No Playbill Photos at This Show

Don and I saw the 2022 Tony Award winner for Best Revival of a Play the weekend before it closed. "Take Me Out" was first performed on off-Broadway in 2003, then opened on April 4, 2022 and closed on June 11, 2022. Upon winning the Tony on June 12, 2022, it decided to reopen on October 27, 2022 for a limited 14-week run.

The show is psychologically fascinating covering topics such as homophobia, masculinity in sports, racism, and class. It is about a top interracial centerfielder named Darren (many have commented he is a lot like Derek Jeter) announcing when he is at the top of his game that he is gay (which is where the comparisons stop). As most of the action takes place in the stadium's locker room, you can connect the dots as to what makes these men uncomfortable.

Toss in a new player (a pitcher with an incredibly strong fast ball), Shane, who is a blatant racist spewing much hate to the media about his teammates -- especially the one newly out of the closet and there is a lot of room for thought. 

The centerfielder is upset this new pitcher is allowed to play on the team even though he made him uncomfortable. The coach rightfully points out that the centerfielder made everyone else uncomfortable by coming out to the media and not talking to his teammates first. (You can see him trying to whine but that is different.)

There are shower scenes with lots of real water that has made the news for how they did that without flooding the stage, and what temperature was needed for the comfort of the players.

It also made news for these scenes being portrayed completely in the buff. When the first towel drops there is a gasp heard around the audience. One wonders, did they somehow miss the warnings?

The full nudity is the reason no pictures are allowed in the theater -- including the iconic Playbill shot many take to share with their friends on social media. As you walk into the theater they make you put your phone in a pouch that stays with you the entire time. It is actually pretty cool technology. It is called yondr. Talking to a representative after the show she (obviously) hopes it catches on. I will admit, it changed the atmosphere of the theater. People talked to each other instead of hiding behind their screens. The company says it makes leaving quicker because people want their phones unlocked.

The downside, is the lack of ability to take a picture of the stage. Then again, that is the idea.

After the show, we lined up to take one with our Playbills by the marquee.

Chroma at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

 In January I went to Monmouth University to support Stacy who was part of a presentation being given about her experiences with a dig at Lord Stirling's estate in Basking Ridge, NJ. 

2:00 pm - 2:25 pm: Lecture by Dr. Richard Veit (Monmouth University), Alan Cooper (Morristown Beard School), and Stacy Noonan: Unearthing William Alexander Lord Stirling’s Estate Finding a Forgotten Founding Father

Starting in the 1980s, and for nearly twenty years, Dr. Alan Cooper of the Morristown Beard School directed a major public archaeology project at the site of William Alexander, aka Lord Stirling’s Estate, “The Buildings” in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.  Dr. Cooper and a team of volunteers spent nine years excavating at the site and unearthed rich archaeological deposits and numerous archaeological features associated with one of the grandest estates in colonial New Jersey and the lives of its inhabitants and visitors.  Stirling was a major figure in colonial New Jersey, who invested heavily in iron and copper mining, viticulture, and progressive farming.  He also served was a Major General during the American Revolution. This presentation provides a brief overview of Dr. Cooper’s excavations at site and their significance and highlights current research on the collections being carried out by Monmouth University graduate students Nikki Bowers and Stacy Noonan.

The talk ran early (which never happens with academics) and I missed most of the presentation, but the ones after it were also really fun to hear. A different life path might have led me to be a real archaeologist instead of an amateur one. Though Stacy is about my age and already has two graduate degrees (law and library science), she is pursuing a third one in archaeology. She is an inspiration!

The next two lectures caught my attention: How Now Cornelius Low (title meant to help us remember how to pronounce Cornelius's last name) and one on about the Chroma exhibit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

In March, 2020 I visited the house just before the world shut down. They were having an exhibit on mid-century household items, i.e., the stuff I grew up using. In September 2021, I spent a few hours at the Cornelius Low dig just off the campus or Rutgers University. So close, we parked at the lot for the football stadium. I felt invigorated on that dig, possibly because I could go home afterwards and take a nice hot shower and sleep in my own bed (unlike when I was in Israel). I think it was also because I found items. I felt useful.

