Monday, June 25, 2012
Camp Fun - May 2012
PHEW!! What a month!! Is it over yet?
Have you been looking forward to 'retirement'?? Plans to put your feet up?? Try this on for size. . .
June 1 Teaching Bible class. (And I love that God has called me to it.)
June 2 Table at the annual "Clean the Bay Day". . and oh, by the way, help clean up a homeless shelter we found as well. Then off to BBQ with good friends and see Steve Martin at the Pavilion. . . GREAT FUN!
June 3 Church. . . and family fun
June 3-4 At Tangier Island learning about the Chesapeake Bay, crabbing, etc
June 6 Unpack. Dentist to FINALLY get missing crown fixed. oh, oh. . needs extra work!
June 7 Dentist in AM, delightful spring quilter's luncheon and then to friends for wonderful dinner
June 8 Teaching Bible Class. . . last one for the summer! And the original Paul Swenson arrives for the weekend of golf with John they look forward to all year.
June 9 Table and help at Lake M fishing day for little kids. Then play with my sister-in-law who came over for the golf tournament dinner
June 10 Nurse wounded golfers in AM before church, then play with Janet and Dick after. . . but WAIT! Keys locked in their car, shuttling swimmers, and finally home just in time to go to Newcomers' picnic because I have a guest!!
June 11 Podiatrist appointment and Bible study. . .but I need this day to get ready for the next one!!
June 12 Teach workshop I've never done before on Project Wild's new HS/MS curriculum. Then go to Circle salad supper.
June 13 Teach at a watershed camp in Scottsville. . .nice kids! Pack to go to Greensboro.
June 14-15 Delightful two days with grandsons. . and their Mom and Dad. . .swimming in motel pool, playing, but wait. .. . Grandpa is sick and can't play while Grandma gives Mom and Dad some time off.
June 16 Decorate room for VBS. Happy Birthday, Kaylene
June 17 Happy Father's Day. Planning for VBS. . . like crazy since I'm doing extras!
June 18 VBS begins. . .I teach fifth grade class with three fabulous helpers, but also doing the opening assembly stunts as 'Anaconda Ida'. Setting up plans for subs (Takes three to replace me!)
June 19 Go to Richmond to testify against our outrageous water company!! Making connections to start a state wide campaign to control them.
June 20 Back to VBS. Board of Directors (LMOA) in evening
June 21 V BS
June 22 VBS Gotta clean up from it! And then a party at 4 PM. And then another at 6 PM and dinner out
June 23 Miss the BBQ festival in our county so I can table at the mussel festival (no eating. . just saving them!) Figure it would be nice to have groceries in house, then rush home to run to sister-in-law's for birthday cake for Uncle Paul and Aunt Janet, rook with all John's sibs and Mom, then fabulous production of 1776 - the musical- at UVA. Sitting two rows behind President Sullivan (and if you have followed UVA news, you know that's a big deal!)
June 24 Do reading of scripture in today's Church service. . .Romans 8:18-30. Gives me great hope!! Great fun back at sister-in-laws' trying to save the world from 'Pandemic'. . .this game is played at least one-three times a day by John and I. Just think what I could get done if we didn't have to play so much!!
And that gets me to today. . . Hair at 11, then planning meeting in streams for one class next year in our Master Naturalist course. But should be a fun day. Got the copperhead started toward preservation this AM. (Claimed him/her on Sat. He was killed on the path we were using to the river.) Shhh. Only two evening things this week, and three day time things. But Saturday closes the month with big board of directors' doings at the annual meeting!! I hope to reclaim my bedroom and office and batten the hatches for kids coming on July 4.
Looking at all of this causes me to reflect on my life. There are very great riches in all of this. And not nearly enough time for God. Considering how greatly He has blessed John and I, I need to carve out more time for Him. And maybe carve is the wrong word. It implies some kind of cutting into my life, when the rest of my life should be an extension of Him! May God make my life and extension of Himself.
June 1 Teaching Bible class. (And I love that God has called me to it.)
June 2 Table at the annual "Clean the Bay Day". . and oh, by the way, help clean up a homeless shelter we found as well. Then off to BBQ with good friends and see Steve Martin at the Pavilion. . . GREAT FUN!
