The Haasienda on Shroyer…

Monday morning I was on the road by 5:30 AM heading westward to Indiana for a day’s visit with Mother.

I arrived around 8:45 AM having experienced about five minutes of heavy traffic as I rounded Indianapolis during rush hour.

Mother is continually improving and I am so proud of how eager she is to complete 5-6 miles of walking each day.  I should be so motivated.  She seems comfortable and engaged in the day to day activities at Green Hill and each visit I hear many of the same comments, “Your mom is so sweet” or “I just love your mother.”

We dined at a nice family cafe on the west side of Watseka Illinois which is the closest city and then ended the day with some shopping.

I decided to grab to go from Shapiro’s Deli near Lucas Oil Stadium but ended up eating at a corner table that looked onto the intersections of West McCarty and Meridian streets with a view of Indianapolis a few blocks north.  It was relaxing and delicious.

Before heading eastward on I-70 I drove past the President Benjamin Harrison home on Delaware Street.  I absolutely love this Italianate structure.

The return home was uneventful but enjoyable listening to various topics on History Vault.

Spring Break 2018 has not placed me on sandy beaches nor at Disney World where a large portion of my students and friends seem to be.

It has not gotten in the way of my fun experiences.

FRIDAY

• Ran errands
• Attended to household items
• Laundry
• SOMETHING ROTTEN, Schuster Center with Linda Utt

SATURDAY

• Ran errands
• Napped
• Ran more errands
• GODSPELL, Alter High School with Nicole and Paul Issler

SUNDAY

• Attended to household items
• GODSPELL, Alter High School with Becki Norgaard

With students/GODSPELL cast members, Jack & Marisha

With students/GODSPELL cast member, Jack

Whenever I walked down East 76th Street, just a few blocks from my apartment, I always stopped to read the plaque at No. 6 & No. 8 East 76th Street that commemorated the March 17, 1905 wedding of Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt in the home of her cousin.

The Ludlow-Parish House On East 76th Street

Eleanor’s uncle, President Theodore Roosevelt, gave the bride away in place of his older brother, Elliot. Ironically, Elliot was also the groom’s godfather.

Eleanor Roosevelt weds Franklin Roosevelt

MIAGD: Make it a great day

Before I got to the door I was already bearing complaints of the falling snow.

Spring begins in a week.

It’s still winter.

It’s still Ohio, too.

April 20, 1945, Elwood Indiana: blizzard.

My mother was born April 6th and in that era women actually remained in the hospital two weeks following their child’s birth.

Several days before the weather had been in the upper 50s and lower 60s as the nation bid farewell to President Franklin Roosevelt.

It’s still winter for a few more days. So just make it a great day.

My day officially began when I stepped foot outside my house at 9:15 AM to grab a few errands before heading downtown to a theatre board meeting at 11:30 AM.

A very productive meeting and a delicious meatloaf sandwich at Brixx.

I spent three hours at the Dayton Metro Library working on projects and assessing a few things from the meeting.

I dined at Taqueria on a fantastic taco salad; the homemade shell is the best part.

I am now sitting in the Allyn Hall cafeteria at Wright State University waiting for a reading of a new musical on The Wright Brothers.  I will be joined by our family friend, Becca Davis.  I believe this is our first outing, together.

I anticipate being home shortly after midnight.  After two solid weeks of illness, I am enjoying this day and eager to pump energy back into my days.

I did enjoy randomly meeting local actor, Garrett Young, at the bank, and running into a former student, Tushar Goswami, at Wright State University.

It’s been a fantastic day!

MIAGD: Make it a great day

Neko has always been a sweetheart of a cat while still being inquisitive and playful.

This week of being in bed with a major sinus infection has been made all the more bearable by having Neko as a comforting pal. He takes over the edge of my pillow, purring, kneading, and wrapping his paws around my wrist or arm. Neko doesn’t mind my numerous trips to the bathroom since the medications raise my blood sugar; he seems to enjoy smothering me with his affection.

