So much happening lately....

Well, I've managed to forget to post for several weeks now, in part due to just how busy we've been. Every weekend seems filled with things to do, domestic, religious or just entertainment...

On October 20th we traveled to Chattanooga with Lilly's friend Hinda to see Rock City. We've discovered this is the best time of year to visit as the cool fall air provides many bright blue sky days with little or no clouds. This year was no different.





The girls had a blast walking the path that twists and winds through the rocky top (pun intended) of the aptly named, Lookout Mountain. From their plaza at the top you can see 7 states on a good day. To the left is Tennessee. Left of center you can see eastern Kentucky and Virginia. Straight ahead is North Carolina. Right of center are South Carolina and Georgia, and finally, furthest to the right you can see Alabama. It ain't the Rockies or the Alps, but it's still beautiful!

Yesterday we went to Hinda's 9th birthday party. We attended Octubafest at Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music. Several hours of all Tuba and Harmonium music. It was very interesting but being 8 & 9 year old girls and boys the kids only lasted a bit past intermission. I think a few of the parents had had enough as well. ;-) We adjourned to the "dragon" park across the street for cake and playground fun.

On a sad note, my younger brother Todd's best friend, Blake Cadkin died Friday after being diagnosed in May of this year with cancer and the wife of our rabbi emeritus at Sherith Israel also died after a prolonged illness. Lillian, Denise & I wish all the families and friends g-d's blessing.

Although I hadn't spoken to BJ in probably 7 years since Todd & Alexis' wedding, he was a frequent fixture in our childhood home and our families spent several holiday feasts together. He also invited my first band to play at a party in their basement before we had a chance to play anywhere else. Despite our need for further rehearsal, BJ was an enthusiastic audience! And that was at age 14 or 15. He was a kind, generous soul who will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Mrs. Posner, similarly, gave of herself in many ways, fostering the gifts of others by creating the Akiva School in Nashville with her husband over 50 years ago. Although the school is now different than how the Posners envisioned it, we owe both of them a huge debt for ensuring a Jewish day school education was available to Jews in Nashville for over four decades. Although I did not know her personally, I have only great respect for the woman I've learned about through the chorus of voices at Shul.

Our hearts go out to Rabbi Posner, Lew & Gayle and all their children and grandchildren.

Land Between The Lakes....

Yesterday was our second annual trip to Land Between The Lakes in Kentucky for Monarch butterfly tagging. We met Maria & Katlyn at the Nature Station for the trip.

Monarch butterflies breed several generations during their migration northward to all parts of the U.S. The last generation of the season flies all the way to a piece of land of about 10 acres on a Mexican mountain where they winter. For the past 20 years scientists and others have tagged Monarchs in an attempt to track the generations. We did this last year at LBL and there were more than one hundred butterflies in the relatively small stretch of field on a few hills beside the trace through the park where we were catching them.

This year, however, we (and more so, the butterflies) fell victim to the extreme temperatures and drought in the central U.S. The purple flowers we were told last year are their favorite food in LBL were virtually erased from these fields. Add to that a stiff wind that was almost constant and the fields were virtually absent butterflies. :-(

Lilly caught one and I caught two... that was half the number our entire group of 12 -15 people caught. Here's a picture of Lilly and one of our guides, Aviva, tagging Lilly's catch.


Hopefully next year will present more favorable circumstances for us to catch and tag more butterflies. It's great fun!

We accompanied Maria and Katlyn to the Elk & Bison Prairie on our way out of the park. Last year we made the same trip and heard the Elk bugling and saw a fight for dominance between a young male and the alpha male. It was really exciting. Although we didn't see any drama this year we had a great view of the herd just off the road from us. The Bison were further back, but visible. Later, we found these other males tramping around the far side of the prairie away from the main herd. This is the largest of the "outcast" males.

What do I look like?

Those who spend time around me over the course of a year have probably wondered if I aim to be a master of disguise... when I get bored I may change the hair on my head or my facial hair so much people misidentify me.

Here are a few looks I've had in the past 6 months....

Where does the time go....?

Ok, I know... I haven't taken the time to put anything up lately... so here we go!

