A winter soul-stice with Fundamentally Sound

What’s a family to do when the Packer season abruptly ends and an interminable winter looms dark and cold?

Gather sweet friends for a big ole aca-awesome party. That’s what we did Saturday night and it turned out to be one of our most Fundamentally Sound ideas.

We took some of the nicest people we know, settled them into our church cafeteria, entertained them with a Stylistics-loving DJ and our favorite all-male acappella group, and really enjoyed the show.

Thankfully, our guests are the salt of the earth because our ficklest friend, the Wisconsin weather, shellacked our pretty little city in slippery ice, making travel and walking treacherous.

Once our fearless party goers tucked themselves in under the twinkle lights our friend Keith spent the afternoon helping me string, some good old fashioned kibitzing began.

I paused briefly during my happy hostess rounds, looked across the room and thought, “How lucky are we?”

Our daughters Katherine, who had driven up from her busy life in Chicago just to help us throw our party, and Molly, who spent her whole Saturday cheerfully helping us set up, kept an eye on the food and beverages.

My mom, who is 25-years older than I and eight inches shorter, gamely helped me haul a table down a steep flight of stairs in a Laurel and Hardy worthy scene.

My nephew Traveain, who with his roadie/father Keith and my sister Kathy drove up from Milwaukee for the night, volunteered to DJ for the evening.

Our son Vinnie and the charming, talented group of young men with whom he sings, conveyed a pure love of music and a contagious joy during their two-set performance.

Our priest, the unflappable Father Bill, helped us plan, setup and enjoy the festivities.

And our friends, who helped in so many ways, made the party relaxing and fun.

In my opinion, the best part about getting older is the opportunity it offers to enjoy a widening circle of friends.

Saturday night, we saw many of them during our own little winter soul-stice, a warm celebration of music and joy.

She never took off her new winter coat, but Grandma Peggy spent the whole afternoon helping us set up for our party.
She never took off her new winter coat, but Grandma Peggy spent the afternoon helping us set up for our party.
Team Traveain sets up the DJ equipment. Note: Traveain and Keith received their matching shirts in what has become an annual Christmas gift from Traveain's sister Trenette.
Team Traveain sets up the DJ equipment. Note: Traveain and Keith received their matching shirts in what has become an annual Christmas gift from Traveain’s sister Trenette.
DJ Traveain is in the house! (and available for hire in the Milwaukee area).
DJ Traveain is in the house! (and available for hire in the Milwaukee area).
Beat Boxer Peter Anderson wowed everyone with his mad skills.
Beat Boxer Peter Anderson wowed everyone with his mad skills.
A goofy beat boxing break between sets.
A goofy beat boxing break between sets.
I, I, I, I'm Stayin' Alive. Great rendition of a Bee Gees classic.
Ah, ha, ha, ha Stayin’ Alive. Great rendition of a Bee Gees classic.
Well you can tell by the way I use my walk I'm a woman's man, no time to talk.
Well you can tell by the way I use my walk I’m a woman’s man, no time to talk.
What a bunch of charmers.
What a bunch of charmers.
We're Fundamentally Sound.
We’re Fundamentally Sound.
Vinnie and some of his favorite fans. Let's hear it for the Cline-Schubbe clan!
Vinnie and some of his favorite fans.
Vinnie, who left his clothes in Minnesota on a previous leg of the tour, spent the evening as Karen.
Vinnie, who left his clothes in Minnesota on a previous leg of the tour, spent the evening as Karen.
The best part about getting older is all the great people you get to add to your life.
The best part about getting older is all the great people you get to add to your life,the many ways you can increase both the members of your family and the amount of people you call friend.

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