And, Clyde has maintained his weight and girth throughout these past two weeks of illness.

MIAGD: Make it a great day

The dogs have been fed and pottied.

I breakfasted and scrolled through Instagram and Facebook, checked emails, and took my meds. A crock pot is filled with beef vegetable soup and it’s filling The Haasienda with a delicious aroma.

I had a Saturday filled with outings and great company, and I have returned to my room for nap-laxing before beginning teaching at 1:00 PM with no breaks until 10:00 PM.

Outside, the symphony of singing cardinals and wind chimes lull me to a nice state of relaxation.

Make it a great day, Folks.

I learned, shortly after adopting my first son, I needed Days For Me = DFM.

I learned this from my mother when I was a teenager.  Actually, her “me days” were Friday nights we spent together when I didn’t have a football or basketball game to play for. My grandparents would pick up my younger siblings after school and take them out to their home in the country.

Mother and I would often eat at Friendly’s in Elwood, sitting in an adjacent booth to Paul Simmons, my band director’s father, or at Jim Dandy, or any of Elwood’s nice eateries.

Mother has never been one to give parenting advice but when I began adopting she did encourage me to “take time for yourself.”

And, I did.

A day or two just for me never slighted my sons of quality dad and son time and I never once felt guilty.  I hoped it demonstrated to my sons that they, too, needed time for themselves now and then.

Today, I met up with two of my seniors and two former students (home on college spring break) at The Greene.  We ate a midmorning breakfast at Mimi’s Cafe and then went to see, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME.

I’d seen this movie with a friend and was quite taken with the directing, acting and overall quality of the cinematography.

Then, it was on to South Dayton where I had an interesting lunch, followed by two more movies, WINCHESTER and another viewing of THE POST.

I’d battled a sinus infection for a week and despite being at the doctor the previous day, staying home to relax is seldom restful as I end up working and overtiring myself.

Sitting through three movies was restful.  No dogs vying for my attention. No teenage son coming to ask what I meant about certain yard tasks. I rested my mind and rested my body.

And it felt great.

MIAGD: Make it a great day

I’m beginning my day at Kroger’s The Little Clinic to bust this sinus infection.

I normally go to the one on Dorothy Lane but the Centerville Main Street Kroger is a straight shot down Main Street aka Far Hills Avenue aka OH-48.

I’ve always had great experiences at The Little Clinic. Normally, I don’t visit them until the last week of March when my major annual sinus infection kicks in with the oncoming spring weather. With the unseasonably warm February weather, my sinus infection popped up like many of the spring plants already showing their return.

Hopefully, by this evening I will be on the mend.

Since Thursday night I’ve nurses myself against a sinus indirection. It’s still a standoff but I’m afraid it has dipped into my chest.

I’ve spent a good deal of time in bed surrounded by three dogs and my son’s cat, Neko. Clyde prefers the guest bedroom on the first floor. With his girth I’d much prefer he make the effort to use the stairs frequently.

I did some grocery shopping, today, it have enjoyed the quiet of Netflix, documentaries, and napping.

I’m closing the evening with THE GATHERING STORM starring Albert Finney and Vanessa Redgrave.

Seven years ago on a chilly Sunday afternoon, Son No. 4 and our dog, Flyer, drove through the east-central Indiana countryside after a weekend visit with my mother which included a winter percussion contest for Son No. 3.

This huge plywood sign with hand-painted letters appeared:

F R E E    P U P P I E S

We actually drove past the sign. Before I knew it, the car was turned back around.

In the barn were ten puppies, the result of a Staffordshire bull terrier and black lab meeting.

Quintin selected a chunky male puppy. I saw the runt being trampled by the others and retrieved her.

We left with two puppies, Chief and Navi, names in honor of Quintin’s full Navajo heritage.

Watch Chief and Navi as puppies

The Puppy Dance

Celebrating the Potty Outside

Chief climbing the barricade to the stove

Puppies playing in the snow

Sadly, Navi, sustaining injuries from being hit by a car, left us December 21, 2013, five months after thirteen-year-old Flyer passed away.

