I hope someone missed me this past week. It has been an eventful one.

First, the Deeley's had a wedding. Actually the renewal or reconfirmation of vows by my nephew, brother Jeff's son, Matthew, who recently brought his lovely bride, Kaoru home from Japan. He met Koaru while teaching in Japan for the past three years.

It was a beautiful ceremony, Uncle Randy Deeley acted as the officiant. Matt's brother, Shane and his sister, Sara, were the attendants. They planned a ceremony encompassing Japanese, Irish and American customs and it was really nice. Everybody looked wonderful. We Deeleys clean up pretty good.

On Sunday, Jim, Bobbie and I went shooting, after I sang with the choir at the 10:30AM Mass. We shot down on the range, trying to sight in Jim's guns, then the 22's downstairs in the pistol range and finally I tried Harold Luedtke's shotgun to see how I like it for trap. I am really trying to find a gun that fits me and feels good. So far, Uncle Kenny's 1138 Automatic is the best that I have found. I have saved enough to buy a good trap gun but want to be sure that it is right before spending that much money. Tomorrow, Don Blake's stepdaughter is going to let me try hers. It is a youth model and may be a better fit. '

Monday I shot in league and did not do well. Del says that now I am trying too many suggestions at once and just to shoot for a while to let things settle in.

Thursday night was council meeting and Thursday afternoon, I went with several others over to Rocky Knoll to help the patients there play Bingo for an hour. We had about 12 of us to about 40 patients. The patients are a mixture of mentally retarded, mentally disturbed and elderly. Many of them need help reading the numbers but they all like to play and win. I really enjoyed it and two of the patients at my table won which is really fun. We gave quarters for the prizes which the patients can use in vending machines. They REALLY liked that.

Today we went on a Discovery bus to the Fireside at Fort Atkinson to see Annie Get Your Gun. The food as always was really good. I always get such good ideas on meal planning from them. I also always bring a couple of loaves of their great bread home. Today, I brought cheese and dill. The show was lively and Annie was wonderful. One forgets that all of the songs in Annie are good and we have sung and heard them for years. "No Business Like Show Business", "Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better", "The Girl That I Marry". Nice Nice Day.

SLOW ME DOWN, LORD

By Mary Kunert

Slow me down, Lord
Let me see the flowers
Let me smell the flowers
Not just plant them
Not just tend them

Slow me down, Lord
Let me hold my children
Let me play with my children
Not just chide them
Not just tend them

Slow me down, Lord
Let me hug my husband
Let me talk to my husband
Not just keep his house for him
Not just tend him

Slow me down, Lord
Let me see the sun today
Let me breathe the air today
Not just plan for tomorrow
Not just wait for tomorrow

Slow me down, Lord
Let me laugh at the joy of today
Let me cry for the sorrows of today
Not just yearn for what is to be
Not just wait for what is to be

Slow me down, Lord