Happy Anniversary?

I started this blog a year ago. Not that I have kept it up during the year. I wasn't sure how to work with it, and life took up most of my attention.

So what kind of year has it been? We have moved into a lovely new condo, and we have a terrific new dog. It took 8 tough months to sell our other condo, and Tigger the elegant standard poodle died suddenly at the end of January. There have been a few memorable days and lots of days I can remember only vaguely.

So this year has been a lot like other years. There isn't a lot I have accomplished, but I feel more able to do new things in the year to come. That's probably a sign of faith, and hope will give me the energy to attempt some or all of those new things and the strength to face the tough times that are part of every year.

Hopeful New Year to all of you.

Salin

Here's to Roger!

My dear friend Roger Hall died a few days ago. He and his beloved Katrina (Kate to the uninformed) accompanied me to many a wonderful movie and shared many a lamb chop and Sunday potato during my sojourn in Philadelphia and and in the years since I left. We also shared many laughs, at least as long as Roger could laugh.

I wish I had a picture of Roger to post on this site. You'll have to rely on my internal camera, instead, although I'm sure it's tinted with the affection and delight I always felt when I was with Roger.

Roger had beautiful hair and a wonderful speaking voice. It's good that he did, because it put him on the right track with all the performing folks he encountered during his time among us. Roger was every bit as dramatic as any of them. And he used that drama to tell wonderful stories -- sometimes more than once (Did I ever tell you about Birch Mayo?).

Roger worked hard on his faith, although it didn't come naturally to him. He could read a passage from scripture so beautifully one minute and be snoozing during the sermon almost without missing a beat. He once told me that he understood about God and he was catching on about Jesus, but the Holy Spirit eluded him. I don't think it eluded him at all. I think the holy spirit filled him and poured out of him and was shared with each of us every time we heard him laugh or tell a story or wax eloquent about a piece of music.

Roger taught us all something about faith. If you can explain it, it's not faith. And it is the most faithful among us who keep trying to understand when all explanations are beyond us.

I'll miss Roger, but I know more about God's grace because I've known him.

Bubba and I had a great time in the Dog Parade, and I even got to promote the church with the new shirt. All in all a good effort. 

Sitting on the church steps looking out. How often do we worship looking out? 

Not much spring!

Just two weeks ago it was so cold that I couldn't believe it. We were suffering through a nor'easter. A week ago it was pretty nice.And now it's as hot as it will be almost any time this summer -- mid 90's. So spring was about one week. I could have sworn it was supposed to be more like three months. Why are the good things always the shortest?

Blessings and Love, Salin

Bubba loved the dog parade.

He's a real politician and wanted to kiss all the babies and shake everyone else's hand.

The church is always beautiful in the spring. 

Beautiful Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day!!

This is the prettiest Memorial Day I can remember in several years. We deserve it after such a cold and wet May. And it's good that things were so lovely, because there have been so many outside activities in the last few days. On the one hand it is sad to see some of the long-standing events, the service on the Pine Meadow Green and the talk at the top of Town Hill, somewhat poorly attended and mostly by senior citizens. On the other hand there hae been some great events for younger people -- the road race around Brodie Park and the dedication of the new playscape, as well as yesterday's dog parade, which introduced the Dog Daze of New Hartford. There are a lot of exciting things going on in our area. We are in the process of making some good new memories.

Blessings and Peace, Salin