Not Yet Groovin'

Not very long ago,  I complimented my husband on how cheerfully he went off to skiing, regardless of how poor the conditions might have been.    I do have to say that the reverse is not true.   He has not yet gotten into his spring groove.   Ordinarily,  he would get another full month of skiing, and that has him flustered and stuck in his grieving.

While I am (and the rest of the world)   rejoicing in the glorious spring weather,  he is lamenting the loss of winter. He has not yet established his spring routine.  That will eventually include going in to the university to hang out with his cronies there several days a week, and having great conversations and coffee,etc.  It will include cutting the grass a couple of times a week, perhaps. It will probably involve some mulch along the way, much to my chagrin.   But he has not made this transition just yet.

The past couple of days, he has spent 'cleaning up' from the skiing season, washing all his gear, and putting it away to be ready for next time.   I suggested that maybe he ought to go to Utah where all the snow is, but he said he did not want to do that.

Of course, it may well be that this beautiful spring weather is not really a completely 'done deal'.   We could still get winter in April,  which would be a shame.  The ski resorts around here are closed.  Trees are in bloom, a freeze could do terrible damage, so I am hoping that is not true.  Nothing good could come of it.

I suppose it is at this moment of the  year,  when I am thrilled and in my glory with the blossoming season,  when my husband is no longer in his element, that we are most at odds.

We just do not run by the same season!

Zanni as Annie

Today we attended a high school production of Annie.  Granddaughter Zanni played the lead role and did  a superb job.  She has a lovely, strong, versatile singing voice.  Pretty much all of the family was there.   Even V&M came up from Long Island.

We had lunch together in Ithaca before the play, and then all convened at the school to get good seats.   Once again, I had the very best seats in the house, perfect shot for photographs, and again, they announced no flash photography.   It was so disappointing.  At the intermission,  Gerry worked at figuring out how to turn off the flash on my digital camera, which we had not done before.  In the second half, I was able to take non-flash pictures, though the vast majority of them were much too fuzzy, and had to be deleted.   I did get a few.

Anyway,  it was a thrill to be there as a large supportive family.  Zandrea did such a good job and everyone was so proud of here.  It was a three hour production, however, and I can only imagine that she is exhausted, after also performing that same three hour production last night!

One thing that amazed me is how they changed the scene from the orphanage to the mansion.   There were two completely different sets, switched in a matter of minutes, from a scummy run-down orphanage, to the residence of a billionnaire.   Most impressive, though I still cannot figure out how they did that!

Zanni looked beautiful with her red hair (natural) and curls.

What a musical weekend it has been!

Cortland's Broadway

Tonight we attended a production of "Broadway on Church Street".    I don't know when I have been so thoroughly entertained!   And I actually thought it surpassed Broadway, because the entertainers were beloved local folks!   The cast was made up of a couple of children,  half a dozen teenagers,  and singers and dancers of more advanced years.   All the numbers were from Broadway musicals, past and present.

One young teenage boy sang a solo.  He is probably no more than fourteen or fifteen, and out he came in his new suit, a top hat, and sang "On the Street Where You Live".  When it was over, and the audience was expressing appreciation, and he was leaving the stage, he jumped up and clicked his heels!  Oh, the abandon of youth!

There was a rousing, incredible organ version, at full capacity  (well maybe not) of Phantom of the Opera!   It was spectacular.   The organist wore a black cape.  The light shone in such a way as to cast a tall shadow on the wall of the balcony!

The funniest number by far was a song called "The Book Report".  I don't know what musical it came from, if any,  but there were four adults playing the parts of elementary school children given the task of writing a book report on Peter Cottontail,  of not less than 100 words.   I can't even describe how it was done---with harmonizing parts sung at the same time, with contrasting words.  There's probably a word for that, but I don't know what it is.  We laughed all the way through it.

Other memorable numbers were The Man From LaMancha,  which was so well done.  The person who had the role of Don Quixiote was perfect for the part!  He also has a strong, rich, powerful voice, that did justice to the song.   A cute number was sung by a married couple:  Sue Me.    Both have exceptional voices, and it was a great number for them not only to sing, but also to act!

There were interesting percussion sounds that added depth and interest to many of the pieces.    I don't know when I have been so completely engaged.  Gerry also was laughing, chuckling.

My only disappointment was that they asked us not to take flash photographs.  I restrained until the closing number, when everyone else was doing it.  

So much talent! So very much talent!   I feel so fortunate to be in a place in my life to just enjoy!

Commendation for Gerry

Recently, I attended the annual "Geezer Skier" luncheon with husband Gerry.  They have formed a social group, and named themselves Geezer Skiers, an affectionate name they use with pride, I might add.   There was a reporter there that day, and she interviewed many of the senior citizen skiers.   The suggested age for geezerhood is seventy plus years.  The photographer also took some pictures, and the end result of all of this was a full page spread in the local newspaper.   It was great press for the tough old geezer skiers!

They did give out an appreciation award, for the good job the ski resort did in keeping snow present and groomed. The purpose of this particular post is to give a blog award to Gerry for his positive attitude this season of less than perfect, often less than appealing ski conditions.

Off he went happily,  even if he was skiing on a thin coat of white stuff, with green patches showing through.  I was concerned that the mild and snowless winter would affect his mood,  but not so!   He would just say:  "You get what you get!"  And off he went.

To some degree, that is because it is not all about the skiing.   Oh, that is certainly important.   But the secondary, and equally important purpose of the geezers is the gathering.  It provides a good source of socializing, male bonding, laughter.  Of course, it is great exercise,  too! Some of the gathered geezers are widowers, or never married.  A few come as couples.  There are even a few female geezers.  As a non-skier, I am not in that loop,  but glad for Gerry that he has that group.

So hats off to Gerry, who earns the Good Spirits award this year for keeping a positive attitude in the face of poor conditions,  being upbeat and cheerful,  and for being totally dedicated to his passion, even on days when he was the only geezer there!

That's my Ger!  Sociable, committed, faithful, and skilled.     Even to the slopes!