It's Also Contagious

It's been a few weeks since the last post.... my apologies. After the Marshall Marathon, life seemed to accelerate, deadlines at work, Christmas musical at church, shopping, and.... oh yes... my birthday.

Happy birthday to me! Thanks for all the wonderful cards, emails and birthday wishes. Speaking of cards, there was one that stood out as perhaps the most thoughtful card I have ever received. It came from a friend at church, and it set me to thinking about how I have lived my life so far.

The card itself was quite simple, basically just a quote from author Max Lucado. It reads as follows: "Next time a sunrise steals your breath or a meadow of flowers leaves you speechless, remain that way. Say nothing and listen as heaven whispers, 'Do you like it? I did it just for you.' In the coming year, may God's wonders in your life leave you speechless. Happy Birthday!"

My friend Sam sent me that card. His personal note on the inside said that when he saw it, the card made him think of me. He said, "It's so you!!" I was both flattered and humbled to realize that the way I have lived has affected (however slightly) someone not under my parental control.

That birthday card made me pause and think of the sights I have been blessed to observe. Countless sunrises on morning runs. Sunsets over Cape Cod Bay, an evening sail in Megansett Harbor, right whales feeding in the North Atlantic, a full moonrise over Nauset Light beach, an early spring Appalachian high country snow, brilliant fall foliage along the Ohio River, just to name a few.

Thank you, Sam, for thinking of me. Evidently the music is not only perpetual, but also contagious. "Take a good look at God's wonders - they'll take your breath away." (Psalm 66:5 The Message)

Reflections On Marshall

A week has passed since the Marshall University Marathon. We've had time to reflect on the race and sift through the experience, compiling out unofficial list of lessons learned. I'm still not sure why I cramped so badly at mile 17, but I'm very pleased at how I was able to fight through it and still post a personal best time. Therein likely lies the most important lesson from this race: always respect the marathon. It would be easy to become greedy and say, "If I hadn't cramped, I could have run sub-four". But I think the wisest thing to do would be to "take what you can get and be grateful". After all, 4:14 is two minutes faster than the previous PR.

The marathon is one tough event, filled with peaks and valleys. Talent and athletic ability are of no use when the difficult times arrive. These tough periods in a race must be expected, anticipated and embraced. They require preparation in advance. To paraphrase Vince Lombardi, the will to win is not the important thing. It is the will to prepare to win that makes the difference.

The film "We Are Marshall" was shot in several locations in and around Huntington, WV. Here are some pics of some sites central to the movie.


Springhill Cemetery, the site of the memorial to the plane crash. Six players, whose bodies could not be identified are buried here together. The site overlooks the cities of Huntington, The MU campus and stadium.


Nate Ruffin, captain of the 1971 Young Thundering Herd, died of cancer in 2001. He is buried next to his teammates. Jessica is getting a closer look here.


Nate Ruffin's headstone.


Someone left their artwork of number 25.


This is the top of the monument. On the sides of the monument below are inscribed the names of the players, staff, boosters and flight crew killed in the crash.


The main entrance to the campus. The building is named "Old Main".


The Chief Justice John Marshall statue, for whom the school is named.



The memorial fountain, in front of the Memorial Student Center.


The plaque beside the fountain.


On November 14 of each year, the anniversary of the crash, the water to the fountain is turned off. The fountain remains dry until the spring.


Outside Joan C Edwards stadium.


A church across the street.


The 50-yard line.


State Road 75 in Kenova, the site of the plane crash, less than a mile from Tri-State Airport.



The Marshall plane clipped the tops of the trees to the left...



...and crashed into the hillside near the bottom of the ravine to the right.




The Keith-Albee Theater on 4th Avenue. This is the theater depicted in the movie, and was the site of the world premier of "We Are Marshall".


The Frederick Hotel on 4th Avenue, site of the crash hearings held by the NTSB.




Jim's Restaurant on 5th Avenue, inspiration for the restaurant in the movie.

We Are... Marshall!! New PR!!

Well, we made it. A new PR for us, 4:14:03, official time. The trip was great. We got to see some old friends and make some new ones.

