Deep Dive in the Archive + Crowdfunding Support

Click here to back Frostmere on IndieGoGo and read the story.

Digging into the archives: at random, I chose a handwritten postcard sent during the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition. After enhancing the image for readability, I’ve transcribed the message and started uncovering its story. Photos below.

The printed image on the front highlights the California Auditorium at the exposition, a venue used for radio, music, and live performances for visitors attending the fair. The handwritten message captures a personal moment during the trip. Written in cursive, the original text has been enhanced for readability while preserving its original character.

Photos of the front image coming soon.

Frostmere’s Ephemera Project & The Purpose of Crowdfunding

This postcard was purchased by a family on vacation in San Francisco. Keep reading to see why.

Postmark: El Cerrito, California on September 21, 1939 at 11 AM

Front (printed): Golden Gate International Exposition — San Francisco. California Auditorium on the shores of the Lake of the Nations features programs of radio, music and drama for the entertainment of Exposition visitors.

The Transcription:

Dear girls-

We are having a fine time and seeing so many things.

Want to see the bears & animals at the park and then we will tell you all about it when we get home.

Mother & Daddy are fine and will write to you tomorrow night.

We had a long ride today but want to go to the fair tomorrow again.

How’s our 5 girls getting along? Fine we hope.

Will think of you everyday.

Lots of love,

Grandma Sorensen

What stands out is how ordinary and human the message is. This kind of everyday communication gives us a glimpse into how people experienced events like the Golden Gate International Exposition in real time — not as history, but as part of their daily lives.

I’ll continue researching the people and locations connected to this postcard. I’d love to get a close up scan of this one and show the front. One of the many reasons I’m running a solo crowdfunding campaign for this project.

Keep reading for more information and photos about the exposition below.

The Crowdfund Campaign — Ending June 14

The ephemera project and running the online store, Frostmere — re-homing things like this and much more — is a lot of work for one person. The store and more is at Frostmere.co if you’d like to see the work in progress.

The crowdfunding campaign with Indiegogo needs help being seen. If the company or project resonates with you, give it a share. It would mean the world.

The project will continue regardless, but with support, it would look better, run smoother and go faster. The ephemera stories will go on YouTube as soon as I get the equipment listed on the crowdfund website. Working out of a storage unit and living in a small RV in a rural farming town makes it very necessary to make work and life easier and better.

More About The Golden Gate International Exposition, a World’s Fair

The Golden Gate International Exposition was a World’s Fair held on Treasure Island in San Francisco, California, from February 18, 1939, to October 29, 1939, and from May 25, 1940, to September 29, 1940.

It attracted 17 million visitors and celebrated the completion of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, with the theme “A Pageant of the Pacific.”

They were celebrating the completion of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.

Location and Construction: The fair was built on Treasure Island, a 160-hectare (400-acre) artificial island created from dredged bay sediment, funded in part by the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

Architecture and Theme: The site featured a unique style called “Pacifica,” blending Art Deco with Asian and Latin American elements. Iconic structures included the Tower of the Sun, the 80-foot statue of Pacifica, and the Elephant Towers at the entrance.

Attractions: The fair included the “Gayway“ amusement zone with attractions like Sally Rand’s Nude Ranch and a monkey-driven car track, as well as a $40 million art exhibition featuring European works and live “Art in Action“ demonstrations.

Historical Significance: The event hosted the Western Regional semi-final and final rounds of the first-ever NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament, where Oregon defeated Ohio State in the national championship.

Aftermath: The exposition was a financial loss, closing the first season early due to budget issues. Treasure Island was subsequently taken over by the U.S. Navy in 1941 for use as Naval Station Treasure Island during World War II.

Photos of the World’s Fair credit to Calisphere.org and The Donald G. Larson Collection on International Expositions and Fairs, the “Largest comprehensive world’s fair research collection on the West Coast. The collection contains more than 16,000 official guides, pamphlets, postcards, photographs, sheet music, and other materials from over 200 different fairs from 1851 to the present. The nucleus of the collection was donated in the 1970s by Donald G. Larson, an avid collector and local college instructor. Since then, the collection has grown significantly and continues to expand every year.” — Calisphere.org

NOTE: Please do not visit the “contributors website”. It’s not a secure connection despite the link saying, “Digitized Library University of California, Fresno”.

Next Update:

Hopefully more info on the recipients or Grandma Sorensen herself. Do I dig in to Sally Rand’s Nude Ranch or other event pavilions on the newly created island? Should I look into what the island is like now?

