Seussical the Musical and other trivia

A competing "show" up the road, a political rally got postponed due to the weather, but this one was inside an auditorium.  Before and after we chatted about shows we had been to in the past, before the pandemic shut us down, for caution.  

In the lobby we were unmasked and feeling free, but when I saw a few members of the crowd, including some children start to put on theirs, I opted to put mine on when seated.  It's kind of a social compact around here, we look to see if others are masking, and if they are, we put them on for social support as much as for health reasons.  Kind of like the farmer who put on his overalls when the homeless guest they invited to church had only overalls to wear.

Kindness to others.  Not judgement.  Acceptance.  These are social values, not political ones.  We are feeling our way to the "new normal" in terms of that social behavior, aren't we?  We want to be free and maskless... but we don't want our fellow humans to feel left out, either.  I have been maskless at the personal trainer, but I have yet to drop the mask at the grocery store.

The other half of the masked bandits, before curtain up!  I was the thorn amid the roses, "the kids" on one side, so I could sit next to my son on one side, and my fellow mom of one of "the kids" on the other.  We moms did most of the pre-show talking.

None of us had ever seen a production of Suessical the Musical before, so it was a new experience.  Most everybody is familiar with the children's books that Dr. Seuss published.  And this of course was based on them.  The major theme is the story of Horton Hears a Who,  mixed together with Horton Hatches an Egg, and even a bit of How the Grinch Stole Christmas and just a bit of Green Eggs and Ham.  

Other Seuss originated characters were present in narrator and chorus roles.  It was delightful.  The young man who sang the part of Horton had a wonderful voice.  And the gal who had the part of the Cat in the Hat was a wonderful dancer, as were the chorus.  The finale featured a tap number, which was a lovely surprise to us.

By the time we left, the rain had been through, leaving the streets wet and everything smelling that ozone fresh of Springtime.  We walked to our respective vehicles, exchanged hugs and went home.  We'll see one another again in about a week, for Mother's Day at "the kids" place.  

Meanwhile, I have tomorrow's local marathon to think about, and hopefully hike over to be a spectator at the far turnaround point.  I have someone to track, as my dentist's husband is going to run the full marathon, attempting to get himself a Boston Qualifying time.  That's one of the topics we always return to when I get my teeth cleaned and checked... she's not a runner, but she's entrusted with the care and feeding of one.  I promised her Boston recommendations should he qualify.

I'll close on this drippy Saturday with the usual pep talk:  it's a great day to take good care of yourself, of your health, mental, physical, and spiritual, and all the advice we used to get on Spark is in support of that!  

• Hydrate today.
• Get some activity in, outdoors if possible.
• Do something that fills your soul.  Be kind to one another.
• Remember to breathe.
• And at the end of the day, let it all go.  Whatever steps you took, are enough for the moment.  You deserve that well-earned restful sleep.

Life is good.  Spark on!

🔥💖

It's Arbor Day, at least in Nebraska

This is the traditional tree planting day.  However, it's not exactly tree planting weather this morning.

It's gray and overcast and sometimes drippy.  Both cats had stayed outside for the night, and were happy to come in this morning.  I took a short video of that blossomed tree to show the wind, but haven't figured out how to get it from the phone to the right format to upload to here.  I also confess to not wanting to spend the energy just now, but imagine it whipping about from time to time.

The week that was?  Gee, pretty normal and boring.  I had the trainer a couple of times.  The Ace and I actually got a sister walk in on Wednesday afternoon when it was about 80℉.  It had been about three missed walks since our last one, due to various schedule conflicts and physical "oofs".

Between those bouts of activity, there were a couple of "is my mind going" things:  on Tuesday I discovered my Monday thyroid pill was still in its little compartment.  I went off the allergy pills (Zyrtek clone for those of you interested in what I take given that I can't do decongestants) for a couple of days and discovered the hard way this was not a good idea.  

Then there was the nagging worry that I had mislaid an insurance premium notice because I know I paid that annual premium in May last year and it's getting pretty late for it not to be in my possession.  In the course of hunting for that bill, I discovered that for all the political ads about various candidates not paying their taxes on time, they are not that different from ME!  I know that a few years ago I had forgotten and not paid one on time (so I take those ads with a grain of salt).  Guess what?  Oops, I did it again.  So I corrected my error, escaping with only about ten bucks in interest to pay.  Still these mental lapses, or "failure to live in the present moment" got me puzzling over the "if you live alone and you start to mentally slip, how will you know?"

