June
|
Graduation Season
Well, it's been busy around here. About the middle of May, we traveled to Lynchburg, VA to watch son Jonathan graduate from Liberty University. It's grown quite a bit since we left there back in 1995. In the same way that we don't care for really big churches, we don't really wish to work at a really big campus so we're quite happy here at Grace College.Graduation there was the same week that Jerry Falwell died. We didn't know whether it would be a graduation or a funeral, but the graduation speeches honored and encouraged the graduates as they should, with proper respect paid to Dr. Falwell.
We got to see a lot of old friends. The Math Dept., where both of us worked for several years, had the traditional early breakfast on graduation day, and they invited us. Way back in the late 1980s when Kathy was department secretary, she started that tradition. It really works out well for folks to arrive between 7:00 and 7:30 AM, avoid most of the traffic (15,000 parents and well-wishers coming onto campus all at once) and have food and fellowship.
The main graduation ceremony was in the stadium, which was just about full, but the diploma part was done by schools, so Jonathan and about 30 others received their degrees in Computer Science and Management Information Systems. Even after talking with folks for a while, we were driving off campus while the really big schools like education were still handing out diplomas.
Daughter Kriss was to fly down to see her brother graduate. Well she didn't miss the plane; it missed her. Logan Airport in Boston is, um, inefficient, shall we say? Anyhow, she got her money back. She had reserved a motel near Lynchburg and we ended up staying in the room, so it all worked out.
L.U. Stadium at graduation
Reception after baccalaureate
Another trip east
After a week or so at home, we headed east again, to a conference of Christian mathematicians and computer geeks. (What's "Christian" mathematics? Drop me an E-mail and I'll explain some more.) On the way, we stayed overnight with Karen and Van Campbell. Had dinner with them and with Dan and Susie Brown who were at Bryan College for a while and are now at Grove City College. We talked about Bryan, about students, laughed until our sides hurt and generally had a great time.The conference was good. I won't bore you with details, but Phil and Darlene Lestmann were there from Bryan College. Kathy and Darlene hadn't seen each other for 20 years or so. Kathy had brought her sewing machine and Darlene had brought her quilting frame and they sat in the lounge with a couple of other wives and they probably had more fun than the conference attendees. 20 years is a lot to catch up on. Kathy got most of the quilting done on her current project. But the highlight was probably their excursion to the chocolate factory at Hershey, PA....
After the conference, we headed out to Boston to see daughter Kriss and her husband Jon. Had a nice visit for a day or so, but they hardly knew what to do with us old
Hershey, PA
Niagara Falls
Makes a nice background image. Let me know if you would like a copy of the full-sized image.
Old lighthouse on Lake Ontario
DetailVisits from friends
And then the fun began. (No! Really!)Friends Mary Ellen and Trish from the good old Pacific Northwest flew in to stay with us for a week or so. I, of course, got to escort three ladies all over northern Indiana. And golly, what all did we do?
Well, the first big adventure was up to Das Essenhaus that we told you about before. The gals shopped around while I found a bench in the shade and read a book until suppertime.
On Tuesday, we had breakfast with Jake and Sandy Matthes, whom we had seen at Liberty when Jon graduated. They were visiting Jake's brother here in Winona Lake. We've known them for 30-some years.
We went up to Amish Acres and did the tourist thing, with a wagon ride, tour, dinner and a play. (It's under "Bonnets & Britches" package.) We all got a better perspective on the Amish and their way of living. They really have a lot of good practices, although you and I would have a hard time adapting. I love hearing the clop-clop-clop of their main mode of transportation.
And then we spent a day in Chicago. We caught the train at the South Bend Airport. Didn't dare take any photos as we were under Orange Alert who knows why but it's illegal to take a photo of a "transportation facility" under Orange. Oh, well. We got off at Roosevelt Road Station in Chicago, which has to be the ricketiest (is that a word?) station I've ever seen. No ticket window, no bathrooms, elevated up over the tracks, what little paint there is peeling off, hardly any indication of where to go except to follow the crowd. Advantage is that it's only a couple of blocks from the Aquarium and the Field Museum. Both of those were free that day, which means that there were at least a brazillion people there but the price was right. Usually the Aquarium is about $25.00 and the Museum $11.00. Something like that. But we saw all kinds of fishes and porpoises; the only things that would sit still enough for photos in the low light were the anemones and sea urchins -- and at the Museum, the Egyptian mummies weren't moving much either. We arrived back home tired but happy.
The ladies went for a couple of excursions on their own, some better than others. I think we about exhausted what there is to see around here.
South Bend RR Station at the Airport
Chicago
Sea urchin
Red squirrel hunting for juniper berries