I would name him Keller...

In retrospect I have always loved geese... 

The goose in the 1973 animated version of Charlotte's Web was like the funny older ladies I hang out with now. Despite my personal achievements in spelling, I still loved the old Goose and her creative spelling - "T, double-E, double-R, double-R, double-I, double-F, double-I, double-C-C-C.

Not exactly a goose story, I read Arnold of the Ducks by Mordicai Gerstein over and over and was so proud of my signed copy. I imagined that one day I would live with animals and they would love me as much as I loved them. If you've never read the story, order it right now and read it immediately.

Every year I cried when the Disney tv movie (and Bridges family showcase), The Thanksgiving Promise started showing in November. The poor kid was charged with raising an injured Canada goose and eventually prep it for Thanksgiving dinner for the neighbor's family. He becomes attached and the sad and dramatic scene cuts to commercial just as he tearfully lifts the hatchet. Besides the Jason Bateman appearance, I immediately fell in love with the movie and imagined myself raising a goose and then saving it from the fate of the Thanksgiving platter.  

Several years ago I became smitten with a black swan named Petra - she lived in Germany and was in love with a swan boat. Her human pals noticed this devotion and for a time allowed the swan boat to stay out even in winter. Most people want to travel Europe for amazing food and sights. I want to travel Europe and find Petra. I even wrote about her in a past blog entry! 

While Jeff and I checked out the Ohio State Fair this weekend, we checked out the animal barns and enjoyed the fancy chickens, ducks, geese, bunnies, cows and sheep. I was especially taken with a goose that was honking uncontrollably. We walked over to him and I chattered to him and he stopped honking and kind of looked towards us and then the other direction. The sign on his enclosure said that he was for sale ($20!) and that he was blind. I have heartily spoken against living outside of Columbus' humble beltway - 270. This, however, could persuade me to move. I am now on a hunt to learn everything about raising geese in the city. More specifically a blind goose. If it were a girl, I would name her Helen, but since it's a boy, I would name him Keller. And I would teach him that the world is a bright and happy place. He might also be the perfect answer to our neighbor's constantly barking dog. Take that Luna - Keller can honk the crazy out of you!

Columbus Proud

This weekend was the start of the Capa Summer Movie Series and we had a great time watching The Wizard of Oz on the big screen at the Ohio Theater. For once I watched it from start to finish and didn't become immediately terrified. My cousin's husband Bill stayed with us for the weekend and while we only had some brief chats in the evenings, it was great to see him and have a chance to visit.

It was also the 30th Annual Columbus Pride Festival and we marched with the Broad Street United Methodist Church in the parade on Saturday. Last year they estimated that over 200,000 people attended and they expected to have more this year. It seemed there were more protesters this year than last but not as many as the first year I marched. Along the parade route it seemed there were more people than any other year - so perhaps this was the largest Pride in Columbus!

Pride 2007When I was first asked to march in the parade four years ago, I agreed without really knowing what it was we were doing. My friend Roy offered to let me help carry the church's banner and I was sold. I didn't know what to expect and was completely taken aback by the entire experience. I was appalled, offended and scared of the protesters who shouted hateful things and carried vicious signs. I was grateful for the women on motorcycles who revved their engines in front of them and helped shield the parade marchers and spectators. I was excited to see friends along the route and a little pleased with myself to carry that banner. My intentions weren't the most noble that first year, but it made such an impression on me. Ignorance is funny until it becomes personal and discrimination difficult to ignore when it's directed at the people you love. I'll never forget that first parade and will support the Pride movement whenever possible. 

This year it was exciting to march with 7 of our friends along with other church members. I was especially proud of Jeff for being the only fella with a bunch of chatty women who were hyped up by an audience of thousands :) 

As my friend Farrah wrote in her blog..."We march for our many friends who have to hide their lifestyle and are afraid to march in public for fear of losing their jobs, friends and families. We march in their place to show that we love them and want to educate the world to change its prejudices."

Ready for step-off!

My best Pride Pal!

Up the hill towards the Arena District

Rounding the bend at Buttles

Huge crowds in the Short North

Perfect Weekends...

