Martin Luther

Recently I rented the movie Luther. It starred Joseph Fiennes. Someone recommended it to me a couple of years ago and I just got around to seeing it. I grew up believing that there was always a group who worshipped just like we do - the true church - that came down from AD 33. My grandmother taught me this and it was reinforced by many people I knew. Therefore, anyone who disagreed with that wasn't really a Christian, and I really didn't need to know about people who weren't part of the true church. I am not knocking my heritage, I am grateful for my grandparents who taught me about Jesus. What I am trying to say is that is very refreshing and freeing to believe that God worked in people's lives through the ages. I cried at the end of the movie thinking about the bravery of Martin Luther who lived in a time when questioning of "the church" could mean death. If you have never seen this movie I highly recommend it.

Memorial Day

When I was teaching I must admit that Memorial Day meant a three day weekend. It usually didn't mean going anywhere, since my husband hates to drive over holidays. But it did mean a day off from the routine. Now that I am retired every day is a holiday, so on this special holiday I can reflect on what this day is really for.

My husband served in the Navy as a hospital corpsman. He joined the Navy to see the world, but saw San Diego. He is from Georgia, so I guess San Diego was a little farther. I met him when he was in hospital corpsman school, through a guy I had been dating. We got married less than a year after we met. By then he was stationed at Camp Pendleton at the Hospital. He was in the service from 1960-1964, between the Korean conflict (war) and Vietnam. He never saw a ship or a foreign country - but he did meet me.

My oldest son served in the Air Force and was stationed in Turkey, and again no conflict. He is now in the Navy Reserves.

My Uncle Marion served during WWll, but came home safe, so no one in my family died during any wars - at least that I know of.

I feel proud that members of my family have served their country, but even more blessed that I didn't lose anyone My heart goes out today for those of you that have lost family members in conflict.

Kermit Revealed

Scott and me at Wailana Coffee Shop Waikiki


My husband, Tom and I - same place

I Got Nothing

Just to let all my many readers know. I just can't think of anything to write about. I think I am still recovering from my harrowing trip to Hawaii. Just kidding. I think I just don't want to be back. I hate to repeat myself, but if you have never been to Hawaii you must go. My good friend is leaving for Maui on Friday, next time I am going there.

What's In A Name

Have you noticed some of the different names that movie stars are naming their babies? I can't remember what Tom Cruise named his baby except that it was a Hebrew name. Was it Suri? I think Gwyneth Paltrow named her baby Apple. I would always think of my computer with that name.

I was named after two special people and given my nickname after another friend of my mother's. My first name is Marian and I was a fourth generation -the rest being Marion, since they were men. My great-grandfather or maybe great-great, my grandpa and my uncle. My middle name is Lavon, named after Lavon Staggers who was my mother's friend growing up in Sherman, Texas. Lavon died when she was young. Now for some reason my mother called me Vonnie - another one of my mother's friends. I went to school in Los Angeles and at that time you could not go by a nickname, so I went by Lavon. Whenever I get mail addressed to Lavon I know it is from someone I went to school with. I am now Vonnie to most people and that is the name I am the most comfortable with. BTW I know I just finished two sentences with prepositions, but I don't care! I love being named after people who were special to my mother, although when I was young I wished I was Mary or Linda or anything more common at that time. But now I am happy to be Marian Lavon (Vonnie). Were you named after anyone special?

Hawaii

What a trip! We are back from Hawaii. It was wonderful. We stayed at Waikiki and visited the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. We had planned to go snorkeling, but instead we took a greyline tour of part of the Island. We saw Hanauma Bay and several other beaches, then went to Pali Lookout in the rainforest. It was even raining in the rainforest. The weather there was cool, but in Waikiki it was sunny and in the 80's with a breeze. We went to the beach and only got a little sunburned. We visited the Polynesian Cultural Center. On Sunday we went to church at the Honolulu Church of Christ and met Scott -the preacher boy. He took us to breakfast on Monday morning at the Wailana Coffee House and had a great time getting to know each other - after meeting in blogsphere. Oh yeah, I actually took these pictures. Waikiki at sunset!

Trip to Hawaii

I am through packing and hopefully all ready to leave for CA tomorrow morning, then on to Honolulu on Wed. I don't know about you but I always overpack. I am never sure that I won't need something. It is not as if I am going to a place where there are no stores. I can't wait to swim with the fishes. And of course to meet Scott.

Second place is great

Back from our competition and we came in second. Usually people want first place, but we knew we were up against an international winner - Harborlites from Anaheim, CA. This is the chorus I used to belong to and even was with them when they won first place in the region but I moved to Tucson before they competed Internationally and won their gold medals. Yes, they won this competition and will be competing in Calgary, Canada in 2007. Anyway our chorus' goal was to score at least 600 points and we got 601. Hooray. We also hoped to come in second place and we did it.I got home about 10:30 last night and was up early for church. I am getting ready for a nap, but had to share my news Oh and I guess I will read a few blogs before closing my eyes.

Dress Rehearsal

Tonight was Friends and Family night at Sweet Adeline Chorus rehearsal, which is like a dress rehearsal before our competition. The chorus I belong to is called Tucson Desert Harmony and we will be competing in Phoenix this Saturday along with 11 other choruses in our region. The winner of our region will compete in an International competition in Calgary Canada in 2007. This is the reason I will not be going to Pepperdine this week. My husband and I went last year and really enjoyed it. We leave Thursday, so if I am not blogging for a few days, you'll know why.

Retirement Part Two

I set my alarm once a week - Sunday. I also set it if I have to get up early to leave on a trip. Otherwise I get up when I feel like it. Every June the teacher's association I belonged to had a retirement tea for the new retirees - both teachers and administrators. One year I was even the retirement chairperson - looking forward to mine. Anyway, part of the program was introducing each retiree and reading something about them. Almost everyone mentioned that they were looking forward to not getting up to an alarm. If you are a morning person you may not understand this. I don't thing I am a morning person, or a night person, I just don't like schedules and I lived with them for 34 years of teaching. This part of retirement is great!