Photo Lantern 

Well, Friday is finally here.
Looking forward to hanging by the fireplace,
how about you?

For now, I’m just sitting at my kitchen table drinking some tea,
looking out my back window.
It’s snowing here, and I love it!
If it’s going to be cold,
I want snow flakes falling from the sky.
I’m hoping for a blizzard soon…
I’m from Buffalo people.
I need snow.This is our back yard.
We have bonfires down there April-November.
This wasn’t taken today,
but it looks pretty much the same.
Can you find the bird house?
Very pretty out there.

Speaking of Buffalo,
I have a cute little story for you today,
and an easy way to display your photos.
The idea stems from my “Illuminated Photo Door” which you can find here.
The project also leaks over into my “Pottery Barn knock off” found here.

~My Mom is from Buffalo, NY.
Grand Island to be exact.
My Dad is from Batavia, NY.
About and hour East of Buffalo.Ironically enough,
they met outside the state of New York.It was June of 1954
and it was my Mom’s 20th birthday.
She was in Detroit with her best friend, Sally (they are still best friend’s).
They were at the Detroit train station heading back to
Buffalo after watching the Michigan State football game.
My Mom had been set up on a blind date that didn’t go so well.My Dad was in the Air Force at the time and was helping out a buddy by driving his car from Batavia to Detroit.  He had to take the train back to Buffalo as well.This is how my Dad described it to me yesterday in an e-mail…“We met June 1954, Moms Birthday, in the train station in Detroit.
Waiting to board the train we glanced at each other, Mom had on a seer sucker
suit- short waisted and a little tight- haha.  We ended up in the same car. They
sat behind me, Jojo and her best friend to this day, Sally. I was 19, mom was 20, 
I was in my khaki Air Force uniform, on the way to Batavia, 
Mom on the way to Buffalo.  
We just struck up a conversation, and I asked her for her address.
It went from there. We met a couple of times while I was on leave, 
then I went to Luke AFB in Arizona.
We wrote for some months, then I went home on leave to eventually go
overseas to GUAM.  We got engaged before I went for 18 months. 
The reason I was off course in Detroit, is because a buddy of mine from
Whyoming Military school had surgery and could not drive, so I drove
his car back to Detroit, he gave me $50 plus
paid for gas. That’s the most of it. love, Dad”

Bob & Joanne are 78 now.
They have been through quite a bit over the years.
Some good, some not so good.

They have raised 4 children and worked hard providing for their family.
They’ve survived blizzards, job losses, leaky roofs, and broken ankles.Moved across towns, and the country a couple times…
changed career paths several times…
and even divorced and decided to remarry one another in the middle of it all.Worst of all…
endured the pain of two sick children,
and eventually the loss of their beloved, and only son, Robert.Today, they bicker like most couples, but they are still together,
fighting old age and helping each other through it.They are enjoying their 3 grandchildren, their kitty, Daisy, and
loving each other the best way they know how.

It’s never been easy, nor perfect.
Life isn’t meant to be.I truly believe they were meant to meet that hot afternoon in Detroit.Best of all…our children are proof.

The circle of life.
It will continue because of that chance meeting at the train station.

What’s really interesting is that they ended up back in Michigan.

You never know where life’s train will lead you.

Want to make one?  Do you have a lantern?

(Here’s an affordable one if not.)
How about a small lamp that you can take the shade off of?

If not, Christmas lights will work, too.
How about tape?
I know you have photos (use copies of photos if possible).

That’s all you need!

This would make a very thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift.

Thanks for stopping over to meet Bob & Jojo.
They’re going to love the memories I stirred up with this post.
I love you Mom & Dad!

Love,
Julie