Time to Find Time

I haven't been blogging lately. I've just been too busy. Sadly not all of it has been fun stuff and a bit of depression seemed to creep in. I need to write, it purges my soul and helps me deal with the good and the bad in the world.

Even though late July and early August have been rough, there have been some very good moments as well. The bus trip to Chicago was great and I had a little bit of quiet time to enjoy. I just walked around the city and skipped the museums and shopping meccas. I enjoy the diversity of neigbhorhoods and landscapes and took some great photos of the boats on the lake in early light.

I must find more time to write...I miss it.

A Hero's Farewell

I attended the funeral of a hero today. Spc. Russell Madden was the son of a friend. Russell's father, Marty, and my husband, Jim, both attended grade school together in Bellevue and after high school played in the same rock band for a few years. That's how I met Marty, when I started dating Jim and hanging around their band practices and gigs.

I never met Russell but by the way he was described in the media, he must have been much like his father . Marty was always the happy band member, joking with me and the other girlfriends and taking time to befriend my young daughters. For some reason I can't remember, they called him "Cupcake".

I was on my great detour when Russell was born but through the stories I have heard, he was an amazing man. He was a football hero, friend to many, father, husband and brave soldier.

It was touching to see the outpouring of support and love today. The military was clearly proud of their brother in arms and demonstrated profound respect. The roar of the motorcycles, ridden by the Patriot Guard Riders, moved the soul.

I am not Catholic and have only attended about a dozen Catholic funeral masses but the mass today, with 8 priests, a monsignor and a bishop was an honor to the character and commitment of Russell. Incense carried prayers to heaven as music and voices filled the air. Two young sons, dressed in camo fatigues, placed roses on their father's casket. God was present in that place.

Along the funeral procession to the St. Stephens, cars pulled to the side of the road, in respect. We passed strangers who stood with hands in salute and some with tears in their eyes.

At the cemetery, we cried with the Maddens. We cried at the folding of the flag, the presentation of flags to Russell's wife, father, mother and sons. We stood proud, some weeping as his fellow soldiers fired a 21 gun salute and a distant bugler played taps. We gave our condolences to Marty and his family but words seemed so meaningless at such a moment.

We were proud to be there. Proud to be in the company of our fallen hero, Russell Madden. But we were also proud to be in the company of all the men and women in uniform who were not only there to serve their fellow soldier but to serve us each day. We pray that they will not have to pay the same ultimate sacrifice, even though we know they would.

God Bless America and God Bless Russell Madden.

Simple Pleasures

Tonight I went to dinner with two friends, Carol and Jo, to celebrate their mutual birthday. We ate outside at a lovely restaurant near Hyde Park Square, an upscale community close to our homes. We shared a bottle of wine with dinner then strolled past the shops, window shopping as we headed for coffee. Once again we sat outside enjoying our coffee and desserts while we chatted for hours. It was the first day of summer and I will remember this solstice for quite awhile, knowing it will be among the best days of 2010.

Al & Tipper

I was so sad to hear that Al & Tipper Gore were separating. As many other people commented, they seemed like the perfect couple. I met them both in 1997 and they fit their descriptions to a tee. He was stiff and robotic and she was prettier in person and quite charming.

No one knows what can cause two people to grow apart but I hope for them, their children and grandchildren that they stay good friends nonetheless. It gives the rest of us hope, too.

The Gathering at the Breaks - Day One

Jim dropped me off at Roberta's house exactly at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, April 25th. Mary Ann was already there and packed so we were on our way in just a few minutes. Following the google map, we drove on one of the skinniest mountain roads I've ever seen and decided that on our way home we would look for a wider route.

We pulled into The Breaks exactly at noon, gave hugs all around for old friends and began to make new ones. Not able to check in until 1:00 p.m., we started the gathering off with a meet and greet for an hour then drove up to the set of rooms that had been hand picked for our group. The views were breathtaking. I will have to warn that it would not be comfortable for anyone with a fear of heights!

In the afternoon we had a workshop on songwriting, a delicious dinner at the Lodge restaurant and then a "swarp", the Appalachian equivalent of our ceilidhes.

Summerfair 1974

My ex-husband, Chris, posted baby photos of Chandra for her 37th birthday.

I wanted to post this photo in particular as it shows one of the last Summerfairs at Eden Park. It was an awesome "hippie" event back in the day.

It is now an upstanding and respected arts festival but for us, in the 70's, it was a "Happening". You knew all of your friends would be there taking in the great rock music and being part of thousands of interesting people roaming about.

For Cincinnati, it was the original "party in the park".

Mimi Weekend

I spent the last weekend in February at my daughter's home, taking care of her four children while she and her husband had a well deserved trip out of town.

Nick came over with me and joined Megan, Chase and Brody in the media room to play endless hours of video games and watch movies while little Kalee and I worked on one of my quilts. She was very attentive and loved my colored threads. When we weren't sewing, we watched the skating review and Kalee spun around the room, putting her arms in the air like the skaters.

Being a grandmother is a gift, just plain and simple, its a gift from God.