NICOLA LUVERA my grandfather

NICOLA LUVERA my grandfather

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 I've written about my grandfather, Nicola Luvera before: https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2014/07/nicola.html He died on Independence Day, July 4, 1956 well  into his nineties. This Italian immigrant never learned English and had almost no education, but was hard working. His courage in immigrating to Canada and earning enough to bring his family too, illustrates what a unusual person he was. He worked  hard all his life. First, as a railroad hand installing track, then in  the coal mines and the saw mills until he joined my dad…

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THE GIFT OF LIVING IN GIG HARBOR

THE GIFT OF LIVING IN GIG HARBOR

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Since our retirement from law a year ago we've spent a lot more time at our home in Gig Harbor on Colvos Passage looking out at Vashon Island and Mount Rainier. Things I've not paid attention to are now enjoyable to see and experience. This morning while Lita and I were having coffee on the upper balcony four deer came along the beach at the outer edge. The tide was out and they walked in single file with their hoofs…

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WHY DO WE MAKE RELGION A TEST OF RULES RATHER THAN FAITH AND LOVE?

WHY DO WE MAKE RELGION A TEST OF RULES RATHER THAN FAITH AND LOVE?

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 Every day we read in the newspaper or see on television new atrocities committed around the world against human beings by those professing to do so as complying  with the will of God. Beheadings, suicide bombing and killing children are all  pleasing to God in their eyes.  For many thousands of people around the world, religion is a matter of strict rule compliance in all things both petty and large. Compliance, for them, means not just following very strict rules, but…

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LINCOLN’S GETTYSBURG ADDRESS & BEING TRUE TO YOURSELF

LINCOLN’S GETTYSBURG ADDRESS & BEING TRUE TO YOURSELF

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As a school student I, along with everyone else in my generation, was introduced to Lincoln's famous speech during the civil war now known as  the Gettysburg Address. I've often thought of this address as an illustration of Lincoln's following his own analysis of who he was and what he thought best. Here he was, the president of the United States, and his invitation to speak was only an after thought to the event. His invitation was a last minute one and then asked only to make…

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FINAL REPORT ON OUR TRIP TO FRANCE

FINAL REPORT ON OUR TRIP TO FRANCE

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We’ve been home ten days from our trip to France and are over the worst of jet lag,  but still waking up at anywhere from three to five a.m. We flew British Air to London and London to Lyon, France. We had first class tickets, so the first leg was very comfortable with flat beds. Heathrow is a difficult airport because of all the walking that is involved and the need to ride buses to change terminals, but we survived…

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VISIT TO FRANCE

VISIT TO FRANCE

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This Thursday, May 14,  we leave at 7 o'clock at night from Seattle to London. Fortunately, however, thanks to upgrades, we have the privilege of flying first class on British. It makes the nine hour flight a lot more comfortable. After a layover at Heathrow Airport in London, we fly British at 4 o'clock in the afternoon to Lyon France arriving at about 6:30 PM. We are driven from the airport to the Villa Florentine in Lyon. The hotel is…

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JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL & OTHER THOUGHTS ABOUT MOTIVATION

JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL & OTHER THOUGHTS ABOUT MOTIVATION

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My father was a great believer in motivational ideas. He read motivational books, had motivational slogans and was a  believer in goal setting. He was also a very positive minded person which stood in stark contrast to my mother who tended to worry. I'm afraid I took more after my mother's viewpoint in spite of every effort of my father to influence me with a positive outlook. As a young man I worked on developing a goal oriented and positive outlook through reading and…

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OUR REPORT FROM SCOTTSDALE

OUR REPORT FROM SCOTTSDALE

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We are at our home in Scottsdale where the weather couldn't be more perfect. We've been here a week and have done little more than enjoy ourselves in this relaxed setting and extraordinary weather. Lita's progress from her knee joint replacement surgery has gone really well and she is getting around better every day. Last Sunday friends, whom we have known for many years and who live  in desert highlands where our home is located,  invited us to  attend Mass at…

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PIONEERING PACKWOOD IN 1871 – HOLLIS BARNETT’S FAMILY

PIONEERING PACKWOOD IN 1871 – HOLLIS BARNETT’S FAMILY

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 I realize this is difficult to read due to the small print and quality of the copy. However, it is an interesting family history of my father in law Hollis Barnett. His family traveled across  the country all the way to Mount Rainier where they pioneered the area. It is a story of survival which has lessons for all of  us. Hollis Barnett died March 22, 1990. See this blog for his story. 

HOLLIS BARNETT 1907 – 1990

HOLLIS BARNETT 1907 – 1990

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My father in law, Hollis Barnett died on March 22nd 1990. He was a unique and wonderful man. You can read about his extraordinary wife Betty Barnett and more about this couple whoI grew to love. https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2010/03/i-write-this-in-memory-of-my-wifes-father-hollis-hall-barnett-whodied-in-puyallup-washington-on-march-22-1990-at-the-a.html Hollis Hall Barnett died in Puyallup, Washington on March 22, 1990 at the age of 83. Hollis was born in Buckley, Washington on May 3, 1907 and spent his younger years at Mt. Rainier National Park where his father, Herman "Herm" Burke Barnett, was a…

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