|
November 21, 2006
Why do I do this to myself? And more importantly, how could I do this to you, my poor dear readers? Here I am, keeping you in suspense for months on end, and then suddenly, up pops months' worth of stories and pictures...it's just too much - especially if you are still on dial-up like we are! (And I insert right here, that if you are on dial-up as slow as ours, you may as well just read the text and forget the pictures, cause they will never all load for you...just too many!!!) Guess what one of my New Year's resolutions will be!?!?!?!? But don't worry, I have no disillusions of my faithful subscribers wasting away, unable to continue life without a "Naylor" update! Nor do I expect anyone to read these lengthy catch-up entries unless they expressly desire to do so.
That said, absolutely too much has happened to accurately record our lives since the middle of July. It's been jam packed the last couple of months with one wonderful day fading into another. We meet ourselves coming and going between visits with friends and relatives intertwined in the glorious cacophony of life. This year's tapestry is definitely one of the most colorfully woven, with deep nerve tingling hues of sorrow and hurt displaying a brilliant contrast to the gleaming happiness of good times and great fellowship. All throughout, the Master's hand worked swiftly, teaching our hearts and drawing our souls ever closer to Him. And we are thankful for the work that He has done, and continues to do in each of us, and in our family as a whole.
Backtracking...backtracking....backtracking...where is my memory when I need it????
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I think that will be my motto for this entry.
August...
One of the highlights for August was a weekend trip to the lake with our friends John and Hannah R. Caleb and John R. did some scuba diving, and we all enjoyed canoeing, swimming, volleyball, and Phase 10 sitting at a concrete picnic table...even if it was 135 degrees (yes, that is an exaggeration...but not by much!). I LOVE that game!!!
John got a new dog shortly before the camping trip. Isn't he (the dog...but I'm rather partial to the guy, too!) cute!!! We'd never even heard of a white German Shepherd
before John brought him home.
Not long after this trip, Uncle Mark took Jeremy, John and Caleb - we girls couldn't go for various reasons - to the lake with his ski boat. They had a great day!
September's big event was... big. John organized a three day rafting trip on the Upper Colorado river, and the 22 of us who ended up going had an incredible time. The weather was a bit dreary, but that just made for some cozy times huddling around the fire. John did a good job, the rafting itself was perfect for our first try at having no guide, and the fellowship was a blessing for all of us.
The area we covered...from a google-bird's eye view...
We arrived at our camping spot and set up our little tent city... home for the next few days. It was a good spot, in spite of the train tracks right across the river. The trains that would go by throughout the night, whistle blaring through the canyon and headlight gleaming through our tent felt like it would go right through us, but you know...it never did!!!
Our spot is in the lower left hand corner of the picture below.
Then we settled in for three days of non-stop fun!!!
We inflated rafts....
We rafted....
We took lunch breaks on islands...
We splashed...
And got soaked in return...
We enjoyed hanging out with each other...
Deflated the rafts...
All the while looking to our fearless leader...
When not on the river, we played ball or frisbee...
or Scrabble...
Learned to tie knots...
Huddled around the fire...
And smiled in spite of it all!!!
Enjoyed hot tea and chocolate...
Fiddled about...
And sang around the fire...
Hiked...
And were in awe of our Father's magnificent creation...
It was a marvelous time, and we are looking forward to next year's trip...Lord willing!!!
Don't you think Nalgene should sponsor us???
The day the trip ended, we surprised the Wolkings at one of their concerts in Colorado Springs. That was great fun!
We came home in time for some events to play here, and really enjoyed our visit at the Church of God Outreach - it was so fun to meet the Cole and Park families...two extremely talented and enjoyable bands, Fairview Baptist Church - so warm, comfortable and encouraging - thank you all!, and the Homeschool Family Banquet in Elk City - great food, wonderful people...and we loved hearing the Milner's music and getting to know that special family!!!
Then October hit...
The first weekend found us heading for Illinois - a state none of us had been to before!!! That's always exciting. On the way up we stopped in Hannibal, Missouri...made famous by Mark Twain. Looked like an interesting little place, but most everything was closed since it was evening when we arrived. Still, we found ways to amuse ourselves...
