Performance weekend

Saturday was one heck of a day.
It began with Robert earning a "1" at the state solo and ensemble festival at Okemos. An amazing amount of work for a medal - and a medal that means a heck of a lot.
Then, it was on to Saginaw Valley State University and the Michigan Color Guard Circuit state championships.

Katherine is part of the Mt. Pleasant Independent color guard.

Practices, costumes, sometimes tears, always intense.

Contests at Lowell, Lakeland, Novi ....

The first year of the intense competititon of Independent A ...

... and a sixth-place finish at the finals.
Not bad. Not bad at all. When I was a sophomore, a junior ... I was just hangin' around the newspaper office. Look where it got me.
Where will this get them?

Cinderella at the Rotary Dinner

Doesn't she look like Cinderella? The scullery maiden? Actually, Katherine volunteered to work at the annual Mt. Pleasant Rotary Club's beef dinner. The club is supporting winter guard - where Katherine is a member - and the Mt. Pleasant High School Choir, where Katherine is a member. The Rotarians are helping to send the choir to New York next month, where they will be performing at Carnegie Hall.

The dinner - roast beef, stuffing, green beans, creamy mashed potatoes and gravy - was fabulous. And doesn't Katherine look lovely in her plastic apron, doing honest work? It is, after all, all for the arts.

CMU's Powwow

I had the opportunity to attend Central Michigan University's 20th annual Powwow today. It's gotten big enough that it's moved into Rose Arena from Finch Fieldhouse.

As always, the grand entrance is spectacular. It attracts dancers from all over the United States and Canada.

It's a different sense from the Saginaw Chippewas' summer powwow. That's more like a fair and a family reunion. At this one, I get a sense of competition from some very serious dancers, as well as a sense of the importance of keeping the traditions alive.


And if a tradition isn't passed along to the next generation, what does it matter?



Check out the video I put together for TheMorningSun.com.