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Not a day in the past eleven dragged. Each was brim full. From early morning into the night was filled with activity. Much activity!
Now, there was one major exception to all of the above. It certainly did apply to the two very senior folk in the house. To anyone going by the term ‘teenager’, well, their day did not start till after the noon hour and then went into the wee hours.
There is a ‘payout’ to that way of life. So, for the past week I have been managing a cold.
Terry Pratchett of “…inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened” fame once wrote [“Interesting Times”, 1994]; “The Four Horsemen whose Ride presages the end of the world are known to be Death, War, Famine, and Pestilence. But even less significant events have their own Horsemen. For example, the Four Horsemen of the Common Cold are Sniffles, Chesty, Nostril, and Lack of Tissues”. Luckily Marcia had stocked up box upon box of tissue. Yes, we have the tissues!
”Saying ‘Gesundheit’ doesn’t really help the common cold – but it’s about as good as anything the doctors have come up with.” ~ Earl Wilson
So, I think that the rest of the week can best be shown through some photos. What is more difficult to capture is the belly-laughing and banter as we played one game after another. Also, Derek wanted to take a walk-around the University of Cincinnati – which we did (dutifully). I had forgotten that no matter where on campus one walks it’s always up-hill.
Art Museum –
Museum Center – The old Union train Terminal just finished a two-year overhaul. The building sports three separate museums plus an Omnimax theater. Since it was a windy and rainy day, what better way to spend it but with thousands of others in the center.
Winter Sports – It’s amazing what snow-making machinery can do even during a snow-free winter. Nevertheless, Tevita’s niece, Mele, here from New Zealand, saw her very first snow, ever!
Pinball Machine – Our old vintage Bally Speakeasy made it through the holidays. I kept track of the number of games played – well over 240. Kellen managed to tally over 1,000,000 points in a single game. Compare that to my best, 198,000 and it gives an idea of scope.
Marcia and I kept reminding each other that we felt sorry for the old lady living below us. What with all the bells, ringing, hoots, hollerings, and an occasional massive ‘SLAM’ as the machine offered up an additional ball. And all that right over her living room.
Marcia’s Birthday – “Best ever”, Marcia proclaimed. We, by happenstance, hit on a restaurant which immediately became Marcia’s favorite. Then, the grandkids used the kiln at their school to create and bake some stunning ceramics as gifts for her. These have now received a place of honor at our little condo.
Finis – and so things are quickly becoming dramatically familiar as old patterns are re-established. Marcia is busy packing away the Christmas holiday decorations. I get to drag them to our downstairs storage area.
What I forgot to mention are all the many little ‘in-betweens’ we took in while bouncing from one event to the next. This included this home where the beginnings of a book called “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” took root.
Then, can’t forget the few hours spent at the Zoo taking in the annual Festival of Lights. Better and better year after year (top spot on USA Today’s 10-Best Zoo Lights list).
Shortly I’ll be making a quick trip over to Adrianne and Tevita’s place to feed Rugby and take him for a walk. They took their gang to a nearby water park for a night out.
Then, slowly on we’ll get the place organized for a short visit by our friends and Canadian neighbors, Barb and Bulent who’ll swing by for a night on their way to California.
Make it a great week.
Ciao
Dirk – he of the sniffles
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