You can expect to hear a wide variety of selections.  Leroy Anderson shows up on occassion; although, not in the “Sleigh Ride” style that I played in high school, but his style is familiar and it takes me back to my Clarinet days. Last night we heard a selection from Bach and a medley of hymns that we sat and hummed with.  All-in-all, it’s a great night.

Three weeks ago as we sat on our blanket, i noticed an older gentleman sitting just upwind of us on the knoll.  I’m pretty sure his name is “Ted”. He was an older man who was quite unkempt in his appearance.  I noticed his aroma first and then his appearance.  I felt sorry for him because he was rolling around trying to get comfortable on the hard ground.  He must have forgotten to pack a blanket in his back pack and ours was only big enough for the two of us or i would have offered him a corner.  He eventually tired of the hard surface, rolled onto his side and wobbled down the hill.  My heart went out to this lonely man.  He obviously had no date like i did.

My husband and I are among the youngest concert attenders but I don’t care.  this is small town.  this is class.  this is life how i like it.  It’s summertime and it’s time to be out and enjoy the weather and have a date with someone you adore.  what is summer to you?  Is it band music in the park?  Is it the beach?  Is it a motorbike ride down back roads?  Whatever it is, get out and enjoy it.  Even a walk around the block does wonders for one’s mind

The summer concert offerings are almost over.  I’m quite sorry to say that we will be on vacation the night of “Big Band Night” in the park; (My goodness I’m sounding old!) but I don’t think our kids would understand a cancelled trip to the Big Apple so mom can enjoy “Big Band Night.”  so, i’ll just miss it for this year.

It’s been a fun date night and now it’s my husband’s turn to find us a date night for the fall.  I hope he reads this so he knows that’s his responsibility.  Oh, and by the way, “Ted” now comes with a lawn chair like the other folks his age.  I think he learned the hard way.

He’s flown the coop; birds do that.  Kids do that.  It’s been one week since I found him on our sidewalk; he’s come a long way and so have i.  Letting go…… easier said than done.  “Have fun flying over our city, Bobby.  And please, fly carefully…….”

I wandered to the bathroom and did my usual peek out the window to see what was happening in the early morning in the backyard.  I saw some movement in the area of the tomato plants.  I blinked hard and looked, again. Was it my baby  bird!!??  I ran to the kitchen door for a closer look.  I couldn’t believe my blurry eyes!  There underneath the tomato plants was my baby bird flapping his wings and standing right beside him was…… his mommy!  I almost cheered out loud!     (but did so in my head as not to awaken my husband)  I watched for a few moments but couldn’t see the details that i wanted so I ran for my binoculars.  By the time i got back the 2 had moved.  “Wow!”, i thought, “she didn’t abandon him after all. She’s been right here all of the time.”

i went out a bit later to see my little guy but i couldn’t find him.  I did see mommy bird fly away from the fence area to a hydro wire and where she guarded from afar as i wandered around looking for Bobby…. she was keeping an eye on him where ever he was.

I don’t know what’s next with this little family.  I wish i had some really cool parallel to life.  I can think of lots but they’re all pretty cliche-ish so i’ll leave them to you to figure out. I do want to say publicly that my husband was right.  I didn’t have to worry about my baby bird……. hmmmmm….. makes me think…….

Today i had my students write stories about finding a baby bird on the sidewalk.  They came up with some great ideas of what to do with him.  I shared with them that this was a true story and had them laughing as i played out the accounts of the 2 previous nights  and my experiences with him.  They said to name him “Bobby” and although I don’t really think that’s a great name for a bird i think it’s cute and if i ever find him or finds me, I’ll call him Bobby.  Maybe then he’ll share his adventures with me and i’ll pass them onto my students.

We ate supper on our back deck and we watched him the whole time.  I wondered why he doesn’t fly.  Does he look at the other birds soaring by and wish he could do that?  Will nature’s instinct take over and he’ll all of the sudden fly?  Can he only learn from his mommy? How i wish i had paid better attention in Biology to know these things……

After supper I spent time outside watering my plants.  I passed by him and each time i realized he was spying the fence between our yard and our neighbour’s yard.  I asked him if was planning on going over there and i warned him that they have a shitzu that would tear him apart.  I remembered my dear husband told me it’s not my job to worry about him.  i turned around and went inside.

I wandered outside about 1/2 an hour later.  I checked where he had been and he was gone; again. I looked over the fence and around the plants to no avail……..  Will i see him, again?  Will there be a day #3?

We went into the house and I continued to keep an eye on this little guy.  He sat there contemplating well, i’m not sure what.  Never heard his mommy or saw her.  Made my heart sad to think this little bird had been abandoned.  Nature CAN be cruel.

