I grew up watching the Vietnam Conflict on the nightly news complete with American and VC body counts. Depressing, to say the least. Covid-19, canceled travel plans and the current status of politics has taken its toll on this blog these past few months. I think its about time to get out of this funk… Bring back the music, bring back the excitement of things we love and let’s just get along. For me, faith, music and travel help heal the soul.
You may also feel a little better if you click on the image below for a YouTube video of the song “Get Together” including images from times gone by. May we learn from history rather than forget.
“Get Together,”also known as “Let’s Get Together,” is a song written in the mid-1960s by American singer-songwriter Chet Powers (stage name Dino Valenti). The song is an appeal for peace and brotherhood, presenting the polarity of love versus fear, and the choice to be made between them.
A throwback image with our Italian friends. We treasure time spent with them and others around the world that we have met along the way. Peace out…
Canceled or cancelled is the past tense of the verb to cancel. Both spellings are correct; Americans favor canceled (one L), while cancelled (two Ls) is preferred in British English and other dialects. However, there is only one correct spelling of the word cancellation, no matter where you are.
Saturday, August 11, 2018: Casa Fernanda to Ponte de lima. We sadly bid farewell to our new friends at Casa Fernanda and embark on a short, but hot 12 kilometer day. It’s as though the hills are singing to us as we walk from one festival to another.
Below is a short video of Day 6:
A line of RV’s from all around Europe are parked along the river take on the duties of “Welcome Wagon” as we enter Ponte de Lima, so it took a while to visit with the gang. It’s hot and we have been told the Municipal Albergue de Pereginos doesn’t open its doors until 5 p.m. All the time in the world, right?
Wrong… Randy makes the trip across the bridge (While Joan and I have a cold beverage) to check out the bed situation and discovers Albergue de Peregrino opens at 4 p.m. and he is encouraged by camino friends to get our bags in line ASAP! We quickly get all of our bags across the bridge and get in line for beds. When the doors do open we stand in a long, slow line for well over an hour, but it’s worth it as we do get beds.
All low beds and we have a beautiful view… A-a-a-ah-h-h-h.
Education has been a part of the county fair since its beginnings. All ages enter home-grown products and projects for judging through 4-H or the Open class, hoping to win the coveted purple grand champion ribbon. These items entered did not just happen overnight, as research and hard work have been utilized to give the best possible effort.
The Yellow Medicine County Fair, held in Canby, Minnesota, is a free fair with its grounds and exhibits open to the public. The fair board works very hard, year round, to provide educational opportunities, entertainment and still keep the county fair affordable and family friendly.
The arts have been added as this year with displays and demonstrations educating the fair audience on a variety of art forms. Different styles of painting, photography, fiber arts, sculpture and mixed media were presented in two-hour slots of time. A free movie was shown at dusk which, for me, is reminiscent of the old drive-in movie days.
For the music lovers, jazz , old-time , blue-grass, Native American drum and dance group entertained audiences.
Scandinavian comedy was represented by an extremely talented and hilarious duo with local connections that always leave its audience in stitches.
A history element was also added with a very interesting father/daughter history of magic show that was spell-binding and included fun involvement with the audience. Highly recommend this team of magicians. Rope making and yarn spinning were demonstrated to give a glimpse of how the pioneers did these tasks many years before our time.
It was also fascinating to see the program put on by the Raptor Center from St. Paul, Minnesota. Real birds that had been injured so could not survive in the wild were brought out for an educational event with a dust of humor.
Add races and a ranch rodeo… I’m sure I’m missing a few events.
Carnival rides are extremely expensive and this county has been burnt the past two years in a row with rides that never showed up as contracted. Would you keep throwing money this direction after such experiences? An appeal was made to community groups and organizations to help fill this void. Maybe you were that person or group and I applaud you.
So, rather than taking one glance and saying, “Nothing at the fair this year,” maybe you took advantage of the events and programs that were at the fair.
The Yellow Medicine Fair board needs volunteers to help with planning and executing these events so that it doesn’t become merely a time to judge 4-H projects.
Maybe you are that person…?
Randy worked on a painting while visiting about art.
Joyce had a large monitor set up to demonstrate the magic of the digital darkroom and enjoyed visiting with people about Photoshop techniques and answered “How did you do that?” questions.
The band rehearsed all together for the first time in 30 years. Can they pull this off?
The crowd begins to trickle in early to get a seat or requested reserved seating like they did back in the day. Many walk in, stop, gaze across the old Legion dance floor, smile and say, “Wow, it looks the same.” I begin to see other types of reunions unfolding before my eyes as the hugs, handshakes and slaps on the backs commence. Back together again.
The Buffalo Rose Band takes the stage, the crowd cheers, and the music starts to more cheers and applause. Ahhhh…they sound wonderful… just like in our youth. Yes, everything is clicking into place and the night is playing out to be an event to remember.
The Legion dance floor is packed with dancers and smiles radiating throughout the darkened room. For one night we are young again.
A gentleman comes up to me and says, “You know, Buffalo Rose played for my wedding dance 34 years ago. This is a great thing here tonight.” I could tell by the sentiment in his voice that he is just as in love with his bride after 34 years as he was the day they married. And the music was a memorable part of that day.
Music is an interesting phenomenon. We connect with it emotionally to such a deep level that it seems to touch our soul. It can tug at the heart, whether happy or sad, bringing us up or helping us work through the down periods of our lives.
Close your eyes and listen to the music. Yes, music is just what the doctor ordered to get us through life.
Click on image for a larger view.
RJMeyerArts 