Category Archives: Massachusetts

Gems of Many Hues

Posted on October 23, 2020 by maryannniemczura

The game of picking up maple leaves in our yard during Autumn is an enjoyable activity. Memories of growing up in Massachusetts. Our mother helped us preserve the leaves by ironing them between sheets of wax paper. We hung these … Continue reading →

Posted in Autumn Leaves, crayon colors, Massachusetts, stained glass windows, wax paper | Tagged creativity, Halloween costumes, maple leaves, memories | 28 Comments

In Praise and Gratitude

Posted on July 5, 2019 by maryannniemczura

For eyes that see and ears that hear, For family and friends far and near, I sing praises and blow a kiss. Permit me to reminisce: For countless hours of practice, I am grateful to sing in choral groups. Shakespeare … Continue reading →

Posted in gratitude, Massachusetts, music, praise, Shakespeare | Tagged choral groups, family, flag, friends, God and country, grateful for home, parents, singing, travel | 14 Comments

How We Met

Posted on March 15, 2019 by maryannniemczura

Intriguing how people meet their life partners and choose to marry. Luck and chance are sometimes involved. Or fate? Some choose to marry high school sweethearts. Not in the cards for me. I was in graduate school and teaching at … Continue reading →

Posted in chance, fate, long-distance romance, luck, Massachusetts, meeting our spouses, right time and place, Upstate New York | Tagged enchanting poetry, joys, magical moments, mistakes, similar faith and values, sorrows, time teaches perspective | 30 Comments

Slithering Snake in Suburbia

Posted on May 18, 2018 by maryannniemczura

Silly me! Why I thought I would never see a snake in our garden here in Upstate New York, I don’t know. I had my fill as a young girl in Massachusetts and then the big, long rattlesnakes in Colorado, … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Massachusetts, snakes, suburbia, Upstate New York | Tagged garden, garter snake, Upstate New York | 10 Comments

Names Can Be Complicated

Posted on October 27, 2017 by maryannniemczura

My parents met and married in Boston, Massachusetts. My father had just graduated from Boston University, and my mother had finished nursing school and began working as a Registered Nurse. When they first met at a university dance, my father … Continue reading →

Posted in dating and marriage, Massachusetts, my parents, names | Tagged Boston, Boston University, Marie or Mary, Massachusetts, Monson, Palmer | 10 Comments

Nostalgia for the Good Old Days

Posted on July 14, 2017 by maryannniemczura

My story begins in Massachusetts where I was born. From age 5, I recall a smoke bush outside the window and playing all day long outdoors with my sisters and neighborhood friends. There was a grand piano in the living … Continue reading →

Posted in blueberry picking, Massachusetts, Monson, MA, Nostalgia, unfettered outdoor playing | Tagged black & white television, blueberry picking, no car, no computers, rotary phones, Sturbridge, two-party phone lines | 8 Comments

A Courageous Move

Posted on March 31, 2017 by maryannniemczura

As a girl of ten years, I don’t recall much of the drive from Massachusetts to Colorado. My parents made the brave decision to move West. I remember being in 4th grade in Massachusetts and then living with our Aunt … Continue reading →

Posted in church organist, Colorado, health, Massachusetts, Sturbridge to Pueblo, traveling across the country | Tagged 4H in Pueblo, church organist at age 13, cursive handwriting, first job at age 11, relatives in California, relatives in New Mexico, schools in Colorado | 16 Comments

Imagination

Posted on January 20, 2017 by maryannniemczura

On rainy days in rural Massachusetts, our mother would tell us to use our imaginations to find things to do to entertain ourselves. This was before all the electronic gadgets came in to entertain children. We had to imagine … Continue reading →

Posted in childhood play, citizenship, cursive handwriting, imagination, Massachusetts, reading aloud, Sturbridge | Tagged new president; inauguration, paper dolls, peaceful transition, playing card games, standing on soap boxes, transfer of power, using imagination | 10 Comments

The Good Old Days

Posted on September 9, 2016 by maryannniemczura

Posted in childhood play, Massachusetts, nature | Tagged childhood play, family, friends, let children be children, Massachusetts, micromanaging children, neighborhood play outdoors, out in nature, picking blueberries, radio plays, sledding | 18 Comments

Make Traditions with Family Stories

Posted on July 1, 2016 by maryannniemczura

After reconnecting with former Massachusetts cousins now scattered around the country and globe, I requested more family stories and photos since, once we moved to Colorado, we did not often visit with all the cousins and hear their stories. You … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Colorado, family stories, family tradition, July 4th, Massachusetts | Tagged Babci, family, German teacher, kilt, Polish, The German Girl | 8 Comments