Books at Packer

There will be a fund to purchase photography books at Packer Collegiate in Elizabeth's name.  Eric Baylin, her photography teacher, who was so influential in getting her to think of what it takes to make a good photograph, will help with selection.

Elizabeth loved Pippi Longstocking

It's the birthday of children's novelist Astrid Lindgren, born in Vimmerby, Sweden  (1907). She grew up on a farm in southern Sweden, playing with her brothers  and sisters and listening to her family tell stories. Eventually she got  married, had a daughter, and gave up working at age 24 in order to stay home  and take care of her kids. One day, her daughter, Karin, was sick in bed, so  Astrid started telling her stories of a spunky, strong, independent girl who  mocks adults and manages to get by just fine without a family, caution,  education, or the opposite sex. And that girl was Pippi Longstocking, with  magical powers, a pet monkey, freckles, and bright red pigtails that stuck out  on either side of her head. The book was published as Pippi Långstrump (1945) in Sweden, Pippi Longstocking in English, and it became one of the most  beloved children's books of all time. She described Pippi: "Her hair, the  color of a carrot, was braided in two tight braids that stuck straight out. Her  nose was the shape of a very small potato and was dotted all over with  freckles."
 Astrid Lindgren went on to write more than 80 books, and  died at age 94.

Nine Months

 

I have grieved for you as long as I carried you in my belly

Obviously I liked being pregnant more

this state is torture

You are just gone

vanished

I know what happened to your body

but I don’t know about your soul

I want to speak to you so much

and hear your voice

I read your notebook today

so fresh alive

you said my mom is so sad

If people are capable of change

I am changing every day

but one thing is constant

I thought I was bringing you in to the world to grow old

I thought I would get to see you middle aged

none of that

none

of

that

When you were a baby Liza and I rocked you around the house

bouncing you on my hip

singing I’m an old cow hand

from the rio grande

any old song that would cheer you

calm you down to

slumber

I sang you lullabies

Do you  remember the one

All the pretty little horses

Oh darling

I am lost