June 3 Church. . . and family fun
June 3-4 At Tangier Island learning about the Chesapeake Bay, crabbing, etc
June 6 Unpack. Dentist to FINALLY get missing crown fixed. oh, oh. . needs extra work!
June 7 Dentist in AM, delightful spring quilter's luncheon and then to friends for wonderful dinner
June 8 Teaching Bible Class. . . last one for the summer! And the original Paul Swenson arrives for the weekend of golf with John they look forward to all year.
June 9 Table and help at Lake M fishing day for little kids. Then play with my sister-in-law who came over for the golf tournament dinner
June 10 Nurse wounded golfers in AM before church, then play with Janet and Dick after. . . but WAIT! Keys locked in their car, shuttling swimmers, and finally home just in time to go to Newcomers' picnic because I have a guest!!
June 11 Podiatrist appointment and Bible study. . .but I need this day to get ready for the next one!!
June 12 Teach workshop I've never done before on Project Wild's new HS/MS curriculum. Then go to Circle salad supper.
June 13 Teach at a watershed camp in Scottsville. . .nice kids! Pack to go to Greensboro.
June 14-15 Delightful two days with grandsons. . and their Mom and Dad. . .swimming in motel pool, playing, but wait. .. . Grandpa is sick and can't play while Grandma gives Mom and Dad some time off.
June 16 Decorate room for VBS. Happy Birthday, Kaylene
June 17 Happy Father's Day. Planning for VBS. . . like crazy since I'm doing extras!
June 18 VBS begins. . .I teach fifth grade class with three fabulous helpers, but also doing the opening assembly stunts as 'Anaconda Ida'. Setting up plans for subs (Takes three to replace me!)
June 19 Go to Richmond to testify against our outrageous water company!! Making connections to start a state wide campaign to control them.
June 20 Back to VBS. Board of Directors (LMOA) in evening
June 21 V BS
June 22 VBS Gotta clean up from it! And then a party at 4 PM. And then another at 6 PM and dinner out
June 23 Miss the BBQ festival in our county so I can table at the mussel festival (no eating. . just saving them!) Figure it would be nice to have groceries in house, then rush home to run to sister-in-law's for birthday cake for Uncle Paul and Aunt Janet, rook with all John's sibs and Mom, then fabulous production of 1776 - the musical- at UVA. Sitting two rows behind President Sullivan (and if you have followed UVA news, you know that's a big deal!)
June 24 Do reading of scripture in today's Church service. . .Romans 8:18-30. Gives me great hope!! Great fun back at sister-in-laws' trying to save the world from 'Pandemic'. . .this game is played at least one-three times a day by John and I. Just think what I could get done if we didn't have to play so much!!
And that gets me to today. . . Hair at 11, then planning meeting in streams for one class next year in our Master Naturalist course. But should be a fun day. Got the copperhead started toward preservation this AM. (Claimed him/her on Sat. He was killed on the path we were using to the river.) Shhh. Only two evening things this week, and three day time things. But Saturday closes the month with big board of directors' doings at the annual meeting!! I hope to reclaim my bedroom and office and batten the hatches for kids coming on July 4.
Looking at all of this causes me to reflect on my life. There are very great riches in all of this. And not nearly enough time for God. Considering how greatly He has blessed John and I, I need to carve out more time for Him. And maybe carve is the wrong word. It implies some kind of cutting into my life, when the rest of my life should be an extension of Him! May God make my life and extension of Himself.
Monday, May 21, 2012
You know the feeling. . . a song worm. There are tunes and words that get into your head and no matter how you try, you just can't get them out? This song from my childhood camp days came into my head a week as go as we studied John 12 in our Monday night Bible study. It reminded me again that often we are discouraged because we are beset by storms in our lives, but at the same time God can use those storms to grow something for His kindgom. And no matter how fruitless a task may seem to be, if God blesses it, is for greater glory.
I hope this song blesses you. If you go to the link at the bottom of the page, you can hear the tune that goes with it. . . and you, too, will have a song worm in your head. (Let's hear it for helminthology!!!)