The course was flat as advertised and the weather was cool, a great formula for a good time. I've learned through experience that every race brings its own unique set of challenges, and this time it was cramps. My legs started cramping around mile 17 and it was literally a fight to the finish. I've dealt with pain before in a race, but never quite like that. I tried every trick in the book, but ultimately decided on the Nike method, "Just Do It". Hopefully in the next few days I'll have time to post some insights and observations from the weekend, but for now here are some pics.



The "pre-game" meal with Rick and Cindy Shideler.










Near the starting line, a balmy 37 degrees F.









The striptease inside Cam Henderson Center.









One last item of business...










Ready, set, go! We're in there somewhere, I promise.











Mile 6...










Mile 19.... a cramping we will go :-)

Finally....

Go Herd!!

Time to relax.

That's nothin' doc. Last race I lost three toenails.

All pictures courtesy of Rick Shideler, our "official" race photographer.

One Week To Go...

Well, the training is done. One week to the race. Nothing to do now but sit back, keep loose and let the bumps and bruises heal. This is our final week of a three-week taper, during which we reduce the mileage, cut back on the cross-training and clean-up the diet. I've heard it said that outstanding performance happens when diligent preparation meets excellent opportunity. We've had a really good training cycle, good interval times, good endurance on long runs. The course is conducive to fast times, the current weather forecast is favorable. We'll see....

"We Are Marshall" has definitely been the inspiration this time around. The DVD is available now and it really is a must-see. I get goose-bumps thinking of running through that stadium and campus. This is going to sound strange... during every long training run this time, when we hit a rough stretch on a climb, or when it got really sunny and hot, an airplane would pass overhead. Each time that happened I thought, "we are.... Marshall". If that town, university and student body can pick itself up from the ashes of such a tragedy, I can climb one more hill, I can run one more mile.

Speaking of one more mile, the Cape Cod Marathon is tomorrow. I guess right about now registration is in full swing. Last night would've been shirt-folding and packet stuffing at the Lawrence School. Cindy and I really miss being there. We miss Chris and Pam, and we miss all our Falmouth Track Club friends. The CCM is the finest event of its kind. We shall return. Perhaps Chris and Pam can make the trek from Wild Harbor Road down to Thomas Landers Rd and Rte 28 tomorrow and give the runners a cheer from us! Pam, we were thinking of you this morning during our run. How that, if we were running CCM, we would be in you kitchen this morning scarfing up your special waffles. :-)

So.... just a few more days and it's off to Huntington, to meet up with the Shideler's and enjoy a relaxing, Sunday morning "stroll".

You Never Know Who's Watching

It's very true... you never know who's watching. Yesterday morning at church we played "O Praise Him". Last night after rehearsal, one of the vocalists from the band sent me a video of her son performing his own version of the same song.

out of the mouths of babes....

Thank you, Becky, for sharing the video. I think Grayson is a natural...

We Are Marshall...

So we're getting used to not having Ashleigh around all the time. sort of... She seems to be adjusting well to CSU. We've spoken with her a couple of times and traded emails. She has made some friends and says she enjoys her classes. Last time we talked, she said she was planning a trip home the weekend before her birthday.


Calling all marathon fans! Want to make a trip to Huntington, WV, this fall? We usually run the Cape Cod Marathon the last weekend of October, but after seeing the movie "We Are Marshall" last Christmas, we decided to compete in the Marshall University Marathon this November. If it wasn't for my job at FBC, we would go to Falmouth, volunteer at the CCM, then run Marshall the next week. If anyone is interested in coming to WV for the race let us know.


Cindy and I are now in the middle of the training cycle. We started our long runs a couple of weeks ago. This past Saturday we did 18 miles, and have 3 20-mile runs scheduled before the taper down to the race itself. So... here we go again.

I took John driving for the first time today. Our church has a huge parking lot so we went there and I let him drive around for awhile. He did very well. Cindy even rode along and didn't hyperventilate. I'm thinking of starting a Newell car insurance fund. I wonder if there's anyway to set it up so that contributions are tax-deductible...

There She Goes...

Well, Ashleigh Marie Newell is now officially a freshman at Charleston Southern University. Move-in day was yesterday, and it was surprisingly smooth. There are flat, open grassy areas next to the freshmen ladies' dorms, so we could pull the cars near the entrance. The football team and marching band were all there to help new arrivals carry things into their rooms. Ashleigh's roommate, Kerriann, met us soon after we parked and grabbed some of her marching band buddies to help us. We were unloaded in about 10 minutes. We spent a little time getting the major items arranged in the room (microwave, coffee pot, bed, etc.). Ashleigh is the new keyboard player for Elevate (the campus worship band), so a couple of those guys popped in to help us move her equipment to their storage area. We ate lunch together at The Caf, filled her car up with gas, gave her some extra cash and said our goodbyes.

