Category Archives: Assistance

The Hana Chronicles: Month 6, Day 26

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Posted by on in Assistance, children, collaborating, Community, Education, Historical, Inner Struggles, Personal goals, Personal Values, Social, Striving, Travel

July 17,2026- Hana and I were asleep in the recliner, so deeply that I didn’t notice Aram going in and out to get the mail. My granddaughter has the same calming effect on me that I have on her.

We had a busy “half day”, in that her parents came home from work early, to take her to a medical appointment. We thus managed our walk, “wrestling” (her crawling on me and my lifting her up in the air, in vestibular motion) and lunch time into a shorter frame. There was also story time, centered on “Sleeping Beauty”. Maleficent is portrayed in this brief version only as the “Old Fairy”. She ends up getting turned into a frog. Hana thought that was funny.

She is always overjoyed when one of us comes back to the house, after having been away for a brief errand. Having the family all together is a big deal to my granddaughter. She is delighted to just sit in the high chair at each meal, even at breakfast, which for her is a liquid feeding, still. She has complete meals at lunch and dinner.

HANA’S NOTE- I went to have my blood checked-AGAIN. This time, the nurse only stuck me once with the needle. So, that was not as bad.

YEAR IN REMEMBRANCE- 1969 This was a year of firsts: My first time on an airplane; my first trip outside New England; my first extended time away from family; my first time really hallenging myself.

I left Star Market in January and went to work at General Electric’s Riverworks Plant, in Lynn, MA. My fahter, and several relatives and neighbours worked there, as well. Dad got me in. I worked in the rotometer calibration section. The senior technician told me my work was substandard, but he never bothered complaining to the higher=ups. Nor did he offer specific criticism that might have helped me improve.

It was a placeholder job, anyway, as I had asked the Army Reserve Unit to let me enlist in the Regular Army. My plan was to enlist for 3 years, then apply for an early release, so as to return to college. My enlistment date was set for June 16, and the recruiter determined I’d be best suited for the Army Postal Corps. I left G.E. on May 1, and focused somewhat on physical training.

Basic Training was at Fort Jackson, SC. I started off as a mewling klutz, but slowly and surely got with the program. I scraped by in marksmanship, missed Combat Fire-but never was made to re-take it, though I asked to do so, and excelled in the Physical Training Test. I did fairly well in the G-3 (General Knowledge) Exam, which was oral. On weekends, we had free time, and I went with a couple of guys who were from Columbia, to their favourite hangouts. I was the sole White guy with four African-Americans, but none of the Whites we encountered gave us any trouble over it.

Woodstock happened while I was doing things like learning how to properly handle grenades and re-sight my M-16. We were brought into a room and allowed to watch the launch of the first Apollo rocket to the Moon. Training was canceled that day. I made enough of an improvement that the cadre sent me on a 3-day pass to Myrtle Beach, on Labor Day weekeend.. I saw that there was little difference between it and the beach towns of New England, though the water was warmer. I stayed in a two-bed shack for $1 a night, and had the place to myself.

Fort Ben Harrison and the postal training were footnotes. I didn’t really bond with anyone in the unit, but went into Indianapolis by myself a few times on weekends. I never did get to the racetrack, though. Many of the guys went to VietNam, after AIT. I was sent to Fort Myer, Va. I was assigned to straighten out a mail operation, as my predecessor had ended up in Fort Leavenworth, for various postal crimes. That made a distinct impression on me. I got the job done quickly, to the satisfaction of the Inspector General. That November, a high school friend was killed in Viet Nam, and I began to re-assess what my responsibilities were. I fasted that Thanksgiving, and decided to give Fort Myer a year, after which I would re-assess my situation. Seeing Washington, D.C. on weekends was great fun, though, and I began to bond with civilians in the Georgetown neighbourhood, whose views on life were similar to my own.

Thus did the ’60s come to an end.

The Hana Chronicles: Month 6, Day 24

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Posted by on in Assistance, children, collaborating, Community, Education, Family, Inspiration, Personal Values, Social, Striving

July 15, 2026- Hana is taking on small responsibilities, with regard to getting dressed and feeding. She puts her sleeves through the body bib at lunchtime and can feed herself if someone puts food on the spoon and hands it to her. She chooses which of two outfits she wants to wear for the day and helps put the onesie or dress over her head. She also sits up straight in the plastic bath tub and is better about letting her mother wash her hair. She already likes to “wipe” the play mat, using a small bamboo cloth.