Chief, at age seven, is the love of my life, along with the two girls who arrived Christmas night 2013.

We still love you, Navi….

My mother posted this witty meme this morning and it reminded me of one of my grandfather’s police stories.

Grandpa Leroy was on third shift duty at the police department when a call came in that a hearse had hit a light pole.

Grandpa went out to investigate.

Bob Jackley, one of Elwood’s undertakers was sent to retrieve a body. The gentleman had died sitting up in his recliner and rigor-mortis had long set in. The appropriate preparations were taken to secure the body on the gurney and the body was placed in the hearse.

Mr. Jackley was returning to his funeral home and drove over one of the bumpiest railroad crossings in the city.

The jarring set everything into motion: the body forced the straps apart and resumed its upright seated position. A very stunned Mr. Jackley lost control of the hearse and ran into a light pole.

One day, I hope to record all the stories I can recall of Grandpa’s days on the police force.

It’s February 13th and the evening sun is beginning to shift its way back around to the point where it floods my study with brightness, forcing me to close the curtains during my teaching hours.

The wintery scenes, even snow-covered, seem less dead.  In fact, it is wick.

What is ‘wick,’ you ask?

From the musical, THE SECRET GARDEN, book and lyrics by Marsha Norman and music by Lucy Simon (sister of pop singer, Carly Simon).

MARY:  The garden is dead, Dickon. It is the most forgotten place I’ve ever seen with loose grey branches and dead roots and leaves all tangled up on the ground.

DICKON:  Now, did ya take a real good look anything?  Mary, the strongest roses will fare thrive on being neglected if the soil is rich enough.

MARY: You mean it might be alive? How can you tell?

DICKON:  I can tell if a thing is wick.

When a thing is wick, it has a life about it.
Now, maybe not a life like you and me.
But somewhere there’s a single streak of green inside it.
Come, and let me show you what I mean.

When a thing is wick, it has a light around it.
Maybe not a light that you can see.
But hiding down below a spark’s asleep inside it,
Waiting for the right time to be seen.

You clear away the dead parts,
So the tender buds can form,
Loosen up the earth and
Let the roots get warm,
Let the roots get warm.

Come a mild day, come a warm rain,
Come a snowdrop, a-comin’ up!
Come a lily, come a lilac!
Come to call,
Callin’ all the rest to come and see!

MARY:
When a thing is wick,
And someone cares about it,
And comes to work each day, like you and me,
Will it grow?

DICKON:  It will!

MARY:
Then have no doubt about it,
We’ll have the grandest garden ever seen!!
[Spoken]
Oh, Dickon, I want it all to be wick! Would you come and look at it with me?

DICKON:
I’ll come every day, rain or shine if you want me.
All that garden needs is for us to come wake it up!

MARY:
But, Dickon, what if we save the garden, then Uncle Archie takes it back, or Colin wants it?

DICKON:
Ay, what a miracle that would be, gettin’ a poor crippled boy out to see his mother’s garden!

[Sung]
MARY and DICKON:
You give a living thing
A little chance to grow,
That’s how you will know
If she is wick, she’ll grow.
So grow to greet the morning,
Leave the ground below.
When a thing is wick
It has a will to grow and grow.

MARY:
Come a mild day, come a warm rain,
Come a snowdrop, a-comin’ up!
Come a lily, come a lilac!
Come to call, calling all the rest to come!

MARY and DICKON:
Calling all the rest to come!
Calling all the world to come!

DICKON:
Oh, somewhere there’s single streak of green below,

MARY and DICKON:
And all through the darkest nighttime,
It’s waiting for the right time.
When a thing is wick, it will grow!

Karen McLain and I are sitting In the Schuster Center watching the load in the touring company set , THE SOUND OF MUSIC, as part of the Bagels & Broadway.

What a neat thing to watch, while reliving memories of my old touring days.

