Thanks for the encouragement, Richard! I'm having fun with the trumpet, but the neighbors might not be so happy. I've been closing the windows and using a mute, but it's a pretty loud instrument and I do hit a lot of wrong notes--though it's surprising how much I remember after all these years. Kathi, who's Tom Heintzelman? Probably someone I should know, but I can't think who it is.

Lori did you know that Tom Heintzelman is the band director at SHS? He has his Doctorate in Music living and teaching in Springfield. Happy Birthday. Today is my last day of playing with my grandbabies. They are going home early tomorrow morning. Right now Caleb is putting stickers all over his face. He thinks it is funny. Oh to be 2 l/2 again.....haha. Raining here today so it'll be a indoor play day. Hope all is well is all and you enjoy your weekend. Happy Thoughts!

Wow, Lori! That is so great. I remember now that you played the trumpet. I thought you were really hot (I swear that my meaning has to do with the trumpet). In case you haven't had dinner with Lori lately, I can tell you that she still is (probably really good on the trumpet). Sometimes I wish that I had taken the time to learn the guitar cuz I know that it would have been a great addition to my life. Gerda and I have friends that take saxophone lessons together and that is definitely cool. Quoting Satchmo, I can only say that, "I hear babies cry...... I watch them grow. They’ll learn much more.....than I’ll ever know. And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world."

On a lighter note--guess what I got for my birthday? A trumpet!!!! From Avi and the kids. Actually, I asked for it, but it was still exciting to see it on the table when I went into the kitchen to make coffee this morning. I played trumpet from 4th grade until 11th grade and felt like I wanted a trumpet in my life again. I'm pretty rusty, but still remember quite a lot considering how long I haven't played. I used to want to be another Louis Armstrong. Maybe it's not too late???

Your life really changes when your Mom is gone from your life. I took care of mine for 2 months while she was dying of cancer. It was the hardest thing I had ever done but there was a special bond and it was just something I had to do. After she died, it was weeks after that I would pick up the phone to call her and realize I couldn't. But life goes on and things change and you remember usually the best times. I still talk to her only now from my heart. Like I said, cherish the time you have now and the memories that were created. Happy Thoughts.

Richard, condolences on losing your mom. I don't know if it is like this for guys but for me and maybe other women ........ the first person you call when something good or bad happens is your mom. She is the person who will side with you and also be brutally honest with you when you need it. It will be very lonely not having that. I didn't have your mom in class but I do remember her. She seemed like a kind person and she raised a great son! Hope time helps you and you have lots of great memories to carry with you.

Richard, I read about your Mom in the paper today. I am sorry. I send you my deepest sympathy. Cherish your memories and know that you were loved. That's what Mothers do. Happy Thoughts.

Richard, I was sorry to hear about your mother's death. As I mentioned a while back, she was one of my favorite teachers at SHS. I loved writing poetry in her creative writing class. I would definitely be interested in seeing one of her sonnets or any other poems. Was any of her work ever published? She had a really sweet smile. I can still see her clearly in my mind.

hi, i thought i would mention that my mom died last weekend. i know lori had her for english and (as you can easily imagine) i had her for all of the subjects that were taught at home. she was 88 and, although her health had been in steady decline for a long time, it is a very sad and strange transition for me. some of the strangeness is in reflecting on all of the circumstances that had to occur to lead up to me being born. i am very glad for all of the chance or fate that accomplished that. i have also been thinking a lot about what her life was all about. it really takes you out of modern day world, present day issues. she was briefly a secretary in nyc until she realized that she would not make enough money to afford meals. others in her apartment would spend 65 cents a week on a pack of cigarettes to make themselves a little less hungry. she moved back home and took a teaching position and gave up the potential glamour of city life. she ate better, she met bob, and then there was the rest of the story. she wrote poetry that few people ever saw. lori, if i find a sonnet that i like of hers, i will send it to you. as brian says, enjoy every moment!

No shiatsu but the pool is pleasant and I am barefoot. We're taking the boys to a waterpark that they remember going too when they were little. I hope it lives up to their memories. My dad is delighted that I am in touch with all of you. He finds it fascinating. Technology, who'd a thunk it??

I had the feeling for a few minutes the other day that i am getting back to me and have been pretty focused on wanting to feel that more/all of the time. It would be a welcome change.

No, the "getting back to me" doesn't mean having fewer house guests. It's more the first explanation you gave. Feeling good about myself and life. When the water in your pool warms up, maybe Gerda can do shiatsu on you!

Kathi, I can smell the lilacs from here.

I have to agree that the spa sounds really good. I opened my pool this weekend and could try some embryo positions if i had the right person to stretch me. The water temperature is only 44 degrees, so that is probably a problem. Does getting back to me mean being less distracted by others and more clear and comfortable with who you are and what you want or does it mean having fewer house guests? I am reading a new (and another) book about a world's fair. i don't know how i got onto this but it is my third one. first the crystal palace exposition in london in the 1850's, then the columbian exposition in chicago in 1892, then visiting an architecture exhibit on Montreal Expo '67, and now a book about the 1939 world's fair in nyc. i really don't know how i got onto this and i think it is a little weird. the unexpected thing is how much i am learning. old dog, new tricks, you can't hate that.

The spa sounds wonderful!
Beautiful weather here again today. The sunshine feels so nice after the long winter. Grass is growing and flowers are coming up. I found a small liliac bush out back by the fence that is blooming...didn't know it was even there. Pollen counts are way up but who cares! It is also nice not to have to rush around, this week being vacation. Hope all is well with everyone. Happy Thoughts.

It seems fun to be a grandmother--but doesn't look like it's going to happen anytime soon!

Karen, you wanted to know how the spa vacation went. It was relaxing sitting in the hot mineral springs and having a facial, but I think the MOST relaxing part for me was when I tried the water shiatsu treatment. I've never done that before. It's sort of like being in the womb again. You're held and cradled and bent into an embryo position. You feel really light and flexible in the water, so it feels good being stretched into different positions. I had a man doing the treatment. I guess I needed that cuz I definitely came out feeling better after that. The facial with a woman didn't quite do it for me! My sister went back to Israel yesterday. It was a short visit, but it was really good for me to have her around. I feel like I've sort of come back to myself if you know what I mean.

Thanks. I really feel quite good about getting this passed.
Beautiful weather here in VT. I love Spring. Still entertaining my daughter and grandchildren. We are having such a good time together. Very hectic but heartwarming.
Everybody enjoy the rest of your weekend. Happy Thoughts!