Hayward, Wisconsin isn’t just where I’m from. It’s always been “my town”, almost like a possession to me. All my memories from certain periods in my life are centered here.  Unfortunately, I’ve finally realized that my Hayward is pretty much in my memory and no where else. I guess I’ve been fighting it for years, trying to stay up to date with the new buildings and businesses, the roads where none were before, my parents moving from time to time and having a different house… but this time it might be too much.  It’s not that I don’t recognize anything – it’s that I do recognize it and it’s not the same anymore. The field is a forest. The forest is a parking lot. And the people who were familiar are not in their places. I don’t even look for old friends this time because I’m pretty sure if I saw them, they would look old and not like themselves. My parents don’t get out as much as they used to so when I ask them “have you seen so-and-so?” the answer is usually that they haven’t. I think I would have to be here for quite a while and work at it to lay claim to it again.

But I have to say that it is a nice place to visit.  I always feel a sense of security when I consider that even though many things change I still have family in this place.  They do a good job of living here.  They are involved in the community in many ways.  All the relatives get togther on Saturday mornings on a regular basis for donuts and coffee.  Mom and I still went to a garage sale yesterday morning. And we still have jigsaw puzzle marathons – I’ve put two together so far.

Today after Boone coffee time we are heading up to Bayfield and Madelaine Island. Brother Dennis and family are camping on the island and we’ll spend some time there before checking into our B&B (yes we are). Tomorrow morning husband Dennis has arranged a rendezvous with a friend who has an unusual house that we will tour. The house is 300 square feet so it shouldn’t take long.

I have to say that my refrigerator has a lot less in it tonight after compnay supper.  I want it to be nearly empty when we take off  so I don’t have to come back to rotting vegetation.  The meal was maybe a bit odd, which is what happens when the menu is dictated only by what you have on hand and need to get rid of but it was passable.  When it was all on the table one guest said “Well, this looks like a really healthy meal!” and I guess I’m satisfied with that.  It seems my most frequent guests are men who have no one to cook for them – this is intentional and very good for my ego. They will eat most anything and not complain. They do come for the food but I think having some people to sit around the table with them and talk, tell jokes, and share news is at least half the draw. 

So our “everything but the kitchen sink”  meal was spinach and arugula salad, shishkebab with chicken, zuchinni, red bell pepper, onion, mushrooms and pineapple,  baked potato, steamed broccoli, watermelon, and for dessert angel food cake with strawberries and ice cream.  Everything that was left over went home with the bachelors. It feels really good to have given all that food a home, and we all had a good time.



“Shirley, you do as much as every one else all day – then fix a super supper, jump up and fix super dessert and coffee – finally sit down to eat while we sit around and you treat us like kings (spoiled brats) then clean up everything while we still gab. You know I really do appreciate you and love you to death. Your favorite Cracker”



I’m in that good place where there seems to be enough time to leisurely choose what to pack for two weeks in Wisconsin. It’s been a relaxing day doing laundry, ironing and folding and deciding. I’ve even picked out the things I most want to see on my husband, since I will be around him most of the time. This process of packing takes a bit of thought, a lot of decisiveness and even some sacrifice. Most everything I need for 14 days has to fit in two relatively small spaces unless I want to check a bag for $20, and somehow I just can’t bring myself to do that.

Why do I suddenly discover so many clothes that seem like they must come with me? Is it because I remember  August in Wisconsin being very hot, and very cold, and very wet at different times but all in the same day?  Maybe, yes. And you never know, I might want to look GOOD so my family isn’t agahst at how evil time has been to me, and I might want to swim, or need my hiking shoes (and you know they take up half a suitcase). I could borrow sweaters and raincoats but I have ones that are my favorites and if I can’t wear them in Wisconsin why do I have them?

In my dreams I’m confident, care free and able to live in a five piece wardrobe, mix and match, which I rinse out in the sink after a couple wearings. Hey, I don’t even need that second carry-on because it all fits in my purse, next to my computer.  Everything goes beautifully with my jewelry and my one pair of shoes which are so cute and comfortable – I can’t even describe them to you (… because they don’t exist).  I walk through airports totally unencumbered. Everything I need is instantly at my fingertips, in the first place I look.

And back to reality, I would really like to get this nearly done today because the rest of the days before we go are going to be taken up with other preparations. I need to have company for a couple dinners so we don’t leave a lot of food in the refrigerator. The plants have to be prepared for neglect. The cats have to be prepared for neglect. The lawn has to be mowed one last time and prepared for neglect. All this in spare time apart from work and church and sleep and necessary wasted time. Can I do it? You bet.

