A beautiful morning with a few more clouds.....but the winds were gentle enough to begin with so that the many awnings could be out and adding square feet to each Cedar Creek's living space. The 1st Lady and I elected to not attend the morning breakfast after overeating yesterday during the breakfast......so, we just enjoyed our own Fr. Roast coffee and Tea......and then she took a 30 minute power walk while I caught up on the online newspapers.
About mid-morning we left for a few more shops......this time the eating kind!!! We visited Yoder's Meat and Cheese store, as well as the Bulk Store which is run by the Amish. In each place we selected several items and purchased them for consumption in the next few days.......can' wait!!!!
Returning to the RV Park and TheHowserHouse, we soon received the call from Nick Nichols that he had arrrived at the city limits and I jumped on my trusty bike and went to the gate to greet him and escort him to our site. WOW.....it had been soooo long since we had been together......and there was soooo much to catch up on!!!!!!!!!!! In fact, we barely came to a period from 1pm until he left around 8pm this evening.
His musical talent as led him from Truman State University in Missouri to Western Michigan State University.....just about an hour north of Shipshewana. He is a Graduate Assistant, teaching Trumpet and did teach a Beginning Conducting class this past year. Plus......his incredible talent on the trumpet as given him the opportunity to perform in various places around the country, as well as audition with a great deal of success for other ensembles and orchestras. What can I say to everyone out there in cyberspace.....except......that I am so damned proud of him and his successes........and it is obvious to me and many others in the music field that there will be many more successes in the years to come!!!! A day like today......spending such a wonderful day with a former student........and knowing that he has come sooooooo far since those first days in Beginning Band in the 6th grade many years ago........well, THIS is what teaching is all about!!!!!!! To see your students enjoy soooo much success........to feel the pride that comes from knowing that you/I had a small part in these successes........to see him feel sooooo good about himself........and to know that the best is yet to come for Nick.......WOW!!!!!! It certainly makes me emotional seeing this happen!!!!!
Nick......as you can tell, I am soooo proud of you!!
We talked all afternoon, after having a very good lunch at one of the best restaurants in Shipshewana.........and then we talked some more. He remained for the Rally's evening carry-in dinner.....and we all had a great time just eating the many varied dishes and desserts........adding more wonderful inches to our sagging hulks......at least the sagging hulk of Me.
After several hugs, Nick departed for the Western Michigan campus......as he is leaving in the morning for northern Michigan to participate in a faculty quintet at a resort and camp up around Traverse City......another great experience for him.......and for those that will get to enjoy his performances!!!!
The 1st Lady and I visited this evening with Pete and Jane........who had visited us in the RGV in Texas this past winter. Another CC friend dropped by......Judy of Wisconsin......and we never stopped laughing at the various stories that evolved during the hours of the early evening. Ahhhhh.........what great fun it is to be here among such great friends!!!!
And sooooo, I will try to post some pictures from today....above this post. It has been a fantastic day.......and, as usual.......it is very obvious that
LIFE IS INCREDIBLY GREAT!!!!!!!......And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
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