Pictured above: Dave Linthicum paddles along Cocktown Creek, a tributary of the Patuxent River, at Kings Landing Park in Calvert County, MD. Photo by Dave Harp By Jeremy Cox, Chesapeake Bay Journal It wasn’t until I got home that the full measure of what I had experienced came into focus. I was unstrapping the kayak from the top of my car when I noticed hues of brown, beige and gold standing out against its white hull. It was sand scoured up from the Patuxent River’s shoreline. More than likely, it had gotten slathered there when I ran the plastic vessel aground upon my return to the launch site. I wiped some off with my fingertips. And for a few moments, I had some deep thoughts about grit. This was more than a mess to be washed away with a garden hose. This was a metaphor for what happens to us when we travel, especially outdoors: We end up carrying back things we don’t expect. Sure, it can be sand. But it’s often something ineffable. The day took us — Bay Journal photographer Dave Harp, paddling enthusiast Dave Linthicum and I — to Kings Landing Park in Southern Maryland. The Calvert County Department of Parks & Recreation manages the 260-acre suburban getaway in partnership with the Calvert Nature Society. Our expedition took place on the last day of winter, but hints of spring were in the air. Temperatures had climbed from the 30s in the predawn hours to 70 degrees by the afternoon. Most of the deciduous trees were bereft of leaves, but buds on the red maples were flashing their trademark color. “It’s my favorite month of the year,” Linthicum said, gazing into the distance. “You can just see so far out into the woods.” There was certainly no lack of nature…
By Mark Edelman It’s May—time for Mother’s Day. Can’t think of a better gift this month to remember the little lady who gave us life than live! theater. Mamma Mia! – what better way to say I love you (and thanks for putting up with me at two, thirteen and last week) than a visit to one of these nurturing plays or musicals: FAKE IT UNTIL YOU MAKE IT Arena Stage Now thru May 4 Renowned playwright Larissa FastHorse’s comedy about a collision of friends and foes, ensnaring colleagues and bystanders and unraveling secrets that highlight the absurdities of ambition and authenticity. Amidst the laughter, genuine connections form, emphasizing the value of unexpected paths to success. Tickets at http://www.arenastage.org SISTER ACT Ford’s Theatre Now thru May 17 Based on the hit 1992 Whoopi Goldberg film, a nightclub singer takes refuge with a group of nuns to escape retribution from a couple of goodfellas (i.e. mobsters). Cooped up in the convent, she helps her new Sisters discover their powerful voices while, inevitably, finding her own. Tickets at http://www.fords.org CHARLOTTE’S WEB Adventure Theatre MTC Now thru May 25 Take the kids and celebrate the power of friendship and the enduring impact of kindness—a virtue sorely missing in public life these days—as eight-legged Charlotte saves her friend Wilbur with her miraculous web. Tickets at adventuretheatre-mtc.org HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH Signature Theatre Now thru June 22 With killer heels and a fabulous wig, Hedwig tours the country, trailing the ex-lover who stole her songs and made it big. Hear her sorrow-filled tale in a hard rock story about growing up behind the Iron Curtain, living thru a botched sex change operation and coming to America. Tickets at http://www.sigtheatre.org HEAD OVER HEELS Constellation Theatre May 1- June 1 Here’s a kicky idea: mash up…
By Lori Welch Brown Artists and creatives are often asked, “Why?” Why did you paint that landscape? Why did you write that story about a young mother who lost her son to cancer? Why do you work in metal? In other words, why do you do what you do? It’s an interesting question and not always easy to answer. We get so bogged down in the ‘how’ and the actual doing that we forget to ask ourselves the most important question—why. And, for the record, I don’t necessarily think that ‘why’ is relegated to creatives. Why did you go into law? Why do you run? Why do you want kids? Many years ago, I ran a professional organizing and concierge company. My ‘why’ was that I loved to help people. My company’s tagline was, “Life just got easier,” and that was at the forefront of everything we did—we made our clients’ lives easier. Now I find myself in a new chapter—pursuing my artistic endeavors—and I’ve struggled with my ‘why’ beyond that it brings me pleasure and I find it soothing. It calms my monkey mind. So, I dug a little deeper… Because I like making order out of chaos. Because I like problem solving and resolution. Because I like to start with something unrecognizable—ugly even—and make it into something that brings joy. Because I like cutting and pasting and playing with different supplies and letting my imagination wander. Because I like shutting myself away in my studio, turning on a podcast or some music, and losing myself. Because I like to envelop myself in memories—memories of riding my minibike across my grandmother’s field with the neighbor’s collie racing behind me, memories of our vacation in Italy, memories of…Because I love color—especially bright, bold ones. Because I love trying to capture…
By Erin Shackleford Carol and Addison are a bonded pair of 3-year-old short-haired bunny buds who have been together their whole lives. The real trick? Telling them apart! These two bunnies have very similar black and white markings. They are both highly social and affectionate and their fur is smooth as silk. Jamie and Doll are two pretty parakeets. They enjoy catching up on the latest gossip while on their swing. They both like puzzle and foraging games to keep them entertained and mentally active. Some of their favorite snacks are greens, carrots, bananas and oranges — along with their parakeet food. These birdie BFFs need a home together. Shyla, 12, and Blaze, 10, are like an old married couple. Shyla is the more spry and social of the two. She’ll be heading down the community room for bingo and mahjong. Meanwhile Blaze is more of a loner and is happy to ease into his recliner and grunt about the “kids these days” while watching his Nationals play ball. Shyla always comes back to check on her man and loves to snuggle up with him. True they both don’t move as fast as they used to, Blaze needs a little convincing to get up and move around, and stairs are a challenge, but when it’s dinner time they will both hustle to the dining halls. In their temporary retirement home, they got along well with the other resident dogs (big and small), teenage kids and enjoyed slow walks around the yard. Now this pair is ready for a more permanent place to settle in for their golden years.
