Lakeside living

Eric and I had a lovely leisurely weekend. On Friday night we crashed on the sofa and watched three episodes in a row of Veronica Mars. That's how we watch TV. Mini marathon sessions...
Saturday was a beautiful day, and we went for a nice long walk along the lake, and sat down on a grassy knoll to enjoy the water and Chicago skyline. Then we took our books to a lakeside neighborhood and sat at a sidewalk cafe with an icy beverage and a light lunch. All very delightful.
Later that day, once back at home, the street started shaking, and so we went outside to join the neighborhood block party and talent show that was ensuing. One of our friends from church, Katherine, works for a community organization and spearheaded this mini talent show, featuring for the most part kids from the neighborhood. On display was art, baked goods, some rapping, some singing, some dancing.
But one of the most touching and humorous moments from the evening featured a couple of guys in our church, Chuck and John. They are somewhat mentally disabled, but lead pretty independent lives. They are in their 50's I'd say, and are the best of friends and roommates. Well, after watching act after act by others and giving enthusiastic applause, they announced that they, too, wanted to get up on the stage. And so it was arranged, and before you knew it, Chuck and John were in the limelight, holding the mic, and leading us all in a rousing rendition of "Take me out to the ballgame"! And everyone sang with. Even some of the rough neighborhood kids who usually show pretty a tough facade. It was pretty cool.