In a small city south of here is a county park, on the northern tip of one of the Finger Lakes, Owasco Lake. This park is beautiful and grassy with a big old pavilion, and a fountain, and a massive grassy picnic area with big shady trees, right on the water. The Syracuse Symphony played there, a free concert, last night.
The 1812 Overture, Stars and Stripes Forever (played during the start of the fireworks which followed!)...and many others. Every year, they play the themes for the different branches of the military, and when they say the Army, and all who are serving and have served, stand up, my heart bursts with pride at my two sons...Benjamin and Samuel.
Emily, Benjamin, Samuel, Margaret, Kathryn, Sonja, Charlotte Claire, and Camille were there...so half of my kids...and ten of the grandkids. My sister was there with six of her girls, I think, and maybe twenty of her grankdids?
Yesterday was an amazing Fourth of July. Emily, Mariel, Molly, Sam, Margaret, Kathryn, Sonja, Jonathan, Char, and Cam with 12 of the grandkids...we swam in the warm pool, I grilled burgers, chicken, hot dogs, then Jon took over for the steak. I cut up watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries and added blueberries, raspberries, and grapes. We had salt potatoes and pasta salad. I made Rice Krispie treats and added blue and red sprinkles. There were two coolers full of cold drinks, and there were cookies and patriotic Hershey Kisses. Jon had firecrackers, much to the grandchildrens' delight.
It was hot and muggy, but the pool was fine. The little kids like to just run in and out and play in the yard. Paul finished up redoing the swing set. They don't get bored.
It was busy and crazy and fun, then they packed up, family by family, and went home. The house got quiet, as I went around and dumped the half drank seltzers and Diet Cokes.
This fine morning, it's also very quiet. Sonja is just getting home from her night shift at the hospital. Paul and I were thinking of going camping today for two nights, but Sonja's wedding shower is on Sunday, and yours truly is making lemon cupcakes with lemon buttercream, and maybe something chocolate...
So the day before yesterday, as I was cleaning up and preparing to have everyone over, I did a stupid thing. I leaned over WAY too long scrubbing out the little kiddy pool that we keep up on the pool deck...I stood up, and something wasn't right in my lower back. I tried to shift it back into place, but nope. I got into the pool and gently moved around, thinking I could get it right, in my lower back, radiating into my front upper thigh. ouch. It wasn't excruciating, just painful and a pain in the neck, if you know what I mean. I'm already walking gingerly on my iffy hip, then my arthritic knees, I don't feel I need another issue, ha.
After the pool, I went to Target with Char and Cam, to get Sonja's shower gifts, and was able to walk around, but painfully...I thought it best to keep moving. Then for the symphony/fireworks, we had to park way over in East Jesus, as my late mother-in-law would have said.
It's gotten a bit better, but I'm trying not to lean over so much. You can't avoid it completely, but...it could be worse, and it's a lot better. I am going to my water aerobics class in a few minutes, hopefully that'll help.
And goodbye for now, talking to Sonja a bit before I rush out the door at the last minute for class...savoring that first cup of coffee, ahhh...
