Writing For Vanessa

My niece Vanessa has asked me to write something, so I am. For the last couple of months we have been subjected to a tidal wave of political propaganda from both parties. Each calling the other names spreading innuendo etc. Here is Massachusetts there are only 16 Republican state senators on Beacon Hill the rest are all Democrats. Nothing changes there is no debate or challenge to policies. Things continue to spiral down. Today we learned that the Mass. Pike will be raising their tolls on the highway. Each harbor tunnel will cost about 8 bucks to go through, it's sickening. In California Prop 8 passed thank goodness thanks to the efforts of good christian God fearing people. No my church is taking a lot of heat from a bunch of sore losers. We've been through a heck of a lot worse. It's despicable how lists of donors have been made public by bitter people  with the intention of persecuting those who donated to Prop 8.

I am worried about our country and the sense that 53 percent of people who voted this election cycle want bigger government. To have entitlements and to weaken our military. To have open borders and allow illegal aliens to much slack. Now the country will experience what Massachusetts experiences every day.

As for me and my house we enjoy church and put our hopes and efforts toward living good lives and enjoying our family and friends. So Vanessa I'm grateful for you asking me to write. Fall in New England is gorgeous and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. My favorite holiday.

Paul Mark Alexander

Hard working stubborn patriotic and generous. Describe some of the attributes of Paul. Others are spiritual quiet observant and consistent. He loves 57 chevys and Harley's. At 12 years old he swapped motors out of one car into another. Using an old apple tree branch as support for the engine hoist. His names sake grandfather coaching as he went. Buying his first Snap On tool at 13 years of age he now has a Snap on tool franchise and over 500,000 dollars in tool inventory and 300 mechanics he services almost every week. He has built several 57 chevies and has had 4 Harley's. One of which he crashed last week surviving with 2 broken toes 3 cracked ribs a puncture wound under the left knee and his left heel road rashed pretty badly.

He was a troubled teen and moved out the house the day after high school graduation to live on his own. working at various shops he perfected his ability to repair cars. Then rather than be drafted with no choice of were to serve he enlisted in the Navy. The SeaBees or Construction Battalion of the Navy. He went to Vietnam and fixed vehicles from jeeps to bull dozers in combat areas. On Halloween of 1970 he was shot at while in a guard tower on the perimeter of his base. He spent the night on his belly avoiding fire. Another time a sniper had him pinned in tall grass for over eight hours until it was dark and he could move to a safer position.

 Some South Korean troops came in to Pauls base with their jeeps to be repaired with scalps and the enemies ears displayed. Paul said they were the scariest soldiers over there.

 After serving in Vietnam he came home and then went on a mission to Germany for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Old Nazis would tell him they fought and suffered miserably in war and that there was no God. Paul would respond and tell them he too was in the misery of war and knew there was.

He met his wife there and they were married in the US in November of 1976. They have 4 wonderful kids, Mark, Vanessa, Nik and Stephan. 

Paul is a workaholic, his son Nik said it best when he said, "pops, if you could work in your sleep you would". I came to understand that his Vietnam experience caused him to relish the time to live and work. So many of his comrades died young and didn't have the chance to work and live. He honors them by living his life to the fullest, using every waking hour trying to be productive. His family has paid a price because of this. His kids and wife didn't see him much during their childhood. But he was there when it counted and always provided all the nice things in life for them.

Now at 58 years of age he hasn't slowed down a bit. After his cycle crash he was released that evening and went back to work after just one day off. He repaired some shelves in his truck that day. He's an old soldier. Someone who will not quit no matter how difficult the challenge and as a brother, a tremendous example who is very hard to live up to.

The Old Kitchen Stove

This room holds so many memories and at the center of them is this old stove. My 86 year old father as a boy would warm himself by it. A wood burning gas combination. My grandmother would cook the most delicious meals on this stove. My grandfather a skilled baker would produce pies and cakes and pastries from it's interior. At Thanksgiving and Christmas turkeys would be roasting and potatoes boiling. It kept that part of the house warm too. It was also used for heat. On the left side you could put wood in. A great stove to have if power and gas were somehow unavailable.

 My grandfather would chop the wood for the stove and place it in a opening in the colonial fireplace behind the stove. In a colonial home like this the fireplace was huge and on the side of the fireplace in this house was a large beehive oven. My gramps put the chopped wood in that beehive oven. It's sad that the house is going to be demolished soon and the stove lost forever. But the memories will never grow cold.

