American Wind Symphony Orchestra

Yesterday evening Den and I went to listen to the American Wind Symphony Orchestra in Fairport Harbor, and what a treat it was. The orchestra played from a barge moored in the Grand River, at the stone docks at the end of Second Street, just down from the lighthouse. The side of the barge opened into what looked like a very sophisticated sound stage, with enough room for the 40 or so professional musicians. I would have liked to have seen what the inside of the barge was like.

Most of the music that was played, had been written specifically for this orchestra, by composers all over the world. The Music Director, Robert Austin Boudreau, gave a brief history of each piece and of the orchestra itself.

The American Wind Symphony Orchestra has been in existence for over 50 years, and has played in many parts of the world. It is based on the barge Point Counterpoint II, out of Pittsburgh; and most of the musicians are new every year, either music majors in college or having just graduated. Many of the AWSO musicians have gone on to play with major orchestras all over the world. The Fairport Harding High band members got to meet with and learn from the musicians on a one to one basis, and were invited to join in on the next to the last number played by the AWSO. Who knows how this opportunity will affect these young musicians, but I'm sure they will never forget it.

So how did this wonderful orchestra come to play in Fairport Harbor? I'm not exactly sure who started the ball rolling, but Pat Spivak and the Finnish Heritage Museum were involved from the beginning. They got a grant from the Lake County Visitor's Bureau to bring the barge here, Lake Metroparks volunteers helped with the traffic and tickets, and the Village administration (especially Tom Hilston and Jim Cardina) assisted in bringing the whole thing together. In recognition of the Finnish Heritage Museum, the AWSO even played "Finlandia" by Sibelius. If you ever get a chance to hear and see this unique orchestra, please take it.

The Importance of Libraries

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland has proposed to cut library funding in Ohio by 50% as of July 1, 2009.  What a tragedy that would be!  If this proposal is enacted, our public libraries will be devastated.  For an infinite number of reasons, I believe that there should be NO cut in the libraries' funding. 

Ohio libraries today are operating on the same amount of funding from the state that they received in 1996.  That means there has been no increase in help from the state for 13 years.   Historically, in difficult economic times, the library's use and importance to the community has increased.  This is true today.  

People turn to the library especially for education and entertainment, socializing and networking.  Libraries provide computer classes, free use of computers, and internet searches to help find a job.  They provide free entertainment for the whole family.  For kids there is the legendary storytime, craft sessions, fun ways to learn about anything (the community, the space program, our country's history and much more).  One of the best programs provided is the Paws to Read program, where children who may be too shy or embarrassed, or may not have the best reading skills, read to dogs who come in to the library and are happy to listen without criticizing.  I know this program works -- I was taught to read by our Airedale Terry too many years ago to remember.

For teens, libraries provide reading clubs, writing clubs, and a place for tutoring for those who need help in school, in addition to crafts and other activities.  A librarian can recommend a good read for the beach, or a movie the whole family can enjoy.  And then there are all the programs for adults -- computer classes, book clubs, knitting classes, informative lectures, even meet the author nights.  You can even check out a book or two or borrow a movie for free.  And libraries provide meeting rooms for scouts, blood drives, senior citizens and many other groups who need  a place to assemble.

In view of all of these services of the libraries, it would seem to me that the funding for these institutions should be at least maintained at present levels, not cut in half.  Maybe the Governor thinks he can propose this 50% cut now, get everyone all upset about it, then say he is bending to the will of the people and only making a 20% cut in library funding.  He wouldn't do that, would he?

The following quote is from the State of Ohio's internet page called "Ohio's Future":

 

"Free libraries maintained by the people are cradles of democracy, and their spread can never fail to extend and 

strengthen the democratic idea, the equality of the citizen and the royalty of man. They are emphatically fruits of 

the true American ideal.”  -Andrew Carnegie at the 1903 dedication of the Carnegie Library in Washington, D.C. 

Summer Solstice

Yesterday was the summer solstice -- the longest day of the year, the first day of summer.  It was also Father's Day.  What a wonderful day -- so many excuses to celebrate.  I know that a lot of people look at Father's Day as just another gimmick promoted by the card industry.  And I also know that summer in northeast Ohio is unpredictable, as are spring, winter and fall.  But it is still a time to celebrate.  Daylight hung around until 9:30 PM or so, affording us the opportunity to have dinner in the back yard, then to roast marshmallows in the fire pit.  We would have had evening coffee by the lake except the wind was out of the northeast and it was a bit too cool to be comfortable.  In fact, it was downright cold by the lake, so the backyard it was.

