In the May 1st edition of the International New York Times I read an article by Sarah Wildman about Justus Rosenberg, age 95, who still teaches literature at Bard College. He is thought to be the last remaining member of a special World War II team assembled by a journalist, Varian Fry, in 1940. It was organized to provide safe passage out of Vichy France for intellectuals and important cultural figures fleeing the Nazis. Fry had been sent by a…
On Thursday night we had group dinner at Seattle Center with all the beautiful glass on display created by Seattle’s own: Dale Chihuly. It was a lovely dinner with great service and great food. Fifty some people were seated at a long table with beautiful settings and flower arrangements. A very nice evening and a chance to meet the other people going on the tour. Friday morning we were driven to Boeing field where the airplane was parked. There were…
On Sunday, February 21, I "endured" my birthday. At age 81 you don't "enjoy" birthdays except perhaps from a feeling of gratitude at being alive. As I have said to others, it's a little like waking up that morning and discovering you have been trapped in the body of an 81-year-old. You don't fully get used to the idea that you are aging in your mind until physical ailments remind you. The next day, on Monday, we flew to Kona on…
Betty Barnett was my wife Lita's mother who died December 20, 1985. I've written about this remarkable woman many times. See https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2013/12/my-mother-in-law-elizabeth-barnett-1910-1995.html It was my privilege to have known her. She was extraordinary in so many ways. She was very intelligent, wise and a great judge of people. I loved her like my own mother for her many qualities and her understanding. This is a woman who attended Holy Names in Spokane where she was taught proper table settings, good maners and social skills. She met…
My maternal grandmother Marija Mattia Vulic Babarovich died on August 5th, 1953. She died the year I graduated from high school in Anacortes, Washington.Her life story is one of great courage and sacrifice involving immigration to America while not being able to speak English. I've previously talked about that in writing about my mother.https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2010/07/mary-thelma-luvera-.html.html I've also written about her brave travel from a small island in Croatia to Anacortes, Washington. https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2014/07/index.html I remember her vividly. A tall erect woman with hair piled…
Newman Clubs serve as a center for Catholic students attending non-Catholic colleges and Universities. In Washington Bishop O’Dea, in 1908, invited the Dominicans to serve the students at the University of Washington, Seattle, and they established a Newman Club for the students, where they still serve. I was a freshman at the University of Washington in 1953 and I got involved in the Newman Club where I first met a charismatic priest, Fr. Bill Dooley, who was the chaplain of the Club while serving…
My maternal grandmother Marija Babarovich died on August 5th, 1953. She died the year I graduated from high school in Anacortes, Washington.Her life story is one of great courage and sacrifice involving immigration to America while not being able to speak English. I've previously talked about that in writing about my mother.https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2010/07/mary-thelma-luvera-.html.html I remember her vividly. A tall erect woman with hair piled high on her head, she looked regal and carried herself in a way that projected dignity and…
Today is the anniversary of the death of my father, Paul Nicholas Luvera Sr. Born on March 25, 1898, he died in Anacortes, Washington on November 4, 1990 at the age of 92. I've published several accounts of his memories from his youth over the past couple of weeks. My sister Phyllis is the historian of our family and has written a book about this extraordinary man which will be published soon. This is a brief outline of dad's accomplishments…
Last night was the dinner with the captain. He is a very tall and large man who looks like he should be a tackle on the Seahawks. He appears to be in his mid or late 40's. A very friendly person with an easy smile, he was born in Norway. He lives in Istanbul because he married a woman from Turkey. The other guests consisted of a man and wife from London. He was knighted and therefore is "sir" and she is "lady"…
Some random quotes from my reading over the weekend: "The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little" Franklin D. Roosevelt I wish every Tea Party member and every cold hearted conservative Republican who would choose to let the poor starve and those in medical need suffer meditate on those words. Especially those who go to church every Sunday and…
