Bopcha Blog

Diana--your blog made me want to relate my own experience just yesterday.



I took a small package to the Goodwill van located near BiMart. An old wrinkled gentleman

greeted me and took my contribution. Somehow we got to talking about ages. He told me

he was 70 something. I told him I was 89. He was so astonished and so profound about

h

ow beautiful I was and how I looked SO much younger! Really, I'm not susceptible to flattery

at all but he was SO SINCERE.



It feels SO Good.



I loved your description, so I just had to put in a little comment of my own.



Love, Bopcha

Well, just in case there was ANY doubt about who deserves the rank of favorite child, listen to this:



I drove to Cathlamet (25 miles west of Longview - along the Lewis and Clark trail along the Columbia River) this morning for a hearing on two cases where two really really angry citizens filed pro se complaints and tons of other documents with the court directed against my clients and some other people. The citizens were angry about flooding. About 20 to 25 supporters of the two individuals who actually filed the suits filled the courtroom. Presumably they were flood victims also.



After about 45 minutes, the judge ruled in my favor and in favor of the other defendants. Citizen 1 said out loud, "It's time for vigilante justice that's for damn sure!"



So, as I was hanging around waiting to get a copy of the orders, I was talking to the court reporter. She said that she was telling the others (deputy clerk etc.) that if she were in college she would like me as a professor because she loved listening to me talk!



I nearly fainted with joy.



Thereafter, I had to walk through the angry citizens and their supporters. They did not echo the court reporter's sentiments, but at least they didn't throw rocks at me and I am now home, safe and sound.



Diana, Professor of Something (I haven't decided what subject I am qualified to teach!)

This is only a partial write up on JJ's mom, Emma Sepulveda (Noah is going to Chile to visit JJ, his mom, and his dad).



Silver Pen Award Recipient 2000

Emma Sepulveda



Emma Sepulveda-Pulvirenti

has published two books of poetry:



Death to Silence - Muerte al Silencio

(Arte Publico Press, 1997)



Tiempo Complice del Tiempo

(Torremozas, 1989)



She is a Foundation Professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, and the author and co-author of several nonfiction books, including:



Amigas: Letters of Friendship and Exile (Univ. of Texas Press, 2001)



Dimelo Tu!: A Competency Approach

(textbook and its instructors manual; Harcourt College Publishers, 1989)



From Border Crossings to Campaign Trail: Chronicle of a Latina in Politics (Azul Editions, 1998)



Los Limites del Lenguaje: un Acercamiento a la Poetica del Silencio

(Ediciones Torremozas, 1990)



Otro Modo de Ser: Poesia Hispanica de Mujeres

(Mairena, 1994)



El Testimonio Femenino como Escritura Contestataria

(Asterion, 1995)

Currently she is Director of the Latino Research Center at the University, which published the first edition of Border-Lines, a new academic journal focusing on Latino topics, in December 2006.



She was one of the first Latinas to run for the Nevada Senate and published impressions of the experience. She is the editor of We, Chile: Personal Testimonies of the Chilean Arpilleristas (Azul Editions, 1996) and co-editor of Memorial de una escritura: aproximaciones a la obra de Marjorie Agosin (Editorial Cuarto Propio, 2002). She illustrated Marjorie Agosin's Generous Journeys - Travasias Generosas (Black Rock Press, 1992). She is the "One View" columnist for the Reno Gazette-Journal:

This time I got a bar stool. It comes in a package that measures 7x18x20. So you know what fun we will have putting together all the pieces.



The weather is sunny but cool. Love, Bopcha

Anyone who met Joe's dad would experience him just as Joe describes. In his presence, anyone could feel his warmth.

There is no doubt that he passed on his warmth and humility to his family. Joe, you are a true living example of that. Sid and I always appreciate how thoughtful you are. He was a great father indeed. There is no doubt that he will really be missed; and the number of people that were at the funeral to honor him was impressive.



It was great to hear about his tales of Italy wasn't it Joe? Actually, your Dad's recount of Mussolini is reminiscent of my grandpa's story telling days. My grandfather always had a desire for us to learn about Italy's history - as he experienced it. He tried as much as he could to pass on his experiences. One of the somewhat comical stories that he told me was that when he married my grandmother, he received a monetary reward from the Mussolini administration. Mussolini provided incentives to encourage population growth in Italy (I should add the growth of Italians only). Actually, I have a whole "oral history" that I wrote based on interviews with my grandpa. There are so many intersting stories that he told. He talks about Facism, economic state of Italy and the region he came from, and ultimately what lead him to want to bring his family to the USA. I wrote this in college (for a course) and I think I will translate it to English one day. My sister would like Nina and Alex to learn about the cultural past. By the way, my grandpa passed away in 1996 and he immigrated to the USA in his 50's - doesn't that seem daunting? Can you imagine starting over in a foreign country at that age. In many ways it is very inspiring.



Joe, I wish your dad and my grandpa could have sat down for some good conversation over their home made wine, and of course the delicious Bonamico sausage. They were so similar; there was something so endearing about them and they both had an undying dedication to their families.



I always wished that Sid could have met my grandpa - even thought his gandpa's English was not very good, he somehow made himself understood. I think there would have been "instant chemistry" between Grandpa and Sid.

There is no doubt Sid would have enjoyed him.



As you may already know, Sid will be coming to Oregon on 12/17. I will not be able to make it this time but I know it would be lovely to be in Oregon over the Christmas holidays.



