On January 6, 2019, my dad died after 88 years on this earth… He was the funniest person I ever knew. He had many dad-isms, but one of his staples was his response when someone asked him if he would like a beer. He would shrug, act as if he had no preference whatsoever, and then finally relent and say, “…Sure… just to be sociable…” It never got old.
He and my mom were married for 61 years until his death, and I am grateful every day for the life they gave me and my six siblings. It’s been 49 years since they left Brooklyn with us packed in a motorhome and traveled to Loveland, Colorado, where they “crested the hill and were hooked, mesmerized really, by the sight of Longs Peak and Mount Meeker towering over the shimmering water of Boyd Lake”* — and put down their forever roots. My husband and I chose the same city to put down roots for our three kids and have never looked back.
…when someone asked him if he would like a beer… He would shrug, act as if he had no preference whatsoever, and then finally relent and say, “…Sure… just to be sociable…” It never got old.
COVID-19 has led me to reflect, redefine, and renew where I stand in this world. Simply stated, I have had a tad bit of time on my hands to explore other interests over the last few months… I thought I just might expand beyond my/our comfortable little existence – along came this blog. Great obstacles can lead to great adventures.
I seek out taking on projects, working around obstacles, living simply, finding humor, educating myself, sharing with others, and moving forward. I thought I would share the journey and see where we end up.
Welcome to Just to be Sociable!
Mary McQuade
August 2020
Mary lives in Loveland, CO, with her husband, Paul, their three kids, and two cats.
* This is an excerpt from a speech our daughter, Ava, wrote about “Loveland, My Community.” If you ever want to read the whole speech, let me know – it’s great!
