More Pictures From A Very Special Wedding

Alison, Benjamin, Tom in front of the Hindu Temple.  Yes, we are barefoot.  Temperature probably in the high fifties to low sixties.   The sun was out and despite the slight chill, it was a beautiful day for a beautiful wedding,

My son Doug shows off his traditional Hindi wedding  clothes, as the garlands and gifts are gathered behind him.

Doug & Ramya get ready to place garlands on each other.  There is a contest to see who can place the garland around the other first.  Dug won one, thanks in part to his brother Greg lifting him up, Ramya won one, and a third attempts results are in dispute.

We enjoyed the Hindu ceremony very much.  It was very lively and active, and told a meaningful story.  We had read some about ahead of time.  Sometimes even with our reading, we got  a little lost in the ceremony.  But that didn't dim our enthusiasm, appreciation and respect for it.    It was a special memory we will cherish for the rest of our lives.

Doug & Ramya's Special Wedding

Doug & Ramya at their special Hindu wedding ceremony.

Doug prepares in his special dress.  It was a very special and meaningful ceremony, with an elaborate and special story behind it.  Doug was a great participant, telling the story of the ascetic scholar who finds something even richer than bachelorhood, with his joining together of  his beautiful bride.

Ramya awaits the ceremony in her  traditional Hindu wedding attire.  I am so happy to finally have a daughter, and  so proud of my son for finding the best match in all the world!

This is Alison, gorgeous in a Sari.  I feel like the luckiest son of a B on the planet.  Well, next to Doug, of course.

This was from the Hindu ceremony performed yesterday (November 1).  There will be a more Americanized ceremony this Saturday (November 3) at St. Simon's.  More pictures to come!

The Fading Away of Someplace Else

It wasn't here
It was someplace else
Someplace I may never get to go again

A place that was once sharp and vivid
Receding from my mind
A place that I could taste and feel
Is now a bitter sensation

I could not help but go there
In so many ways
But now the langoliers of memory
Are chomping it away

Away
Away it goes
Was it ever there

A pond
It's name escapes me
A village
I no longer know

I know
There was someplace else
But where
Is beginning to fade

Sandy Takes It's Toll

My heart goes out to all those who are suffering and contending with the forces of nature in that heavily populated area of the Eastern Seaboard that was inundated by the storm Sandy and it's aftermath.  These types of storms and their intensity are increasing as the pace of climate change accelerates unabated.

I give props to Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey.  I may not like his politics.  I may often find him a rude, inconsiderate blowhard.  But I give him all the props in the world for how has come out for his state first, and has embraced rather than scorned the federal assistance he has received.  He is not taking this as an opportunity to belittle the President, but instead is putting the interests of his state first.  Now, this may change in a day or two, but right now, it was a relief to hear.

It was an interesting contrast in leadership, too.  The President has pulled off the campaign trail and is devoting all his energies to managing this emergency.  Will mistakes happen?  Yes.  Will the federal efforts fall short of people's expectations sometimes?  Yes.  But it won't be from lack of effort on the part of the President, FEMA, the military, and other groups trying to provide assistance.  The President has also spoken out for the American Red Cross, stressing the importance of financial donations.

On the other side, we have another candidate who says he has suspended his campaign, but simply has renamed his campaign "Storm Relief" rallies.  Inside the rallies, there is the same campaign rhetoric as there was before.  The candidate is shown helping assemble canned goods and bottled water and miscellaneous stuff.  The stuff the Red Cross has said they don't need - they don't even have time to sort through it and handle it.  They would prefer cash donations, that they can direct immediately in the most effective way to handle the crisis at hand.

One candidate wants to make the federal response more targeted, sharp and effective.  They support policeman, firefighters and first responders, and would like to protect their jobs and see their numbers grow where needed.  The other candidate wants to eliminate FEMA and the federal response, and thinks we already have too many policeman, firefighters and first responders.

Imagine that.  The first test of leadership, and it came before the election.  And guess which candidate passed the test?  It should be enough to determine the outcome of this to date close election.  But the American people?  You never know.

But as for me?  I know.

Meet the Cast of Robin Hood

Meet the Cast of Robin Hood!  A great, hard-working, talented group of young thespians!

Blake Barnhill as Young Robin Hood, Emily Beck as Maid Marian and Enum Hyers as the Sheriff of Nottingham.  This is the picture used in our flyer.

Another picture of this exciting trio.

Practicing on our new stage configuration.

This flyer was designed and made by Karissa Cook, the co-director and co-writer of Young Robin Hood.  It is an extraordinary distillation of the essence of the play, and highlights the personalities of their roles perfectly.

This is our poster, also bo Karissa Cook.  It takes the cast picture from the top of this post and transforms into an image of the cast that I think emphasizes each child's personality and expressions.  Bravo!

Stay On Target and Other Monday Musings

Stay on Target.  Young Robin Hood is rapidly approaching.  There are a hundred things to worry about and try to take care of.  I still have faith we will have a good show, but there doesn't seem like much time to put it together.  Props are coming together nicely, the staging is being set, there is music coming together, we have an unprecedented amount of promotion for our theatre, and some of the kids in the cast are making an extraordinary effort to learn their lines and really come into their parts.  Co-Director Karissa Cook is doing an incredible job of helping bring the play into focus and get things done. The above poster/flyer was her poster was her work and concept, and I have never seen one more perfectly capture the essence of a play.  Bravo!

As I continue in theatre, the biggest problem I see that seems to be growing over time, is the attitude that rehearsals are not mandatory.  Our attendance has been very spotty.  I know people lead busy lives and that this is a voluntary organization, but it makes things very difficult when only a half or less of the cast shows up at any given time. Also, the desire to learn lines seems to be less urgent.  I know it's a children's theatre and we are giving as many children as possible exposure, but I do wish that would be taken a little bit more seriously.

Stay on Target.  My son's wedding is coming this weekend.  In fact, the ceremony at the Hindu Temple takes place Thursday.  Alison will be wearing a Sari for it, and I might have to be barefoot - a very hard thing for me.  Then Friday is the rehearsal in St. Simon's, followed by the rehearsal dinner at The Coastal Kitchen, which is what Alison and I are responsible for.  That's scary, but we hope to do our best.  The wedding takes place on St. Simon's at the King and Prince.  He is my first to marry, and I am very excited.

Stay on Target.  The blog is becoming a little discouraging, particularly with the pressures of other things, but I am doing my best to live up to my commitment of a blog story every day.  This may become increasingly difficult over the next few weeks, but I will do my best.

Stay on Target.  The election is becoming a huge distraction, and a terrible knot in my stomach.  Yes, I know the economy is not where we hoped it would be, but overall, I don't see the rationale behind  not supporting President Obama, and I am becoming concerned that I don't yet see the separation I expected.  Meanwhile, this area is becoming increasingly unpleasant as my son is harassed, other pro-Obama friends and family are afraid to speak out, and I see people every day who should know better but just don't seem to care.

Stay on Target.  Our house is sold, and we have contracted for another one.  However, the house we bought is not move-in ready, and we are having trouble finding a month-to-month rental that will take our cavalcade of pets.  It looks like stuff associated with this move will stretch way into tax season.  Oh, joy.

Until next time,

T. M. Strait

Bible Verses Important to Me 9

   

                      “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus you will know them by their fruits.  Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my father in heaven.  “On that day many will say to me ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’  Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go way from me, you evildoers.’”

From Matthew 7:18-23

You gotta talk the talk AND walk the walk.