Ladies Literary Lunch

The LLC (ladies literary club) held our end-of-the-year luncheon meeting.  It took place in an Art Gallery, so we were surrounded by lovely creations.  Hopefully, that made for some good pictures!  (thanks to NH)!

Part of the luncheon activity involves a "changing of the guard",  passing the gavel, or in this case, passing of the bell to the next president, and other officers.  I am the recording secretary for the upcoming season.  That will keep me busy.

In addition, I will also serve on the Archives Committee.  That committee reviews all the papers given over the course of the year  (approximately 25 or so)  and selects which ones will be added to the archives.   Only two are selected.    I am very thrilled to report that my paper was one of the two!   The title was "Psychology and Faith" and it was based on the book The Road Less Traveled by M.Scott Peck.  The theme for the year was to choose a book that was very influential, or a memorable book,  or a favorite book,  to provide an opportunity for the members to better get to know one another.    The parts of that book paralleled my own spiritual  and life journey.

The other paper was about a family's commitment to "Living the Good Life", or being responsible stewards of the land.  This family remodeled an old barn and grew much of their own food.  

The authors of both of those papers wove together the material in a book with the events in their lives.

I came home and wrote my first press release, which I just cut out of the paper. It seems to have been printed word for word.   I managed to stay within the word count limit.


We have off for the summer and do not meet again until the fall picnic in September.   The new program year has us exploring a variety of aspects of  'O, Canada'.

Senior Games

We are very fortunate that the Senior Games are held in Cortland.   We don't have to "commute" very far!   No doubt, people come from far distances to compete in their sport.  Ours is tennis.  This morning, Gerry played in singles.

Gerry Smiling Through the Fence

 This afternoon, we play mixed doubles.  I'm quite nervous about that.  When I agreed, it was only under the condition that the purpose is to participate, to have fun, without any pressure to win.  We are not in the league with the doubles competitors that come to the Senior Games.   Not that I won't give it my best shot.  I most certainly will.  It's just that 'my best shot' just isn't all that great!

The worst that can happen, I suppose, is feeling frustrated or disappointed.   We both have those feelings frequently, I am sure.   Though, honestly, we don't often have those feelings directed toward one another.  Oh, I know he won't yell at me.  He might shake his head a little bit from side to side.  But he will refrain from any snide comments.

I do enjoy playing doubles, and we don't get to do that together very often.  He plays with his senior men's group.  I play with my senior women's group, and once in a while, we get a chance to play on the same side of the net.

I am hoping for the best this afternoon. The very best would be to laugh a lot and get some really good exercise!!

Later......   Gerry was an absolute perfect gentleman  husband in our doubles match, especially compared to the husband part of the team we played against.  He was ragging on his wife the whole time  (and she was really an outstanding player!)  I knew I was lucky,  but their interaction reminded me just how much!!

What a good husband have I!!

Silver Medal

 

My Hero

I spent much of the day waiting for the delivery of the bicycle I bought for myself for my birthday.  Finally, at 4:30, it arrived.  I knew, of course, that it would have to be assembled.  I waited patiently while Gerry did the assembling in the garage,  trying not to get too anxious.  Finally,  I opened the door and noticed that there seemed to be a problem.  Gerry said that the piece that holds in the handlebars was defective, and the handlebars could not be bolted into place.

I felt like a ten year old kid who could barely keep from crying! I was so disappointed;  I couldn't wait to try it out!   We called the company. They said it might be ten days to get the replacement part.  Then Gerry had an idea for a temporary fix.  He got a C-Clamp and clamped the handlebars to the central piece where it was loose.  That did work!  It is, at least, ride-able!   I took it for a spin around the block.   It is an old-timey bike, without any hand brakes or gears,  just your most basic girl's bike!

A little while later,  Gerry said he had an idea for a little better fix.  He went down into the basement and got a long bolt.  I don't know if he drilled into the center piece or what, but he put that big bolt in there, and that will surely hold it in place, long beyond ten days!   He commented:  "Farm boys have to learn to improvise".

There have been many many occasions in these thirty years when I have been very grateful that I married a farm boy!  They do indeed know how to do most anything.  At least, this one does!  How lucky I am!!

Fifty Voices

On Sunday afternoon,   I accompanied the choir, visiting a retirement home.  We lead a worship service there once a month.  The turn-out is incredible.  Our choir is sometimes between fifteen to twenty members.  Then about twenty five residents come to the service.   My best estimate is there are at least fifty voices.

This time, the set up was a bit different, with the grand piano in the center of the room.   The chair circle in which the residents sat had to be built around it.   The piano, the pianist, and I, the speaker, found ourselves in the center of that circle.

The circle was not very far from the speaker and the piano.   Then we sang the first hymn.  I was completely overwhelmed.  The fifty voices were all singing directly toward me!  It was an incredible experience, and it is hard to explain what it felt like.   Clearly, it was totally different from the sounds of a congregation from the pulpit area.  I felt surrounded with sacred sound, enveloped, uplifted, enthralled, transcendent.

The residents were attentive,  the anthem was lively and got some of the folks moving and clapping.  It was/ is my last one of those services at this time, as my tenure as Interim/ Pulpit Supply ends at the end of this month.  I wanted to do something special for the closing.   So I did the signing motions to the song "Spirit of the Living God".  As one who does not have singing talent,   I do so love signing.

By the third worship service of the day,  I am usually rather exhausted.   But that one was so unique, that I will long remember being lifted up by fifty voices singing "Holy, Holy, Holy".  

That's exactly what it was!