Julie Goes Barnstorming!!!

So this past weekend we were in Maine for the wedding of our cousin Angela. On the way back we stopped in Gorham NH where our cousins Denise and her husband Danny own a hanger on a grass airstrip. They recently bought a Cessna 150, circa 1960, modified with a special short take off and landing (STOL) package to make it easier to fly in and out of remote airstrips.

Upon arriving Danny had the plane out and the hanger doors thrown open. And he had a circa 1920's Victrola playing old songs. With the blue sky, old music and grass strip it was like being transported back to the barnstorming era. All I could think about was how Dad would have LOVED this!


After her cousin Miranda went up for a ride with Danny, Julie decided she wanted to give it a try as well and off she went. They taxied down the strip turned around and revved up the engine Danny banked the plane on takeoff and buzzed right over our heads.



I often imagine Dad reincarnated as an eagle or hawk and after she took off there was this beautiful hawk soaring back and forth behind her in my viewfinder. I'm guessing that was Dad keeping an eye out for her. Pretty cool...














After they landed Julie climbed out and had just one thing to say when I asked her how it was - "Sweet!!!"


I went up for a ride too and Danny let me take the controls for some turns around the pattern. The feel of flying a small aircraft came right back and I was grinning ear to ear, again thinking about Dad. It was a fabulous and unexpected end to a great weekend.

Thanks Danny!!!

JPL

The Training Wheels Are Off!

About a week ago I took Julie's training wheels off her bike after she asked me too. She'd been ready for some time. Her first attempt was at rolling down the hill in our yard on two wheels. We then took her to the ball field down the street where she was able to pedal in a straight line for 50-100 yards but not turn.

Then today it all clicked! Withing 5 minutes she was rolling around the infield, turning left and right, doing figure eights and just grinning from ear-to-ear. It was such a beautiful sight to see and I knew my Dad was somewhere watching and smiling too.

There is something about that sense of freedom that comes with finally finding your balance and riding on two wheels. Almost like floating or flying just above the ground. Free to go anywhere. And it was such a joy to watch her absorb it all in with such satisfaction.

At dinner, I asked her how she felt about it. Did she feel a sense of feedom and control. And she answered, "Yeah...it's like driving your own car!"

- JPL

Parades and Recitals

Memorial Day we went back to Rodgefield to see the best damn parade around. AJ wore Dad's Marine hat and carried a Marine Corps flag. Dad would have been proud. Then last weekend Julie had her first real ballet recital in full costume and in front of an audience of several hundred people!!! Dad would have been proud of that too! You can also download a video of her performance here.

Rockin' Out, First Grade Style...

Last year I wrote a song for Julie's Kindergarten class called (creatively) - "The Kindergarten Song". They all sang along and loved it and one kid asked if I was a "rock star", to which I replied, "Of course!"

This year though, I knew I would have my work cut out for me. These first graders are a much tougher crowd: seasoned audiophiles, bombarded by an overcrowded kids music industry, and demanding something catchy and original.

So I went in today and gave it my best shot. Played a modified cover of Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry, Be Happy" to warm up. Then softened the crowd up a bit with a bluesy, nostalgic rendition of "The Kindergarten Song". And then I rocked their little 6 year-old brains with my new single "First Grade, First Grade" (click to download MP3).

Special thanks to George Holt for the re-mixing and drum-work!

I think I can pull this off once a year until she's in at least 8th grade - at which point it will be too embarrassing for her to endure. But by then I'll have an EP's worth of original music and then I can go on tour! ;-)


JPL

Julie Loses a Big Tooth!

Been waiting for this one to come out for MONTHS! Finally, today after school she gave it a tug and "pop!" out it came. Tooth fairy needs to me a sizable deposit tonight. And he better have good cash flow because it looks like there are several more about to come out right behind this one! Let's hope the new front ones can both grow in before the we start eating corn on the cob!

When AJ came home school we brought him over to take a close look at Julie's missing tooth. He bent down and closely examined it with a look of concern poking his little finger into the gap. Then he turned to us and exclaimed "Hey, put Julie tooth back!"

JPL