I loved hearing about the Chroma exhibit. A week earlier Ashley and Anna went into NYC to see it. They raved about it. It used to be that The Met was a "pay what you want" rate. Times are tough, or the pandemic made it possible to change that plan. There is a discount rate for college students in neighboring states, and free for college students in New York and New Jersey. Anna and Ashley attend college in Pennsylvania, but live in New Jersey. Don and I took a college class at Rider. They had to pay $15 each to enter. Don and I could pay what we wanted. I opted for $7 for the two of us because that's what I had on me, and we were only going to spend 30-40 minutes looking at the one exhibit.

The short version is archeologists are realizing those pasty white ancient Greek and Roman sculptures we grew up admiring were likely painted in vivid colors.

I'll let that sink in -- they were really, really colorful. 

Current technology allows them to use infrared cameras to identify the colors used. They then made plaster copies of the sculptures so you could see the original and a model of what it likely would have looked like. When I first heard about this, I thought they were painting the originals. Yes, I should have known better.

Here are some examples:

Before

The museum was thoughtful to place the two statues near each other so you could get as close as the glass would allow, squint your eyes and see flecks of paint. It really changes the look.

For other statues, they had long explanations and pictures of the original. Still quite impressive and transformative.

They had some others I guess I did not photograph that were disturbing. There was a battle scene leaving one of the two sculptures with bright red blood dripping off of his dark body. They eyes, though, were the creepy part. Painted the statues looked as if they could see right through you.

Even the other more benign scenes seem to appear as if they could walk off the statue and join a costume party or elegant Met fundraiser.

  

After

Look at those crazy tights!

Seems so lifelike!

Those eyes!

I just liked this room covered in
frescos. Made me think of Ashley
in Italy.

Look up high -- you can see a chariot
that has been restored. Those
rooms were closed off.

Unfortunately, time was too tight to enjoy the other exhibits that day. We should go back, at least while we can use our Rider IDs.

I'm Dreaming of Traveling the World

Don and I took a road trip that will likely go down in our family history as one of the craziest adventures we have ever had. We left New Jersey at 5 AM. Met up with friends outside Montreal for the afternoon. Had dinner with other friends that night. Stayed overnight in Canada. Met with immigration at 9:45 AM the next day. Drove home in time for dinner in New Jersey the next day.

Rather than being exhausting (easy for me to say as I napped in the car), it was exhilarating! It reminded me just how much I enjoy traveling as COVID restrictions (including the ArriveCAN app) are fading away.

Quick Trip Recap:

Visiting with Chris and Trena at their home. Chris and Don used to work together at Comcast. Chris would travel down about every other week for work. After Don left Comcast, we still got together monthly for dinner at Mastoris. The border being closed changed that. Then Mastoris closed. He comes down less frequently and when he does, he is working 12-14 hour days without any break for dinner. Though we only managed to squeeze in an afternoon visit, we finally saw the Tiki Shed he build during COVID. We also saw snow for perhaps our only time this winter. 

We then had dinner with Marlene and her new beau, James. Marlene was my "big sister" when I was a high school exchange student. She is one of several friends I managed to keep in touch with over the decades. We always fall into an easy conversation. She believes I am the friend who has known her the longest. James was a treat to get to know. I wish they lived closer, but as it turns out, James has friends he wants to visit in Philadelphia so we might be seeing each other sooner than usual. Or maybe we'll connect in Ohio when she visits her family this summer.

Our hotel was lovely, yet odd. On the surface it seemed elegant, but on closer look it seemed the elegance was in its past. There were two king-sized beds in our room (which I knew, but still seemed weird) and a steady stream of people leaving the hotel on foot to go to the buildings behind it. Don asked and they said it was a college. Does this mean the hotel is really an elegant college dorm? Even so, it was cheap with a terrific breakfast, and convenient to the highway. I'd stay there again.
 

The real purpose of the trip was to have our Global Entry interview. For as excited as I was about going on this interview, most people have no idea what it is or why bother. A quick explanation: for $100 we have a fast pass through airport security, including customs once we get home. The pass is good for five years from our birthday (a strange timeline, making it worthy of applying right after your birthday so you get nearly six years instead of five). The options were to schedule an appointment or stop by their office after we land in the United States. I wanted it before our trip to Italy so we could benefit from having TSA Pre-Check.

