Dateline Dayton – I left work early last Friday to attend a band presentation at our granddaughter Ashley’s school. She attends Madison High School, just outside of Middletown, is in the marching band and the steel drum band.

Since it has rained on most recent Friday nights, the band has been unable to present their new program. They were going to competitions on both Saturday and Sunday, so they decided to open their rehearsal up to the public. Pauline and I were invited. It was amazing, the turnout for their performance on a beautiful late Friday afternoon. The band did a great job.

An Accomplished Girl

Ashley not only plays in the marching bank, she also directs. At times, this requires her run from her position in the band to the director’s stand.

Afterward, Pauline, our son Chris and I were invited to our daughter Lisa’s for pizza and to hear about all the events our grandchildren are participating in.

Kyle and Ashley both attended the homecoming dance, with Kyle taking a date. Daniel was going to a father/daughter dance that evening and Jarrod will be in a Christmas program at his school next month. Ashley will be in a play next weekend.

Ashley is an outstanding student, No. 8 in her school, while taking accelerated classes and participating in a wide variety of school and community activities. She will be attending the Inauguration next year, but wouldn’t tell us who she would like to see being inaugurated. Hopefully she is supporting her Dad’s and grandpa’s candidate.

On Saturday morning Pauline and I headed to Covington for one of our regular high school class’s regular breakfasts. Although we couldn’t stay long, we had a great time. It was nice to visit with June again, who joined us from Virginia,

A Special Destination

After breakfast, we drove over to Piqua to pick up my sister Susan. The three of us we were going to Mt Gilead, east of Columbus. Along the way, we picked up Chris, who had been in a Hospice walk with his nieces Julia and Madison.

We were invited to visit the Flying Horse Farm, by our nephew David, who is the Farm property manager. Once there we met up with my brother, Mark, his wife Carol, and their children, Aneca and Justin.

The Flying Horse Farm is a member of the Serious Fun Children’s Network. Formerly known as the Assn. of Hole in the Wall Camps, it is an international family of camps founded in 1988 by the late actor/director Paul Newman, an Ohio native Paul Newman. Situated on nearly 200 acres in Mt Gilead, the Farm is a fun-filled, magical camp for severely ill children, serving families from the Columbus and throughout the Midwest.

Doctors and nurses from area children’s hospitals staff an on-site, first-class medical facility. An army of volunteers provides for all of the children’s needs. In addition they have a variety of daily fun activities kids, in quality facilities.

Although no children were at the camp on Saturday, we were overwhelmed by the camp. They have a big red barn that is just super. The barn has three stores, housing apartments, meeting rooms, offices and a lunch room. David and his volunteers do an outstanding job of maintaining the buildings and grounds.

Sunday morning, Chris had to work, so Pauline and I attended church, went to breakfast and visited the fairgrounds for the monthly Flea-n-Tique. When we got home, we were ready for a well deserved nap.

Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcglobal.net