By Cheryl Burns It was one of the most stressful periods of my life, and I’ve survived the bar exam, life in a big law firm, and several big moves. The details don’t really matter but, suffice it to say, every day took everything I had. I’d get home from work and rather than getting a snack or changing into gym clothes (okay, or pajamas), I’d simply collapse onto the couch, lying in a slightly extended fetal position with my arms wrapped around my own shoulders or belly. And within seconds, I’d feel a nudge. Like most cats, Sweet Potato Bailey Burns does not enjoy hugs—she loves some good lap time, relishes pets, and even tolerates being carried, but a hug gets a protesting yowl and an immediate attempt to break free. And yet… When I needed comfort the most, there she was. Instead of wriggling free, she wriggled her way into my arms and purred her little heart out. If she could speak, I’d swear she was saying, “It’s alright Momma. Sweet P is here.” It wasn’t all that surprising. She was a “comfort kitty” from day one. She’d graced many a lap during her relatively brief stay at King Street Cats (when she simply went by Bailey), a no-kill, free-roam, all-volunteer shelter in Alexandria, Virginia, making sure visitors felt welcome. She’d chatter on about the events of her day while volunteers did their work. Later, in the early days in her forever home, she’d often sit on the lap of one human and spot the other across the room. Her muscles would tighten, seemingly with a sense of responsibility, and she’d leap to provide love to the person who was lacking a kitty companion. A few minutes later, she’d spot the first person’s empty lap and rush back….
Pictured above: Hanging out at Nalu on Rehoboth Avenue for Happy Hour with longtime friend, Nancy DiAgostino. By Bob Tagert I think Spring is actually here to stay as the daily temperatures continue to rise. As I write this on the 23rd of April, the highs for this week call for the mid- seventies into the eighties, and approaching 90 degrees a week from now. I always count the days until the first day of summer and it is fast approaching. We celebrate Mother’s Day this month on the 11th and one of our former regular contributors, Caroline Simpson, has some thoughts about what qualifications one has to have to apply for the “job” of Mom in our Mother’s Day feature. We also honor those service men and women who have gone before us on Memorial Day. How many of you readers are familiar with the “Buddy Poppy”? Read Lani Gering’s piece in our special feature on its history in our Memorial Day feature. In A Bit of History, Sarah Becker explains the importance of the U.S. Federal Judiciary and the impact that is has had over the years and how the current regime has affected our lives today. For those paddlers out there, check out Jeremy Cox’ piece, “A Paddling Experience Fit for a King”, in From the Bay. While in To the Blueridge, Julie Reardon reminds us of the beauty of the Blueridge in Spring and all of the events planned during the month. Pick one and go! In Road Trip this month, we visited our favorite sandy place in Southern Delaware…Rehoboth Beach, with an afternoon side trip to Lewes to see 31,000 tulips. Our friend, Nancy DiAgostino joined us for one of the nights. Nancy has a condo in North Ocean City so being at the beach…
By Bob Tagert This past February we ventured to Virginia Beach for our March Road Trip. With six inches of fresh snow on the roads and beach, it made for an interesting trip that turned in to an extended “snow day”. This April we ventured to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware for our May Road Trip. What a difference two months makes. We had beautiful weather with temps in the 60s and 70s. Growing up in Oxon Hill, Maryland since I was 5 years old (now 78) when we went to the beach, it was mostly to Ocean City, Maryland. As the “Highrise” period at the beach moved north, we eventually discovered Rehoboth. The town was founded in 1873 as the Rehoboth Beach Camp Meeting Association by the Rev. Robert W. Todd, of St. Paul’s Methodist Episcopal Church of Wilmington, Delaware as a site for Methodist Episcopal Church camp meetings. Today Rehoboth is a vibrant year-round city that explodes in the summer. Our intent of visiting Rehoboth in April is to take advantage of the amenities of a beach town in the early months of the season. Another reason for choosing Rehoboth, is a chance to return to the Boardwalk Plaza Hotel. Sitting on the boardwalk and two and a half blocks from the main drag in Rehoboth, this location is perfect no matter what the weather. Since Rehoboth is a year-round community, most businesses are also open year-round but the number of people is way down. Therefore, there is almost no waiting to find a seat for dinner or drinks. Also, the parking meters are turned off so all parking is free. Once in Rehoboth we proceeded to the Plaza to check in. As in the past, we were greeted by their great staff and the three parrots that occupy…
