Funerals, heat, procrastination and flamingos

Tom and I went to Harvey Wegert's funeral today in Friendship, about thirty miles away. He would have been 92 on July 27, and he and his wife, who died a year ago, would have been married 70 years next year. They had 17 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Wegert -- Viola -- was a twin and her sister Iola had married one of Harvey Wegert's brothers. Evelyn said that brother was quite a bit older than Harvey -- her dad was the youngest of eleven -- and that she had hardly known that uncle. She had always wondered why Iola had married a man so much older. Reminded me that when Muggie married Albert Mitchum, he was eighteen years older than she was.

The minister mentioned that in all his years of ministry he had met only one married couple who celebrated 70 years together. When he asked that woman, while he was looking at their wedding picture, what kind of shoes she had worn, she said, "Pastor, when we got married, they hadn't invented shoes."

It was a quiet day, otherwise. Too hot to do anything, with temperatures hitting 90. Tomorrow threatens to bring 96 degrees and scattered thunderstorms. Although we had some rain this past week, we could sure use some more. I suspect you folks in Texas would send us some of yours if you could...

Tom is supposed to be working on the history of the Dells for the website he designed for the Stewards of the Dells of the Wisconsin River. He seems to be looking for other things to do instead. I know all about that kind of procrastinating when it comes to writing, but right now I can feel all self-righteous. I just finished an article on the translation that appeared in the book I mentioned earlier (see the post for June 23), and I mailed it out Friday. My copies of the book itself arrived last week, and it looks great. It's not my book, but 40 pages of it is. With any luck, the article will get published sometime early next year.

Tom, meanwhile, went into the Dells and bought six more flamingos for the growing flock out front. While I did the technical assembly work -- sticking the metal legs into the bodies -- Tom took the first flamingo he had bought, which had faded to a pale pink in the direct sunlight, and spray painted it purple. He had also picked up some Mardi Gras-type beads to drape around its neck. Perhaps a bit much, but it did distract him from writing that history of the Dells... And we figure it will add to the amusement/amazement of our neighbors as they drive by. Not sure what it is doing to the property values around here.

For those of you keeping count, that makes fifteen flamingos along the front drive and nine in the back guarding the bird feeders.