by Kathie
Pittsburgh, PA

Well, we are on the road home today.  Enjoyed a relaxing two days with Debby, our sister-in-law,
in her newly remodeled historical home.  Gave Sharon lots of ideas to think about with decorating
her new home in Tucson.  Sharon is definitely in the nesting mode, ready to stay at home for awhile.

We figured 5,000 miles, 14 states, and 24 performance venues for this East Coast tour.  I wish I
could say that I am ready to stay at home in Kentucky now, but looks like I'll be visiting California
in December to ring with Sonos Handbell Ensemble and tour in Japan.

It always amazes me how someone can live out of a suitcase for so long, and how little one actually
needs in this world to thrive – not just survive.  Of course, this hinges on the wonderful friends
that have helped me along the way. 

by Sharon

Last night we did a concert in the church that Larry, Cy and Kathie's brother, pastored. 
He died of cancer in 2004 and his was the first service in the new sanctuary he and the 
church had built. It was a privilege to play the Steinway piano that was given in his 
memory to the church..a very moving concert.

Heading down to Jacksonville, Florida via Georgia:

Sign on back of truck in Georgia:  I love grits ( Girls Raised In The South).Beginning to see Spanish moss on the trees and dead armadillos with feet in the air on the side of the road.

Attended a large Southern Baptist Church in Columbia, SC. Sunday morning. 200 voice choir accompanied by handbell group and orchestra – couldn’t hear the handbells because they weren't miked.We could only count two blacks in the voice choir and the same proportion in the congregation of 800-1000 people.  The Fink Family played bells here in 1964. Ushers were all men dressed in suits all sitting on the front row.  People who wanted to come forward could come and ask for prayer. Only men, probably deacons were available to pray for them. Kathie and I wondered if women would feel comfortable with that.

by Sharon
Washington, D.C.

Although the traffic is awful in both places, there is a big difference between Wash. DC and NYC.
It was a huge hassle just getting from one destination to the other, but God has taken such good
care of us and protected us from crazy drivers. We see signs everywhere reading: Don't Be an Aggressive 
Driver. The DC subways are much quieter and cleaner and we felt much safer walking around at night than
in NYC, maybe because DC is full of security guards and government officials. 
 
WASH. NATIONAL CATHEDRAL. We attended an awesome Sunday morning worship
service here. No, Kathie didn't play her bells for them. Instead, we
ascended the cathedral bell tower.  Yes, all the winding steps this time
because the elevator was broken. We watched the tower ringers do change
ringing on ten giant bells. Mary Clark, who has been ringing these bells
for 38 years graciously spent several hours with us demonstrating and
showing us the bells. The smallest weighs over 600 pounds, the heaviest
several thousand. They let me try. I failed. I felt the tower sway when
all the bells were ringing, a necessary feature to keep the walls from
cracking. A second bell tower below the ringers contains 53 bells from
the size of your hand to several tons. These are the carillon bells.
We saw the bell that was tolled when Presidents Ford and Reagan died.

Here's what astounded me: These ringers do not get paid for sending this
beautiful music over the city. They do it for the love of it. It takes
extreme mental and physical energy. There is no one to watch them, like
handbell ringers. People hear their beautiful music regularly, but have
never seen or met these dedicated people. Mary loves every minute of it
and welcomes visitors.

by Kathie
Malmark Bell Foundry
Plumsteadville, PA

Played a short solo concert for employees at Malmark. Kathy had complimentary
things to say about my ringing, but she hurt my bells' feelings.  She listened
to the “beat” in my bells, and told me this set would have been rejected if it
had been made by Malmark today!  I like the “vibrato”.  I think it works well
for solo ringing. Shows their character. Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking
to it.

by Kathie
New York City 

Last night at Binghamton I said,” Many people have wondered WHY I'd leave California to move to
Kentucky.The New Yorkers last night didn't even crack a smile. They found it perfectly logical
to leave California for any reason.

When we talk about going to New York City,no one around here says New York CITY, just New York.
“Oh, you're going to New York”(meaning New York City). Sharon wasn't too sure of that response
since she knew we were already in New York state.She tried to get a picturesque photo of the 
hillside in the Catskills, but the leaves have not turned enough yet so we'll have to wait until
we return to Pittsburgh, PA on October 28.

Sharon and I can't figure out why this trip seems like we have been on the road longer than one
week. I figured it's because we are a little more relaxed this time around. Less surprises regarding
the set up and what needs to be done for each venue. Sharon figures it's because of the many recent 
changes in our personal life that have stressed us.

The phone calls we receive usually start out with the other party asking “Where are you now?”  
In Sharon's case, that question goes both ways. Her husband/my brother is moving them to Arizona this
week while Sharon and I are on our tour. That's the way to move, I think...having someone else do it 
for you! However, Sharon says it messes with her sleep. One night she was “packing” all night.

