Graduation, Retirement and Hummingbirds

It's been quite an extraordinary start to the day and to the summer of 2012.  I slept til 10 AM which is nearly unheard of for me.  It meant that I missed graduation, which I was wavering on anyhow so to have the decision made for me in this manner seems like a clear message.  I wasn't meant to go.

I was watering the plants this morning and heard a fluttering rustling noise nearby.  I thought it was a large butterfly or moth but I realized it was a hummingbird.  He stuck around long enough for me to figure that out and to stare at him for a bit.  I doubt he was considering me nectar especially since popular opinion would give you just the opposite viewpoint.  Although he may have been trying to tell me his feeder needed a refill, I prefer to think he was delivering some good will.  It felt magical, that's for sure. 

So I believe this grants some positive karma on our graduate today Ryan Patrick.  Congratulations!  We are all very proud of you and I am sure your grandparents are smiling down on you with great pride today.  Someone get Judy another tissue. 

It's also Calvin and Claire's first birthday.  Twins are blessing enough but I am especially happy for Cathy and Chris and Julia and wish them all well.  We don't get to see them enough but we hope to stay in contact enough that the kids will know who we are.  This morning's events here in my little world seem karmic for them as well.

This time of year brings retirements to mind as well (especially when we are so very close).  I often think about Mom's age at certain turning points but I haven't given much thought to Dad's.  I can't remember exactly when he retired but I do recall it following some rocky times with new administration.  And I think he may have retired fairly young though it didn't seem so to me at the time.  He would have been 55 in 1982 so he could have retired June 1983.  I realize now that he must have felt some discomfort (and probably anger) at the changes he saw near the end of his tenure.  I realize that because I'm feeling that as well and I think it must be a pretty standard pattern--one that helps you separate from your work life.  A natural progression.

I hope you have an extraordinary weekend!

Random June thoughts

We have just returned from a weekend with the softball state tournament.  I don't know how many years we've been doing this, but it's great to go do something where you feel competent and appreciated!  As well as to get to watch some softball.  But since I'm a little worn out, this is just going to be some random thought related to June.

Last weekend we were at a wedding on Long Island for one of Jim's cousin's children.  You always hear about June brides and this bride got a special symbol of good fortune blessing the beginning of their marriage when a bright double rainbow appeared over the water just as if it was set up for pictures of the newly married couple.  And everyone else.....

One picture of us I don't find too objectionable!  The rainbow does the trick.

June also brings the last day of school, at least for New York students.  I remember just loving that last half day to get your report card and come home to start SUMMER!  Seemed like summer days lasted double the time and the summer months nearly endless.  Swimming lessons were one of the highlights of the summer.  Sometimes there'd be a camp to go off to.  It was a great feeling.

June 24 1966 must have been the last day of school.  Us older kids stayed with the Valvos.  I had to wear one of the girls' dresses on that last day.  A dress!  It was scratchy and I wasn't one bit happy.  

One of my latest projects has been to study our backyard birds.  I've learned that sometimes you might even be able to get a blue jay or cardinal to eat from your hands.  I've been sitting out there watching them and taking pictures trying to learn a bit about habits and behaviors.  There was a time I couldn't fathom being interested in birds and I was a little mystified by this interest that suddenly developed.

My theory is that there were many many days when I'd spend 2-3 hours sitting still watching field hockey, basketball, football or baseball trying to learn about the game.  Now that I'm not doing that, there's room in my brain looking for something else to fill it up with odd details such as with birds.  Plus taking the pictures is a challenge for me and I like to learn from doing.  But here's one I'm especially proud of

I

I remember Mom would seem to pick up various interests along the way and try them out:  calligraphy is one I recall.  I didn't really understand this changing of hobbies and interests, but now I might be doing the very same.

Welome Home to Lake Erie

I think I've mentioned previously that I find it interesting that Lake Erie is playing such a big role in the lives of the current generation.  It continues.  Don't you remember swimming lessons on the lake?  It wasn't so nice on the lake down on Sunset Bay in the 1960s as it is today (thank goodness).  I spent some time fishing there as well as a little boating.  And now it's the next generation's turn for the same!

Paula and Ryan took a trip to Erie to see Tim, Pam and Amy last weekend (thank you Paula).  They went out on the lake and Ryan got his first tubing experience.  I was greatly relieved to know he was being driven around by a member of the Coast Guard! What struck me -- of course-- were the pictures and how they reminded me of the Hollow Lake Ontario Canada pictures from the Nevins family.

I love this picture of Paula and I call it the "Papa Hemingway" shot because this shot below of Henry Nevins reminds me of Ernest Hemingway:

Each of these pictures seem to reflect how lake activities bind the generations together.

This has always been one of my favorite pictures of Weenie and I:

There are no less than one gazillion pictures of lake activities in the Nevins collection and it was fun to be reminded that history indeed repeats itself.