We had several performances this weekend.  Yesterday Sue, Rose and I went to an assisted living home in Casco, Maine called "Country Village".  It's a beautiful old farm house where people live who do not need nursing care, but do need some help.  We set up in the living room in front of their fireplace, and did close to an hour show.  Rose played three songs on her flute in addition to our usual juggling and magic routines.  Also notable is that we developed the ending of Rose's and my 'Jonah and the Whale' routine.  It's always been funny and entertaining, but it never addressed the fact that, even after the whale incident, Jonah was, well, a racist jerk.  OK, I don't say it that way in the show, but we added two more effects that tell how, although he obeyed God out of fear, he never learned to care about the Ninevites; The very people he was preaching to.  I like our new twist, and it will allow me to speak about Jonah's bigger concern for his own comfort than for other people, an attitude prevalent in the modern American church.

After the show, we headed to a local beach that was having a '18 and Under Talent Competition'.  Again, Rose played the flute, and recieved a big hand.  Naomi, our 18 year old, did a juggling routine that included fire balls, torches, machetes, sickles and rubber chickens.  When all was said and done, Naomi won the first place prize of $100.  It was a great, small town event, and we all had a blast.  Rose and her friend, Kendyl, enjoyed dancing to the taped music between acts, and a lot of people we know were there.

Then, today, Rose and I did a show at the Bridgton Health Care.  Again, Rose played flute during the show, and again, we added the new ending to 'Jonah'.  Our favorite part of going to this local nursing home is seeing our good friend Earlyne Proctor.  She always recognizes us and we have a few moments to speak before the show.  Today I took a risk, and , since Earlyne has been deaf since childhood, I translated what I could into sign for her. Obviously, when I'm juggling or my hands are busy with tricks, it's not possible (Don't talk with your hands full!) but I did what I could, and we could tell she appreciated it.

The activities director told us that, after 27 years of shows at this nursing home, she thought we deserved a $30 stipend instead of our usual $25.  I wanted to tell her that it's only been 26 years, but I thought I might lose our raise, so I kept my mouth shut!