Though we allowed 45 minutes to make a 15-minute drive we were late for Don's appointment because there was only one lane open at the crossing. From my vantage point I could see people were being pulled aside for extra questioning. Finally it is our time. The guard was making all sorts of small talk -- we were talking about Ashley being away at college -- which college (McGill? Rutgers like my license plate?). How I should get the car fixed because the muffler is so loud. Finally I explained we were late to our Global Entry appointment and he offered directions. We were late for Don's appointment (early for mine). Fortunately for both of us, they let us go together. I tend to be better at answering the questions because I don't overthink the replies. The joint appointment was only 10-minutes long including taking a picture and capturing our fingerprints. 

Suddenly it was 10:10 and we had no plans for the rest of the day. Drive back to Montreal or press forward? We pressed forward. Stopped for lunch in Ballston Spa (home to Ashley's friend Greg's family). 

I napped some more and we decided to detour to Poughkeepsie/Highland, NY to Walk Across the Hudson. A few years ago Don took this bridge as part of a 100-mile bike ride, but I'd never been. He did admit the experience was a little different  since we practically had the bridge to ourselves and it was snow covered (thank goodness Marlene warned me that it snowed in Montreal so I wore my snow boots that weekend). The bridge closes at a set time, and the people who work there want to go home so they bring out the sweeper vehicle to make sure you leave on time. Though a gray day, it was lovely. It even snowed a little for us, making it even more magical.

The rest of the drive home was uneventful. Once we reached the New Jersey border, it suddenly felt long. New Jersey is a small state -- but it still 90 minutes from Ramapo to home, and feels even longer.

Home sweet home, and back to reality after much too quick of a trip. A couple of weeks later our Global Entry cards arrived in the mail. Let's go see the world!

Piano Man

As the icons in my life age there will be less opportunities to see them perform. A few years back. Recognizing this, I made it a point to see Springsteen in 2016 when he performed in Philadelphia. It was near my birthday, so I considered it a birthday present.

Last year I realized I wanted to see Billy Joel perform one more time. He is in his 70s, but still performing monthly at Madison Square Garden. When I learned he was having a show Don's birthday week, I jumped on it the moment tickets went on sale. Perhaps, as Don called me out on as the show was starting, more a gift to me than to him, but I still took him out to dinner and had a date night (and he did not suggest any better gift ideas).

Many, many years ago we saw Billy Joel perform. Twice. The first was when he and Elton John had their Dueling Pianos tour in July 1994. Don and I stood outside Quaker Bridge Mall all night to get tickets (yes, times have changed). As we finally made it to the front of the line the tickets sold out. But wait ... they added a new date and we snagged floor seats for the front row of the non-premium seats. I'm not explaining that well, but they were awesome seats -- the best we'll ever be able to snag without the help of an armored truck full of cash and stub hub. I don't remember exactly which date we saw them during their four days in East Rutherford, NJ, but I think it was the second show, so let's go with THIS  set list.

The second time was at in 1996 at Kendall Hall at Trenton State College -- an 836 seat venue.

Yes, I was spoiled. Knowing that, I held off on seeing him perform again.

And yet... 

As with Springsteen, I wanted to there, but did not have a desire to spend a small fortune, or be up close. I chose the top section, which is the 300 section, because the 400 section is below the 300 section, which I still don't quite understand.

I wish I had aimed for the very last row. Section 317 is only three very steep rows deep. The first row (which is where w were) has 11 seats. Tall glass in front and behind us. If you knew the other 10 people, it would feel like a Covid pod. Without knowing them, it felt like a Covid incubation tank. The second row is the same. The third row, though, is on bar stools with a shelf in front of them and nothing behind them (well, except for the concession stand and much easier access to the bathroom). Talking to someone who sat back there he said it was amazing -- you could stand without blocking people and no one had to jump over you to get in and out of their seats. 

That, my friends, is what annoyed me most about the concert. The eight people

next to me each had to leave their seats at least once, and some showed up after the concert began (in other words, I had to get up about 30 times during a 2 1/2 hour concert, often multiple times in the same song). I was trying to figure out if this is just normal because people are used to being home and don't remember etiquette says you wait until a break between songs to disrupt people, but no. My birds' eye view showed no one else in the stadium was climbing up and down the aisles. The duded on the end (who has been to every one of his MSG concerts since 2014) confirmed this was much more than usual.

We enjoyed ourselves. 

Don spent much of the time watching the stage hands do their behind-the-scenes work. I watched the show. Much of the time I plugged my left ear because the person next to me was singing louder than Billy Joel (remember, I paid to hear Billy Joel's voice not some random stranger's voice).

