NOTHING TO DO? HERE'S A PARTIAL LISTING

There's nothing going on. There's nothing to do. Nothing ever happens around here.

It's possible there are some folks in the Cape Girardeau area who can truthfully utter those too-often-heard words. But, as the hectic activities schedules of weekends this spring have shown, there is so much going on that it's hard to keep track of everything.

Last weekend, for example, was an especially busy one. Events started as early as Thursday and continued on through Sunday. This week has brought even more things to do, see and hear.

Consider last weekend's list:

The quilting show, an event of national importance, in Paducah. An arts and carts show at West Park Mall. A statewide conference on historic preservation. The annual banquet at Mid-America Teen Challenge. A concert by the McKenneys at the Holiday Inn Convention Center. The annual Mississippi River Valley Scenic Drive. A display of classic autos in downtown Cape Girardeau. Civil War encampment and re-enactment at Commerce and Bloomfield. A soccer tournament with more than 50 teams. A living history weekend at Massac County Park. Classic cars on display in Marble Hill. A flea market in downtown Cape Girardeau. The annual blessing of the bikes for motorcyclists at Bald Knob in Illinois.

Whew!

And then came this week's events, including a jazz concert Tuesday night at Southeast Missouri State University featuring the Jim Widner Big Band and trumpeter Clark Terry. And the Southern Living Cooking School at the Show Me Center Thursday that attracted thousands of visitors and participants. And the statewide convention of the Missouri Lions Club under way at the Show Me Center, including a visit of the president-elect of the International Association of Lions Clubs from Bangkok. And don't forget the Garden and Kitchen Tour Sunday, which is a fund raiser for Cape Christian School, refreshments included. And there's Baroque opera performed by Southeast's Music Theater Workshop at Old St. Vincent's Church Friday and Saturday nights. And a new show at Gallery 100, the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri's exhibit area in downtown Cape Girardeau.

All these special events, and there were still all the other things that go on as a part of living in this area: church services, club meetings, Scouts, golf, gardening, hunting, fishing, trips to area lakes, watching a movie on one of the 23 screens in Cape Girardeau, shopping at any or the hundreds of retail outlets, eating at the dozens of restaurants, enjoying dancing and music at some of the area's night spots.

It takes a lot of effort to put on all these events, but it's worth it for the literally thousands of people who enjoy the fruits of those labors.

Nothing to do?

You've got to be kidding.