Today is the 90th birthday of our friend, Mary Carnahan. She and her husband, John (who turned 90 a couple of years ago) have been friends of mine for something like 45 years. Their son, Paul, and our daughter, Betsey, were in high school together at Brattleboro Union High School back in the 1970s; they were both on the debate team and I think dated some too, and that brought the two families together and a friendship was formed. We learned early on that Mary and John were married on Long Island the week before Shirley and I were married, back in August, 1955 (we were married not far away on Staten Island), and we remembered how hot it was that day because we had been at the wedding of a Wellesley friend of Shirley's on that day and everyone was wilting. When Shirley was minister of the Guilford Church, she and I regularly got together with John and Mary on Friday evening to have supper and watch Washington Week in Review (that was back in the era when Paul Duke was the moderator - for years and years). It was a great way to unwind at the end of the week, and Shirley didn't have to worry about sharing experiences with a couple that had no connection with the Guilford church - but in addition, they could share news of the Episcopal Church in Brattleboro where they were active. There was a longstanding tradition that on the Fourth of July we would watch the parade downtown and then go to the Carnahan's afterward for refreshments. Both their daughters, Susan and Sarah, were involved in Betsey and Rob's wedding and we were involved in Susan's wedding. There were lots of occasions where we gathered at their house or they gathered at ours. When Shirley died, and I met and then married Ellen, she met the Carnahans and came to love them as I do. We haven't seen as much of them during the pandemic as I would have liked, but hopefully we will still have opportunities. It is a long and lovely friendship. Happy Birthday, Mary!
The Crockett family and the Carnahan family.
Front row, l. to r.: Paul, Susan, Sarah, Eve (Paul's wife), Shirley
Back row, l. to r.: Mary, Betsey, Rob, Me, John and John.
This picture was taken in our living-room back in the 1980s. Shirley, and both Sarah and Betsey, have died since this picture was taken. We miss them so much! The painting on the wall behind us was created by our friend, Arleene Sweet, who was the wife of my college roommate, David Sweet.
Later:
Ellen and I went by the Carnahans home with birthday cards for Mary late this afternoon. We found them both at home, and they had big news: they are moving! With the help of their son, Paul, who lives in Montpelier with his wife, Eve, they have decided to go into an independent-living community in Randolph, VT, which is about a half-hour from Montpelier. The plan is to move in late October. So they are busy downsizing and preparing their large home for the real estate market. That is huge news. I am happy for them, but sad to see them leave. I have every hope that we can visit them from time to time. They plan to have a Zoom family gathering this evening.
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