Wednesday Medley: Unofficial Observances

NATIONAL V-J DAY – August 14 – 15 – Unofficial Observances

In the spirit of cooperation, I am going to show our own unofficial observance of duplication.

Our daughter and SIL are replicating the mural behind them.  Are they not the cutest!

Last week we attended two performances of "Matilda The Musical" in which our 12 year old Ava Grace had a part.  It was held at the Latino Cultural Center in Downtown Dallas.  In case you missed yesterday's blog post where I showed pictures of our Amanda and scenes from the play, you can see them HERE!

 This is the beautiful lobby.

The colorful painting in the rotunda outside the lobby, is a highlight of this architecturally interesting building.

There is also a very nice though small art gallery inside as well as the lovely theater.

 Now join us for answers to Terri's Wednesday Medley questions.  The Meddler's answers can be found HERE!

 

NATIONAL V-J DAY (Victory over Japan Day)

1.  I'm sure many kids today have no idea what V-J Day is all about.  Did you have a loved one who fought in WWII?

Yes, I had an uncle - my mother's brother - and I have the Japanese sword to prove it.

2.  The iconic sculpture from the famous photograph of  "The Unconditional Surrender" has been defaced recently because of the #metoo movement. I know we can get very political about this subject, but just keeping it in the spirit for which it was created, what are your thoughts?

I will try very hard to keep my response "in the spirit for which it was created."

I think this statue is an adorable reminder of what so many of our soldiers experienced and felt when they returned from this horrible war.  The people were truly grateful for their sacrifice and service.  And the men and women were grateful to finally be home.  I doubt this pretty nurse was kissed against her wishes.

The various movements in the last few years have created more division than unity and in that way are destroying evidences of historical significance.  Our state has it's own "movements" and groups who are determined to remove every beautiful statue that remotely relates to the Civil War.  This is very disturbing.

I am sorry to see the above statue defaced in such a way, but am more resentful that groups of people are allowed to do this and get away with it in the spirit of free speech.

3.  Terri's grandson, Tristan, loved playing a game called "Axis & Allies".  It was quite complicated, took up the entire dining room table, and was not something Terri wanted to play (Grandpa understood it and played though).  Can you name three Axis countries and five of the many Allies (okay to look it up!)?

Germany, Italy and Japan

Great Britain, USA, France, Russia, Australia

4.  Terri was surprised to learn that most historians agree that WWII began when Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. Others say it started when Japan invaded Manchuria on September 18, 1931. And some scholars suggest WWII is actually a continuation of WWI, with a break in between.  Have you ever visited Pearl Harbor in Hawaii or any other WWII memorials around the world?

No memorials but I have visited these museums.

I have visited the wonderful World War II Museum in New Orleans.  If you are ever there, this is a must see.

We have also been to the World War II Pacific War Museum in Fredericksburg, Texas.  The Admiral Nimitz War Museum adjoins this museum.  Both of these are wonderful places to spend a day or two.

5.  Calvin Graham was only 12 years old during WWII when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He won a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart before the Navy found out how old he was.  (God bless him.) Terri doesn't know any 12-year olds today who could qualify or get away with something like that.  Times are so very different now but (in the US) we do have ROTC in high schools.  Do you know anyone who started in ROTC and went on to enlist in one of the services?

I only know of one, the son of a family friend who is currently serving in the US Navy.  Adam was honored to be in the color guard and carry the POW flag at a Cardinals/Seahawks game last year.

6.  Please tell us something about your week so far.

Yesterday was the 25th wedding anniversary of our son John and his lovely wife, Michelle.  We love them both so much and wish them a very Happy Anniversary.  Where have the years gone?

As my life has been rather uneventful up to this point, I want to share some more pics taken from our trip to Dallas last week.

We were delighted to take a couple of our grands out for dinner on Friday before the play.  Chandler had a back-to-school event and was unable to join us.  But we loved having time with Brad and Cassidy and her friend Kevin.

These delicious appetizers introduced us to the delicious entrees yet to come.  The one on the left is a corn dish made with bone marrow and served in the bone.  Interesting and very tasty.  The guacamole was some of the best I have ever eaten .  If you ever have a chance to eat at Beinvenidos in the Turtle Creek area of Dallas, you must do so.

A view of the Dallas skyline from the restaurant.

We could not be more proud of our young actress.

You may recall that a couple months ago a crane was blown over during a thunder storm in Dallas, killing one woman and injuring several.

The scene of this horrible accident was right behind the theater so I was able to get some close-up pictures.

