May flowers….What do Mayflowers bring?…. Pilgrims! Sorry, I couldn’t resist! It’s April 23 and we’re one month into spring! The grass is greening and a few grape hyacinths appeared around our metal mailbox post and by one downspout. Several tulips have leaves, but no blossoms. The cloudiest stretch of weather for us seemed to arrive this week. Even more welcomed were the sustained stretches of rain rather than cloudbursts.
We’re at the end of the 5th week of the spring quarter, which means that the term is half-way over already. Steve’s schedule seems to grow by the week, almost as quickly as the blossoms on the neighborhood crab-apple trees! This term he has Restorative Justice and Grant Writing classes as well as his Practicum and Practicum class. The newest addition has been an Internship…unpaid of course. He continues to volunteer at The Conflict Center, where he co-teaches Saturday sessions in a type of “anger management” for teens.
I have 5 weeks left of Spanish. Sadly the size of my class has dwindled to three, making it difficult to have a very dynamic, conversational setting. I have yet to decide as to whether I’ll continue next year. Something I’ve never done before was attend a Career Fair, so indeed I went to my first one on Wednesday. I am blessed with several friends who keep passing along recommendations. We’ll see where this goes!
On Monday I drove our ski rentals back to Winter Park Resort. We had a good deal for the season that we couldn’t pass up since we no longer own skis. With our schedule, we knew that our skiing was done for the season. I thoroughly savored my solo drive with sunshine, blue skies, snow-covered slopes, and no radio reception. It made a peaceful drive. I actually couldn’t resist adding a few extra miles, so I drove on north to the YMCA’s Snow Mountain Ranch. Just last month we were snowshoeing there with Jeremy and Michelle. Now the Nordic Center is closed as the snow is melting and great swatches of grass are evident.
Jeremy and Michelle flew to Dublin, Ireland on Monday night. They spent several days touring highlights of Dublin and getting settled into the new time zone. Today they took a bus to Wicklow, where they’ll at least spend the weekend. Sounds like hiking in the Wicklow Mountains will be in order for them. And so, their open-ended European trip begins. We’ve received numerous updates already via texting and facebook messages. It is quite impressive that within seconds we can be in touch some 5,000 miles away!
Last night Steve and I went to a lecture presenting Noam Chomsky. He gave us cause for pause when it comes to some of the dilemmas in foreign policy. It is amazing what we’ve enjoyed on campus this year: many lectures, documentary films, concerts, a Pioneer Hockey game, and other events. Having not lived here over the summer, we are not sure what to anticipate for campus activities.
As today is Good Friday, I walked to Observatory Park about 1.5 miles from our home to attend an ecumenical service based on the Stations of the Cross. With 250 people from several churches, it made for a meaningful observance. On Easter Steve and I will walk to church in time for a courtyard celebration. Following that time, we’ll have breakfast to support the youth ministry. Then at 9:00 Steve’s Mom will join us for worship. The three of us have reservations at the Pearl Street Grill, a neighborhood restaurant for lunch. We are so pleased that we can spend this Easter with Mom.
Stephanie and Shane will spend Easter together with most of his family in Effingham, Illinois. I’m sure that everyone will thoroughly enjoy Shane’s little nephew and niece. For Steph, she’ll also be meeting some of Shane’s extended family for the first time. How I treasure looking back at those first introductions to Steve’s family.
Safe travels to those of you traveling over the weekend. May you all have a blessed Easter!
Diane (& Steve)