We enjoyed a weekend conference there, and were scheduled to play more in that couple of days than ever in one event before. And we pulled it off, thanks to an incredibly supportive crowd who didn't mind hearing certain songs over again! It was a blessed weekend, filled with good fellowship with new friends and old. On the way back we stopped in St. Louis to see THE Arch.
I've always thought that Jeremy had an interesting way of viewing life...
And he gets some incredible perspective!!!
Inside out....
Soon after we got home, we had visitors booked solid for the next three weeks...it was awesome!!! Our first guests were the Gilberts - who took us to the zoo...
We had a very blessed time with them, and are so thankful to share this friendship. The 3 Z's stopped by overnight, but had to leave early the next morning for an appointment down south. By the time things got settled down enough to think about getting some sleep, the boys decided a few hours weren't worth it, so they stayed up till the Zwonitzers left at 4 o'clock the next morning. Getting their "zzzzzz'z" - one kind or another!!!
The Gilberts headed out, Kent showed up, FoxFire Bluegrass came and did a fabulous concert on The Stage, the Wagners from Montana got in fairly late and after a blessed night of fellowship, everyone headed out the next morning...except for dear ol' Dad. Must have been quiet for him...cause for the first time EVER, we all left him alone for four days while the Wagners, Kent and the rest of us met up with the Zwonitzers down in Texas for the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival. It was amazing (the festival, not leaving Dad alone)!!!
Should I backtrack a bit? The Zwonitzers have been telling us about this festival, after having entered a couple of films themselves, for a couple of years now. John has recently gotten interested in film making and had entered a trailer advertising the festival, and after yeeeaaarrrrssssss of waiting (okay, weeks, but you know the feeling) we finally got the word that his short video was chosen as a semi-finalist!!! All of us "kids" decided we HAD to go see it shown on the big screen and see what SAICFF was all about. Mom decided at the last minute to join us, so off we went to San Antone!
It was held at the beautiful Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in the heart of the city. I just love the Riverwalk, and enjoyed being so close to a great spot with memories of good times and special friends. We made some more memories while we were there...
We hung out on the Riverwalk...
We met the precious Dugger family - Anna really got into it with a few of them...
They won...
Josh Dugger and John Naylor really hit it off...
We met Linzey and Lucas and their two adorable little children for some great Mexican food and encouraging fellowship...
We walked and talked alot, got lost and found over and over, heard bagpipes on the river, watched George Sarris - one of the best storytellers I've ever seen - bring Bible characters to
life, enjoyed concerts at the amphitheater featuring Charlie Zahm with his fantastic baritone, bohdran and ballads. We heard speakers and watched films for hours...long films, short films,
happy films and films that made us cry. There were some really great entries. I think we all agree that some of our favorites were The White Handkerchief, Every Day A Gift (that's the
Zwonitzer's documentary...and it truly is amazing!!!), The Book, and Day of Reckoning...but there were dozens of others that were comment worthy and we didn't even see them all! We also
met many interesting, talented people and several of us are inspired to make some films ourselves. As far as I know, John is the only one doing anything about that. Check out his newest
website at www.cnaylor.com/jsnfilms. Believe me, we were exhausted at the end of the day!!!
All in all, it was an amazing weekend!
Two days after we got home, Tera and I flew to Maryland to celebrate our grandfather's 90th Birthday. That was a really special week, with a visit to Anna Y. in Pennsylvania ...a beautiful drive as we caught the end of the peak of color out East. We met so many people, made so many friends, and had the biggest Dahlby get-together since Josh's wedding 10 years ago!!! One highlight of the trip was a visit from our friend Elissa...it was so good to catch up with what she's been up to.
Sophie and Erin came home with us were able to meet the 3 Z's, stopping by on their way north, and the Wolkings, who were supposed to do a concert on The Stage - but couldn't cause of rain.
Now we are all home - in the vicinity of home, anyway. Things are really hoppin' over at Sallee's Wild Game Processing, where John, Sarah and Anna are logging a lot of hours. Caleb is even getting in on some of the skinning now and then. Jeremy is working with Dad, Tera and I have had some painting jobs, and I'm back at the office a couple of days a week.
