It is Friday 6 pm, and the weekend has begun not a moment too soon. This has been a week of challenges; parenting challenges and professional challenges. However, tonight Mom and I will

enjoy two hours of sweet diversion at the Concert Hall where the Winnipeg Symphony orchestra is presenting Bernstein, Gershwin and Ravel. Dad would have loved it.

This is a weekend dedicated to cultural activities: symphony tonight, Cercle Molière's "Doubt" tomorrow afternoon and fundraising brunch for "La Maison Gabrielle Roy" on Sunday. Throw a little grade five science and social studies prep in the mix and I should come out a well-rounded individual by Monday morning.

One of my goals in launching this blog was to keep cousins in the loop with what is going on in one another's big picture lives. Not the daily stuff, rather what it is the next generation is up to. Think about it... we had a unique opportunity in that on at least two occasions cousins, aunts and uncles were reunited for a milestone celebration: Grandma and Grandpa's 50th wedding anniversary, and then a Grandpa's 90th at the farm (I trust someone will correct me if those occasions are wrong), and, it wasn't too many years ago that we had the well-attended cousins' reunion right here in the 'Peg. We may get another such reunion organized, but until then, I invite my first cousins to send me photos and "bios" of the next generation.

Clive will show you how it's done:

Ross (30), is a financial executive recruiter, he and his wife Joanne, a home-care nurse, live in Toronto with their only grandchild Jack (almost 2). Ben is featured in this photo with our wonderful Aunt Enid who is holding her great-grandson Jack, accompanied by Clive and Scott Campbell.

Clive and Terry's son Ben (27), is a biophysics/neuroscience PhD candidate; he and his wife Julia, a kindergarten teacher, live in New York City. Clive, does Ben look more like Terry's side of the family? Cousins, Judge for yourselves...

Phil, their third son, (23 in April), is an MD/PhD candidate, and lives in the Bronx. Clive has already admitted that he and Terry will be travelling frequently to NYC.

If Clive's children are any indication of the brain power this next generation possesses, there is high hope indeed. Thanks for the pix and update Clive. The photo of your mom was a nice surprise. It's not too late to send one of you & Terry; it would complete the genetic picture (no pun intended), and she might like some of the credit for the wonderful boys you have raised.

In the field of education we speak of modeling...showing the students what a successful piece looks like. The above photo-bio is perfect: short informative update and accompanying photos. N.B. The Blogger reserves the right to edit those submissions that prove to be circumlocutory (there are "advantages" to having a Thesaurus at one's fingertips!).

If that isn't incentive enough, if you don't send me photos and updates of your children, I'll be forced to feature my own offspring, and just how much do you want to know about basketball and X-box? And to my Burns cousins, this invitation includes you too.

Speaking of circumlocutory, I will sign off for today, and conclude by inviting you, nay, begging you to sign up as a follower of Penned in the 'Peg. Consider it your familial duty.

SB