For some of us anyway. The Yankees and the Brewers are in the playoffs. It was a memorable season, though, adding to baseball lore for years to come. Okay, after being philosophical, I can now scream. AAAAAAGGGHHH!
Oh well. Life goes on and it's how you play the game or root for your team. Put away the Reds and Red Sox hats. What is it about that color?
It's also the end of other seasons. Like summer. I could scream about that as well, except we all like fall and the foliage colors. Still, there's little like green.
I am hoping I mowed the lawn for the last time in Pittsfield last week. With all the rain, though, in some spots I was mowing puddles. Still, there's progress on the house, as the brick on the chimney is almost done (and may be done by now.) I had gone up to attend a history conference at UMass which turned out to be very interesting. One speaker was the director of the 9/11 museum which will open up next year. Also, on my history meanderings, I went to the new Martin Luther King memorial in DC, a talk at the National Archives on James Madison, and the birthplace of Susan B Anthony in Adams, Massachusetts. And, at Arlington last Sunday, Mary and I attended a Peace Corps 50th anniversary ceremony commemorating the 280 volunteers who had died during their service, including one friend we knew in Gabon. If anyone's interested, I have another blog recounting these random history jaunts.
On the way up and back, I stopped in to see Grandma. She is feeling well, but has trouble walking and seeing. She has an aide come in once a day to help with her morning routines, and she needs to have someone wheel he down to the cafeteria for the meals she takes there. I have also started transcribing the interviews which some of us did last summer. Some of the stories are familiar, but some are new, like the way Grandma found out she had an older brother! (step-brother) In my Old Testament class this week, I came across the name Abiathar, which was our grandfather's middle name. I always thought it was a strange name. Turns out Abiathar in 1 Samuel was the only priest to escape the wrath of the first king of Israel, Saul, who put to death all the priests in a town called Nob. Still sounds like a strange name to give your little baby in 1899, which was when Gramps was born.
It was Paula's birthday, and it sounded like a good one, from Facebook. They both recommend the movie "Moneyball", by the way, even if you're not a baseball fan, or a Brad Pitt fan. They are also going down lists getting ready for the big wedding. I bet Jeff and Melodie are as well. Margaret accompanied Melodie to her final fitting for the dress. She says both Jeff and Melodie have been very good on their diets. Sadly, I have not. Why don't they ban chocolate chip cookies, or soft serve ice cream?
Our back cases (Mary and Lur) seem to be showing slight improvements, with emphasis on slight. We got a Miles August Jones birth announcement in the mail this week! We hear good news from Dundee about Claire's studies! They are in the midst of checking out and thinking about colleges. Speaking of college, Joe seems real busy with his course work, exams and teaching load. Annie talked about some possible job changes, working on crisis communications for companies in China. Margaret's company lost their bid to continue their Fulbright teacher exchange for next year, so she is hot on the trail of other job possibilities.
Other than that, we will fill the void of baseball with Netflix episodes of "Breaking Bad," football, exercise and maybe even reading!
Hope you all are well. Love from down here! And, happy birthday Johanna (Saturday!)
