The year was 1970...

 ...and women were starting to make their presence known. Dave's cousin Kathy marched in NYC, and the march was featured in the September 4, 1970 issue of LIFE magazine. She is on the left with short hair.  (Not without family criticism though.

Tree Topping + Addendum

 The next day, a white car with light and driver wearing construction vest drove slowly past the previous day's work, probably checking the branch cutting as well as the ditch mowing. Then 2 workers walked down to the end of our lot near the pole, and appeared to be measuring with some handheld instrument. And the old lady watched from behind her drapery covered window.

Empty Words

 The truth is, I said, that when one member of a couple is gone, the remaining partner is diminished. But I don't think she understood what I meant.

Food du jour

 Move over, Ritz Toasted Chips and Chocolate Peanut Butter Sundae Oreos. You've been replaced by Yasso Sea Salt Caramel Greek Yogurt Bars. 

56

 ME, Joanne M. Eileen, Lubov, Phoebe, Bev, JoAnn

Early Morning Moon, and a rose

 

Turtle and Rabbit Hilarity

 Reference will be clear---You know who you are.

     Dorothy got a job at New York State, back when employment there was a hotbed of  pages of gossip and  suggestive and just plain foolish messaging, of course all  printed out on company time. One day Dorothy came home and attempted to relate to us, Mom and me, one of the more benign communications, but she kept breaking up into uncontrollable  laughter, barely able to get the story out. Afterwards, Ma told me she didn't see why Dorothy found this tale so hilarious. Of course it's an old story now, but you can judge for yourself.  Here it is:

            Once upon a time Turtle and Rabbit were close friends, having grown up together and experiencing a lot of youthful adventures. But, as time often dictates, circumstances change and they grew apart. As it happened, Rabbit developed a successful landscaping business, but Turtle became very wealthy through his business and lived in a beautiful mansion on a hill. One day, Rabbit had to make  a delivery to a residence and he found out it was the home of his old friend, Turtle. So Rabbit, interested in seeing his old friend Turtle, decided to meet up with him. He went to the elegant residence, and knocked on the door, expecting, no  doubt, that Turtle would appear. But instead, a butler answered the door, and when Rabbit asked for Turtle, the butler haughtily (as butlers are prone to do) replied that Rabbit would be unable to meet with Turtle, announcing that "Mr. TurTELL is down by the well." Rabbit, no doubt feeling dissed, responded, "When Mr. Turtell returns from the well, tell him Mr. RaBITT was here with the shit."