Gretchen's first byline

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In September 2010, Gretchen was babysitting for the editor of the neighborhood newsletter.  So she wrote...

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September 11, 2001

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I wrote this ~12 months after September 11, 2001. I wanted to remember what I was doing on that day when we heard about the planes. The first I knew that something was awry on September 11, 2001 was mid morning. I arrived at the office - same time as always - 7:15. Some time in the 9:00 hour I happened to glance at my.yahoo.com - my frequent home for news. There was a one liner about a plane striking the World Trade Center. I've read about a B-17 striking the Empire State Building some time around WWII. I recall thinking that it wasn't that big of a deal. I think I tried a couple other sources to see if anyone else had more information - no one did. Within 30 minutes my boss asked if I had read anything, "No, not really" I responded. Site inquiries now just timed out. Everyone was connecting to see what they could see. I think I got one through on chicagotribune.com, but the information was about the same. No one knew much. Someone (my boss Mark I thin...
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Alfred Hoyle WWII Service Record

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Last summer (‘18) I had the National Archives send me my Grandfather’s service record (55 pages, lots of insurance forms).  There’s a link to that set of documents below. From Alfred Hoyle’s pay record , I’m starting to piece together what I think Grandpa did during WWII.  Looks like basic training at Parris Island SC, Mechanic’s training at Camp Lejune NC and then deployed to 2nd Marines 2nd Separate Engineer Battalion in the Pacific.  Likely saw / experienced some / all of the Battle of Okinawa .  The 2nd Marines did their occupation time in Nagasaki (atomic bomb #2), which matches what I've heard about Grandpa's service I have very few stories from his time in the Marines (one I do have, I’ve added as a likely event with the historical context below).  I don’t think he spoke much of his time. I will bug John this summer (and now).  If you've got stories you know / remember, I'd like to capture them. Marine PFCs made $54 / month dur...
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Gretchen is starting to play. She has always been great at playing quietly by herself, but over the last couple weeks she's starting interacting with us as she plays. This weekend it was playing picnic. She had great fun setting up dishes and serving food to Po, Pooh, Timothy (me) and baby elephant (Gretchen). Two other possible players to that game are Dumbo (Melinda) and Mrs. Jumbo (Tracey). Melinda likes that Gretchen will play with her more (and actually play), but she's a little demanding when Gretchen won't do what she wants her to do. "Gretchen - I said, [fill in with your favorite 4-year old demand]!" Behold a typical dinner conversation. Melinda: Gretchen, you're a poopy diaper head! Gretchen: I'm not a poopy diaper head, I'm Gretchen. Yes, we're pretty excited about Melinda learning how to tease :-( In happy news, Melinda and I did some wood working this weekend. She wanted to make her new doll - "Baby Goo" a bookcase. ...
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