The House on Hybiscus

perkyguy

ONE

In 1965, "The Sound of Music" received an Oscar for "Best Picture", as well as receiving four other Oscars. It also won the Golden Globe Award for "Best Motion Picture" and Julie Andrews won the Golden Globe Award for "Best Motion Picture Actress".

TWO

As good as the movie version was, it paled in comparison to the play version of 1990, when a small group of little-known thespians in the small town of Brookings, Oregon, performed the script live to literally dozens of audience members over a period of four consecutive weekends. That small group, known as the Chetco Pelican Players, included such stars as Belinda Perkins (who later dropped her stage name in favor of her missionary name, Belinda Moffit), and her father, Bruce Perkins (who chose to retain his stage name and who still uses it when signing legal documents).

Belinda Perkins (fourth from the left) stars as one of seven Von Trapp children.

Belinda steps forward during Captain Von Trapp's role call.

All seven Von Trapp children stand at attention facing forward. Well, maybe only six of them stand at attention.

Bruce Perkins (center) stars as Max Detweiler, shown here interacting with Captain Von Trapp and the baroness.

Max sang in the play, but not in the movie.

Max continues to use singing as his primary means of communicating with Captain Von Trapp and the baroness.

Max speaks to the Von Trapp children.

THREE

I recently mentioned on Facebook that I was practicing "What a Friend" and "I'll Fly Away" with my guitar and harmonica in preparation for a family performance in the Philippines with the Moffits. In response, Belinda said:

"We're like the Von Trapps! Hey, why don't you YouTube those two songs and the girls could watch them!"

So, in fulfillment of my biblical obligation to submit to my daughter (Ephesians 5:21), I have created the two requested videos so that Daisy and Ally can watch, listen and practice before I arrive. And I need to practice, too.

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

Click here for video.

I'LL FLY AWAY

Click here for video

So long.

Farewell.

Auf wiedersehen.

Goodbye.

perkyguy

After purchasing a flight a few days ago, my travel agent hand-delivered the paperwork to me at work this morning. So, on April 2, 2009, I will board a Northwest Airlines jet and fly from Medford to Portland to Tokyo to Manila. Then I will hop on another plane and fly from Manila to the island of Mindanao for a much-anticipated visit with the Moffits.

I have already started a list of things to pack for the trip:

1. My passport.

2. My harmonica (This will be for a family performance of "What a Friend" in the Moffit's church.)

3. A tambourine (This will be for the same performance and will be left as my gift to the church before I return home.)

4. Belinda's new Bible (She specifically requested a simple Bible with no commentary, not red letters, no footnotes...just a basic Bible.)

I'm sure this list will grow as the departure date approaches, but this is it for now.

perkyguy

Seven years ago, today, Debra and I got married.

Here comes the bride with her father.

I eagerly await my bride's arrival to the front of the church with best man, Lee, by my side.

The rules include: You can't get married until you first listen to a speech from the pastor.

Pastor Stan leading us in the exchange of vows.

With this ring I thee wed.

Seven years later, it's still fun to kiss.

Introducing man and wife.

This photo creates the false illusion that she is happier than me. She is not. No way.

Best man, Lee, and maid of honor, Ashley, exit the platform.

Seven years later, it's still fun to kiss.

The family (from left to right): Bethany, Tim, Don, Josie, Debra, Bruce, Ashley, Dee, and Gordon.

Maid of honor and newest daughter, Ashley.

Seven years later, it's still fun to kiss.

Cake cutting

Cake feeding

Among the guests were (from left to right) : Josie, Rylie, Silas and Bethany.

Seven years later, it's still fun to . . . Hey! Wait a minute! Never mind.

And away we go.

I am a lucky guy.

perkyguy

At about 6:00 a.m. this morning, Ashley left the house for Ashland to hop on a bus with her college band class at SOU for a trip to Eugene. At about 7:00 a.m. Debra and I heard Ashley's key rattling in the front door knob. On her way to Ashland, and only a few blocks from home, she hit an icy patch on the road and slid into a curb.

She was not injured, except for mild trauma to the part of her brain that controls emotional responses to trials and tribulations. She also suffered moderate stress to her tear ducts. Other than that, she was unscathed. For that we are thankful and we told God so.

The car was towed to the shop where our mechanic will check it out on Monday, offer a diagnosis and suggest possible treatment.

This is where Ashley left the car following the incident.

The fender was not bent, but the impact pushed the tire into the fender where it now rubs, making it undriveable.

The tow truck driver mounted Ashley's car onto the bed of the truck.

The car is now in the parking lot at the garage.

perkyguy

This is the Weathersby Bunch. They include (from left to right): Silas, Bethany, Naomi, Tim and Devon.

Naomi is Bethany's daughter from her last marriage.

Devon is Bethany's son from her first marriage.

Silas is Tim's son from his first marriage.

Bethany is my older daugher and Tim's current wife. She is not Tim's previous wife and she has not been married more than three times.

.

Tim is my current son-in-law and Bethany's current husband. He is not Bethany's previous husband and he has not been married more than two times.

.

All the above statements are true, yet Silas and Naomi and blood relatives.

.

How is this possible?

perkyguy

I recently received a message from Tracy, mother of Hunter (who ranks number 7 on "The Roster"), in which she responded to a couple of questions I asked about her church. Tracy shared that, in addition to working in the children's ministry with 1st and 2nd graders, she also serves on Wednesday nights in Hunter's classroom.

Hunter's favorite song, according to Tracy, is "Open the Eyes of My Heart".

So, Hunter, I posted this video so we can sing a Grandfather/Grandson duet together over the Internet. Are you ready? Let's sing!

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord

Open the eyes of my heart

I want to see you

To see you high and lifted up

Shining in the light of Your glory

Pour out Your power and love

As we sing holy, holy, holy

Holy, holy, holy

I want to see you

Tracy and Hunter

Hunter, showing excitement either about singing "Open the Eyes of My Heart" or about some gift he got for Christmas. I'm not sure which one.

perkyguy

A couple of weeks ago at work, I met a new patient. Since I am the one who does the initial setups on new patients, I am usually the first radiation therapist on our team who meets new patients. Before introducing myself to this particular patient, I noticed in her chart that she was a travel agent.

"Hi," I said as I approached her in the waiting room. "My name is Bruce".

"Hi", she replied as she acknowledged her name. "I'll meet all your travel needs."

Interesting way of introducing yourself, I thought to myself, so I responded with "Great! I'm going to the Philippines in April. I can get tickets online for about $1200. Can you beat that?"

"Maybe", she answered.

Then we proceeded with her procedure, then she left, and then she sent me her proposed travel package via email. I closed the deal by paying her the dollar amount and, with great joy in my heart, I felt like breaking out in song!

My bags aren't packed, but I'm ready to go
I bought my flight just hours ago
Already I'm so happy I could cry
Thirty-five hours in the air
But I'm so happy, I don't care
I'm just glad that soon I will be there

I'm leavin' on a jet plane
I'll see my middle kid again
And her husband and her children, too
I think that I will quit this song now
'Cuz soon I will arrive in Mindanoa
Okay, now, this song is finally through.

Not only did I feel like breaking out in song, but I actually did break out in song. Click the play tab below: