Wilson College, Chambersburg, - Saturday, 28 January 2017

It was a bright and early Saturday to get to campus for our early morning Finance Committee Meeting. Should have eaten at the hotel since the breakfast pastries weren't really too exciting. Meeting went well and then I had a break until lunch. 

Read a bit and chatted with some of the other alums that were there. 

Had a nice luncheon of a steak salad and homemade bread. Unfortunately, I think the chocolate mousse had a bit of Splenda in it. The intestinal system was not happy. Luncheon concluded with a very informative speech by Carolyn Hart, chair of the Nursing School. She explained the exciting and new nursing degrees now being offered at Wilson. Then we went on a tour of the skills lab. How weird it was waking down to Disert and Rosencrans and seeing our beautiful parlor turned into a nursing lab. I know change is inevitable, but this one really hurt. Our rec room is now filled with beds and equipment. In the future, the House Mothers' apartments will be turned into offices for the nursing school.

Disert/Rosencrans entrance

The former parlor. Where's the grand piano?

All working controls

The former rec room now has overflow hospital beds

After the tour we had the Heritage Committee meeting. As Vice-Chair, I had to take the minutes. I am glad I took my laptop because it was easier to just fill in the agenda spots.

Once the meeting was over went back to the hotel room for some down time and for writing up the minutes so Martha, our chair could have them for the General Board meeting on Sunday. Didn't get them all done before it was time to go to Sarah Wilson's house for cocktails and an hor d'ouevres supper. Everything was delicious and Earle didn't feel too out of place being only the 2nd male there. 

Back to the hotel around 8:30 and finished the minutes. Ran into a bit of a glitch trying to print them since the hotel printer was not functioning. Luckily, I could forward them to the front desk where they printed them. Reminder to take a thumb drive in June. 

Bed about 11. Earle was already fast asleep!

Pittsburgh to Chambersburg - Friday, 27 January 2017

Not sure why it is that the only two times traveling this month are the two weekends that involve snow and cold. Woke up this morning with a bit of snow on the ground and a bit more coming down. By the time we were ready to leave around 10 for the AAWC Winter Retreat in Chambersburg it was snowing and blowing. The roads were ok, but it was slushy and sleeting til we got to Greensburg. 

After that we made good time and opted to head for Hagerstown, Maryland and see a 2:00 movie. Got there in plenty of time before Jackie started. Natalie Portman was nominated for the Best Actress category and it is understandable. The movie was predictable, especially to those of us who lived through the Kennedy assassination in 1963. I felt that Portman overacted the part a bit, but that was just my interpretation.

It was a short drive up I-81 to our Holiday Inn Express. Dropped the bags into the room and then headed to Wilson for a reception for graduate students and a chance to do some networking for them. It was good to see my sister board members. 

Earle spent some time reading in Lenfest until the end of the reception. One of my classmates, Leslie Hanks, recommended dinner at Grill Kabob. We decided to try it and were so glad we did. Very laid back, informal place, but delicious food. I had the salmon that was served with rice, naan, a salad and coriander and cucumber sauces. How can you beat it for $12.99. 

A neighboring table was talking children's book, so I joined in. Fun to know that students today are still reading and enjoying Gary Paulson, Jerry Spinelli, and Sharon Creech. 

Back to the hotel for blogging and watching the Penguins 50th Anniversary Penguins special. Also setting up the agenda for minutes tomorrow's meeting. 

Always good to be back in Chambersburg. 

Philadelphia to Pittsburgh - Sunday, 8 January 2017

Early morning up for the car service to the airport at 7:30. The terminal from which I was flying didn't have a special TSA pre-approved line, but I was able to get through without removing shoes, etc. 

Uneventful trip home and in time for some lunch at Cracker Barrel before heading to hear Patricia Polacco at Carnegie Library Lecture Hall. 

Philadelphia -Saturday, 7 January 2017

Since I really hadn't eaten much the day before, I got up early to have breakfast before the mass. (The hors d'oeuvres were pretty well gone by the time the presentations were over.) The basillica was just around the corner from the Downtown Sheraton Hotel so it was an easy walk despite the snow. 

Again, the historical research team was seated right up front. It was a very moving service that was attended by nearly 1000 people. Especially emotional was the singing of Amazing Grace and the line, "I was once lost, but now am found."  The church was beautiful and still had Christmas decorations up. 

After the church service, we boarded a coach for a very harrowing drive to the cemetery for the Omega Service. The roads were very slippery and the procession of 15 coaches went very slowly, thank goodness. We saw a number of cars off the road. 

At the cemetery there was a small tent with some chairs that I was privileged to have had saved for me. It was blustery for sure. A number of the brothers of the fraternity spoke before the gravestone for Charles I. Brown was revealed. Charles Brown was buried in a pauper's grave with 46 other people. I want to go back this summer when we are in Philly to see the other side of the tombstone. Again, a very moving service with gratitude to all those who had worked on the case. 

 Mark Pacich, the International Historian, then uncovered the tombstone. 

We headed back to the hotel and I was interviewed by one of the fraternity brothers as to the process I followed for my research. Had a bit of lunch and waited for the car to go back to the airport. HOWEVER, in the midst of lunch I got word that my flight was cancelled. So it was into the alternative arrangements mode. I had thought about going to the airport and renting a car to drive home or just to sit and see if I could get on another flight. It was then that American Airlines called to say that I had been booked on a 9:30 flight Sunday morning. Checked back at the desk, retrieved my luggage, and went back to a new room. This one didn't have the cricket noise. 

Got into some comfy clothes and settled down to watch the football playoff games. About 9 I got hungry and ordered some wings and a beer. They forgot to put the beer on the tray and so I called about it. When it finally showed up there were 2. 

I really was clueless as to why the flight was cancelled because the snow had stopped around 3 and the roads were perfectly clear. The view from my room confirms it all. 

To Philadelphia - Friday, 6 January 2017

First time packing a suitcase this year. For almost a year I worked on a case for the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity trying to piece together what had happened to one of their founders. This weekend in Phillly they are going to reveal what I and another genealogist, and an archivist had found. The research was at times frustrating, but then the aha moment came and it all made sense. So, the fraternity flew me in and paid for accommodation so that I could be here. I feel like a celebrity.
Out of the house by 6:45 and off to the airport. Roads were dicey in some places, but the traffic and hesitancy created a bit of congestion. Got to PIT by 7:40 and zipped through TSA since I was preapproved. Have been very lucky to get this without paying for it.

Flight left the gate on time, but we had to spend about 20 minutes waiting and then getting deiced since the plane had sat out all night. A bit of a rough flight, but it was quick and we landed 15 minutes early.  Waited at PHL for the car that was sent for me, when finally I got a phone call and was told he was waiting. He had tried to text me, but had the number wrong.

Went out to explore around the hotel, but it was just too cold and windy to be outdoors. So back to the hotel where I had a bowl of soup and then up to the room. Good thing about that was that I FINALLY finished Poland. And then a quick nap and redo of the hair before the evening's activities. It sounds like there is a mouse, bird or something in the room that squeaks at intervals. 

There was a huge reception this evening beginning at 7:30. I finally got to meet my client, Mark, in person. He was just as nice as I had envisioned. I also spent the evening with Anne, the archivist who worked on the case in the Philly area.

There are no words to express the gratitude that was paid to me by all the members of the fraternity who were there. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures on my phone because it was such a whirlwind. I was presented with a beautiful memento of the occasion, however.

Back up to the room for a restful sleep, I hope.