Archive for the 'Long Ago & Far Away' Category

Christmas 1963

Published on December 23, 2009 in Family and Long Ago & Far Away. 1 Comment

This pic is dated 1963, which means it was taken in Bolivia, the Christmas before my brother Dennis was born. (click to enlarge)

Several things I like about this picture:

  • The people in it, of course! My Grandpa Brown (Oscar), my Dad, my two older brothers (Rick and Ken) and me
  • The simple toys! A boat, a model airplane, a wooden tool bench
  • The clothes! I love those suits and narrow ties on my Dad and Grandpa!

An old home movie (and a nice surprise!)

Published on November 23, 2009 in Family, Friends and Long Ago & Far Away. 1 Comment

I’ve seen lots of pictures of me when I was a kid, but never a home movie — until today! Long-time family friends Gerald and Margaret Lemmons recently gave my parents this short clip from their collection of old movies.

It was 1965, and our family was visiting theirs in New York City. Yup. Here’s a little bit of evidence that I was there! (At the zoo anyway!!)

In this movie: Gene and Betty Comfort, my parents; my older brothers, Rick and Ken; my younger brother, Dennis, Gerald and Margaret’s son, Mike; and a split-second glimpse of Margaret by the picnic table!

Very, very cool! Thanks Gerald and Margaret!

Days of Reconnection! (With more to come…)

Published on January 3, 2009 in Friends and Long Ago & Far Away. 2 Comments

I have had a very adventurous life, having lived for extended periods in many different places around the world. In each place, I have been blessed with the friendship of many special and wonderful people. Sadly though, as I moved from place to place, I lost contact with all or most of the special people from the previous places that I had left. Letter writing and phone calling just weren’t (and still aren’t) my thing…

Recently, through various internet tools (Facebook being the main one, but also Linked-In and Google), I have been reconnecting with friends from most of the different phases of my life! This is awesome!

Examples:

  • Rondo: A 4th and 5th grade classmate from the American Cooperative School in La Paz, Bolivia, who now lives in California
  • Ricky and many other friends and classmates from Newberg High School (several who were my friends from 6th grade at Central Elementary School all the way through graduation)
  • Ed: A Canadian classmate from the Torchbearer Bible Schools I attended in Germany and Austria
  • Joel, Chris, Tina and Michele: friends from the Graphic Design program at Portland Community College
  • Monika (from Austria): One of my six “sisters” from when I was on staff at the summer camp in Spain
  • Many friends and co-workers from the last twenty-something years here in Oregon

Wow! I am really loving this! I am recovering some of the valued friendships and connections I thought were lost! I am looking forward to more contact with these friends, as well as finding additional “long-lost friends”!

Here are the many important places and treasured phases of my life:

  1. Bolivia 1961-72 ( (birth through 5th grade) We moved many times, including to Oregon three times. I went to 5 different elementary schools!
  2. Oregon 1972-79 (6th-12th grades)
  3. West Germany and Austria 1979-80 (Bible college)
  4. Oregon 1981-83 (Portland Community College)
  5. Spain 1985 (working at Mar Cristalino, a camp on the Mediterranian sea)
  6. Oregon 1986-2009 (marriage and family, and work at Printistry, Barclay Press, and Vineyard Graphics)