'A Reliable Wife'

This is a psychological thriller. It begins with an ad in the paper for a reliable wife, to which Catherine responds that she is a simple, honest woman. Catherine is anything but simple, and honest ... matter of fact nearly all the characters in this
story are anything but simple and honest. All through the story we wrestle with characters who are searching for love while believing that they are neither worthy of it nor capable of receiving it. As the two main characters each struggle with their own psychological complications their close proximity begins to ignite the light of love in both their lives. Sex is often seen as the most powerful force in this novel, but that is a red herring, for the most powerful force in this story is how a growing love fosters forgiveness and grace; and how the rejection of that forgiveness and grace destroys one's life. There were are illustrations of how the quality of our life is often stunted because of our unwillingness to allow love to change us; how our unwillingness to accept forgiveness from others makes our lives even more bitter. As the story weaves its tangled web it invites us to not only step inside the story, but examine how our lives are often filled with bitterness and disappointment and how we respond to those times. As we come to the end of the story I am shocked by the change that has come into each character's life through their relationships; relationships entered into for selfish reasons that now have become open to selfless sharing. ENJOY.
A RELIABLE WIFE. Goolrick, Robert, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 2009 ISBN: 9781565129771

Gone, gone, gone!

I have previous to today's visit to the podiatrist been the notorious owner of a couple of the worlds 'most fungused' big toe nails. The doc told me I had some alternatives to care for the situation; 1] just trim the nails back - nope, tried that a year ago and it didn't work, 2] Take pills for three months, only a 75% guarantee they would work, plus the outside possibility you could get liver/kidney complications -nope, I wasn't going there, 3] just remove the toe nails, never to return again. Now this last option I could live with. For years the 'good wife' has instigated my grandkids to look at 'gramps toe's' ... then they would shrek in horror; now I've got the upper hand - wait until I show them my big toes without a toe nail, that should raise some interesting questions. I was in and out of the doctor's office, including the removal of the nails, in less than an hour - and it didn't hurt! I know there will be some illustrations I can take from this experience in the future. Those definitely were two 'ugly' toes, and embarrassing whenever I would go to the beach with the grandkids or be tussling around the house.

Memories are Powerful!

This past Friday night, the 'good wife' and I went to a Michigan Ski Resort for a Pops Concert...it was a fulfilling experience. The Grand Rapids Symphony hosted the 'Spectrums' as they performed an evening of 'MOtown's Greatest Hits.' For those of us who are getting older, the tunes of the 60-70's hold many memories, especially for those of us who associate events with the popular songs of the times. Its the second year that we've gone ..... with literally thousands stretched out across the slopes, some sitting on blankets, others in chairs, many brought their dinners, and most of us at least had our drinks and snacks. All through the night there were two platforms for those who wanted to dance during the music. I thought since each song brought back a memory I would list the songs: 1] by the Temptations - 'Get Ready,' 'The Way You Do The Things You Do,' 'Ain't Too Proud to Beg,' 'I Can't Get Next To You,' 'I'm Gonna Make You Love Me,' 'My Girl,' and their first big seller 'Just My Imagination.' 2] by the Miracles - "OOh Baby, Baby,' 3]Delfonics - 'La La ... Means I Love YOu, 4]The Drifters - 'Under the Boardwalk,' 'Up On The Roof,' 5]James Brown - 'It's A Man's World,' 6]The Spinners - 'Rubberband Man,' 7]The Four Tops - 'Reach Out, I'll Be There,' 'I Can't Help Myself' 8]The O'Jays - 'Backstabbers,' 9] Stevie Wonder - 'Uptight,' and there was also a Medley of songs by Four Tops!

Then this past Saturday, we attended the funeral of the sister of a friend of my wife's; this was both a sweet/sour event for her - she got to see one of her best friends she rarely sees, but it was also because of the death of a relative. Following the reception [it was in the Big City East] we were able to go and spend a couple hours being with our Son and his family before we had to cross the state and return home.

I thought so!

My cousin, Darius[not his real name], confirmed a story that's been floating in the wind for years. A story that I've only heard whispers of, but he confirmed it. My oldest aunt, the oldest sibling in my father's family was evidently born out of wedlock. Now this may not appear to be such a big thing to us today, but in 1907, believe me, this is not something you talk about. As I was preparing to take some family info to the reunion, I happened to noticed again my grandpa and grandma were married in 1910. Now, this first-child was my cousin Darius's Grandma, and he mentioned that his mom had briefly told him about it; but he still didn't know the particulars, and probably since both Gramps and Gram are gone, and all the original siblings we'll might never know them ... its one of those stories you store on a shelf, you don't throw it away, and maybe some day you'll accidentally come across the details. It's also a big story because both Gramps and Gram were rather strict Amish-Mennonites [and they were second cousins, more than you wanted to know, right] .......... so 1] was my aunt born from someone that Gramps never married; 2]could it be that her birth mom died or moved away before Gramps had a chance to marry her, [maybe her family was determined she wouldn't marry Gramps; 3] could this be the child that Gramps and Gram just never told anyone they had had? So many questions. The interesting thing is that it never became a big family issue; and even more interesting is the fact that evidently none of her siblings EVER made it an issue. How could such a potentially explosive issue survive underground through the life journeys of such a large family; and believe me there have been a couple big divisive explosions in the family - and this story remain secretive. I don't know if it's how the story remained so secretive, or its details .... but I'm not giving up on it ... there's another hidden story just waiting to discovered! And by the way my cousin Darius is just as anxious as I am to make that discovery.

