16 November 25

Yesterday (15 November) marked the birthday of Otha Dell Brigance (1922-2000), grandfather of our daughter-by-inclusion Rachel Haskins. My tie originally belonged to him and is one of Rachel's favorites! My shirt and the coordinating color on my tie celebrate Orange Day (24 Brumaire) on the French Republican Calendar, which was on Friday 14 November. My tie bar says that I am PAPA SEEDS.

15 November 23

My tie for 15 November originally belonged to Otha Dell Brigance (1922-2000), who was born on this date. Mr. Brigance was the grandfather of our daughter-by-inclusion Rachel Haskins, and I'm very happy to have a few of his ties to wear!

15 November 22

Today's tie belonged to Otha Dell Brigance (1922-2000), who would be 100 years old today. Mr. Brigance eventually had a granddaughter whom we know as Rachel Haskins -- and who counts as one of our daughters! I am happy to help Rachel remember her grandfather.

15 November 21

My tie for 15 November originally belonged to Otha Dell Brigance (1922-2000), who was born on this date. Mr. Brigance was the grandfather of our daughter-by-inclusion Rachel Haskins, and I'm very happy to have a few of his ties to wear!

7 July 21

Today is a special day to celebrate pattern making and pattern discovery, and it even looms large in the history of computers. It's the birthday of Joseph Marie Jacquard (1752-1834), a French weaver and merchant. He is credited with developing the programmable loom, and the Jacquard name has long been associated with repeating patterns woven into fabric. My tie is one of several in my closet with cleverly woven patterns. Jacquard's programming for the loom was based on a sequence of punched cards, directing the operation of hooks to guide the yarn. This idea eventually became the basis for all sorts of calculating machines, down to the 20th-century "modern" computers receiving their instructions from decks of punched cards.

25 August 20

 Today is National Secondhand Wardrobe Day! The primary purpose is to encourage us to shop for clothes at thrift shops, etc. But I use it as a day to wear a tie that has been "handed down" to me. This tie with bright diagonal stripes originally belonged to Otha Dell Brigance (1922-2000), grandfather of our daughter Rachel Haskins.

16 August 18

Happy Birthday, "son" David Haskins! This tie originally belonged to David's grandfather-in-law, Otha Dell Brigance.

15 November 16

Today marks the birthday (in 1922) of Otha Dell Brigance, grandfather of our "adopted daughter" Rachel Haskins. She gave me this tie from his collection some years ago, remarking that it was one of her favorites. I like the bright diagonals!

16 November 15

The tie I'm wearing today originally belonged to Otha Dell Brigance, born 15 November 1922. Later in life he became the grandfather of our "adopted" daughter Rachel Haskins. She treasured this tie as a favorite memory of him, and gave it to me several years ago!

15 June 15

Today's tie belonged to Otha Dell Brigance, grandfather of our daughter-by-inclusion Rachel Haskins. Today I am visiting Rachel and David and their 14-month-old son Jamison, who has just learned to walk! So Jamison will see his great-grandfather's tie.

30 January 14

Today's tie honors our daughter (by friendship) Rachel Haskins, who celebrated her birthday yesterday. It belonged to her grandfather, Otha Dell Brigance, and I like wearing it!

15 November 12

Our family friend/daughter Rachel Haskins' grandfather, Otha Dell Brigance, would be 90 years old today. This is one of his ties, and it is also one of Rachel's favorites.

15 November 11

Today's tie originally belonged to Otha Dell Brigance, born on this date in 1922, whose granddaughter Rachel Haskins gave me the tie! Its bright colors contrast sharply with the dull rainy landscape outdoors.

30 January 11

Today we're celebrating the birthday of Rachel Haskins (yesterday, on Jan. 29). My tie is one of Rachel's favorites because it belonged to her grandfather, Otha Dell Brigance.

25 March 10

This is from the Web site for National Letting Go of Stuff Day:

"MISSION of National Letting Go of Stuff Day: To provide a day of acknowledgment for freeing up sub-conscious space so people all over the United States can begin to experience freedom - from the inside-out.

This day provides a chance to individually and openly acknowledge one's stuff. A chance to begin the process of moving beyond that stuff. The first step in the process of Letting Go of Stuff is to accept and acknowledge that there is STUFF.

This day will help people all across the country to take that first step."

So, I'm acknowledging that there is STUFF by wearing a tie given to me by Rachel Haskins. It belonged to her grandfather, Otha Dell Brigance. She "let go" of this tie a few years ago, passing its stuff on to me, though she retains fond memories of the original owner. Wearing someone else's tie reminds me that my own stuff is not really mine to "possess."

01 October 09

Today's tie belonged to Otha Dell Brigance, grandfather of our "daughter"/friend Rachel Haskins. I'm wearing it today to celebrate the International Day of Older Persons, designated for October 1 by the United Nations General Assembly and first observed in 1991. Today also marks the 85th birthday of Jimmy Carter, who is one of the most peacemaking "older persons" on the world stage. To some people (outside my family) I suppose that I am approaching the range of "older persons," but I take great solace in this line from a Five Iron Frenzy song: I may be old, but at least I'm not like all those other old guys.

16 November 08

Yesterday (Nov. 15) was the birthday of Otha Dell Brigance (1922-2000), grandfather of our friend Rachel Haskins. This tie belonged to him and is part of Rachel's favorite memories. I am very happy that she gave this brightly colored tie to me!