If you use Substack, consider checking out frostmere.substack.com as this article is from The Archivist | Frostmere.

Sources: The details about the Golden Gate International Exposition on this postcard are based on well-documented historical sources. Information about the fair’s dates, location on Treasure Island, its ‘Pageant of the Pacific’ theme, and attractions like the Tower of the Sun comes from official records, contemporary newspaper reports from the San Francisco Chronicle, and historical archives from institutions like the Treasure Island Museum and the San Francisco History Center. These sources ensure the facts about this ‘Magic City’ are accurate.

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. frostmere.substack.com

My History-Inspired Business and Staying Sane Through Loss, Stress and Living in an RV

Crowdfunding for new equipment to better document everything and create new.

Photos at the end. Free read link HERE.

My entire business is built on one idea: Pre-owned treasures carry stories worth telling.

I’m not just selling objects — I’m curating a living museum. Each piece comes with the history I’ve dug up, the context that makes it come alive again. I document it and add it to the listing and my archives to be viewed forever.

When you think about it, I’m not just saving interesting things someone else loved with memories attached. I’m kinda saving myself, too.

I’m also going to begin doing the same with my Frostmere Archives YouTube Channel. I built the channel earlier this year, but I need this new equipment to begin that project and continue with the ones I’m doing now for Frostmere.

This project keeps my ADHD brain spinning in the best way — jumping between research, creating on Canva, writing, curation, photography, selling, mundane business stuff and new ideas.

It has turned a lot of hard seasons into something tangible you can hold in your hands — even today is one moment in another difficult season here. Experiencing loss after loss is so hard. It’s even harder to be alone in it. When you think about it, I’m not just saving interesting things someone else loved with memories attached. I’m kinda saving myself, too.

If you’ve ever rescued a forgotten object or felt history whispering through old wood and brass, you’re my people. If you’ve ever been to an estate sale, thrift store or antique mall and you just know the people who once owned these things are long gone and felt the heaviness in the store, you get it.

Though I don’t get attached to the items I’m looking into or selling, I feel good about getting them to another person, a middle-man of sorts, to enjoy like the original owner did. We can’t take any of it with us, but we can sure pass it down, learn about it and live with a little more intention.

The Crowdfunding

Early backers are basically co-creating this living museum with me.

There are 5 reward tiers. They start at $5 and that gets your name on my website in The Legends of Frostmere. Every tier after that also receives that, but you just get a little more every tier. I didn’t set it for crazy amounts, either.

It’s at $15 right now, and I’m incredibly grateful. Honestly, I get $0 if it doesn’t reach the goal. I’m okay with that because I’ll just do it again or find another way. It’s either that or I don’t do anything and I can’t risk that.

Come see what I’m building. Link below the image.

IndieGoGo Campaign for Frostmere Here

As I usually say, if this resonates with you, I encourage you to share it to your people because they may feel the same. If not, no harm done.

I appreciate you for reading this far — even if you skimmed a bit. I’m a wordy person sometimes and I didn’t edit this as I typically would.

Thank you.

Launch is 4/15 at midnight pacific

Frostmere’s crowdfunding campaign launches in less than 24 hours.
I’m building a system to preserve and share real historical objects and their stories.
Follow along — link goes live tonight at midnight.

The page below should show up after that. In the meantime, you can preview it here to learn much more: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/frostmere/history-lives-here

Hello!

I’m crowdfunding my business to update my equi Kent to better preserve and care for the things of the past we can’t replace. Handwriting in pencil from 1902. Old stamps. Tons of things.

Read about it more on my IndieGoGo campaign. It’s published and will be live next week but you can still see everything. There are reward tiers and other perks. It’s just $5 to get your name on my website as a supporter indefinitely.

Frostmere - Indiegogo

I document, inventory, archive, sell new old stuff and old; old stuff. I am a storyteller and I want to take that to YouTube (terrifying) but occasionally. Faceless. I have no desire at all to be any form of famous.

I just want the focus to be on the story. The real life story of whatever info I could find on a person, place or thing. It can live somewhere forever. If someone searches their relatives name or info, they’ll see my video. It’s a long shot from 126+ years ago, but you never know.

If you want to know more, check out my campaign any time (it hasn’t launched yet but I’m in the gather support, inform important and good people phase) to see it.

My project, Frostmere.co, is my love letter to the past.

Let’s be honest, though. As a woman, I love bringing up the past. I come with the proof and making it a whole (true) story. I’m using my powers for good.

I’ve never done anything like this before. I’d love your support. A share, a follow — that’s enough for me.