By Julie Reardon In no particular order, these are some rural favorites so if you’ve considering or recently moved to the country, it’s helpful to appreciate or at least understand their importance. How can you not feel energized when you wake up to brilliant new green leaves and grass, colorful bulbs, pink and white dogwoods, azaleas and all the breathtaking beauty of spring in Virginia? Although the Blue Ridge Mountains are perhaps more famous for flaming fall colors, spring is equally spectacular and with lengthening days, there’s no better time for a day trip than now. With so many events to choose from, if you pick just one may we recommend the Hunt Country Stable tour, back for its 66th year on May 24th and 25th. It’s a self-guided driving tour featuring a dozen of the most beautiful farms and estates rarely open to the public. This beloved event took a hiatus during the pandemic and was reorganizing last year but is back and ready for your enjoyment. Mostly horse oriented, it appeals to both city slickers and horse lovers that enjoy watching or interacting with horses and farm animals: Thoroughbred colts and fillies destined for the race track, all kinds of riding, training and lesson facilities for every horse sport from jumping, to polo, to carriage driving. You can also learn about green innovations and new organic farming techniques as well as visit baby animals including baby alpacas, called crias. Tickets are available in advance for one or both days; visit http://www.trinityupperville.org/hunt-country-stable-tour/. Horsing Around at the Races Few events signal springtime like thoroughbreds jumping over fences at speed in steeplechase or point to point races. This year the jewel of Virginia’s steeplechase season, taking place the first Saturday in May (3rd) is the Virginia Gold Cup, the granddaddy of…
By Melinda Myers Each year we set aside one day to honor mothers. And each year we struggle to find the perfect gift to show them we care. Cut flowers are one of the most popular gifts. No dusting and maintenance required, and they are sure to generate a smile. Behavioral research at Rutgers University found the gift of flowers had immediate and long-term benefits no matter the age of the study participants. Participants demonstrated true or excited smiles as well as delight and gratitude when they received flowers. They also reported feeling less depressed, anxious and agitated long after receiving the gift of flowers. Floral gifts also helped create connections between family and friends. A hanging basket or container garden is another way to give mom a season of flowers and more. Gardening helps improve health and well-being by reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, strengthening muscles and increasing flexibility. If mom likes to cook, a potted tomato, container of greens or window box of herbs may be the perfect gift with increased benefits. Mom can grow and further boost her health with fresh nutrient-rich vegetables. A gift certificate to her favorite garden center, hobby store or retail location allows mom the freedom to select her own gift. She can enjoy time shopping for something special she wouldn’t normally buy for herself. The gift of time is appreciated by many mothers. Helping mom in her garden, working around her home or assisting her with another hobby is a great way to spend time together doing something mom loves. Update her garden tools if she is an avid gardener. Consider a tool caddy and fill it with her favorite hand tools such as a weed knife, hand pruner, sunscreen, and gloves. Add elegance and function to your mother’s daily activities with…
By Lani Gering In Flanders Fields By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) Canadian Army In Flanders Fields the poppies blow Between the crosses row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. The Buddy Poppy I grew up the daughter of a World War II vet and every year my younger sister and I, along with other youngsters and volunteers, picked up our Memorial Day poppies at American Legion Post #5 in my hometown of Torrington, Wyoming. After getting our poppies, we headed out to the streets to hand them out to passersby as a reminder of the importance of Memorial Day. When I moved to Old Town Alexandria in March of 1992, I looked for the poppies in May and didn’t see a one. There is a Legion Post in the heart of Old Town and a couple of VFW Posts nearby in Arlington. I contacted the Legion here and they didn’t have any idea what I was talking about. I feel guilty that I didn’t pursue it further then. I believe I will redeem myself and see what I can do about getting my hands on some this year and pass them out in memory of my father and all other veterans that have gone before us. As the bulk of our readers are aware, Memorial Day…
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