The Stage has finished out it's first season. We'll see what happens with it next year. We've no company coming in, that we know of, and no travel plans till next year. You may have noticed that I haven't said much about our band. We are still a band...and remind ourselves of that every few days. Seriously! One of us looks at another and asks, "Are we a band?" The answer is, "Of course we are!!........aren't we?" We have started another recording project, and will get back to it very soon. Pray for us...we'd really like to have it completed before...before....before MY 90th birthday!!!
May the Lord bless you all....and HAPPY THANKSGIVING to everyone!!!
Here's a little something I wrote after our visit in Annapolis...
Papa
I am blessed. I have several more grandfathers than “normal”, but a girl can never have too many grandpas, can she??? One of my grandfathers died in a diving accident before I was born, so I have never known him personally, but love him through the stories I have heard and the character I have learned about him. I have one grandfather living in Hawaii… who, sadly, I know very little about beyond the fact that he was a Navy fighter pilot during World War II. One grandfather lives several hours away – he lied about his age and joined the Navy when he was too young to be legitimately accepted. As an officer in the Navy, he served his country during World War II and many years after…he was a pilot and had more adventures than I can imagine. He loves my grandmother very much, and I love the way his eyes twinkle when he laughs. I have another grandfather who lives nearby. He lost his leg while in the army when he was only 19. He never complains. It was he who taught me to water ski and snow ski. His eyes are clear blue, he has an amazing sense of humor and I love to watch him study his Bible. Of all my grandfathers, he is the only one who prays for me…and that means more than I can tell you.
But I really want to introduce you to Papa.
Most people know him as Laurence Hartge…I don’t care how old I get – to me he will always be Papa.
Papa is a sailor. So was his father, and his father’s father. When the Hartges came from Germany they were piano makers. The Civil War changed that, since there weren’t many interested in buying pianos during those years, but boats were always needed. So they built boats. Cap’t Oscar was Papa’s father…one of 11 children. And Cap’t Oscar had 11 children himself. It always intrigues me when we go back to Galesville, Maryland with Papa as he points out his grandparents’ lovely little white house on the shore of West River. There is a huge hydrangea growing outside of the house; it’s been there since I can remember. It’s been there since Papa can remember. I think that bush is the reason I count hydrangeas as one of my most favorite flowers. They remind me of home. We also drive past the big green house that Papa grew up in, and I imagine what it must have been like to have been one of those 11, sailing in the summer, fishing for their supper, ice skating and ice sailing in the winter…rowing to the general store or across the river to visit. Through Papa’s eyes, it was next to heaven. Now, his sister Alma’s house was there, his niece’s house is across the river in Shady Side. Preston’s is there. Aunt Alice lived here and…I was surprised when I learned that there are people in the town who are not and never have been Hartges.
Papa built boats. He designed boats. He sold boats, raced boats, transported boats. Papa loves boats. Now he paints pictures of boats, teaches about boats and writes stories about boats. He walks every day, through the Naval Academy across the street from his house, around downtown Annapolis, along the harbor – noting the white sailed vessels dotting the Chesapeake. Then he checks his inevitable 3x5 card to see what is on the agenda for the day. Could be work on an article for one of the magazines he contributes to. Could be going to make some improvements to the Hartge Nautical Museum that he founded in one of the rooms of his grandparents’ house near the Hartge Yacht Yard, now operated by the third – or is it fourth - generation. Perhaps he’ll start a new painting…a swift yawl racing through white-capped water beneath a stormy gray sky. He always has lots to do, after all, he did just turn 90…not quite as young as he used to be, and still so much to accomplish.
My sister and I just returned from a visit with him to celebrate his birthday. It was a big deal…and a wonderful party. Quite a few people toasted him, and I hope to hold the kind words they said about this marvelous man that I am blessed to call “Papa” with me forever. I already knew he was special, but it was gratifying to see how many other people know that, too. Someone asked me what I remember about growing up with Papa…
We moved a lot when I was young. Big changes happened quickly and permanently. But as we moved several times from the East Coast to Hawaii and several states in between, Mimi and Papa were always there…always steady. Even the furniture in their house stayed in the same place. I always knew just what to expect when I walked into the house on Hanover Street. From the third floor, to Papa’s glorious, mysterious and thrilling basement/workshop/office and all in between…I was home.
