Dear Readers,
Most of you may know this year has been filled with many challenges for me and my family, this new one is a real whopper, I must move from my home of nine years, one that I shared with Mark briefly during our final years together. So saying this, I was thrilled to find this photo. It is my very favorite of mine of the many I have of Mark as his expression is so happy and at peace. My Mark, as I knew him, loved the water and in this photo, he was up North with friends a trip he took in the last ten years from now, one of who also took this shot, however because I didn't write the information down, the exacts of the photo's history, well the information is breaking down and all I really know is how much I like it. Mark now sits on my desk, I can gaze back at Mark starring back at me, and I feel he and I can share our thoughts, though most of mine are spoken, he just sits there and smiles.
Also, as such, I am down sizing. I have given Irene Silbert most of Mark's collection of Plays and Erika Nadir most of his guitar sheet music and Jean's classical sheet music. Erika also was kind enough to take those famous gigantic photo of Mark's Dad, Herb Voland and three lovely black & white large vintage shots of Jean when she was younger, like us. Erika has contacted David Read (Dread to the rest of us) who now apparently lives back up in northern CA, and who has offered Dread one of the large Jean vintage photos of her; Dread and Jean formed a very special bond during the reign of his and Mark's friendship, Dread behaved like a true son to her so I am happy he may take one of these fabulous photos of Jean (will post later the shots I speak of, no time to be perfect today). The shot of Herb was also one Dread took and it was quite large at 36" x 40" I think.
I am still downsizing and taking the collections of memorabilia with me as having to move and finding a place was a traumatic event, which had a path all its own and one I am not finished with yet. Mark's cousin Laura has graciously offered to take the boxes of Jean's collections and collections and collections, however I think I may go through them again after the move and change my thinking of what to send to her. There are duplicates and maybe things that might be better off here or with the vast network of Marks friends out there, including Laura, his cousin. I spoke with Irene when I gave her the plays, about how I had thought about maybe doing an art show about the Voland family, for they should be remembered for who they were, each and everyone of them was filled with a talent so huge, I still feel an awe moment to have been shared in this life experience. If this comes to pass, I will need lots of insight from all of you to help bring your stories to light as this is not my story, but ours and the stories we remember of Mark and his family. I have been given permission to give these precious objects away (from Bonnie Voland, Hayley's Mom) and perhaps when the dust from moving is settled, I can add this task to my list, scanning and posting the family history, I have found some very remarkable items.
So happy sailing to us all as I start a new adventure, into a new home and organize over ten years of ignored chaos, which started for me back in 2001 and now with the grace of the universe, and much hope, I will get the minutes I need to finish this project (my moving) and get back to you after the move.
Please send me your thoughts and let me know who is out there. The Voland family was a world unlike any I ever experienced and I am glad to be the keeper of the family history; now I want to share more of it with you, if you would like. Those who have shared your desires with me to their past, no worries, I know what you are looking for, but there are some of you, well, who haven't, so I want to let you all know this is a great time to think about it and let me know- JP
