January 3
I spend the first Saturday of the new year watching the Ravens lose in the Wild Card round of the playoffs to the Tennessee Titans 20 – 17. It’s the beginning of a new year and the end to a good season. They did well but fell a little short. That’s sports. That’s how it goes sometimes. I’m glad I have another day off with Kim and the boys before returning to work. I’ll be at Central and Pratt on Monday but I’m not sure for how much longer.
January 8
We’ve been back at the Shop for a few days and it’s been cold. Today it won’t get above freezing and the forecast says it will stay like this for a while. Central Avenue is an ice box when it’s like this but work has to be done so Kavanagh’s and crew muddle through it. Some rods are rolled for Eddie Beck at DWF Iron as well as a few other items. Every time a truck comes in and that big back door opens, the temperature drops quickly.
January 16
The frigid temperatures have continued but we’ve made it through our second week of work. Meanwhile, we are awaiting zoning approval for metalworking at Lynhurst Road from Baltimore County. That is the last step before we agree to a purchase. Without the approval, it’s a no-go as we wouldn’t be able to do our work. The Shop is quite busy now with some big structural angles rolled and a few smaller ornamental jobs including some sculptural parts for Jann Rosen-Queralt. Jann is a sculptor and a faculty member of the Maryland Institute College of Art. I have a soft spot for MICA. Not only do their faculty and students bring me work but my father took classes there after his time in WW2.
January 30
Last week we received our zoning approval and signed a contract to purchase 8100 Lynhurst Road. The settlement on the property is scheduled for tomorrow. After that, it will be a very long process of moving. The sub freezing temperatures have continued and the high level of work has too. We finish some tubes for the U.S. Naval Academy and some pipes for W.R. Grace which are picked up by Engineered Piping. Engineered is probably doing the install.
January 31
Ann and Jack meet with Danny and Chris Schuster of Schuster Concrete and the real estate agents for settlement of the new property. After a lot of signing of papers, the Shop is now technically in Dundalk though work continues for now on Central Avenue. After the meeting, Ann updates me and I tell Kim all about it.
“So, it’s a done deal now?” Kim asks as I scoop up A.J. and sit on the couch with him.
“Yep. We are now the proud owners of 8100 Lynhurst Road.” I stick my tongue out at A.J. as I bounce him. He smiles slightly and chatters a little. “It’s going to be a big adjustment but this place is so much nicer. The Shop is bigger, almost too big, and everything is laid out better for what we do.”
Kim nods. “And you have your own office now. Right?”
“Oh yeah. My own space, my own room. Something I didn’t have even when I was a kid.” I grin at her.
“Well, you do now. That means you can move some of this crap out of my house.” She gestures at the assorted pieces of baseball memorabilia placed somewhat randomly in the room.
I feign anger for a second. “Crap? Crap? This is all good stuff. Stuff I’ve collected for years.”
“I know and it will look much better in your office. Don’t ya think? You can even show it off as people come in.” Kim certainly knows how to handle me.
“Hmmm. That is a good point. Okay. I’ll move the STUFF to my office. Fair enough?” I ask.
“Perfect.” She says and laughs as she walks away into the kitchen.
February 1
The New England Patriots defeat the Carolina Panthers in the Super Bowl 32 – 29. I watch but with marginal interest. My mind is on this move. I’m glad settlement is over and we have a new home. Of course, we still have to sell 201 S. Central. There’s been some interest but not a lot. Our realtors, Adrian and John, are confident it will be easier and more productive to show it when it’s empty of all our machines and tools. I hope so. I do know that owning both properties for an extended period would get costly for insurance and taxes. Despite all that, I’m mostly focused on the idea of a newer, bigger building and a shorter quicker commute.
February 5
We are beginning the process of moving the Shop. We’ll start with the smaller machines and tools, then eventually, we’ll need a rigger for the larger rollers. While part of the crew is moving stuff, the rest will still be rolling and bending on Central Avenue. We have work to do. In fact, this is a busy week with some work for BWI, a few big angles to roll, sign work and more.
February 18
It’s a sunny Wednesday and not as cold as it’s been in Baltimore. We continue to move a bit every day while doing our real job of bending and rolling metal. The work has been strong to start the year and that’s a good thing. We know we will have to stop operation for about two weeks at some point to facilitate the transportation of our biggest machines. We want to get as much done as we can before we get to any shutdown.