Dude next to us turned us on to SetlistFM.com, where we found the playlist. Following Billy Joel on line we saw a copy of his setlist. Yes, it matched, but there is something about seeing the handwritten notes that adds to the magic. 

Guitar-legend Jeff Beck passed away earlier in the week, so Billy Joel included "People Get Ready" as a tribute to him.

Fan dude said he always/often has a guest performer. He was wondering who it would be. Turned out to be Alexa Ray Joel. Answering the question  mark on my face, Fan dude said "his daughter."

Aww...

A few days ago I saw a video clip where Bruce Springsteen was quoted as saying

his children have no interest in seeing their father cheered by 50,000 fans -- booed, perhaps, but not cheered. It warmed my maternal heart to see Billy Joel's daughter not only sing "New York State of Mind" and "Big Shot" with her dad, but hug him afterwards and ask the audience to give it up for "Pops." (Photo from his Facebook page.)

My fidgety row mates actually sat down after he came back for the encore and only one had to jump over me between "We Didn't Start the Fire" and the end of the show. I was able to sing along (quieter than my neighbor, I hope) and bop along to the music without having to keep an eye out for someone coming or going. The most annoying part was the dude who wanted to high five us as he passed (I just wanted him out of my line of vision) and kept managing to step on my feet. Yes, I recognize he was likely drunk. Why the entire group of friends had to leave each time, I'll never quite understand.

What I did like about the venue was that the jumbotrons were so far away, it was actually easier to focus on the stage instead of being distracted by the close ups. When I did watch the screens, they had fun camera angles of his keyboard, and his back up performers (who were blocked by pieces of the set).

It was great seeing him play "at home." I quipped to someone as we were in a pack of people climbing down the stairs (the escalator seemed even more packed), was Billy Joel was home already. You know his limo was waiting inside the stadium, and that his driver knows the fastest way to his Long Island mansion. If it took him more than 30 minutes to get home, I'd be shocked. Meanwhile, it took us about 30 minutes to wait in line for the bathroom and climb down the stairs from the nosebleed seats. 

Good for him for still performing in his 70s, and seeming to enjoy himself as he did so. Fan dude said his set list is mostly the same, with about 5-6 songs different (or so Don remembered). I think he said there are 5-6 songs he always plays (Piano Man, Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, We Didn't Start the Fire, and New York State of Mind are four of my immediate guesses). He started most songs with a little history. When people cheered after he announced the title of an obscure song (I think it was Zanzibar), he quipped: "You don't have that album. No one bought that album. I don't even have that album." As Ashley pointed out, much music is available on Spotify, so some people had heard it before. I'm glad the list was mostly music I knew since I don't follow him (or anyone) these days. I listen to the local Top 40 station (WPST) and NPR. On Pandora I've been listening to a French Cooking station, Stacy Kent, and some other eclectic international music. My musical tastes are fairly varied. 

A few of my pictures. I should have brought the zoomier lens, but then I would have been concerned they wouldn't let me bring it in the arena. As is, I was pushing the rules bringing this camera as the lens comes off (I did not bring a second lens).

Billy Joel is in the house!

Scenes from "Italian Restaurant" on the Jumbotron

Cell Phones instead of lighters

A father-daughter hug after "Big Shot"

 

Billy Joel fans should aim to see him before life changes and he can't perform any more. As is, he cancelled his November show because his doctor told him not to strain his vocal chords. 

Life is short. Go to the concert. 

Sticky Situation at Work

I had a frustrating situation pop up at work this week. I vented on social media that the gala was shaping up to not be as financially successful as in past years. I am struggling with getting donations, and struggling to find volunteers. I have found some people who are willing to help -- but when I say what I need help with, they say "not with that," or they don't follow through. 

I cannot and should not do the entire event myself. It is clearly more successful if people chip in their expertise and we work together.

The response from my friends was supportive -- some offered donations, others offered empathy that they are also struggling with their events, others told me it will work out.

The response from my principal (who is not on social media) was I was out of line, and that I put the school in a bad light, that I needed to find other outlets for my frustration.

So I took the post down, unfriended anyone associated with the school, and put up a post saying I was taking down that post.

The response has been even more supportive. People I respect said I wrote nothing wrong in that post, nothing that put the school in a bad light. One person (who recently retired and who I respect) suggested I quit now -- I won't. The offers to make donations dried up. 

