Dateline Dayton – Last Friday evening I took our two granddaughters, visiting from Michigan, to the Dragons baseball game. Pauline and Darlene were invited over to our son Chris’s for supper. They had a good meal and we saw a very good game. The Dragons won 4-1.
There are times when you must step-up, take a chance, do something daring.
Pauline and I did on Saturday. Our granddaughters along with their mother, wanted to go to a corn maze. Along with Chris, we piled into the van and visited Young’s Dairy, in nearby Yellow Springs. More than a dairy, Young’s is an entertainment complex, with food, putt-putt, batting cages, animals to feed, a corn maze and other attractions. They also have ice cream, which makes a trip to Yellow Springs worthwhile.
After a hearty meal and feeding the animals, we were on the tractor ride to the corn maze, consisting of two fields. After completing the first one, I wondered, “Is that all there is”. The second field, however, was much more challenging. After investing a fair amount of time in the maze, one female member of the group had to go to the bathroom, badly. No way were we going to get out the maze anytime soon. I suggested getting off the path, meandering into the corn field. She did. First, though, she asked, “Where is the paper?” Again my Boy Scout training came in handy.The nurse in our group also had paper. They train them well at Eastern Michigan University.
Since there were questions throughout the mazes, and we got all of them correct, we each received a coupon for a free ice cream cone. We would have gotten one even if it wasn’t free. You don’t visit Young’s and not get ice cream.
Last Sunday afternoon, all of our children and family came to celebrate our 53rd wedding anniversary. They visited with their sister and her two girls since dad and son had to stay in Michigan for work, and Ashley has returned to college.
It was a wonderful afternoon. Everyone went to the pool before our cookout. I stayed behind to get the food taken care of so everything would be ready when they returned because Julia had to leave for soccer practice.
Matters were under control, hamburgers were on the grill, t corn was cooking and all foods and dishes were out when the gang arrived back from the pool. I took the first burgers in the house, put the second group and then… the rains came. It poured for a short time, but I did not give up my post and I completed the second group of burgers. Once the people were inside, the rain stopped, the sun came out again and our son Bill took over the grilling duties, so I could eat. An afternoon to remember.
Monday evening we took our granddaughters to Julia’s soccer game. By the time we reached our seats, it was raining. They started game. Now it was really raining. Lightning, too. The game was stopped for 30 minutes. We were soaked, but we stayed until the next round of lightning struck. Eventually the match was canceled.
Tuesday was our true wedding anniversary. We had tickets for a Dragons game. I had arranged for us to introduce a segment at the game called Bob’s Instant Replay as a surprise for Pauline. In addition, she was presented with a ball with “53” imprinted on it. The Dragons lost, but as usual, it was a fun evening, even better with Pauline’s surprise.
Wednesday was our class breakfast, but Pauline wasn’t able to attend. Her brother was having surgery. Turnout was better this time, as Carl and Barb visited from Pennsylvania. However we decided not to continue meeting on a regular basis. I feel badly about this. But the folks from our hometown of Piqua do not attend. Most of us have an hour’s one-way travel time. We will try to get together a couple times during the year, especially if someone is visiting from out of the area
Have a great Labor Day weekend.
Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcglobal.net