Essential Skills

I have always maintained that my children should have two basic life skills. 1) play the piano with a certain proficiency 2) drive stick.

I can now say that both of my daughters have achieved said skills. Years of piano lessons and daily practice took care of #1. Eldest daughter learned stick in time to drive in one cross-country to Minnesota about five years ago. Second daughter has conquered manual transmission this summer which has greatly increased her mobility.

Novella

Time is funny. You know. It seems like just yesterday when the children were toddlers, and yet, it feels like a long time ago, too. I finished Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman in almost no time, mostly because it's very short.

Each of thirty short chapters describes a dream that Einstein could have had about his theory of relativity. Unnamed characters in a German town go about their daily lives, but not in the ways we think are usual. Some people are stuck in one time, some move at lightning speed, some repeat fragments of time.

These dreams not only explore ideas of physical time, but also have spiritual connotations. I especially enjoyed the dream of 24 April 1905.

"In this world, there are two times. There is mechanical time and there is body time. The first is a rigid and metallic as a massive pendulum of iron that swings back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. The second squirms and wriggles like a bluefish in a bay. ... Many are convinced that mechanical time does not exist. ... They feel the rhythms and moods of their desires. Such people eat when they are hungry, go to their jobs at the millinery or the chemist's whenever they wake from their sleep ... Then there are those who think their bodies don't exist. They live by mechanical time. They rise at seven o'clock in the morning. They eat their lunch at noon and their supper at six. ... They know that the body is not a thing of wild magic, but a collection of chemicals, tissues and nerve impulses. ... Each time is true, but the truths are not the same."

Aberdeen Daze, Part 2

At 1:00, the highlight of the day begins. If you know the parade route, you can snag a shady spot to watch Aberdeen's finest roll by. I love a parade - Claremont's own parade on the 4th of July is a summer highlight for me. However, I don't think I'll see these in our parade - a giant spud (potato), a combine, a tractor, and enough candy to choke a horse. The little girls had so much fun waving to the parade and then screaming when a handful of candy (mostly taffy) came flying at them. (And we won't really mention that some of us old kids had to scream along with them....) As my cousin said, "Who knew this parade could be so much fun?"

Aberdeen Daze, Part 1

So, Aberdeen Daze is waiting for Garrison Keillor to appear someday. You know it's an exciting day when you get a complimentary wake-up all-city alarm (siren) at 6:25 a.m. with a follow-up at 6:55 a.m. What that means is that you should get up and get in line for free breakfast provided by the Chamber of Commerce. Sausage, hash browns, pancakes and fried eggs, plus coffee.

Should you want milk or water, just step over to the ice-filled front end loader. The Chamber estimated that they would feed 2,000 people this day.
While waiting for afternoon festivities, take a stroll through the Krehbiel's antique museum where there is something for everyone.

Gramma's Memorial Service

Yesterday our clan gathered in Aberdeen, Idaho to say our final farewells to Gramma. Although she lived a long and happy life, saying goodbye for the last time takes its emotional toll.

The service was simple and lovely. My sister officiated and read two eulogies, we sang two of Gramma's favorite hymns, my cousin's daughter and I played a violin duet, my dad's cousin sang a lovely song, and I played Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring on the violin.

After a comfort food-filled luncheon and general sharing and remembering Gramma and how special she was in our lives, we made it out to the cemetery to put her next to Grampa in a beautiful box made by my uncle.

Because we had no agenda for the rest of the day, it was comforting to continue to reconnect with aunts, uncles, cousins, cousins and 2nd cousins once removed, great aunt, and other friends and relations.

Plums and Peaches

Santa Rosa Plums in June

Heavy with a soft perfume

Red and ripe and overdue

Peaches to ensue

Summer Research

Last night we had Hal's 3 summer research students over for dinner, a yearly ritual. As usual, the kids were sweet and appreciative of a meal. One of them is a local girl who seems to be the font of knowledge when it comes to local ethnic cuisine, so we will certainly tap into her store of knowledge!

Cyberspace and Transportation

Ever since we've been home from sabbatical, our second car has been Zipcar. We rarely need a second vehicle, but when we do, it's great to be able to walk over to a college parking lot to pick one up for $7/hour. (If anyone wants a referral to join, let me know, and we can both get driving credit!)

Last week I got a twitter account. Yeah, I know I said I didn't need to tweet. I don't really, but I wanted to follow various businesses who tweet about special deals.
How are these stories related? I rented a zipcar on Saturday for three hours to go to the Ballet, and knowing I had two hours of credit, it was a very cheap rent. However, I found out yesterday that my credit had expired nearly a month ago. I was not aware that credit expired. So, I tweeted my first missive, "@zipcar - I wish your credits did not have an expiration date, especially when I didn't know that they did."

Today zipcar responded to that tweet and has given me a new credit of two hours, and this time I know that it expires on Sept. 1.

A Quick Read

Usually, I read one book at a time. However, I am in the middle of Wolf Hall, over 500 pages, and while I am enjoying it, it is moving slowly. So I picked up When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka yesterday and finished it off in two sittings.

Otsuka's language reminds me of the clarity and simplicity of Hemingway. The three main characters remain nameless, and Otsuka moves seamlessly between their points of view. Unlike The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, this story of Japanese internment is told from inside the camp in Utah.

By the Beautiful Sea

On Saturday, Village Dance Arts put on yet another wonderful production - By The Beautiful Sea. There was something for everyone from ballet with beach balls, to tap, to a Tidal Wave, to jazzy Holy Mackerel, Taiko drumming and tap, a Barbershop Quartet and steel drums. I still know enough of the kids performing to make the show personal, and I love seeing how the dancers mature from year to year.