"I was talking to God upstairs when I was sleeping," Harry explained when he awoke from a nap.
"God's my new friend," he added quickly.
Harry stood at the bottom of the stairs, his demeanor just a little more serious than usual, as Grandma and I listened to his retelling of his conversation with God.
"God said, 'Help your Mommy at once!'"
I know that it is said that children communicate with God quite easily.
They are innocent.
They aren't plagued by doubt.
They haven't learned to question everything...quite yet.
Harry went on to say, "God's coming later."
I quickly smiled and said, "I hope that's much later, Sweetie."
.....
Harry and Grandma and I took advantage of a late spring offering by a local tourist attraction to attend a show that was free for residents; The Tommy Bartlett Ski, Sky and Stage Show.
It describes itself this way on the official web site (www.tommybartlett.com):
For great live entertainment in Wisconsin Dells that will keep you on the edge of your seat, the thrill and excitement of the Tommy Bartlett Show is just the ticket. One of the Midwest's most-loved family shows revs up the action as the celebrated Tommy Bartlett water-ski team struts its stuff on Lake Delton.
Summer of 2014 launches the Show's 62nd season in Wisconsin Dells, entertaining generations of visitors. Each 90-minute live show is packed with jaw-dropping tricks on water, on stage and high in the sky. The show features a mix of extreme water-skiing, masterful boat maneuvers, light-hearted comedy and dare-devil stunt artists, all packed into one show.
Harry was sooooooo excited.
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| At the Tommy Bartlett Ski, Sky and Stage Show. |
Over and over and over again he welcomed each and every single stranger with a big smile on his little face: "Welcome to the big ski show!" until we arrived at our seats.
They were great seats.
Right down front. Near enough to the stage. Right in front of the two ski jump ramps. Just left of the "beach" where all the skiers come to dry land after their stunts to be recognized with applause and to take a bow.
There was a crazy futuristic water jet thingy that propelled a skier into the air.
There was a hang glider that flew high above us and threw a trail of sparks as it drifted slowly past the almost full moon. (We went to the 8:30 p.m. show.)
There was a boat that looked like the Space Shuttle. Its top doors opened slowly to reveal three skiers dressed as astronauts!
Harry LOVES the Space Shuttle.
He had spotted it off to the side of the shoreline, well in advance of its appearance to the rest of the anticipating crowd.
"What's that Mommy? Is it going to take off into the sky?" Harry asked, barely able to contain his excitement at the prospect of seeing a space shuttle launch right into the sky above us.
I tempered his enthusiasm, "No, sweetie, I don't think it's going to blast off into the sky, but let's see what it is going to do on the water..."
As I mentioned, we had chosen the late show on Sunday night.
I had no idea that it would last so long.
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| The famous Patriotic Tower of Skiers. (A screen shot from Google Images.) |
The show ended with the Entrancing Waters. Brightly colored spotlights shine on numerous fountains of water that "dance" along with music.
The performance we attended, as part of the Community Appreciation Days, was dedicated to the men and women who have served our country, including those recognized in the audience that night with applause.
Elvis sang "America" in the way only Elvis can sing "America" as the waters "danced" behind the stage.
When I was young, I remember them being called the Dancing Waters.
I also remember the Dancing Waters featured on the David Lettermen show.
It was in the late 80s.
Google says that the owners of the "Dancing Waters" trademark threatened a lawsuit and after some visits from the NBC lawyers, the name changed to the Prancing Fluids for the purposes of the Lettermen show.
I'm afraid Tommy Bartlett may have had to rename the light and water feature that rounds out his show because of the trademark infringement as well.
We had a terrific time...especially Harry.
All three of us have been really tired for days.
We didn't get home until after 11 p.m., and to bed until well after midnight.
That is much later than all of our usual bedtimes...
.....
There was an open house at the new, $6 million dollar Fire and Rescue Center of Lake Delton.
I thought Harry might like to visit.
When Harry was going to school in Milton, MA, the Milton Fire station was right next door to the school.
We would visit the station and the firemen almost every single day after school with only a few exceptions.
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| Milton, MA Fire Station. |
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| Harry's favorite: Ladder #1. |
Fireman Ray became Harry's friend. But since we were regulars, he had his own celebrity with all the other firemen too.
Everyone knew Harry.
Harry got to ride in the ladder truck for his birthday, although it took several months from his actual birthday in December to convince him to take Fireman Ray up on his offer.
Fireman Ray (and a few of the other firefighters) would ask Harry on every visit to the station.
"Do you want to take a ride in the Ladder Truck?"
They were very persistent.
Until...he finally agreed.
It was pretty cool.
Sitting in the front seat of that monstrous machine as we made our short tour of the neighborhood near the station.
I think I enjoyed it just as much as Harry did.
He sat quietly on my lap...almost expressionless.
He was just 3 1/2 years old when he took that ride, and a little shy.
Fireman Ray said he couldn't quite tell if Harry had enjoyed himself on the several block-long ride around the Milton neighborhood.
I explained that he had loved it and would probably tell me just how much once we got home.
And he did.
Now that Harry's 4 1/2 years old, it's no mystery when he's excited or having fun.
The firemen at the brand new fancy facility weren't as friendly as they were at the Milton station. And certainly not as engaging with Harry.
"Is Fireman Ray here, Mommy?" Harry asked.
"No Sweetie, he is very far away at the Milton Fire Station." I tried to explain.
The old Milton station is in need of repair and a little paint and a lot of spiffing up.
The $6 million dollar station is state-of-the-art with every imaginable convenience and comfort, but it lacks personality.
The old Milton station and its firemen had personality to spare.
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| Harry in the driver's seat of Ladder #1. |
I'm throwing a little party to celebrate Harry's 1/2 Birthday.
His actual birthday is in December and gets a little lost in all the holiday hoopla.
My OBGYN had suggested the idea of a 1/2 Birthday celebration once we had established my due date.
Dr. Quaas was a wonderful, caring, gentle, terrific young doctor and he made my pregnancy experience all the more amazing.
His birthday was also in December and he had told me that his parents had always held another celebration for him in late May...to celebrate his 1/2 Birthday.
I think it's a wonderful idea.
It will be the first time that we've celebrated Harry's 1/2 Birthday.
He was too young to really appreciate the meaning before now.
My sister, the QUEEN of cakes, will make a Shuttle-shaped and decorated cake.
There will be brats (it's Wisconsin), burgers and hotdogs for the little ones, of which there are many.
There will be potato salad and the Fenske beans, as well as my Mom's broccoli salad.
We'll round out that great summer menu with S'mores...right before the cake and ice cream!
We'll be able to show off all the hard work Mom and I have done on the yard.
Whew!
Harry's 1/2 Birthday is a great excuse to have a party...and to celebrate a few more things.
We'll celebrate Harry...
We'll celebrate Grandma... (Because you should always celebrate Grandma.)
We'll celebrate Summer...
We'll celebrate my upcoming Birthday (July 2)...
We'll celebrate family and friends...
And we'll celebrate what I still believe is the possibility...no, the probability of my being employed soon.
Fingers crossed.
And say a little prayer.
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| Invitations for Harry's 1/2 Birthday party. |
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