For all of you who reside in this land of comparative peace and freedom, just thought I’d let you know that twas on the 19th of March 1952 that this fearless soldier, all 135 pounds of him, embarked from the port of Seattle. His mission? Why save the world for democracy, what did you expect. I’ll never forget the feeling of wondering how in heck I got into this predicament. Hey, I joined the army ’cause I was hungry, not to go fight someone! However, Uncle Sam saw the wisdom of sending me off, and even provided me a sendoff with a full Army Band. The stirring march they played (to bolster my courage I presume) was a then current popular tune entitled “So Long, It’s Been Good to Know You!!” However, once I got used to the idea of possible combat, I enjoyed the 14 days (except for the first two which I spent hanging over the rail) aboard the USNS Marine Phoenix. And that’s this week’s exciting episode from The Life of This Day.
Other than that, started going back to the Y after a lay-off of 8 or 9 months. Not too bably out of shape. I’d been trying to walk a couple of miles on a regular basis, but found that my foot was giving me trouble so thought the arobic equipment at the Y would be a better form of excercise. Greenville Chorale has started rehearsals for it’s April 22 concert. Real tough (for me) stuff including Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, in Hebrew< and Tres Cantus Laudendi, by Mack Wilberg, in Latin. I think, if we behave ourselves, they'll let us try English next year.
OK, now I typed all this (and my one finger is sore) so let’s see if we can get it on the Blop page of all Blog Pages.

So, it appears that March is almost gone. I discovered this when I finally turned the calendar page this morning, confirming that February is over. I’m not sure how this happened. One day I was on a beach in Mexico sipping the “vacation size” margarita, and now I’m staring April right in the face. It’s somewhat disconcerting, to say the least.

Somewhere along the line I’ve had to read about a gazillion resumes and conduct interviews to try to find a new Director for the United Way. I was told when I agreed to be the Vice-President of the Board that I wouldn’t have to do anything, but somehow that morphed into chairing the Search Committee – replete with an entire briefcase full of paper, endless e-mail messages, drafting those wretched “thanks, but you’re not our type” rejection letters and drinking enough coffee to keep a small Dominican plantation in business for years to come. (It turns out that other committee members love early morning meetings…hence my increased consumption of caffeine.)

On the totally fun side, however, a neighbour of mine who is a retired actor (he had an ocassionally recurring role on Seinfeld among other things) has asked me to work with him on a new project. He has, in the past, created and presented a one-man show about Mark Twain. He’s now interested in doing something about Lincoln, and when – in the course of conversation – we discovered that each of us had just finished reading “Team of Rivals” he suggested that I help him out with the research. YES! This will be good. I’m up to my ears in books that focus on the speeches and writing of our friend Abe, and next week Warren (the actor) and I will start brainstorming his program. I’m psyched.

The Cornwall Historical Society is taking some time, too. We’re supposed to be creating an exhibit about Merino sheep for the Vermont History Expo. I have cleverly delegated all the work that needs to be done to my co-chair (a fellow by the name of Tall) who has created (yet another) committee, and they’re off and running. My work here is done.

How very interesting that the Vermonters in the Day family have spent not one single hour on the slopes this winter (a lack of snow will make skiing way less fun), but that the Nashville contingent did. I respectfully suggest that in future, coming to Vermont to ski would be a more satisfying experience than one in North Carolina (well, except for this year…) And if Leumas wants to go fast – no problem. That’s what former ski patrol uncles are for.

As you can clearly see, life here is not overly exciting, aside from local politics which would be more boring than amusing to anyone who doesn’t know the entire cast of characters – from the statute-spewing farmer to the zoned-out zoning administrator to the Cape Cod transplant (who hasn’t entirely grasped the fact that Cornwall is somewhat different than Hyannis). It’s probably a sitcom in the making, but in the meantime it’s just a series of ongoing phone calls – mostly having to do with the best way to kill mosquitoes. Give me my gavel. I’ll show ’em.