She is learning a lot by watching the three of us do different tasks. We describe what we are doing, step by step, and she listens with rapt attention. With repetition, much of this will register, as the months roll on. As I mentioned above, she has pretty much mastered sitting up. If she is tired, it helps her to have someone or something to hold onto, but otherwise, my granddaughter is on track, developmentally.

Today, we sat by the window and watched the cement truck pour concrete into the forms for the new sidewalk and landing. After a few minutes, she became more interested in feeling the curtain, but went back to watching the cement pouring after that. We stayed in today, because of the work being done, especially as there was really no room for a stroller anywhere in our immediate front walk.

HANA’S NOTE- I took my medicine tablet by myself, when Papa gave it to me, and I made it dissolve in my mouth. After another little while, I put my arms in the big bib. I like to be helpful.

YEAR IN REMEMBRANCE- 1967 (I am writing this part, so that Hana may read these reflections, when she gets old enough, and will understand things that happened to her Grandfather.) Junior year saw me break a few rules and set myself on a path with some bad choices. I never got in trouble with the Law, fortunately, but I know my use of alcohol hurt my parents’ hearts and it did me no favours, in the long run. I went to work at Star Market, shortly after I turned 16. As it was three miles from my home, I got rides for the first few months. Then, thanks to the long-suffering, but fastidious, Coach Wall, I earned my Driver’s License. I learned to scan the road on both sides of me, very quickly, and managed to not have an accident, for nearly 47 years-and then, only because someone tampered with the brakes of my car. As for my work at Star, I was diligent, but also maddeningly slow in going about my work. It would have helped, had I listened to my supervisors, but the 16-year-old Gary was not so ready to do that.

The first part of my Senior year saw a budding interest in writing gain support from our English teacher, Mrs. Vande. That course was probably one of the most rewarding classes I’ve had. It’s largely why I am here now. Mr. Quinlan took us through Algebra II. I had two history classes: Latin American History, very rewarding and Asian History, which was fascinating, but for the incompetence of the teacher, proved annoying. Business Law, taught by our then-State Representative, was one of the most useful classes I’ve ever had. Coach Wall and Mr. Bly are two of the reasons I’ve kept out of trouble. Bob Powers, at Star Market, would have been a third, had I listened to the poor man.

The Hana Chronicles: Month 6, Day 22

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Posted by on in Assistance, children, Education, Family, impediments, Personal Values, Social, Striving

July 13, 2026- When Aram is interrupted, while saying something he deems important, he will raise his voice and slow his cadence. He makes sure than he finishes what he has to say. Hana showed the same assertiveness, this morning. When she was talking, after having had a mildly hard adjustment to a new form of medication, I began to re-assure her that all was well. She wasn’t finished, and raised her voice to complete her vocal thought.

I’m proud of her for stepping up so early in life. Her sounds have a cadence to them that indicate clear thought, and they are interspersed with English and Korean words that fit the context of the situation. She was quite clearly processing her feelings about her experience.

As the day wore on, she was very much irritated with her slowly emerging top incisors. I can see them poking through the inside of her gums. There is no wondrous magic that helps a child deal with teething- from the first incisors to the misnamed “Wisdom Teeth”, of early adolescence. Only love and patience see us all through.

I left this evening, to help co-ordinate a Baha’i Spiritual Feast. When I got back, Aram and Yunhee said Hana had gone to sleep with only a minimum of fuss.She must have run out of steam. During the day, she is quite loud, when speaking, seemingly about a variety of subjects. I look forward to her “discourses” on whatever comes into her mind.

HANA’S NOTE- I have seen my Daddy insist on being able to finish his sentences. I am going to do the same. I think a lot about things and my thoughts can be put into words-even if grown-ups think I’m just babbling.

YEAR IN REMEMBRANCE-1965 This was the year I really started to build up my LP collection. I had a cheap record player, that I kept for ten years. I even brought the machine to college-where it was jokingly known to everyone in my dorm as “The Set”. I didn’t care; the old device fit my needs. It played all my LPs., from The Beatles and Stones to Andy Williams and Neil Diamond. It, along with my transistor radio. was my ticket to another world.