I'll admit that leaving her there was the tough part. From the moment we almost lost her at birth, I have understood that Ashleigh does not belong to Cindy and me. She belongs to God, and we were only caretakers for a period of time. She is ready to fly, and to follow the path that God has set before her. Knowing that fact is the biggest comfort, but we are human and will readily admit to shedding many tears on the way back, even John choked up a little when he hugged her goodbye. Jessica? She just wants to know when she can have her sister's bedroom with the private bathroom. Sorry, kid... ain't happenin'.

So, off we go to the next chapter in life. It will be different, but good. Although, it's going be more than a little strange when the 1030 band takes the stage in the morning to lead worship and you-know-who is not behind the keyboards on my left...

It's The Same Sky

It's no secret that I love Massachusetts, specifically, Cape Cod. One of my favorite things about the Cape is the sky. Whether it's watching the sunset over Cape Cod Bay, or catching a sunrise over the North Atlantic, the colors are spectacular. A few years ago as we watched the sunset at Campground beach, Uncle Peter remarked that no two sunsets are ever the same. You know, he's right. They are each unique and have been known to draw applause from the neighbors gathered by the shore each evening.

One Sunday morning, a couple of weeks ago, Cindy and I were doing the "get out the kinks after the long run" workout before church. As we ran through Elisha Park we came up over the hill where the path turns back toward the east. The sun had just begun to rise but had not quite peeked over the treeline. I looked up and noticed the colors, reds, yellows, oranges, a tinge of purple... "Oh, wow!", was my spontaneous response, "how beautiful." As we made our way back home, I did some thinking about that sunrise, and I realized that the view was just as beautiful as any on the Cape. As a matter of fact, all things being equal, the Cape sunrise that same morning was likely just as stunning. Then the most elementary of all concepts struck me anew... it's the same sky.... in Massachusetts and in South Carolina.... it's the same sky... I'm the one that moved.

Isn't my relationship with God just like that in a way? He is there, always. Same location. Same beauty. Same power. Same love, mercy and grace. The view seems different because I was the one who moved. He is perpetual. I am intermittent.

Major whining for 800 meters

I still love running, although this week I've decided that there are two days in each week when I do not like it very much.

I completed my first marathon barely standing, and the next couple weren't much better. So in a quest for speed and endurance, I visited a running coach who suggested I try speedwork. "Doesn't sound so bad", I thought to myself. "Might even be a fun change of pace." Boy was I wrong. Now, every Tuesday we do Yasso 800's and on Thursdays we do a tempo run. I'll explain....

Though named for Runner's World writer Bart Yasso, the Yasso 800 was actually invented by Lucifer himself. The theory is actually innocent enough. If you want to run a marathon in 4 hours, train to run ten 800 meter intervals each in 4 minutes, with a full 400 meter recovery in between each repeat. So, this insidious method of torture goes like this:
1) warm-up 1 mile at an easy pace
2) sprints (aka gassers, suicides, Herbies). 100 meters at a time at max speed, total 1 mile
3) 10 x 800m intervals, 400m recovery following each one
4) cool-down 1 mile at an easy pace.

The tempo run is only slightly less fun:
1) warm-up 1 mile at an easy pace
2) sprints (see above) total 1 mile
3) 5 miles at a pace 1.5 - 2 minutes faster than marathon pace, no recovery periods
4) cool-down 1 mile at an easy pace.

In warmer weather these workouts can be a challenge. The humidity levels make breathing extremely difficult for me, and sometimes I even feel like I have an elephant sitting on my chest. I've discovered that eating too soon before one of these is a very bad thing (reversals are not fun.... ever try to hurl and run at the same time?). I hate these workouts, but they are pure magic. Over the last couple of years I've lowered my marathon PR by 45 minutes. I've also noticed a dramatic improvements in both my endurance over the last 6.2 miles of a race and my post-race recovery.

I love to run, I just wanted to whine. I'll stop now. sorry...

But Why Would You Want To?

The thrill of victory.

The agony of defeat.

