Tuesday, March 11, 2008

What A Difference A Day Makes

Yesterday it crept up above freezing here, and today, it feels like spring! The water is running along the streets during the day, the snow is melting, and my dog gets really dirty when she goes out for walks! A friend told me she heard a cardinal sing yesterday. Can it really be possible? I know it is only March 11, but I feel hopeful.

Yesterday I also committed a daring act: I bought 2 tickets to a poetry reading by Mary Oliver. She is coming to my town the week after Easter. She was here last summer, and the event was sold out. So I am very excited to be going. Even though Husband is not a poetry fan, he says he will go with me.

And I signed up for the Festival of Homiletics in May. It will take place right here in my town, and at a very pretty time of the year. I hope that some of my blog friends will be coming, for I would like to show them a little of the city: perhaps a walk around one of our lakes, or a meal at a nice restaurant. I remember reading about others' experiences last year when I was quite new to the blog community.

Today is my Dad's birthday, too! He's 79 today, and he won't be reading the blogs (he has macular degeneration), so I'll call him later.

My dad used to sing Bing Crosby songs to us when we were little. He also liked to make up stupid puns (still does, but he doesn't hear so well, so he can't hear us groaning), and play silly games with us. At bedtime, he used to pretend he was Methuselah, the world's oldest man, who knew all the Bible characters. But, because he was so old, he would fall asleep during the prayers, and we would have to kick him to keep waking him up.

18 comments:

dust bunny said...

I think I would like your dad. :)

DogBlogger said...

Your dad sounds precious!

lauraj said...

Hey, your dad and I share a birthday.

I hope you enjoy the Festival. I've gone to a couple of them and they were fantastic! Little overwhelming with several sermons every day. You just can't quite take it all in.

Mary Oliver sold out when she was here last year and I was SO sad to miss her. Enjoy her for me.

Dorcas (aka SingingOwl) said...

Oh, it was 40 degrees here too! Yippeee...I am hopeful! We have a lot more snow here than in Minneapolis, for some reason, but it is melting...bit by bit.

I hope to go to the festival of hommies this year. I can stay with Kris I think. So maybe we eill talk about Pentecostals and Lutherans, as you mentioned. (Grin)

Diane M. Roth said...

can't wait, singing owl! :)

Terri said...

Wish I could make the Festival of Homiletics...think it may be too soon to leave the parish...

It was a beautiful 78 degrees here today...I think, in one short week I have forgotten all about snow...

Douglas said...

Some of Mary Oliver's poetry is in the book The Soul Is Here For Its Own Joy, which I have been enjoying lately.

Lori said...

Your dad sounds like my dad was. Though mine was a professed atheist, he still had a dead on rabbi impersonation.

Diane M. Roth said...

pg, my dad used to do impressions too. I think he can still do the old swede, if he wants to. come to think of it, now he is one!

Fran said...

Mary Oliver! Wow!!!

And every time you write about your dad, I feel moved.

Here is to spring!

Diane M. Roth said...

Douglas --- the Soul is Here for Its Own Joy -- I'll have to look that up.

Lindy said...

I like your dad.

June Butler said...

Happy Birthday to Diane's Dad! Tell him that your crazy online pals wish him a lovely day. He sounds like a wonderful dad.

You'll love the Mary Oliver readings, I'm sure.

LJ, Happy Birthday to you, too!

Di said...

I'm jealous right, left, and center on this one! Mary Oliver is amazing! You get to go to the Festival of Homies! Good grief. Have fabulous times!

Mary Ellen said...

I heard our weather in Chicago is supposed to warm up, but I'll believe it when I see it. However, I did hear a cardinal this morning---that unmistakable chirp of theirs! We have tons of them around my house because there are 5 huge pine trees beyond our back yard, they love to nest in them.

Diane M. Roth said...

That's lovely, Mary Ellen.

gartenfische said...

Oh, Mary Oliver---wonderful!!! Lucky you.

And happy belated birthday to your dad!

Mauigirl said...

Your dad sounds great!

My father loved to make puns too. Even in his final year when he was 92 and had Alzheimer's, he showed a spark of his old self one day when he came up with a pun!