2016 slowly winding down

Dear Friends,

Lauren and Ben took us to an unknown location (turned out to be Cove Point Lodge on Lake Superior's north shore) over Thanksgiving this year.  We didn't know where we were going until we actually turned into the lodge's access road. We tried to get some clues but they were really tight-lipped.  :-)  Liz and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary with our children doing all the cooking - including the turkey for Thanksgiving!  It was an incredible Thanksgiving-and-Anniversary!  Thanks so much to Lauren and Ben!

Ben was home for Christmas; Lauren and Kevin went to his folks' place in Michigan.  We opened gifts the evening of 26 Dec because it was the overlap of Lauren/Kevin coming back home and Ben readying to return to Madison.  It was a delightful evening!

Christmas was bittersweet because of the situation with our good friends Jeff and Kristen.  Their Christmas Eve fire made their house uninhabitable and so they are staying with us for the time being.  So many people have asked how they can help - it is wonderful to hear of that generosity.  They have been through a lot this fall and could use all our prayers and support.   (Let me know if you'd like to help and I'll tell you how to do that.)

Other news includes my entry of a composition (flute, clarinet, bassoon) into "Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame."  It is an ongoing project of premiering pieces for different instrumental ensembles - all pieces under 60 seconds long!  I should find out in January if mine was selected to be performed in May or June.  …in California…

I hope you had a truly blessed Christmas and that your New Year will be safe and very happy!

I voted today!  …the first time I've ever voted early.  I was surprised by the lines - on a Thursday morning.  But that's okay.

I watched the Cubs beat the Indians in the world series last night…  well, actually, was concerned about the length of the rain delay (in-between inning 9 and 10) and so went to bed just as it (the rain delay) was starting.   About 45 minutes later, I heard Kevin downstairs give a great "Hooray" shout, so was pretty confident that the Cubs had won!  We also got a nice text from my sister Cathy.  Chicago hadn't won a World Series since 1908 - only took them 108 years to get one…  :-)

I am hopeful that Hillary Clinton and the Democrats will win most seats in the Mn Legislature and US House/Senate.  I would hate to see all the good things that have happened these last 8 years get undone.

Well, now that I've remembered emails and passwords, I hope to write more often…  :-)

Please vote on or before next Tuesday.

Hello,
Just wanted to share some news:  I have 3 original piano pieces that are being considered by Dr. Stan Rothrock for his sabbatical project.  [Stan is the music department chair here at Inver Hills Community College where I work.]
One I began in high school (Chappellean Encore), one I transcribed from a recorder consort (Song for James) and one is brand new (Cool Stream).  The last one is in memory of my parents; the middle in memory of my high school friend (Jim Jorgenson) and the first is in honor of another high school friend - who is a year older (Eric Chappelle).
I will keep you posted as to the progress…

thanks.  :-)

Hello again,
Just wanted to let you know that I havn't dropped off the face of the earth...  yet...
I also wanted to invite you to participate in an artistic endeavor.  I am writing an orchestral piece of music which will represent the values, spirit and essence of Vermillion, SD.  It will also honor my parents, Carroll G. and Dr. Dell M. Colwell.  If you have any stories about Vermillion or my family, please send them my way.  You can respond by emailing me through my page on the  American Composers Forum website; respond here with an email and I'll send you another email you can use or my snail mail address, if you don't have it.
Thanks for your participation. 

Ash Wednesday 2014 -- a time to remember that mortality comes to all.  And this Lent is a good time to reflect and consider changes that are brought to mind.  ...or to continue in things that are spiritually helpful.  I like to think about the line from a Noel Paul Stookey song:  "Remember what they say about coincidence -- life is always more than what it seems."

11 September and the Vision... 1

How would you define "Woodstock Nation?"  I would call it a view of the United States where people genuinely look after one another; where people don't compare themselves to others and where they realize that when one suffers, we all suffer (as 10 years ago) and when one rejoices, we all rejoice.  So is it possible?  It has been 40+ years since the experiment was started;  we've come a long way and we've still a long way to go.  But let us not give up the vision...

Tanagers in Flight

I am a week past the beginning of my high school 40th Reunion.  (I know, I know... that dates me.)  It was a fabulous time.  I saw friends (and "rivals") and folks who really didn't have much to do with me in high school -- but it was really fun to get caught up on what everybody was doing.  and everybody talked to everybody.  (fun that old high school "cliques" have long since melted into the past like butter on a hot, humid Minnesota afternoon and flowed far downstream carried on the Missouri (or Souris, or Mississippi) River flood waters.  The Alma Mater written for Inver Hills Community College I rewrote for my high school and will donate that in the name of my class (Class of 1971) to the school Vermillion High School {South Dakota} 

[The words are below:

(1)V. H. S., V. H. S., How we love you V. H. S.;
from your wisdom we all grow strong!
Tanagers, Tanagers, all are loyal Tanagers;
we, your children, will for-ever sing your song!  

It's a song of standing tall, knowing one can conquer all;
so to you let us offer praise.
V. H. S., Tanagers, we'll be always Tanagers;
and remember you so fondly all our days.

(2)On the top of the hill gentle winds are never still,
And the whole world wants to know
what is right, what is true, that our lives are ever new;
like the sound of waters rushing far be-low.   

At the inver are the streams of the wisdom of our dreams
for the inver is where rivers join as one.
In the sky, day or night, Tanagers are taking flight;
and we share a common ground and distant sun. 

So, my advise is...  go to your high school reunions -- all of them -- and see how your classmates have become so -- "grown up."  :-)   [It truly was wonderful!]

...until next time... :-)