But there is a sad feeling to the summer solstice, too.  It is the longest day of the year.  From here until December 21st or so, each day will get shorter and shorter.  We will lose a small fraction of the daylight that is so precious; and the sun, if it shines, will be lower and lower in the sky.  However, I intend to make the most of the daylight we do have every day (well OK, maybe not the early morning hours) even if it's only to sit on the swing by the lake and read a book.  I don't want to waste a minute (see previous parenthesis); because there are only so many minutes alloted in a day.  Once they're gone, they can never be recaptured.  It is up to each of us to enjoy them.  

Wildlife in the City

The deer have won!  Earlier in the spring, we had been able to keep the deer from eating the tulips,  but I never dreamed that they like roses so much.  Every single rose bush in the front yard  had all the new buds neatly chomped off right where the bud meets the stem.   I just hope we get more buds on the plants this year so I can enjoy the roses, too.

Although we live in the city, we have a lot of wildlife in our neighborhood.  Just this morning, right outside the kitchen window, there was a doe and her two tiny fawns, grazing in the neighbor's yard.  (Maybe she was the one that ate my roses; if so, that's OK.  She has to take care of her babies.)  There are at least two bucks in the immediate neighborhood, one of which is a really big boy with a very large rack, maybe 10 points.   Last fall, I was walking through the back yard and he was out by the lake bank with several does.  He turned, looked at me, put his head down and pawed at the ground.  Guess who went the other way.  

On the day in May that we moved the Norfolk Island pine from inside the house to  outside in the back yard, two mourning doves (Scarlet and Rhett) set up housekeeping in the next to the top branch of this tree.  So far this spring, they have had two sets of twins; the latest of which has just hatched.  There is also a robin's nest on the house next door sheltering a growing family.

Last  fall, while walking the dog, I saw a fox on the other end of the block.  He was there for well over an hour and didn't seem at all intimidated by people.  Of course, there are the skunks,  raccoons, squirrels, ground hogs, opossums and rabbits in addition to all the different birds.  It is exciting to see a bald eagle fly along the lake bank, and even more so to spot an osprey.  But I also like the blue herons and the flittery kingfisher.  

And did I mention the coyote?

Good Read; Good Movie

Although I am an avid reader of mysteries (the traditional who-dun-its, not thrillers as such), I feel I have to write about a novel I just read that doesn't even come close to this genre.  The name of this book is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, written by Mary Ann Shaffer and Anne Barrows.  The story takes place in 1946, in post-war England, and is told via letters between and among a young writer, her best friend, her agent and several residents of Guernsey.  Slowly, you begin to realize that you are learning what all these people are like and, even more important, what kind of people they are.  The story itself is wonderful, one I think women especially would really enjoy.

Then there is the movie "Secondhand Lions" with Robert Duvall and Michael Caine.  I can't believe I had never heard of this movie until a friend told me about it.  It really is entertaining, yet thought-provoking.  (What  a cliche, but I can't think of a better description right at the moment.)  If you haven't been fortunate enough to see this movie, you might want to look at your local library for a copy to take out.

I also want to recommend a website called shrewdbravado.com.  This site belongs to my nephew, Joe.  Right now, Joe is in Beijing, China, on a research grant through Georgia Tech.  He is a person who will definitely make a difference in our world. 

Who am I?

Who, or what. do I want to be when I grow up?  I think I finally know the answer to that question -- I want to be me.  I think I am leading an almost perfect life.  I can go to bed when I'm tired.  I can get up when, or if, I feel like it.  I can walk to the library and the grocery store (what else do I need except books and food?).  I have a husband who loves me unconditionally, and whom I love more than anyone or anything ( this after almost 46 years of being together).  Our dog, Tater, is not quite perfect, but he's close and he's adorable.

Outside my front door is the whole expanse of Lake Erie with its ever changing waves, multi-colored clouds and glorious sunsets.  Outside my back door is a cozy, private yard, with a gurgling fish pond and lots of colorful flowers.  I have everything I need and most of the things I want.

Of course, I still need to lose weight, I wish there were more hours in the day, and I wish I could sell my stories.  But  we all need something to look forward to.

I would also like to be more of a people person.  Instead of hiding out in the country of North Mentor, I should be out having lunch with friends, discussing politics over coffee in one of the local coffee shops, or shopping for things I may or may not need with the people in my life who like to do that sort of thing. 

As I am thinking about it, if I would do all those things, I wouldn't be me.  There would be even less hours in the day to write, garden, read, take the dog for a walk -- all those solitary things I really enjoy.  So I really don't want to be more of a people person.  I must be a fairly private person; most of my pursuits are solitary ones, and I like to be alone with Den, even if we don't talk much.  I do have friends that I enjoy; but they seem to understand and respect my need for privacy.  We don't have to see each other every day, or talk every day; but I know that if I need them, they will be there for me. 

I am constantly thankful for this life that I am leading.  I am the most fortunate of women.