Yom Kippur went well... I didn't really notice I was fasting, even after the final shofar blast. I love hearing Rabbi Saul blow the shofar. The somewhat erratic blast of most shofar blowers is replaced with pure tones. In addition to his calling as a rabbi, Saul is a gifted musician as well. His trumpet playing skills are not wasted in the quest for a beautiful, powerful sound from the shofar. Add that to the wonderful, high ceiling, shoebox design of the shul and... well, wow!

No new pictures to post today, but I asked Lilly to draw for a few minutes before leaving my work the other day and she went to the bathroom mirror and drew a picture of herself. She's not entirely happy with it, but I think it's a great first sketch! ("Daddy eyes", perhaps, but I think I'm objective. ;-) )

Anyway, I hope you enjoy it and the Hershey's kiss. (BTW - That says, "I HATE MON", as in Monday, not "I HATE MOM". :-D )

Long weekend.....

Wow! It seems like a long time since I last posted... I guess since it was. ;-)

I'm beginning with a picture of Denise & Lilly from a trip they took this summer.

We had a good Rosh Hashanah although Lil had a bad cough that took us away after the early, family service. She doesn't have anything we can treat so we were left to diminish the symptoms. Her voice was all but gone by Saturday. Fortunately she's been in good spirits otherwise.

We had a nice, relaxing weekend working around the house, watching the Titans miss a prime chance to make yet another comeback against the Indy Colts. That hurt, especially because they did it to themselves. Still, they proved yet again that Peyton Manning and his many weapons can held to a competitive game.

We discovered something fun, too. Tie up Taylor (our dalmation) out front and Melon (our collie mix) stays in the yard, untethered. Well.. most of the time. It was nice to have them out on such beautiful days in the front yard rather than running around, barking like idiots in the backyard.

We spent even more time reading Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. We're all enjoying it very much, though I'm realizing I really need to hear/read ...The Order Of The Phoenix to catch references to situations that were glossed over or wholly ignored in the movie. The movies have been pretty good, but this is certainly a case where the books are rich for the bits and pieces edited from the motion pictures. Well.. that's my opinion, anyway.

We forgot to call on his birthday so I phoned Uncle Stevie to wish him a happy birthday a few days late. Oops! Sorry, Steve!

L'Shana Tova!

To all our friends & family, on behalf of Denise, Lilly and me, I wish all of you a happy, healthy new year. Tonight begins Rosh Hashanah, the jewish new year. A time of joy and a time of revisiting the good, bad and ugly of the previous year before asking g-d for forgiveness next week on Yom Kippur. May you have success and sustenance for you and your families in the coming year!

After the celebration!

Denise, Lilly & I went to dinner in celebration of our anniversary last night. Afterward, Lilly & I walked around Third Avenue in downtown Nashville as well as on the new courthouse plaza. It was an absolutely beautiful night!

Lilly

The Pacas have been clamoring for new pictures of Lilly. This seems like a great place to post them! Here are several taken throughout the summer. (Remember to click on any you'd like to see up close!)

The first two are from Lilly's Uncle Daniel's wedding to Aunt Spring Napier. Lilly was a junior bridesmaid in their ceremony last May.

The next two are from the same trip. First a picture from our visit with Judy Tepfer next door to the house I grew up in. Look closely at Lilly's ear to see why she's smiling so big! Then a gorgeous picture of Lil in Nana Ellen's flowers.

Finally, a sketch done at the shul's end of summer barbecue. 90 year old David Manas was kind enough to draw pictures of several people. What a talent. I'll just be happy to be breathing life into my own body at 90. Breathing life into an image on paper like that is beyond me today! Thank you David & Sylvia! (David's lovely wife.)

A trip down memory lane.....

Let me begin with a little housekeeping. I've just discovered that one may see a large version of pictures in my posts by clicking on them. So now you can really get a good luck at the happy couple!... and the guy in the kilt. ;-)

It occurred to me a few minutes ago that, at this time 14 years ago, I think I had just about worked out our wedding music for the ceremony.

You see I went to our rehearsal/out of town guest dinner then headed 15 miles home in one direction while my bride to be and her parents went to my inlaws' home. I listened to phone messages when I arrived at our apartment.