So, here I am, with a mini-Mt. St. Omigawd, trying to find that missing insurance bill today.  In the process, I discovered that the piles have grown up around the edges of the house, on the flat surfaces.  I hereby declare them to be side effects of the pandemic times and pulling my life-perimeters inward.  Yeah, no.  It's my own procrastinating self.  Kevin used to call these piles "unmade decisions", which is pretty much truth.  Today, we are pressing the re-start button on the paper piles.

In other news:  a forced hiacynth bulb that was re-gifted to me this week is starting to open.  I am contemplating where in the yard to transplant it... sometime after Mother's Day.  Spring.  It's Springing all over the place here.

This evening I've been invited to a musical production at a nearby college, by my son's girlfriend.  I'll be meeting the party at the venue.  

So let's all remember to:

• Hydrate
• Nourish
• Activate
• Find meaning, and
• Get our rest

For to be of good in the world, we first have to take good care of our tools, which include our bodies and our minds!

Life is good.  Spark on!

🔥💖

Made it to Friday!

Monday, April 18:  the downstairs TV was set to the Olympic channel, which broadcast the elite races, wire to wire, but pretty much didn't talk about the ordinary Joe runners.  On the upstairs TV, I had CBS local WBZ, which is what I used to watch when I was physically in Boston.  Their focus is more on the Joe Athlete stories.  They do show some of the elite race, but throughout the day you get the age group finishers, and the stories of charities they are supporting, etc.  In the years when I flew out to Boston to watch in person, I would wait in the hotel room and watch the wheel chairs start, with whatever companions were joining me.  Then since I stayed close to the race route, we made our way to the designated watching area to wait for the racers to arrive!

Different years, that designated spot may have been different, but the routine was about the same.

Over the years, the elite athletes have become familar names to me.  This year it was most gratifying to see Chebet win the men's division, as the weather in 2018 had been too much for him.

Here in Nebraska, the daffodils are in bloom.  Monday was laundry day, and I get a lot of up and down the stairs, anyway.  Having two TV's running different angles in different parts of the house was workable.  

Sunday afternoon I had started measuring my fence line, knowing that a fence project is nearing the top of my list.  Monday afternoon I spent a short period starting to clear out the back yard.

I took a couple of progress photos of the work.  This was before I started, from last Thursday, right after the fence section was dragged off (by me).

You can barely see through the bare stems.

Monday after my session, it was getting a bit clearer.

There is plenty yet to do, but I have to pace myself.  I took a shower late in the day to make sure the allergens were cleared before bed!  

Tuesday morning, the Keurig machine went on the blink.  Ugh!  No coffee for me!  Good time to re-decaffeinate?  Nope, found a way to make it work, after I came back from the trainer workout!

Wednesday... drizzly and gray morning, but it's not cold.  I ordered my groceries for pick up on Wednesday morning, so was out and about doing that.  Out of bananas... why for pick-up, when we're still "in the green" on the Covid dial?  It has become my go-to, for convenience.  But it had added incentive:  spend on a pick up order (a certain amount) and get 50 cents a gallon off your next fill-up.

Had it not been for the pandemic, I might not be doing this.  But I'm finding lingering habits... I mask, not because I am concerned about catching Covid, but because it hides my drippy nose in allergy season, affords protection to others "just in case", and seems to help with the allergies, too.  I do go inside the grocery store when I'm only getting a couple of things, but for the weekly stock up?  Drive thru pick up!  Because of the pandemic, I hardly pay cash for anything any more.  I still have some small bills left from the last time I went to a bank, in March of 2020!

Kid sis Ace came over for tea after her work so I had a Wednesday afternoon sister-session, a super catch-up after Easter and Passover and several meeting things for her workplace that landed on Wednesdays.  Her hubby is now retired, so that's an adjustment, too.  I think it had been a month since I got to spend time with this particular sister.

Thursday, April 21.  Trainer session in the morning followed by a refreshing nap in the afternoon.  This was the second day in a row I indulged in an afternoon nap.  Fitbit tracks these things and informed me that yesterday's was an hour and a half, and today's two hours and a quarter!  I figure I needed them after I shorted myself on sleep Sunday night.

In the evening I put out the trash and the branches.  Friday morning, the trash men came and hauled them away, so starting over to fill them again.  This photo was taken after Wednesday's "yard minutes", I filled the other two cans Thursday evening as I was tranferring to the curb.