A few days after I ran my first marathon, a friend at church asked me if I had done anything interesting over the previous weekend. When I very proudly informed him of my accomplishment, he just looked at me with his head cocked to one side and appeared quite puzzled. "But why would you want to?", was his reply. That set me to thinking.... and here's the answer....

I love to run. I love going out at 5:00am, seeing the stars, watching the sunrise, feeling the breeze, listening to the birds. I suppose I could be pious and claim that I pray when I run, or worship when I run, or sing hymns when I run. Being a Christian, I suppose those would be the things most people would expect to hear, but my passion for the sport reaches a deeper level. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I do those things, but that's not why I hit the streets before dawn to travel 20 miles in a huge circle.

The music is perpetual, and when I run, so is the hearing. Simply put, I run because it reminds me of who I am in God's eyes. When I feel my heart beating, it brings to mind my ultimate goal, to have my spiritual heartbeat in perfect, synchronous rhythm with the heartbeat of my Creator. Climbing the hills, I have confidence that I can reach out and find my second and third wind, that spiritual rock, that fortress upon whom my life is built. When my legs burn and my lungs ache, I press on because my Saviour endured and completed his mission. The climbs, the downhills and the flats remind of how uneven life truly has been and will be. I sprint to the finish because heaven is my goal and when my time on earth is done, I intend to be totally gassed, to have nothing left to give. The long distance run is the perfect metaphor in my relationship with God.

"I was just running." -- Forrest Gump

Ashleigh made it back from Charleston this evening.... Cindy and Jessi arrived in Kansas City... and John and I watch massive episodes of Home Improvement on DVD... can life get any better?

Our July 4th holiday was good.... we managed to accomplish our goal of watching the Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest. Kudos to the new champ, Joey Chestnutt of California.... 66 HDBs in 12 minutes.... life is good, indeed...

Getting Ready For The 4th

Because of our school calendar, the Fourth Of July holiday represents the midpoint of our summer season. We're getting ready for the holiday. The banks are closed and I'm off tomorrow. Woo-hoo!!!

It's been a busy summer so far. Ashleigh, John and Jessica all attended Student Life Camp in Black Mountain, NC. Ashleigh worked on staff at a Student Life Camp in Myrtle Beach, SC. John and Jessica helped staff our church's Vacation Bible School. Next week Cindy and Jessica will travel to Kansas City, MO, for a conference. Later in the month John and Jessica will help staff a local sports camp, and Ashleigh will work on staff at one more Student Life Camp in Lynchburg, VA. Sounds like a lot of stuff going happening here, huh?

So.... in the middle of all that.... the holiday. We're not quite sure what to do yet. Sleeping in late is a given. So is firing up the grill. Around noon I suppose we'll turn on the TV and try to catch the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Championship from Coney Island. It's been televised for the past two years. It's quite possibly the grossest thing I've ever witnessed (much worse than anything the producers of "Fear Factor" ever imagined), but I just can't tear myself away. We also always try to watch "Pops Goes The Fourth" from Boston, but it's not always televised here. Maybe some day we will score some VIP seats from Maestro Lockhart (we are, after all, Phi Mu Alpha brothers from Furman days), but I won't hold my breath.

At some point before, during or after the celebrating, I hope we can all take some time to reflect on the history of Independence Day. I found this really cool website on the Declaration of Independence. http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/ It contains some interesting biographical information on the signers.

When I was child, my family watched the Red Skelton show every week (that was a time, of course, when parents could view prime time network television with their children without wincing at least three times per half-hour). Recently I came across the following commentary on the Pledge Of Allegiance by Red Skelton. http://www.spiritisup.com/pledgeofallegiance.html Food for thought... I hope we all have a safe and happy Independence Day. Let's go Red Sox!

Cindy Is The Music

Well.... as we've all heard by now, the music is perpetual, it is the hearing that is intermittent... and boy, I'm straining to hear it tonight....

Cindy went down to Scranton to visit her Mom and see her brand new nephew. She took Jessica with her, Ashleigh and John opting to stay with me. Don't get me wrong, please! That's all fine, and those are good things. Eleanor loves to have Cindy come down for visits and Cindy gets a chance to spend some time with her. But the problem is I have this weird feeling again, like a part of me is missing.

