Maureen's Daughter and Grandson

My Great-Nephew Benjamin with his Mom Christi, my sister Maureen's little girl, and Evelyn's granddaughter.

Mary Kate

                                    My beautiful daughter, Evelyn's grandaughter, Mary Kate

The little things

Evelyn was such a splendid mother.
I remember the little things, like how when she made cereal, she would slowly pour the milk so that the flakes were all covered, when she made sandwiches she always spread the butter to the edge of the bread...

Blackburn Family, The Begining

Hello to all  Blackburns and relatives wherever you are.

I am working on some stories, biographical material really, about Evelyn and Richard my parents.

I'm basing them on memory, so, at my age, I need to get it down pretty quick.
If I make any errors that anyone knows of, please let me know via  my email address.
Also, any memories that anyone would share would be helpful.
You know, what goes on the Internet, or, "the internets" as some call it, lasts forever.
So with help I can insure Evelyn and Richard's story will last forever, and their plethora of descendants will have access to biographical information about them and each other.
Many friends on facebook knew Evelyn, my Mom, and know or knew my brothers, children , sisters and so on.
So any recollections would be helpful.
Anything too personal you can email me.
Thank you.

Mary Anne Blackburn

The lady I married in another time, long ago.
I have made a mistake or two, but marrying this beautiful and intelligent lady was was not one of them.
Together we created two lovely and intelligent daughters.
The day I met Mary Ann, a life long
obsession with her began for me.
Oh, I didn't show it.
But she occupied my thoughts  much of the time from the very first time I laid eyes on her.
When I think of her blood flowing
In the veins of the descendants of Richard and Evelyn, it gives me great joy.

I saw her in the park for the first time. MacCarther Park, a mile or two from downtown L.A., the day was perfect, seventy degrees, everything was green...well the lake and sky were blue, the shrubs near where Mary Anne was wrestling were green....

Evelyn

I used to daydream about Mom being in heaven and looking down on us.
I can remember when she was the World's Greatest Mom.
Your Mother, a tie that can't be broken.
I physically  feel her as part of me, and the rest of the Blackburn's, and the entire genetic pool of Blackburns.
We were at Echo Park lake, 57 years ago, Mom was fashionably dressed, in those days women wore skirts to their ankles and blouses that kind of hid everything, she wore her long, dark brown  hair swept up in a bun.
We were feeding ducks.
It was kind of scary because the ducks had no fear of 3 year olds, and they were pretty aggressive :-)
We were on the banks of the lake, a goose ran at me, I threw up my arms and splash! I was in the green murky waters.
I didn't really know what was happening.
I thrashed helplessly, my arms moving in slow motion, my three years passed before my eyes.
I can still see the distorted green haze, and objects and fish floating and swimming by.
"Mommy!" I cried silently as I swallowed the cold water and in my rigidity hurled me to the lake bottom.
Suddenly I was moving upwards, then everything went black.

I don't know how long it was, but I regained consciousness to Mom's cooing, "Michael, Michael, it will be alright, Mommy's here."
She was soaking wet, we were both wrapped in a thick blanket, we were in a boat, a a young man had his arms around both of us.
Now, I didn't know what love was then, but this young man was looking at Mom with what I could see was deep emotion.
I really think, looking back on it, he had fallen in love with her in the time it had taken to pull both of us from the water, and comfort us.
But Mom was centered on me.
I could feel the power of her love.
The day was grey, and foggy, but I was bathed in a warm glow of compassion, so strong I feel it right now, 57 years later....

Stay Tuned

I haven't forgotten about the family that is most significant, certainly to me and my plethora of descendants.
I have a request from a family member in now for documents.
That should get the creative juices flowing. :-)
Love you all.


All You Need is love