Friday is predicted to have a high of 83℉, and it was already 70℉ when I first let the cats out.  Shirt sleeve weather.  Really, really Spring.

Did I follow my own advice from the last pep talk?

I shall give myself a passing grade on hydration and nutrition.  Not stellar, but passing.  Same with eating to satisfy hunger.  The procrastination list I have made those baby steps, and have to keep on doing so.  It really does help with the other things.

One thing I have done this week, that was not on the list:  listened to the body's need for naps!  

Pep talk for the weekend:

Keep up the good work.  If you have a nagging thought that you CAN do better, do better.  But don't forget to give yourself credit for the baby steps.

• Hydrate
• Nutrition
• Activity
• Rest
• Meaningful progress on the to-do's

Life is good.  Let's keep Sparking!

Boston Marathon Monday

 The magic of technology

I am not physically there, but the magic of technology allows me a peek into the local CBS station coverage at the start line of the Boston Marathon.  Interestingly enough, 50 years ago, when the first women were official entrants as women at the Boston Marathon... I was a college freshman.  I lived through the whole women's liberation movement.  I advocated for the right to wear slacks in high school!  These women were breaking the athletic barriers.  

That was also the year that high school girl's basketball in Nebraska officially went varsity with a state tournament and all that went with it.  I was an advocate for that as well, the year after I graduated high school.  I dragged my kid sisters to those early years of state tournaments, because it was such a celebration to have that available to us, as females.  

We need to remember what it took to get us here!  Awareness leads to preservation and appreciation.

This year's field

Among the starters this morning is one of the women who ran that first year, 1972, running again at age 76, with two daughters and a cousin.  How awesome is that?  History and encouragement, community and family, all tied together.

Also in this year's field is Des Linden, the woman who won in 2018, "the year of the monsoon" (as referenced by a runner that year).  That's the jacket year I chose to save, from Kevin's possessions.  A fellow traveler local to Boston, who was my local guide all four trips, was with me that day, when we ventured out in the pouring rain and were at the corner nearest the finish line to watch Des cross the finish line and dance around with the American flag not just for joy but to stay warm!

I had his name and official time added, and wore the jacket myself for the NYC Abbott Dash to the finish 5K in 2019.

I'm chubbier, and slower than he was, but this was a wonderful way to celebrate my brother's life.  

So today, Marathon Monday, I shall be once again soaking it in, through local and national coverage, and perhaps from some YouTube streamers... as I did last October, when the date of the Marathon was pandemic-shifted.

In other news:

I did get the fourth shot.  I did switch up which MRNA vaccine for it, having got the first three as Pfizer, I got Moderna for this one.  I know, I know, we're all part of this huge experiment with the SARS-CoV2 virus, but you know, considering that having the shots, and having a mask, gave me the confidence to be back in church for Easter... hey, this is the route I have chosen... to follow advice as best I can.

Friday morning I was in a much smaller venue than when I got the first three shots.  The first two were solidly packed events at a Sports arena.  The third was at that same location, but far less crowded.  After that they started holding much smaller events, and this was one of those.

Did I have side effects?  Yes, some.  Very similar to what I had after the third shot... I did not immediately take Tylenol as I did after shot #3.  Had a little bit of restless sleeping overnight, woke with a temperature of 99.7, which for me is a low-grade fever, and took one Tylenol at that point.  A few chills over the course of Saturday, maybe a hint of headache, and the classic sore arm.  But I knew these would not last long, and after taking it easy Saturday, was free to go about my Easter celebrations on Sunday.

About time I did another pep talk, as I haven't in a few blogs:

You know you're worth taking care of, right?  You care about others, you care about what's going on in the world... but not taking care of yourself will not afford them any relief from whatever struggles they are having.  You owe it to the world to take care of yourself... so that you can then "do your bit" to help others.

So, remember to:

• Hydrate, drink your water!
• Balance your nutrition.  
• Eat to satisfy true hunger, not to soothe emotions.
• Get some activity... it's good for your mental as well as your physical health.
• And that to-do list?  The one you've been procrastinating over?  How about making some baby-step progress on it.  You'll feel good, and the motivation you get from it will be awesome.

That's it from me today!  Life is good.  Spark on!

Let us sing...

of Easter Gladness!