I got through every class in my Freshman year, except Algebra I. It would take me two more tries to pass the subject- my Sophomore regular year and Summer School, thereafter. Mr, John Quinlan finally made the light shine-and I moved up the math ladder.

My Sophomore Year’s teachers were a significant improvement over the Grade 9 crew. Biology, English Grammar and World History all were crystal clear. I still write under Miss Kochakian’s rules of punctuation and style. French, under Mme. Jeanne Gorton, was all the more so. The damage done by her predecessor was largely cleared up, with Madame Gorton’s Parisian flair and discipline. Algebra I remained a cipher, until Mr. Quinlan tied everything together, the following summer.

The Hana Chronicles: Month 6, Day 20

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Posted by on in Assistance, children, collaborating, Community, Education, Family, Historical, Inspiration, Personal Values, service, Social, Striving

July 11, 2026- Hana was in her glory, this morning, as she had her Mommy to herself. She delights in my presence, yet, as one might expect, Mother is supreme. While they played and Yunhee fed her lunch, I went on a few errands-at Plano Farmers Market and H.E.B. Gas is a bit cheaper at the latter place than anywhere other than Costco-which is on the southwest end of town. My errands were on the northwest. I got lobster rolls for the three of us adults, as there was a food truck out of Dallas that offered wild-caught lobster, from the Gulf of Maine. That is a once-in-a great-while treat, as you might imagine.

Once back, I played with Hana for a while, showing her again about sitting with both buttocks on the floor. She managed to do that, for several seconds, and began to hop a bit. During the course of the day, and for the past few days, Hana has been vocalizing a lot more also. The cadence of her sounds suggests a message, an urgency, that is also reflected in her face. When we appear to understand that she is serious about the matter, she is pleased and we go through the anticipated needs she may have-food, milk, a clean diaper, exercise-or just someone to be with her. My granddaughter is a social being, much like her father and grandmother.

HANA’S NOTE- Of all the stories that Papa reads me, I like the princess stories the best, especially if the girls have to actually do something. I won’t be a lazy girl. That would be boring.

YEAR IN REMEMBRANCE, 1963- The first half of this year was not at all bad. I had a generally good experience in the rest of Grade 7. We spent a lot of time at the ocean (Lynn Beach) and at a pond (Breakheart). I had a good summer with the Boy Scouts also-a fair amount of camping. I left, though, at the end of summer-feeling hamstrung by my poor swimming ability. Aquatic skills are required for higher ranks in the Scouts.

Eighth Grade, though, brought hardship. A few bullies made a big deal about my autism, which was not really yet a diagnosed thing back then. I was just “weird”, in their view. I managed to do fairly well, academically, except for Math, where we were set to learn the binary system. The first quarter was terrible,but with tutoring from a next door neighbour, I made it back to ‘B’s and C’s’, the rest of the year. The Math teacher backed me up, when I stood up to the bullies. After that, things were okay for me, personally. For the school as a whole, though, it was one disaster after another. Someone set the old Junior High on fire. It burned to the ground, for the most part, leaving only a small section-which was renovated and became an elementary school. We were sent to the East Wing of the High School. There, we did double sessions, sharing with the freshman high school students. We went during the morning and the 9th graders went in the afternoon. The East Wing would itself later be destroyed by arson. While we were still there, though, President John F. Kennedy was shot and killed in Dallas, TX, by a still indeterminate number of shooters. I have, on balance, a sad remembrance of 1963.

The Hana Chronicles: Month 6, Day 19

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Posted by on in Assistance, children, collaborating, Community, Historical, Inspiration, Matters of Faith, Personal Values, Social, Striving

July 10, 2026- Today was the Commemoration of the Martyrdom of al-Bab, a Baha’i Holy Day. On this day, in 1850, al-Bab, the Herald of the Baha’i Dispensation, was executed by firing squad, along with a personal assistant. Baha’is generally gather to say prayers and readings associated with al-Bab, Whose name means “The Gate”, in English. His Teachings were the gate to understanding those of Baha’ullah, Who came after Him.