I decided not to use my non-work time, and my non-work connections to drum up donations. So, yeah, the gala will not be as financially successful, but maybe I'll remain sane.

I'm disappointed the person felt the need to share his/her concerns with the principal and not with me. I've already felt like a second-class employee because I'm not allowed to attend events outside of school with staff, and when I suggested carpooling to a lunch with a board member the principal gave me a list of excuses why we should not do that. 

I can't tell anyone how wonderful the school is when I feel kicked by the school.

I don't know my next chapter, but I do know I will have one in 2023.

The irony of it all ... I have heard from past donors who sent in checks, and had I accepted the donations of my friends, it was turning around to be a very successful event. I've since cut my goals in half.

(As only five people tend to read my posts, the odds of this getting back to her are minimal, but I stand by them. I have not used any names, only my feelings.)

Five Years Later

Five years ago we gathered for a family photo shoot at JC Penneys to celebrate our parents' 50th wedding anniversary. Some debate was given as to what to wear, but not much. We quickly settled on black and blues. Everyone showed up on time and the staff at Penneys (women we had gotten to know over the many years of taking Ashley to be photographed) had a lot of fun putting us in different groupings. The end result was great! 

<<insert pictures from 2018 here>>

Flash forward five years. The kids have all gotten taller, and our middle sister (Rebecca) is in a solid relationship. When I asked everyone before Thanksgiving if they were up for doing another family, Rebecca replied within five minutes with a resounding YES! 

A date was quickly settled on, then the debate began of what to wear. Should we repeat black and blues since it worked? What about greens? Reds (ironically) were quickly eliminated because they tend to clash. We kept coming back to black and white with pearls.

Where should we have the photo shoot? The photographer I hired (Jenna) specializes in outdoor photos. She is one of my favorite COVID-era success stories. Jenna started her business in 2020 when she was a high school junior by offering $20 porch photos. We used her twice that summer. She learned how to take good pictures, how to get people to listen to her, and how to build a business model that is competitive. Now a college sophomore, her business is continuing and thriving. She listens and follows through.

We decided behind my parents' house would be the best location. Everyone is comfortable with the house. New Jersey weather being iffy, we brought my great-grandmother's red loveseat over in case we needed to take pictures inside. Here's where the red comment becomes ironic -- we decided to each add a pop of red to our outfits in homage to Gigi. Mom decorated the mantle (which you can't see in this picture) with antique toys and a picture of Gigi and her brother, which used to hang over the loveseat when she owned it. After the outdoor photo shoot (we'll see the pictures in a few days) I set up my camera and took one last group photo of my parents surrounded by their children and grandchildren.

Once again, everyone showed up on time with smiles and followed the photographer's guidelines. Our forty-minute photo shoot was finished in a blink of an eye. The drizzle at the beginning when Don, Ashley, and I were posing went away pretty quickly. We all agreed, another five or ten degrees would have been nice, but the cloudy day meant no shadows and no one squinting. I can't wait to see Jenna's pictures!

 

2023 Resolutions

Less than twenty-four hours ago a new year began. A year with a blank slate filled optimistically with the possibility for wonderful new adventures. As I am wont to do this time of year, I reflect on what direction I want my life to move in over the next 365 days. I started by rereading my past resolutions / goals and realize this is my tenth year of making public declaration. "Public declaration" seems a bit strong, though, as barely a half-dozen eyes ever open each blog post, and even less read them. Here is a quick way to reference each resolution: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Each year is a reflection of where I was as a person: career-wise, parenting, my relationship with God, how I was feeling about myself. In some ways, it was painful to read these goals. In other ways, it was a good reminder to me of who I have strived to be -- and continue to strive to be.

I am going to put a pause on my thoughts another day before putting in writing thoughts I have for the New Year.

Updates. I've thought about how I want this year to unfold and realize if I want to be in a different place as I stand around next year's bonfire, I need to approach it with intentionality.

1) I want to travel more. Yes, this is often a goal, and one (other than the COVID years) I have followed up on. Next week Don and I are interviewing for Global Entry status to make travel smoother as it includes TSA PreCheck and a fast pass through customs on our return. We have one international trip booked. Looking into more.

2) Today in church I was reminded how much I miss our WiNK service. I want to work with the church to revamp the service to make it a success. To this point, I have asked to be on the committee making recommendations for its future.

