Hard to believe that since I took off for my summer break, a summer has passed, a family gathering in Canada has taken place, saw more concerts than Marcia thought proper, and bones were broken; so, here we are, back with The Ramblings. Plus, a morning coffee in hand.

Also, I have to make this first Rambling short(?) and crisp since even as I’m writing brother Pieter is on the road heading for the corner of Chaos & Mayhem.

Today, is it Hupmobile or Hipmobile?  The first quarter of the previous century the Hupmobile auto was the rage. The current RAGE (in our household) is the ‘Hipmobile’. Marcia, while pirouetting in the driveway did a flip, required an EMT run to one of our hospitals, and had her left hip replaced – by none other than the Ortho Dr. for the Cincinnati Bengals football team.

Recovery is steady. She’s doing great, and is about as grumpy as one can be and still hold membership in civil society – all of which is absolutely the best while on one’s road to recovery.

Here is a photo of her with her ‘Hipmobile’.

The Urbanites – visited us at Northern Comfort – grandson Marin and roommates with friends. Marin could not be happier than being out in the bush. His friends (now known as the ‘Urbanites’) could not be happier than being on their latest Apple mobile. They left on day 3.

Marin went home, signed up at Hocking College in Southeast Ohio to major in Forestry, then returned to our camp for a family week which included all the aunts, uncles, and cousins.

That week I woke up one morning around 1am to the uproarious laughter by everyone except Marcia and I. Everyone had gathered on the screened-in porch playing some group game. It was then that I knew I was seeing a family memory building ‘home run’ in the making. Fun Times.

Most Interesting – happening at the corner of Chaos & Mayem this past summer. So much to choose from, but the winner is…..DRUM ROLL PLEASE….: the guy splayed across the front hood of a car rolling through the intersection. The guy kept yelling: “she’s got my baby”…”help, she’s got my baby!”

What is an Atlatl? — It’s a spear (or Javelin)-throwing lever, i.e. it’s a tool that uses leverage to give –greater velocity, almost like having an extra forearm. I read where it was used by the earliest Paleoindian (i.e. earliest known) cultures in Ohio and continued to be the primary weapon of Native Americans to late in the woodland period.

At the Pawpaw Festival they had a contest and signup to use the Atlatl. It was fascinating (but the lines too long for a one-day visitor like me). By the way, I’m told that the Atlatl penetrating power is about the same as that of a 50# longbow, and has a typical hunting range of 10 to 30 yards. Enjoy the little loop video I took:

Summer Entertainment – did not slow down one bit, beginning with seeing 90 years of age Willie Nelson. Also on the bill was John Fogerty – former writer and lead for Creedence Clearwater Revival. Also on the list was Particle Kid and one of my favorites, Warren Haynes of the Grateful Dead style Gov’t Mule.

It was a bit of a break until I managed to catch a favorite of mine, Tuba Skinny in Dayton.

Then this past Thursday evening a local organization, Empower U, which provides to the community a wide array of speakers on a variety of subjects, military, political, history, celebrated the start of a new season and brought in the Sensational Blues Brothers.

Elwood & Jake Blues (reenactors) brought to life the great R&B and Soul classics from the Blues Brothers film from 1980. They had it all, the sounds, the moves, the fedora, the sunglasses and second-hand black suits, skinny ties, white sox, and of course the iconic attaché case locked on Elwood’s wrist. Glorious!

Marcia is now saying; “enough, enough is enough”, all in reference to my summer of music and song. Maybe so, but it’s sure been a ton of fun!

Northern Lights – While everyone was in Canada word spread that the Northern Lights would be visible. For three nights folk either stayed up or got up – all for naught. Nada!

Thursday I came across this photo taken last week on takeoff from the Minneapolis International airport. Lucky guy [@Davidjonphoto] captured that photo, lucky us that he did:

Make it a great week. Stay healthy, stay happy, stay grateful, and may Peace prevail! Love to all. Dirk