It had been two years since I sat in the in-person pews at a church.  Maybe a little longer.  Maybe Christmas 2019?  But 2020 and 2021 Easter, nope.  2020 the church was online only.  2021 they were having some in-person services, but I wasn't ready.  But this year?  When I got the invitation to do our usual Easter service and brunch from my sister, I was ready.

This year, too, there was the added temptation of meeting her new gentleman friend. New in terms of "since the beginning of the pandemic".  They knew each other as acquaintances, but some time after he lost his wife in 2021, they started keeping company a bit more, as friends.   

The service had a huge emotional impact on me... the music alone!  Any of you familiar with Mozart's Allelujah?  I first was introduced to this piece via an old movie, 100 Men and a Girl, starring Deanna Durbin.  The movie was released in 1937, so those of you who don't know it, are forgiven as being young and not being married to an old black and white film buff.  Anyway, in the film, her character was trying to get Leopold Stokowski to conduct her father and his 100 unemployed musicians in an orchestra concert.  She sings the piece, interrupting his rehearsal, and as appropriate to an upbeat movie, brings down the house.

Anyway, it was the first I'd heard it, and in church today, a wonderful soloist sang it as the prelude.  Goosebumps, and pandemic pent-up emotions all hit at once.  Then we had the Pines of Rome for the processional (traditional at this church), and a wonderful service, as always at Easter.

When then-President Trump said we'd have packed churches on Easter, he didn't specify what year, did he?  I was in a section where most of us were masked.

After church we proceeded to brunch, also a sisterly tradition.  I was hoping that our classic breakfast/brunch restaurant survived the economic fallout, and in fact, they did.  Their menu has changed, slimmed down a bit, but my favorite spinach and mushroom omelet was still there

Oh, yes, I did say gentleman friend. He helps out with her yard, and squires her to various events.  I had seen his photo up on Facebook, but this was our first face to face meeting, and I have to say I am appropriately sisterly impressed.

He opens doors for ladies, including car doors.  He has a pleasant word for all.  He puts up with sisterly banter.  If he *needed* the approval of sisters (which of course, he doesn't), he has it.  

You can take from the fact that I'm posting it, that I was there behind the camera, but here are my sis and Jerry.

One thing that came to mind upon being asked was "how long have you been doing this?" (Meaning our Easter brunches.)  And we had to start counting... I think we started in 2002, so that makes it 20 years!  With a couple of skips for the pandemic.  

Anyway, that's it for my Easter Sunday... hope those of you celebrating Ramadan or Passover had similarly meaningful observances, and that others observing Easter have that resurrection feeling in your hearts!

Life is good.  Spark on!

Spring!

I will shred your carpet!

The Prisoner almost looks kittenish in the photo above, but the image was snapped on March 31st, this year.  He's ten going on 11 years old.  Yes, both kitties do shred my carpet on the stairs and in the hallway, especially at thresholds to rooms from which they are supposed to be banned.

Saturday, April 9th - a Spring football game was being played downtown, which affects traffic.  In my own little neighborhood there was an egg hunt for the kids Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.  Yes, Palm Sunday weekend, not Easter, but that's when the event was posted on the yard signs near the park.🥚

I was cleaning and changing the slip covers on the parlor furniture.  Normally, the wing-back in the corner is the cat chair.  It has a fresh slip cover and I hoped the allergens were at least reduced for my guests.

I added an attempt to Carl-proof it: the pet throw on the chair is supposed to be non-slip.  We shall see.  It's new this week.  I washed the slip cover for the couch, and upgraded it's pet-protector.  The room looks so deserted with no people and no pets... which is about the only time it's "clean".

My co-con-piscators (not a real word) showed up a bit after 5, and we proceeded to put together the lemon pepper salmon, broccoli, and mashed potatoes that made up our "Fish Festival #2" meal.  It was awesome, as the first had been.

At the close of the meal, I shooed the two fellow fish eaters out the door to their own family night, keeping "Grandma Dottie's rules" related to dishes.  I can re-live the memories while cleaning up.  Let's face it, when equipped with a dishwasher?  Simple.

I'm left with a cleaned up and peaceful house.  Ahhhh!

On Sunday, April 10th, I was completely wiped out.  I paid one bill, took a nap, and discovered the joy of what one can do with leftover mashed potatoes and a frying pan.  Add a couple of eggs and you have celebratory breakfast.  I filled out my mail-in ballot for the upcoming primary election, and at that point, I was out of gas and vegged out watching TV.  Billions had its season finale airing for the first time Sunday.  Boo, hiss, I think all the "new episode a week" series are pretty much done.  Except for Picard... it's not done yet.