3) Last week I realized I am tired in my current job. There are pros and cons to all jobs, but the cons are now outweighing the pros. Most of my issues stem from not feeling part of the team (yes, still hurt I was told I cannot attend staff parties). Not being able to be fully myself. I don't know where I will end up, but I know by the end of 2023 I want to be someplace else professionally.

4) Health. I was hoping to have an answer as to why I don't have the energy level I had a couple of years ago. I'll continue to follow the paths.

5) Every decade I have gravitated towards a different primary form of exercise. In my 20s it was roller blading. In my 30s I was pushing a stroller and talking long walks. My 40s found me (much to my surprise) running. Now a third of my way into my 50s, I'm rediscovering roller skating, but this time with quads. I want to learn how to dance on roller skates.

I still want new adventures and to make more solid friendships, but not coming up with solid paths.

Let's see where life finds me at the end of this year.

Welcome Back Bonfire

The Hogmanay bonfire celebration at the Brearley House has been a Lawrenceville tradition since 1997. Except during COVID years, when it didn't happen. We went in 2013 as a family. Again in 2016. And again in 2017. In 2018 as a couple.

Traditionally the bonfire is a chance to throw your grievances from the year into the flames and literally send them up in a puff of smoke. As I went to this year's bonfire on a misty / foggy night I realized I don't have any grievances with the year. Maybe my expectations for life have lowered to a state of complacency. Or maybe I'm realizing life is pretty good.

I looked over my resolutions for the past few years and realize, though some took longer than a year, I have accomplished much of what was on the list. Last month I became a notary public. Last week my endocrinologist declared my diabetes under control and she wants to see me less often and isn't worry about my blood sugar (though she does want me to go for a thyroid ultrasound to confirm Hashimoto's Disease). This year not only did Ashley and I go on a long-promised trip (though to New Orleans instead of Paris), Don and I went to Barcelona (a city neither of us had ever been to before) and we applied for Global Entry with the anticipation of more traveling.

Only one family member died this year -- Aunt Elva a week before her 106th birthday. Two family babies were born (a great-niece and great-nephew). 

Ashley seems to be a good place with school and friends (as I type this she is in the other room with two friends from college and two friends from high school all laughing and getting along as if they have known each other forever). 

We don't seem to be moving, but maybe we will. 

Who knows.

Let me return to the bonfire. 

When we arrived, only about a dozen people were standing around staring at the tarp on top of the pile of wood. We only saw two other cars in the parking lot -- later learned we were supposed to park someplace different. Even at the peak, there were between 100 and 120 people -- stretching around the perimeter everyone had an against the rope spot with many gaps. As it was not windy, the smoke went straight up, and not in anyone's faces.

At 6 pm the rain paused. The tarp was taken off the wood. The speeches began. By 6:10 when they lit the bonfire, the air shifted from dense fog to light rain. This year they announced no rain date, so I suspect they were trying extra hard to make sure it happened this year after not happening in 2020 and 2021.

Forty-five minutes into the blaze the fire marshal deemed it safe enough to go under the ropes and get closer to the fire. For the first time that night we felt the heat. The closer we got to the flames, the less we felt the rain as the drops evaporated in the hot, dry air. 

In 2015 the pile used to be about 10 feet tall. The following year the fire marshal capped the size at  5 feet x 5 feet x 5 feet. Also in 2015, they could not get it to catch on fire. In 2016 Boy Scout troop 28 offered to take over making and guarding the bonfire (with the fire department on site). It has gone better.

Time to light the fire!

Some year's we've been late and the fire has burnt out before we arrived. This year we arrived a few minutes early, and it burned for the full two hours. When we left it was still burning. Yes, between the fog and the rain, the air was much wetter. The wood, though covered under a blue tarp, was probably damp. But the biggest shift is under the guidance of the Boy Scouts, they started the fire at the top and watched it burn down. In the past, they lit it from the bottom and everything caught fire much faster -- some years so rapidly it seemed frightening.

Another change was they stacked piles of wood instead of pallets. The logs are denser and take longer to burn.

Before sharing photos, a quick list of friends we bumped into: "Einstein," Pastor Kyle, Boy Scout leader Michael, and Angela. (I've stopped sharing last names so friends who want to remain private, can't be found through this blog.)

Pictures:

Walking back to the car in the rain, on the new path covered in straw. When we made this walk on New Years Eve 2019, this area was woods and there were no townhouses. Life changes.

 

Happy 2023! May it be a good year for all.