As Hana is too young to attend such events, I said my own Tablet of Visitation here at the house. Hana sat in the playpen, right in front of me, and listened quietly as I prayed. She does the same when I say my daily morning prayers, each day. I sense that this practice is having an orienting influence on her.

This evening, Yunhee remarked that Hana is much more composed now. She sleeps through the night and only gets irritable when she is hungry. While Yunhee is at work, Hana and I have the feeding routine pretty much down. If she is napping before her medication, she wakes herself on time to receive it. Her lunch meal and bottle feeding are on schedule, as she is awake then and happily watches me prepare the items. I also have her watch me prepare the mid-afternoo0n bottle. After Yunhee gives her the evening feeding, she is ready for a good night’s sleep.

HANA’S NOTE- Papa and I watched some workers take our old sidewalk from in front of the house. Papa says they will put a new one in, next week. Since we also saw them putting in new sidewalks at the end of the street, I know he’s right.

YEAR IN REMEMBRANCE- 1962 It was a year of transition. I finished Grade 6. Boys began teasing one another about things of which I had no idea. One of the “faster” kids in my neighbourhood noticed my naivete and talked to me about some of it. My father also gave me “The Talk”, before I entered Grade 7.

I had my share of friends in my immediate neighbourhood. Eddie and Allan were the closest, of the boys. After Ellen moved, I would go by her old house and hang out with the Geotis kids, whose father let me stomp grapes for his homemade wine. I got a glass or two of grape juice, that their mother set aside from the batch that was to be fermented. A group of us boys played touch football, in the middle of the street. Some men driving home from work would go around us. Others demanded we stop and make a hole for them. I was probably the worst of the players, but some of the boys felt it was a good thing to include even a klutz like me.

Grade 7, Junior High School, brought the concept of rotating between classes. I had a good Math teacher, Mr. Anzalone, a large man with a booming voice and quick temper, who also had a keen sense of humour and a heart of gold. My Social Studies and Science teachers were also competent. Mr. Anzalone talked with us about current affairs, during our home room time. This was the year of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and President Kennedy took a firm stance with the Soviet Union. We froze our missiles in Turkey and they, their missiles in Cuba. Thus, did cool heads walk back from the brink of nuclear war.

The Hana Chronicles: Month 6, Day 18

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Posted by on in Assistance, children, collaborating, Community, Education, Family, Historical, Personal Values, Social, Striving

July 9, 2026- It came close to 100 F, today. We went on a shortened walk, along a shady area of Greenfield Avenue, early this morning-even before the road crew began their work of replacing warped sidewalk panels. Hana didn’t mind the walk; she fell asleep in the stroller.

Her receptive vocabulary seems to be increasing. She responds with “Yeah!” after I make a comment about something one of her parents says over the phone. She is also very vigilant about where we are, when she knows we are at home. She doesn’t outwardly worry too much when we are out of the house, as long as one of us is with her. I explain where I am going, when I have to leave her sight for a minute or two. She is always in a safe place, when that happens. She understands and plays nicely until I get back.

Much of our time together is spent with me reading to her, or telling her about things that she can observe. I also talk about the items that her mother leaves for her to have for lunch. This evening, when Yunhee was late getting home, I fed Hana some yogurt and cucumber, She finds yogurt a bit strange in taste, but she eats it willingly.

HANA’S NOTE- I crawl over to Papa, from inside the play pen, whenever I see him reading his book. I just want to make sure he still sees me. He always smiles when I crawl over to him. I like being close to the ones I love.

YEAR IN REMEMBRANCE: 1961- Fifth Grade saw two of the Felton School’s custodians pass away, within five months of each other. Neither man was that old, but the schools, in those days, used old-style boilers. Working in an old basement couldn’t have been too healthful The second custodian, Mr. Hazel, was succeeded by Bill Casey, a much younger, and healthier, man, who also took an interest in the well-being of us students.

In Grade 6, our teacher, Mrs. Arkins, was also the building Principal. As such, she was a mild disciplinarian, but a fair teacher. I learned about decimals and per cents, and reached Grade 8 reading level. We studied about weather patterns, made more vinegar and baking soda volcanoes, and studied about the “Old World”-Eurasia, Africa and the Pacific Basin-including Australia. I continued to excel in spelling, but then found myself “zoning out” more, when it came time for parts of speech. Somehow, I caught up on that topic, by December.

