WHY?

A fifteen-year-old boy in our community took his own life last night.
I don't know the kid or the family, and I can only imagine some of the heartache this morning. And for many days/weeks/years to come.
Of course, we can get all political and say "Guns kill; ban guns", but the truth is people kill. Guns just happen to be the tool of choice. Accidents/depression/hatred kill.
Satan, father of lies, kills; God give life and gives it more abundantly.
Praying for the family and all who are affected by this tragedy.

2ba4me

My son started his musical career playing the sousaphone in the elementary band. My daughter followed his trail when she became of age. Over the years and band directors, she became a tubist. A tuba is different from a sousaphone in its appearance (held in the arms instead of worn) and its usage. The sousaphone relates well to marching bands. The tuba is more classical in nature, and more likely to be seen/heard in the concert band. This Saturday night we plan to hear and see the AWE concert, featuring the tuba solo previously mentioned in this blog spot. This same tubist presented "The Flight of the Bumblebee" for her college Jr. Recital. She's good!

Surprise!

Her hair was black and there was a lot of it.
Her eyelashes were long and dark.
She did not look anything like her older brother, who was bald and fair.
Just when you think you know what you're looking for, God throws you a curve!

This is a anniversary of my daughter's birth.
She was a surprise then, and she never ceases to amaze us with her talents and activities.

She always loved animals, and she continues to do so. Now she and her husband have a miniature schnauzer and a labradoodle. She has participated with them in various trials of ability and training. The last award she and Sprocket got was first place in her class at the Vermont "Iron Dog" competiton.

She will be playing a tuba solo with the Adirondack Wind Ensemble at the end of this month. (AWE--get it?!) In case you didn't know, tubas can do more than "oom pah pah"....this solo is the "Variations on the Carnival of Venice", usually performed by trumpet, and it has many fast fingerings and tootings.

We ar so blessed to have such a caring daughter and friend. Happy Day, JoLee!

Family Gathering

Several of the snapshots deal with the day my son and his family from Colorado came to my Mom's apartment building complex. They had never seen where she lived, and a family picnic was planned. Of course, it rained. And they were delayed by train "lack of schedule". And the rest of us had pretty well eaten our fill.
But....they GOT THERE! The children, twins 5 and brother 4, had not ever met Great-Grandma. She was, by this time, attached to a walker or wheelchair. This feature photo shows the obligatory "family pic" in two rows, so we fit. My son Sam with Tim and Nick, Great-Grandma. and Lydia. Ray, my husband, is behind and I am on the left of Mom. I'm so glad we took that picture.
Mom passed away about two and a half months later, after suffering a stroke and "hanging on" for over a week.
The kids have not been back to this area.
So, there are a lot of memories attached to this "frozen moment".

Memories....

"We" got one of those picture thingies for Christmas...you know, the ones where you take photos from your computer and, through the magic of computerism, place them in the new place on your picture thingy. (Well, actually, I got it last year....and it sat in the box all year, so in 2009 I gifted it to my husband. But that's another **cheap** story.) Anyway, yesterday said hubby decided to install pictures on it. He left me with written instructions and directions as to where and how.... Well, I had a great time going through our computer pictures for the last 10 years or so. And when he got back, he installed the chosen ones on the picture thingy. So now I have an ongoing-slide show. Sometime I'll describe for you some of the memories that are thus frozen in time.

Family-friendly

By Jove, I think he's gotit!
In fact, I know he has. Despite all my efforts, the helpmeet has the crud.
I really tried.
Probably I shouldn't have peeled his orange for him.
Anyway, now he's sweating and chilling and taking all the meds he deems necessary...which, of course, are not the ones I took.
So, we now have the beginnings of our own pharmacy, in the privacy of our home.
He's out and about, infecting the general populace.
So, if you hear of NNY falling to the mysterious "Common Cold", be aware that it started here.
(Just don't tell the health department....)

so....

The first day of the first month of the new year and the new decade is three-quarters gone already. Do you have sorrows in 2010? Do you have joys in 2010? Have you done anything different than what you did in 2009? Remember, if you keep following the same plan, you'll get the same results. Is this what you're hoping for in 2010? If not, better change the game plan.