Kristian Ostergaard (1855-1931) (Den Sag er aldrig i Verden tabt); translated from Danish to English byJens C. Aaberg (1877-1970)
That cause can never be lost nor stayed
Which takes the course of what God has made;
And is not trusting in walls and towers,
But slowly growing from seeds to flowers.
Each noble service that men have wrought
Was first conceived as a fruitful thought;
Each worthy cause with a future glorious
By quietly growing becomes victorious.
Thereby itself like a tree it shows:
That high it reaches, as deep it grows;
And when the storms are its branches shaking,
It deeper root in the soil is taking.
Be then no more by a storm dismayed,
For by it the full grown seeds are laid;
And though the tree by its might it shatters,
What then, if thousands of seeds it scatters?
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/c/tccnblns.htm
I hope this song blesses you. If you go to the link at the bottom of the page, you can hear the tune that goes with it. . . and you, too, will have a song worm in your head. (Let's hear it for helminthology!!!)
Kristian Ostergaard (1855-1931) (Den Sag er aldrig i Verden tabt); translated from Danish to English byJens C. Aaberg (1877-1970)
That cause can never be lost nor stayed
Which takes the course of what God has made;
And is not trusting in walls and towers,
But slowly growing from seeds to flowers.
Each noble service that men have wrought
Was first conceived as a fruitful thought;
Each worthy cause with a future glorious
By quietly growing becomes victorious.
Thereby itself like a tree it shows:
That high it reaches, as deep it grows;
And when the storms are its branches shaking,
It deeper root in the soil is taking.
Be then no more by a storm dismayed,
For by it the full grown seeds are laid;
And though the tree by its might it shatters,
What then, if thousands of seeds it scatters?
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/c/tccnblns.htm
Monday, May 14, 2012
Super Grandma!!
Who has the smile that never goes sour?
Who is the one who can make up a rhyme
At any old place, at any old time?
Who is the one who will cook and bake
And take you swimming in her big old lake?
SUPER GRANDMA!!!
What does one do with the earrings a 2 and 4 year old chose for you for Christmas? What do you do with the gorgeous walking stick your dear friend gives you? or the mask someone else was getting rid of??? And how do you pique the imaginations and reach out to those same 2 and 4 year olds??? Why. . .you put them all on and become SUPER GRANDMA!!! And every super hero needs a rhyme or some catchy saying. . .right?? Voila!! You have it!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS
For years I have encouraged my Sunday School students to write New Year resolutions. And I used to encourage my science students to do the same. A long time ago, I read that it was one of the common attributes of highly successful people that they not only write them, but that they share them with others. . to gain more accountability for them. So, here are my resolutions for 2012. May I say I am not doing well on them already, but you'll see that I have at least one on the way.
1. JOURNAL! This is really not a good resolution because it doesn't say anything about how much, when, or anything else. So I'll revise it to "Keep a prayer, praise and poetry journal with at least one entry a week."
2. Read the Bible through. This resolution I've managed to keep for several other years. . but mostly when I was working. My self-discipline has absolutely gone to pot since I retired, but nothing like resolutions to help promote some!
3. Do Aerobic exercise 5 times a week, and strength training at least three times a week.
4. Blog once a week! Now this one can be similar to the first goal, but it's very much different. They both involve writing, but the purpose of blogging is to provide my own thoughts, not the troubles of others. . and certainly not my most private thoughts. (Much as I love you, dear reader, there are some things that just are none of your business!)
And along with these daily/weekly resolutions, I also have made a long list of goals that are once and done!! And some of these are things that have needed done for years. . but in the interest of trying to be more accountable, here is an almost complete list:
1. Bedroom and Living room drapes
2. Paint the bedroom
3. Sort my jewelry
4. Get a color consultation (Had this done years ago, but with my 'new' hair color and aging skin, it's time do it again.)
5. Clean out my closet based on the color consultation.
6. Sort, shred, dump as many of my folks remaining files as I can.
7. Finish the ultimate sibling presents.
8. Photograph and record all family heirloom things before I forget.
9. Make my coma/funeral/etc CD
10. Sell the remaining quilts
11. Gifts for Yi, Jing, Karen L
12. Shorten pants
13. Abram quilt
14. P and K quilt
15. Tree skirt
16. Remodel "my room"
Hmm. I think I'm wasting my time here, now. What do you think? I've had folks who are amazed at what I get done. . once in a while I'm amazed, too, but to be honest there is a huge amount of time I waste. Maybe if I spent time watching TV, playing on the computer, and fussing with emails, I'd have more time to accomplish these resolutions. Notice, I didn't put "Stop playing computer games" on the resolution list. We'll see what the Lord can help me do.