My "Where are you now?" questions are between Alexis, my daughter and me. She's traveling with Living 
Proof through the midwest.
  

by Sharon
New York City

How do I describe NYC? Miles and miles of steel, cement, and marble skyscrapers. Overwhelming.

Fascinating. Amazing. Exhausting(from cars and the crowds). Emotionally moving. NOISY!!! dirty. Been there done that!

Here's what we crammed into a New York day!!


RIVERSIDE CHURCH: Kathie played a couple handbell numbers at “Space for Grace"
service at the Riverside Church, a historic gigantic stone church in NYC
with everything from a food pantry to a live theatre.  Jesse Jackson spoke
the week before we were there. We heard black gospel music boomerang
off marble floors to the high arched stone ceilings. The guest speaker
talked about the new Progressive Christianity. Hmm..

GROUND ZERO: We met Kanako, a dear friend and SOU graduate for dinner at
a Korean restaurant. She can watch the Macy's parade from her apartment
window. Kanako works for Deliotte, an international accounting firm in
Two Financial Center, one of the three financial centers where 50,000
people are employed. The buildings are across the street from Ground
Zero. Kanako took us on a grand walking tour completely around Ground
Zero--- I'd guess about a mile. Fire engines still blare regularly. We
mourned with many others at St. Paul's Church directly across from
Ground Zero where an old tree was destroyed, but protected the church
from having a single window broken.

BOAT TOUR: I broke into tears and thanked God for my country when I saw
the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Immigrants have made America the
great country it is. Many died after they arrived.

DOUBLE DECKER BUS TOUR: Grenwich Village sign: $350 fine for honking

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING: We climbed up to the 86th floor of the 102 floor
Empire State Building. (We actually stood in long lines to take two
elevators). It's hard to describe the view of 24 square miles of
nothing but skyscrapers. Landowners sell AIRSPACE! A church sold the
right for a developer to build UP on their property for $33 million.

by Kathie
Buffalo, MY

Sharon and I weren't sure how to pack for this trip. I have left my heavy coat at home.
I think we made it through the cool weather.  The sun is brightly shining today.

We had a special treat today.  We drove to North Chili, New York and visited the ol'
homestead.  I noticed the house had shrunk.  At least it appeared a lot smaller than I
remember it.  The tree house is gone in the back yard, and the wheat field behind the home
has brand new homes on it.  The small grand piano shaped pool has been removed. The last time
I visited the home, the pool had been turned into a lily pond, but now it's just a refilled
hole.

We walked down two doors to my parents' life long friends, and surprise! They still lived
there. Actually recognized me when they opened the door! They came to our concert that evening
an hour away, and Sharon drove them home,since they don't drive at night anymore. But what
fun to hear the old stories and get updated on the former neighborhood friends they still
are in contact with. 


 

London, Ontario
by Sharon

Today we crossed over beautiful Lake Huron and made it safely into
Canada without having our handbells confiscated. Kathie got chewed out
about not stopping at the stop sign before the inspection booth, but
because she promised not to do it again they let her go. Then we saw a
Canadian speed limit sign in a construction zone that read 80. It took
us awhile to realize that means kilometers in Canada, i.e. 50 mph. We're
going to have to adjust to the metric system and the Canadian money. 
Have you ever heard of a Loonie? A Loonie is dollar Canadian coin. There
is a picture of a loon on the coin.  A Twonie is “yep”, a two dollar coin. 

We made all our cell phone calls before we crossed the border
because we'll have to pay for our calls in Canada, but we can always
send out e-mails.

Our first concert in Findlay, Ohio was a benefit concert for three
churches that were flooded in August. St. Andrews United Methodist
Church where we played, had their basement flooded 7-8 feet deep, not
with rain water, but with black sewer water causing two pianos to float
and covering a valuable Hammond organ. Eweeu! They said it was pretty
bad.    

We had a wonderful concert in Troy, Michigan (near Detroit) last night.
I was so delighted that my cousin and her granddaughters drove from Flint,
Michigan to attend. They had never heard handbells before and were so
impressed with Kathie's skill and music.  Michelle, 10, said after the
first few songs, Kathie must be “awful tired by now”...And that was just
the beginning of the concert.

This tour we are not going to get lost. Paula LuAnn is keeping us on
course. Kathie has named of our handy little Garmin GPS system. It
seemed appropriate to give her a southern name. She announces directions
in a female voice. Paula is very kind to not say things like “You went
the wrong way, stupid”.� Instead says “recalculating”� when we take a
detour to McDonalds or stop to get gas.

It was so hot in Kentucky when we left on Wednesday. It's a lot cooler
in Canada and we're seeing the beginning of some beautifully colored fall trees.