The link to IndieGoGo:

Frostmere - Indiegogo

Thank you.

My little brother passed suddenly 3 months ago — and his 13-year-old son will have questions that can’t be answered now.

It’s too late for us. It might not be for you.

This sends simple questions to your loved one and turns their answers into a book — without them having to sit down and write it all out.

I have two offers for this:

Discount code: STEFA

Free second book ($99 value) code: STEFABOOK

Or just go to my landing page on Remento at the link below. My story is on that page with the codes. Read it though, at least.

Remento: For friends of Stefa Groves

I’m not trying to make a dollar off my grief. I was just feeling very melancholy the past few weeks.

I didn’t want anyone else to make the same mistakes I did. If they had the chance, I want to tell everyone this thing exists right here and it will not cure anything at all.

Imagine the kids you don’t even have yet or grandkids you hope to have; your own parents, greats and grands.

I think about Remento a lot because it would be so cool to get one every year if I had a baby. Imagine documenting (with or without Remento’s weekly prompts — unlimited recordings though) your entire pregnancy.

The first year, the terrible twos, it’s a living journal — or better yet, a living memory. A living love letter from you to your kids.

Imagine having that from your Mom. Hearing her voice 30 years down the road and reading it in a book — either way, both happen with Remento.

Hearing her experience, things even she won’t remember. The ups and downs. Describing it like you’re there and like she’s talking to you today, not baby-you.

I’d give my ability to walk talk and see to have that from my Mom. The ache I feel — the ache I feel for my 13 year old nephew losing his Dad (my brother) in December — it’s so painful.

I’m not here to trigger anyone but it hurts really, really bad. We have nothing to hold on to. They’re just gone. In my life for the entirety of it and now just vanished. Just a decoration above my TV.

Their memory should live on. They deserve that and so do we.

If you want to check out Remento, that’s amazing.

The founder of Remento and I have a lot in common. Our Moms, cancer and a clock ticking like crazy — too fast. Faster than anyone else’s, it seems. It’s not true but that’s how it feels. Hurry before she slips away — it’s such a panic for me.

But she did slip away. 6 years ago as of 3 days ago. I’ve been deeply depressed, low mood, lonely, heartbroken and many other feelings I can’t articulate.

Mom died March 25, 2020.

Brothers birthday March 21.

Brother died December 16.

My birthday is the 17th.

I never want a birthday again. That’s another story for another day.

We don’t have as much time as we think we do.

It goes by quick and other clichés — but it’s true. I’m a 39 year old childless, motherless, sibling-less woman who is but a moment from becoming a cat lady.

If you’re waiting for anything in life, don’t. There’s never a perfect time for anything. Never.

I’d be grateful if you’d share my link below to your Facebook, friends, anyone. I don’t even care if they use my code. Truly.

I’ll be donating whenever I can to colon cancer, juvenile diabetes and alcoholism related organizations. I’m already an advocate for one of those but I can’t elaborate on it yet.

Wild, right? She got really sick. Hospital for over a month. Just moved 2400 miles away and unfamiliar with everything. Sepsis.

I can’t go in to more than that right now but stick around. You’ll see what I mean eventually. Her body started shutting down in January and she was gone the end of March.

Remento would have been a blessing for me and especially for my nephew who was 7 at the time. She was second Mom to him. I was third.

That kid…what an awful age to lose your Dad. 13. He’s really struggling. Hugs his Dads stuffed teddy bear he had when we were kids. Failing school completely. I’m trying to uproot my life and move to be close to him. I just can’t afford it yet but I am trying. I’d be going alone.

My husband would be staying here. That’s also a story for another day. A very painful one. Debbie Downer here.

If you still have a Mom, and you are on good terms or whatever, will you please hug her and say it’s from me? A total stranger? I promise I’m not weird. Well, not creepy anyway. I’m just Stef.

What I wouldn’t give to hear my family speak one more time. Even just a recording that says I love you.

Remento: For friends of Stefa Groves

If you’re going through a rough time, reach out to someone. Maybe don’t publish anything online immediately.

Just dial 988 (in the US) on your phone to reach a real human that is trained to help and genuinely cares.

They’ll listen to you, help you, etc. You don’t have to talk on the phone. They use text, chat, etc.

I’ve talked to them maybe 3x over the years. I don’t want to end things, I just needed an adult. As an adult.

One other resource is NAMI. Free. Help for caregivers, mental health — everything. Group therapy in person and online, therapy, resources, reading, volunteering, so much info.

Take care.

