The Longest Day

Today is the longest day of the year, the summer solstice. It is also "The Longest Day" -- an event sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association to raise funds for their care, support and research efforts. It’s one day to honor the strength and courage displayed by people with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.


This event challenges participants to push themselves to complete approximately 16 hours of a consecutive activity -- such as playing bridge, which is what my bridge club is doing. The Redwood Bridge Club of San Diego is "up and at it" today, both figuratively and literally.


Figuratively because we exceeded our goal of $1600 and raised more than $2000 for the Alzheimer's Association. And literally because we opened before sunrise today and will remain open past sunset tonight with bridge and related activities. There's "party bridge" all day, a class by one of our instructors this morning, a catered lunch, our regular afternoon and evening duplicate bridge games, and a home-cooked meal in between.


I am part of the team that planned the activities, and it has been fascinating to observe people's reactions. I think literally everyone I talk to about The Longest Day has some story to relate about a friend, relative, or spouse with the disease. As a result, people have been really generous with their time and financial support.


We've already started thinking about next year's event, and my co-chair has enlisted the San Diego HOG Group (Harley owners) who want to team up with us for TLD 2015. I can't promise any particulars yet, but the HOGs have talked about doing a "bridge ride" -- a caravan over some of the bridges in San Diego. A Harley bridge ride with bridge club members ... what a combination! Stay tuned.

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She Who is Gone From our Sight

Today we celebrate the long life of my aunt, Elaine Showalter Smith, shown here--still performing remarkably well at age 94--with her daughter, my double-cousin Carol Witherell.

 
Aunt Elaine died yesterday at age 99 years, 6 months and 16 days. She was my father's sister and the wife of my mother's late brother, J. Stanford Smith.

Coincidentally, on The Writer's Almanac today appeared this poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. I found it apropos of the moment. It is titled "Solitude"

Laugh. and the world laughs with you;

Weep, and you weep alone.
For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,
But has trouble enough of its own.
Sing, and the hills will answer;
Sigh, it is lost on the air.
The echoes bound to a joyful sound,
But shrink from voicing care.

Rejoice, and men will seek you;
Grieve, and they turn and go.
They want full measure of all your pleasure,
But they do not need your woe.
Be glad, and your friends are many;
Be sad, and you lose them all.
There are none to decline your nectared wine,
But alone you must drink life's gall.

Feast, and your halls are crowded;
Fast, and the world goes by.
Succeed and give, and it helps you live,
But no man can help you die.
There is room in the halls of pleasure
For a long and lordly train,
But one by one we must all file on
Through the narrow aisles of pain. 

But there are times when others do grieve with you.
Today is such a day: we grieve the loss
of my marvelous aunt but
rejoice in the memory of her life and

know that the halls of heaven are crowded

with a large chorus of family and friends.
They gather round her piano; 

they sing her lively hymns and

welcome her: she who is gone from our sight.

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