The concert that I was in angst over all last week took place on Sunday and was a total joy and success.  It was organized just well enough to get everything done but not so highly organized as to create anxiety for us ordinary participants (I don’t know about the host – he had a lot to do…). I had a good time playing the music but probably more important was meeting such a wide variety of people, from all over the Tampa Bay area.

So what do you think when you hear “Mennonite church”?  I certainly wasn’t prepared for a fully equipped sound booth and a stage that would accomodate 30 plus people all with mics, amps, monitors, etc…  They did not have any keyboards but they had a really nice acoustic grand piano which was a joy to play. No one was in typical Mennonite dress (well, who knows what typical is anymore?) The leaders of the project were two men, identical twins, who were pastor and worship leader at their church.  They had chosen a mix of very active contemporary songs, more contemplative and passionate contemporary songs, traditional hymns done a capella, and  a couple hymns with bluegrass banjo and harmonica, something for everyone.  Dennis, who usually runs screaming from the room holding his ears when there are drums and bass guitars, sat in the second row for the whole thing.



Rehearsal, all on stage except me



Me, having a great time



“Miracles are the retelling in small letters of the very same story written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see.” C.S. Lewis  

An interesting concept also is the idea that miracles are not in opposition to science.  Science is always advancing and learning new things. What is known now would be unbelievable to those back a few hundred years. And in a few more years we’ll probably see discoveries that seem unbelievable to us now. When you believe that God created the things that science studies and operates through scientific laws as he created them, it is not hard to envision a physical healing that would normally takes years, happening in minutes or seconds. Time being telescoped or expanded is altogether possible in the future and it would be typical of God to know how to do that already.

All this from a book called “Miracles Are for Real” by Garlow and Wall.  It’s an exploration of documented happenings outside the realm of scientific explanation – and it is very encouraging to those who believe and I think pretty challenging to those  who don’t yet believe, and interesting to all.

I’m not talking about cool in a socially popular sense, I’m talking temperature.  I’m staying inside today instead of getting all hot and exhausted. For one thing, I’m already feeling a bit tired out mentally. For two things, I’ve got to get my mind around all that’s going on musically this weekend and get myself a little more certain of what I’m doing.  I spent some time this morning looking over the lyrics to the songs for the concert this Sunday evening.  They are some of my new favorite songs and I already identify with the things we are saying in them. I’m now praying that whatever I do, on whatever instrument I play, will not detract from what the song can be.

So, I thought to myself, Shirley you should get these songs on your new phone to hear how they can be done.  As I mentioned before, when the lead sheet says “piano plays tinkly stuff for 5 measures” that leaves a lot to the imagination. It took me an hour (probably) looking at the apps on my phone to figure out one that would lead to some music store.  Several times I thought I was there and suddenly my phone decides to go somewhere else. I finally found some comments on the Samsung app about how it was bloatware and worse than the free google app. So now it only takes me a minute or so to find a song – got that figured out. So I have one playlist with five songs on it. Pathetic, but I have to start somewhere. I had more music on my old phone and getting it one the new phone is my next tech challenge. I have no idea what I’m doing and am always amazed when something works. There are just too many things in the world to learn.

In my kitchen life things are more simple. We need food in the refrigerator. I know where to get it. Cooking for the new diet is not as hard as some diets have been. It’s basically the way I like to eat anyway. And it seems to be working for Dennis. He usually tells me in the morning how much weight he’s lost overnight (?) and the steady progress is keeping him motivated.  The latest step in the heart disease reversal plan is that he will be starting an exercise program at Blake Hospital when we get back from our vacation in Wisconsin. He’ll be going several times a week to work with a trainer who reportedly will stretch him to greater things than he would do himself. And if it turns out to be dangerously more than his health can handle – well, he’s in the hospital and there’s probably a doctor or two around to revive him. He’s calling himself “the disappearing husband” and we both had a laugh over that. I can still see him pretty well.

I know it’s kind of stupid to get so excited every time I have a day off – but I’ll take excitement anywhere I can find it. I have so many things I could do with this day! And the exciting thing is, there isn’t any overpowering, urgent thing that I have to do – I get to choose.  I could probably list a hundred things if I wanted to take the time to do it, everywhere I look something comes to mind. BUT what do I really want to do? 

I’m afraid I didn’t get off to a very good start last night, writing a comparatively boring blog post and watching the Olympics re-run.  I’m going to start this morning by putting Wisconsin weather on my computer. I need to watch it so I pack the right stuff for my two week vacation. Yay me for getting this vacation plan started!

I’m going to read today.
I’m going to do another “paper purge” in the house.
I’m going to do at least one improvement in the Oneacrewoods.
I’m going to make a vegetarian supper deluxe for Dennis’s diet
I’m going to start one artistic project (have several in mind)

The sun is hitting the tops of the trees so it’s time to get started, a fresh new slate to write on.

