Good Evening from Menomonie,

I am always amazed how quickly the months pass by. My father always told me that the passage of time would be quicker as I aged. He passed away almost 10 years ago and he is still getting smarter! Into the first full week of August and that means that contracts and school responsibilities are upon me. The time for delay is certainly non-existent.

My sister-in-law called me this evening and we had a great chat. She has accomplished so much since she was widowed at 25. She has some amazing children, more degrees that I do (really!!) and she is finishing a doctoral degree. She is smart and funny and one of my best friends. I told her about the summer happening and she was patient with my rambling on as always.

This morning I got up and went to church with a friend and it was very enjoyable and relaxing. It is not my regular church, and while I have some theological differences, what I heard today sounded pretty darn Lutheran. I even told the preacher that I heard that law/gospel dialectic. Ha!

I am amazed at both the fragility and resilency of life. As I have talked to people and listened, while reflecting on my own journey, I know that there is so much we take for granted. I fall into that trap every day. What I really wish is that I could remove the pain and hurt for some people and allow them to see what others see (there is that co-dependent demon), but I know that I cannot remove those things and I can only offer support, care, and love. So I am keeping the demon a little more at bay.

As I work on the various things for the fall, it is evident that the coming year will be busy (which is probably a serious type of understatement). But such is life in the academy, but then again, I do have a job and good people with whom I work. I know back in Placerville they are bottling today. I had a chance to speak with both Julie and Marco, which was very nice. I have some writing to do there as well as finish up the final grading with in the next day or so.

Well . . . it is good to be back in Wisconsin though there is a longing for some of the people and things that were in Placerville. That is always the double-edged sword of wanting to know people. I wonder how Tony is doing without his cast? I wonder about Kayla, and how the first couple weeks of marriage are going? I wonder about Dave and Marquee at Hangtown Tattoo, which was next to the Starbucks and how things are since the departure of one of the other workers. Then what about all the things that are happening here too.

Today was Lydia’s Geburtstag. Saying how old she is would be certain death, so I will not venture down that path. I took her to breakfast and then on a ride and then did some work with her in the yard and then had supper with her. I have a plethora of things on the agenda for Monday, but such it is as we prepare for another year. No wonder things zoom by . . . but I need to take the time to appreciate and know that I am okay.

My poem for the day . . .

Bottles of wine: on the table, in the racks, in the fridge, and in the drawers
Bottles of wine: each with a story
Bottles of wine: creating memories
Bottles of wine: pinot grigio, viognier, petite sirah, zinfandel
Bottles of wine: given as a gift, sent as luggage
Bottles of wine: describe my summer
Bottles of wine: taste, smell, savor and love,
each with a story and a memory of what was and what might be.

Thanks for reading. The picture is looking out across the lake behind my house.

Michael