After a winter and spring of weekends that took me away from home regularly, it's amazing to be home for the summer. It's intern season which usually limits my travels - a welcome respite from life on the road! Amid all of the crazy storms we've had in Columbus, we have had a few perfect weekends with low humdity, bright sunshine and cool evenings that allow us to fall asleep with the windows open. 

This weekend was no different. The week leading up was exciting. Lots of outings witih friends that included dinners, drinks and movies. A little bit of work on Saturday and a glorious afternoon kayaking today. The current was swift, the skies were blue and the company was excellent. We even survived as we paddled through an area marked with bright yellow signs that said "Public Hunting Area." In fact the current was so swift that I couldn't paddle upstream to snap a photo. We did get these decent shots on my phone that I kept in a zip-loc bag in my life jacket pocket!

We spent the evening today with the windows open and the breath of fresh air was a great close to a lovely weekend. I've been out of the Broadway loop for a few years so it was fun to close the evening and watch the Tony's to get caught up. Despite the ridiculous troubles, I'm excited to check out the soundtrack for Spiderman, Turn Off The Dark and I'd like to pre-order tickets to The Book of Mormon. God knows (my Methodist God) that I love all-things Mormon! Imagine our amusement to catch this funny camera angle. It looks like she's putting her hand in a secret pocket on that dress!

Humbly Grateful

Jeff and I have the best friends. I'm consistently surprised, flattered and a little embarassed when someone offers to help us with our wedding. I've had three surprise showers so far, one that wasn't a surprise just last weekend and Sissy has planned one for July. One of the best parts of getting married is having the opportunity to spend time with friends and family before and during the wedding. The surprise showers were with great Kappa friends that I usually only get to see once or twice a year.

The shower last weekend was at my friend Kay's retirement community and was rather swanky. They had incredible flowers from a friend's garden, everyone brought fabulously generous cards and gifts and we had delicious food for brunch. Mom was able to come to Columbus for this one and we spent part of her visit checking out retirement condos - an activity during which I was oddly comfortable. Perhaps Jeff and I can pick up a newly-wed condo next to Mom and Dad's retirement condo ;)

It was fun to see Mom and spend some time with great friends!

Be Happy

The Women's Fund of Central Ohio has an annual event called the Keyholder. Participants buy tickets and can write tributes to honor someone. Those attending also learn about the granting partners and the recipients of grants from the Women's Fund of Central Ohio. Farrah invited me three years ago and wrote tributes to me and to her daughter Hattie. It was one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me and she also inspired me to make the Women's Fund one of my top philanthropic priorities.

This year I followed Farrah's example and invited my Mom and our friend Kitty to join us for the event and was excited that there ended up being eight of us sitting together! This was the second year the Women's Fund invited a big-name celebrity to headline the event and Goldie Hawn was the guest speaker (Diane Keaton was last year.) I didn't know anything about Goldie except for her brilliant work in Overboard and First Wives' Club! It turns out she's pretty amazing and rather inspiring. Her memoir reflects the idea that joy often blossoms in unlikely places, and that the obstacles we face in life are what help us grow. 

I was honored to submit tributes to honor Mom, Farrah and Kitty...

"How fortunate to be raised by a mother who considered family, friends and the needs of others to be top prioroties. I'm constantly in awe of my mom's selfless acts on behalf of her family and those that are unable to care for themselves. Her kindness to an elderly friend in the cruel throes of dementia or traveling difficult roads to visit far-flung relatives is not for the faint of heart. It is with a strong spirit and a generous heart that my mom has tried to show me how to be a noble and loving woman. I love you, Mom, and I am grateful for you."

"Louisa May Alcott wrote, "'Help one another' is part of the religion of our sisterhood." Farrah embodies this notion every single day. She's never known a stranger and inspires everyone around her to be a little bit nicer and to put the needs of others first. Whether teaching her young daughters to be kind or volunteering for a local cause, Farrah is an amazing friend and a champion for the "religion of our sisterhood."" 

"Perhaps the greatest gift is to recognize and empower the potential of others. Kari Kittrell can spot the potential in someone from a mile away. She's a loyal friend, the unofficial Mayor of Columbus, and anyone who meets Kari is a better person because of it."