I love beautiful melodies, blending with others in harmony. I love playing the piano.  I love to sing the things I feel, which is why I’ve always had a special enjoyment of worship music. So my roles in music have ebbed and flowed in seasons throughout my whole life, often taking turns that surprised me.  I didn’t think it was an unusual thing to take piano lessons when I was in high school – lots of people played instruments or sang in choir. But these days, no matter what group I’m in there seems to be a scarcity of people who are comfortable playing.  When no one else steps up, I always figure that I’m better than no one playing at all, which sort of takes the stress out of playing for me.  

One of the biggest surprises was ending up being a piano teacher myself with actual students wanting lessons.  I always felt that what I was really good at in that role was motivating young children, not necessarily being a skilled player or teacher. Lots of things about teaching were fun. Lots of things weren’t. Scheduling was hard, and there were always students who missed lessons frequently.  When I started forgetting lesson times it got downright embarrassing and stressful. I also ended up with a couple students who played better than I did, also embarrassing.

I’ve had three different teachers in piano, two different ones in voice. I think I’ve been able to play for every church I’ve regularly attended and some where I was just a guest! I’ve had the fun of accompanying my own daughters when they took their lessons on flute and cello. I had a lot of fun playing with my friend Debbie, Esther’s flute teacher, when she did weddings and events. I’ve played for funerals and memorials.

It seems like music has gotten more complicated lately – the fault of the techno age if you ask me.  In all my learning experiences, no one taught me about pads, riffs, breakdowns, etc…  I had a pretty advanced music work station (keyboard) when I was teaching but years later it started making some awful sounds and died. We eventually discovered that some of it’s adhesives inside had melted during an episode of Florida heat.  But somewhere in there I started saying I played keyboard even though it is a lot different than playing piano.  I still don’t know enough about it. But that does bring me up to the present.

I started singing at the church I attend about a year ago.  Sometimes I just sing at the early service which is a blend of traditional and contemporary. Some weeks I am needed at the later service too, which is all contemporary. And lately I’ve started playing piano.  There are three others who do keys and piano so I’m the newcomer.  There hasn’t been a lot  of stress involved – I haven’t made any promises and there aren’t expectations to meet. Everything is voluntary. It’s still fun as I get to know the people better and get used to the way they do their music.

This coming Sunday there is an event called One Concert.  It’s a conglomeration of worship musicians and singers who meet for a concert open to the public every other month.  They are given a set list and pdf’s to download (techno, see what I mean) and meet for soundchecks and one hour of practice, then the concert. It’s held at a local Mennonite church but there are people from many Christian denominations taking part.  It’s a mix of contemporary and classic worship music.  I’ve been invited to join in, but I’m not even sure what they are going to let me play.  I’m pretty sure I’ll be the oldest person playing – I find that happening all the time now. Fortunately there are going to be a lot of musicians and the focus is worship, not performance.  I am looking forward to it and am thinking it will be an awesome night.

I feel so good tonight it’s a shame I have to go to bed.  I don’t know if a nap can really make this much difference or if I’m getting a charge of energy for some other reason.  Maybe I’m just making up on this end of the day for the chaos on the other end.
I woke up this morning 15 minutes before I was supposed to be at work. I’m getting used to a new phone and didn’t set the alarm correctly. It takes on average half an hour to get to work.  I was only fifteen minutes late, which means I woke up and spent zero minutes getting on the road.  It felt like that. I was half way there before I realized I still had my mouth guard in. I did get dressed. I also got a headache, for which I took Excedrin (breakfast).

Work was uneventful. There were no remarks about the “no work travel anymore, here’s when my vacation to Wisconsin is happening” e-mail.  We rushed through the morning and she got off to Rotary on time.  I took a lab specimen down to Sarasota Hospital for her. I did an errand for Julie.  I took a pretty decent nap. I spent some time on the computer. I cooked supper and ate with Dennis.  We fixed a broken sprinkler head on the irrigation system together and I pulled some weeds while I was out there. I cleaned up and watched some Olympics. I did a small sewing project for work tomorrow.
I am ready for bed.

Yesterday when I was stuffing some yard trash down into the can, I got speared by a bouganvillea spike right into a large vein on my inner arm. It bled out on my shirt and under the skin quite a bit before it clotted so I thought it was probably clean. Tonight it’s starting to hurt and maybe is just a little infected looking. Not good. I am loading up on vitamin C and putting some heat on it while I sleep.

So I have no other deep thoughts or thrilling experiences to write about. It was just a good, quiet day for which I am thankful.