Happy Birthday, Mom

My mother, Judith Ann (Dagle) Swanay, would have been 69 years old today.

Unfortunately, she died almost 9 years ago from Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), following what should have been a fairly routine back surgery.

In honor of her birthday, I am reposting a photo slide presentation which I created 2 years ago.

Mom, I still miss you very much. You'd be very proud of your beautiful granddaughter.

Copyright © Elizabeth O'Neal

Bring a Veterans Cemetery to the Central Coast

In Tuesday's Lompoc Record, there was an article by Denny Anderson, president of the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, regarding the possibility of locating a veterans cemetery on the Central Coast.

Why is a veterans cemetery needed on the Central Coast?

Some 1,600 "Greatest Generation" WWII veterans pass away every single day. There are approximately 24 million veterans in the U.S., including 9 million WWII and Korean War vets in need of final resting arrangements, and yet there is no National Cemetery within 100 miles of California's Central Coast cities. Even the recent Bakersfield and San Joaquin Valley National Cemeteries are out of range for Central Coast veteran families. In addition, interment at a National Cemetery saves veterans approximately $2,000 in burial fees alone, so the lack of a Central Coast National Cemetery is placing a significant burden on the shoulders of Central Coast veterans and their families.

The proposed Central Coast VA National Cemetery would be located near Vandenberg Air Force Base, and would serve veterans from the Central Coast counties of Kings, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. There are an estimated 137,324 veterans in these counties today (if Los Angeles County is included in the mix, that brings the count up to over 345,000). The Veterans Administration estimates that there will be over 15,000 veteran deaths annually.

And let's not forget our troops currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. They will be veterans too, someday.

For more information, please visit the web site of the Central Coast National Cemetery. Click on "Get Involved" to download a petition to show your support.

Our Central Coast veterans need and deserve an affordable final resting place close to friends and family. Honor their service by helping to make this a reality with a Central Coast National Cemetery.

"Headstone of Wesley M. Houx." Digital image. Photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal, September 19, 2009, Goleta Cemetery, Goleta, Santa Barbara Co., California.

Copyright © by Elizabeth O'Neal

Giving Their Face a Place: Mystery Woman with Scarf

This young woman's photo was found in my grandmother's album (now in the possession of my cousin). I do not know who she is, although I suspect she is a sister, cousin, or other relative of my grandmother, Reba (Dunn) Swanay. The photo is glued to one of those black, paper albums, so there is no way to see if anything is written on the back.

I love the expression on her face, her hair (is that a braid? other decoration?), and the casual pose. I also find her dress fascinating; the scarf pinned to the front of her dress looks almost like a man's tie.

My guess is that the photo was taken some time in the 1920's.

I hope that someone will recognize this lovely lady so I can not only give her face a place... but also a name.

* * *

This post was composed for the 21st Edition, Smile for the Camera: Give Their Face a Place.

"Mystery Woman with Scarf" Digital image. Date unknown. Original photograph privately held by [NAME AND ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Benton Co., Washington. 2010.

Copyright © by Elizabeth O'Neal

Wordless Wednesday: Beautiful Baby Girl

"Reba Dunn: Beautiful Baby Girl" Digital image. Undated. Original photograph privately held by [NAME AND ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Benton Co., Washington. 2010.

About Wordless Wednesday.

Copyright © by Elizabeth O'Neal

Scenes From Around Hearst Castle

A couple weeks ago, my family attended the California C.A.R. State Conference in Cambria which also included a tour of the famous Hearst Castle. Loaded with history, antiques, and intriguing artifacts, Hearst Castle is a photographer's dream location. If your travels ever take you to the San Simeon area, I encourage you to take the tour - it's well worth your time and money.

The wonder of it all...

Yeah, you've seen this before, but I couldn't resist. I've always loved this pool view.

Ordinarily, I don't like a vertical object jutting up in the center of a photo, but I kind of like the way this one separates the blue sky from the clouds. Pure photographic serendipity.

That really should be me lounging by the koi pond.

Even the rich need condiments.

One of the many antique sarcophagi on the property. Apparently they also make nice planters.

Doesn't everyone put their ancient Egyptian sculptures in the backyard?

I'm disappointed that a head ruined this shot, so I slapped a watermark over it. Take that, mystery head!

Who wouldn't love THIS view at the end of the day?

Copyright © by Elizabeth O'Neal

Central Coast Genealogy Calendar: March 2010

Thursday, March 4
Monterey County Genealogical Society
7:00 PM (doors open at 6:00 PM)
Gary Carlsen - "U.S. Gen Web Project"

Saturday, March 6
Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
HOW-TO Genealogy Seminar: Something for Everyone! Featuring The Genealogy Guys!

Saturday, March 6
San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society
12:30 - 1:00 PM - Research Class: Grow Your Tree with Cluster Genealogy – Cafi Cohen
1:00 PM - Business Meeting
1:15 - 1:45 PM - Social time: book and drawing sales, snacks, coffee and tea
1:45 PM – Nancy Loe – "Think Like An Archivist"

Sunday, March 7
Jewish Genealogical Society of the Conejo Valley and Ventura County
1:30 - 3:30 PM
Steve Luxenberg - "Annie’s Ghosts"

Tuesday, March 9
Conejo Valley Genealogical Society
7:00 - 9:00 PM
Computer Interest Group Meeting
Garl Satterthwaite – "Legacy – Beginning to Intermediate"

Friday, March 12
San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society
10:30 AM - Noon
Hands-On Computer Genealogy – "Chinking at the Mortar of Your Brick Walls: Help with online searches"

Saturday, March 13
Ventura County Genealogical Society
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Toby Scott - "Getting the Most Out of Our Computers While Keeping Them Safe"

Tuesday, March 16
Conejo Valley Genealogical Society
6:45 - 8:45 PM - General Meeting
Marc Cohen - "History of Wells Fargo"

Saturday, March 20
Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society
9:30 AM - Special Interest Groups meet
10:30 - 12:00 PM - General Meeting
Cari Thomas - "Triple-Dipping at the U.S. Pension Bureau"

Please send me an email if you would like to have your event included in this monthly calendar series.

Copyright © by Elizabeth O'Neal