Let me know how your resolutions are coming along! And feel free to ask me about mine.
Happy New Year!!
1. JOURNAL! This is really not a good resolution because it doesn't say anything about how much, when, or anything else. So I'll revise it to "Keep a prayer, praise and poetry journal with at least one entry a week."
2. Read the Bible through. This resolution I've managed to keep for several other years. . but mostly when I was working. My self-discipline has absolutely gone to pot since I retired, but nothing like resolutions to help promote some!
3. Do Aerobic exercise 5 times a week, and strength training at least three times a week.
4. Blog once a week! Now this one can be similar to the first goal, but it's very much different. They both involve writing, but the purpose of blogging is to provide my own thoughts, not the troubles of others. . and certainly not my most private thoughts. (Much as I love you, dear reader, there are some things that just are none of your business!)
And along with these daily/weekly resolutions, I also have made a long list of goals that are once and done!! And some of these are things that have needed done for years. . but in the interest of trying to be more accountable, here is an almost complete list:
1. Bedroom and Living room drapes
2. Paint the bedroom
3. Sort my jewelry
4. Get a color consultation (Had this done years ago, but with my 'new' hair color and aging skin, it's time do it again.)
5. Clean out my closet based on the color consultation.
6. Sort, shred, dump as many of my folks remaining files as I can.
7. Finish the ultimate sibling presents.
8. Photograph and record all family heirloom things before I forget.
9. Make my coma/funeral/etc CD
10. Sell the remaining quilts
11. Gifts for Yi, Jing, Karen L
12. Shorten pants
13. Abram quilt
14. P and K quilt
15. Tree skirt
16. Remodel "my room"
Hmm. I think I'm wasting my time here, now. What do you think? I've had folks who are amazed at what I get done. . once in a while I'm amazed, too, but to be honest there is a huge amount of time I waste. Maybe if I spent time watching TV, playing on the computer, and fussing with emails, I'd have more time to accomplish these resolutions. Notice, I didn't put "Stop playing computer games" on the resolution list. We'll see what the Lord can help me do.
Let me know how your resolutions are coming along! And feel free to ask me about mine.
Happy New Year!!
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Our Stories
We had a wonderful time last evening watching a live production called "Civil War Voices". It was compiled from the "True stories, real words - the people and the music that shaped America". Two characters portrayed the love between a husband and wife in the letters they exchanged during the war. Their musical duets were thrilling. Another was a former slave who worked for Mrs. Jefferson Davis, and then spent several years in the White House as a close friend and worker for the Lincolns. Her book was the source of much of the dialogue, but the actress was gifted both in drama and music, and her songs were show stoppers. Yet another portrayed Joshua Chamberlain from his book about his life and the Civil War. The gifted actor looked like Chamberlain, and his music was wonderfully poignant and powerful. Another actor read from his great-great-great uncle's diary.
But it hit me this morning, that the best part of the wonderful production was that these people had left their words and stories for us. If we didn't have those letters, those diaries, those books, we would know so little of the real people involved. When we visited Gettysburg last month, I was assigned a woman who wrote a book about her experiences as a 15 year old resident of Gettysburg during the battle. And it was her accounts which made those frightful days much more real to some of us. That human connection was so precious, and it was only made possible because she had written down her story.
Now here I am writing furiously at my sometime blog. I am writing because once again we are reminded that it is our stories that will last. The stories we tell, and the stories we write, are the stories that will live. And I am happy that I have this way to leave a small legacy to my grandchildren, and their grandchildren. I wonder what future generations may read these words and wonder about life in these times, yet know a little of what it is like here and now, and what it has been like in the past. I realize that I need to write, not in the book my kids gave me, but in this blog where it may be more likely read. I will print these words and put them in that book, but they will also be "in the cloud" for my nieces and nephews and their children, for my students and their children. They will be here for YOU. And I am reminded again that I need to do this in order to share furiously the awesome love that God has overflowed to me. I give it now to YOU. And that is my story.