Love to you all,



Sandra

Hello Everyone,



Yes those photos definitely took me back in time. As Bopcha said it was traumatic for all of us. The best part of that sequence of course is the last photo where Sid recovered, thankfully that moment did come. In the car, I really had my doubts and it was the most intense 10 minutes and something I hope to never have to repeat. Of course, you all know me not to be a worrier - what me worry? - so naturally I was researching bee stings because I was, well, you know worrying about the next bee season. So it turns out that many bee keepers, after many years of being immuned to bee stings, become seriously sensitive to them and develop serious allergic reactions. Yikes. I guess that answers the question of why Sid had that reaction after many years of being stung and never having that problem. I am not sure if it is overexposure to the bees, but there is lots of evidence out there that you can DEVELOP bee sting allergies over time, and they increase in severity with each subsequent sting. Some of the worst reactions are with those who have been around lots of bees. But I guess there are some recommended things you can do to decrease your risk of being stung. The challenge of course will be getting Sid to comply with the recommendations



Carrying around a bee allergy kit/injection is one way to try to remedy the sitaution once you have been stung. You are not supposed to wear bright clothes or sandals. Or Sid maybe you could just carry around a sign saying, "please don't sting me." Who knows maybe that will work!

Well one thing that I learned from the little bee episode is that I definitely prefer drama at the movies. I'll pass on it in real life. :0





Love,



Sandra

Oh, no. That was for real Sid. It was a trauma for all of us viewers. We should remember that was the day following Diana's birthday celebration, August 3, 2008. You just had to have a crisis so we would remember the date!



I will look forward to your arrival the l7th. I have a series of projects lined up for you.



Love, Bopcha

Wed, Dec 17, 2008

Philadelphia International Airport, (PHL) to Seattle/Tacoma International Airport, (SEA)



Flight: Delta Air Lines Flight 2855

Depart: 04:11 PM, Philadelphia, PA (PHL)

Arrive: 06:15 PM, Detroit, MI (DTW)



change planes in Detroit



Flight: Delta Air Lines Flight 2728

Depart: 07:48 PM, Detroit, MI (DTW)

Arrive: 09:45 PM, Seattle/Tacoma, WA (SEA)



Leave:



Wed, Dec 31, 2008

Seattle/Tacoma International Airport,to Philadelphia International Airport



Flight: Delta Air Lines Flight 1054

Depart: 11:51 AM, Seattle/Tacoma, WA (SEA)

Arrive: 07:31 PM, Atlanta, GA (ATL)





change planes in Atlanta,



Flight: Delta Air Lines Flight 1018

Depart: 09:30 PM, Atlanta, GA (ATL)

Arrive: 11:27 PM, Philadelphia, PA (PHL)

Evidenced by Kay trying to hold me back to the ground.. And Thompson running over to help.



Sisters and Murray (how could you) throwing me in the car.



Even Sandra joins the plot!!





After a violent struggle the ambulance arrives for the wounded and I was set free.



PS



Kay did you ever fix your Flapper?

Bop sent me the pictures that she took of Sid, just as he hit the deck from the bee sting shock. I combined her pictures with some of mine, so together we present quite the story in pictures for your enjoyment:



































I also have some cute pictures of folks examining Sid's toes for evidence of the bee sting. I'll save those for another day. Love Bop and KC

.... I wanted to express my appreciation to Sid for reposting the link about the lure coursing at the Zoiboyz ranch. I also found the litany of special dog characteristics really cute-- especially borzoi that are only interested if something is moving. So true...



Best of all were all those delightful pictures -- what's with Noah shutting his eyes when the flash goes off??? Too many days wearing sunglasses? Silly boy--but such a hunk of a guy, doesn't matter whether his eyes are shut or not!!



Bopcha looked great as always, sweet picture of you and Dee, Bop.

I could not say it better if I tried.

Your father was well loved. He was a lucky man.

Diana

Joe, what a terrific remembrance of your dad! Thank you so much for sharing it with us.



I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to know your dad and I am thankful for the fond memories I have of him - The "first Sausage grind" springs to mind. I can remember him gently but very firmly correcting my bumbling attempts at contributing but yet he still made me feel completely at home. It brings a smile to think of it now.



Sandra and I have been very blessed to have been so graciously accepted by your family. I will always hold especially warm thoughts of your dad and look forward to seeing your mom soon.



Sid

What a wonderful tribute to your dad Joe. I could almost imagine him as he was for you, a great man and an even better father. What a terrible loss for you and the rest of the family, but what a tremendous gain for you all over all, to have known him. It must be such a privilege to carry his blood forward. Tom and KC

Dad was a great man. He loved his family, he was not a rich man, but he had alotta class. He never swore. I never remember him cursing – at least at home . He was powerful, his biography was not accurate in the paper. He served in WWII and Korea (as a drill instructor in the ARMY), he went to Viet Nam to repair helicopters for Boeing. He loved this country. He owned 2 restaurants and a Catering Business. He worked his butt off for his family.



Born in Italy, during Mussolini's reign, he starved. I remember his stories of walking 10 miles for an apple they split among themselves. Coming to America they lived at Valley Forge. They worked in the asbestos quarry and lived in the company provided housing without electricity or running water. He would “dig asbestos out of his nose with a nail”, he would say. Whatta tough guy. He built his own house, dug the foundation and basement by 'hand', and you can huff and puff and the house will still stand.



He loved to have fun. He was not ever depressed. He loved life, he feared God, he loved to gamble (remind you of anyones, Sid?) Once, in the ARMY, he drummed up a penny to over a thousand bucks playing Craps. His friend Bernie, who flew in from California for the services, swears to the story, and has the watch Dad bought him to prove it, so I must believe it to be true.



I am lucky to have been raised by such great parents, and as well to be included in your wonderful family's thoughts. Thank you all so much for your condolences. Especially to Sandra and Sid for their support during the services.

I truly miss him. I thank him for all he taught me as well for the person I am.



Best to all and Happy Holidays.



Love Joe