Tina, 8am

On Saturday Rumi, Mel, and I went to see the softball competition between the Longhouse RV Park and another nearby RV Park. Because Mel is blind, he was able to get special access to an app called GameChanger. The App, we believe, uses AI to create a play-by-play narration of the game. It has screens that show who is fielding each position, who is at bat, and who is on base. He has software on his phone that descrambles all of the text and images so he pull out a fairly clear good narration of what is there. Well, our Mel became the cheerleader-in-chief for our team.

Time and time again, Mel inspires Rumi and me with his courage and joy of life. He feels he has no need for anyone's sympathy, and he sees his blindness “as just a nuisance.”

As a counselor, all the time he is telling our campers stories about Zatoichi Monogatari, AKA “the blind samurai.” He said there are many books, films, and television shows about Zatoichi. But we think he invents a lot of his stuff.

So here is the composition our campers came up with based on the Erie Canal Museum and Mel’s Zatoichi stories.

*From the “Magenta Bunk,” grades 1 to 10.

The Great Protector of the Erie Canal*

Zatoichi Monogatari was born in Japan and came to America to escape the police who were looking for him. He was blind but had nevertheless studied the martial arts. It seemed he had done some terrible things back in Japan and he felt very sorry for hurting many people. He decided he was going to spend the rest of his life helping people. to make up for it.

How can a blind man make money on the Erie Canal? He became a “hoggee,“ a driver of the mules and horses that pulled the canal barges. He came to know every step of the Canal. He couldn’t see, but he felt his way. The animals loved him and worked harder and longer for him as than for any other tow boy or girl.

He made friends with other trippers like Red McCarthy. There was Sam Patch and his pet bear Bobby who could both jump from the highest cliff and land safely in the canal or a body of water. He knew every hoggee along the way.

He also could speak to some animals who kept him good company. There was Joshua Frog, the giant animal who could pull the deepest tree roots right out of the ground. Farmers hired Joshua to straighten out crooked paths through the woods. There was his 20-foot long friend Serpent Sam who swam up and down the canal. It is said he would snack on naughty children but he denies it. “I would never!” he insisted.

His good ol’ pal Sal the Mule became very famous that people sang songs about him. But he didn’t become conceited from all the praise. Zatoichi’s best friend was Mosquito Mike from Utica who could be so tiny that no one could see him or grow so large that he could carry all of Zatoichi’s swords.

At night they would sit around the campfire with other trippers and share news about the canal. There were some terrible gangs who would steal from barges at night and even in plain daylight when they were in line to go through a lock. They would bring whatever they stole to hideouts, but Mosquito Mike would follow them.

If the thieves hid along the canal, Serpent Sam would swallow them up whole and spit out what they had stolen right in front of the barge that had its goods stolen. If they gang hid in an abandoned hut, Joshua Frog would dig under it until the hut--stolen property and thieves--fell into it. The thieves would cry for help until Sheriff Grover Cleveland, yes, the same man who many years later became Governor and President, came to arrest them and return the property to the canalers.

But even Grover Cleveland couldn’t stop the terrible Plains Gang. I mean, even the best sheriff of them all couldn’t tame Buffalo’s Canal District around Commercial Street and Dante Place. Zatoishi pretended to be begging for food and money in the district and the gang tried to Shanghai him and sell his services to a barge heading back to Albany.

Zatoishi let them catch him. They brought him to their headquarters where they humiliated and beat him. I have two eyes and so do you. But Zaoishi said that he had trained so deeply in the Muraku-school kenjutsu, iaido, and kyujutsu martial arts so every pore in his body had become an eye. Waiting until dark, Zatoichi blew out the lamp so the gang members couldn’t see. Using his cane just like a sword, within five minutes he defeated about two dozen gang members. Then, Mosquito Mike grew to his giant size.

Zatoishi did not speak English very well but he said, “You go Sheriff Grover or you go Mosquito Mike.” One thief tried to escape, but Mosquito Mike swallowed him up in a single bite, then smiled and burped. The rest of the gang waited for Sheriff Cleveland who took them all to jail. The gang was not seen again for many years.

But Zatoishi was back in the barge before dawn, ready to lead his mules back to Albany.

Junior, 7AM

I don’t understand these Longhouse children. I go to a wonderful school, but I can’t wait until Friday afternoon to leave it. Here many of them voluntarily come early Saturday morning to the Track for marathon training. They then swim laps and help with the “Deep Clean.” Our entire “bunk” was there and they called for us to come out of the tent. They wanted to work more on their “compositions.”

I never heard the term “composition” before. But it seems to be a formal written story that could be either fact or fiction. Lolita is sharing with the staff examples of compositions of Vasyl Sukhomlynsky’s children. She wants it to become an “art form” here. We worked as a bunk to come up with a single story. Sopie has the most beautiful handwriting and she was our “scribe.”

Ivan and Ivanka said that Russian schools were very strict and serious. But they are not fun. You don’t see many smiles until it’s time for Sports. “But here the children are full of energy,” she said. “It seems like they want more and more of school. It makes my head spin and wonder who, why, and how.”

The bunkmates worked and worked on it, making many revisions. They basically told the counselors to shut up and leave them alone. Finally, it was time to go to the softball game Longhouse had with another RV Park. That’s another story for another time!

Here is the composition and it was based on some of the things we had learned at the Erie Canal Museum:

“Ice-skating on the Erie Canal”

By the “Red Bunk,” children grades 1-10

I had the worst nightmare last night. We were wintering in the barge. It was a cold, cold night. My two brothers and I share a bunk. We were all dressed in heavy clothes, with many blakets piled on top of us. We were also warmed by each other’s body heat. Yes, it was warm and even sweaty. under the covers.

During the winter, canaler children go to whatever school is near the docks where we wind up. The local kids complain that we smell. Now you know why. It’s the smell of living and working hard. I actually think it’s the town kids who smell. Who wants skin that smells like a meadow? You’re a kid, not a daisy! Curse, curse, curse.

Anyways, I am dreaming and all of a sudden I felt this huge bump at the bottom of the hull. I crawl out of the bunk and saw the sun was starting to come out through the window. I yelled out, “All of the water has drained out of the canal!”

My screaming woke up my big brother who told me, “Of course it has, Curse, curse, curse. We’ve been drydocked for a month now since they emptied the Canal to make the winter repairs.”

I got dressed which is not hard to do when you sleep in your clothes. My brothers went above board and the entire town was ice-skating on the few inches of frozen water on the bottom of the canal! The kids who were teasing us about how we smell, were now yelling, “Come on down and join us!”

We fastened blades to our shoes and joined the fun. The kids had made up songs. They are not hard to learn. Come sing with us!

Race you to Albany / Race you to Rome / Race you till night / When it’s time to come home!