In a few more weeks, we'll celebrate our 23rd wedding anniversary. I think I love her more now than I did when we married. Is that even possible? I can't stand the thought of being away from her, even for one night. God has blessed me with the most wonderful companion imaginable. She is my mate in every sense of the word. When she leaves, even for a brief time, all I can think about is when I will see her again.

Ok, ok... so I'm a sap and I should get over it... quit whining.... deal with it! It's only one night, give me a stinkin' break!!

I don't think so.

You see, Cindy and I fell in love when she was playing in the pit orchestra for a production of South Pacific at Furman University. I think I went to every rehearsal, just see see her during breaks and walk her back to her dorm afterward. And, in the heartfelt words of Emile... "once you have found her, never let her go".

A little louder, please, Emile. She's about a hundred miles away.

Dear John

Each family has a name or two that sort of gets passed down though the generations. In our family, it's "John". John Clarence Newell (my grandfather) , John Lyndon Newell (my uncle) and John Evans Newell (my son). Sort of a neat thing those family traditions, except when they are encountered by a flustered mom with a cell phone.

So... John Evans (the son) and Jessica are helping at our church's Vacation Bible School. Cindy and I go to pick them up... we have a little trouble locating John.... John has a cellphone... Cindy tries to dial him up... in her address folder, John Evans and John Lyndon (the uncle) are adjacent... guess which one she dials?

Somewhere nestled deep in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, in a sleepy little town, at the end of a beautiful late spring day, the phone rings. "Hello." "John? (this doesn't sound like John) " "Yes." "John? (this can't be John, but I dialed the right number) " "Yes. (who is this? what's going on there? sounds like a frat party)" "Have you found your sister? (don't play dumb with me, bub)" "Sister? Who is this? (and why is this woman so angry with me?) "Oops, wrong number, sorry! (I hate cellphones, they are a tool of Satan) " click.

A few minutes pass and then Cindy realizes what she's done. She hurriedly redials John (the uncle), this time on purpose. Somewhere nestled deep in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, in a sleepy little town, at the end of a beautiful late spring day, the phone rings again. This time however, Linda, worried that she may be dealing with a stalker, grabs the phone. "Hello. (please let it be a telemarketer)" "May I speak with John, please? (kill them with kindness, that's what I always say) " "May I ask who's calling? (I can't believe this crazed female has the nerve to call here again) " "This is Cindy Newell, John's niece. (like at this point she's really going to believe that)" "(giggle, giggle, laugh out loud) Just a moment. (I think we just found the female lead for the sequel to Fried Green Tomatoes)"

We ended up having a wonderful chat with John Lyndon, it just took awhile to get there. And, by the way, we eventually found John Evans and Jessica, and wound up at Starbucks for an iced latte and a few more laughs at mom's expense. No, Linda, we're not crazy, just somewhat challenged in the area of wireless communications. We love you guys.

A Glimpse Into The Future

This week Cindy and I got a brief glimpse of what it will be like to be "empty nesters" in about another 6 years. All three kids were at camp. Ashleigh, John and Jessica attended Student Life Camp, a week long church sponsored camp/retreat for teenagers. They had a great time, but I think Cindy and I enjoyed it more.

Don't get me wrong, I really love my children, but it was really neat for Cindy and I to spend a week rediscovering each other. I was hoping to get at least one day away from work, but it just didn't work out that way. I think it was for the best though, because Cindy got to spend all day each day doing exactly what she wanted to do, when she wanted to do it. Of course, she got to spend a little time each morning giving glory to Starbucks, sitting on the patio with latte and morning paper in hand.

Our evenings together were very special (don't worry, I do know this is a family show). Each night we shared a home-cooked meal by candlelight. Nothing fancy, just good food, soft music, and soul mates. Last night, we decided to go out and find someplace to eat we'd never been. We chose The Inn At Baxter, a relatively new establishment not too far from us. It was very nice. Crab cakes, fresh greens, braised veal, grilled salmon and homemade banana pudding. Quite tasty! We had a table in the back of the dining room near the fireplace, ours for the entire evening. We really enjoyed ourselves. We talked more this week than we have in a long time.

The kids are all home now and things are returning to normal. Ashleigh leaves tomorrow for another week at a different Student Life camp, this time as a staff member. John and Jessica are volunteering at our church's Vacation Bible School next week. The summer blitz is on... but for a few days, I was able to pause and fall in love with the most beautiful woman in the world, all over again.

