription or can add to something I couldn’t make out let me know. (more…)

  • Throwback Thursday – Halloween Costume Edition

    Mike Hobo 1971

    Okay that’s not me, it’s Mike. Yes I got his permission before publishing the lipsticked baby’s got back Hobo Mike of 1971. I can’t explain this. I really don’t know what to say beyond – yes, yes I am still very glad I married the man. He’s very nice to let me post this for Throwback Thursday.

  • Book Comments – Savannah Breeze by Mary Kay Andrews

    The required US legal disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique
    The required US legal disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique

    After a few heavy books – neurosurgeon, corporate politics, and climbing Mt. Everest I was ready for a light read. I picked Savannah Breeze by Mary Kay Andrews. I didn’t know it was the second of a series but the premise intrigued me. Southern socialite has her money swindled in a sweetheart scam leaving her only a seedy motel. She tries to put her life back together. As she is doing so she learns where the con-man is and goes to con her money back from him with a little help from her friends. Fun huh? It was!, definitely a beach blanket read of the first class chick lit type, nothing heavy here.

    (more…)

  • Memoir Monday – Bicycle

    Me and my newly discovered freedom of travel.
    Me and my newly discovered freedom of travel.

    I loved my bicycle. I really did. When we lived in town I didn’t ride much. Parents fretted about the busy streets. So most of my riding was always done on gravel. (more…)

  • Throwback Thursday – Halloween Costume Edition

    Scan_Pic0169

    Back to me again. That’s me as a fairy I think, I’m not actually sure. That’s recycling my ballet costume adding a pretty mask and foil covered baton. Yes I’d guess it’s been a bit since I’d worn it given how short it is there… This is 1971. I remember I always wanted a custom made costume for Halloween. I don’t know what I thought the costumes I got for ballet and tap were for goodness sake! Any way I do remember when it was a cold Halloween I hated having to ruin my costume with a coat. Apparently this was a warm Halloween judging by those legs!

  • Book Comments – High Crimes by Michael Kodas

    The required US legal disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique
    The required US legal disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique

    Does moral obligation change with altitude? That’s the root question pondered but never answered as Michael Kodas retells his and Nils Atezana’s quests in 2004 to summit Mt. Everest. He recounts also the famous death of David Sharp early on to illustrate his points. The tales of lies, abuse, theft, fraud, and more when ultimately lives are at stake and most look to shirk blame leaves one more fearful of the humans on the climb than the environment in which they climb. (more…)

  • Monday Memoir – What’s Home? Where are you from?

    oval wooden spiral staircase that is well worn

    This was inspired by the question “Where is home?” in An Old Friend From Far Away by Natalie Goldburg. Actually the question I get asked a lot but never quite know how to answer is “Where are you from?” Now I know people who knew me in school would shout Tennessee but honestly I’ve lived out of Tennessee longer than I lived in it. Honestly if you count the years in one place Kenosha, Wisconsin is where I’ve lived the longest in my life.

    (more…)

  • Throwback Thursday – Halloween Costume Edition

    Aaron as a Bullfighter Mike as the Bull 1999
    Aaron as a Bullfighter Mike as the Bull 1999

    Okay this isn’t the best photo but the only one I could find that showed Mike’s surprise costume that year. Below the cut you’ll see Aaron’s bull fighter better. He was out posing for me when Mike came out in his bull one to take Aaron house to house. Yes if you look close it’s a shower curtain ring in his nose there and there are aluminum foil horns on the hat. Aaron was telling Mike to wait in the shadows that year. LOL! Again click below to see Aaron’s costume as well as his first one and one as a paleontologist the next year. (more…)

  • Movie Comments – Infini

    The required US legal disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the <a href="http://fairuse.stanford.edu/Copyright_and_Fair_Use_Overview/chapter9/9-a.html">Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique</a>
    The required US legal disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique

    Back in September we discovered this movie on Netflix. Mike started it, rewound it, and called me in to watch it. I’m glad he did. This sci-fi (or is it syfy or science fiction) movie with the tension of the first Alien combined with questions about humanity similar to those in 2001. (more…)

  • Memoir Monday – Family Grams

    Nicole Tow graciously allowed me to use her scan of a familygram she send her husband. Be sure to check out her site and any copyrights to the image are hers.
    Nicole Tow graciously allowed me to use her scan of a familygram she send her husband. Be sure to check out her site and any copyrights to the image are hers.

    This was prompted by a question from The Book of Myself by Carl and David Marshall. It was to write about my experience with the military as an adult. Wow, for me that would being a Navy wife.  That experience take a few books. However the first thing that popped into my mind was familygrams. They take some explaining because they were only for the submarine force and aren’t used now. So read on for an explanation and tales of grams both mine an others. (more…)