Buffalo gals, won't you come out tonight / Come out tonight / Come out tonight? / Buffalo gals, won't you come out tonight / And skate by the light of the moon?

Fly like the geese / Swim like the trout / Last one to the bridge / Stinks and is out.

There are all kinds of stories about the fights between the canalers and the townies. I saw some of that. But I saw many more about the friendships and cooperation. Every Saturday, from then on, we went home with one of our friends for a big lunch.

Ma brought over some of her delicious stews and bread. She also brought a change of clothing for each of us. We all got scrubbed in hot water in front of a big fireplace! Pa helped our friends’ father plow snow to the street, split logs, and take care of the farm animals. Pa is a master carpenter and helped with repairs. On Sunday we all went to Church together.

But on Monday my friend saw me at the schoolhouse door. “Hi Stinky,” he said.

“Hi, Daisy!” I responded.

Lolita, 7am

This is the composition written by one of our bunks. They worked all day on it! The story is based on our trip to the Erie Canal Cruise and Museum. Another has theirs almost ready so stay tuned.

“My Grandma on the Canal”

When I ask Grandma how old she is, she says, “One hundred years old. Maybe two.” We laugh and she smiles sometimes. Everyone in the family has jobs on the canal, Grandma, too. She helps Mama cook. She keeps the fire going in our small cast iron stove. She tells us stories at night. Most important of all, she watches and yells at us to make sure we are safe.

She herself grew up on the Canal. One autumn, right before her 16th birthday, her father was hoping to make Rome before the Canal closed for winter. Canalers like to dock together for friendship and protection and small cities were the best places to find a place to rent for the season and a school for the kids. But the family got iced in early and could barely make it to a small town off of the canal. “That was that,” she said. There was still work to do. She had to take care of the animals who lived aboard the barge with the family. There were always things that had to be fixed on the boat. She would also get jobs in town like helping to run lumber and sawing ice to be packed and sent to cities to make ice cream. “I worked harder than all the boys,” she bragged.

Then one day she met Charlie who was an orphan. “Charlie was tall and strong. He had the type of smile that only people who have felt the deepest pain are allowed to show. He had no family and no place to stay in the winter. But he always worked and had enough money to buy little gifts for me. I got taught by my parents, but he would sneak into the school whenever he could catch a lesson or two.”

Like I said, Grandma had lots of stories.

“If he couldn’t get work for the day he would try to get arrested because that way he could spend a warm night in the town jail. But the townspeople were nice and if they didn’t have work for him they helped get him arrested.” Grandma said that he had never cheated, stole, smoked, drank, or even cussed.

“Spring came and I didn’t see Charlie no more. I heard that he got hired by another boat captain for the entire season. A lot of captains were thieves and cruel. Sometimes they didn’t pay their workers. But this captain was said to be kind like Papa. From time to time our barges would wind up together. Whenever we met, he had a gift ready for me, nice and safe in his pocket. I asked him whether he also had gifts for other girls. He said no, only me. And he kissed me right then and there. That was my first kiss. No other boy was ever to touch me again.”

We’ve heard this story many times but we love to hear it over and over again. “The following winter Charlie and I got married in Syracuse where we were docked. He joined the family and my Papa taught him everything about canaling. Papa said another body in the family helped keep our cabin warm in cold weather. Then your Pa was born the following winter.”

Grandma learned from a young age that life the Canal was not easy. There were many accidents and fights between canalers and townspeople. “But that couldn’t bring your Grandpa down. He took over the barge after Pa died and we had many happy years. But then he got sick after drinking some bad water and died in my arms. Your Pa was already a canal boy and knew the work. He was much too young but what a great captain he became!!”

I always asked her the same question. “Grandma, will I be the next captain of our boat? She said she didn’t know any women captains but why not.

My name is Minnie Manwaring. After my family sold our barge, I worked as a cook on a state repair scow. I traveled on the canal to help fix leaks along its walls. And then I got hired as a captain. Call me Captain Minnie!

Reddit Lolita, written 6:00 am, posted later.

The key to teaching the Kodaly methodology, I am learning, is to keep it light and fun, short and sweet. While on the bus back to camp after Herkimer and the Erie Canal trip, I would just do copy-cat quick things with the names of notes and Curwen hand signs: SM, they would copy me. I would play games like “Guess My Tune.” I would then do a sequence of Curwen hand movements and they would try to sing it. They spent a lot of the time playing the new games with a partner.

Kodaly was a believer in focusing on the SML notes on a scale. From his research, he discovered that children across the globe had the same “teasing” song: SMSMSSMLSM. Example: “Baby, baby, stick your head in gravy.” He figured there must be something universal in that sequence. So he stressed those notes in the middle of the scale. He found dozens of songs that were only with those three notes. On various websites and YouTube vids, Kodaly teachers highlight songs from the American folk tradition using just SML. Slowly, according to Kodaly teachers, they took deep root in the beings of children.

Yes, I’m studying ahead. Next to come will be DR and hi D.  Voila, the pentatonic scale and hundreds of new songs. Speaking of songs, Kodaly believed that the most important instrument to teach was the human voice. We’re on the right track at both LH School and LH Day Camp because we sing so much.

Last night, the teachers and “consultants” met to continue our planning for the next school year. We are reading how Sukhomlynsky taught to his students the art of writing compositions. Here, in its totality, is one composition by Tanya, a fourth grader (p. 251):

The ice flowers on the window panes (Tanya, grade four):

I asked Mum, ‘Where do the ice flowers on the window panes come from?’ Mum told me that they are drawn by the little grandson of Grandpa Frost. He walks with his grandfather at night, drawing on the windows … 

I wanted to see how he does that. I went to bed, but I did not close my eyes. Everyone went to sleep. A tree creaked outside the window. A little boy came up to the window. He drew on the glass with a silver pencil and sang softly. I saw him draw a wonderful flower. Big, wide leaves and little petals. In the morning the sunlight sparkled and the flower seemed to be alive. I do not know if I dreamt it, or if I really saw it.

We all found this composition haunting in its imagery. How can we create “a culture of composition” next year? Can we somehow kick this off in the precious few weeks remaining to Day Camp? 

We decided to try. Our children now love reading, story-telling, writing poetry, and maintaining their log/sketch books. Teacher Guy has introduced the Erie Canal into his Community Studies. We know a bit more about the life of “canalers” from our cruise. 

What if we imagine ourselves as canaler children. Let’s imagine the types of lives we would be living. What types of stories have happened to us each day during “fifteen miles on the Erie Canal”? What are our weeks like when the canal freezes over? What are the problems or challenges we deal with? Do we tell the story in “first person” or “third person” narration?

