Family Picnic

Sunday afternoon, we had a family picnic.  Cilla and Zanni were missing due to other plans, but everyone else was there.

What a full weekend it was!  Very early Saturday morning, Gerry and I went to the Cornell Alumni breakfast.  V&M were here for the weekend, also taking in all the alumni activities.  It was Vee's fifth reunion.  It seems that her class broke all records of having the most class members return for the reunion.  Impressive!  Daughter Brenda was celebrating her 20th!  It was her first time going to a reunion.

In the afternoon, off we went to Syracuse to enjoy the very spectacular Cirque du Soleil.  Sunday morning meant leading worship for two services, and rushing home to prepare for a family picnic.  Since we were on the go, I did not really have time to do any cooking preparations, so we just had hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, etc.  I did make a big pot of baked beans, which could stay in the oven all morning.

By early evening, I was exhausted.  So was Gerry, though he would never admit it.

Of course, we took lots of snapshots.   It was a very hot ninety degree day, so all of the photos were taken under this little tree, beneath the shade.

I especially loved a photo that Michelle showed me on her camera, and I asked her to send it.  Because I think it is so beautiful,  I am going to include it here,  without names, of course.

Daughter and Son-in-Law

I hope she doesn't mind!

Cirque: Dralion

I've always wanted to see Cirque du Soleil.  I've seen clips of it on TV, though I could not have described exactly what it is.   After seeing is this afternoon,  I'd say that it is modeled on the idea of a three ring circus.  I say that, because there seemed to be three things going on at the same time.

This version had a great deal of Asian influence  (dragons) and many Asian acrobats.  The acts were phenomenal.

They are hard to describe, so I am just going to list some of the great variety of entertainment categories that we experienced.  But first, let me say that I was very intrigued by the set-up, the staging.  Part of keeping the "three ring circle" going was possible because characters and dancers dropped down from the "space station",  a stage-contraption in the ceiling of the arena.   From time to time,  dancers or troops would emerge from openings in the floor of the stage.   There were group numbers, and occasionally one individual was featured.

A number of clowns worked the audience, and also tormented members of the audience with their antics.  They kept picking on one young man in the third row, dragging him up onto the stage and pulling all kinds of cruel tricks on him.  There were a number of those scenes that made me laugh out loud harder than I could remember doing in a very long time.  Eventually, after a long time,  it became obvious that the young man was not just random, but a part of the circus act.

In no particular order, the types of numbers included:

*acrobats swinging and looping and tumbling from those long silk sheets that drop down from the ceiling
*  a group of acrobats jumping rope, three levels high, pyramid style (actually standing on shoulders, and doing a group rope jump!!)
*a juggler who eventually got up to juggling with 8 balls
*tumblers diving through loops
*loop performers hanging from the ceiling, loop performers at floor level
*trampoline jumpers and wall climbers, jumping over, under, around one another at various levels
*a very limber female acrobat who held herself up with one arm and contorted her body in unbelievable ways
*tumblers and contortionists and dancers and singers and an orchestra

I did enjoy it very much.  Many of the performers and acts were just mesmerizing.   It is so hard to believe that all those people could do those things with their bodies  (and loops and ropes and strips of fabric, etc.)


It was a feast (an overstuffed feast) of sound and light and sight, color, music, drums.

Definitely worth the effort!!

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