Swashbuckling Prep School

"If they ever come up with a Swashbuckling School, I think one of the courses should be Laughing, Then Jumping Off Something"  - Jack Handy

Mason (my amazingly smart and absolutely adorable grandson) spent the day with me going through the rigors of preparation for Swashbuckling School.  It's a tough course and he wants to be ready!  He has the laughing part down pat and spent most of his time working on the jumping component.  

Bring on the daring adventures!

Simple Pleasures

 I had a relaxing lunch at Green Bay's Concert in the Park today sitting on a blanket under the trees with a nice breeze keeping me comfortable on an otherwise hot, muggy 90 degree day.  It was fun to watch the action around me like this young lady (see pictures) who was quite adept with her hula hoop - over the head, up and down the arms, a hop skip and it's next to her rather than encircling her body.  All her movements graceful, flowing and in beat with the music.  She made it look easy and I know for a fact that it's not.

 

As the band played a lively tune the church bells from the nearby Catholic steeple started gonging and ringing like crazy!   I imagined a small boy with a huge smile on his face at the base of the bell tower clinging to a rope, rising and falling, legs flailing, as he made the bells toll.  Just like in the movies.  

"I don't know.  I don't know.  I don't know where I'm a gonna go when the volcano blows."    Policemen, businessmen, grandmas and grandpas all tapped their toes to the familiar Jimmy Buffet tune and chatted while enjoying lunch.  A couple young men were kicking around a hacky sack, mothers unpacked chips and PBJ's from coolers as children chased run away balls and drew hop scotch games on the sidewalk.

I just sat and observed the activity, soaking in the ambiance and loving summer in Wisconsin.  Then I laid back, gazed at the sky for a while and pulled out my book.  

It's not icky.... it's "iki"

I made several trips to Lithuania between 1999 and 2003 to develop the partnership between First United Methodist Church in Green Bay, WI and Pilviskiai United Methodist Church in Pilviskiai, Lithuania.  It was a very small village with no public lodging, so we slept and ate in the homes of various people from the church and local community.  What a wonderful way to get to know people from another culture!  It was truly instrumental in getting beyond the simple greetings and smiles.

On my first visit, Wes Ebert, myself, and my son, Erich, were assigned to eat meals in Donna's home.  (Probably not the correct spelling as their language doesn't use double consonants.)  Three times a day we showed up at her door where she ushered us to the living room and a table adorned with fresh flowers and pretty dishes.  She served us a feast of absolutely delicious food and using the English/Lithuanian dictionary she repeatedly made sure we had our fill until we couldn't possibly eat another bite.

In our broken method of conversation we discovered that she had been a Veterinarian on a collective farm during the Soviet era, but there were currently no jobs for someone with her skills so she was not employed.  We knew from the missionaries and translators that the money earned by feeding us would make a nice contribution to their family budget.

After each meal as we left her home we said, "Icky!"  This comment, that in our culture is not viewed as a compliment, did not bode poorly on the meal or her hospitality you see, because in Lithuanian "iki pasimatymo" or "iki" for short means, "See you later!"

This still makes me chuckle when I think about it 13 years later.  

Holding It All Together

"Make new friends, but keep the old."  I can still hear the tune in my head every time I hear the words from a song I learned as a school girl in Ohio.

I have been very blessed over the years with wonderful friendships.  Some were centered around very specific interests...mission trips, running, working together on a community event or in the same industry.  Some friendships were not as specifically oriented and included football games, strolling the farmers market, long walks in deep conversation, a delicious meal, cup of coffee or glass of wine.

I am moving to Florida in a couple weeks and will miss my Wisconsin friends immensely.  I remember 30 years ago as I moved to Green Bay my father's words of wisdom as he suggested getting involved at church as he and my mother had always met good friends at church.  This certainly held true for me as well over the years having met many of my closest friends there.

When I think about my friendships they all include laughter.  In fact, as far back as I can remember having friends, I can remember laughing with them.  I ponder the thought that laughter is actually a form of glue.

Laughter among friends may be the glue that holds this world together.

Faces and Thoughts from Downtown

As I sit in the lounge of this lovely restaurant sipping a delightful glass of Merlot, my mind wanders to a very reflective place.  I truly enjoy sitting back, relaxing and letting my mind stroll around and visit several different topics and ideas.

The bartender here is a very friendly fellow who remembers me from a couple previous visits.  I ponder whether he remembers me because I'm that memorable or if it's because he has a great memory.

I wonder about the young couple at the nearby table.  Her face lit up like a Christmas tree when he walked into the room... are they dating?  Are they old friends from grade school?  Brother and sister?  Or perhaps cousins?  Upon closer observation I'm going with the dating theory.

A disheveled woman with long gray hair and the slow step of heavy bags and a long day walks past the window.  Is she headed to a comfy chair where she'll put her feet up, eating leftovers in front of a game show?  Or will her mood soar as she arrives at a grandchild's birthday celebration at Chuck E Cheese?

Tomorrow is a local dance performance at the theatre across the street.  I wish I was as graceful as a dancer.  Twirling, spinning, leaping.  All in rhythm, all in perfect time.  Not a smidge of clumsy awkwardness.

A couple that I know walk in and we greet each other with smiles and a friendly, "Hello!  How are you?"  Everyone is fine - life is good.

A runner passes by.  Is she training for the Bellin Run next week?  Does she enjoy it?  She looks like she does.  What motivates her to be out there on this cool day with clear skies?  Would she be there if it was 90 degrees and humid?

Small dancers are arriving at the theatre wearing lime green and pink tutus!  Oh my goodness!!  Oh, so cute!  Instant memory rewind to days of my daughters wearing leotards with glitter and little Winnie the Pooh costumes.  Thoughts shift to my soon-to-be step daughter and the importance dance played in her life.  Worn out ballerina shoes, trophies and pictures of a smiling teen as she danced her way into adulthood.

I enjoy observing the faces and letting my thoughts wander from downtown.  I'm moving to another town soon where I will have to find a new window to peer through.