Linda Shipman Remembered

For a period of years, the five of us (Linda, Skip, Pam, Barb and I) would rendezvous regularly at Harry's restaurant in Clarendon when Barb came to town. Cocktails would flow and the afternoon pass ever so quickly. We could even squeeze in a trip to the container store right next door. These photos are from December 5, 2008!

It was not until Skip connected with his Aunt Ruth, 20 years ago, that we connected with Skip and Linda. What a delight to get to know them. We were fortunate to visit the Tiki house twice. They were hosts extraordinaire. We were wowed by Linda’s beautiful flower petal art laid upon the bed, just one of the many special touches that made us feel so welcome. Linda and Skip came to the West Coast several times for reunions with the Taylor/Mundy family. These are pictures from our August 2019 reunion on Hornby Island. We had a raucous, fun get together, how could it be otherwise with Skip and Linda and the Taylor/Mundys? After the gang left, we were looking forward to a couple of quiet days with just the two of them. Alas, it was to be only one day. A storm was brewing! They made a hasty retreat. Literally minutes notice to get off island by water taxi in order to not miss their flight home. Here they are waving goodbye! We have very fond memories of Linda, a remarkable woman.

These photos were sent by Kathy Hibler, saying "This was a fun visit with Skip and Linda. It was also Blake's first time eating crabs".

(written on New Year's Eve 2020) Twenty years ago tonite we were celebrating the Real Millenium in Paris with Linda, Skip, and Alan and Diane Lutz. The trip was a French themed journey beginning in New Orleans, then onto Montreal, and finally Paris. We planned for a year and had a blast. Skip, Linda, Donald and I did the NOLA and Montreal legs and Diane and Alan met us in Paris. We have this beautiful picture hanging in our TV room so we can enjoy Linda’s great smile and karma forever.

In late 2015 Cynthia announced that she wanted to put her Sierra Madre house on the market, and the realtor had advised her to "declutter". We don't remember which one of us decided that the team was needed at Cynthia's, but Linda, Mary Ann, Beverly and Barbara flew out to declutter. Our plan was to work on the house for four days, and then have a weekend tag sale. Each person took an area of responsibility. Mary Ann spent days on the linen closets. By the time she was finished, the few remaining sheets and towels were organized by color and type; Cynthia continues to mourn the loss of her sheets and towels. You have never seen a basement like Cynthia's: we unearthed at least three unused tents, enough Christmas ornaments to decorate five trees, all kinds of sports equipment, and furniture to outfit yet another house. After we hauled out the "trash" (always a debatable term between the owner of the house and the declutterers) from the basement, Li...

We met Skip and Linda in 2004, when Barbara Camph planned a surprise birthday party for Tommy. She arranged for a bunch of us to stay at a farmhouse in Normandy, where, a few days later, she and Tommy would join us for the celebration. That was the plan, and it didn’t happen that way, but that’s another story. Tom and I took the train to Rouen, and then we dawdled. Right across the street from the train station is the restaurant where Julia Child had her culinary epiphany, so we made a pilgrimage there to have a fabulous, long French lunch. Then we had to rent a car; that took as long as the lunch had. By the time we got on the road, it was early evening. Traffic was bad, and the directions to the farmhouse were terrible. One line read, “Turn left one-quarter kilometer before the church.” We got lost. Several times. When we finally arrived at the farmhouse—or what we hoped was the farmhouse—it was after one. The white, two-story farmhouse house was dark. The whole countryside was dar...

(Barbara speaking): In mid-December we got a call from Linda. At the time, we were living in Michigan while Tommy was undergoing chemo. Linda invited us to come for Christmas (invited = gently urged = I won't take no for an answer). We flew to BWI, where Linda picked us up wearing some ridiculous hat. Decorating the Christmas tree was always a big event in the Shipman household. Champagne was opened. Margaret took her position in the perfect chair, to watch and comment on the decorating. Boxes of beautiful, old ornaments came out of storage, and each one found the perfect spot on the tree. Decorating took hours; Skip and Tommy quickly found something else to do. Our visit quickly became party central, as Skip and Linda invited all to come party with us. (Nancy speaking):I could not make this event, but had a private evening the day following. Barb and Linda "womaned" the kitchen, and Tommy and I enjoyed cocktails. I really felt like company when we actually had...