Paul Tapley was born at Bondi Farm, December 24, 1918. Shortly after the Armistice that ended the Great War, the war to end all wars (how little we knew).
Joseph and Elizabeth christened him Paul Pax Tapley. Yes, he was named for the Peace. Both the Peace of the War's end, and the greater Peace of the Christmas season. the black and white photo shows baby Paul in his Mother's lap on the wagon with Frank and Hector, the team of horses.
Joseph Tapley's diaries dating back into the 1890's provide plenty of interesting reading and insight. On Nov. 11, 1918, he noted "The news reached here between 11 and 12 a.m. Oh God! Our help in ages past." That was news that travelled with incredible speed in an age that never knew the internet. Phone lines had been installed at Bondi in 1916, but all the same, that's fast news.
Despite the bay being frozen over, a spell of remarkably mild rainy weather removed almost all the snow by December 23rd, and it looked like a green Christmas.
That changed on December 24th, with the advent of a solid blizzard. Dr. Hart was summoned to the farm house in the evening, arriving by automobile through the storm about 9 p.m. Elizabeth climbed out of bed, and fixed a hot dinner for the doctor before climbing back into the bed and delivering her son at 9,45. Dr. Hart's fee was $30.00.
Paul loved to fly -- Brian now pilot's his Piper cub. Brenda Wainman Goulet created a lifesize sculpture of a red tail hawk in full flight that resides on our lawn and commemorates Paul's memory. Of course, everywhere we look here, we see his memory. And on the date of his birth, the eve of Christmas day, we remember him.
In his last years, Paul, despite all his travels and adventures, used to maintain that he didn't want to be anywhere but here.
This year, too, it was raining, and towards evening turned back into snow... There are other similarities, and so many more differences.
The Christmas lights are lit. And we all pray for Peace on Earth.
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