About 1/2 an hour later i went to the door to do my “bird check” and he was gone.  I felt happy but sad for him.  I wasn’t sure where he’d gone.  Did something get him?  I brushed that thought aside and went out to check my flowers for the evening.  Just then i spied him outside of the gate and on the REAL sidewalk… where people and animals.. i mean CATS…. happen by.  I asked him, again, what he was doing.  Where was he going?  And I just got that blank stare, again.  I watched him for awhile and as I did i saw 2 kids, a mother and a dog walk by….. right around him!  The dog NEVER saw him!  “Unbelievable!”, i thought. “the dog never smelled him or saw him!”  Who IS this little bird?

I wandered back inside, corrected some of my student’s exams and after another 1/2 an hour I did my “bird check”, again.  He wasn’t on the sidewalk, anymore.  I looked around for him; under the shrubs, in the street.  I looked for left behind feathers from a capture i wanted to know nothing about.  But, i saw nothing.  I was sad.  I went inside and announced that i couldn’t find the baby bird…… he was gone.  I comforted myself with the fact that his mother DID come for him.  That’s when my loving husband reminded me that God sees every bird and it’s not my job to worry about them.  Somehow this bird had become the symbol for my kids and i felt sad.  the bird was gone, i didn’t know where he was or what had happened to him…….

After a few moments I decided i needed to let him go……… I wish him well on his journeys.

I was driving to school the other day.  It’s an hour’s drive.  I’m sick of it.  I was complaining out loud to myself and under my breath to God at the same time about the “boringness” of this drive. (yah, I know. Not a word…. get over it! )

As i finished complaining I looked to my right.  I saw 5 horses grazing in a field.  On top of one of the horses’ backs sat a bird.  Seriously?  I’d NEVER seen that before and i’ve seen lots of horses in fields.   I chuckled to myself, tried to remember i wasn’t on a movie set,  looked back to the road and continued complaining about the drive.

I then glanced to my left because i saw this HUGE field of hay.  It was green and luscious and through it ran a small brook.  This brook was lined with beautiful pink and purple wild stock. Quite stunning!  I turned back to the road and continued to complain about the drive.

I then passed a man who was cutting his grass beside the road.  In the path he had just cut strutted 2 wild turkeys.   Right next to the road!  How’s that for a “wow factor”? I turned back to the road and continued to complain about the drive.

Just then out of the corner of my eye i spied a field of black Angus cows.  What caught my eye? About 10 baby calves running through the field trying to keep up with their mommies.  They were so cute with their little faces and little tails flopping up and down. I turned back to the road and this time realized that God was giving me interesting things to look at on my boring drive……..

I didn’t complain to myself or under my breath anymore on the way to school…… and i try not to, anymore.

How do i help her?  I’m new at this…….. what do i know?  We never covered this at Fanshawe College! So, I’ve tried a few things; first of all,  I follow my instincts.  I don’t call on her for answers out loud to save her embarrassment.  I pair her with the brightest student in the class when we work in pairs.  I sit beside her and help her through lessons when the others are doing seat work.  I encourage her when she gives a right answer.

Will she ever be able to become the college graduate that she desires to be?  I have my doubts but I’m not telling her that.  She’s one of the bravest people i know.  I will encourage her to do her best and be the person she can be.  That’s just instinct, too…….. oh, the stuff they don’t teach you in class…..

How does a broken down old trailer inspire me?  Well, this picture says to me that someone had a dream about a Farm Market and an Indoor Yard Sale.  Seems like a strange idea to me but Mr. Entrepreneur was encouraged in that dream, took a chance and made it happen.  Did it work out?  I don’t think so.  This broken down trailer is sitting off the side of the road somewhere between Chatham and London.   The thought that inspires me, though, is this: there was a dream and Mr. Entrepreneur made the attempt to make that dream come true.  He didn’t sit around whining about how he couldn’t do it or why he couldn’t do it.  He believed in something and went out and did it.

Yes, sometimes we ARE inspired by the strangest things sometimes but ask yourself this:  what is my dream and do I have the courage to make it come true?  Do it!  Go ahead and dream.  I am where I am today because I dared to thumb my nose at the odds and make it happen.  Dream and believe!

Suzy wonders when and how will this all end. There are times when she doesn’t have strength left to fight.  She feels like each day brings things out of her control.  Oh, maybe that’s what Suzy is supposed to give up: control.

Ever feel like this?  Like you just have no strength left?  Do you wonder if  it can get any worse?   Suzy looked up the line from Shakespeare’s play: “Richard the Third”.  This is where those famous words come from:”Now is the winter of our discontent.”  It’s interesting that the King goes on to talk about the glorious summer that comes from that discontentment.  Winter turns into spring.  It sort of gave Suzy a boost.  Here’s the link if you want to read more about it:

http://www.enotes.com/shakespeare-quotes/now-winter-our-discontent

Suzy is also reminded of C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia.  She thinks it’s Lucy that declares Narnia as a place that is always winter and never spring.  that’s how Suzy is feeling these days.  More gloomy winter than bright spring.

Come quickly, glorious Summer.  Winter has overstayed its welcome.