High School Graduation

Well, I made it, barely. I didn't think I could do it, but I did. I only broke down seven or eight times (before the ceremony - during it and afterwards I was a total mess). The source of my emotional instability? Ashleigh's high school graduation.

The Palmetto Homeschool Association sponsors commencement exercises. This year they were held at USC-Lancaster. Several family and friends made the trek down, and we were treated to a very nice graduation program. As salutatorian of the class, Ashleigh was asked to give a brief address. As she took her place at the podium, I began to realize that our first baby is grown. As she began to speak, it hit me that the young woman who has taken our baby's place is ready to make her own way. I don't think it would be fair to say that I was proud of her. More like stunned. I just couldn't believe the words I heard were coming from my daughter. For those that couldn't be there, here is the text of her speech.

Parents, Honored Guests, and Fellow Graduates,

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Samuel Clemens, or better known as the popular writer, Mark Twain, challenges us to partake of an adventure through life. It’s hard to fathom where we’ll be in twenty years when none of us has yet to depart from our port-of-sail. Nevertheless, we are very soon setting off. For some, setting off means college where the much anticipated freedom is acquired and suddenly the word “sale” has never looked so appealing. For others, it’s not college, but another direction in life, where change must be embraced. No matter what our plans in the near future, we have all one thing in common; we are growing up. We are no longer referred to as children, yet not quite adults. It seems only like yesterday that we were attending Barbie and Superman birthday parties and burying our annoying siblings and best friends in the ball pit at Chuck E. Cheese. Our need for chauffeurs has vanished with the acquirement of driver’s licenses and the constant protection of our parents is slowly but surely backing away, leaving us to stand on our own with the opportunity to make our own mistakes, and to choose our own faith. I have found faith in my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and know without a doubt that He is what I will lean on through the coming months. Faith can be defined as believing without seeing. Yet through believing, the truth is illuminated and seeing is no longer required. I have decided that I will walk by faith, and not by sight because who am I to declare that the outward appearance of an obstacle is impossible, when in fact, the impossible happens daily? After today, after this moment, we are no longer considered highschoolers. We are on the verge of a great adventure and only get one life to live it. Responsibility has been thrust upon us and we must rise to the challenge of making wise choices, choices that result in consequences, good and bad, and though we might not see those consequences immediately, they are sure to come. The practice of wisdom will only benefit us in the future. My charge to you now is to dream big, pursue the impossible, and regret nothing. Congratulations class of 2007, best wishes, and God bless.

Here are some photos from the day (minus the tears).

One down, two to go. We'll keep you posted...

The Border Quintet

When Cindy and I were college students, we attended at least one recital every week (I was, after all, the stage manager at Daniel Recital Hall at Furman University). Since graduation all those years ago, I could probably count on one hand the number of symphony concerts and recitals we've attended. Until last night, the most recent one was the night before our first Cape Cod marathon, two years ago. Chris and Pam took us to see the Colorado Quartet at The Church of The Messiah in Woods Hole, MA.

Sunday night, I received an email from a friend of ours, informing us that his new performing ensemble, The Border Quintet, was giving it's debut performance last night at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Fort Mill. (The really interesting thing about all this is that I'm a native of Fort Mill, for the past 18 years have lived two blocks from this church, and have never been inside until last night.) Cindy and I decided we would walk over to the church after Jessi's volleyball game and hear Chris' group. We were treated to some lovely chamber music, got to see some other musician friends we haven't seen for awhile, and in the process received an affirmation that, indeed, the music is perpetual and my hearing is intermittent.

The quintet is comprised of local musicians: Maury Wilkinson (flute), Melanie Montgomery (oboe), Deborah Loomer (clarinet), Kristen Wright (bassoon) and Christopher Griffin (horn). For their debut, the group selected Theodor Blumer's "Quintet, Op. 52", Darius Milhaud's "La Cheminee du roi Rene" and Carl Nielsen's "Quintet, Op. 43". I enjoyed all the selections, but it was the Nielsen that really touched me.