My best friend, until June of that year, was a girl whose father had played for the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League, before starting his own business in Saugus. He found an opportunity to build a stronger enterprise in Buffalo, so they moved.. I befriended the family that moved into their house, but I missed Ellen.

The Hana Chronicles: Month 6, Day 15

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Posted by on in Assistance, children, collaborating, Education, Family, impediments, Inspiration, Personal Values, Social, Striving

July 6, 2026- After a fitful sleep last night, my granddaughter slept much of the day, and still had no trouble drifting off to sleep this evening. She doesn’t seem sick at all. She is highly intuitive, though, and like her grandmother, is jolted awake by what appear to be intense dreams. She can’t tell us what they are about, so all her parents can do is hold her until she feels safe again.

It is just as well that she needed so much rest. The folks drove off with the stroller, as we’d used it for yesterday’s outing, and just forgot to bring it back inside. So, Hana and I were stuck inside for the day. She can only sit and listen to stories for so long, and the play pen gets old after a few hours. She does like sitting and watching me take care of certain tasks,cleaning the kitchen or folding her clothes. I explain what I’m doing, so she can put words to actions. She indicates understanding by saying “Yeah” or “okay”.

HANA’S NOTE: I don’t know what to call it, but there was a scary thing that made me scream in my sleep, last night. Daddy was there to make me feel safe. I felt better during the day, since Papa was also there to protect me, in case the scary thing was real.

YEAR IN REMEMBRANCE-1958 During the second half of Grade 2, we started more study of science. Mr. Eddy, the Superintendent of Schools, came by a few times and told us that the United States would have a Space Program and would also be sending rockets into space. We also started having air raid drills. Some of us thought Mrs. McCarrier had said earache drills, but we got under our desks anyway, when the siren went off. I never had earaches, so it struck me as just a few minutes of pretending I was hiding in a fort.

Grade 3 brought us under the tutelage of Miss Nugent, a young, very pretty woman. She was , more importantly, an excellent teacher of multiplication and I had Tables 1-6, 8 and 10 mastered by December. Mom made me practice my cursive writing at home Between Mom and Miss Nugent, I also made progress in reading and was at Fifth Grade level by December. I realized one other thing- I was definitely drawn to pretty girls and having a lovely teacher didn’t hurt.

The Hana Chronicles: Month 6, Day 10

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Posted by on in Assistance, children, collaborating, Community, Family, Inspiration, Personal Values, Social, Striving, Travel

July 1, 2026- Hana can claim Canada as an ancestral home, along with Korea (her mother’s side); Ireland, Germany, France and the Penobscot Nation (on my side); Scotland, England, Lithuania and Romania (on Penny’s side). The Canadian ties are also on my side of the equation. My paternal grandfather’s forebears hailed from Montreal and Shediac, NB. Nana’s ancestors stopped for several years in Prince Edward Island, before heading “down the turnpike for New England, sweet New England.”-*

Canadians celebrate their National Day today. I’ve been in the country on July 1, once-years ago, in the border town of St. Stephen, NB. There, I saw a joyful parade go by, and I recall picking up a Canadian flag that had been dropped on the sidewalk, and propping it against a shop window. I’ve also been in the country on June 30, and having had to not stick around until the next day, because of the need to get to an American bank on July 1. There are all the other times that I’ve been north of the border, and had fabulous stays-in each of the ten provinces. I wish the Canadian people a grand Canada Day. It has, from my perspective, been a good year to be Canadian.

I will tell Hana lots of stories about my travels, as she gets older-and hopefully will be able to include her in a few that are yet to come. Right now, our jaunts are along neighbouring streets and Hoblitzelle Park; any place that can be accessed by a stroller. I want her to become very familiar with the neighbourhood, so that by the time she is of pre-school and kindergarten age, she will be able to find her way home, in a pinch. (The occasions when that would be necessary are likely to be few and far between, but it can’t hurt to have that knowledge.

HANA’S NOTE: I mostly fall asleep in the stroller, these days. Papa takes me out in the morning, before it gets too hot, but I still get lulled by the motion of the stroller.

