All photos are mine unless otherwise noted.
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In New York City over the weekend we were there for our daughter Bridget's baby shower, an event men were not allowed to be present for. (Five of us watched a rerun of the Brazil - Germany World Cup game where Germany scored an unheard of seven goals, and ate Chinese takeout.) Our orders were to arrive at the restaurant where the shower was being held 30 minutes before it was over to be there for the gender announcement. We are to have a grand daughter in six weeks, our first third generation entry into the family.
At the end Bridget and eight of her women friends went outside for a photo of the ritual shown below where hands were placed on the baby's current residence. I felt that perhaps this gesture was one of gratitude and hope, gratitude for the new life soon arriving, and hope that pregency would arrive for the women surrounding Bridget at some point. No one I spoke with had heard of such a lovely affirmation before. Ritual can be created on the spot if necessary, and as such is something to be nurtured whenever a life event comes up that needs to be honored.
God has been busy in you Bridget,
Creating a life that you and your husband Rudy
will care for, protect and nurture,
for many years to come.
This is God's Intention to have the two of you
be the vehicles to be entrusted with the life you carry,
life that is meant to be -
Such is the Way of the One who creates all life.
You are Blessed, as are we who witness
the miracle of new life you have been chosen to bring into the world.
The two of you are precious in God's eyes,
as you have always been, and will continue to be
in God's and in my sight.
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The photos below were taken last Thursday on a walk with several members of the local Bangor Photo Club. We walked part of downtown Bangor where each week the street is closed and a musical group entertains about a thousand who show up for the festivities. The evening brought a 15-20 piece steel drum band who were having a lot of fun playing together. Here are a few of the images that caught my eye.
These dogs know about being cool.
Step 1: Get the shades on right.
Step 2: Act as if this is the only way to travel.
Step 3: Repeat Step 2.
A member of the famous Red Hat Brigade.
Pizza by the door of the University of Maine Museum in Bangor.
Enjoying the music in a safe place.
Two friends meet for a foot discussion.
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Some humor:
Peace until the next post,
Bill Lagerstrom