Monday, April 11th:  I slept until I naturally woke, had a leisurely breakfast, then I went and got my hair cut.   

Back in about January or February, don't remember exactly when, but locally we were still in the Omicron surge, I had whacked it off myself.  We've been in green for three weeks on the risk dial, and it will probably rise again, judging from what's going on in other parts of the country.  I figured, better sooner than later to take this particular act.  The cut took almost no time, seriously.  I have short, fine hair.  The salon was not busy at all.  I was the only customer in at the time I went.  I tipped well, as the pandemic has given me an appreciation for those who have service jobs.

Selfie, back at home, with no make-up, all wrinkles visible, and my basic short cut.

After documenting the haircut, I put the vacuum cleaner filters back in.  I had taken them out Saturday evening in my clean up phase after the fish festival and washed them.  They have to dry in the open air for 24 hours before reassembling the machine.  Funny, the older I get, the more "little" things feel like major accomplishments.

Tuesday, April 12th:  At the trainer we had two topics of conversation, myself, the gal before me, and the trainer.  First of course the universal topic - the weather!  It sure didn't look like what the weatherman was telling us.  We have a predicted high of 89 or 90 degrees, Fahrenheit... yikes!  But it was 53 and overcast when we were all at the gym!  "It's going to have to clear off those clouds"... and sure enough, as I typed this, three hours later, the sun is shining, and the angle promises some heat, for sure.

Later, around 7:45 p.m., the promised thunder boomers came through, with the tornado sirens blaring in the outdoor air.  I got some hail on my deck, pea-sized.  By morning the temperature went from 90℉ to 35℉!

Those are not apple blossom petals.  They are hail stones.

The other topic from the trainer talks:  the so-called "second Covid-19 booster" and whether we had got or would get it, and when.  The gal before me has hers scheduled for Wednesday.  I shared my dithering about delaying for some months to try to "time" it closer to "the next surge".

When I got home and changed, that topic came right back up, as sitting in my e-mail was notification from the health department that I could schedule shot #4 now.  As they had been the avenue for all 3 of my prior shots, I went ahead and scheduled for Friday morning.  It won't be a big clinic like the first three were.  I have decided to go for "the other brand" to try to mix it up a bit.  My own little experiment.

After the fact, I realized that Friday is Good Friday.  OK, then.  I have made arrangements with my older sister to do Easter Morning church and brunch with her and a friend of hers.  We shall see if shot #4 kicks like shots 2 and 3 did for me.

Wednesday, April 13th, the big accomplishments for the day were getting Dexter's gas tank filled up (not quite six gallons) for just under twenty bucks, and laying in fresh bananas and blueberries at the grocery store.

Thursday, April 14th... off to the trainer session, of course.  Then I came home and decided I really should check on that fence.  You may remember the section of fence that came down in the big stormy December day?  The one my son and I gave a lick and a promise to?  Well, with the wind on Tuesday night, it was worthy of checking.  Sure enough, it came down.  I dragged the downed section around and into the garage.

Now my yard is not Carl proof, and the neighbors will be able to see my weeds.  But I'm going to leave it down until I can query the neighbor across the street about who did his wrought iron backyard fence, because I'm thinking I want to "upgrade" to that.  Yes, it will cost an arm and a leg, but it won't blow over as easily as the old wooden one.

Looks like my list of Spring projects is getting re-prioritized.

Here's hoping my fellow Spark refugees are surviving their Spring storms, too.  Remember to value yourself, pace yourself, and respect yourself... as well as others.  Life is good.  Spark on!💖🔥

April showers - the week that was!

Tuesday April 5th.  It's rainy.  Surprisingly, I told the trainer on Tuesday  morning I didn't think it would amount to much.  Just as I was leaving to come home, I needed windshield wipers, but it still did not amount to much.

Former daughter in law was recovering well, with sleep and short walks, and soaking up her own solitude, over the past week.  We touched base via text messages.  She let me know on Monday the 4th that she was back at work.  And that her dad had come up from Arkansas for a visit.  

Wednesday April 6th:  dental cleaning day.  I had rescheduled this appointment because of former DIL's surgery.  Afterward I took a short walk to mail my estimated tax payments.  Ugh!  This was a brief substitute for the sister walk that was called off due to a work meeting of hers.  Just as well, that was some wind out there!  