But it hit me this morning, that the best part of the wonderful production was that these people had left their words and stories for us. If we didn't have those letters, those diaries, those books, we would know so little of the real people involved. When we visited Gettysburg last month, I was assigned a woman who wrote a book about her experiences as a 15 year old resident of Gettysburg during the battle. And it was her accounts which made those frightful days much more real to some of us. That human connection was so precious, and it was only made possible because she had written down her story.
Now here I am writing furiously at my sometime blog. I am writing because once again we are reminded that it is our stories that will last. The stories we tell, and the stories we write, are the stories that will live. And I am happy that I have this way to leave a small legacy to my grandchildren, and their grandchildren. I wonder what future generations may read these words and wonder about life in these times, yet know a little of what it is like here and now, and what it has been like in the past. I realize that I need to write, not in the book my kids gave me, but in this blog where it may be more likely read. I will print these words and put them in that book, but they will also be "in the cloud" for my nieces and nephews and their children, for my students and their children. They will be here for YOU. And I am reminded again that I need to do this in order to share furiously the awesome love that God has overflowed to me. I give it now to YOU. And that is my story.
A Charlottesville Kind of Day
John and I frequently are amazed at our life near Charlottesville, Virginia. Living at Lake Monticello is wonderful. . . it's a mixed in every way community. Because it's only 40% retired folks, there are families and kids around. . . I can always find someone to play with!!!
But some of the most amazing things happen when we go into Charlottesville, and yesterday was a Charlottesville kind of day.
I hadn't planned to go to Charlottesville, but John had switched our phones and it was imperative I retrieve my old phones number list. . and learn a little bit about how to use the new phone. (I still didn't know quite how to hang up a phone call. lol) So I stopped and saw Mom (John's Mom), grabbed a bite of lunch, fixed the phone, talked quite a while with my favorite geek nephew about the phone and other things, and headed to my lovely hairdresser for a quick trim. As I sat waiting for Quanisha (who is the best hair dresser in Charlottesville if anyone asks), the lady next to me started talking.
The gist of her story was: "I'm dying. . there are chunks of my body missing because of my cancer. But I was raised with Don Henley, the drummer of the Eagles. I helped him write lyrics of. . oh, I think, over 20 songs. He loves poetry, you know, and writes in iambic pentameter. He offered to put my name on some of the songs, but I told him, 'Don, you are famous right now and everyone wants a piece of you. I want you to always remember that we will always have the relationship we had as children. I will never take from you like the others. Our relationship is a special friendship.' They wanted me to travel with the band, and one of the other band members pursued me, but there was too much drugs, and too much pressure. And horses are my love." And she talked of her life a hundred miles north of Charlottesville, of her love for horses,and of the mare she had that injured a tendon in Spain and dashed her chances of a gold medal in the olympics. And she poured our her affection for Mr. Henley. . and her angst over whether to try to contact him.
True? I have no reason I have no reason to believe or to doubt her. I suspect she may have been in Charlottesville to see the wonderful UVA doctors about her cancer. But if her story is true, I sincerely hope she will find Don Henley . . or that he will find her so they have a chance to say goodbyes to each other. Her name? We were at the beauty shop. I have no clue what her name is. If you saw her on the street, you'd see an ordinary looking lady, with very ordinary clothes, but a beautiful, blue-eyed smile.
When I got home, I did a quick change and we headed for Charlottesville again. John cleaned up from a fun day playing golf, and my friend, Rose, was having an art show downtown. Rose is one of my Charlottesville friends. She's the program director for a wonderful nonprofit that tests the water quality of the streams in the Rivanna River watershed by collecting and counting the bugs that live in them. (No, I didn't make that up. Nothing in today's blog is made up. . this is all a true story. . it should be a movie, I think.) She also does beautiful pen and ink drawings which she was showing at her friend's massage studio. On the first Friday of the month, Charlottesville has "First Friday" and the various venues for art hold receptions for the artists, have openings, etc. You can roam Charlottesville for a few hours just munching, drinking, and enjoying the wonderful talent of the city. (It's a Charlottesville kind of thing,) Rose is also known as "Recycling Rose". She's been featured in one of the local papers several times for her ability to avoid any type of trash. Her average trash output in a year is half a pound. If it can't be recycled, or reused, or composted. . she doesn't get it. One of her biggest horrors is Christmas (well, that part may be made up). You get what I mean. But she is among the sweetest, nicest, least trashy friends I know and I love her dearly. (In a motherly/friend sort of way.)
