So long 2010. Smoke 'em if you've got 'em

Photographer: James P. Ryan

(self portrait)

Pictorialism?

Dina in Paris (circa 1968)

Photographer: James P. Ryan

Christmas Greetings

Christmas Shoes (circa 1968)

Tis the Season - (recycling from last year)

We Wish you a Merry Christmas from Marybeth on Vimeo.

Audio: Dina Ryan on Piano and Jim E. on Guitar - December 24, 1981
8mm clips: by James P. Ryan
Photos: Various

Random Snap from the Past

 

Roast Beef, it's what's for dinner

1977 Korea Mom interviews John

1977 Korea Mom interviews John

From nutty kid to father of three. Mom would be proud. Thanks for hosting us for Thanksgiving John and Cheryl.

Today is a birthday, I wonder for who . . .

A tragic day

"Francisca noticed my picture of Kennedy today – 

she said all the bells in Spain tolled for the dead when they heard the news."

  ...from a letter from Dina 1964.

Random Snap from the Past

 

Dinnertime with the girls (circa 1970)

Happy Birthday Mary Chic!

1983 Mary Chic likes little people?

The nicest lady in the world.

Snack time with Wela (circa 1970)

The mystery man

Veteran of WWI and WWII.

Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, CA

Photo by John C. Ryan

(shadows John and Cheryl)

September 4, 1966 "Our trip home was long but the kids behaved very well so that helped."

September 4, 1966

Dear Mom and Dad,

Here we are back in Brussels. Our trip home was long but the kids behaved very well so that helped. Right now it is noon and a few people upstairs are starting to stir.  I may not finish this right now.

Mrs. Goeng had brought in our mail and we had a table full of it.  You have a few letters too but nothing to exciting looking.

Let me know when you’ll be coming in plenty of time so we can meet you at the airport. 

We were so busy in St. Louis I only went shopping twice.  But Lily, Helen C., and Mary Varela gave me some lovely clothes. We were $60 overweight. Now the problem is putting it all away. So give me a few days to get the suitcases put away especially if Corona is coming with you.  It shouldn’t take me long with everyone in school this week.

The last few days in St. Louis really flew.  Chic was in the hospital a few days. But now he is back home. 

Miss Edy died and I went to see her (at Southern) at 8A.M. the morning of the funeral. People were dropping in and out of our house all week.

Tiá Lola looked good when I left. Sally and she came by the night before we left.

Gloria will be moving downstairs this week. I went to see her place and it is nice.  She and Willie will go to Florida the last two weeks of September.

Be sure to let us know when you are coming. Our love to everyone there.

Love,

Jim and Dina

August 29, 1966 "Today we plan to gather all our things together and start packing. "

 August 29, 1966

Dear Mom and Dad,

Hope you are all fine. We had quite a busy weekend. Friday night we went to Helen C__’s for a party with the Fontbonne crowd.  Saturday we went to see the neighbors on Dover Pl.  Poor McClaughlin sisters are so grief stricken and getting so old.  Mr. Zeedan enjoyed his trip to Brazil. He stayed three months. His biggest problem was writing a letter home. Neither he nor his sister and husband there can write in Syrian and his younger relatives know only Portuguese and no English. So he ended up going to the American Consul to write a letter for him.  They all like our renters very much. They keep our place spotless.

Saturday evening Jim’s folks came and Virginia and the boys came along. We all went to Mary and Chic’s and had a most pleasant evening. Lola and Sallie and Tiá Maria were there and of course Joe and Jeanine, Anita and Doggie.  Mary had a feast laid out as usual. Sunday afternoon we all went out to see Lorraine and the girls. Bud is working Davenport during the sheet metal strike here.  We got a nice reception and really enjoyed seeing the girls. L herself looks as pretty as ever. She looks like an older sister to her girls. Her girls are really lovable. The Singers left right after we ate and Jim and I and kids stayed until 10PM. We had a nice pleasant evening.

Douglas and his girl bought a house in South County. Mil and Jul are very pleased with it. When I see what a sensible kid he is I really wonder just what is the value of a lot of schooling.

Mary D____ dropped in to see me Friday afternoon. She was telling me about Maria M_____ and all the rumors etc about the house and money. She hasn’t changed. She loves to know everything.

Today we plan to gather all our things together and start packing. We must get your place back in order too. All the boxes in the attic are opened etc. One thing for sure you'll have enought to keep you busy when you get home. All of us have handled everything and nothing is in the same place.

Bob and Tala left on vacation Sunday morning.

The kids are fine and enjoying all the running around. Greet everyone there.

