It’s been awhile since I did a Relics post, and since I have the day off, I thought it would be a good time to write one up. This is a photo of my 3rd grade softball team. I played Dad’s Club softball for 6 years. I was a total Lucy Van Pelt, though, always standing in right field wearing my mom’s glove praying the ball wouldn’t come to me. I enjoyed batting more, even though there was more pressure. It made more sense somehow. In right field you always had to know who to chuck the ball to if it came, and then there was the whole pop-fly thing..aligning yourself with the ball while everyone stares at you..GULP!

I’m the girl with braids in the first row..perhaps that’s obvious, since I’m not blond. There were a few real sluggers on my team and that year we got to go to the city championships. The really hip-looking kid to the left of me, Kevin, was one of the home run hitters. The geeky looking boy next to me on the right, Jerry, was my boyfriend in 6th grade, and he still had those glasses then. That was the funnest year of softball for me. Plus, I really liked our yellow hats with the soft fuzzy T on front.

I’m in Tucson visiting Noah. We’ve spent the entire visit so far discussing: Star Wars, Star Trek, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, comics, movies (Miyazaki is a big hit right now, that’s my boy!) super powers and..feminism.

We passed a horrible poster for a band this weekend, and I asked Noah, “Hey what’s wrong with this picture?” and he said without hesitating, “That woman is labeled like pieces of meat!”

My burgeoning feminist son, I’m so proud.

This year to celebrate the day of the dead, I’m lighting candles for all my granparents. I recently lost Jock and Lorraine within a 2 month period. My grandfather Jock gave me some nice pictures of him and my grandmother.Now you know where I get my facial features! I have Jock’s eyebrows and nose.

They all had a different influence on my life. They were my elders. I’m sorry to say that I lost Otto and Vera much earlier in my life, they were wonderful grandparents. I have a special soft spot in my heart for Vera, who was one of the people who showed me unconditional love all the while I was growing up.

Jock Sutherland — my paternal grandfather

Lorraine Sutherland — my paternal grandmother

Otto Willaredt — my maternal grandfather

Vera Willaredt — my maternal grandmother