MIAGD: Make it a great day

I was born into a smiling family. In fact, as a kid I can remember hearing folks commenting on my mother’s smile, as well as other smilers in our family.

Smiling always came naturally for me and I still find it quite easy. It’s much like breathing.

1977, as I entered 7th grade, I returned home one day complaining to Mother I didn’t like one teacher because she never smiled.

Mother, in her very Pollyanic manner, asked, “Have you shared your smile with her?”

Ummm. No.

Not long after the conversation I was in class and completed my test early. The teacher, looking around as she proctored the exam, looked directly at me. Eye to eye.

I smiled.

She smiled.

Forty one years later, via her Facebook page, I still see her smile.

I don’t believe I made the difference, necessarily, but it was an excellent study for my thirteen year old self to explore.

For students and casts, I share this advice:

“If you see someone along your life’s journey who needs a smile, share your smile.

If you see someone along your life’s journey who could use a hug, share your hugs.

If you see someone on your life’s journey who needs some color in their life, share your crayons.”

Smile.

And, always make it a great day.

The current generation may not recognize her name, nor know her body of work, but Bea Benedaret was a familiar face and voice throughout my early youth.

Before falling asleep last night I discovered THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES was on a channel with several successive episodes. I always loved Cousin Pearl’s visits from Tennessee. They were even more hilarious if she was accompanied by Jethro’s (Max Baer, Jr) sister, Jethrene, also played by Max Baer, Jr.

Ms. Benedaret had an impressive career. I knew her as the voice of Wilma Flintstone, also adding her ascending giggle to Betty Ruble. I remember the theme song to PETTYCOAT JUNCTION more than I remember the show, itself, in which she played Kate.

It was neat to see the crossbreeding of three television programs, THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES, PETTICOAT JUNCTION and GREEN ACRES. the crossover of characters from each of these shows was pretty amazing. Many spinoffs simply ignore their origins.

As I got into my early thirties I discovered Burns & Allen, and became smitten with Gracie Allen. In the Burns & Allen television show, Benedaret played Blanche Morton, Gracie’s best friend and neighbor.

Gracie Allen & Bea Benedaret

Read more about Bea Benedaret’s life and career.

I also learned that Benedaret was Lucille Ball’s first choice for Ethel Mertz In I LOVE LUCY; however, Ms. Benedaret was under contract elsewhere.

Her voice is unforgettable, sometimes even grating, but Bea Benedaret was certainly a qualified comedienne on the screen, both seen and heard.

Out the door at 9:40 AM for a breakfast at McDonalds, followed by a board meeting.

1:20 PM, hurried to meet with a former student and then on to Dayton Metro Library to see Tristan Cupp’s Zoot Theatre crew perform an original piece with all new puppets. Excellent.

A quick 45 minutes home and then on to Centerville’s Panera where I ate dinner and worked from my laptop.

Now, I’m seated in Centerville HS’s performing arts center to watch several students in THE CURIOUS SAVAGE.

What a fantastic day. But, I know my three fury babies at home are missing me. Maybe even Clyde is missing me.

I love looking at things we tend to not notice.

When I’ve got my camera in hand I tend to notice so many different things I’d probably never notice. There’s often some hidden beauty in the unnoticed or forgotten.

One of my daily goals is to be more observant of the things around me.

This afternoon while heading to my next (and fourth) event of the day I noticed a long hedge I often pass during my better weather walks. The hedge is beautiful when it’s green and blooming.

The former buds will once again turn into beautiful flowers, but leaves have taken on a completely different look with the multicolored tiers. I love it.

How lovely it will be when spring arrives, but just look at it, now.

Notice.

Observe.

Look.

MIAGD: Make it a great day

There’s a biting cold breeze outside.

There’s a heavy grey sky shrouding The Miami Valley.

There’s a white chalky look to the pavement from salt and dryness.

The world seems dehydrated of moisture and color, making cheerfulness feel labored.

But what else is there to do?

Despite the bitterly cold weather and grey chalky feel of the outside, make it a great day internally!