Monday, August 31, 2020

Lunch with the Carnahans

 At the end of last week we had lunch with Mary and John Carnahan. We took it to their house because they are no longer driving. It was a beautiful day and we met outside in their backyard, using lawn chairs  and side tables. Ellen had made a lovely salad with blueberry muffins and peach turnovers. It was yummy. The Carnahans have been friends for decades -going back to when their children and ours were in high school: e.g., their son, Paul, and our Betsey were on a debate team together. Their daughter, Sarah, like Betsey, also had an untimely death. Back in the old days Shirley and I would go to their house every Friday night to watch Washington Week in Review together. At one point, John, who was a lawyer and then judge, ran for Lt. Governor of Vermont as a Democrat. When Michael Dukakis ran for President, they hosted a house party for his wife, Kitty. When Shirley was introduced to her, she replied, "you're famous!" We were flabbergasted because Shirley had recently been front-page news.  Kitty Dukakis obviously had a very good staff! Shirley had been front-page news because a local fundamentalist minister had refused to allow Shirley to come inside his church and lead a funeral, as the family had requested. (He was opposed to women ministers). It created a local brouhaha! Anyway, we've shared a lot over the years. Dear friends, whom Ellen has come to love as well.


I didn't get any pictures of  our lunch 😢 but here are a couple from the past:


Our two families: front row, l. to r., Paul Carnahan, Susan Carnahan, Sarah Carnahan, Eve (Paul's wife), Shirley. Back row, l. to. r., Mary Carnahan, Betsey, Rob, me, John, John Carnahan



Mary and John Carnahan



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