Go East Old Man, Pt. 2

My trip to the east coast was timed for Mother’s Day; Mom and I had brunch in the dining room of her community. Below is my official Mother’s Day portrait:



We watched two movies during my visit; one was “Mother” (1996), which I am CONVINCED Debbie Reynolds based her portrayal on my mom…



and “The Devil Wears Prada” (2006). Mom stayed awake during the entire movie. That is the hallmark of a good film! Hopefully when I return this fall we can watch the sequel together.



When the family migrated from California to Pennsylvania, we visited nearby Valley Forge State Park, as seen in the December 1966 photos below:



Exploring the rolling hills, the log cabins, and the other Revolutionary War structures filled me with wonder and helped develop my interest in history.



On this visit when I got a little stir crazy, I suggested we return to Valley Forge. The cabins are still there:



Washington’s soldiers were NOT glamping during that cold winter of 1777-1778!



A selfie outside of Washington’s headquarters:



There have been some modifications to this building over the years in an attempt to bring it back to the period when Washington lived here. Circa 1961:



…and May 2026:






The nearby train station:



Inside you can find some of the artifacts that were recovered from the area:



I hadn’t photographed the nearby Washingto Memorial Chapel in fifteen years…yikes!



I love the Gothic Revival architecture of this structure:






This 1914 bronze sculpture in the Cloisters of the Colonies garden area known as “Sacrifice and Devotion” is by American artist Bela Lyon Pratt, as a dedication to the mothers who lost sons in the war.



The chapel interior is breathtaking:



The dogwoods were in full bloom at the nearby cemetery:



Always red, white, and blue here:



A statue of General Baron von Steuben overlooks the Grand Parade Trail, where my brothers and I used to sled on snow covered hills in our youth:



To have this Park so close to us was a true blessing, at a time when kids explored the land, not their phones.

See more Valley Forge photos at my main website.

Debbie Reynolds for Mother's Day

To celebrate Mother's Day, I recommend watching the lesser-known 1996 gem-of-a-movie "Mother," starring Debbie Reynolds, Albert Brooks, and Rob Morrow. Although the story is about a mother's relationship with her two sons, daughters (and daughters-in-law) will also be able to relate (and sigh) over the insightful statements about the sometimes dysfunctional and smothering qualities that a mother can exhibit towards her "boys."



John Henderson (Albert Brooks) is a mildly successful science fiction writer who has just divorced his second wife.



After a disastrous first date with a bimbo (expertly played by Lisa Kudrow), Henderson wonders where he has gone wrong on all of his relationships with women. Deciding to go back to the source of it all, he moves back into his mother's (Debbie Reynolds) house to perform an experiment, hoping to unravel the mystery of why he is attracted to unsupportive females.



Going so far as to recreate his old room just the way it was when he was growing up, both his mother and supposedly well-adjusted brother find the whole thing baffling.



The best scenes are between Reynolds and Brooks, as their characters muddle through what has always been (at best) a somewhat strained relationship. Brooks' script nails the whole situation and gives Debbie Reynolds the role of a lifetime (originally offered to Doris Day and former First Lady Nancy Reagan). Witty, charming, somewhat sad and wistful, it is a great celebration of mothers and all that they do (and sacrifice) to raise a child.



Two thumbs up on this one!

See more Classic Movie & TV photos on my Classic Movie and TV web pages.