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It was hotter than blazes in Garland when we visited the Wylies, et al, and thus we hunkered down under the AC, mostly. We did, however, attend the funeral of Joyce’s friend Joyce Johnson. Mrs. Johnson had cancer and it finally got the best of her. While Joyce had attended one or two black funerals, it was my first. The presiding pastor announced it was a homecoming celebration rather than a time for mourning, or some such thing. Like the air conditioning in the small South Dallas church, the PA system didn’t work very well. There was a large and participatory group of celebrants. Recently there has been a black couple attending the church service Joyce and I go to and I’ve wondered how they felt among a congregation of palefaces. At this funeral, the white folks could be numbered on the fingers of one hand but I didn’t feel as though I stood out, even though I’m sure I did. Anyway, there was a lot of back and forth between whoever was speaking and the attendees. The piano player was imaginative and enthusiastic, and though she meandered around, I think she stayed in the same key.
We got to attend Grandparents Day at Sophia and Kaylee’s school. We had not been there at the appropriate time in the past. Joyce went to Kaylee’s class and I went to Sophia’s. Then we switched about half way through the program. We had cookies and Sophia and I drew a picture of her family tree and put the names of relatives on the leaves. Our hearts went out to one little boy whose grandmother, whom he was no doubt expecting, didn’t show up. He was taking it pretty hard but cheered right up when she finally did make it. She was upset she didn’t get there on time due to traffic delays. In Kaylee’s class they played a film called Inside Recess, or something, and it was mostly dancing. Kaylee exerted an amazing amount of energy and enthusiasm dancing along with the program. I did not try to participate.
We also got to attend Sophia’s soccer game Saturday morning. She and Kaylee had given soccer a try a year or two ago and Kaylee didn’t care for it. She’s a book worm and prefers reading to getting kicked in the shin. Sophia, though, asked to play this year and, until she got tired, she got in there and mixed it up.
John and Kathryn were gracious enough to put up with me for an overnight visit. We watched a Republican presidential debate and threw things at the TV.
We took Vivian the watermelon she, um, planted and which we had kept in the frig since it was picked and was still good. Jill made a birthday cake and we celebrated Vivian’s birthday early. I don’t think she minded.
This past week it threatened rain for several days but, though we enjoyed the cool, threaten is about all it did. We’re still high and dry heading into October. Abigail’s Tascosa Rebels dispatched Caprock in two. Abigial didn’t have any heroics as she sometimes does. The ball just never came to her. Rebecca played a little tennis. Kari and I went to Barnes & Noble for a belated birthday celebration and stopped off at Petco for another koi on the way home. The one we got last year has prospered, doubling in size, so we thought we’d get another. We’re going to see if more fish means less moss, which would be nice.