Free Read

With the RV and camping season upon us, this stuff is need-to-know. There’s always that one person every weekend that tows like they have one brain cell and it’s dedicated solely to partying. They seem to not care who is safe, if their passengers (usually family) stays safe or they just don’t know. I like to think they don’t know.

If you don’t know, towing wrong costs people their lives constantly. It also costs the lives of those around them when it goes very wrong.

That being said — go get your tires rotated, get new ones, balance, whatever else you can do because too many don’t pay enough attention to their tires.

If your RV isn’t loaded correctly, it’s not just inconvenient — it can be dangerous. If you can stomach it, google the aftermath of a non-fatal RV accident caused by improper towing.

Poor weight distribution is one of the biggest causes of trailer sway, uneven tire wear, and even accidents on the road.

This quick cheat sheet will help you load your RV safely and confidently.

Key Weights to Know

• Dry Weight (Empty Weight): Your RV with no water, propane, or cargo
• GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating): The maximum safe operating weight — never exceed this
• Payload Capacity: GVWR minus dry weight — this is what you can actually add
• Tongue Weight: 10–15% of your total loaded weight should be on the hitch

Weight Distribution Rules

• Front to Back: Place heavier items toward the center of the RV
• Side to Side: Keep weight balanced to prevent sway
• Vertical: Keep cargo low — high weight raises your center of gravity
• Axles: Distribute weight evenly to avoid overloading one axle

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Overloading the rear (very common with storage compartments)
• Packing too much on the roof (hurts stability and aerodynamics)
• Putting all water or propane weight on one side
• Ignoring tongue weight — too light causes sway, too heavy strains your vehicle

Quick Checklist Before You Hit the Road

(Save or print this or just print the cheat sheet I made below)

• Weigh your fully loaded RV at a truck scale
• Confirm you are under GVWR
• Check tongue weight is 10–15%
• Make sure your tow vehicle can handle the load
• Distribute cargo evenly — heaviest items centered over the axles

Final Thought

A properly loaded RV doesn’t just protect your vehicle — it protects you, your passengers, and everyone else on the road.

Take a few extra minutes to get it right. It’s worth it to everyone anywhere near your vehicle — like puppies, kitties and children.

Here’s what I use for stability when towing. It’s called a sway bar or weight distribution hitch. Camco makes a good one too. We couldn’t tow our RV without it. It even adds 500 safety points to your towing reputation.

Amazon.com: Eaz Lift Hitch Parts

A handful of things my husband and I check + solutions

Free Read

If you’re living the nomadic life in an RV (or van) or are planning a trip, there’s a handful of things my husband and I check every single time.

We live in ours are aren’t traveling at the moment, but these things still have to be checked.

#1 Tires & Fluids

Basic, yes, but skipping this is a fast track to a headache or danger. Tires should be your number one thing. If you don’t know much about tires, here’s the long and short of it: they EXPIRE. Shelf life is a thing — How long can a thing be on a shelf (properly stored where ever) before its stuff breaks down and it’s not as effective (or effective at all)?

Rubber breaks down over time from oxidation, UV exposure, heat, and ozone. This causes the rubber to harden, crack (dry rot), and lose structural integrity — raising the risk of blowouts. We’ve all seen dry rubber that flakes away to nothing, right?

Most people have probably known someone who has been injured or died because they or someone driving near them had a blowout possibly causing them to crossing over the line head on.

It’s my responsibility to myself and others to maintain anything I drive. Life or death. Tire shop people aren’t always “trying to hose you” when they measure wear or say you have abnormal wear. Just listen to them and ask them to show you and explain. It’s perfectly fine to say I don’t know.

#2 Battery & Power Backup

Jackery or Bluetti Power Stations make life easy. Seriously. I’m in the market for a new Power Station for a project I’m doing. I don’t exactly have a work shop or garage to do things in so thats the next best thing. I’ll link a few of them below!

Jackery

• Jackery Explorer 600 Plus Portable Power Station - Jackery
• Jackery Solar Generator HomePower 3600 Plus - Jackery

The Jackery Solar Generator HomePower 3600 Plus says it’s for RVs, off-grid living and more. It’s on sale as of March 7, 2026.