February 27
It’s a Friday and I’m writing up a few delivery tickets and thinking about this move. I’ve worked in this building for 24 years. That’s a long time even by Shop standards. I’ve decided to be sure to walk all the paths and stand in all the corners of this old place before we go. I have so many memories of work and even some fun. There will only be a couple more months to do those things and I want to take in all of it. I want to reinforce those thoughts and memories so I can easily take them with me to Dundalk.
March 11
It feels like Spring has arrived on Central Avenue today. Temperatures get into the 50’s and the sun is shining. The front garage door is open to allow some warmth into the cold old building. Yesterday we did some annealing and filling of a brass tube and that helped but the sun and a warm breeze through the place is much better. The crew have been very busy for the last week. We have a lot of work to do while still making a daily trip to Lynhurst Road to drop off more supplies and equipment. We’ve had a wide range of jobs these last few days. Structural stuff, a brass bar foot rail and some angles which sculptor William Niebaurer will use as molds for several pieces for the Baltimore Visitors Center.
March 17
It’s St. Patrick’s Day and we celebrate by working because it’s a Wednesday. I’ve never been one to party it up on March 17 but it’s a good day to wear green. More and more of our small stuff and old tools have made their way to Dundalk. We are still working busily on Central with jobs for Equine Architectural, some big pipes for Atlantic Welders and some rolled tubes for the Maryland Science Center. We’ve also completed some set parts for the pilot of a television show called “The Service.” It’s centered on the Secret Service and it’s always cool to do work for TV. I make a note to keep an eye out for it when it is aired.
March 26
It’s a beautiful Friday and I stand in the front of the Shop watching the Central Avenue traffic glide by. I think of how many days I have stood here and thought and watched. I think of what we are doing today and what we did yesterday and watch cars and trucks make their way past our corner in Baltimore. I won’t be doing this much longer and since Lynhurst has a parking lot and the building is off the street, I don’t think I’ll have the view I have here. We finish a heat exchanger for Westminster House Apartments. We made many of these in our time in this building but the number goes down each year. Modern heating systems don’t require them. We do repair, replace and re-tube the occasional old unit but less and less each year.
April 2
It’s the rainy end of another week and we have a nice visit with Lee Badger and his partner Steve who are here to pick up some rolled tubes. They own the Hammered Edge and Lee is a talented blacksmith. We do occasional work for them and it’s always nice to see old friends. They knew my parents when they were here and it’s sort of like old times. We have stayed busy both with moving and bending and rolling. More work is finished for the Maryland Science Center and a few other things for our regulars.
April 4
It’s Opening Day for the Orioles today despite being a Sunday. That’s odd. The Birds beat Boston 7 – 2 and that’s a nice start to the year. On the flip side of sports, the Washington Capitals lose 4 -3 to the Pittsburgh Penguins to finish their season. They do not make the playoffs and it’s a sour ending to a rough year. It’s that much worse losing to Pittsburgh again but we all hope for a playoff return next time especially my brother. Jack is the most passionate hockey fan I’ve ever known.
April 7
The move continues day by day. We’ve stayed busy in the Shop proper with some big structurals picked up today and some small tubes for AAI. AAI is a defense contractor and I always hoped to get them as a regular customer but we only receive the occasional order. Still a job is a job and we take on all we can.
April 13
We have reached the point that enough of our stuff is moved so Ann, Jack and two of our crew are working full time at the new Shop. They have tools to put away, the smaller machine to set and Ann has an office to get ready. The rest of the boys and I are still at Central but in a few weeks we’ll be full time in Dundalk. We have had quite a good run of big angles rolled here so far this year and it’s the same today as we roll some for Wally’s Iron. I also receive a fax about a job from Marilyn at R and R Fabrication. Marilyn is who we usually deal with there and she’s a nice person and very knowledgeable. Dealing with good nice folks makes the job easier and Marilyn is one of those folks.
April 26
It’s a rainy day as we count down to our last days on Central Avenue. It’s less than two weeks and I have continued my walk down memory lane by treading the paths and standing in the corners and even looking out the windows and front door at the view we’ve had for close to 100 years. It’s all about to change. In the off and on rain, the crew finish some more work for the Johns Hopkins Chemistry Building and several others. We’ve let customers know we will be completely shut down for about two weeks in May so now we’re trying to knock out the rest of what’s here.