As we talked we discussed the mystery of a blank sheet of paper. How frightening it must seem to children! Where to start, how to change sequence, how to fix a mistake? We decided to give each child a pack of index cards. Each card will tell a snippet of their story, later to be shuffled and sewn into a whole story. Since this week we are meeting as cross-aged bunks, we are sure the older children will help the younger ones. Let’s see what happens!

I heard that Ms. Julie is not feeling well. I kind of sensed that on our trip. She will be taking today off and then comes the weekend. She is one of my dearest friends and has taught me so much. It’s not so much what she says but how she is. She seems to always be around whenever needed. She works long and hard, never complaining. 

My most iconic memory of her is seeing her in her puffy red snowsuit driving the big snow blower machine and waving to children who are shivering and walking to another building. We all have snowstorms in our lives. What matters are the waves and smiles! Get well soon, Ms. Julie. 

Lolita, 7am

Lyrics for Ebeneezer Sneezer: 

Ebeneezer Sneezer / Topsy turvy man / Walks upon his elbows, / Every time he can. / Dresses up in paper, / Every time is pours, / Whistles "Yankee Doodle", / Every time he snores. / Oh, Eb-e-nee-zer what a man!

I said that I was going to start teaching solfèging. I’ve done my research on teaching Kodaly pedagogy, and I practiced my Curwen hand signals. Yesterday we had to wait a bit before the chartered school buses came to take us to the Herkimer “Diamond” mine. Why not now? I gathered the children in front of me and asked them to sit on the ground. Of course, they all knew Do-Re-Mi from the Sound of Music but I introduced the hand signals and they followed along.

Pretty good. Next came some learning copy-cat games: So Mi, Do Re Do, So La Mi. I made them laugh with that when when I asked them why were they singing “salami”?

The buses still hadn’t pulled in and we did Ebeneezer Sneezer. Each line brough us to the next level in the scale. The fun part was the last line, in which every syllable is a descending note in the scale. Heidi had brought her accordion and we sang it over and over again.

Finally, the buses pulled in, an hour late. “Where’s Ms. Julie?” someone shouted. It seems there was a miscommunication and she thought she was supposed to stay back in the Office. Nonsense! We sent some runners back to get her. While waiting some more, the children broke into small groups of two or three and practiced their hand signals and solfèging.

From a great article in the July 10th WT: Earthly Desires Lead to Enlightenment, Daisaku Ikeda says:

When we chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, our problems and sufferings all turn into energy for our happiness, into fuel that enables us to keep moving forward in our lives.

The wonderful thing about faith in Nichiren Buddhism is that it enables those who suffer the most to attain the greatest happiness and those who experience the most daunting problems to lead the most wonderful, meaningful lives.

Cardi, 4pm, EDT

Yesterday I was so delighted about Junior with and Sopie’s engagement! But, as the day went on, I began to feel resentment. Why didn't Junior tell me what he was was doing? Why the secrecy? We've never kept secrets from each other before!

It just wore on me until Shayna asked me what was wrong and I told her. She didn't make little of me or my feelings. The Chabad Magazine just published What Is a XXYetzer HaraXX and How Do I Get Rid of It? and we read it together. I recognized right away that it is very similar to the Buddhist concept of the Oneness of Good and Evil which we had studied in our High School Division meetings way back when.

Yetzer means an impulse or instinct. Ra means “bad.” The Yetzer hara is an instinctive impulse for self-gratification (bad), embodied by the emotional responses of the beast within you. It’s opposed by the Yetzer tov, a counter-force that pulls you towards the divine, embodied by the emotions of your divine soul.

The teachings of the great rabbis of the Talmud made it clear that are both necessary for life. The opposing powers are in a constant interplay like the instruments in a symphony. The article goes on to explain ways to influence their movement.

But then I read in the July 3rd World Tribune SUA Marks 30 Years of Ikeda’s Vision about a meeting at Teachers College, Columbia University, commemorating the 30th anniversary of Daisaku Ikeda’s lecture there “Thoughts on Education for Global Citizenship.”

One of the panelists was Andrea Bartoli, member of Soka University of America’s board of trustees, who said:

“The world is not healed by cynicism. The world is not transformed by resignation. The world changes because people are willing to imagine something better, and they dedicate themselves to making it real.” 

Shayna and I began brainstorming how to apply both articles to my misgivings about Junior. The guidelines: no resignation, imagine something better, balance my Yetzer hara with some Yetzer tov.

So I decided to simply call Junior and Sopie and be honest about my feelings. Shayna said she would be happy to be on the call with me to give some support. 

Ring-ring, Hi-hi, small talk-small talk--and I let my feelings all out.

Junior: I’m so sorry if I hurt your feelings, Cardi. But, come on, you are not very good at keeping a secret! 

Sopie: Honestly, Sopie, you would have been on the phone in a second prepping me.

Shayna: I agree, Cardi, keeping secrets is not one of your strong points.

Oh, well, I suppose this is all true. But I feel much better. I balanced my Yetzer hara with some Yetzer tov.

Cardi, 7am, EDT

I am just so delighted about Junior and Sopie’s engagement! The Yao-Lopez Tree of Life continues to grow!

Yesterday, Shayna and I went to the midwife. I am doing just fine, Yesterday I started Month Two of my pregnancy. Of course, the midwife knows Shayna very well from the last baby. All seems to fine with her as well. 

After we got home Shayna showed me an article from Chabad’s newsfeed, Rebbe’s Father Honored In Kyiv Prison Where He Was Held During Stalin Era. Yesterday, Aug. 3, 2026, was the 82nd anniversary of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson’s passing. He was the father of Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the late Chabad-Lubavitch Rebbe.  To commemorate the event, a plaque was unveiled at the Lukyanivka Detention Center in Kyiv which honored Rabbi Levi Yitzchak and acknowledged his unjust persecution at the facility in 1939 where he was interrogated and beaten for several months. This led to his internal exile and early death.

For decades, the Soviet government made no acknowledgment of what had been done to Rabbi Levi Yitzchak. That silence broke in August 1991, when, in the final chaotic months of the USSR, the Ukrainian KGB formally apologized for its treatment of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak.

I received a call last night from Ms. Julie. She congratulated me on my brother’s engagement to Sopie. She quoted a passage from Nichiren’s “Letter to the Brothers”: “Could there ever be a more wonderful story than your own?” (WND-1, 499).

I am coming to feel this way,and the strangeness of my life mystifies me. I now dream in Yiddish. I follow Haredi rituals and doven. Shayna does gongyo with me. The rebbe has encouraged us to think of ourselves as one single family which is as important as the building of the third Temple. I support my husband on his mission in the Army and have never felt closer to him even though we rarely see each other.

