SCHOOL DAZE

School is starting now or very soon for my grandchildren. I checked in with them to get the latest. Of course, Tanner has been on the Texas 4000 bicycle ride for cancer research followed up by a week in Alaska with family and friends. His University of Texas courses will be up and running soon. In the meantime, here are some of the news from the others returning to classes.

    Hannah will be a senior at Southwestern University in Georgetown. She recently returned from Dallas where she spent the summer interning at a law firm and studying for the LSAT. She will be taking that soon. When I inquired about her schedule this term she sent me the following:

"I am about to head into a very busy semester. I will be doing an internship at The Georgetown Project, a local nonprofit focused on serving the needs of at risk and homeless youth in the community, as the Capstone project for my Psychology major. There are sadly enough kids in need everywhere, especially in the wake of the pandemic. I’m really excited about the work I’ll be able to do!" (I know that Hannah's late dad Craig is beaming his pride down on her.)

"This year I am also serving on the executive boards of three societies: Alpha Xi Delta, my sorority, as Membership VP, Alpha Chi, the academic honor society, as VP, and Psi Chi, the psychology honor society, as president. All the while, I will be applying to law schools. I’m already exhausted at the thought of it but excited for the challenge."

I asked Hannah for a favorite new photo and she sent me this one of her on the Seattle Space Needle. She certainly didn't get my genes when it comes to heights!

       

                    

Grandson Travis had a family entourage 

accompanying him last week to Texas Tech in Lubbock for his Sophomore year. He spent his Freshman year on a golf scholarship that disappointed him. Due to the pandemic, the golf team never got to play in a tournament. That small university was also in Lubbock so Travis made lots of friends at Tech in his off time. This year he talked mom and dad into allowing him to change schools. No golf scholarship though, but he's going to follow his dad Matthew's footsteps again and major in Business! (I'll bet there will be plenty of golf in his spare time.) Travis spent a good part of this summer working at the golf club where his mom and dad play weekly.

I got a big kick out of this picture of the gear Travis found it necessary to take to college. This doesn't show everything that took two carloads to carry. (i.e., an Xbox and a TV to play it on!) He probably won't be using those until his CA roommate moves out! Of course, I'm just teasing Travis. I think that he will be bringing that grade point average up to the 4.0 range like his cousins now that he will be in a happy frame of mind at his new school!

The Riders - Matt, Kelly, Travis, Amy

"Little" sister Kelly is a Sophomore at Vandegrift High School this Fall. She is also a member of the Vision Dance Team, and

has been practicing with them all summer. In July the Dance Team and the Band had a remarkable parade through the streets of Steiner Ranch, the development where she lives. Along with the Vandegrift High School Band, they got a big surprise when they were invited to march and perform at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2022. Besides being a good student, frequently on the honor roll, Kelly has enjoyed acting in school productions.

Kelly - Age 9

Recently she has been requesting going to Drivers Ed so she can drive herself to all her busy activities. Yikes! I dread that, as Austin traffic is horrific. In the meantime, she was a good companion on the golf course, driving the golf cart for her mom and dad! When Kelly wishes to learn something new, she turns to YouTube. She studied flute, ukulele, and her latest musical instrument is the keyboard - all by viewing YouTube tutorials! (Drivers Ed?)

Speaking of musical instruments, of my seven grandchildren all but one play at least one instrument. Daughter Carajean's three children play, and she accompanies them from time to time on her violin. All are classically trained, the young ones beginning the Suzuki method as young as three years old.  Tanner is now playing guitar as well as the cello. Cameron, who's late dad Craig played a mean guitar, majored in voice in college and also plays guitar.

Erick & Audrey

None of the musicians in the family plays professionally. However, granddaughter Audrey married Erick in 2019. Erick is a professional musician, playing in a band he helped form Superfonicos, which plays Colombian Funk music here in Austin. Today he sent me the following message: "Made it on BBC yesterday!"

Superfonicos LIVE on BBC  Erick is the good looking guy in the front row, right. 

The pandemic has prevented too many performances for the last year and a half. I'm sure they will begin to increase their performances as this year progresses. The Austin City Limits (ACL) Festival will be held two weekends, Oct.2 - Oct.10, if all goes well and the pandemic doesn't force them to cancel like last year. Superfonicos will play the 2nd weekend of ACL. October 10th. 3:30pm. BMI stage.

Peace, love, and toe-tapping music,

Marilyn

PROMISE FOR OUR FUTURE

In my last post, (Sentimental Me) I told about my grandson, Branch Tanner Archer, and his latest endeavor. As a member of the Sierra Route group of bicycle riders raising money for cancer research, (see Texas 4000), they just completed a 70-day trip of over 6,000 miles in the lower 48 states. They were originally to ride all the way to Alaska but Canada closed its borders before their ride began. Arriving back home in Austin this past Friday, Tanner is now on his way to Alaska (by plane, not bicycle!) to meet up with his parents and other family members. They had made reservations to be in Alaska to greet the riders before Canada closed its borders, and they were unable to cancel their flights for refunds. The family will enjoy this next week with Tanner. Although Mom and Dad were not here to celebrate with him at the ride's conclusion, other family members were:

Papaw, Tanner, Aunt Amy & Cousin Kelly

I haven't yet heard how much money was raised, but the dedication of these young riders is extremely admirable. I want to share what Tanner wrote as his reasons for participation in this grueling fund-raising event:

"My mother survived breast cancer, but I was too young to remember much of what happened. I remember her wigs, and I also remember her lying in bed a lot. My Aunt Elizabeth passed away from colon cancer, but again I was too young to really understand. I finally understood when my Aunt Evelyn, single mother to my cousins Bruce and Annie, passed away from metastasized breast cancer in her spine that we thought she had beaten years ago.

"I'm not sold on free will, but I do think we have choices (and that matters). These women chose something. My mom chose to double the length of her chemo to ensure that it never came back. My aunt chose to laugh at my dad’s jokes that Thanksgiving, just weeks before her death. She chose to fight through ten years of chemo, work full-time as a physician, and raise two children by herself all at once. I have never heard a word of self-pity from either of these women. That’s what they chose, and I want to thank them and their children for their brave choices with my choice to ride."

If you wish to feel optimistic about the future of our country, go to the website for Texas 4000 and read what other young riders wrote about their own reasons for joining in this worthy cause. Many of them are studying for careers in the environmental sciences. You may also choose to donate at this site.

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The strength and courage and determination of these young adults give me much hope for the future of our country and the world. 

Peace and love,

Marilyn