May 5
Today is our last official day in business on Central Avenue. Our last pickup is some galvanized bent pipes for COVCO. The next two days will be spent with Big Boy Rigging hauling our larger machines to Lynhurst Road. It’s quite a thing to see the Pines Bender lifted by crane from the second story onto a flatbed truck. Equally astonishing is watching the riggers move the R-6-S with a heavy duty forklift and then crane it onto the truck. That machine weighs about 20 tons. It’s most impressive to watch and it helps to remove any bittersweet feelings we are having. I know I have some. I’ve worked here personally for 24 years. It’s a strange change but it should be a good one. Good for the company and for all of us.
May 17
The last of our equipment is moved now and we begin our full operation at Lynhurst. It’s a much shorter drive for me in the morning and I enjoy sleeping fifteen minutes later each day. Then again, I love sleep when I can get it. We haven’t been bombed with calls so far in the new building but that’s been good as we get machines set and ourselves acclimated. I’m sure it will change once word gets around. Of course, we told our regulars but some folks probably don’t know as yet. They will soon enough.
May 23
The Kavanagh’s gather at Jack’s house on Kensington Parkway to celebrate my Dad’s 80th birthday. It’s one of those rare occasions when all the kids and the kids’ kids are together. It’s a fun day and much of the talk is about yesterday. Yesterday my parents and some of us kids met at Central Avenue. We walked through once more. I was very happy my boys were there on this last day. My father was quietly contemplative but he seemed happy with the change. I understood his mood because Ann, Jack and I were basically the same. He spent his life working there and so have we. I’ll miss the old place but we brought some of the dirt and smell with us. It’s not so different in the new place but in some ways very different. The party goes well and everyone has a good time. As I drive home, I am thinking that the day before was the last time I’ll ever set foot in that glorious old building, 201 S. Central Avenue.
May 26
Things have picked up this week at Lynhurst Road. The word has gotten around. Today some sign parts are rolled for Giovanni’s Signs. We also have some scrap to get out of the Shop. It has to be driven to Landsman on Central Avenue and we realize we will need to do something different with our scrap from now on. We’ll need to find a closer scrap dealer.
June 8
Things have definitely gotten busier at the new Shop. We have a nice backlog of two weeks worth of work which is ideal for us. We have a good mix of ornamental and structural work on the books including more work for renovations to White Marsh Mall. Though we are focused on the jobs we have, much of the talk these last few days have been about the passing of former President Ronald Reagan. He died on Saturday and plans were made for a state funeral. He was a major figure in Republican politics for decades besides being president.
June 18
It’s Friday on Lynhurst Road and both garage doors are open with a pleasant breeze to help keep us cool. Another busy week has ended and we are getting more and more accustomed to our new digs. The abundant parking and the space for trucks to get in and out make our jobs easier. Today Richard from Food Instrument drives over from the Eastern Shore and picks up some bent pipes. They make candy machines and these pipes are a part of those machines. We’ve made these for quite a few years and Richard is a good guy. He’s one of those customers who loading the truck takes five minutes but he will stay and chat for closer to an hour. It’s good to see him and catch up. Like most folks, he likes the new building and congratulates us. I write up a few more delivery tickets before the end of the day then all of us head home.
June 24
I sit in my office and field calls most of the day. Whether it’s the new place or our approaching vacation but we suddenly are very busy and the calls keep coming. Today we finish some work for Albertus Engineering Pipe. The lead guy at Albertus is Gary MacAfee who long ago worked at the Shop. He worked for my Dad before my time but I know he’s a smart guy who knows the metals industry and he always has nice things to say about my father. It’s a busy day in both Shop and office and that’s a very good thing.
June 28
The Shop hires a new employee. Jack’s younger son, Patrick, comes to work for the summer. His brother has worked here for two summers so he has some idea what to expect. I was in the same boat many years ago when I started. Jack had been here and he told me all about it. Still when you start here, it’s the first step of many many steps. Patrick’s career begins by helping Mike Glenn roll some small pipes for Oceaneering in the R-3-S. These are a rush and promised for today so they are rolled first thing.
July 2
It’s the Friday before Independence Day and a beautiful sunny day. Everyone is anxious for the four day weekend. The crew finish some set parts for the Roundhouse Theatre and a job for R and R Fabrication. We decide to leave a little early and we close up at 2 pm.
