Happy
December! We're counting the days 'til Christmas!
What a beautiful morning last Monday, with sunshine and 64 degrees at
7 a.m.—and then the cold front from up north hit. The temperature dropped 23°
in about 45 minutes that afternoon. Brr! It made getting into the spirit of
Christmas a bit easier! Ha!
Tuesday
morning, I attended the weekly “Stitch and B…” session at 9 a.m., along with
about a dozen of my closest crafty friends. It was a bit chilly that morning,
with temperatures still in the 40s, but the sun was shining and the wind was
a-blowin’.
We
decided that since the day was not really conducive to being outdoors for long,
we’d do a few chores, like laundry, with a stop at the local fruit stand for
grapefruit, lemons and peppers. Afterward, we took in the latest in the Hunger
Games trilogy, Mockingjay Part I.
The
Hunger Games story continues to follow Katniss Everdeen following her rescue
from the devastating Quarter Quell. Katniss finds herself in the complex
beneath the supposedly destroyed District 13. She learns first-hand that her
home, District 12, has been reduced to rubble, so under the leadership of
President Coin as well as the advice of her trusted friends, Katniss
reluctantly becomes the “Mockingjay” symbol of a mass rebellion against the
Capitol. She fights to save a nation moved by her courage, and her friend Peeta,
now a brainwashed captive of President Snow. At the same time, Katniss learns
about a secret rebellion spreading throughout all of Panem—a rebellion that
will place her at the center of a plot to turn the tables on Snow.
We enjoyed the movie, and it certainly
left the story hanging for the next episode.
By Wednesday the temperature was starting
to climb back to a more normal realm for this time of year here in Texas.
Although it was still a bit chilly in the morning (54°) it was a beautiful day
with sunshine and a high in the low 70s. Love it! That morning some of us gals
spent a couple of hours at the clubhouse decorating for Christmas. Lights,
lights, lights, a tree, door wreaths and table decorations.
That afternoon we attended happy hour,
followed by dinner at the clubhouse. This week Chef Betty served a lovely pork
roast, potatoes au gratin, fresh green beans, 7-layer salad, and a nut cake
with a warm butter sauce for dessert. YUM-YUM-YUM! She’s spoiling us!
The ladies’ first shopping trip of the
year was on Thursday, with 7 of us heading to Corpus Christi at 9 a.m. to
contribute to the local economy. Our first stop was to Academy Sports, followed
by World Market, Hobby Lobby, Kirkland’s, and SteinMart. Whew! We needed lunch
so we headed to On the Border Mexican restaurant where we dined on their
fabulous chips and salsa, beef brisket quesadillas, taco salad, a mesquite
grilled chicken sandwich, chili rellenos, Spanish rice, and more! Yum! Lunch
certainly bolstered our strength for launching ourselves into Joann’s Fabric
and finally to Kohls. What a fun time! We didn’t return to the park until
about 4:30, so it was a full day of shopping and laughing.
That evening we played Pegs ‘n’ Jokers
with friends Bob and Sharon, Bill and Carole, and Gary and Pam. The guys won 2
of the 3 games, but they were very close!
Dick continued to work at the office this
week, and while he was there Friday morning I baked chocolate-chocolate chip
cookies. We shared them with neighbors Bob and Sharon, Steve and Karen, Marge,
and Art. Yum! Guess I’ll need to bake again—soon!
We then walked along Fulton Beach Road
for about 45 minutes, getting reacquainted with the sites and smells of the
Gulf. Along the walk we came upon an egret, blue heron and 7 or 8 buzzards
perched in some of the many pin oak trees that thrive in this area.
Later in the day Dick and I did a bit of
grocery shopping before heading to the clubhouse for happy hour. While there,
Chef Betty talked to Dick about issues with her computer and phone so we made a
stop at her coach to see if there was anything he could do to help. Yup! He’s
the man!
Saturday we
planned a day in downtown Rockport at the Tropical Christmas Festival. The
weather wasn’t too cooperative until almost noon, but we braved the drizzle and
headed out with Bob and Sharon. The entire day was filled with events at the
Festival Grounds: vendors, music, giant kit flying, dancers and a vintage
clothing style show. Later in the evening were the festival parade and
fireworks.
One of the
highlights was the “Cast in Bronze” carillon.