As a very little girl, I remember walking to the post office and bank with Papa. We wouldn’t make it down the brick sidewalk past St. John’s College before I was asking to be carried, and Papa would swing me up onto his shoulders, where I had a bird’s eye view of the world around me. Everyone knew Papa - in the bank where they’d give out candy, the old post office near the state house, the hardware store right by Ego Alley. They still do. All I have to do is say that I’m Laurence Hartge’s granddaughter and suddenly I’m somebody.
I remember when a bird was caught in the house, and hurt it’s wing. I took it to Papa, because Papa could fix anything, and we put it in their beautiful white birdcage until it could fly away on it’s own.
I remember cocktails in the garden, followed by the world’s best hamburgers…made by Papa on his little grill. Often they were accompanied by tomatoes he grew in their little fenced-in haven amid the birds and flowers and bushes. He makes wonderful crabcakes, too, and you should just try his fried green tomatoes.
I remember sailing with Mimi and Papa. We would drive to his friend’s house, where he kept a rowboat tied to the sea wall. We’d step in and glide through the water as Papa would stand straight and tall at the back of the skiff and use one oar to scull us out to his boat. I was mystified by the way he could use one oar and loved to watch his strong sureness as he maneuvered right to his sailboat. As we glided through the water, our captain would teach us about the other crafts out on the water, whether they were sloops or ketches or yawls. He would patiently explain the uses of the jib, main and spinnakers, and let us blow the horn to alert the bridge keeper, so that he would open up the bridge and let us sail through. It was an exhilarating moment when Papa would hand the tiller to one of us and let us take turns skippering the boat! Papa was always calm. He told us that the captains who yelled a lot only did that because they weren’t in control. The key was to stay in control, be attentive and try to see what was coming. He could see the wind before it reached us – measuring it’s force and direction by the ripples on the water. The only time he ever even slightly raised his voice was a few years ago on a particularly windy day as white caps were licking the sides of the boat. The jib broke and was flapping wildly in the wind. Papa handed me the tiller and went up to try to fix it. Fighting with the frantic sail, he called back for me to turn into the wind. I turned the wrong way and almost knocked him off the boat. Papa yelled back over the wind, “The other way….the OTHER WAY!!!” I just never could understand that “into the wind” concept.
Papa smoked a pipe. Though he quit years ago, and we are very glad he did, every time I smell that tangy, particular tobacco smoke, it is an instant transport to days long gone, a beloved town far away, and a man who I love very much.
He was a signal man for the Navy during World War II and has been all over the South Pacific. He’s shown us some of the flags and hand signals they used then, and is currently writing down some of his stories, so that we will have them forever.
Papa loves music. It was he who originally asked us to record some hymns that he remembered his mother singing. Did he have any idea, I wonder, where that request would take us, and that ten years later my family would be traveling around playing music together? I wonder…
Papa always makes me feel as if I can do anything. He expects a lot from my sister and me…and somehow, when he asks, we manage to do the task that we thought we couldn’t. I guess it would be called immersion teaching. When he wants us to do something, he doesn’t stand around and talk about it…he gives us the tools we need and tells us to get going…and we do. “See, I knew you could do it!” he always says as we shake our heads and wonder how.
His life has not always been smooth sailing. He lost a son some time ago…does a parent ever truly get over that? Out of the 11 siblings, 3 are still around. I know he misses the others. He has always been used to a very active and adventurous lifestyle. My grandmother had back surgery quite a few years ago. It didn’t help her, and for a long time Papa was caregiver and cook for his wife, who couldn’t get around very well, and suffered much. Those were long, hard years. But Papa inspired me with the love and care that he gave her right up to the end.
Since her death a couple of years ago, he has regained his mobility. He and his cousin traveled cross-country by train, he sailed through the Panama Canal - because he always wanted to - and he is continuing his writing and painting. He loves life and is interested in everything and everyone. One thing that he has told us and modeled for us is this quote he is so fond of…
“Why should we be in such desperate haste to succeed, and in such desperate enterprises? If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away"
He has influenced my life. He has inspired me by his words and example. He has loved me, even when he didn’t have too…for not once in all my life has he ever made me to
even remember that he is not my grandfather by birth-that he actually chose to accept me when I came along a several years after he married my grandmother. So you see, I will always be
grateful to be blessed with a grandfather like
~ Click here if you would like to be notified about Journal updates. ~