Family

The Radio’s Playin’ Some Forgotten Song

Highway into the sunset.
(Image: canva.com)

I have a fond memory of the song Radar Love by the Dutch group Golden Earring.

It’s 1973 or 1974. I’m one of the principle photographers for my high school year book. Our track team is competing across the state at Washington State University’s facilities, and I’m driving the 300 miles (one way) to be there take pictures, and then driving back the same day. The radio of my Toyota Corona is tuned to the local top-40 station at the time (KJR Seattle), and then its sister station (KJRB Spokane) as I make my way east.

And playing loudly, and often, in all its tinny cheap-AM-radio glory, was Radar Love.

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A Letter From My Mother

A Letter From My Mother
A Letter From My Mother. Click for larger image.

My mother passed in 2003.

In slowly cleaning out the accumulation of things collecting in our basement today I stumbled into the letter pictured above. It’s a draft, undated, and I’m not even sure who it’s to.

But it touched me.

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Was My Dad Ahead of His Time?

Assembly drawing, c1969 – Leo J. Notenboom (Click for larger image.)

Pictured above is a drawing my father created in or before 1969.

I don’t believe that it depicts anything particularly remarkable, but this isn’t my field.

What is remarkable is that this image exists at all.

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Father’s Day Thoughts

The Notenbooms, circa late 1957 or early 1958 (Click for large image.)

My dad (b. 1916) would have loved the internet.

I’m not sure he’d deal well with all the technology side of things — that could go either way: frustrated with the fragility, or stubborn enough to not let it get the best of him.

I think of him often, and usually in the form of “Oh, he would’a loved that!”

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Today’s Amazement and Wonder

As you may or may not know, my parents were immigrants, arriving first in Canada after leaving The Netherlands, and then settling here in the United States just a few years later. With all relatives nearly 5,000 miles to the east, communication consisted primarily of hand-written letters that took anywhere from a week to ten … Read more

Puppy Kiss

The various photo-sharing sites I use don’t support animated GIF files, but this was too cute not to share: More from our visit to the breeder here.

On Gratitude, and Worry

10 years ago this morning my mom died. This morning as I was meditating – sitting outside listening to the plethora of different birds that populate our area, feeling the light breeze on my face and the warmth of the morning sun – I was filled with a deep sense of gratitude. Gratitude for where … Read more

Leo J. Notenboom

A number of people have expressed sadness at my father’s passing.

And yes, it is definitely sad to lose your father at any age.

But this is a case worthy also of happiness and celebration. My father lead a rich, long life. He died as peacefully as we could have hoped for, and in the company of loved ones.

I choose to celebrate his life. I choose to feel a deep gratitude for the gifts I’ve received from him. I choose to remember not only most the recent years but the years he truly was my father and the stories of what came before.

I choose to be happy and thankful.

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Elisabeth Gerarda Notenboom

February 22, 1921 – May 4, 2003 Age 82, of Kirkland, died May 4th 2003. Survived by her husband of 55 years, Leo, her son and daughter-in-law Leo and Kathy, sister Truus, longtime friend Marja, devoted caregiver Kathleen, loyal pet Sassy, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends both here and abroad. A lover of animals … Read more