The Nielsen quintet consists of four movements and displays the wide range of sounds characteristic to each of the instruments. I discovered a golden nugget of truth in the theme and variations of the third movement, "Praeludium". Throughout the quintet, I noticed the bassoon and horn constantly working together, almost as if they were the continuo of a baroque fugue. At times one voice would finish a phrase begun by the first. At other times there was almost a "call and answer" in process, and there were also passages that were played together, either in harmony or in unison. The two instruments were in almost constant communication. I say "almost" because there were times when the "busy-ness" of the upper voices was dominant, and drew my attention away from the horn and bassoon. Then it hit me.... isn't my relationship with God just like that? God went to great lengths to enable a constant communication and fellowship, but yet I allow myself to be distracted at times, even by things that are pleasing and good in and of themselves.

I read in the program that the theme on which Nielsen based the variations is one of his own chorale tunes, Min Jesus, lad min Hjerte faa en saaden Smag paa dig (My Jesus, make my heart to love thee). It is my prayer today that my heart will be more attune to my Lord's, and that my hearing will be a little less intermittent.

Thank you, Dr. Griffin, for your invitation. It was an evening well spent.

Where You Are...

I noticed a little red dot on the cluster map... at first I thought it might have been a friend of ours who is serving in the military and is stationed somewhere in the middle-east. Someone pointed out to me that the dot was actually over eastern Europe, and then it hit me... it must be Luba Nell! :=) Luba is a very sweet young lady from Slovakia who was an exchange student at Fort Mill High School a couple of years ago. She stayed with some friends of ours, Rick and Cindy, and we got to know her well. She is studying to be a doctor. I wonder if she is still running....


Ashleigh is now registered at Charleston Southern for the fall semester. She has her student ID and has applied for her parking permit. Now for the text-books. Anyone want to pitch in? We do accept several methods of payment, tens, twenties, fifties, etc. I met her roommate for the first time this past Saturday at the early registration session. She seems like a very nice young lady. I'm SURE she and Ashleigh will stay out of trouble. The big graduation ceremony is this Saturday at USC-L. This week is going to be fun. I've been looking for a recent photo of all three kids together... how's this one? We spent a few vacation days days in Charleston, SC, last month. We hiked out Folly Beach to what's left of the Morris Island lighthouse. This is near the now-submerged Battery Wagner, site of the assault by the 54th Mass. Regiment in July, 1863, made famous in the movie Glory.

I'm Growing Older But Not Up

Well, in response to the first post, some old friends shared a picture of their family with us. Looking at their grown and almost-grown kids made me pause for a moment and realize "hey, I'm 45 stinkin' years old". Our youngest child is soon to be a seventh-grader. Instead of attending Vacation Bible School, our kids are now on the staff. Wow! That decade flew in a hurry.

In our church band, we have several members in their 20s, along with a couple of teenagers. One of them actually calls me "Pops" (among other various terms of endearment). At first, I must admit it bothered me a little, but now, I think I like it. Somehow it makes me feel wiser than I really am, and we all know that if you just act like you know what you're doing, you can fool a lot of people :-)

So it is with great pleasure that I am learning to embrace the lyrics of the infamous buccaneer poet, Jimmy Buffett: "I'm growing older but not up, my metabolic rate is pleasantly stuck".

Speaking of the youngest, check out these shots of Jessi....

After the Myrtle Beach Marathon's 1-mile Family Fun Run

That killer volleyball serve.

Resistance is futile, I have been assimilated

So... here I am... the 21st century, and now I have a blog. I'm sure now that all my friends will be sending me instructions on how to do all types of fancy things, proving my technological inferiority. That's ok, though, because as long as the Red Sox are in 1st place (last night's results notwithstanding), I can deal with a lot.




The past couple of weeks have been interesting around here. Ashleigh is getting ready for homeschool graduation, and Cindy and I are dealing with having a soon-to-be college student in the house. The Palmetto Homeschool Association has 48 graduates this year, and Ashleigh is the Salutatorian. She's hard at work on her speech.

She's getting a laptop for graduation, and looking forward to Charleston Southern University.

Two weeks ago, she and John attended the Palmetto Teen Group's Spring Formal dance. Here they are, in all their glory. Am I old, or what?

Cindy and are wondering where the time went. Everyone warned us that it would pass quickly, but at the time we just couldn't possibly have understood how true that would be. Jessica is not far behind her older siblings. She's already begging for a cell phone. Pretty soon we'll being paying on college loans for all three of them :=).

So, to my friends with young ones, a little advice: "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it." -- Ferris Bueller