Bluetti

• Deal: BLUETTI Elite 400 Portable Power Station, 3840Wh LFP Batttery Backup with 2600W AC Outlets (3900W Power Lifting), High Capacity Solar Generator with Wheels for Home Backup, Outage, RV Life, Camping
• BLUETTI AC200L Portable Power Station, 2048Wh LiFePO4 Battery Backup, Expandable to 8192Wh w/ 4 2400W AC Outlets (3600W Power Lifting), 30A RV Output, Solar Generator for Camping, Home Use, Emergency
• BLUETTI AC200PL Solar Generator with 2 200W Solar Panel (Ship Separately), 2304Wh Portable Power Station, Expandable to 8448Wh, 4 2400W AC Outlets (3600W Power Lifting), TT30 Output for RV, Outage

On sale (Below): Car + Solar

Reverse charge your starter battery with a BLUETTI power station or battery pack via the 𝑩𝑨𝑻 𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕. Also includes Trickle Charge and Pulse Maintenance for battery care. [No Car Battery Drain] — Continuously monitors battery voltage, stops drawing power when the engine is off, and uses a precise D+ signal to communicate with modern smart alternator

Deal: BLUETTI Charger 2, 1200W Alternator & DC-DC Charger, Dual Input (Car + Solar), 13× Faster Car Charging for Portable Power Stations, Emergency Jumpstarter for Road Trips & RVs

If you try out any of these, let us know in the comments and tell us your favorite features and how it’s made your life easier.

#3 Route & Stops

Apps help, but always double-check for closures or weird construction. Google whatever State you’re traveling through in the US (I don’t know if other countries do this) and “Department of Transportation Traffic Cameras”. You can see in real time what a road is like, see a map for congestion and weather. There’s more to it, but you’ll see.

Don’t forget to be mindful of low bridges and tunnels. We got lucky going through Portland with our travel trailer somehow. It’s not like we could turn around and we’d never been there before or since.

Pay attention to signs! If a sign says NO RECREATIONAL VEHICLES BEYOND THIS POINT — don’t take it as a suggestion or even a warning. I have already tested this for you and they’re very serious.

My husband can drive our truck and trailer up a mountain in Oregon without rolling off and dying. We had to go to the very top though before we could turn around. It was a big mountain, one “lane” road, trees and the Ocean. Of course someone was coming up as we were going back down. My nerves are still recovering 8 years later.

Already in the middle of no where, no cell service and you need a Map or any sort of help?

Try this: Starlink Mini. Very simple, affordable and a literal life saver. Very small, too. Most RVers mount them on the back, or on their vehicle. If you want to check that out, here’s my referral link.

Starlink

Check your smart phone for “Satellite” connection option. If you have it on and your phone has no wifi or cellular service, Satellite is then available. You can do a “demo” on your iPhone (I don’t know about Android) and it’s easy to figure out.

4. Supplies — Water, propane, basic tools. Heavy stuff stays or is placed in a way that it balances weight. If you don’t know how to pack up an RV for weight distribution, that’s totally fine.

Amazon.com: Tool Kit For Home

Don’t forget to get a water hose. Don’t think any hose will work. It will fill with green algae mold stuff.

Amazon.com: Rv Water Hose

5. Entertainment & downtime — Bring a book, a sketchpad, or a little project. I sometimes research history along the way — it’s my hobby meets road trip. You don’t always need an itinerary. Half the fun is wondering what’s down this path or road and then finding an magical hot spring or waterfall. If you’re more homebodies or you like to take a break at some point from wandering aimlessly, here’s some ideas below.

• Try Not to Laugh Challenge Would You Rather? Campfire Edition: A Camping-Themed Interactive & Family Friendly Question Game for Boys, Girls, Kids, Tweens & Teens
• Amazon.com: Camping Essentials

It’s simple, it’s fast, and it keeps trips smooth. Small prep, big peace of mind. You probably have some of these things. You don’t need to get them all or buy all of them at once, either. There are plenty of deals in the off-season and lots of sales in Spring.

Thanks for reading.

• Yellowstone Tourist Mistakes I Saw While Living There
• From Camping with a Truck Tent to Living in an RV
• Is RV Living Worth It?

Check out my list (below or on my profile) for more Travel and RV related articles. I’m always writing in this category. If you liked any of this, give me a follow!

List: RV Living & Travel | Curated by Stefa Groves | Medium

One more thing: If you like Amazon like I do, check out my Amazon storefront and let me know what you think. If it’s up your alley, give me a follow.

Curating Life | By Stef's Amazon Page

What it is and who it actually helps

I’m not someone who blindly cheers for every government program. I also don’t think everyone using assistance is gaming the system.

Most people are just trying to get through the month.

When I saw that Amazon lets people pay with SNAP EBT, I paid attention because it’s just practical.

If this helps even one single mom skip a bus ride with groceries or get food delivered when she’s exhausted, that matters.

