My Commonplace Book

I am soooooo tired. It was a good weekend, but I'm worn out.

Yesterday was the fall foliage photograph class I had signed up with. Eight of us, plus the instructor (John) and the van driver (Dave), journeyed up to Catoctin Mountain National Park and Cunningham Falls State Park.

( Photography trip )

This morning the handchime choir (which I unofficially dubbed "the Ding Dongs" today) played at the services, so after that long, tiring day I had to get up early and be at church by 8:30. Unfortunately the parts we played were the introit and the music meditation (part of Joys and Concerns -- after candles are lit by those who want to speak, there's a musical meditation during which candles can be lit in silence). Sometimes Joys and Concerns comes before the sermon, but today's service was arranged with it after the sermon, and just before the last hymn and the closing benediction. So we couldn't duck out during the second service, but had to stay through the entire length of both. We only had time for one rehearsal so we couldn't do anything with a melody, so we just did two different types of change ringing -- method ringing and jump changes. The congregation seems to enjoy the change ringing, and we got lots of compliments, which always feels good!

In the afternoon, I went to a huge party for LL's 70th birthday. It was lots of fun! I knew most of the people there, and L's wife N had organized quite an event, including a parade -- complete with a 5-person drum and clarinet/flute corps! -- that was a retrospective of L's life, decade by decade! Along with a potluck dish, we had also been asked to bring a poem (original or not) for L. After the delicious dinner and the birthday cake, those who were left gathered in the big workshop area for the poetry reading. I chose a poem by Ogden Nash that I thought was perfect for L on this day, No Doctors Today, Thank You. I was pleased with the way I read it, and it got lots of laughter and an enthusiastic (not just polite) round of applause.

But you know how large parties are -- if you want to chat with people you have to stand up and wander around. After two days of being on my feet so much I could hardly walk by the time the poetry reading was over. I had gotten my cane out again, so I said my goodbyes and left, forgetting my casserole dish. (I called N and she's going to bring it to the spiritual support group meeting on Tuesday.) I've been sitting in this chair pretty much since I got home.