The Story Behind Our Old Hanging Map From Brasilia Back ( In 1962-1963 ? ) That Says : Carta Do Mundo Projecao Azimutal Equidistante Centro Brasilia, D.F. Escala 60 000 000 , No. 10 001 , Preco Crg 80,00 : What Does All This mean?!?

I'll tell you what it all means, it's an old gift given to my father Harry Alan Quinn ( and indirectly my mother Nancy Proctor Quinn ) years ago by the Brazilian State Department of the capitol that had just formed there in the center of Brazil way out in the middle then of nowhere that was called Brasilia! Wow, a gift to our father and to our mother. What an honor, what a treat, what a privilege, and I did not know any of this until a month or so ago when my mother and brother Eric gave me this map, saying that I was the one to have it.

I grew up with this map. It was always part of our household and I looked at it and loved it in my own growing-up-with-it-always-being-there sort of way. I guess I took it for granted. Sorry to say that. But I was innocent. I never knew, I never heard the story. Neither my father or my mother told me, or if they did it went in one ear and out my other, really bad , so embarrassing, I know all of this. Oh well, I am here to now rectify all of this on the eve of the next Soccer World Cup that is about to start in Brasil in a couple of day, Thursday, June 12ht, 2014. Just in time, the nick of time, not a minute to lose. I know, I'm dramatic, so shoot me, with blanks of course.

My mother told me the story in her apartment recently with my brother Eric there with us. Sorry to say our other brother Larry was not with us. he would have liked this story, too. he would have been proud, he would have taken a lot of pleasure in this I am sure just as I did. I think that our brother Eric had already heard the story a number of times so I think that he was not as shocked or as surprised as I was. The news of this gift to them from the ' new ' government of Brasil back in 1961 was electrifying. It blew me, still does blow me away!

Our mother Nancy went on to say that she had been approached by one of the srnior officials of the Brazilian government, their State Department, just like ours, a 4-story building she said. The official that she knew and that had worked closely with our father Harry Quinn had approached her once he heard that our father was leaving Brasilia.

Turns out that our father and his work, the kind of no-nonsense, hard-working man that he was was well-respected and that they had enjoyed working with him and wanted to give him and our mother a token of their appreciation. He asked my mother what would her husband / our father like as a parting gift?

I cannot remember everything that our mother said and exactly as she had said it, but I do know the essentials of what she said to me telling me this story recently in front of my brother Eric. At some point she had talked to our father and they had spoken of this and my father said that he would like one of the hanging circular maps that he saw when he entered the building as he had admired it greatly.

So, when she told this official he paused, maybe even gulped and said something like : " But there are only four of them, one on each of the four floors of this building." He said that he would check and see what he could do about this and let them know.

My mother and father did not know what the outcome would be? They had to wait , wonder and see? Anyway, you all already know the outcome, they presented one of these maps to our father and mother and we have enjoyed it, loved it, weathered and aged it with our travels since then around the world that meant it went next back here to Washington D.C., then to Trinidad, then back here, next to Paris, France and then back here and perhaps even to San Leandro, California? I am not sure about that?

I have more questions for our mother but I want to post this now with the pictures that were just taken by our Swedish neighbor Katarina with her phone and sent to my email address : tonythewineguy@gmail.com. I will now include them here for everyone to see.

As I just told Katarina this is pretty special and still what an honor, and on the eve of the World Soccer Cup, and in two years the summer Olympics, wow, this - as it was then - is history, this is a period in time that was then and is now special and I , for one, have not lost sight of that at all.

Enjoy this, please share this with your friends, and let's all make some really big noise for Brasil now as they have earned and deserve it. I loved spending the six years of my life there from 2-8 years-of-age and never tire of hearing of those times from our mother Nancy. Thanks Mom, you are the best. Thanks, too Dad, you are also super : we admire you both.

What a wonderful and colorful and magical and transforming period of our lives we four spent there back in the mid to late fifties and the first years of the 60's.

