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PER ASPIRA AD ASTRA

Many years ago (in the early 70's) I had a purple velvet jacket. The lapel was covered with pins and brooches, all of which were stars of some sort. My favourite one was given to me by a high school teacher's assistant, and I loved it. It was a many pointed star with the words Per Aspira Ad Astra across the points. It was very special to me, though not because of the giver but because I was in love with stars (still am).

One summer I worked crew at a summer stock in Lenox (Mass.) at the Wheatley Mansion. We did a Sondheim medley show (Side by Side?), a musical about Houdini (with Christopher Walken and Neva Small and written by Muriel Rukeyser), a musical of Mandrake the Magician written by Lee Falk (whom I met! Also, I think Blythe Danner was in that one) and probably something else. Anita Morris was around, I think she was with Grover Dale. who directed on of the plays. I almost knocked Tony Perkins down the spiral stairs when I rushed out of my upstairs room to get down to backstage.

It was an experience!

All the cast and crew stayed in the mansion and we converted the main hall into a theatre. One large upstairs bedroom was shared by the female crew. It had one closet which was where I had my jacket hanging. At the end of the summer when I went to pack it, it was gone.

I didn't care about the jacket, but all my stars were gone as well.

And my Per Aspira Ad Astra was never seen by me again.

So sad. I haven't ever found another one like it. I keep looking.

Curses on the fool who took my stars!

Did you think I'd left for good?

Life has a way of keeping a person too busy or distracted to write it up in a blog.
My career at Space Camp was not what I'd expected at all.
Funny how administration tends to think that the people who do all the work are just expendable peons. I was lucky to move into a position made at my request, Seamstress. I started sewing the EVA space suits the kids get to wear when they simulate space walks. They are pretty cool!
However, that ended when we decided that since the real estate market is good for buying, that we had better decide where to buy a house. It didn't take much to decide that moving back to upstate NY was the best option.
So, now I live in Woodstock again.

YEAH!
Bonus: I can attend the School of Practical Philosophy in person finally, after a 13 year gap filled with various substitutions (On-Line class being a life-saver). 

A Lot Has Happened

I have been working for a few months now, really busy and forgot to post it!!! So, I got a job as Educational Presenter at the US Space & Rocket Center. Yes, the home of SPACE CAMP! It is very intensive, I have had to study as much at home as at work, but it is all soooooo interesting! More information coming, when I have it together to sit longer to post.

Looking for the Open Window

So, finding a job. I thought it would be a snap, I've had experience etc. But B&N didn't even call me in for an interview. What a disappointment. Suddenly I feel humbled, was I really so arrogant to think it would be easy? Now I am reconsidering my options. Looking for that open window that is supposed to appear when a door has been closed (or slammed in one's face!)

Book Rat: Jane in June is coming -- and you're invited!

Book Rat: Jane in June is coming -- and you're invited!

Restoring Harmony with Prizes!

Restoring Harmony is coming out real soon -May 13th-and some great stuff is being given away by the author (Joelle Anthony). Check this out: http://joelleanthony.com/daily-writings/grand-prize-spring-fling-blog-tour-day-9/

MAYAH

When my step-daughter brought us a puppy for her dad, I had such mixed feelings. I had hoped to select the perfect dog by myself. I have really strict standards about dogs. I don't really even like dogs that much. They smell, they eat disgusting things, they get into the trash, they chew on your stuff, they bark, they jump on you, they get on the furniture, they basically are a nuisance. But I was assured that some consideration as to this dog's temperament had been taken into account and that she was a good match. I knew that with Bill traveling for work that in essence this would be my dog. And against my better judgement I agreed to let her stay.

It was difficult to have a puppy that kept me awake, especially since menopause was also depriving me of sleep. I have one awful memory of getting up in the middle of the night when she woke me and banging on her crate and screaming at her to let me get some sleep. Not my best moment. Still, she really wasn't much of a barker. I always figured she'd be useless if someone broke in as she would just wag her tail and beg for a pat. She loved people and always went in for attention. "Just love me" was her basic plan.

When we moved to SC, we built a fence around the yard and it was her realm. She was a fetcher, loved sticks and would love to run for them, pick them up and bring them back only to sit down with them and chew away. We bought large balls for her to chase around the yard and she would knock them up and down the hill until she finally was able to get a grip and pop them. Lots of popped balls. Her loosing interest in these activities was the first real indication that she was either getting old or failing health-wise.

She seemed to be arthritic, her back legs got stiff easily and after a while gave out on her. Turns out her spine was deteriorating and she just didn't have any strength left to stand up easily. For a while some medication seemed to help, but finally she just couldn't manage. The sedentary life wasn't good for her, and fluid started filling her lungs. Finally she started just shutting down.

Today I took a sick day because I have a sinus infection that has migrated to my chest. I meant to just rest all day, and instead of getting into bed upstairs, I brought a blanket down and set up in the Living Room to be with her. But after a while of her struggling to breath I realised that she needed to be taken to the vet, that maybe it was Time. Bill had spent time with her before he left on Sunday, so he knew that time was short for her. The vet confirmed that she was shutting down. At this point she didn't even seem to be aware of her surroundings, she just was tired. Tired of trying, I guess. She hadn't eaten for a few days, though I tried to coax her. She just wanted to go. So we let her.

I never ever ever thought I would be so upset, after all, I am not a dog person. But Mayah has been my constant companion these years while Bill has been away. She was the only one around when I had my 50th birthday, the only one around for almost any event these last eight years for which I would have been entirely alone.

The people who originally rescued her and had her before me had named her Daisy. Despite thinking Mayah better described how I felt about having her (Just an Illusion), she always struck me as a Daisy.

And yes, since she was a dog, she did smell, she did eat disgusting things, but she never got into the trash, never chewed on my stuff, rarely barked, learned not to jump on people, never ever got on the furniture, and basically was not at all a nuisance.

I can't believe how much I already miss you Mayah.