Childhood

--------------------------- Before kids ----------------------------

Mom and Dad in 1962 (before marriage and kids)


Mom and Dad as a young couple

--------------------------- Very young -----------------------------

Bridget and Brian, 1967

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Bert, Bridget, and Brian


Bert, Bridget, and Brian (in Gilman)


Crow
From: Liz Donahoe [mailto:lizdonahoe@gmail.com] Sent: Saturday, August 23, 2014 11:07 AM To: Brian Donahoe Subject: Re: crow

The way I remember it, we got the crow in the Spring of 1967. The Wasmers, who lived across the street from the grain elevator, gave it to us. Mr. Wasmer was a good buddy to your Dad's and asked me if I would like one. Guess he had a nest on his property, which he rated. He waited till the crow was several weeks old and then went and raided the nest. I kept the little baby crow (Blackie) on the kitchen counter in a tall box. Fed it scrambled eggs, lettuce and raw ground beef. As it grew that spring it got too big for the box and was already making a racket. So, overnight we would put it in a cage in the garage. During the day, your Dad and I would let it run around outside with us present. It would always come back to me, as it associated me as his Mama. By late summer, your Dad decided it needed to learn how to fly. So he used to climb on the old picnic table and he would throw it in the air. Didn't take long and, maybe just a couple of days, and it was flying quite well. It would never leave our property and just follow me around, either flying on my shoulder or walking along. It would also start bugging the hell out of you and Bridget, and the dog, Buck. But Bridget was more aggressive and she would swat the little bugger, but actually never getting it. You just cried cause you did not swat at anything, so the crow would take your food, toys or whatever you had and put it on the roof. Mostly all your matchbox cars, or a cookie I gave you.

By late fall, the crow was quite accustomed to not coming back into the cage in the garage and would spend the night outside. None of us knew where it slept. By morning sun rise, that bugger would peck on my bedroom window and just make a racket for food. I had an old glass ashtray that I would fill with stuff and it was happy, even an occasional balogne sandwich. It hung around the house that entire winter and into the following spring, there is bird poop all over the window sills outside.

We all used to hang our laundry outside, so this crow had given itself a larger territory and went up and down the block taking down laundry and putting it on other peoples roof. It also peaked in other peoples windows and made a racket. The Legans next door to us had an electric wire going close to their bathroom window. That crow would go there every morning and watch Jack Legan shave and shower, he just loved that. The crow would always wait for me to leave the house, by walking or by car, it would follow us into town, to the post office, the park, grocery shopping. You name it, it would follow us, and then just fly off and go back home.

Well, the reason I had to get rid of it, it was annoying our neighbors. It would swoop down from the sky and scare the hell out of them. So, I went to the vet and asked him if he knew someone who would like it, that lived more isolated. He found a farmer who was thrilled to have it as a pet. That guy also kept it in a cage for a while so, it would get acquainted with his place. So, to answer your question, we probably had that crow for a good year. Moral of the story is: It is a wild animal and does not have good manner with people around. I personally think, they are better watch dogs then dogs, cause this sucker let no one on our property, actually a very smart bird. I know this is a bit long, but now you know the rest of the story.

Mom

   
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Brian and Patrick at a carnival


Patrick very young


Brian



----------------------------- Youth -----------------------------

Brian, Patrick, and Bridget shortly after getting our first dog (Ginger), in 1973


Brian



Brian, Patrick, Mom, and Bridget at the zoo


Brian missing a couple of teeth, sitting outside back door


Brian as a cubscout


Brian and Ginger


Brian and Bridget outsidethe back porch


Brian


Brian and Patrick outsidethe back porch


The whole family outside the back porch


Ginger


Brian, Ginger, and Mom (1978)


One of many trips to Minocqua
 Top (left to right): Dad (Bert), Uncle Bill, cousin Tim, cousin Nancy?, Aunt Mary, Mom (Liz), Aunt Jane
Bottom (left to right): ?, cousin Gina, cousin Jane?, sister Bridget?, cousin Jim, cousin Joe


----------------------------- Teenager -----------------------------



family


Piano
Bridget learned on this nameless player baby grand piano


Patrick, Brian, and Bridget right after Brians Highschool graduation (1983)


Brian and girlfriend Tami at highschool graduation (1983)


----------------------------- College age -----------------------------



family at Patrick's graduation


family


Brian (1985)


Brian, Bridget, and Patrick


Brian at his first job out of college (at Heurikon, now Artysan)


Brian and guitar


Patrick, Bridget, and Brian (1988)

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Brian, Liz, Patrick, Bridget (Patrick's graduation, 1988)

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