To my dismay, one of the messages was from the music contractor who was supposed to provide a pianist and flautist. The piano player was sick and would not be able to attend our wedding the next day and the contractor had no other pianists available. He did substitute a guitarist. I tried phoning their number (it was after 11pm) but, of course, nobody answered. I know this is virtually impossible for anyone under 25 to fathom but few people had cell phones in 1993. Ah! How we take for granted how easy it is to communicate with people today. But I digress...

I phoned somebody in the morning to say we'd make it work with the guitarist despite the fact he couldn't play the music we had intended for the ceremony. I grabbed a stack of thick piano/voice songbooks, dumped them in my car and headed to my inlaws' house. When the guitarist arrived I alternately went through songs with him, then talked to Denise through the door to get a yes or no to this song or that.

In the end it turned out fine. That was the worst blip in our wedding, which is to say it and the reception were wonderful!

Of course, the funniest moment was after I broke the glass (a jewish tradition symbolizing a break from the past). Even I was a bit shocked at the loud, "Mazel Tov!" from friends & relatives on my side of the family. I can't imagine exactly what Denise's family felt at that moment. :-)

Gypsy

A few weeks ago I played 3 characters and was an announcer in the Gordon Jewish Community Center's production of "Gypsy". It was great fun. Last year I was in their performance of "Fiddler On The Roof" after an 18 year hiatus from the stage. Gypsy is based on the memoirs of burlesque's Queen of the Striptease, Gypsy Rose Lee.

In this year's play I was Uncle Jocko, Kringlein (the hotel proprietor), & Cigar (the burlesque show owner.) I had a blast portraying three very different characters. The first, a Scottish-American kiddie show mc who abhors stage mothers. The second, a pompous, self important little man and the third, a bit of a lowlife. I don't have many pictures, but here's what I came up with.

Happy Anniversary to us!

Tomorrow is Denise's and my 14th wedding anniversary. Hard to believe it all began in her parents' backyard under a huge willow that's now gone.

This picture is outside our reception across town. Boy they were young!

I've finally done it!

This is it. My attempt at a near daily blog about the family. I intend to use this as a news of the Nashville Bergmans. Where it goes from there I can't say, but it should be interesting!

Recent happenings...

This past weekend Rabbi Saul held his annual pre-Selichot concert at the shul. For the second year I hurriedly setup and ran sound for the event and, this year, performed two songs accompanying my friend Greg Jones. Despite the small window to setup between the end of Shabbat and the start of the concert everything went off with nary a hitch. The concert didn't begin until 9pm and the Selichot service began at midnight. Lilly was with me and stayed up the entire time. We arrived home around 1am after Greg and Ben helped me load just about every inch of the Bumblebee (that would be our little yellow car. ;) ) with sound equipment! Eek!

Which is a decent segue to our next thought...

Lilly, Denise and I never read any of the Harry Potter books until recently. Thanks to the Pacas (as Lilly, just about age 2, dubbed grandpa and grandma Bergman) we have the entire set. As we've seen all the movies Denise & Lilly went through several of the early books at bedtime but now we're on a Harry Potter feast! We've moved to The Half Blood Prince to continue the story while at the same time Lil and I have been listening to the first three audio books on our commute to school (40 minutes from the house) and any other time we're in the car together. Have to love the mp3/CD-ROM capability of the car stereo. We have the first three on one disc! The other four are larger files and required several discs. After we finish reading The Half Blood Prince and The Deathly Hallows we'll listen to them in the car as well.

Most of this summer Lilly was at her grandparents' (Malcolm & Maria's) home with cousin Katelyn. They're a year and a half apart and enjoy each other's company immensely. It was a great summer but we're happy to have Lil back home.

I know this is weird for many of our friends up north, but Lilly's school is already a month in. They begin early down south and Lilly's school starts earlier, in part due to days off for jewish holidays both minor and major. This Thursday and Friday are, of course, Rosh Hoshana, the jewish new year, and we'll all be off for services.

I guess I'm trying to post too much at once so I'm calling it quits for now. I hope all of you enjoy updates on our life here in Nashville and find this an easy way to catch up, when long phone calls aren't convenient.