Ola, obregado para tudos, vais, vais, vais, vais VAIS BRASIL!   Anthony ( TONY ) Quinn Monday, June 9th, 2014

Meeting Cristina From Belo Horizonte, Brazil & Telling Her About The Dress I Bought My Mother There in The Late 50's , & Selling Her Some SALTON Wines Just Now, Saturday, April 19th, 2014 ... All Good On Easter Weekend!

JUST HELPED Cristian with a difficult wine choice : she was going to see picky people about their wines that travel extensively and always push her wines back to the side on the counter and never open them when she visits. I told her that that makes me feel really bad and that we had to do something about it. " Where are you from ? " I ask Crustina . " Brazil. " she responds. " What?!? Then you have to take them a wine from Brazil! " " Noooooo! " she groans. " They are no good. We buy the wines from Argentina. " I said : " That's not true! They are good. You must take them a wine from Brazil! Blame me, Anthony Quinn, have them come see me if there's any problem! " She smiles, hesitates, as I reach for the SALTON Volpi Pinot Noir, $17.99, 13.5% alcohol by volume, Campanha Gaucha. She says out loud as I hand her the bottle : " Campanha Gaucha. " I ask her where she's from? Belo Horizante she says. My face lights up : " That's where I bought my mother a dress when I was a child and we were driving from Rio to Cristallina to buy Yopaz and other semi-precious stones ... I was only 6-7 years old then ... " It was a great serendipitous conversation and I can't wait to hear from Cristina that bought the Petit Chablis  DOMAINE JEAN CLAUDE COURTAULT 2011, $18.99, 12.5% alcohol by volume, and the " Intenso " espumante-likeProsecco , $14.99 from SALTON, and the SALTON Pinot Noir, too ... cheers,  Anthony ( TONY ) Quinn  4/19/2014 Happy Easter all, and it's the last day of Passover week, too ... cheers all ...  TONY a beautiful Saturday here in Cleveland Park Northwest, Washington D.C., 20008, baby blue skies, breezy, bright, clear skies, lovely - nice to be alive ...

Response To A Friend About Our Parents When She Wrote To Me : Missed U Yesterday, Sunday, April 13th, 2014 On A Full Moon's Day! Cheers, Chin Up, Love You Mom!

I am feeling your pain with your mother and that it is so hard for you and that it is also the first year anniversary of your father's death. I wish I could be there for you, I am here for you, that much I can say. It was so hard when my father Harry Alan Quinn passed away in 1997 : my whole world crumbled in parts and I unraveled and was a mess and at a loss and in such pieces for so long. It was so hard and yet I remember so many of the great times we had visiting the wineries in California together and I have the pictures and it all really helps me even now. He would just call me and say " hello " and chat and ask me how I was, no judging, no expectations, just care and concern - and I loved and appreciated that more than anything else, and , of course miss it today so much. I will call my mother and check in with her after I take Louie outside again for another ' Zen ' moment in our yard, as I have just finished weeding and more bagging of leaves that started yesterday and will continue into today my Monday day-off as I reflect and absorb what we said and that was so special to me and that has filled me today with such exuberance and unbridled joy and contentment and warmth and joy and completeness as our chat went on under a full moon and I felt a bit like I was on a stage bathed so brilliantly in the moon's soulfulness that reminded me so of it's same impact with the bright stars at the beach last year in such a tranquil and loving and peaceful setting with a constant surf breaking and the sun's warmth from earlier still warming our soles as the beady-eyed crabs stared defiantly up at us with what must have been a simple question : " What are you doing here on our turf? ", and the insistent demand : " Get off our beach now! "

I love you Mom and will be calling you later to check in with you about how you are and how the ' saga ' of the bedbugs is playing out for you? Hope it's all over now. I love you dearly. You always taught me to respect women and to treat them right and I have spent my life trying to do my best at that. Cheers, happy Monday, April 14th, 2014 ...   Your son,   TONY     here in northern Virginia as I get ready for more of this gray, warm day ... lorts to do, enjoying having your granddaughter's two cats here to keep me company now ...   