July 4
Kim, the boys and I spend Independence Day on Woodall Street. Kim’s parents, Anthony and Linda, are always happy to have us over but especially the kids. There are hot dogs and hamburgers and all the associated 4th of July fare. I watch the ballgame with my father-in-law and the Orioles lose in Philly. They drop to 10 games under .500 and the chances for a good year are fading even as the season reaches its midpoint. They will have to get super hot after the All-Star break or this will be another disappointing year. In the evening, some of Kim’s cousins stop by and everyone watches the Inner Harbor fireworks. The backyard on Woodall Street offers a great view of the display. Our boys love the bright colors but not the booming explosions quite as much. As we drive home I think of the coming week. We have some tubes to fill with rosin which means it’s going to be very hot at the Shop.
July 15
It’s a cloudy but comfortable 80 degree day in Dundalk. The strong volume of work has continued as we get closer to our vacation week in August. We’re hoping this stretch will balance out the time we took off to move and the slow start we had on Lynhurst. Today some exhibit parts are bent for Design and Production and a mix of structural steel for several other customers. We have about three weeks until our break and everyone is looking forward to it.
July 22
The work continues to roll in and out of the Shop. We finish some angles for the Waldorf Market Place, some pipe railings and window lintels. It’s a big mix of everything we do and Kavanagh’s and crew are working hard to get it all completed. Even with vacation on the way, it’s best to take all the work while you can because you never know when it’s going to stop. I go over our schedule and it’s packed with jobs including some more for Baltimore Steel which will be used for the White Marsh Mall renovations. That’s next week’s problem.
August 6
It’s the last day before our vacation and it’s been a wild week. We finished everything that needed to be done but it was close. It always seems that way. Of note, is some pipe we rolled for Fabritek. These are for a spiral which we can’t do but the customer will stretch the pieces after we roll them. They will pull the turns apart carefully to get the helical curve they want. It’s a touchy process and we must roll the pipes to a larger diameter so as they are pulled vertically, they shrink horizontally. They shrink because it’s the same amount of material. If you add in the spiral or pitch, the diameter will become smaller. As we wait for the last truck to arrive for pickup, I talk to Jack and Ann about the Birds. The Orioles are way off the pace and are destined for the bottom half of the division. We all agree that’s baseball and when that truck gets here, we are officially on vacation.
August 13
The Summer Olympics begin in Athens, Greece. The games return to the ancient home of the Olympics. Kim and I watch as we do each time they are held. It’s become a tradition for the two of us and one we look forward to.
August 20
I’m talking to the boys in the front of the Shop during lunch. A storm has just rolled in and it cools things down. We’re talking about the Olympics, particularly about Micheal Phelps. The young American swimmer has already won four gold medals and he’s a local boy. He’s from Baltimore and that makes the games feel a little closer. The rain slows after a few minutes and the boys are back to work. It’s the usual ornamental and structural bending including some rolled angles for a cafe at the Goodwin House, a senior living facility near D.C.
August 29
Kim and I watch the Olympics Closing Ceremonies on this Sunday. It’s been a fun games to watch especially after the success of Micheal Phelps. Suddenly, he’s a Baltimore legend and at 19, he has more time to compete. We’ll see how he does at the next games. After the ceremonies, it’s off to bed and work tomorrow. The Shop has been running strong since we got back from our vacation. Last week, we rolled a few big angle jobs and some sign work for the Annapolis City Marina. This week has a lot of work on the calendar. Also, we have a potential buyer for the old building and it could happen this week. It’s been stressful owning that building but not being there every day, yet having the double duty of property tax and insurance. All of us hope it works out soon.
August 31
The Central Avenue properties are sold to the Phoenix Investment Group. A collective sigh of relief is felt as we are no longer on the hook for the old Shop. I do miss it but the Lynhurst building is newer and closer to home. We didn’t get the price we wanted but that rarely happens. Rodney Carroll comes in today and picks up some 6” pipes for a sculpture. He’s one of the first people to get the news that we have sold 201 S. Central Avenue. Later in the day, we call Mom and Dad and the word spreads. That old Shop of ours is gone. Long live the new Shop.
September 8
The work has slowed down a bit but we are still steady at the least. Today some ladder hoops are made for Scriba Welding. The ladder hoops are rolled flat bars used for safety on ladders and fire escapes. My oldest Joe has started first grade and we’re hoping for more rapid advancement in his development. With his autism, kindergarten was good but we thought exposure to more children would open him up socially. It had some effect but not a lot. A.J. is still not talking or walking. He’ll be two next month so we are not worried but certainly concerned. The possibility that he is also on the autism spectrum is very much on our minds.
