August 1st is here and I cannot believe summer is almost over. Today is supposed to get as high as 91 degrees, and tomorrow they predict 93! Ugh!

This past week Kettering was the center of the golf world as the Senior Open took place at NCR Country Club. The Good Year Blimp was visible from home. The traffic was handled so well that I did not notice any problems in that arena.

Friday, Mother, Dena and the boys came over to celebrate Matthew’s birthday. We had a nice dinner and then returned to our home so the adults could chat and the kids could play. We drove down to Riverscape to see the laser show – of course, there was the Celtic festival and no laser show. Matt has been here three years and has not seen it. Saturday morning I made breakfast and there were no complaints about the pancakes! Yea! The last time, I put a little mint in the pancakes and my nephew, Jonathan, who at 7, is finally putting sentences together, was quite verbal. For weeks we would ask him if he wanted some more of “Uncah Beren’s pancakes” and he would promptly say, “No!” We went shopping, ate a Chinese dinner, and drove around the neighborhoods of Oakwood (very nice homes!). The family left around 6:00pm. At 8pm the boys and I went shopping and found some great deals.

At 9:30pm I heard the Donna Summer Concert cheering away from down the street where she was performing at the Fraze Pavilion. We took Flyer on a walk so we could walk around this unique amphitheatre in Lincoln Park, right in the middle of our neighborhood. When we were half way there I heard the familiar strains of “MacArthur Park.” I took off running with Flyer, and with the boys trailing behind. I explained that this would probably be a once in a life time opportunity – to hear a rock legend performing one of her signature songs. It was so similar to when I was young and got to watch Elvis live in Hawaii (via our black & white television set).

We ran into John & Cathy Moore, parents of one of my students, Dan. We ended up staying the entire time, chatting on the grass outside the Fraze. I have never seen the outside of the Fraze so packed! It was incredible. The folks outside the amphitheatre were having just as good a time as the ones inside. We could see the light show (mostly purple) flashing through the trees. Finally, Ms. Summer, who is still in great voice, closed with “Last Dance.” My sons finally comprehended the fact that “Last Dance” and “MacArthur Park” were originated by Donna Summer and not the Ball State Singers!

Sunday started with haircuts on the deck, church, lunch, pool (while I worked on the Wright Brothers musical), dinner, more ice cream and cake… and me working on the family reunion preparations. Dan Moore came over at 12:45pm to run through his music for an afternoon wedding, and Katie O’Neill followed at 1:15pm to go through music for the MUSE Machine summer production. They are such neat students. I have known Dan since he was about ten years old, and he was also one of my students at Kettering Middle School. The past few years he has become a favorite with my sons, and even Flyer, the dog (see photo). I got to know the Moore family when the oldest brother, Jeremy, was one of my 14yo tap dancers/teens in Bye Bye Birdie. Jeremy was an incredible bass, with a knack for performing. When I began teaching at Kettering MS, this bright eyed lad bounced into the room and I noted his courtesy, interest in the class and his enthusiasm for life in general. A few days later I discovered he was Jeremy’s younger brother. No wonder he was such a great kid!

In 2000, while working with the high school show choir, I got to know John & Cathy better. John, to me, is such an outstanding dad who works hard for his family, but man, I have never seen a father so involved with everything – scouts, sports and music. In this regard, John has been a fantastic inspiration. However, he is there solely to support his children – not to get them featured or to vie for an office. I have observed a good deal of John’s work behind the scenes. I listen and observe all parents, especially my students’ parents since my students are all great kids. Cathy Moore is no exception. She has provided me so many great items for family life. During one conversation with John he commented that the one thing he respects about his wife the most is that all evening dinners are eaten together, no matter what time. Despite my family’s busy schedule, we eat all our dinners together – no exceptions! It might be 9:30pm when show choir rehearsal is over on Mondays and Wednesdays, but I will not budge on this issue – and the boys don’t mind. One night after a concert, we were scarfing down Taco Bell – of course, the boys loved this as I limit fast food. I met Katie the beginning of her freshman year at Fairmont and we immediately clicked. She is a bright, talented young lady with an incredible future in musical theatre awaiting. This past January she starred as “Hildy” in the MUSE Machine’s production of On The Town and her comedic timing stole the show. These two students, Katie and Dan, with a wonderful assortment of other fantastic students will be graduating next June, and I hate to see these particular students fly the nest. I have known most of them since their 6th grade year at Kettering Middle School, and have worked with them all through high school. This has been such a wonderful class of fine students!

It was an eventful weekend, and the weather was beautiful. This morning I have more family reunion preparations staring me in the face, as well as the musical deadline – August 15.