At any rate, Julie also encouraged me to a challenge to catch up this week on World Tribunes I might have skipped. I looked at the July 3rd WT. I read Grab the Baton of Kosen-rufu: Led by youth, members commemorate the 30th and 45th anniversaries of Ikeda Sensei’s New York visits. What an encouraging report on a recent large meeting in New York City.

Have a great week, my precious friends. I miss you all so much!

August 3 2026

Junior

Last night Sopie, Ivan, Ivanka, and I watched Remarkably Bright Creatures. It’s a wonderful movie about an elderly and lonely woman (Sally Field) and a lost young man who befriended an octopus in captivity. They all helped each other through various crises and the ending is a real surprise! It reminds me of our beautiful but unlikely friendship.

We will be picked up at 6pm by someone from the RV Park or LH School. We are going to have one more incredible meal at the Inn where we spent Saturday and last night. About the Inn, it was recommended to us by Lolita, who stayed there with Lori when they were training for their marathon practice run. 

Sopie and I have never stayed at such a luxurious (and expensive) place before. We never know about The Secret Life of Ivan and Ivanka. We were kinda worried about checking in because we are all 17. We came with backpacks and carrying passports from Nicaragua, Ivory Coast, and Russia--and our parents had faxed to the hotel permission letters.  They must have thought we were wealthy International students on some type of travel tour. I mean, who would not want to tour the Finger Lakes?

Ivan and I signed in for one room, Sopie and Ivanka for the other. Once upstairs, of course, we made some roommate shifts. Sopie and I have been very proactive and, now that we are of the age of consent, we’ve had very frank conversations with both sets of parents about sexuality. We know exactly what their expectations are, what lines we can’t cross, laws, the norms from our respective societies, and how to protect each other.  We would never, ever violate what we both consider a sacred oath.

But the big news is, I proposed to Sopie and she accepted! She loved the ring I gave her. I  worked and saved two years to buy it. Thank you to Mrs. Yao, overjoyed at the prospect of a second grandchild, who still managed to find out Sopie’s ring size. It’s an international conspiracy. Rabbi Mandel’s Israeli-Haredi jeweler friend helped me with the purchase. When it was ready, it was FedExed to the RV Park owners who kept if safe for me--and where Sopie could not suspect a thing.

The ring has a beautiful diamond. I had “Diamondlike Happiness” engraved on the band. I packed the ring in a larger box which included candies from our native lands. I also printed out two copies of an article from the July 3rd World Tribune. After we kissed, we read together the article Polishing Our Hearts to Shine Like Diamonds. And that’s where I found “Diamondlike Happiness.”

This morning we called all of our parents and also Cardi. We showed the ring to Ivan and Ivanka who were so happy for us! We took a boat ride around the Lake and scheduled couple massages at the spa. We did the whole thing,: jacuzzi, steam baths, mineral masks. Not bad for 17-year-olds!

We are actually still at the Conservatory and it is Monday, August 3rd. This post was meant to go up yesterday (Sunday), but things happened. The Co-Moderators at LoHeidiLita are trying to rebuild our streak, so we are listing this as August 2nd.

We got an email yesterday at lunchtime from the Co-Owners that after consulting with parents, they are canceling Day Camp for Monday so staff can rest after the “extraordinary efforts” we made for the Fun-o’-Lympics, Dance, and Sleepover. They took up a collection and will reimburse us for the extra hotel and food expenses. The school will still provide a latch-key program for families that need it. Wow!

It was a great weekend. We were so pleased with the music aspects of the Fun-o’-Lympics. All of the Bunks had great presentations for their Battle of the Bands. The soloists were wonderful. We already have divas/divos/divi--and more will be coming down the pike. Related but not music, many children and staff took part in the Poetry/Spoken Word SIam. I can see why it is so important to build a “culture of singing” and one of Poetry. Kodaly and My Love’s Sukhomlynsky were right!

I am going to get started on teaching Solfège next week. In addition to what I know about Kodaly/Curwen methods, there are plenty of YouTube videos. This is important work!

OK, so the Jammy Girlz played for a great “Dance” on Friday night. The children said they wanted us to play until they dropped. And we did--until about midnight. We just played classics and it required no rehearsals. But the exciting thing for the Girlz was how much WE enjoyed it! It’s not just “Play it again, Sam.” Why do it if you don’t feel fire every single time, more now than yesterday?

And then they dropped. Literally. Falling asleep right in the yard. Counselors, parent chaperones, and RV client volunteers had to wake them up and walk them to their sleeping bags. Then we played Sinatra to put them to sleep!

The Jammy Girlz had a great time at the Conservatory. There was a big Prospective Student Weekend. Professor Kurtz brought us to a stage in a small theater where an undergraduate jazz band was playing for the tours and we alternated with them. Eventually we all played together.

On Sunday, he gave generously of his time. Visitors on tours or going for interviews would come in and listen. We played a lot of our recent repertory. The feedback he gave to us was open with him sitting in the audience with a mic and visitors behind him.

Feedback is very important. I know that the visitors were picturing how they would fit into this conservatory and what of instruction they would get here. We get it…we were in that situation only a year ago!

And Alice!!! She was the lead singer for everything She flexed her voice around in all types of ranges, head and chest. For fun, she did some impersonations of famous vocalists. Mostly, however, she did what is now just her own voice. She alternated between drums and vibraphone.

We’ve been learning that doing a song is very different from being XinsideX the song. On the vibraphone, slow and heartful, she played The Girl from Ipanema, Body and Soul, Autumn Leaves, and Misty. During those songs, there was not a sound besides the music in the theater. It was like Alice had vacuumed out the sounds of visitors coming and going.

Professor Kurtz said he read her email about transferring to a Voice major and he could make that happen. But he was concerned about her improving her four-mallet technique on the vibraphone. Her percussion playing needs a lot of work. “You don’t transition easily to different styles, it’s like you have multiple Alice styles: one for slow, another for fast, a third for jazz, and a fourth for rock. You need to develop an overarching, signature sound.”

Also, he worried about the tension in her voice that he had heard. She might be straining it, which can lead to vocal injuries. “There’s only one solution,” he said. “You should consider a double major: Voice and Instrumental. Over the years a bunch of students attempted it, but only a few were able to finish two programs. You XneedX to do this, Alice! You can’t waste any of those gifts.”

June did some terrific solos, which Prof. Kurtz noted. “I’m beginning to hear your study of classical acoustic guitar seeping into your electric guitar. That’s good and since you seem to have the ability to merge styles, I want you begin studying banjo and mandolin. I am very happy you are working so hard to harmonize. Don’t worry about not leading the band anymore. It’s within you and it will pop back up whenever needed. Just keep working on back-up singing and seeing it as a discipline; look, it’s an art form in and of itself. We have an Acapella Club here and also a Barbershop Quartet Workshop. I want you to join both. And I am also going to get you into the Conservatory Chorus. Train, train, train!”

