Happy Memorial Day!

As I mentioned on my Facebook page this morning, freedom ain't free. Thanks to all the individuals who have made the supreme sacrifice to keep our nation free. Thanks to their families, their loved ones, all who cared about them. Thanks to their comrades who still feel loss today. There is no way to repay debts like that, we can only remember.

Help me to remember that it is from their heroic efforts that we still enjoy the freedoms we so often take for granted. May their sacrifice never be in vain.

Graduation Day

On Saturday Emily joined the ranks of James Madison University's graduating class of 2009. We were in Harrisonburg for the day, wishing all her classmates good fortune as nearly all of them look for employment. When I graduated nearly everyone in the class had job offers, and most had full-time employment waiting for them whenever they decided to start. But this year's class is looking for their first offer. Circumstances may not be in the favor of this year's grads, but they are determined to make something meaningful of their lives.

That is the spirit that was infectious on Saturday. You remember that graduation feeling, which included a mix of joyful at achieving something that was mostly accomplished on your own, kind of sad to leave college life and friends, at the same time a tiny bit of trepidation at entering the real world, and excitement at the same time.

The class of 2009 will be great! They will work hard and figure things out and make the most of their lives, just like we did. Congratulations!

Congratulations Grease Cast and Crew

Grease was the word last week. I got to see all four shows and thought the cast and crew did a great job. If you had a chance to see the show, did you notice the wallpaper in Marty's room? Did you notice how straight and nice it all looked, even around the window trim? Amanda, Brittany and I made that contribution to the set design!

All the vocalists were amazing as usual for Godwin Theater productions. As the proud parent of a Greaser, I took lots of pictures during the shows and I only included one of my favorite ones here on the blog site.

This was Philip's farewell performance on Godwin's stage, and while the show was no Les Miserables, what is?

Thanks to the directors, cast and crew for a great performance, and congratulations on a job well done!