New Chapters.....Graduations & Gardens; Books, BirdRace & Breakfasts

I'm at a crossroads of sorts: my adult children are moving on. Both daughters, and son-in-law, have recently graduated from college. I'm extremely pleased. My oldest daughter received her B.A. degree, and her husband received both his B.A. and M.A. degrees from BYU. My other daughter received her B.A., graduating with honors, from Adams State. In these turbulent financial times, where so many college graduates cannot find employment, I feel it a blessing that these kids have found good jobs. It means, however, that they are moving farther away. The married couple, soon to make me a grandpa, now live in lush Portland, Oregon. I never anticipated our oldest living this far away, but I'm proud of her as she has taken on life in a new, large, busy city. (I love Portland.) He's working for a solid company that recognizes his integrity and computer talents. And our single daughter has taken a job teaching in an excellent school five hours from here on Colorado's Western slope. Currently, before she moves, I have the unique opportunity of teaching summer school with her. We teach next door to one another. It's fun to see her as a competent, energized young teacher. My high school age son likewise finished his junior year with great grades in some really tough classes, receiving an academic award for his work in his Pre-Calculus class and having the lead role in his annual high school musical. He played on keyboard Pomp & Circumstance and performed at yet a different college graduation as well. It's been a busy but fun Springtime. I enjoyed a day at the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point north of Provo. I hope to return there again and again. Great place.
I too stay busy, training now for a fall marathon, performed in a local college/community orchestral symphony Spring concert, have written two new short stories, and put in my summer Danish garden. I've written two original new compostions for cello/piano and am working on a third based upon the Naval War Hymn, which accompanies the next story I'll write. I'm excited about both, inspired by the Navy Academy at Annapolis, one of my favorite places. The crypt of John Paul Jones is beneath the Chapel there, and one of my favorite things hanges in the Naval chapel: a model sailing ship in full mast, circa early 1800's. I first saw these ships in a 12th Century Lutheran Church in St. Magley, Denmark, a few years ago, and have since then, researched and read of these amazing model ships and their contribution to a God-fearing, sea-faring people. They represent the faith of not only the sailors on violent seas, but also, the faith and prayers of their families back home on the mainland. It's unique to Danes, so I was pleased to see it in the Naval Academy Chapel as well as the Danish Seaman's Church in Brooklyn, New York.
Additionally, I've read some amazing books. I continually read and re-read two great books by Stephen Robinson. And I've enjoyed a couple of fine history treatments of the American Revolution as well as a fun historical fiction piece about the Hindenburg. I highly recommend them all, especially Gordon Woods title, "The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin". A great read!
I wanted to run again the annual Bolder Boulder 10K Race in Boulder, Colorado on Memorial Day. But the thought of fighting traffic and the crowds of runners, coupled with holiday driving and expensive hotel costs, led me to a different choice: I hosted a little 5K Run/Walk/Bike race of my own. The Flamingo-to-Flamingo 5K Memorial Day Race, followed by a traditional Danish Breakfast buffet in our backyard patio, was a lot of fun. The weather was great, the company even better. Friends and family came, I'm getting to know my great-nephews and great-nieces, all fun kids.

New chapters, next chapters.... time marches on, the clock is ticking.
Be well, do good...