All posts tagged: Random DJB Thoughts

Our gator era ends

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If you just want to watch Andrew singing the National Anthem, cut straight to the video at the end of the post. For those still with me, I promise I won’t be long (or maudlin).  But this week we’re wrapping up our time as Gator swim team members and parents, and it really is the end of an era in our family. Last Saturday was the final home meet of the season as well as “senior day” — so Andrew and Claire were recognized on multiple occasions.  A few pictures from the halftime ceremony can be found at the end of the video — although we look pretty wiped out in them.  (Quick aside:  Candice just yelled down, “Oh no, you put those pictures on there!”  Yep.  They were part of the video which was prepared by another parent.) Then this past Wednesday, we all went over to the home of the team rep for a party honoring “departing parents.”  Just glad it wasn’t “departed parents!”  It was great fun, and we were recognized for …

Passages 2

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Two weeks ago I wrote that life has a way of reminding us of the passages that await.  Over the past four days – in the midst of Claire’s beach week to celebrate graduation, travel, and planning for summer fun – life reminded us again of how fragile it really is. Reach out and tell a family member you love them.  Connect with a friend today. On Wednesday, Claire called as I was preparing to head to Tucson, to let me know that three friends in her class had been hit by an automobile while crossing the street at the beach.  Two were banged up with cuts and bruises, while the third had multiple fractures and was airlifted to a larger regional hospital, where she underwent surgery.  Everyone will be okay, but the impact one second can have on life was clear. The worse news came yesterday:  a call at dinner saying that a colleague and friend, who once worked as my executive assistant, had passed away unexpectedly after  complications from surgery.  Susan was 38 …

Landmark alert: World’s best custard

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Travel has its benefits. I was in Milwaukee yesterday for the announcement of the 2011 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.  We had a terrific event with our local partners, pointing out the threat to a real national treasure:  the National Soldiers Home Historic District.  One of three homes built for Civil War veterans after Abraham Lincoln authorized them as one of the last acts of his presidency, the Milwaukee Soldiers Home is the only one to maintain the context of the historic buildings and landscape.  One of the veterans who spoke at our event said that this place was critical to his recovery from PTSD, noting that the two words most associated with the site by veterans were “peace” and “serenity.”  To lose such a place of healing would  be a travesty. On this trip my colleague Genell introduced me to another national treasure (though not endangered):  Leon’s World Famous Frozen Custard.  My, my!  What a wonderful frozen custard.  It was great to watch the employees pour a large bucket of milk …

Graduation Day

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When I graduated from high school, the year was 1973 and the future – even with war, inflation, and changing social values – looked bright.  For many of us it was. Fast-forward almost 40 years.  The world is a very different place.  But to Andrew and Claire, who graduated from high school this weekend, this is their rite of passage to a new world full of equal parts promise and challenges.  I can’t imagine even 1% of what their world will be.  Seriously, as recently as 10 years ago did you figure you’d be sending kids pictures to your family via Facebook or watching movies on smart phones?  Could we have conceived of the rise – and possible fall – of suburbia, at the same time that some cities are booming and others are losing population at an alarming rate?  How many of my generation – in 1973 – would have seen China as the biggest economic superpower in parts of the world?  Would we have imagined that the Boston Red Sox would ever win …

Celebrating Andrew

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If Thursday was all about Claire, then yesterday was Andrew’s turn. (Editor’s Warning:  I treat my blog like the 21st century version of letter writing, in that I can write one item and it can go out to family and friends everywhere.  This weekend’s blog posts are all about family.  If you don’t want to read about how wonderful my children are – then stop reading.  Note…you’ve been warned!) We’re lucky with twins in different high schools that the schedule has worked so that the multiple events around graduation are held on different days.  Andrew’s day started early yesterday morning with the service of Holy Communion in The Little Sanctuary for members of the graduating class and their parents.  The service began with the beautiful Kyrie Eleison from Missa Secunda by Hans Leo Hassler.  The acoustics of The Little Sanctuary were perfect for the Madrigal singers to blend the voices as well as I’ve heard them over the past three years.  A little later in the service Andrew sang a wonderful solo in the Brazeal …