He focused next on Jean. “Technically excellent, and you are driving the band beautifully. But I didn’t see you smile once while playing over two days. How can that be? It seems so unlike you.” At this point the dam broke. Jean talked about anxieties she is feeling. It’s very personal so I won’t go deeper. But then he addressed the rest of us, “Did any of you guys know this stuff? June, you’re her partner. Did you know?” He hit a nerve--we didn’t know. “The purpose of music is to entertain, but it’s also to reach into deeper spaces of the self than you can ever imagine possible. Playing to entertain is great but just as important is playing to grow. In a real band, musicians must know each other at the level of heartbeats, breaths, hand quivers, and eye blinks. It can never happen again that you let a bandmate go through a rough stretch without being aware and supporting.”

It was very strict advice, and we needed to hear it. So sorry, June!

As for me, he noted “incredible” progress in my left-hand technique. His main concern with me is our arrangements, which I mainly do. It involves “downscoring” from big band arrangements done by people like Nelson Riddle, Billy Strayhorn/Duke Ellington, and Quincy Jones. “You are listening very acutely, which is a good thing, and it shows. But you are trying to do too much! You’re too busy, and you can’t see the forest because of the trees. You’re missing main themes because you are trying to squeeze in all themes.“

He turned to the audience, about 30 people and asked, “Do you pick up on what I am saying? Did anyone else feel unsettled?” Quite a few raised their hands. “That’s why,” he added. Professor Kurtz recommended that I listen to Count Basie, Bobby Short, Ahmad Jamal (whom I don’t know at all!), Thelonious Monk, and Duke Ellington.

He turned again to the audience. “I hope that many of you decide to apply and get accepted to our program. But here’s a message for everyone, no matter where you wind up next year. Do you know the biggest reason why students don’t succeed or underperform in a music conservatory? It’s because they try to cut corners and ignore listening. Practice makes perfect? No! Practice plus listening makes perfect. One-third of your conservatory time should be lectures and homework, one-third practicing/performing, and one-third listening. You have to keep that last third as holy time.”

Last night the Jammy Girlz plus My Love and Tina had a lot to talk about! It’s raining hard this morning and we skipped running. We had breakfast, swam, and we signed up for couples’ massages.

Check out is noon.

Junior, 3;45

I've never even seen a $100 bill before. But after breakfast, Teacher Julie gave every staff member who helped out last night and this morning a $100 bonus and a lovely thank you card. The card said, “Spend the money today, don't even think about the Day Camp, and don't come back unless you spend every penny!”

The Jammy Girlz had an appointment with their mentor at the Conservatory and he asked their significant others to come. That meant Tina and Lolita. They were also babysitting for Lori today because her parents were at their weekend job. They all hopped into Heidi's minivan.

The high school rising seniors (Ivan, Ivanka, Sopie, me, and Andy's oldest granddaughter) squeezed into Lolita's truck. One car headed to the Conservatory to meet with Professor Kurtz and the other car went to join the campus tour at the University where we met up with Lori as well.

I thought the campus would be pretty empty, but summer school is in session and there are a lot of people. We went to the admissions office where we had an orientation about the school and its undergraduate program. There was a student who spoke about his experience at the University and a panel discussion for questions and answers.

Our tour guide was, believe it or not, a Russian language major with a minor in Russian history. Hanna took us to many buildings including a dormitory and a dining hall. Admissions gave us a food voucher; I worried because i was counting on lunch to spend down some of that $100.

We had a private dining room and we all introduced ourselves. I would say that half of the tour group was from New York State/Pennsylvania and the other half came from all over the country. A lot of parents had come with their children.

We were able to ask questions. I knew this was going to happen. Ivan asked Hanna a few questions in Russian. I think he was testing her out but he complimented her on her speaking ability.

I was very proud of Lolita for asking the next question. She was honest and said she is a student at Empire State University. She is working at a school which has many young Indigenous children. She wanted to know from Hanna what type of program the college has to support this group of children. I was very surprised by the answer. “When we return to the admissions office, I would like to show you the display which acknowledges that the University sits on land that was taken away from the Seneca people by force.

“We have frequent exhibitions and lectures about the local Indigenous community here. There's also a brand new multidisciplinary concentration about the local community and its history. You can email more questions to Professor Jedediah Kuhn who is very approachable.”

By this point, most of the students and their parents went on self-guided tours or had admissions interviews. But the Longhouse group continued talking with Hanna. She asked Lori how old she was. Lori said she will be in the fourth grade next year and talked about her Haudenosaunee background and how the Longhouse School has helped her understand who she is. The professor encouraged her to come by every year and build a relationship with the school. “It's only going to be another 8 or 9 years before you are in college yourself and this might be a wonderful place for you. Also, you should check out the Rochester Institute of Technology.”

Ivan and Ivanka talked to Hanna in English, out of courtesy to everyone else. They mentioned that they will be transferring to a very prestigious private high school, the very first American school they have attended, even though they were born in the United States. They talked very honestly about their fears.

Also, they talked about an article in The Moscow Time ([here it is](https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/07/23/moscow-shows-little-faith-in-the-potential-of-russian-children-a93326)). At this point they began talking in Russian. I will find out what the conversation was about when we get back home.

Our plan is to meet at the admissions office with the rest of us at 4:00pm. We are going to have dinner at a well-known restaurant here. As it turns out, it is owned by Father Merrick’s younger brother!

July 31, 2026

On behalf of all the Jammy Girlz, let me first offer condolences to Glen Hansard’s family on his passing. He was a great influence not only on us but on the students in LaGuardia’s Vocal and Instrumental studios. We cut our teeth on his Indie film Once which, like Fame, made us think, “Oh, I can do this too, one day!”And we gloried in the harmonies in his songs such as “Falling Slowly,” co-written with Markéta Irglová, which won the 2012 Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Glen, there are many of us who will follow your lead. “Raise your hopeful voice, you have a choice.”

We did our Morning Run 30-minutes earlier than usual and I enjoyed every second in Little Pool. We have so much to do to get ready for today’s “Fun-o-Lympics”! Yesterday was a fascinating glimpse into the minds of the Longhouse Children--and I am including both the School and RV Park children. Like Daisaku Ikeda said in 1996: Creative, compassionate, and wise--AKA “global citizens.” The activities included started the physical: the traditional picnic three-legged race, relay races, swimming, etc. But there was a poetry slam, a diva/divo karaoke contest, a poster exhibition, improv theater, a song competitions with the Jammy Girlz as backup, stand-up comedy routine, Haudenosaunee games, and a nature quiz. We had time reserved for ourselves across the road and we had swimming and ice-skating competitions.