Mentioning My Mom & The Wine ESCARPMENT & Her Friend Isolde Chapin In A Poem I Wrote March 23rd, 2010, Tuesday Morn- 1 Of 4 -? Cheers, Love You Mom, Loved The 2002 ESCARPMENT Pinot Noir From new Zealand, Too!

I Solde Isolde
Is Old I Over
Brim Escarpment Per
Peer Mom Mine Of
No Now More No?!?
Mom's Distrau Raw
Motions No Taught
Not Money Bought
I Drink Mine Escarp
My Rpment Pinot A
Noir Of 2002 The
Raw Flaves The
Spices Cold Me
From Staves Off Off
Boff Scoff I'm Into
All Tastes 'N I So Sorro
So Sad Mom Mine For
Now As Life Passes
On Away Not To
Here Always Stay ...

#4 Le 23 Mars, 2010 Mardi matin a 9:21 AM on Rt. 50, VA en Virginie en voiture on a gray, cold, brr, overcast day as spring starts. Cheers, TONY

Monday, March 22, 2010

Old Fiends Of My Mother From Brasil : Judy & Walter Gainsbury, Where Are You?!? From the late 50's/Early 60's?

This is a special request from my mother to find her old buddies Judy and Walter Gainsbury : Judy that hailed from Canada and Walter from Yugoslavia and that met my mother and father, Nancy and Harry Quinn in Rio De Janeiro back in the late 50's/early 60's while it was still the capitol before it changed to Brazilia and we moved there as a family as my father worked for the American Embassy at the time.

Those were some truly glorious years and as a child myself from the ages of 2-8 years-of-age really had a splendid time there discovering from a child's vantage point the glories and wonders of Brasil!





Now, years later ( both my brothers were born in Brasil ) I am the only Quinn to have returned. I returned in late June, 2012 ( Brasil's winter ) on the search for the wines of Brasil and my business partner, Laurent Donchegay and I landed in Porto Alegre and these pictures here are of our leaving to drive up into Brasil's most famous wine region called Vale Dos Vinhedos and the town of Bento Goncalves. It was in Brasil's winter and yet it was glorious for the both of us.




I just got off the phone and my mother would love to hear from Judy and Walter Gainsbury that worked in Rio De Janeiro in the shipping boat business at the time. I heard from my mother that Walter Gainsbury was the first to discover and use refrigeration on his shipping line of vessels? That must have been pretty exciting? Sure sounds like it to me hearing it now.




I met Judy and Walter as a child and would love to connect with them, too and discover/ hear some of these stories as I embark with Laurent Donchegay with Bralvin Imports to be the first importer to the United States to specialize exclusively in the import and sale of Brazilian wines from all 6-7 grape-growing/ wine-producing regions of Brasil. This has never been done before and it is all very exciting with both the Soccer World Cup as well as the next summer Olympics coming to Brasil!




It would be great to get any advice from either Judy or Walter that they might have for us as I am sure that they know Brasil by heart by now? So if any of you know how we can contact them please do let us know. Thanks.




I am sure that my mom and Judy and Walter have lots of stories to exchange and much to catch up on? I want to be there when this ever happens.




So please feel free and welcome to comment here on this blog and to reach me otherwise at : tonythewineguy@gmail.com. Cheers!

It was great to talk with you this morning Mom and to hear your voice. You sound great as always and I hope you knee feels better soon. Love you, TONY

Chatting With Mia Madre 2009/ My Poem Written About My Mother Friday Morning, March 9th, 2012 Before Work

These two pictures were taken when my mother lived in " The Crooked House " that is actually quite famous. They combined two houses into one and thus called this new uniting of two homes : " the crooked house " and I must say to visit sure was fun. We enjoyed our forays up to this home with some funny architecture and a great outdoors where we spent many a relaxed afternoon out back on the stone terrace or just above on the grassy areas at her table enjoying each others company and listening and telling and sharing stories of just about everything under the sun, Everything pretty much was fair game. I liked it and looking out at her garden, too. Cheers and stay-tuned for the poem I just wrote that I have started to print below. Thanks for everything Mom : thanks for my life : I have lived it hard and well and thoroughly enjoyed the many situations and predicaments that I have gotten into all on my own and sometimes with the help of others. Cheers, I love you Mom,, TONY

