We interrupt completion of our vacation analysis for the following: If you know Cam, my youngest brother, you may be aware that this weekend was his stage debut in The Seagull, a play by Anton Chekhov, at Century College in White Bear Lake. Because blood is thicker than greasepaint, the supervisor and I saddled up for an audience appearance at Sunday’s matinee. [An aside: If our family can be said to be reasonable successful as a family, it is because the four siblings reside at vast distances from one another.]

[This has absolutely nothing to do with our story; a private joke among some of the readership.  Like Russia from Alaska, however, it is visible from the Cenury College campus.]

Our first stop, however, was in Woodbury, where we finally caught up with a superstar from this blog, Basketball Dan. A brunch at Sunsets in Woodbury (a mere two blocks from his abode) set a fine beginning for the day (we were not aware of this Sunsets but have been semi-regulars at the one in Wayzata for boating escapades with the HQ). With his every weekend forays to the far corners of our country covering college basketball, we had not made visual contact with him since well before his annual turkey fest was snowed out (well, at least for us) in November. He has some eye issues, probably as a result of an aging physical plant, i.e., his body, but remains steadfast in his determination to keep educating the youth of the world as a business statistics professor at the University of St. Thomas (which, despite rumors to the contrary, was not named after me). Dan’s Final Four gang had a good time in Houston this year, allegedly because they enjoyed many fine dining experiences. We anticipate rejoining the group next year in New Orleans.

Now, to the subject matter at hand. Cam is looking to improve upon his geography degree from the University of South Carolina by taking horticulture classes at Century College. As a lark, and inspired by his thespian and cellist son, Michael John, he decided to try out for the play. And got the part! So we went to see it. Cam played Shamraev, a bombastic, crotchety character . . . not unlike himself.  The other characters in the play went through four acts and a generation trying to figure out who they were in love with and why. Except for Shamraev, who generally just worried about his horses. The cast was multi-generational, reflecting the make up of today’s college attendees – Cam was not the only oldster. We enjoyed the performance – Cam did a great job as a first-timer but remains faithful to his true love: the care and maintenance of green things!

[Shamraev with the supervisor.]

[Shamraev with a groupie.]

[Shamraev with his wife, Polina (Jenna Dickhausen, who is in her last semester at Century and will transfer to a 4-year college to continue her interest in theatre.]

It was also prom weekend, and Cam reported this exchange with his son. Apparently Michael came home from the prom at 11:30 – the following morning. Cam queried as to his whereabouts all night. Michael replied he spent the night at his date’s house. So Cam, being Cam, asked if they spent the night in the same bed. Michael responded, “Of course not!” To which Cam, being Cam, snapped, “Well, why not?” (He was kidding, of course . . . I think?) Which brings us to the hypocrisy of dads. Our other brother, Chris, is, like Cam, a rather large fellow. The first time his daughter, Jessica, went on a date, Chris greeted the young man at the door with nothing more than an intimidating growl. We assume the date went fine – after the young man changed his bespoiled under garments.

Finally, as we headed home after the play, we decided to pull off at Hemlock Lane to get a case of “3-buck Chuck” at Trader Joe’s. Of course, we forgot it was Sunday. There was a note posted on Trader Joe’s wine door noting it was closed on Sundays due to Minnesota state law. We appreciated the policy statement! Since we were there we decided to pick up at few items in the grocery store. When we got to checkout I began my usual banter with the cashier bemoaning the fact we were unable to purchase any wine there despite having driven 130 miles to do so. She eyed us both suspiciously, then finally said, “You’re a really cute couple! You are a couple, aren’t you?” Kinda made our day. 🙂

[Reputedly cute couple.]