September 12
The Ravens open their season on the road by losing to the Cleveland Browns 20 – 3. I flip between both this game and the Orioles who lose as well. They lose to the Yankees so it’s a tough day for Baltimore sports. Our baseball team is buried well out of the playoffs but hopefully the footballers will do better.
September 16
The NHL announces they are locking out their players. This is a first for us and Jack is certainly not happy. We’ve been through baseball strikes but a lockout is when the owners refuse to allow the players into training camp until a new deal is negotiated. They’ve been talking but today it’s official. All games, both preseason and regular season, are put on hold until a new contract is reached. My brother is a mad hockey fan and to have to wait for the season to start or worse yet, have it canceled is a bitter pill.
September 24
MLB announces that the Montreal Expos will move to Washington D.C. next year. There had been rumors of something like this happening but it seems to intrude on the Orioles’ territorial rights. A deal is struck though but I do wonder how this will impact the Birds’ attendance. They are a Baltimore team but they have a lot of D.C. area fans. It’s been a strange several weeks in the world of sports. In the Shop we remain steady but not swamped. Today some elevator parts are bent from brass and stainless tubes.
October 1
It’s a beautiful Friday in Dundalk. The garage doors are open and a pleasant breeze moves through the long building. I like our new home more and more. There is so much more space and fewer stairs to climb. The back room is spaced out perfectly for what we do. The floor space is good and with the cranes in the back, material handling is much better than at Central Avenue. I also enjoy the short drive home. Today Dave from Dave’s Custom Cycle comes in to pick up a serpentine rail. It has multiple bends in it and it was complicated. Dave’s shop is near Berlin on the Eastern Shore and we’ve made some bike parts for him before and some rails but this one is a strange one.
October 15
It looks like rain all day but it doesn’t start until the evening. I stare out from the front garage door and it’s not the same as the traffic on Central. Traffic moves along North Point Road but I’m a parking lot away. There’s no light so cars and trucks zip by and take no note of us. We were busier this week and finished some display parts for Design and Production, some bars for a sculpture for Paul Daniel and some tubes for a large fountain. October makes me think of baseball but the Birds had a rough year. The Yanks and Red Sox are in the American League Championship Series with NY up 2 – 0. I can’t quite muster enough interest to watch due to this match-up. Also, sports are less of a priority. Now with my boys, sports are a distraction and one I enjoy but not nearly as important as they once were.
October 20
The Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees to win the ALCS after trailing 3 games to none. I stayed up to watch the game and I can’t believe it. I felt sure we were in for another year with the Yanks winning the pennant. It’s the Red Sox instead. I’ll take it.
October 28
Riding the high of their comeback against the Yankees, the Red Sox sweep the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series and break the Curse of the Bambino. For decades, Babe Ruth’s trade from Boston to NY has been credited with starting a curse against the Sox. They would never win a Series because of it until now. This is the talk of the Shop as we all grew up in a world where the Boston Red Sox never won it all. It simply didn’t happen. It was an exciting end to the year and I am happy for the Sox fans out there. They waited 86 years for a championship. In the Shop, this week we rolled some structural parts for BWI, some ornamental angles for Gutierrez Studios and some sculptural stuff for Rodney Carroll. We also did a quick one tube repair for a heater for Mercy Hospital. No charge on this one because it was a simple thing. Not worth the time to bill it. Also, it’s my ninth Wedding Anniversary. Nothing fancy for Kim and I tonight. We’ll celebrate with our two boys at home.
November 2
Incumbent Republican George W. Bush defeats Democrat John Kerry in the U.S. Presidential Election. As per my tradition, I write myself in for president. This was another year where I could not find a way to vote for either of the parties’ candidates. I sure could use those presidential benefits but it’s not happening. The Shop has slowed a bit again but a couple of orders for Prosser and Titan Welding are finished today.
November 18
I’m at my desk filling out delivery tickets. I glance around the room at my collection of sports, primarily Orioles’ memorabilia. It’s an eclectic mix of things but it most definitely shouts “Orioles.” I like having my own office. It’s quite the change and there is some solace in knowing there’s a door that could be locked. I have a long list of pick ups to schedule. As I write them out, I make the calls. Some days the telephone is my main tool. I still make drawings and occasionally help in the Shop but mostly we’re making money if I’m on the phone.
