5/5/2019

Weekly Update 5/5/2019

I had an interesting time when I volunteered at City Hall this week. The laptop computer I’ve used to create the database wasn’t working. So, I scanned minutes from meetings of the Tree and Park Committee in the 1930s. Tree and Park is responsible for BC, so many items in the minutes referenced the cemetery. I tried not to read too much, as I’m not there to do research, but to assist in the record keeping of the archives. I need to go back and read more closely, and perhaps I’d be able to write an article for the BHS monthly newsletter.

Also, in my role as a Board member of BHS, I gave a quick talk at the Coastal Museum Association monthly meeting last Wednesday. I talked about the project we’ve just started to identify plots and markers that we may want to work with to make them better, or to just generally clean up some plots. I also learned about some other projects that other organizations are offering. For example, the Botanical Gardens held its annual Rose Festival on Saturday. I went to that, and, in spite of the fact that I prefer plastic or silk houseplants. And although I do not have a garden, I enjoyed it. There was a plant sale, artists and crafters, garden tours and children’s activities. The flowers were lovely.

Following DH and The 90 on Friday, Barbara and I went to a rock concert at Coach’s Corner. Since I rarely attend music concerts like this, I thought I should go with Barbara when she asked me, so I could to do something unusual for myself (and the fact that she had free tickets didn’t hurt). The band was Druckers, which I think was the family name. I could not understand one word they sang, and I for sure did not need to wear my hearing aids, as you could have heard the music all through the county.

Saturday, after opening BC, I went to Daffin to walk, as I often do. There was lots going on there: a MS Walk, several rugby games, and a dog training “camp”. I only walked once around the park, and then went on to my next activity, which was the Rose Festival. After that, I went out to Bethesda for the annual Scottish Games. I really liked that – the bagpipe music, the border collie show, the caber toss, and all the men in skirts. I talked to the lady in the Matheson tent for a few minutes, and asked where in Scotland the Matheson clan lives (north and east), and told her that Brian’s name is spelled with an “i”, and she said that’s not unusual. I also talked to the someone in the McDonald tent, asking is she watched Monarch of the Glen on tv. She knew what I was talking about, but said she had not seen it because it wasn’t shown on her PBS station. I really like that show, although I think it’s over 20 years old.  

And finally, that evening, I met friends at The 90 to watch the Run for the Roses. That was an interesting race! Not unlike all other sports now - tennis, NFL, MLB, it’s all so high tech that winners become losers, and good plays are overturned to become infractions. I sometimes wonder what we have lost to become so very precise in everything. At least we still have mint juleps! And hats!

Sunday, a few people at MP who are not yet as discouraged about this place as I am, hosted a Cinco de Mayo party at the clubhouse. I went because I support those who are trying to make a difference here, but I didn’t stay long. Those little squares with the sour cream and olives on top were my contribution. It almost killed me to bake something, but I’m a trouper!