Here is the poem that I wrote inspired by my mother on Friday, March 9th, 2012 . Hope you enjoy it. Cheers, TONY

Tomo Tomor Omor Row

Row Bestow Mom My

Birth To Earth From Belly

To Breathe Air Long Time

Twenty-Nine Nineteen Yeah

1929 So Very Long Long Long

Aghh Ago Times Change A

Diff A Now Her Disconnect

For Her Life Fast Fiery Salvo

Much Saw Proctors Si Oui

Of Vermont A Peops She Peeped

Through Mom Hers Round

Her She Saw Many Proctors

Still Remembers Today This

The Ways They Acted She Just

Told Me This Monday The

5th Of Dad's On His 2012

His Birthday We Chat Did

So Now We Talk Of Hers I

Get Ready To Drive On Up

Today Hers Tomorrow We

Will Monday Just Past Celebrate

A Time Of Joy For Me For Us

A Time To Joy Smiles Every

A Place To Glow To Rise Up

To Go Over So Many Moments

Ours Together The Two Us Of

Our Family Too We Do

Did Still Have Much Fun

Joy Good Times Together

Ours

Mother Tells About Father In Paris, France Aubergine, Not Choufleur @ Office, 1070's

This was a great story as it showed my father in Paris in the American Embassy, the Talleyrand building to be exact I believe relaying a puzzling office story to her. She laughed about it when she told me this past Monday, Memorial Day, Monday, May 30th, 2011.

I called to check in on her as I like to do and this time I both remembered to do it and she was there and picked up her phone as well. Both good and neccesary occurances to get the conversation going between the two of us. She did most of the speaking this time. I don't mind. I like listening to and collecting these stories of hers. They are part of my past and part of bringing it back to life for me and giving it more meaning for me now as memories fade and we, as I like to say : " get younger with age ". At least I do. I insist on stopping, of course when I get all the way back to twenty-one years of age. That's young enough for me.

Anyway, my father got back one early evening or late afternoon from wotk at the Talleyrand building in Paris, France back in the 1970's and was upset about a conversation that he thought was funny with some of his staff. They laughed but not in the right manner and this puzzled him. He thought that he was quite clever with his use of the French word " choufleur - caulliflower " when telling a story. It was a story about how he had witnessed first-hand or seen some of the local ticket meter-maids giving tickets and he referred to them as " choufleur ". When he said this they all roared with laughted.

My mom said that they probably needed this laughter and release/relief from office work and stress and that it was probably a good thing. However, it puzzled and perhaps even embarassed my father and so it was good that my wife was able to later straighten and clarify the laughing later in the day.

She said that the French call the local traffic meter-maids by the word " aubergine - eggplant " and not " choufleur - cauliflower ". They do this becasue their deep purple outfits look just like ripe and shiny eggplants. They do, I've seen them myself many times and the resemblance is uncanny. That's why they were laughing Dad, you got the wrong vegetable in your story, and they certainly do not look the same or have the same colors or shapes : that's why the story was funny. Too bad, Dad that Marie France did not clarify this for you as she was your secreatary. If I ever see her again I will have to ask her if she remembers this?

Thanks for sharing this story with me, Mom. It just now makes me wonder about Marie-France and her son Sebastien and her divorced husband Alain? They were such dear friends to my wife and to me while we lived in Paris after she stopped working for my dad. We did lots of things together even after dad left to go to his next post in Panama, Central America.

I love all these stories Mom and will include as many as I can here as not to forget them as they are little gems all in their own. I loved that period in Paris, France back in the 1970's : it molded my whole adult life and for that I am eternally grateful. Cheers et a bientot et a plus tard. TONY

P.S. The picture above was taken in our home outside on our deck out back perhaps in 2009 or 2010? I'm glad I have these pictures. They, too make things come alive for me. Cheers, sante ...