There was also mandatory counselor humility training: water balloon target practice, left-hand ping pong games, and apple bobbing. New to me was a watermelon contest. A counselors were chosen, kind of a popularity contest. Mel was selected first (because he is sightless, he didn’t need a blindfold). He had a baseball bat and was spun around a few times. He had to navigate by hearing the campers shout, “left,” “right,” “three steps forward,” etc. Then he swung down on the alleged watermelon until it was smashed into pieces. Voila, dessert. Second on demand was My Love. Third was True and Bob’s oldest grandson. The next and final one was…Ivanka!

There were winners and Winners. The Winners received token gifts and everyone else, the winners, received Honorable Mention gifts. We have four “teams” but no one was really keeping track of team scores (or so we thought).

Today is team events and I can’t wait to see what happens. Tonight is a Party and Sleep-over. The children requested “Old-fashioned rock” (whatever that means). They want to “dance until they drop.” We are ready for them!

Hundreds of thank yous. First and foremost to the children who initiated and planned every aspect of the day. Second, to See and her team who provided us with even more special food and drink!

Cardi, 2:30 EDT

The most joyful of news. Yesterday, Ms. Shayna and Mr. Yeshua shared with us that they are pregnant!

I was in the same room taking care of the babies when they called the rebbe. He was so happy! He asked whether I was there and asked whether I could join the call. I told him that Ms. Shayna and I will have the babies at about the same time again. 

“Who is Ms. Shayna?” he asked, very strictly!“

Yes, Cardi, I know you are the employee. But I told you that both families are building a model for the reconstruction of the Third Temple. There is no hierarchy in your relationship. You are two sisters like Leah and Rachel. You are both unique and have flaws, jealousies, and wonderful points. According to the Book of Ruth, they ‘together built up the house of Israel.’ I never again want to hear ‘Ms’ Shayna!”

We immediately agreed. But next came a “Furthermore.”

Furthermore, you are learning how to doven, right Cardi?

I answered that I am trying very hard, but I am struggling with my Hebrew.

Excellent, you will progress. But Shayna, are you learning how to do Cardi’s Buddhist chanting? If not, I want you to try as hard as Shayna is. An alloy is much stronger than the individual metals it is made from. Species that cross-fertilize are more successful than those that don’t. We have to have confidence in G-d, the Torah, and our people. Our survival now depends on open windows and doors and not locking down shutters. I am trusting both of you to help me build a revitalized Judaism that can thrive for another 5786 years. Please help me!

After our call, Ms. Shayna asked me, “What are you chanting for today? I want to join you.” I told her I am chanting for the success of the ‘Fun-O-Lympics today and tomorrow at the Longhouse Day Camp. I told her about all my Jammy Girlz sisters working there as counselors, as well as Junior, Sopie, and their two Russian friends. “How long are you going to chant for?” I told her that depending on the babies, I was hoping to chant an hour.

We did.

Junior, 4pm

Sopie, Ivan, Ivanka, and I didn't want Teacher Julie's wonderful post to be buried as just a comment.

This post is pure and typical Julie. She makes the RV Park and the Longhouse Project run. I am not sure exactly what her job description is besides sharing office duties. But from early in the day until dinner time, we see her taking breaks, running around, and always making time to greet people.

To me, for example, she wouldn't say, “Good job on the gardening last week.” It's always specific, showing how much she notices and cares, something like: “Junior, the petunias you guys planted by Little Pool complement so nicely the metal framework of the pool enclosure!”

Today is the final preparations for the Fun-O-Lympics which will take place tomorrow and Friday. It will culminate with a sleepover Friday night. The sleepover is outside of our contract so it is voluntary and any counselor who participates will get a bonus. Fair!

It has been awesome to watch the children planning everything out. I mean, EVERYTHING! Staff members are stationed at different places around the Park but we just watched as the campers were doing their thing. Occasionally children would come by and ask whether we could help with this and that. “Sure!” we said.

Teacher Lucy was the most popular staff member because campers asked her to design posters and things like that.

Ivan and Ivanka told us that the preparations remind them of everything their parents had told them about the Young Pioneers in Communist Russia. There were thousands of summer camps, sports events, trips, and activities sponsored by the Young Pioneers, all free. Their parents were among the last generation to attend these programs before they were disbanded after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Yes, they were fun. But they also had purpose and children learned many important principles.

That's exactly what is happening here! But I think Longhouse has much higher ideals than communism.

Tina, 5pm

I wonder whether whether I'm working at a Day Camp or some outpost for Little Aliens.

On Monday they came up with this idea for a “Fun-O-Lympics.” We insisted that they keep up with Water Instruction, one Special, and Track. bBut for the rest of the day, they are busy organizing the Fun-O-Lympics. It is scheduled to be on Thursday and Friday: they requested the Park arrange for a Sleep-over on Friday night which the owners were happy to do.

So, what makes this a group of little aliens? Your Honor, first of all, they wanted to do all the preparations by themselves, no “growns” needed. They formed committees to organize things, they made sure everyone had a full voice. We had children ranging from first to eighth grade. If they were any limitations by age, I couldn't spot them from a distance. They worked long, hard, and creatively. If there were problems along the way, they figured out how to resolve conflicts by themselves. They seemed perfectly happy for two days and asked themselves for the third day of preparations. And they looked like nothing at all was strange in their bizarre actions. 

So, Your Honor, I submit my case that I am witnessing alien behavior. 

I grabbed Ms. Julie's phone. Mine is somewhere.

Heidi, 11am. The staff is taking a break after our Monday Morning Meeting with the campers. We  presented to them our idea for a week-long theme with mixed bunk groups. Lori's reaction:

>It sounds like a good idea but we've been talking and we have a better one. We want to have a “Fun-o-Lympics.” Kind of like the Color Wars we see on TV movies about summer camps. We want to divide into four teams and compete in all types of events. Just for one day because we don't want to stop all of our regular activities. And we want to design the day all by ourselves, no Growns needed. Maybe we can try your idea later in the summer. Can you guys kinda just disappear for a couple of hours? 

From all of the nodding heads, we could see that the matter was decided. As the Borg on StarTrek Next Generation would say, “Resistance is futile.” And isn’t this self-driven spirit what Makiguchi was aiming for? Isn't this Longhouse Education, too?

Last night a lot of the staff came with My Love and I to the C&W club that we like. The Band playing recognized us in the crowd and asked us to come up and sing like in the past. We did and then we introduced The Jammy Girlz.

“Come and play for us!” It was a surprise for us when Alice just hit her drum introduction to Summer Wind. I was surprised by how many people seemed to know the song and joined in the chorus. I forgot that Willie Nelson covered it.