The carillon was created about 5 centuries ago in an area of
northern Europe (now occupied by the Netherlands, Belgium and northern France)
called Flanders. It was created to provide a musical voice to bell towers to
raise the spirits of the downtrodden residents in the area. Located in lofty
bell towers, the instrument and its player were hidden from sight, making the
carillon one of the world’s best kept secrets.
In the mid 1960′s, bronze bells were placed on a mobile carillon
frame by a Dutch bell foundry and sent to America. The bells are hung in a
stationary manner with the clappers connected to a mechanical keyboard played
with fists and feet. For the first time in history, the rarely-seen European
art of carillon playing could be brought to the public in venues other than bell
towers.
The only musical act of its
kind in the world, Cast in Bronze is the first transportable carillon in the
US. The carillons of Cast in Bronze, consists of 35 bells each with a total
weight of four tons. The carillon is played by a silent and masked “spirit of
the bells” that appears only to “breathe life into the instrument” for the
performance. The “spirit” and creator of Cast in Bronze, Frank Della Penna,
began his studies in Valley Forge, PA, and is a graduate of the French Carillon
School in Tourcoing, France. Carillon playing requires musical dexterity,
strength and endurance. We were impressed!
Today, many carillons have fallen into disrepair or are simply no
longer played because of lack of funding or interest. Della Penna hopes that
his one man crusade will preserve an instrument and art form for future
generations.
As a
side, Cast in Bronze has been invited to perform for both Pope John Paul II and
the Presidential Inauguration, and has performed at Walt Disney World’s Epcot
in Orlando, Florida for the 1998 to 2002 Christmas seasons. The music of Cast
in Bronze has also been heard on radio, at music and Renaissance Festivals, and
on television including a special Christmas Eve performance on the NBC “Today”
Show, and at Alice Cooper’s 2004 “Christmas Pudding” benefit concert.
--
We walked
down Rockport Beach for a bit, to watch the Giant Kites. Beautiful! And, the
sun had come out with blue sky above which warmed the day considerably. The
only bad thing, were the mosquitoes that wanted to take their share from us.
Mosquitoes are especially bad this year, due to the damp and warm in the area.
We did buy a Rockport Beach pass, too, for just $15 for the year. Cool!
After
spending a few hours at the festival we had lunch at a local and relatively new
restaurant in town, Our Family Restaurant. Bob and I had BLTs on Texas toast,
while Dick and Sharon had breakfast (which is served all day to closing at 3
p.m.) It’s a good place to eat, very affordable, and clean!
The
family musical group, Amber Waves, was scheduled to give a concert back at the
park at 2 p.m., so we took a break from the festival and headed back to see
them. (They make an annual trip to Rockport, so we’ve seen them before.)
AmberWave’s unique acoustic style of music brings a combination of old and new,
traditional and original songs in a variety of American and European folk music
styles, including folk, Celtic/Irish, and bluegrass, all with their own modern
acoustic sound. The family started in 2008 as a living room band, but expanded
to a full-time family band travelling throughout the country in a converted
school bus. While they all sing, the band consists of Dad on the bass; Mom on
the flute, fife, or mandolin; identical twins Alexandra on acoustic guitar and
Kaitlin on banjo and bodhrán; Sean on fiddle; and finally little sister Mary,
occasionally on fiddle. We were entertained for about an hour, with a
combination of Christmas songs, folk music, and a few of their own compositions.
After a couple of hours “resting” we joined Bob and Sharon again
at 5:30 to head back to the festival for the parade and fireworks. There was a
heavy breeze blowing from the north which made for a chilly evening, but we
enjoyed it none-the-less.
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| These are just a few of the many, many floats in the parade. |
Panjo’s Pizza drew us in after the fireworks, so the 4 of us
gobbled up our share of their supreme pizzas. YUM! We got back to the park
about 8:30, so it was a full day of festivities!
We attended the First Baptist Church of Rockport again, on
Sunday, where Pastor Scott Jones continued his sermon series from Isaiah. This
week it was from Chapter 53, verses 1-9: both the Servant (Jesus) and how He
comes to us are not what we expect, and because this is true, there is the
danger that we will reject Him. Jesus comes to us to remind us that life
through Him is stronger than (the) death offered by the world, and His light is
more powerful than the darkness of the world. Here’s the link to the sermon: www.fbcrockport.sermon.net
We beat feet home after the service to meet friends Gary and
Pam to drive into Corpus Christi to attend the Pearl Harbor Day 73rd
service of remembrance at the USS Lexington—one of the darkest days in U.S.
history. On the way, we went to the Naval Air Station in Corpus to do a bit of
shopping at the NEX (Navy Exchange). (Gary is a retired Naval Chief Petty
Officer.) Then, on to B.J.’s Grill for a bite of lunch before the 2 p.m. ceremony
at the ship.