Passages

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Life has a way of reminding us about the passages that await. In the midst of activities surrounding the twins’ high school graduation, a passage we’ve been anticipating and celebrating for more than a year, we have also been called to attend two funeral services this week.  Both friends were accomplished.   Both touched many  lives.  Both died too young. At today’s service celebrating a life of love and service of our friend Sue Edwards, her husband Mark reminded us of a blessing that another friend, the Rev. Tim Boggs, used to end each service at our Parish.  Like Sue and Mark, I have always loved these words, which were adapted from a saying by 19th century Swiss philosopher Henri-Frederick Amiel.  In these times of passages, it is worth remembering. Life is short, and we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel the way with us.  So be swift to love, and make haste to be kind.  And may the blessings of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit be …

In Admiration of Claire

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I am crazy about my daughter. That observation will not surprise regular readers.  But after focusing on Claire as we celebrate the end of her high school days, I was reminded time and time again how wonderful she is. Candice likes to say that Claire is the wisest person she knows.  I agree.  Case in point:  I’ve seen how everything she has done over the past few days has been done with a great deal of thought and purpose. Frankly, I’m amazed. Last evening we joined Claire at the Senior Dinner – three families and a faculty member at each table, surrounded by the Senior Art Show with six of Claire’s photographs.  Claire had chosen her two table-mates – both talented friends where she feels comfortable and challenged – with a great deal of thought.  The faculty member was one of two-or-three teachers who have literally changed Claire’s life – in this case through his leadership of last summer’s six-week marine biology field school at Sanibel Island. This morning we were back for the closing …

Countdown Time

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Well, we’re in the highly anticipated and/or dreaded final week.  (Pick your own point of view.)  It is countdown time. Our twins, Andrew and Claire, will graduate from high school this weekend.  Since they attend different schools, Andrew goes first on Saturday then Claire follows on Monday.  I’m not sure I’m ready for this, but I don’t think either child plans to slow down and wait for me to catch up. Truth be told, I’ve been having a great deal of fun over the past few weeks…so I expect it to only get better over the next 7 days. Sunday was Andrew’s Senior Voice Recital.  We had about 75 friends and family there, and he did a great job.  Andrew’s piano teacher from 5th through 11th grade, Rosanne Conway, was the accomplished and sensitive accompanist, while his long-time friend and fellow chorister Sarah joined him for a beautiful encore.   For the benefit of the music lovers among the readership, here’s the song list: Music for a while (Oedipus) – Purcell Danza, danza, fanciulla gentile – …

Got Plans for the Summer?

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My colleague Sarah has a great blog that – like More to Come… – covers her range of interests outside of work.  So I was thrilled when I saw her recent post on top ten things to do this summer at the top of the “best blogs” on Word Press earlier today. Sarah took the idea from The Daily Post.  Her plans looked like such fun that I decided to try my hand at making a list that had an equal smile-inducing factor.  You can be the judge in determining if the DJB list for the summer of 2011 passes the test. 1.  Play more music with friends.  I’ve found a group of guys that I enjoy playing roots music with, but we tend to let it slide over the summer.  I get such joy out of playing with them that I’m going to work on getting everyone together between songwriting and guitar camps.  (Yes, these guys are good!) 2.  Summer in New England.  I’m cheating on this on as I was just in Portland, …

Disappearing governance, disappearing heritage

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Preservationists  have grown increasingly concerned about the nationwide trend to balance national and state budgets on the backs of our heritage. This isn’t a new issue but the impact is now being felt nationwide, not only in national programs but in state after state.  A large number of legislatures this past winter went for  disproportionate cuts to historic preservation, historic parks, and incentives for reusing and revitalizing our communities. It is such a short-sighted approach to governing.  But perhaps – just perhaps – the national media and the public are finally beginning to see the issue. Just yesterday, two stories came out that spoke to this folly. The first, a column by NY Times writer Timothy Egan, speaks to the misguided approach by the State of California.  Egan is a favorite of mine, who writes from outside the New York-to-Washington echo chamber and has two great histories out in his Dust Bowl-related The Worst Hard Time and The Big Burn, which chronicles the founding of the Forest Service.  Yesterday’s Fall of the Wild column in …