Here’s what it actually is.

What Is “Amazon Pay with SNAP EBT”?

Amazon allows eligible customers to use their SNAP EBT card directly on Amazon.com.

That includes:

• SNAP-eligible groceries
• Amazon Fresh (in participating areas)
• Pantry staples
• Household food items that qualify under SNAP rules

You add your EBT card to your Amazon account like any other payment method. Eligible items are marked clearly.

At checkout, the SNAP-approved portion is charged to your EBT balance. Non-eligible items have to be paid for separately.

Bigger Deal Than It Sounds

For some people, this is convenience and for others, it’s access.

Not everyone lives near a full grocery store. I don’t! Not everyone has reliable transportation. Not everyone can carry heavy bags on a bus. Not everyone has the time to comparison shop across three stores with kids in tow.

Online ordering can:

• Reduce transportation barriers
• Provide clearer price comparisons
• Allow shopping after work hours
• Help people plan purchases instead of impulse buying

It also gives access to Amazon Fresh in qualifying areas, which can include produce and perishables.

What You Can and Can’t Buy

You can use SNAP EBT for:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Meat, poultry, fish
• Dairy
• Bread and cereals
• Snack foods
• Non-alcoholic beverages

You cannot use SNAP for:

• Alcohol
• Tobacco
• Vitamins or supplements
• Hot prepared foods
• Household supplies
• Anyone not in your household

Amazon separates eligible and non-eligible items automatically at checkout. Check it out with my link below or read on for more.

Amazon.com - Pay with SNAP EBT

The Prime Question

Amazon also offers discounted Prime memberships for people receiving government assistance.

That means access to delivery benefits at a reduced cost. For families who rely heavily on online grocery ordering, that can matter.

Again — not a miracle solution. Just another tool.

Why I’m Sharing This

I’m selective about what I share. I don’t promote things I wouldn’t stand behind and use myself. If someone reading this qualifies for SNAP and didn’t realize they could use it on Amazon, that’s useful information.

You won’t get any judgement from me. I’ve been there. Don’t feel any shame. You’re doing what you need to do to survive and I’d bet it’s for more than just yourself.

I’m very aware it’s abused and I don’t want to gloss over that at all. That’s a whole other topic for a different day.

Some of the richest, smartest and happiest (I don’t mean all 3 at once but it’s possible) people today at one point couldn’t afford food. Food is so expensive.

If you think something isn’t possible or you feel like you’ll be in this place forever? Let me just say you won’t. It feels like it sometimes or maybe all the time but it won’t be forever unless you let it.

The greatest thing about this life is you get to choose it.

If you want to see how it works, you can check out Amazon’s SNAP EBT program page and see if your state is eligible.

If it helps you or someone you know, good. Let me know, too.

Thank you for reading.

Amazon.com - Pay with SNAP EBT

If you use my link, I get commission as an Amazon associate. Every little bit helps.

A Turning Point in History and My Personal Connection

Free Read

December 17th has always been more than just my birthday — it’s the day the Wright brothers made history in 1903 with the first powered flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Aviation has always been a part of my world — my family’s history, my upbringing, my work and even my curiosity-driven business. It feels fitting that this date also links two of my favorite things: history and flight.

Coincidentally, I grew up around airplanes. Both of my parents worked in aviation (avionics). It was my first job at age 11. My Dad was drafted into the Air Force for Vietnam. My husband’s Grandpa is a retired Lt. Col. in the Air Force, having trained to fly. I met my husband through aviation ties even though he wasn’t anywhere near it, never flew before.

Side note: my husbands Grandpa, my Dad and my husbands Dad all have the same name which is also my Mom and my husbands middle name.

Orville and Wilbur Wright weren’t born geniuses — they were tinkerers, dreamers, and relentless experimenters. They started with bicycles and moved on to gliders, learning through trial, error, and persistence.

Early attempts were riddled with failures: gliders that crashed, wings that failed, and engines that couldn’t provide enough power. Many would have given up, but they approached each failure as data, each crash as a lesson. Their meticulous attention to detail and willingness to question everything kept their dream alive.

As my late brother always said:

“Two wrongs don’t make a right, but two Wright’s make an airplane.” — C.M.

Even then, their achievement didn’t happen in isolation. Leonardo da Vinci had sketched flying machines (around a dozen) centuries earlier, imagining wings and mechanics that inspired countless inventors to come. The Wright brothers stood on the shoulders of centuries of dreamers, taking what was theoretical and making it real.

