A Life Well Lived

October

1973: got married again! Portsmouth Registry Office with half a dozen friends to witness this foolishness, a reception in Hayling Island and a honey moon at Pen-y-Big, a tiny cottage rented in Pembrookshire.

I had no idea I was pregnant as I’d been told in no uncertain terms that it would never happen (Be thankful for your beautiful little girl) following a Gynacological appointment when I failed to resume a normal menstrual cycle after the pregnancy termination. I had no symptoms, no change in weight or shape: off to West Wales for a spot of walking and R&R.  The very next day I awoke puking and never stopping for the next six weeks. Veronica and Dave had thrust upon us, as the hand brake was released, a massive capon which Michael did his valiant best to consume.  I ate only tomatoes for the whole week.

Meanwhile in 1987 I was starting the second part of my Churchill Travel Fellowship, this part staying in Billerica, Massachusetts with my second host, Patti McDowell, Chief Engineer of Honeywell Bull. Second generation Greek living with her Mother, Helen Stasinopalus, known by everyone as YiaYia!   Patti’s sister and her husband lived in an adjoining mansion, a very close and loving family who were so very pleased to be hosting me.

We left the family home at 5.30 each morning to travel to work in Boston, but we were not able to leave until YiaYia had fed me an English muffin, always blueberry,  and a cup of Greek coffee stewed in a “brikki”. I would be gulping this down while Patti screamed “Come on! ” from the garage and YiaYia insisted, every day, that she had to read my coffee grounds ……. at length.

I spend my days between Honeywell and its students, The Horace Mann School for the Deaf, in class and The Perkins School for the Blind and its pupils. Such a privilege to be working in these two illustrious schools with those talented pedagogues and such enthusiastic pupils. I was also invited to, and attended, workshops, to which post graduate students had the opportunity  to attend.  Amazing places.

My social life was very full!  Americans like to share visitors, so, or so it seems, every friend neighbour or relative had to have a share of me …I went to wedding, funerals, wakes and christenings. Every weekend I was out and about socializing, visiting people for drinks/ food/ snacks/ to see their home, whatever. Such generous people whe were so delighted to have a European visitor. I often wonder how Americans feel when they visit the UK, do we seem cold to them? I don’t know of any family that would invite a neighbours visitors to share in their social life: I do hope I’m  wrong.

Work completed, I returned to Claudia in Boston in time for Hallowe’en: dozens of little children dressed up to the nines in costume, knocking at Claudia’s door ….. and every one of them profoundly deaf without speech!!!It had become a tradition that pupils of the lower school at HMSD would come trick or treating to Claudia’s. There being a lack of ASL users in many districts, parents were happy to drive out to West Roxbury to ensure their deaf children could experience this annual extravaganza.  It worked, it was such a joyous occasion, I provided an extra terrified victim and it was discussed long and hard by the children when I next saw them in school. Each one would ask if I knew who all the ghosts/ pumpkins/ skeletons were and all were SO delighted to reveal to me that they were……. Great fun and a wonderful climax to my American adventure.