Six Degrees Of Separation

Because we discovered Willow Creek in the theatre and they’re celebrating 33 years as a church I guess we could be considered amongst the originals.

I Thought The Sun Rose In Your Eyes

Ask me on Monday about my journey back to church.

Speaking of Jesus, Christmas, and music …


Almost time to put up the village ... celebrate good times, c'mon.

Party Line

Sometimes I get glimpses into the world I've created in my head.  

Fridays at Happy Hour.  A couple of Chicago apartments.  3 hours with a friend I haven't seen for 25 years. Sunday afternoons on the porch when all the kids are here. Late nights or early mornings on the farm. And in the 1 & 1/2 hour phone conversation I just had with my nephew. 

I've probably said this before, but I long for a simpler space and place in time. I want to walk down a brick-lined street at dusk just before the gas lamps need to come on, and yet you can see their unnecessary glow.  In this perfect neighborhood of camaraderie, the roast beef aroma lingers as your family waves me in for pie and percolated coffee.  Maybe you live in a brownstone and we chat for a bit while you throw a couple of wet dish towels over your fire escape wash-line.  Like the honeymooners, when Norton comes in without knocking and Alice and Trixie share a telephone that they lower and raise via the kitchen window.  

I continue down the tree-lined street always to the same destination; a mom & pop owned coffee shop where the neon sign flashes, Open and everybody knows my name.  We sit outside for three seasons and then every paned window gets decorated in fake snow until it's rubbed off or replaced by red hearts.

Internet cafe's have not been invented in this world of which I envy.  People talk and you can see their eyebrows lower or their eyes twinkle. They shake hands and hug when you walk in.

We all stay awhile and share life stories, opinions, and they tell me straight up when they disagree with me or if I have spinach in my teeth.  We discuss politics, sports, theology, the hereafter and whether we think it will rain next week.  We mention how blessed we are and speak about brave actors, soldiers and missionaries who walk their talk.  We ask questions about each other's family and how God has shown Himself since we last saw each other.  You can sense if my heart is hurting and take no notice of the outward appearance.   You say "When do your parents head south?" And I say "How's your mama and them?" because your fathers have passed on. Then we solve global crisis and claim it's a wonderful world. After all.

We entertain ourselves with each other. Did you hear about the  new grandbaby or the wreck out on 65 where everybody walked away? The TV gets only three channels and at midnight goes straight to rainbow screen after the National Anthem.

 

In my idyllic world I attend church  just beyond city hall and the theatre marquee. Church is just church, nothing special 'bout it but the Gospel.  The steeple and cross, it's beam to warn and warm.  If we haven't connected yet during the week, I'll likely meet up with you in the vestibule. The Church which welcomes all and never waivers from the truth.  The church which preaches repent and treat others the way you want to be treated, like a giant moral compass, held up for all the villagers to see.

There's the library on the corner and a 5 & 10¢ store with a soda fountain counter ... 

I guess it's kinda like that here on the blog, without the voice inflection. And the human connection.

 

Song & Dance

Charlie & Co:  

The show was unbelievable! We laughed, I cried, and we were beyond entertained. It did our hearts good to be introduced as "the parents of my best friend." Not only are you guys amazingly talented, your heart and soul shows through everytime your feet hit the stage. We will always have a soft spot in our hearts for you. Come over.

 

Before I get into the "real" anniversary posts this week, I wanted to play catch up, and I'm changing the  "I" to "we" for a bit here at One Baby Boomers Story.

When we were married 31 years ago this summer, we took off from our ham sandwich-fountain-in-wedding-cake-lawn reception and headed around Lake Michigan for our honeymoon.  Yeah, I know, such forward thinking.  While driving from Vacancy to Vacancy, we uncovered a few gems.  We wanted to check out Door County but settled for a scenic overlook in Menominee Wisconsin. Somewhere around Esconaba in da moonlight, we stumbled upon a cabin, with Lake Michigan lapping our doorstep. We ate a  leisurely breakfast at White Birch Inn in Harbor Springs. Right down the road, at Boyne Highlands, a fledgeling cast was premiering it's dinner theatre at at a resort known more for it's winter activities. A few years later some friends intvited us to check out the dinner theatre, but as we rounded the corner in Petoskey, a vote settled us in for a brunch at Stafford's Bay View Inn.  I guess we wanted to visit rather than be entertained.  

That's all changed now.  Two years ago, (around our anniversary and a couple weeks before the Pilke wedding) we grabbed Melissa at camp and headed up to watch her friends in the second longest running dinner theatre in the country. 

Last year, we and Boyne Highlands Dinner Theatre starring The Young Americans celebrated our 30th anniversary.  Melissa performed with that cast and we all got to catch it even with the Schmilke wedding.  

This year we drove up, just the two of us, to celebrate our 31st anniversary.  We didn't win the prize, namely because we didn't announce it and more importantly because another couple was celebrating their 70th.       

Since Charlie kept my Zinfandel glass filled, Mark drove home and I spun the tunes from the iPod, until we hit the driveway, almost forgot to let the dog off the porch, and fell into bed at around 4am. 

All three years will always hold a special place for us, so it's a tradition now.  Since we can't prearrange a marriage for Melissa, we'll concentrate on planning other aspects of her life. We're funding her, so we should get a say, no?  In the spring of '09 the YA's will travel to Australia and the same cast will perform at Boyne. You must go with us.

Music is a world within itself...

...with a language we all understand.

Let it play on.