November 25
We celebrate Thanksgiving on Woodall Street with Kim’s parents and her grandmother. The food is plentiful including parsnips for me and it’s a very nice day. We watch the parade with the boys then eat then watch football. It’s a very typical Turkey Day and it’s over way too fast then we’re driving home.
November 30
The cold weather has begun to arrive and I hate the cold. The new Shop has radiant heat and so far it keeps the place much more comfortable than Central Avenue. We haven’t had bitter cold yet but I’m positive this will be a better place to work in than the old Shop. Today several orders are completed for R and R Fabrication and one for the Laurel Park/Maryland Jockey Club. You wouldn’t think they’d need anything bent but once in a while, they do.
December 8
Today is my Shopiversary. I came to work at the Shop on a chilly Saturday on this date in 1979. I don’t think about it until I get home. It’s really just a Wednesday and a busy one with the holidays approaching. We’re hoping the annual holiday rush of work will help offset the up and down way this year has gone. The crew hammer out some railing work, some rolled rings and several pipe bending jobs.
December 11
Joe and I spend this Saturday with my sister Mary Brandenburg. She takes us to the movies to see a new holiday film, “the Polar Express.” Joe loves it. I am amazed to see how “into it” he is. My boy is completely enthralled with this movie. It’s the first time I’ve seen him this excited and captivated by a film. We have a great day thanks to Aunt Mary and watching “the Polar Express” becomes an annual highlight of the Christmas season for us.
December 16
It’s cold first thing in the morning with temperatures around 20 degrees. I am grateful for this new building today. The old one would be an icebox on a day like today. This week we bent some parts for elevators, some fancy brass tubes for John Gutierrez Studios and the usual assortment of work for our regulars.
December 23
It’s the last work day of the year and we are chomping at the bit to get out of here. We wait on trucks for the final pickups. There’s a lot of clock watching but eventually, everything is gone and so are we.
December 25
Kim and I celebrate Christmas on Woodall Street. We drive over early and start the Yule holiday. It’s mostly about the kids. Our boys are inundated with gifts and we love watching them tearing through everything. A.J. is still just two but he’s starting to get the hang of it. Joe is an expert now at seven and he helps his little brother when necessary. It’s a very nice holiday with lots of food and good times. The boys are the focus but we all enjoy spending this day together after the weeks of holiday preparation. It’s a relief to get to the 25th but then it’s over so quickly and in the evening, we are driving home to Charlesmont Road.
December 26
The Ravens lose to the Steelers in Pittsburgh 20 – 7. Their record stands at 8 – 7 with one game left to play and the playoffs are not going to happen. They have had a good year but not good enough. The Steelers meanwhile will finish this season with an astonishing 15 – 1 record.
December 31
We celebrate New Year’s Eve at home in our quiet way. We spend some time playing with the boys then when they are off to sleep, Kim and I toast the New Year together. It’s been an odd year with the Shop moving. I never thought we would leave Central Avenue but I’m more convinced then ever it was the right choice. The new place is bigger, with better parking and easier access to the beltway. We have room to grow and hopefully we will. Still, that building served us well for almost a century and we’ll always be grateful for that. At home, Kim and I are still trying to be patient with Joe’s progress. It’s slow or incremental if that. He speaks more with less prompting but not that much more. He still prefers to watch me set up cars, blocks or whatever toys than do so himself. We keep trying to nudge him and read all we can about autism. He’s a good boy but not typical. We are also worrying more about A.J. He babbles more but no talking and no walking. He’s old enough for us to be justly concerned. He’s due for another evaluation in February so we are hoping for some good news or some big change. Based on Joe’s situation, big changes are rare. Still, both our sons have lots of time to grow, mature and for us to find ways to deal with their challenges. Whatever they may be. We’ll learn all we can and do all we can. We know that much and we know we have a lot of help. Our families are with us 100% and the support is a great thing. It’s that boost we need when either of us gets down about it. When that happens, we have family, we have each other and we remember. Our boys are our boys. We love them and we believe in them. None of that will ever change. As always, we hope for better times next year.
George W. Bush is re-elected President of the United States. The social media website Facebook launches. The search engine Google goes public. Over 200,000 people die from the Indian Ocean tsunami. The films “The Incredibles,” “Napoleon Dynamite” and “National Treasure” are released. Marlon Brando, Ray Charles, Julia Child, Captain Kangaroo (Bob Keeshan) and Jerry Orbach die.
There are 50 states in the Union.
To read prior posts, click on the Table of Contents link below:
The Shop - A History of the Joseph Kavanagh Company 