After enjoying Rose' company, her delicious homemade cheese and bread and hummus, and the company of some of our mutual friends, (ie: the lady in charge of the VA master naturalist program and her husband, the guy who monitors all the county trails, a medical software tester, and one who monitors erosion and sediment control in Albemarle County. . I did say it was a Charlottesville kind of day. . ) we decided to go to the public radio station and view the art which our church supports, knowing we would be seeing friends from church. And indeed we did see friends from church.
As we arrived, they were having a drawing. "Oh," says I, "Is it too late to put my name in?" Since they had just drawn several names unsuccessfully, no, it was not too late. So I scribbled my name in red ink and folded the paper once (to make it easier to grab, of course) and several names unsuccessfully called later, voila!! They drew my name! The prize? Complimentary tickets to a show at the beautiful and historic Paramount Theater. . that evening!! We had half an hour to grab a bite to eat, and get there. Fortunately, since we were in downtown Charlottesville, it was all within walking distance. Gotta love our favorite, buy it by the slice, pizza. John got the BBQ chicken and I got the whole wheat crust, pesto sauce, artichoke heart, avocado, tomato, basil, goat cheese wonder. Mmmm. I did say this was all in Charlottesville, didn't I?
We settled into our seats to watch "Civil War Voices", a wonderful live production by the Barter Theater. There was wonderful period music intertwined with excerpts from the diaries, letters and book of the characters on stage. There was an emphasis on Joshua Chamberlain, the Gettysburg hero. . and we had just a month ago spent three days at Gettysburg. Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln were movingly portrayed to the words of Elizabeth Ackley's book about them. . we met 'Father Abraham' at Gettysburg as well. It was absolutely wonderful! And free, and totally unplanned!! And we knew our friend, the Appomattox historian, whom we had invited to go downtown with us to begin with, would be utterly jealous. But as the game show hosts say, 'And that's not all. . '. I spotted a friend in the audience with her husband and stopped to say hi at intermission. It turns out their son was shot at Gettysburg. (I'll let that sink in for a minute.) He was in a 1998 reinactment, and someone did not check their gun carefully and got him in the neck! He survived, but. . .it makes a Charlottesville kind of story.
John and I just shook our heads all the way home. It was an amazing evening. Just another "Charlottesville kind of day".
PS God has been so good to us, blessing us in so many ways. That wonderful evening was just another showing off of His good Grace. It had nothing to do with any good on our part. . only wonderful blessings from HIM.
But some of the most amazing things happen when we go into Charlottesville, and yesterday was a Charlottesville kind of day.
I hadn't planned to go to Charlottesville, but John had switched our phones and it was imperative I retrieve my old phones number list. . and learn a little bit about how to use the new phone. (I still didn't know quite how to hang up a phone call. lol) So I stopped and saw Mom (John's Mom), grabbed a bite of lunch, fixed the phone, talked quite a while with my favorite geek nephew about the phone and other things, and headed to my lovely hairdresser for a quick trim. As I sat waiting for Quanisha (who is the best hair dresser in Charlottesville if anyone asks), the lady next to me started talking.
The gist of her story was: "I'm dying. . there are chunks of my body missing because of my cancer. But I was raised with Don Henley, the drummer of the Eagles. I helped him write lyrics of. . oh, I think, over 20 songs. He loves poetry, you know, and writes in iambic pentameter. He offered to put my name on some of the songs, but I told him, 'Don, you are famous right now and everyone wants a piece of you. I want you to always remember that we will always have the relationship we had as children. I will never take from you like the others. Our relationship is a special friendship.' They wanted me to travel with the band, and one of the other band members pursued me, but there was too much drugs, and too much pressure. And horses are my love." And she talked of her life a hundred miles north of Charlottesville, of her love for horses,and of the mare she had that injured a tendon in Spain and dashed her chances of a gold medal in the olympics. And she poured our her affection for Mr. Henley. . and her angst over whether to try to contact him.
