The next time Father’s Day will overlap with the Summer Solstice will be June 20, 2037. While that may seem a long way in the future, just look at how fast the last eleven years have gone. Those kindergarten students who graduated back in May will be high school seniors in 2037. Some of us who are in our third trimester may just be distant memories. But on this longest day of the year, we remember our fathers for their strength and courage, for their sacrifice and encouragement, for their good life lessons and for the love and kindness they freely shared. For those observing the holiday for the first time without their fathers it is particularly poignant. We miss our auld man.

Champion’s own Beedee, wearing a t-shirt that said “Mama Tried” did some fine singing out on the wide veranda Wednesday. “Twinkle Twinkle,” “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” and “Jingo Bells” were her tunes. Later in the week she was busy shaving seconds off her barrel racing time. Mena D. is making progress toward being a real fiddler. “The Old Spinning Wheel” and “Cripple Creek” are a couple of her good pieces. The General was in the company of an aspiring banjo player and Carissa from up on the High Road reached new heights with her lovely voice. As the afternoon progressed a few Veterans sat around to reminisce about their time in the service. Thank you, gentlemen.

The number of beautiful things in your life depends on your ability to notice them. Friends and family will gather down at the Mill Pond on Wednesday, the first of July, to celebrate a very special Old Champion. Skyline School’s bookkeeper, Sarah Harden, and pianist, Mike Upshaw, up in Springfield, will also have birthday parties that day. We remember the lovely Beverly Barnhart on July 2nd. That’s the birthday of Erica Sudderth, our Skyline School custodian and a detailer deluxe. Virginia Canada lives up in Moline, Illinois, but has a slew of Denlow kinfolks. On the 5th we celebrate her and the 6th is for Janet Burns down in Arkansas and Hunter Hall who was an eighth grader at Skyline last year. Walter Darrell Haden (7-6-31—10-28-2019) wrote “All the Late News from the Courthouse.” The 6th is the birthday of the Dali Lama who says happiness comes from our own actions. We are active in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

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