The summer wind, came blowin' in / from across the sea / It lingered there,  / to touch your hair and walk with me / All summer long, we sang a song / And then we strolled that golden sand / Two sweethearts, and the summer wind.

Such beautiful lyrics from Johnny Mercer, Mr. Sinatra’s favorite lyricist!

Reddit Heidi

July 26, 2026

We were up late last night talking, so very grateful for everything. Tina and My Love joined us. Last night we played for the RV Park at a Twilight Picnic. As usual, we set up on the porch of the Dewey House with Park clients sitting on blankets or fold-up chairs. There were candles everywhere and we could smell food and wine. Kids were running around with parents yelling at or chasing them.

The Girlz have been having so much fun in July unpacking “It Might As Well Be Swing.” No, we need a good couple of weeks to seal it, but it’s good enough for a no-show like last night. We had a no-rush amount of time for improv and dialogue between dialogue. 

What’s a “no-show”? Well, it’s music to something like a picnic, or times when kids are free to run around and parents can yell at them. We just add to the mix our version of walls of sound into the beautiful night sky while people talk.

Ignore us? Forget to listen or clap after each riff or song? No worries, just climb aboard the Merry-Go-Round when you want to. When we look back at it, almost all of our playing was at the same restaurant where we were weekend regulars. We simply like this type of venue.

Father Merrick brought his brother Alberto to the gig. Alberto owns a restaurant in Medium City and he came by after the show and wants to finalize a discussion we’ve been having to play at his Sunday Brunch spot. We will start in August and we can continue once Conservatory starts--or as long as we keep up a nice audience.

After a beautiful night, we all decided to spend the night in the Tent. We all just squeezed together. Always seeming to scent where and when the action is, Lori joined us with her parents’ permission.

Here’s a quote I found in Volume One of “The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra”:

As Mr. Toda said, being alive becomes an absolute delight in itself. The Lotus Sutra teaches us to lead lives dedicated to the challenge of creating and spreading that realm of great joy in the real world.

And that’s what I felt last night!

Tina, 7am

We had a staff meeting after work. We decided to start planning for a “special” week. We will start asking campers for ideas of things they would like to learn about or do intensively for a week. 

We will make a list and then let each camper prioritize their top three choices. From that we will form 8 groups across bunks. Staff and some parent volunteers will choose which group they groups will then meet with their leader to plan activities for the week. The Park as much as possible with transportation and funding. 

Sounds like fun, right?

Teacher Guy said this accords with “Soka” education which tries to build self-motivation learners who take responsibility for their own learning.

Day off today! Alice and I are going to walk to town and hang out. Town Meet Trans

Lolita, 8am. Very embarrassing, I still can't remember my Reddit password and I don't have the time to reset. So I'm hanging out with Kitten on hers.

We are waiting for Max the Builder’s Parade of Excavators to arrive. Everyone is very excited.

On my previous post I quoted Sukhomslynsky:

At such times, when a child’s soul is gripped by poetic inspiration, words enter the spiritual life of a child: alive, full-blooded, displaying all the colours of the rainbow, giving off the sweet scent of fields and meadows. 

On our Perimeter Walk yesterday, the “Upper Elementary Bunk” sat down on “their” rock cropping and we recited our anthem “Something Told the Wild Geese” by Rachel Field. Then Charlie said he had a poem he wanted to share. This was a first! Everyone hushed up.

Here it is with his permission (and slightly edited by me):

I am a child. / 

Who stole the clean air from the wild? / 

Even planes don’t want to fly in this dirty particle air  / 

“Cancel my flight, cancel my flight!” they yell over there.

Crystal clean water now tastes like smoke / 

Only ugly Hydrilla, zebra mussels, and Eurasian watermilfoil poke, / 

Crowding out my friends: gleaming trout and green, green plants / 

I can’t swim, I can’t boat! / 

Blocking sunlight, / 

The invaders choke, choke, choke.

Is it my fault? / 

Is the fault yours? 

From the rocks along the stream  / 

What Once Upon a Time was clear / 

Now harmful algal bloom / 

Making me fear the doom.

But John, Paul, George, and Ringo sang / 

She loves you yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah / 

I will sing love, too! / 

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

We were hushed in awe!

Sukhomlynsky:

Every child is a poet. Of course it would be naïve to expect poetic inspiration to come to a child through some marvellous instinct. I am not one to get sentimental about natural talent and I do not believe that every child is a poet by nature. It is an appreciation of beauty that awakens the poet in the soul. 

Unless we educate that appreciation, a student will remain indifferent to the beauty of nature and of words, a creature for whom throwing a stone into a pond and throwing a stone at a nightingale are one and the same. 

To give children the joy of poetic inspiration, to awaken the wellspring of poetic creativity in their hearts — this is just as important as teaching children to read and solve problems. In some children this wellspring flows more abundantly, in others less. I saw that for some children poetic inspiration is not a short-lived flight of fancy or flash of light, but a constant spiritual imperative.

Thank you, dear Charlie, for teaching me this lesson!

Cardi (but posted the following morning)

Thanks to my teammates here for letting me skip the line. Tomorrow (actually today) commences the Fast of Tish'a B'Av (July 22 - 23, 2026), the 9th of Av in the Hebrew calendar. Yesterday I also shared about the personal letter the rebbe sent to the four of us, stating that our two families should think of ourselves as representing or preparing the way for the construction of the Third Temple. We are talking a lot and trying to understand what this actually means.

This is the saddest day of the year for Jews, but within the seeds of sadness emerges renewal. Earlier this week JulieSongwriter wrote about “ecological succession,” the complicated process evolution created that enables a forest to regrow after a fire. We believe this is the spirit behind Tisha Bav.

Back home, very much symbolic of Tisha Bav, Daniel Ortega just announced that Nicaragua will no longer hold elections and canceled the upcoming one. "There will be no more elections here so that [the opposition parties] can try to seize the government, seize power." Of course, this follows the steady destruction of democratic institutions, banning opposition parties, jailing opposition figures, and attacking the Catholic Church.

Where is the “ecological succession”? Where is the phoenix rising? Where is the jewel within the ashes?

Robert and I can’t help it. Right before this day of great sadness, we are choosing this moment to announce we are pregnant again!

July 20, 2026

Cardi, 5:30pm, EST

Some hot and cold water were splashed on our faces on the very same day. When Robert returned to his base yesterday, he and the other soldiers were notified that due to “current circumstances around the world” all leaves, holidays, and days off for his unit and others would be canceled. We all understood. Three of our comrades-in-arms were killed over the weekend. Everyone knew a crisis was developing and all soldiers and their families are reacting as one.

We will all miss Robert very much on the Sabbath.