Love

Jim and Dina

August 25, 1966 "We have our return reservations for Friday September 2nd at noon."

August 25, 1966

Thursday

Dear Mom and Dad, 

Received your letter and clipping of the drowning. We are all fine. Time is certainly flying. We went out to see the Funks. They have a beautiful big home in Ladue. I don’t like it as well as Carm’s but it is certainly big. Their furniture has not arrived yet but Donna has your number and she will call you when it comes. Probably about the same time that you will get here.

We have our return reservations for Friday September 2^nd at noon. We go to N.Y. and then to Brussels.

Yesterday we spent the afternoon with the Meyers. We went out to Shaw’s Garden Climatron and visited the Rose Garden. Mary Beth and Patricia spent the afternoon at Julie’s. She had come over Monday night with her Debbie and Chelas and Margie. The little girls hit it off so well that they were invited to spend the day. Kathy came and got them in the car. Doesn’t that make you feel old? Pretty soon all those Spanish girls will be grandmas. We went to pick them up and I saw Valentin and Amadina. Both sent you their best wishes.

You received your wedding invitation from Jean Campa. Did you want me to send a gift for you?

Angeles called to say she received a letter from her brothers saying you both look very well. Also Herminia wrote saying how pleased she is with her brother and wife.  Angeles is so funny. She said she was afraid for Herminia because she knows how good she is. So she had written to her “Cuidado, Herminia – ya fuiste criada de bastantes y los Cubanos les gustan mucho las sillas.”  But she said that Herminia was well pleased with them. I’m so glad for her.

Next Tuesday we are going over to Lela’s then come back by way of Maria Barril’s house. That is the only invitation I have for next week and it is the only one I am going to accept. I must finish up some shopping and then start packing all this. The Singers will come down this weekend.

Barbara spent tow nights at Michele Kickham’s and had a wonderful time.

The Broyles’ leave Sunday for their vacation. We are certainly grateful to them as we have used their car constantly.

Well give our best to everyone there –have fun and don’t forget to visit Southern Spain.

Love from all the family and friends here,

Jim and Dina

August 22, 1966 "He wasn’t here 5 minutes and Mary Beth of all people jumped in his lap."

August 22, 1966

Dear Mom and Dad, 

It is 8:30 AM and everyone is asleep except Nancy and I. Yesterday afternoon we went to Mildred’s and Tiá  Lola looked and felt very good. Sally and Lil were also there. Mary and Chick – Clorinda and Billie’s and family.  They all look wonderful. Billie and Colleen are ageless and their kids are still very sweet. Imagine 3 other teenagers spending an afternoon like that.  Alice and Toots were there. For a while she and I sat outside in the yard and she was telling me some of the happenings. Of course I had heard it but I didn’t tell her.  Bobby is married again and his wife is nice, she says.  We showed some of our movies and everyone wanted to see the ones with both of you in them. I didn’t realize we had so few shots of you two. Neva was there and helped Mildred cook.

Then at 7PM we came home and Estelle and Oscar dropped in (Linda is on vacation).  Estelle has quit work because her mother is ill and she goes over there to help out a few days in the week. They also keep Cobby’s little girl a lot and enjoy her so much. You can tell Oscar loves kids. He wasn’t here 5 minutes and Mary Beth of all people jumped in his lap.

I was inquiring about Luisa from Colleen and she says that Luisa was really brave. She is very resigned and says everything is fine.  If she is in any discomfort nobody knows it. The real problem is Julio who is now completely helpless. It’s a terrible situation because Bob and Luisa want to put him in a home and Antonia says “If he goes, I go.”  Colleen said she really feels sorry for Antonia. It’s too much for her and she’s afraid for Luisa to strain herself but she says “What will the people in St. Louis say if I put him in a home?”   From listening to Colleen and then Bessie tell about her poor mom – makes you realize how lucky Josie was.

I received a long letter from Jeanne B____. She was really pleased with your visit. She thinks you are both marvelous people and hopes they can continue to see you when they return to St. Louis. I didn’t realize poor Jeanne was so nervous. She said Mom helped her a lot and Tommy is crazy about Dad. Their trip to Ireland was marvelous. They rented a car and traveled 1000 miles. She also said you left their house just spotless.

The phone just rang and Maria Barril called and wants us to come over. I told her you had gotten a big kick out of her letters and in her typical fashion she answered “Hombre, tu madre, que sabe ella de cartas!”

Well I will close for now. Give everyone our love. Have a good time and enjoy the old homeland.

Love,

Jim and Dina