Their journey wasn’t glamorous. They faced skepticism, harsh weather, and the very real possibility that their experiments could fail completely.

Yet, December 17, 1903, marked a success born of persistence, ingenuity, and courage — qualities that resonate with me personally and professionally. It’s a reminder that curiosity, creativity, and dedication can turn impossible ideas into reality.

For me, history isn’t just dates and facts — it’s about the stories of people who dared to try, who experimented, failed, and tried again. It’s why my business focuses on uncovering the provenance of objects, the hidden tales behind things, and celebrating the ingenuity of people who came before. Honoring them.

It’s more than retail — it’s a living museum housing research, offering authenticity and history in everything sold or told, and giving respect to what once was.

It’s my “love letter to the past”

If you enjoy learning the stories behind history, check out some of my other articles exploring history, family memories, and uncovering forgotten details from the past + Frostmere, my (very) small business.

Those (free read) links are here:

• Forever Preserve Your Family Stories & Record Memories in a Book
• Frostmere | History Lives Here

Frostmere.co

If you like history, take a moment to check out my ever-evolving and growing website, Frostmere. It’s a year old this July.

The Archives of Frostmere holds history cards I make for a bite-size lesson about an item I’m selling or just something I found interesting.

I’m learning as I go, too.

Now, go Wright your wrongs.

Thanks for reading!

Need Provenance Research done? Request it here:

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Link: FREE READ

If colorectal cancer feels like something that happens to “older people,” that belief is now dangerously out of date.

Among Americans under 50, colorectal cancer has become the leading cause of cancer death. Researchers did not expect this to happen until around 2030. It arrived years early. At the same time, deaths from many other cancers in younger adults are declining, not increasing.

This is not abstract for me.

My mom was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2010. She died in March 2020 at age 67 after a ten-year fight that included three recurrences. Her final months were made worse by the pandemic. I could not be with her when she died.

If writing this convinces even one person to push for screening, or to push back when their symptoms are brushed off, then it is worth every uncomfortable sentence.

Honestly, I would rather be mildly humiliated in a clinic for an hour than look a child in the face and explain that I am dying.

Worried about the after affects? How you can’t leave until you audibly pass gas? Who cares. Those people are paid to listen to it. Give them a symphony. Just give ’em hell. Laugh. Go home. Exhale.

Colorectal cancer did not quietly climb the rankings. It surged.

A major analysis of nearly 1.3 million cancer deaths in Americans under 50 found that colorectal cancer rose from the fifth leading cause of cancer death in 1990 to the first by 2023. Researchers expected that shift closer to 2030. Instead, it arrived about seven years early.

One of the study authors described colorectal cancer in younger adults as an outlier because it is rising while overall cancer deaths in this age group are falling.

Since 1990, total cancer death rates in people under 50 have dropped by about 44 percent. Deaths from lung cancer, leukemia, and breast cancer are all down. Colorectal cancer is moving in the opposite direction, increasing by roughly one percent per year since 2005.

For colorectal cancer specialists, this is not just concerning. It is alarming.

When people ask why this is happening, the honest answer is uncomfortable: we do not fully know yet.

About one in five colorectal cancer cases is now diagnosed in people 54 or younger. That proportion has roughly doubled since the mid-1990s. Researchers have identified several strong suspects, but no single explanation.

Lifestyle and environment are part of the picture. Rising obesity rates, highly sedentary lives, and diets heavy in ultra-processed foods and low in fiber are all associated with increased risk.

The gut microbiome is another focus. Certain bacteria produce toxins that can damage DNA or drive chronic inflammation. One example is colibactin, a toxin made by some strains of E. coli. It has been found far more often in younger colorectal cancer patients than in older ones.

Chronic inflammation also matters. Inflammatory bowel disease and long-standing, poorly understood gut inflammation are associated with higher risk. Repeated disruptions to the microbiome, including frequent antibiotic use, are being studied as well.

Then there is the human side that rarely fits neatly into bullet points.

Some people carry stress in their gut for years. Symptoms like cramps, diarrhea, constipation, and nausea get labeled as anxiety or IBS without deeper investigation.

Some people have been told for years that their symptoms are “probably something you ate.”

Some people assume cancer only matters if it runs in families, even though many colorectal cancers, especially in younger adults, are not purely genetic.

Some people are adopted and do not have access to their family history at all.

Some people live with low-grade inflammation that has never been named, only tolerated.

When headlines say the causes remain unclear, what they really mean is that this is likely a complex mix of genes, environment, diet, microbiome changes, stress, and uneven access to healthcare. That mix is evolving faster than our understanding.

