Non-stop action in the Coakley household

Notice how prepared to flee the scene I was in this pic? At the time I was 7 years of age and if I wasn’t being chased by my older brothers or their friends, I was chasing them trying to be a part of the local Kristin Lane street “gang” in Fairfax Virginia.

It was a constant rumble of kids moving from one dust bowl to another trying to stay one step ahead of the law (i.e. our parents).

A risk taker from the very start

As far back as I can remember I have enjoyed taking risks. That gleeful lil’ tike in this pic is me holding a card. Worst decision my mom ever made….

I suppose the lack of fear and my eagerness to take on risk that more sensible people would run from was inevitable as youngest of 3 boys. So perhaps my mom was just preparing me for what was ahead.

Born to run

This is a pic of me on my grandfather’s lap at his home in Farmville Virginia in August 1959.

Grandpa Dowdy was my mother’s dad and although I don’t remember him well I do think of him when I’m in my garden working on the tomatoes that I learned to love down in Farmville behind his house.

He was a farmer who worked hard to raise my mom and her 9 sisters and 3 brothers in their 2 bedroom house.

They had 300 acres of land and with few exceptions they lived off of the land. The stories my mom has shared with us our amazing.

First Snowfall of 2007 for Mia

My niece Mia, Moira and Greg’s 3 year old, is just thrilled to be playing in the first snowfall of the year up in Boston 2007. Life is good.