Launch That Holiday

Day 1, hour 1 of a much anticipated break for Bindu. The VPA concert is behind, and all compliments on student performance very well deserved. She and the entire Visual and Performing Arts department can be happy with the results.

We lift off via Singapore Airlines today for Bangalore. This is the only part of the next 3 weeks we view with a serious eye as Bindu's father will be having surgery later today to remove a growth in his lung. The prognosis for a complete recovery is excellent, yet still, a surgery of this kind at 80 is enough for more than one concerned look. We anticipate good news and are putting all our energy in that direction.

I've never attempted to blog a holiday before, one where we will be doing significant moving from place to place. Still, if it's a priority, it can get done to some degree. It will motivate me to look at the world around me for a little more detail knowing I'm committing to this task. :-)

Family Time Wraps Up

It was so difficult to come away from family at the end of this break. My sons and their wives were great to see, but the grandsons stole the show. Pictured is Caiden Ashley Hughes, aged 11 months, and pretty much excited about every discovery the world has to offer.

Certainly one of the funniest was arming Caiden with the garden hose and watch him spray to the dog that enjoyed the powerful stream of water. Who enjoyed this more? Marc, his father and me? Caiden shouting and laughing? The dog, barking, jumping, and trying to bite the stream of water? It was 5 minutes of magic.

As Caiden and his parents move to the Dominican Republic for the 2010-2011 school year, I will miss them all. It doesn't seem right not to see them for almost 12 months. Not right at all.

Vacation Has Begun

Summer means work in gardens. In the past I've been the fully employed volunteer at Kleppers' place in Michigan. Now with a change in venue, Michigan to Colorado, I've found things to do in Erwins' yard. This trimming of rose bushes and clean out flower beds may look like work, but it really is an enjoyable activity.

Having friends like Jim and Judy is a real blessing. In good times they are great fun, and in times less than good, they are a consistent, valued comfort.

Trimming and cleaning gardens? The least I can do to repay friendship.

mh

Not Good Blogging Space

Well, I'm not getting started on the blog posts as well as some of the students. It has been impressive, you guys, how many of you are producing really good entries.

I’m far to the north in Michigan, staying with my sister and her husband, their big dog Ruby, in the snow and cold. I have no internet access, so I’m doing what some of you have done, using Word to construct, then hoping to get to an internet café for access. I’m sure I’ll be able to get posted, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep up with commenting on the posts of others.

It has been sobering to return to Michigan and see the results of an economy severely damaged by unemployment. Talking with brother-in-law Art, the whole of his small city has been greatly effected by closings of some industries and layoffs in others. Having a steady job I enjoy for the past two decades has been something I've taken for granted. Next year will be so different.