A week with Ethan & family in the Bay Area

_MAL6781, originally uploaded by Michael A. Lowry.

I just returned from a very enjoyable week in the S.F. Bay Area with my brother Ethan and his family.

I flew out there on the fifth of January, and stayed with Ethan & Kelly at their home in Santa Clara. While in the Bay Area, I met with my Swedish friend Rebecca, visited the Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton, worked for a couple of days at the Almaden Research Center in San Jose, walked among giant redwood trees in Big Basin park, stuck my toes in the Pacific Ocean on the beach in Santa Cruz, and visited San Francisco with Ethan & family. However, the part of the trip I valued the most was having the opportunity to spend time with my adorable niece Evelyn! She turned one just a few months ago, and is really beginning to develop a personality of her own. It was simply wonderful to get to know her a bit better.

San Francisco is one of my favorite cities in the world. Should I ever move back to the 'States, it would be near the top of my list of places to settle.

Heading back to Stockholm

After a quick week in Texas, I’m about to return home to Stockholm again. The memorial service for Etha this morning was quite nice. My uncle, my brother, my cousin and I said a few words about Etha and the important roles she played in our lives. It was very moving to see so many people there. After the service, we met for a luncheon at Lorn’s niece’s home, a lovely modern house near Love Field. And later in the evening, the close family met at my aunt Melanie’s home for pizza and reminiscing. We watched some of the old family movies from 50 years ago. Lorn told us he took the 16mm movies on expired film, because that was all he could afford at the time. A few minutes ago I said my goodbyes to Evelyn Marie Lowry, my adorable niece. She will probably be walking and talking the next time I see her, so I wanted to enjoy every last minute I could with her.

My flight to Newark leaves from DFW at 09.45 tomorrow morning. From there I’ll catch the connecting flight later in the afternoon, arriving in Stockholm early Monday morning. I’ll be glad to be home, even though I will miss my family here.

Ok, time to hit the sack. I have to get up early tomorrow.

Goodbye, Mama-mama

_MAL0274.jpg, originally uploaded by Michael A. Lowry.

This morning at 6:40 A.M., my maternal grandmother Etha Johanaber Howard died peacefully in her bed, surrounded by her loved ones.

My “mama-mama” was a role model in my early life. She exemplified the virtues of love, compassion, patience, and hard work. The holidays we spent at my grandparents’ home in Dallas are some of the happiest memories of my childhood. Etha suffered several strokes in recent years that left her body and mind diminished; but I‘ll always remember the thoughtful, kind and dryly witty character who could communicate volumes in a wink or a glance.

The last time I saw my grandmother was two months ago in Dallas, when the family gathered at my aunt Melanie’s home to celebrate Thanksgiving. The photo above shows Etha getting to know her great granddaughter Evelyn, as my mother Alaire and sister-in-law Kelly look on. Evelyn is my brother Ethan’s daughter and she is the first of her generation in our family.

Mama-mama was a dear friend, loving grandmother, and an important person in my life. She will be sorely missed!