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| A "grounded" Blue Angel jet on display at the base. |
The weather this day was cold, windy and rainy; perhaps a
fitting setting for the ceremony honoring the memory of those who lost their
lives at Pearl Harbor, those who have since passed, and to honor those still
with us.
December 7, 1941: “A date which will live in infamy.” The ceremony
began with a musical selection by the Veteran’s Band of Corpus Christi,
followed by the entrance hymn and musical selections by the Corpus Christi
Pipes and Drums. This solemn occasion was led by Captain F.W. “Rocco”
Montesano, USN (retired); the invocation and reading of Pearl Harbor survivors
was done by Rev. Nathan Misch (Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Corpus Christi).
The 4 living survivors of Pearl Harbor, who live in the Corpus Christi area,
were honored; they also placed a memorial wreath on the waters of Corpus Christ
Bay. Perhaps one of the most emotional parts of the program was when the
bagpipes from the Corpus Christi Pipes and Drums played “Amazing Grace” at the
end of the ceremony.
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| Veterans Band of Corpus Christi |
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| Above and below: Corpus Christi Fire Department Pipes and Drums |
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| ROTC Color Guard from Flour Bluff High School |
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| L to R: Gary, Pam, me and RJ |
The following is from KRIS.TV local news:
December 7th, 1941 was the day 18
year-old Marvin Alexander's life changed forever. The hangar across from his
was attacked. "If they had had our hangar, they would have killed
another 120 people," remembered Marvin Alexander.
The four survivors spent their Sunday afternoon on the
U.S.S. Lexington sharing memories of the horror that led the nation into World
War II.
"I can remember the burning flesh, I can still smell
it today," Alexander said.
Even 73 years later, it's still difficult for Alexander to
think about. "It's very emotional for me today because all of my crew
members that I flew with are all deceased, I'm the only one left," said
Alexander.
The local veterans who survived the attack gathered to lay
a wreath in the water; it represented the thousands who died that day. Of all
the emotions shared by the survivors, they all expressed the same concern; they
don't want another attack like Pearl Harbor, to happen again.
"We're vulnerable to outside attacks, you never know
when it's going to happen," explained Alexander. "It's crucial that
we don't forget, that we're opening our eyes, that we're seeing what's
happening today, and that it will be another Pearl Harbor or much, much
worse," said one survivor Bob Batterson.
As part of that ceremony, the survivors also cut a ribbon
to unveil the U.S.S. Lexington's upgraded Pearl Harbor exhibit, to keep the
memory of that fateful day alive.
--
Although not part of the Corpus Christi celebration
of remembrance, I felt it was fitting to provide a photograph of the USS Arizona
Memorial and a brief description of that ship’s service to the Navy.
USS Arizona was built for and by the U.S, Navy in the mid-1910s, named in honor of
the 48th state’s admission
into the union. Commissioned in 1916,
the ship remained stateside during WWI. Shortly after the end of the war, Arizona was one of a number of American
ships that briefly escorted President Woodrow Wilson to the Paris Peace Conference. It was
sent to Turkey in 1919 at the beginning of the Greco-Turkish War to represent American interests for
several months. Several years later, she was transferred to the Pacific Fleet. Aside from a comprehensive
modernization in 1929–31, Arizona was regularly used for training exercises
between the wars. In April 1940, she and the rest of the Pacific Fleet were
transferred from California to Pearl Harbor as a deterrent to Japanese
imperialism. During the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Arizona was bombed. She exploded and sank,
killing 1,177 officers and crewmen. Unlike many of the other ships sunk or
damaged that day, Arizona could not be fully salvaged, though
the Navy removed parts of the ship for reuse. The wreck still lies at the bottom of Pearl
Harbor. The USS Arizona Memorial, dedicated on May 30 1962 to all those who
died during the attack, straddles the ship's hull.
Amen.
That’s it for this week, folks. Seems we always find
something to share with y’all, and we hope you’re not disappointed.
Until next week,
Love ‘n’ hugs,
RJ and Gail
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