The End of Civilization as We Know It

I watched a new game show last night and was appalled.  We recently fixed our UHF antenna, knocked out by lightning over a year ago, and I decided to see what was on while folding clothes and soaking my feet.  I had noticed the ads for "Take It All" while enjoying "Jeopardy" on Channel 11, and thought it looked interesting.  It was.  Five contestants start the game, a combination of "The Price is Right" and the stealing game we do at Christmas.  They learn the price range of the prizes (Round 1, $5000-$12,000; Round 3, $33,000-$100,000) and attempt, through "opening" a new prize or "stealing" from one of the other competitors, to avoid possessing the lowest-priced prize at the end of the round.  The one who fails goes home with nothing.  That in itself should have been a warning sign to me that I wasn't going to like this game. So at the end of Round 3, law student Destiny enters the Prize Fight with the Porsche she "locked in," thus saving it from theft by Patrick, who therefore went home with nothing.  J.T. arrives with his private jet ski vacation, the top prize so far, valued at over $100,000.  Each draws an unknown cash prize, faces the other and starts talking.  J.T. assures Destiny and us that he intends to use his winnings to start an anti-bullying foundation, as he has always felt so alone in his homosexuality.  Destiny persuades him and us that the vacation to Italy is the main thing for her, and if they both choose to keep what's theirs, she will donate her cash to his foundation.  They're both crying when the moment of truth arrives.  If both press "Keep What's Mine," they keep it.  If both press "Take it All," both lose everything.  But here's the kicker:  if each chooses a different button, the one who pushes "Take it All" gets everything.  Naturally, you can guess what happened last night.  J.T. chose to keep what was his, but Destiny - with cash and prizes worth over $200,000 before she pushed the button - selected "Take it All" and walked out the door with winnings of over $400,000, sending J.T. home with nothing.  The entire audience gasped with mouths wide open; Destiny couldn't believe it at first, then raised her arms in the Victory sign.  "I took the risk.  I meant what I said about the vacation being the main thing, but hey - this is playing the game.  I won."  I wonder if she will donate her cash to J.T.'s foundation.  Oh, that's right - J.T. won't be starting a foundation.  He won nothing.  I won't be watching that show again, and it depresses me that there's an audience for it.  Is it the end of civilization as we know it?

Bell-Ringing

 - Lois signed our church up for Salvation Army bell-ringing at Cashwise on Wednesday.  The national Army headquarters has decreed that all shifts must be four hours instead of two this year, so the local branch is having a hard time filling the slots.  The confirmation students were drafted to ring during their class time, from 6-8pm, and we called for Luther Leaguers (high school) to help fill the 4-6pm slot.  I mentioned it to our Praise Team on Sunday, and they expressed their willingness; Zach even asked if he should bring his guitar so we could sing.  Our family planned to participate, but Pete ended up bringing Andrew and Philip to Plain View Farm, so Sarah and I were the only possibilities.  On my way there, I wondered if Lois, Zach, Sarah and I would carry the load, but I shouldn't have worried.  We had plenty.  Karen and Laurie, whose kids are past high school, were there; Jordan, Sarah C, Liz, Carter, and others I didn't see (because they were at the other door) joined us.  At the main revolving door, our group sang with guitar accompaniment for most of the two hours.  When I left at 6, the confirmation students - Mara, Taylar, Hannah, Erin and Austin - had arrived, and several of the older youth and adults remained as well.   Apparently the last time we sang while ringing at Cashwise, the donations hit a record high.  We'll see what happened this year.  Many customers expressed appreciation of our caroling through words or smiles.  Svea blesses again!

Peter Pan

When I entered the darkened theatre, the directors had just finished placing the actors in lines.  I could see Andrew in the middle of a line; knowing that Peter Pan would be at the front of a line, I realized Andrew had not received the part he had hoped to earn with his audition.  Sure enough, when they called out the cast names, Andrew was John, the middle brother of the Darling family.  An 18-year-old would play Peter.  I was a little concerned that Andrew would complain or fall into depression over this turn of events, but I was pleasantly surprised when he strutted back, handling his script, and announced in a manly voice, "I LOVE this part!"  Apparently, playing a know-it-all brother appealed to him.  Philip figured he would enjoy Starkey, a pirate, as well.  He's on the middle left below brandishing a sword; Andrew's on the top row, on the right, in the derby hat.

Having just returned from the second and final performance of Peter Pan, full of Cherry Berry goodness, I'm reflecting on the impressiveness of two directors handling 74 children in grades 1-12, plus acting the parts of Mr. & Mrs. Darling, Hook and Tiger Lil.  They seem to enjoy it also!  Andrew and Philip performed well; they said a lot of kids forgot lines, but we only noticed a few.  Another week of daily trips to town has ended, and both boys hope to participate in Tom Sawyer this spring.