Garden Party

Our Sunday afternoon took us to a garden party at the home of old friends.   Their daughter, a college senior, is soon departing for a year in Tanzania.   She has been at a school in Florida for the past month,  learning to speak Swahili.

I do believe we have been to their garden party in the past, with spring flowers blooming.  This garden walk was clearly late summer.  It was amazingly lovely, considering how little rain we have had this year.

Their home is quite unique, especially the access to it.   You cannot see it from the road.   There is a "driveway" road leading to a small garage like structure, with a door.  You park in this driveway, and you enter through this door,  and the door leads down down down a number of levels of stairways,  until you reach the bottom, where a door opens to the yard and the house.   The house itself is round,  which makes for an interesting interior.   It is an unusual house, in a unique setting.  {It would not be appropriate for anyone with disabilities}.

Most of the party, and I am sure, much of everything else, took place on the extensive deck.

Perhaps we will go again next year, and see how the daughter made out in Africa, and hear about her experiences.

Funeral Detail

Today I officiated at a graveside service for a man, Andrew, who lived 94 years.   Although he lived that many years, clearly the most significant event in his life was his service to his country during World War II.

Following the graveside service, there was a military group there to honor his service.  Two of them tended to the folding and unfolding of the flag, which was then presented to the closest relatives.   A third member of this group played taps on the bugle.

The gentleman whose service we attended happened to have served in the U.S. Navy, and therefore, the dress uniform of the Navy veterans was   white from head to toe. They looked very sharp and professional, and felt honored to provide this service for their fellow soldiers.

Both of the sons spoke about their father, and although the father had lived a long and productive life, was a college professor, raised a family, made a positive and productive contribution to his community,  it was his service to his country which was most important to him.

A grandson-in-law had taken Andrew to visit the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., and that  somehow enabled him to find some closure for that time in his life.  The inclination of veterans of that war has always been to feel guilty about being one who survived.   The grandson commented that it was too bad that it took so long to build the WW2 Memorial and recognize the service of that generation.  In fact, by the time it opened in 2004,  many of them would have been long gone.

I think it was Tom Brokaw who called them the "greatest generation".    Two characteristics best describe this generation:   duty and sacrifice.

Thanks to all those past and present who serve this country,  making it a better place than it would be without them!

Defining Moments

The title of the sermon today was "Defining Moments'.  No sooner did the preacher start talking than my mind started wandering.  [For such in the nature of sermons.  No doubt mine sometimes provoke the same response].  I had read a book some years ago that challenged one to look back over their lives and see if you could identify some "defining moments".   I was reviewing the ones I had identified during my mental wanderings.

But I must add, that in addition to big defining moments,  there are also moments of great insight that can change one's life as well-- a new idea, a radically different notion, a change of perception..   I've had my share of those, too.   When I look at my life's 'defining moments', I can specifically identify only about half a dozen of those, which I think probably changed my life from that moment on.   The two biggest ones came later in life--in my thirties and forties.

The one in my thirties was "falling in love" and deciding to love again, when Gerry came along in my life.  As great as it was, it still took courage and conviction and commitment. It was a risk.  Needless to say, it was perhaps the best thing that had happened to me, up to that point, for sure!   This one was more of an instantaneous moment of recognition about what direction I wanted my life to go,  and who I wanted to share it with. But it was also an arduous process to get past many hurdles and challenges.

In my forties, I responded to a call to ministry. That event was not limited to only one specific moment,  though that was indeed a part of it.  Mostly, though, it was a long, very hard process,  a series of decisions and actions.  Those decisions and actions often took a great deal of courage and conviction and commitment.   It was not an easy thing to get up at 4:30 in the morning to drive to Rochester for an 8:30 class in the middle of the winter.  None of it was easy, but it was certainly all worthwhile!

The two things mentioned above, certainly defined my life for the next thirty years.

Now that I reflect on the preacher's message,  he repeatedly pointed to the words,  "Do not be afraid."

So when I try to contemplate whether or not other defining moments may be yet to come,  I will take those words to heart.   No need to be afraid.

Already, my cup runneth over!

Paddle Board

Every year or two friends invite us out on Owasco lake on their pontoon/ party boat.  This year they said they had "new toys" to try out, a paddle-board and a kayak.  It was a beautiful day to be out on the lake.

I decided to give the paddle boat a try.   It is a larger version of a surf board, only instead of riding the ocean waves,  you paddle you way around the lake, standing up, ideally.   I thought the hardest part would be just getting up onto the board.  I managed to do that.  You can paddle on your knees, or even sitting on the board.  But pretty soon,  to soon, I, got myself in a standing position.   I stood up on the board long before I had the feel for the way the board and the water interacted, much less how the board acted with a person on top of it.   Predictably, I soon took an ugly, awkward tumble, falling forward of all things, landing on my chest and then into the water.   Fortunately, I assured everyone, I was just fine, and went on to paddle on my knees and/or sitting.

This evening, I must confess,  I am feeling the consequences of that fall.  I don't know exactly what the pain means......a bruised sternum,  a cracked rib?   But clearly, now I can feel it for sure!  Thankfully, I managed to be fine until I got home!

Susie Gliding Along

Susie and Wayne go out every day, so they are pros.   In the picture you can see how it is supposed to be done.

All in all, it was a wonderful day.  First we had a picnic lunch.    I enjoyed being in the water.  It was perfect.   We took a nice trip around the lake and looked at all the mansions.  We caught up on all the things that have been happening in our lives since we last saw one another.

Hopefully they will invite us again another year.


Next time, however, I think I'll take a pass on all the toys!