The clean-up should begin any day now.

On Thursday of this week, I will make another trip to Dallas for the brunch shower of our Granddaughter Emily who will be getting married in Fayetteville, AR in October.

I am looking forward to having some more time with our family.  I never get enough of that.

Enjoy your week and check back tomorrow for the pictures of Shreveport's building art.

Amanda in Matilda

Matilda was played by 14 year old Genevieve Cooper.  She has a beautiful voice and did an excellent job in her lead role.  She definitely has a bright theatrical future ahead.

Matilda The Musical is very dark story about a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence and psychokinetic powers.  She's unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her schoolteacher, the highly loveable Miss Honey.  Over the course of her first term at school, Matilda an d Miss Honey have a profound effect on each other's lives, as Miss Honey begins not only to recognize but also appreciate Matilda's extraordinary personality.  Matilda's school life isn't completely smooth sailing, however, - the school's mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves thinking new punishments for those who don't abide by her rules.  But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupil's saving grace.

Amanda, played by our Ava Grace is one of the unfortunate, revolting school children who often incurs Miss Trunchbull's wrath.

These are the many expressions of Amanda.

 In Ava Grace's cast, the part of Miss Trunchbull was played by 15 year old Gavin Campbell.

Gavin did an amazing job of keeping what could have been a very scary and tragic story, by keeping us the audience in stitches.

Here Amanda is getting in big trouble for wearing her hair in braids.

This is a scene from the really nice song, "When I Grow Up."

This is how Miss Trunchbull conducts Phys-Ed Class and every scene was hilarious.

Amanda is still receiving the wrath of the headmistress for her braids.

 

And that's a wrap for this summer performance by the North Texas Performing Arts Dallas Troupe.

Ava Grace and her whole cast did an amazing job.

The Year Was 1969

The summer of 1969 was a significant one for our nation. Senator Ted Kennedy was involved in a car accident on Chappaquiddick Island in which a young woman by the name of Mary Jo Kopechne died.  Neil Armstrong declared, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” as Apollo landed on the moon. That same summer, nearly half a million fans converged on a dairy farm in upstate New York for a three-day rock concert known as Woodstock. 

The summer of 1969 was a significant season for our family as well. On June 18 Dick and his 7 month pregnant wife moved from Orange, Texas to Bastrop, Louisiana. I was very heavy with child!

We moved into a brand new house - the first house we had ever bought - and settled in with our meager belongings with the help of some very patient and helpful Bastrop folks. 

On August 22nd, church youth music took on new meaning in our little town with a major production of the folk musical "Tell It Like It Is," directed by my husband.

Early on that same morning, our beautiful first-born son came into the world and set our feet firmly on a new path of parenthood.  John’s birth brought untold joy to our family.

Those were also stressful, scary days of having no clue what we were doing and yet too afraid to admit our weaknesses.  We all three learned together and our little papoose thrived. 

The summer of 1969 also brought integration to our state and public schools. Out of fear of the unknown and perhaps what they did know, the school in the small rural community where my youngest sister was to be a senior, closed its doors.  When John was six weeks old, we also became the sister and brother caregivers to a 17 year old who needed to finish high school. 

Although we loved having Sarah with us and John absolutely loved her to death, it was an added responsibility we weren’t sure what to do with.  We wanted her and were thrilled to have her, but scared at the same time. 

Thankfully, she was easy and a joy to have in our home and was such a big help with John.  It was not an easy time for her either. She had to leave home for the first time. She had to take on responsibilities and obligations she wasn’t accustomed to. She had to make all new friends in a strange new place, knowing it was only for a few months. She had to be a sister while under the authority of that sister.  It was hard.

On the other hand, It also meant that our parents came more often which was nice.  It also gave Sarah and me an opportunity to build our sister relationship in a way that would not have happened otherwise because of the age difference of seven years.  I even got to help make her prom dress and see her grow and develop into a beautiful outgoing, independent young lady, ready to embark on college life.  I would not change a thing about 1969 for us. 

I even benefited from that same prom dress a couple years later after Christy was born.

As I reflect on that momentous time in our lives, I am filled with gratitude that God led us to a place where Sarah could finish school, where our children were born and loved by a community of supportive friends and church members.  I am grateful for  that time in our lives that laid the foundation for where we find ourselves today, fifty years later. 

Yes, 1969 was a very interesting and eventful year!

Light and Color

While visiting with at our daughter's home this past weekend, I became fascinated with the play of color, movement, and shadow in her swimming pool.

I hope you find it as captivating as I did.