True? I have no reason I have no reason to believe or to doubt her. I suspect she may have been in Charlottesville to see the wonderful UVA doctors about her cancer. But if her story is true, I sincerely hope she will find Don Henley . . or that he will find her so they have a chance to say goodbyes to each other. Her name? We were at the beauty shop. I have no clue what her name is. If you saw her on the street, you'd see an ordinary looking lady, with very ordinary clothes, but a beautiful, blue-eyed smile.
When I got home, I did a quick change and we headed for Charlottesville again. John cleaned up from a fun day playing golf, and my friend, Rose, was having an art show downtown. Rose is one of my Charlottesville friends. She's the program director for a wonderful nonprofit that tests the water quality of the streams in the Rivanna River watershed by collecting and counting the bugs that live in them. (No, I didn't make that up. Nothing in today's blog is made up. . this is all a true story. . it should be a movie, I think.) She also does beautiful pen and ink drawings which she was showing at her friend's massage studio. On the first Friday of the month, Charlottesville has "First Friday" and the various venues for art hold receptions for the artists, have openings, etc. You can roam Charlottesville for a few hours just munching, drinking, and enjoying the wonderful talent of the city. (It's a Charlottesville kind of thing,) Rose is also known as "Recycling Rose". She's been featured in one of the local papers several times for her ability to avoid any type of trash. Her average trash output in a year is half a pound. If it can't be recycled, or reused, or composted. . she doesn't get it. One of her biggest horrors is Christmas (well, that part may be made up). You get what I mean. But she is among the sweetest, nicest, least trashy friends I know and I love her dearly. (In a motherly/friend sort of way.)
After enjoying Rose' company, her delicious homemade cheese and bread and hummus, and the company of some of our mutual friends, (ie: the lady in charge of the VA master naturalist program and her husband, the guy who monitors all the county trails, a medical software tester, and one who monitors erosion and sediment control in Albemarle County. . I did say it was a Charlottesville kind of day. . ) we decided to go to the public radio station and view the art which our church supports, knowing we would be seeing friends from church. And indeed we did see friends from church.
As we arrived, they were having a drawing. "Oh," says I, "Is it too late to put my name in?" Since they had just drawn several names unsuccessfully, no, it was not too late. So I scribbled my name in red ink and folded the paper once (to make it easier to grab, of course) and several names unsuccessfully called later, voila!! They drew my name! The prize? Complimentary tickets to a show at the beautiful and historic Paramount Theater. . that evening!! We had half an hour to grab a bite to eat, and get there. Fortunately, since we were in downtown Charlottesville, it was all within walking distance. Gotta love our favorite, buy it by the slice, pizza. John got the BBQ chicken and I got the whole wheat crust, pesto sauce, artichoke heart, avocado, tomato, basil, goat cheese wonder. Mmmm. I did say this was all in Charlottesville, didn't I?
We settled into our seats to watch "Civil War Voices", a wonderful live production by the Barter Theater. There was wonderful period music intertwined with excerpts from the diaries, letters and book of the characters on stage. There was an emphasis on Joshua Chamberlain, the Gettysburg hero. . and we had just a month ago spent three days at Gettysburg. Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln were movingly portrayed to the words of Elizabeth Ackley's book about them. . we met 'Father Abraham' at Gettysburg as well. It was absolutely wonderful! And free, and totally unplanned!! And we knew our friend, the Appomattox historian, whom we had invited to go downtown with us to begin with, would be utterly jealous. But as the game show hosts say, 'And that's not all. . '. I spotted a friend in the audience with her husband and stopped to say hi at intermission. It turns out their son was shot at Gettysburg. (I'll let that sink in for a minute.) He was in a 1998 reinactment, and someone did not check their gun carefully and got him in the neck! He survived, but. . .it makes a Charlottesville kind of story.
John and I just shook our heads all the way home. It was an amazing evening. Just another "Charlottesville kind of day".
PS God has been so good to us, blessing us in so many ways. That wonderful evening was just another showing off of His good Grace. It had nothing to do with any good on our part. . only wonderful blessings from HIM.
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