Right now, major guidelines recommend colorectal cancer screening starting at age 45 for people at average risk.

That guidance matters because it drives insurance coverage and gives clinicians a standard to follow. But age 45 is not a force field.

Cancer does not wait politely for birthdays. It barges through a wall like the Kool-Aid guy. Oh yeah.

There are many reasons someone might need screening, or at least a serious conversation, before 45. Persistent symptoms matter. Blood in the stool is not normal. Unexplained iron-deficiency anemia is not normal. Ongoing changes in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, or abdominal pain that does not resolve deserve attention.

Family history matters, but so does the absence of information. If you are adopted or your family history is unknown, “no known family history” does not mean low risk.

Inflammatory bowel disease and long-standing inflammatory gut conditions raise risk and often warrant earlier screening. Don’t wait for your insurance company to tell you when to check. It’s not worth their bottom line.

A strong, persistent sense that something is wrong should not be ignored simply because a guideline age has not been reached.

Screening guidelines are a floor, not a ceiling.

Everyone has a colon. Not everyone has the same risk.

Some bodies live under constant stress, which can affect sleep, diet, immune function, inflammation, and health behaviors over time.

Some bodies carry inflammatory conditions that were never properly diagnosed.

Some bodies carry genetic risk they do not know about. Others develop cancer with no identifiable genetic trigger at all.

Some people delay care because they cannot afford time off, have had bad experiences with healthcare, or were never told that screening was an option.

Lowering the screening age was a step forward. Treating that age as sacred leaves people behind.

My mom’s timeline felt both endless and brutally short.

She was diagnosed in 2010. The cancer came back. Then it came back again. Three recurrences over ten years.

Her life became a cycle of scans, appointments, waiting rooms, and conversations no one ever gets used to. Each recurrence took something from her. Energy. Her smile. Appetite. Privacy. Dignity. Hair. Life.

She died in March 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, when hospital rules meant phone calls instead of hand-holding. There was no memorial. No crowded living room filled with stories. The loss was loud, and the support was quiet. Invisible. Grief requires a witness.

Would earlier screening have saved her? There is no way to know, and that question can hollow you out if you let it.

I can tell you she had regular colonoscopies as soon as they told her to start getting them. The one she had that said it was cancer? She demanded that one. It wasn’t “time” yet for her next one. She said get me one NOW. It was stage 3.

Next day she was in surgery to remove 9" of bowel and 14 lymph nodes. Shortly after healing, she began chemo. They overdosed her with chemo, never taking into account the weight she’d been losing. They were dosing her for someone who weighted 70 pounds more than she did by the end of it.

I hate to say it, but I often wonder if that’s why she made it to 10 years.

What is clear is that colorectal cancer caught early is far more treatable. Sometimes it is preventable altogether when precancerous polyps are removed. It’s the most curable cancer there is if caught in time.

If someone had offered her a colonoscopy years earlier, she would have complained about the prep, rolled her eyes, and gone anyway. Knowing what I know now, I would have driven her myself.

Here is the uncomfortable but simple checklist.

Know the guideline age, but do not be limited by it.

If you are 45 or older, get screened. If you are younger and have symptoms or risk factors, talk to a doctor now.

Pay attention to your gut. Literally.

Blood in the stool is not normal. Long-lasting changes in bowel habits are not “just stress” until something serious has actually been ruled out.

Ask direct questions.

Ask what the plan is if symptoms persist.

If you are adopted or unsure of your family history, say that clearly.

Treat embarrassment as a small price for a longer life.

Colonoscopy prep is unpleasant. The procedure itself is awkward. The jokes write themselves. Cancer treatment is worse in every imaginable way.

Colorectal cancer is now killing more young Americans than any other cancer. The causes are still being untangled, but the stakes are already clear.

Make the call. Schedule the test. Ask the awkward question. Please. Seriously.

Your future self, and the people who love you, deserve it.

Including me — I care. I want you to be safe, happy and healthy, too.

It’s really not a big deal, right? You only have to do three things to get a colonoscopy done. I’m breaking this down into its crude form and even though its funny, it’s still true.

Colonoscopy Prep + Procedure:

1. Empty bowels
2. Take a nap
3. Fart a lot

Done! You go home, have some pancakes, maybe nap again, go back to life.

What’s the worst that could happen? You’re told you have a thing and here’s how we treat it? You can’t treat it if you don’t know.

Now I need to take my own advice and make an appointment because I’ve got some issues I need to look in to. Wish me luck.