I got distracted by a school assignment from my former daughter in law, after her dad's visit had concluded.  She was supposed to interview someone in the career she was aiming for post-graduation, and she chose me.  So the afternoon turned into a walk down career-memory lane.  While I was at it, the work/life balance memories came flooding in, too.

Thursday April 7th.  It was a sunny, but it was quite blustery all day.  On the way to the trainer session, I was stopped at a red light, and even when the car was stopped, the wind was swaying poor little Dexter!  The clouds rolled in about the same time.

For your weekly giggle, here's an image:  I forgot to put on my sweat band, and I was masking due to the prior week's nose drips... this resulted in all the sweat rolling into the mask, making it very hard to breathe by the end of the session!  Only as we were down to the core work did it dawn on me that I did not have the sweat band on!  It's a whole production... mask on, glasses in the case, headband, indoor shoes.  If you miss a step, something will seem off.

After my session, safely at home, I was just getting out of the shower, dripping on the bath mat when the phone rang.  A floral delivery person was on my front porch.  She tucked this little cutie behind the snow shovel (no, I haven't put that away just yet).  

It was an Easter bunny from my former DIL!  You didn't have to do this, young woman, but Thank You!  It made my day!  

I am trying to keep my mouth shut about the local politics and the world violence, but obviously this is what is all over the news.  My heart breaks for the displaced, abused, and slaughtered people of  Ukraine.  I grieve for the Russian mothers of their conscripted sons, many of whom will not be coming home to them.  I hurt thinking of the folks who are trying to help and being exposed to the aftermath of horrors.  

One of my running acquaintances posted a few photos from Romania, where he has gone to set up mission help for refugees.  It seems as though the lessons of history must be re-learned over and over.  It is my hope that our blogs are a way to escape from the news that brings us down, and to document the good that is mixed in.

Friday April 8th:  the project of the day was to get the recyclables to the center.  Recognize this kind of site?  Then your town recycles similarly to ours.  Sort your own, and get them into the right roll-off bin!

I came home to empty kitchen bins!  I set this system up back when the kids still lived here... cardboard in the top bin, newsprint in the middle, "mixed residential paper" in the bottom one.  Plastic, metal, and glass go in a bin in the garage.  It was a big haul today, as I had accumulated since about the week of Christmas!  I had already put three bags of cardboard, boxboard and was storing several unbroken down delivery boxes in the garage.

Anyway, that's what I've been up to this week.  Tomorrow I have "fish party" #2 to look forward to.  Here's hoping my reading buddies who aren't posting blogs of their own (as well as those who are) take care to make good choices for their own health and well-being.  One day at a time!  Life is good.  Spark on!🔥

Decompression and memories of Dad

After that stretch of "people-y" days, I was pretty much exhausted, and have been hiding in my cave for over a week!

Kitties in the sunshine, Saturday afternoon.

I completely forgot that "the kids" were running a 5K Saturday morning (March 26), and stayed abed.  When I got up, I saw their Facebook start line post and thought, "oops".  Anyway, they finished.  Son's GF bested him by about two minutes, thanks to his usual ankle issues.  Since last year's roll of the ankle, he's been rehabbing, but it's been an issue for years.  Whenever I have got to the finish line in ANY distance race before him, it's been because of his lingering injury issues.  Beat up on your body, and it doesn't just bounce right back.  Anyway, it's true for most of us.

Still, I'm glad they did it.  Fitness is important, young or old.  And I'm at the point in life where 40 looks young to me!

I did not want to get up on Sunday morning the 27th... stayed abed until after 7 a.m.   I wandered down memory lane watching one of my dad's old favorite movies, The Thomas Crown Affair.  I watched the more modern remake, with Pierce Brosnan, because that was what was coming up on my "recommended" list.  I still remember the 1968 version, which would have been my dad's favorite, as he passed away the year the more recent one came out, so I doubt he ever saw it.

Still, I can imagine his small smile and lifted eyebrow, following the misdirection.  He enjoyed Bond movies, "Our Man Flint", and so on.  More and more as I remember my parents I realize what complex and rich (in the cultural sense) they were as humans.  I realize that we are all nuanced.  

As kids we see our parents as setting the rules.  We don't often think of the rules they are trying to follow themselves, or of their growth journeys.  Or do we only think of those journeys when we reach that stage ourselves?

Anyway, it gave me another pleasant reverie of Dad as a whole person, with his own pathway through life.