A Midwife's Tale

I really thoroughly enjoyed the book, and could hardly put it down. Of course there being a fragile, tenuous genealogical line didn't hurt. The diary is about an early Maine midwife Martha Ballard, who is the forerunner of her niece Clara Barton [Red Cross]fame. It is great how historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich weaves a true story from the tidbits of her diary. Martha's diary opens a world that most of us would never see
or come to know about. Not only is she a wife, a mother and a midwife, but she also keeps a garden, runs a family business and becomes appreciated and respected for her steadfastness of servanthood in a world and time full of chaos and rebellion. Her willingness to sacrifice is almost legendary and certainly stands as a reminder to how close family/friends/neighbors used to be, something not many of us know much about. Her being close-mouthed in her journal, when wronged by others, was a disciple of faith, not only in her God but in her believe in the goodness of her fellow-man/woman.
Later on in her closing years she opens up a little more, but still maintains a discreetness that is embarrassing to most in our culture. She is one of few privileged women in that early age to be invited to view autopsies, and her home grown medical knowledge often surpasses the textbook wisdom of doctors. On that note it interesting to note how closely midwife's and doctors worked, certainly closer than the usual doctor-nurse relationships today. As I read this story so much about her faith and servanthood held her steady through many many trials. This is an eye-opening book for anyone interested in the history of the formation of our nation ........... both in what was gained, and what has been lost. I can not say how impressed I was with the author who wove together such a spell binding story from so many sources ... its was as though Martha's diary was the treasured find that pieced them all together! If ever there was a pioneer person who knew without a doubt what God's purpose for them in life was ... Martha knew! It is not only a history story, or a story for the ages, its a story for today, for my kids, for my grandkids. I am definitely going to be getting the Documentary DVD!
ENJOY
A MIDWIFE'S TALE: The Life of Martha BAllard, based on Her Diary, 1785-1812
Vintage Books, Random House. New York. 1990 ISBN;9780679733768

Just a Highlight!

This past weekend I went to a Family Reunion of cousins. I say cousins because the 'original' brothers and sisters have passed one. It was a wonderful time for me as I sat with older cousins who told stories that I either was young to remember, or had not appeared on the scene yet. It was great; they also told a couple of stories that I could vaguely associate with, stories I had repeated but when pressed by my family couldn't really verify .......... but now I can. And the 'new' stories that I have can now tell about - it was just one fun time. Email addresses were passed around and the desire to have more frequent family reunions was expressed. I'm going to start journaling some of those stories so that I don't lose them, my memory is much to unreliable to depend on!!. My mother, one of two remaining 'in-laws' in my father's generation had a wonderful time, and there was an aora of respect around her since she was one of the two remains matriarchs - that was cool.

Both are 80 now!

Over this last holiday [the 4th] we celebrated the good wife's mother's 80th birthday..and the week before celebrated my mom's 80th birthday! I can not thank God enough for all that he has been to my family this last weekend. The kids from Syracuse, New York and Alabama and Michigan all arrived in central Illinois safe and sound, and safely have returned home; I don't know how many miles that would total up to but I know that safe travel for that many people that many miles is only by the grace and shelter of God ............ and now one harmed anyone! The reunion was a fun time, and the cousins absolutely hated to part, a couple of them shedding quite a few tears over the seperation. Though I'm certainly not fond of the great distances we share, maybe the times we are able to come together are all that much more special! At the big '80th' celebration on July 3rd I joined in the softball game [without mitts incidentally] of seniors vs. youngsters. That was certainly not one of the more intelligent things I've done the last great number of years ... it's Wednesday and I'm still recovering! But I did make one really 'nice' catch at first base on a pop fly; I went down on my knees and cupped my hands so there was no way I would miss it, and got a couple of cheers from my team with some hisses from the youngsters .... oh, the seniors did end up winning by hitting a home run in the bottom of the last inning [3rd or 4th]. It was so hot, we couldn't play any longer, plus unknown to the youngsters our legs were giving out! But its neat to go around bragging at this age that you beat teenagers; I'm almost certain that was my last sporting hurrah!!

I've mentioned before about my niece's daughter who just graduated from high school, we went to the graduation a couple weeks ago; and how the hometown they live in has no jobs, and their situation has weighted heavy on my mind. Well, my middle daughter and her family, from New York, invited her to come and live with them ... now this is really a shake-up ... no one figured she'd go, least of all my mother, who wasn't really for the idea, but she went ... and now we're praying that perhaps for once in her life, she'll really get to feel like she belongs in a family every day ... I applaud my daughter for this brave step, which no one else in the family [self included] was willing to take!

Well as I've said earlier, God just keeps throwing surprises in our path. Oh, I almost forgot to mention, on the way home we stopped in Fort Wayne, IND. and I got to have lunch at my 'mostest, favoooooorite chicken place' Chick-fil-A! I got a meal while the good wife shopped at the outdoor mall, and then later when she went to Chick-fil-A tried to get another meal out of her, ... well, she wasn't falling for that, .. but I did get an ice cream cone! Like a child, spilt the first one on the floor, the lady piled the ice cream to high, and they gracious gave me a much smaller second one.