• Graham Hall, et al.

    I heard the dorms around Graham Hall were coming down (Graham, Simpson and Trusler). This summer they were ominously fenced off. Last week they started falling. I took some pictures Saturday.

    I thought about getting up close to the fence and shooting through it. Then I figured the fence added more than it obscured.

    Everyone loves a stairs to nowhere picture.

    Graham Hall with improved airflow.

    Ventilated Graham Hall – closer.

    The place a friend lived as a first year student, now not long for this world.

    I am cursed to walk this world filled with sentimentality, seeing meaning in places and things which are not self-evident, and I find near impossible to explain or describe. I’m the person in the car who points places out to my kids, “… and that’s where…” with utter futility. Nothing I could say if given 30 minutes would get across my personal context with a place – let alone the 3 seconds we have in passing.

    I find it difficult to speak in groups of people – not just because of social anxiety – but also because I don’t know where to start or end and so do neither.

    It makes one wonder why I said anything here, now.

    So here’s a few pictures which make me sad.

  • Father’s Day

    Dad's Masters.

    Happy Father’s Day, Dad. Love you. Miss you.

  • Obiturary – Cheryl’s dad

    Joe Bouvier.

    Joseph Paul Bouvier of Gainesville (FL), formerly of Dunedin, Merrimack (NH), and Biddeford (ME), passed away on December 23rd. He was 86 years old.

    Prior to joining the Army as a young adult – and continuing to this day, family from his youth knew him as Paul Joseph Bouvier… or simply Paul. Friends knew him as Butch. Seeking to escape a nickname and citing a fortuitous mistake on his birth certificate, he went by Joe as an adult. His son-in-law liked to kid him about his multiple personalities. But regardless of the name that came to mind when you saw his face, most knew him as a pretty great guy.

    He was the son of Joseph Urbain Bouvier and Bella Tanguay, and the fourth of five children. He grew up playing sports – dabbling in many and excelling in boxing. He grew up to drive tanks for the Army, machine parts for General Electric, and run restaurants for others… then for himself.

    Although chronic disease took these things from him at an early age, he did not slow down as much as others might. As his daughter grew into the responsibility of looking out for herself, he volunteered his time visiting with people shut-in at area nursing homes. He served as a Eucharistic Minister for the Catholic Church, bringing Communion to those who could not make it to Mass themselves. He volunteered his time with the Knights of Columbus, encouraging a closer relationship with the local church community, and rising to the rank of Grand Knight. Through it all he carried a smile on his face and a touch of Maine in his voice that could be either disarming or a warning, depending on what the situation called for.

    He follows his parents, his brothers Ralph and Henry, his oldest sister Emeline Moreau, and two infant children Joseph and John in death. He leaves behind his wife Annette, his daughter Cheryl Kauffman (John), his sister Irene Bouvier, his sister-in law Maria Bouvier, his two grandchildren Beth and Adam Kauffman, as well as many nephews, nieces, and cousins.

    Services will be held in Gainesville (FL) and Dunedin (FL) on dates to be determined.