Funerals

I suppose one does arrive at the "age of funerals", when so many of the friends, neighbors, colleagues, church friends, etc. leave this world.

On Wednesday, I attended an especially moving funeral service for a woman from church.  She has been fighting cancer for the past year.   Let's call her "Donna".   I have not known her for very long, though I did visit her in her home, during her last week.  Even so,  I really didn't expect to be as deeply affected as I was.  I had a lump in my throat several times, and tears in my eyes more than once.

She was only a few years older than I am.   Her children are probably the age of my children.  The same would be true with the grandchildren---some teens, some tots. Donna had known her share of challenges and grief.  She was a person of tremendous faith, and strength.  One simply could not listen to the testimonials given by her children and grandchildren without being deeply moved.  One grand-daughter, a high school senior, chose to sing the song,  "For Good", from the Broadway musical Wicked.   It started off beautifully;  then about half way through, she was overcome with emotion and could not go on.  Her father came and stood with her.  The accompanist continued to play skillfully, giving her a chance to start at an appropriate moment with the music.  For the final chorus,  the grand-daughter's voice returned, and she sang out those final words with a crystal clear voice, soaring.

I know I'm who I am today, because I knew you.  Who's to say if I've been changed for the better,  I do believe I've been changed for the better;
And because I knew you, because I knew you,  I've been changed for good.

Vineyard Owners

A couple of weeks ago,  Ladies Literary Club had a guest speaker who came to tell about the book he had written about a wine vineyard in the Finger Lakes.    He was the writer, and as the writer,  he won an international award on his book.  He had spent a considerable amount of time interviewing the owners of the vineyard.   Accompanying him was the wife-half of the couple who own the vineyard.

She also spoke.  The husband and wife team started their vineyard late in life, after their children were grown, and with little money.  They have produced an award winning product, but have always struggled financially.

She spoke about how much her husband worries about the grapes, and how so far, they have managed to reap their grape crop.   But this year,  with weird weather patterns,   warm spring weather came too soon.  We have had 80 degree temperatures in mid March. If the buds come out on the vines, and then there is a hard freeze,  it could destroy the potential grapes.

Ever since I heard her speak,  I have been worried about the grape vines!  It really had an affect on me.  I read a novel not long ago that was also set in a vineyard, and detailed all the careful pruning that had to be done, and the risks and dangers involving storms and wind and cold.   Suddenly, it felt very personal.   I can't help but wonder,  if I feel the anxiety for the grapes, me a stranger, a non-grower, how hard it must be for the owners of the vineyard.  I can see why she would say that her husband spends many sleepless nights.

My husband remembers well loosing a whole season's crop of apples for the same reason, back in the 1940's.

Tonight promises a hard frost, low temperatures, and a threat to fruit blossoms everywhere.  Blessing to those who have to stay awake all night worrying!  My heart goes out to you!

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!