Went to a memorial gathering down on Plum Island, Massachusetts (across the bridge from Newburyport) today, so, you might say, I didn't really get a lot accomplished.

But we celebrated the life of a man who gave so much to so many people. He always had an amusing observation, great quotation, or a ready song. I discovered that his daughters (Ted always described himself as "Father of Daughters"...but his first male descendant was born in April) didn't know about his collection (probably long gone in his travels since the '80s) of quirky oddities: his Jack and Jackie Kennedy Hallowe'en masks, his Elvis radio. About the radio, he always said, "And the best thing about it, the BEST thing is...it DOESN'T work!"

Got to see and talk to a bunch of people we haven't seen for awhile.

AND I got to drive on a bunch of roads I haven't been on in many years, reminding me of how to get to Newburyport and Plum Island, and all the wonderful cemeteries (I'm a "thanatolithologist") I haven't been in since the '80s when Tom was introducing me to the area. Also got to note all the new development along Rte. 1 through Salisbury, Seabrook, and Hampton Falls and describe it all to Tom who couldn't see it. (And remember, after I was through it, the horrible intersection in Salisbury.)

But tonight I'll sort that treasure I found Friday (now thoroughly dried out) into sleeve protectors with a note about where, when and how I salvaged them. And note which posters were on the back of Press Room schedules so I can photocopy them for inclusion elsewhere in the binders. Told a couple of the performers from that era what I found -- they're glad I've saved the stuff and am archiving it. Bill Perry wants to see the Speed the Plow brochure (he was part of the group) and I got this note from John Perrault -- "Wow--a treasure trove. Takes a woman with a grand vision and grander patience to organize that collection...you're the one to do it."

And on the way home I exchanged the jar of pickles at the store -- neither Tom nor I, no matter what we did to break the seal, could get the top off. (And I almost went into pickle deprivation mode.) I guess that was an accomplishment.

Linn