Ben and Bill

As a teenager growing up in St. Albans, Bob learned basics of photography from his neighbors.

Bill Mucklow, who worked for WVDNR taught him techniques, exposure and processing.  Bill had a business on the side.  Bob developed sheet films and made contacts for him.  He bought Bob his first camera-a 35 mm Argus.

It was neighbor Ben Edwards, who worked for Union Carbide PR, who taught Bob creative aspects.  Bob hung out with Ben in his basement darkroom where Ben made Bob an enlarger and taught Bob about flood lights.  Ben would put on a pot of coffee, get out pictures and tell him how he did it.  They'd talk for hours and Bob "soaked it up like a sponge."

I sewed the pocket on the left and placed inside a Christmas card with a picture of Ben Edwards' family.  On the back, Ben wrote "I shall always remember our Sunday afternoons in the back yard."  Card from the latter 1970s.



 

January Cards

 

My retired work friend Brenda celebrated her birthday this month. She is a beautiful lady and I made a fitting card! The weather has been so cold and snowy-so I made lots of cards.  

Bob's Christmas card to me on the left.  My Christmas card to him on the right. Note the little deer cut-out was from the cup holders at Books-a-million.  They had these and Santas, and I saved every cup holder I got!

"As we share our lives on this special holiday,
I love you more than words can say.
Merry Christmas, my love and in case you missed
You are to me the most precious of gifts."

A birthday card to my sister Terry on the left.

"Celebrate this day with joy and know that you are blessed.

Have some fun with friends and family, then you can have a rest!

Share your joy with those around and have a brilliant day,

Make memories in your heart and then you'll be blessed along the way"

My card to an old colleague-Annabelle-on the right. 

"So another year ends and a new one's just begun.

Let's pray it is peaceful with joy for everyone,

May happiness be found in everyday things 

And much laughter is heard with the delight that it brings,

May friends be many and our trouble few,

For this is my wish that I'm sending to you."

My friends Fred and Denise needed a pickup.  Fred was an early childhood friend. We played cowboys outside in our yards. Inside his card I placed a picture of us at age 4 and this verse:

"Gaze up through the leaves

Summer wishes, winter dreams,

Thoughts of years, long past.

Warm, sunny days filled with fun

And nights, to wish on a star." 

Denise lost her husband last month.  Inside her card:

"The day is short-And life is long.

Sit vigil this night, singing sun songs.

Each night since Midsummer,

He has aged and rested.

At last soltice the Oak King was bested-

But now at last, the Sun slowly returns

Minute by minute, he also yearns

To come to his people, to spread his light

On this darkest day he conquers the night."  

 To our scrapbook friend Linda who lives up north and is probably stuck inside too!

Birthday wishes on the left to my colleague Jim from the HSC Cafe, now a hospital cook.

Get well wishes on the right to my colleague Frank, who is in rehabilitation and in some pain.

Our youngest son Chris will be 25 this week.  This is for him.  (In the set-up is an old valentine fan he made me as a very young child).

 

Pink Collar

Virginia Stoneking and Beulah Hall were my supervisors when I started working in WVU hospital dietary in 1973.  "Stoney" the head cook and her assistant Beulah were different, one ornery and wiry, one calm and serene.  Both were dedicated and kind.

My everyday after school task was to make mashed potatoes for patient dinners.  I steamed the peeled and halved potatoes, then made four varieties of whips for specific diets.  Sometimes my potatoes were runny-but my mentors never got mad.

We wore pink uniforms-perhaps fitting as "pink collar" often refers to those in the service industry. 

My pockets contains Christmas cards from the 2 ladies.