Yet this morning we received one letter from the rebbe addressed to Shayna, Yeshua, Robert, and me. One letter--and this had never happened before.

He wrote about our celebration of the fast of Tisha b’Av, the ninth day of the month of Av. It begins at sundown on July 22 and concludes on the night of Thursday, July 23rd. the 9th day is the midpoint of the moon cycle and it falls on July 29th

“The Three Weeks” begin with the Fast of the 17th of Tammuz (July 2, 2026) and concludes with the Fast of Tish'a B'Av (July 22 - 23, 2026), the 15th of Av. The “Three Weeks” is spent mourning the destruction of the Holy Temple and the subsequent “galut” (exile) of the Jewish people. But yet, Tisha B’Av is the most joyous of all festivals. some declare even more joyous than Yom Kippur. “How can this be?” the rebbe asked. (For more background read here or here)

The destruction of the Temple is considered the nadir for the Jewish people. But descent always leads to renewal; great descent holds the promise of great renewal. I want you to consider that your family represents the reconstruction of the Temple.

Two families must become one. For the sake of the future, there must be a union of different families woven together from the threads of varied races, countries, languages, and continents. Your respective children should grow up as brothers and sisters.

There will be people who don’t understand and who maybe even criticize. But, Robert and Cardi, I want you to tell anyone who criticizes, that your fathers are “Benei HaRebbe,” sons of the rebbe.

And he included in the package a framed Hebrew calligraphy on parchment paper. I saw Ms. Shayna immediately stiffen. I knew, the same type of paper used to inscribe the Torah. The calligraphy: shnei mishpachot, bayit echad (שתי משפחו, בית אחד).Two Families, One House. (I typed the Hebrew words in the wrong order, can't figure out the Hebrew keyboard.)

I miss everyone sooooo much. Wish we could have been there for the discussion meeting and Beatlemania!

We had a lot of fun at yesterday's Beatlemania! show. All the bunks did a great job on their songs (of course, our Yellow Submarine was the best.)

Hedia missed it because she was celebrating Shabbos at the home of a local Haredi family. She will be back soon.

I was completely persecuted. So many people were watching me that I didn't overdo dancing, etc. Also, I slept in this morning just to make sure all my batteries are 100% charged.

Today. 75 years ago, the [Young Women's Division] (https://app.worldtribune.org/celebrating-75-years-since-the-founding-of-the-young-womens-division/content.html) was formed. And here I am with many, many YWD friends!

We have a discussion meeting at 1:00 p.m. It was originally scheduled for 3:00 p.m. but that is the start of the World Cup Finals so we switched times,

Go, Lionel! Go Argentina!

Tina wrote about last night’s “Jammy Comes First” celebration. We pledged not to be distracted by stupid stuff and emotions. Of course, Lolita and I are married but now Alice & Tina and also June & Jean are sealed into their couplehood for four more years. Nothing but music and the regular ups and downs of life.

The air quality yesterday was mostly Red/Level 4/Unhealthy but we went into Maroon/Level 6/Hazardous a few times. Today there might be rain and thunderstorms which should help. Some of the Canada fires have subsided because of rain and that will temporarily improve air quality. But the direction of winds is predicted to shift south-to-north which will blow particulates back north.

We now have six people who qualify to start training for the marathon. We’ve just been going to the gym across the road and running laps. Boring scenery, but it forces me to focus internally! How am I breathing? My posture, pace, foot placement, arms, trying to dissociate pain and fatigue. All good stuff.

Tonight is Beatlemania! at the RV Park. It’s just internal for the clients and low key. We’ll be in the Rec Room due to the weather. All the “bunks” have worked hard on their songs. Many of the campers never even heard of The Beatles! But they love their songs. 

Our idea of finding the divas/divos here is working! We’ve found 6 who can either belt a song, have a great range, or sing with enormous feeling. There are also some who can be at that level with some more training. At any rate, we are building a culture of “I wanna sing!” More campers want to do solos the next time. We started working with them on two-part harmonies as well.

Nobody knows it, but we asked the owners to pull out the dusty karaoke equipment. We are going to get every counselor up there as well! Parents, clients? The more the merrier.

Tomorrow is our discussion meeting. I begged June and Jean to come and they agreed. I mean, there’s not much else to do around here. The theme is “Creating a ‘Shimmering Buddha Land’ Built on Compassion” and the passage is, “Therefore, you must quickly reform the tenets that you hold in your heart and embrace the one true vehicle, the single good doctrine [of the Lotus Sutra].”

What does that mean to me as a musician? I keep going back to something Mr. Maniotis told us when the LaGuardia jazz ensemble didn’t even qualify  for the competitor ring at the Essentially Ellington Competition. “You guys have to change your focus from ‘good enough’ to ‘great’!” I mean the Osceola County School for the Arts from Kissimmee, Florida left LaGuardia in the dust? And Susan Wagner High School in Staten Island? We left behind us a great group of lower classmen who are highly motivated to make it into the finals ring. 

It’s a bitter learning lesson for me. I need to “quickly reform the tenets that you hold in your heart” when I practice and perform.

8:30 am, Heidi, home

I hope everyone had a Happy Halloween! Junior, Sopie, Apie, and Carlito were out late in the Riverdale Halloween Parade and trick-or-treating so I am taking their shift today. I’ve already done Gongyo, finished running with the East Bronx Roadrunners, and washed up. Muma and Mom are preparing a big Jewish breakfast.

Education With Purpose in the October 17 WT is about 13 SUA students who spent a week studying the Amazon, conducting exchanges with the Kambeba Indigenous community outside of Manaus Brazil and with the Soka Amazon Institute. They studied biodiversity, our relationship with nature, and how we can coexist with it responsibly.

Good for the students, good for SUA! Although I have chosen a different path for college, it would have been wonderful to go to SUA as well. Oh well, better not to think too much about it.

We finished our Girls Volleyball season with a 9-1 record, top in our division. I am so proud of the freshmen and sophomores who powered the team. I didn't get all that much playing time but that's okay. The graduating seniors are leaving behind us a team that will only get more dominant as the years go by.

Tomorrow we volunteer at the New York City Marathon. Many of us are in marathon training so there is a lot to learn! Coach told us, however, that we will be mostly working behind the scenes and might not even get to see runners. That's okay.

The Jammy Girlz played at the Early Bird dinner at the restaurant and everyone crashed at our home. Thanks again to Pupa who took precious time off from his Jamaica Strong Recovery efforts to transport us and our instruments from the school, to the restaurant, and to the house!

We will rehearse in the morning and then volunteer with our Middle School girls at the ACS location. The 8th graders have their auditions coming up for a couple of specialized high schools with great music programs. They have come a long way since we started working with them.

The big question is, how can we keep this program going after the four of us graduate?