The Miami Valley of Ohio can be quite beautiful in the spring and today was no exception as the day’s stunning glory unfolded. It’s during this time of year that the anticipation for the end of the school year increases, despite the barrage of music and athletic activities, coupled with prom and endless end-of-the-year awards programs.

I took full advantage of Monday’s weather to slice the blades of grass that had quickly extended, succeeding the incessant rains of previous days. I am glad it is out of the way for the remainder of this week; however, I am itching to trim the sidewalk and walkway edges throughout the property.

Hoskins and Colonel Deeds offer great amusement as I observe them chasing one another around the entire backyard. They love their playtime and I love the exhaustion of their energy.

My family has never shied away from frank conversations regarding death, funeral planning, and other interrelated subjects. For several years, I’ve contemplated submitting my lifeless remains to Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine’s anatomical donation program. Sunday, I completed the research and began filling out the form. The process required two points of contact, and my sister, Dena, and my friend and bonus sister, Laura, each agreed to serve that purpose.

This afternoon, I discovered a back page that focused on the disposal of cremains; the university can bury them at an established cemetery for such purposes, or a selected individual could accept them. I asked Dena her thoughts, and she promptly offered to retrieve them. I proposed having my cremains scattered throughout Forrestville Cemetery in Boone Township, Madison County, Indiana which is the hub of my maternal ancestry’s pioneering days with vast properties formerly farmed by the Greenlees, Clarys, Joneses, Balls, Vinsons, and Nobles. Dena suggested my cremains be mixed with Mother’s before dispersing them amongst eight generations of our lineage in the almost 200-year-old graveyard. What a perfect idea! Of course, Dena and I inherently dove into the humorous deep end of the pool which, I am certain, would have had Mother and her parents howling.

It is almost time for my next lesson. I had an opening due to students in technical and dress rehearsals for their upcoming weekend productions.