YEAR IN REMEMBRANCE: 1952- Cheryl came to be with us. We moved to Central Street, Saugus. (1951, and ’53, are ciphers. I can’t think of anything that stood out in my life, those years.)

The Hana Chronicles: Month 6, Day 8

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Posted by on in Social, Assistance, Inspiration, Personal Values, Family, children

June 29, 2026- Hana likes plain yogurt, both as a light supper and as facial make-up. She managed to get some of it into her belly, tonight, but a good part of it covered her face and hands. It was a safe item to use for giving her a chance to try to feed herself, so that’s what happened.

We usually take 40 minutes to an hour for her lunch. She can only eat half a spoonful at a time, even of pureed foods. I take a very leisurely pace, with my main goals being getting her to enjoy eating and to derive the greatest nutritional value from what her mother has plated for her.

This afternoon, a workman made a brief call, to tend to something small in the master bedroom. As Hana was napping in her crib, he and I were extra quiet. She pooped her head up, anyway. wanting to see what was going on. The little girl is a light sleeper, like her paternal grandmother-not a storm snoozer, like her father. I got her out of the crib and she watched the rest of the proceedings. Of course, she needed more sleep after he left, so I let her sleep in my arms, while we sat in the recliner.

An advance gift came today-her ear muffs for the Independence Day fireworks. Her little ears don’t need to endure the bangs and booms that are certain to go off, in Hoblitzelle Park-probably Thursday night (There is always a purist, who points out that the Founding Fathers wanted to go with July 2, originally), as well as Friday and Saturday nights. She will most likely be asleep by the time the light shows start, but one can’t be too careful.

HANA’S NOTE: Papa can’t put anything by me. I sleep with one eye open.

The Hana Chronicles, Month 6, Day 7

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Posted by on in Assistance, children, Family, Inspiration, Matters of Faith, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual

June 28, 2026- Hi, everyone! It’s Hana, Papa’s favourite girl. Since my grandfather is at the Red Cross Donor Center this morning, I am taking the reins of the blog site-since it’s in my name.

I just want to let you all know how I see things. My family is pretty tight. When I cry or call out, all three of them are at my side in a flash. I sense that not every kid has that kind of family devotion. I’ve heard Papa talk about people who yell at children. I’m glad no one yells at me-at least not yet.. My grown-ups hold me to a few rules, but nothing that is not fair to where I am as a person.

I am mostly a happy baby. My plush toys comfort me, when the Bigs are all doing something around the house. Usually, though, someone is either in the play pen with me or sitting in the recliner nearby. Papa reads a bunch of what he calls his morning prayers, every weekday morning, before we do anything else. I hear him upstairs, on weekends, doing the same thing. He and I go on walks every weekday that it isn’t raining. Now that it is the hot and dry season, we will go outside in the early morning, right after prayers. At least that’s the plan for now. The four of us go outside on weekends, before it gets too hot.

Let me tell you about my plush toy friends. They all come from Japanese cartoons: Pompompurin ( a dog); Ryon (a lion); Hello Kitty (yep, she’s a cat) and Tottoro ( a giant rabbit). I also have Sonya ( a plastiic female hedgehog) and Renata (a colourful wooden Mexican girl doll). Mommy says I need to be careful with Renata, but she seems pretty solid.

You know what’s the neatest new thing? I get to sit in my high chair for all the family meals! I used to sit in a bouncy chair, behind my Mom, and had to talk loudly so no one would forget I was there. It got lonesome, especially when the Bigs would all be talking about stuff at my parents’ jobs or things about the house or yard. Now, I can listen and offer my own opinions. Like when my Daddy hurt himself, yesterday, while Papa was upstairs. When he came down to see what had happened, I told him all about it! Of course, Daddy spoke for himself too. It is what he calls “agency”. I guess I will find out more about that. Papa says I should speak up for myself-and believe me, I do!

Well, that’s it for now. Papa is coming home and he says he’s bringing sandwiches from a deli. My parents are happy at that news. I’m okay with it, even though there’s no sandwich for me. I am going to eat part of a banana. I like bananas. They’re sweet-and they’re fun to play with! Have a Happy Sunday, everybody!