Kennybunkport, Maine

Marilee and I went up to Kennybunkport Maine the other day. Saw the beautiful shoreline and people. Watched the lobster boats pull in their treasure and checked out some antiques. Kennybunkport is just like Concord Massachusetts only on the water. The houses are the same, even the little colonial downtown shopping area is the same. We stopped off at a little lobster shack and got 1 lobster roll and a quarter cup of coleslaw for 15 bucks. Can you spell rip off. I know lobster is expensive but please the boats are only 4 miles away. It was perfect weather the sky was blue not a cloud in the sky, just a wonderful time. 

Longfellows Wayside Inn Sudbury, Massachusetts

It was one of those quick snow storms that came through in December. Leaving about 12 inches in 8 hours. I had just finished work and decided to go to the Wayside Inn to see if there were any photo opportunities. I was right. 

This is were Longfellow wrote his 'Tales of the Wayside Inn'. My wife and I come here every year to celebrate our anniversary this year it will be 26 years together. We get a little table in the corner of the 'Tap Room' next to the fire place. It's a smaller quieter area of the inn.

In the summer time I take engaged couples around the grounds and take their engagement pictures. It's a lovely place especially in the fall when the leaves are all different colors. It's worth the trip if you ever visit this part of the country.

The Old Barn Door

It may not look it but at one time this door was freshly painted. It is the entrance to my grandfathers barn in Sudbury, Mass. As a child I would run in and watch as grampa would hand milk the 2 cows he had. Does anyone do that anymore?

Up above was the hay loft that we were forbidden to play in but did anyway. Leaping around sliding down stacks of fresh hay. Tossing armfuls of the stuff at each other. Grampa always gently chastising us from tromping his hay.

Eggs were always collected every day inside the barn just before breakfast. They were always very warm to  the touch unlike the refrigerated kind in the store today. The stove was always going in the winder time making it a nice retreat from sledding on a nearby hill. Various woodworking  and repair  projects were always being done within the building. When Paul my brother was 12 years old he changed motors into cars using an old apple tree branch out front to hang grandpas block and tackle engine puller device on. So many activites so many memories, to many to list. It's not just another old door to me.

Happy Days Are Here Again.

Rebecca and Justin were married at the church in the cultural hall last Saturday. They were so Happy! Rebecca's dad Steve was happy. Her siblings were happy. Steves new wife was happy. I was happy. Let me explain.

Twelve years ago my best buddy Steve found out his wife had cancer, a serious form of it had struck her in the form of a brain tumor. Rebecca was 7. The tumor took it's toll over the years reducing Catherine's ability to play her beloved violin and enjoy activity with her family. She was bed ridden the last year. Steve was constant and like a rock. He took care of her and the kids all the way to Catherine's death. for 12 years he raised his family virtually alone as a single dad and caregiver. Completely unselfish. You can imagine the hardship, and the loneliness at times.

Steve needed to be married after Catherine's death. Thats what he told me. He didn't want to be alone, "I'm no good alone" he would say. " I need someone to take care of and to take care of me." He started looking on the internet for a good woman while I played general contractor and completely remodeled his home. Fixing everything that needed it. New driveway and roof, new bathrooms and tile. New french doors going to the back deck. New paint everywhere. You get the picture. A total transformation of the abode. This took place while his oldest child was serving a mission in Mexico. The same place his mom had gone years earlier. Steve then met a woman in Arizona on the internet who will remain nameless. After 9 months of a long distance relationship it didn't work out. 

Then just a few days after the brake up with Arizona woman Steve asks Tina out for a date. A woman from our congregation at church. A couple of weeks later they are engaged and a month later married in the Boston Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter Day Saints. Amazing! What makes it more amazing is that his oldest comes home for his mission and gets married in a whirlwind just a few months before. Now Rebecca, three marriages in less than a year in one family. The dad the son and now the daughter. 

Justin walked into the store where Rebecca worked, saw her and fell immediately in love. It gets better, he then went to church with the family and was converted to the beliefs of the Mormon church and was baptized. Rebecca loves animation he loves animation, he likes fantasy sci-fi so does she. His parents thought he would never find someone who would like what he did. They were wrong.

So the story ends with a happy family, sorrows in the past with a bright future ahead. Catherine would be happy.