Thursday, December 29, 2011

an old grandpa for xmas 2011

All 21 of us sat around the Christmas tree exchanging gifts according to Gram's directions. The gifts are limited, and over half of them are homecrafted ... we look forward to these. My oldest daughter and husband can things all year long, then at Christmas time her brother/family and sister/family and gram/gramps get this big container with all canned items, and we eat on them all year!!! And its always great joy to watch the littler kids open gifts.

This year I'd like to share with what I received....
from my oldest daughter/husband a homemade nut crusher, they live in the deep south were pecans are quite common, and the grandkids make money for summer camp gathering and selling them. This nut-cracker is great for nearly any kind of nut that comes in a shell. My middle daughter/husband bought me an Ohio State cap!! ... go bucks. Then
my son bought me a 'McGruder' uncut tape. Now all my kids know mom/dad don't watch R rated stuff, this dvd is rated 'r' because of strong graphic violence, obscene language and sexual content AND nudity! ............... go figure. I told the kids you really know you're getting old when your kids give you a ball cap, a nutcracker and a dirty video for Christmas! We have a great time, tonight my two oldest granddaughters and great grandson will be leaving for upper New York, then tomorrow morning my oldest daughter for Alabama .......... I'll be lost in the silence; but I'll manage with gram.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Chrismtas 2011 has begun..........

T'was the first day after Christmas!...........
Our kids&grandkids from Alabama arrived a little after 4AM this morning; after a long drive from the DEEP South - and each of them[6] went immediately to bed and fell asleep. Gram heard them knock - how she did that over the sound machine, I don't know. Except it was probably that built-in mother's intuition. She said to me, 'did you hear a knock on the door?' .. the only noise I hear is you, I replied. Stumbling out of bed trying to make my way to greet them, Gram had already beat me to the door!!

Early tomorrow morning our kids/grandkids/first great grandson will be arriving from upstate New York before the sun comes up [7]; then a few hours later as the sun peaks over the horizon, the kids& grandkids from Detroit will knock on the door[6]; although I suspect they won't have to knock, everyone will be wide awake as our Christmas celebration takes place.

I went out early, everyone was still sound asleep to get orange juice, a donut and my usual cappacino/coffee. I was bragging about our coming family reunion and the clerk said "that is so neat, paused, then added, would you have room for one more?!"

My prayer is that even when Gram/Gramps have departed for eternal rest, the family will keep on having family reunions. My one aunt's last request of her gathered kids and grandkids was 'NEVER STOP HAVING FAMILY REUNIONS, PROMISE ME!.' My fondest memories of family reunions are from both sides of the family; a blessing one gets from growing up in the 50's etc. However reunions on both sides of the family became really scarce since the families got so spread out, and it just seemed my generation didn't want to continue the tradition. But.....................a cousin of mine [father's side] and his wife have started the family reunions back up again, and for the last two summers we have had a tremendous time coming together! You can have all the possessions one could ever dream of but without family what good are they?!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!


P.S.... My son called us early Saturday morning and said that they had heard an old song [though I've never heard it, but Gram has] about a woman wanting to have this 'trist' with Santa, something about "Santa, Baby?" .. well, our two year old grandson got quite upset with the song, not about any moral issue, but the fact Santa was not a 'baby', but a kind old man with this flowing white beard!!!!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

"Another Troop Train"

This past May 16th I wrote a review on Bob Greene's book, 'Once Upon A Town.' It was about a town in North Platte, ND. that became a regular stopping mecca for trains headed east and/or west with troops aboard. The other night I was reading a history book on the good wife's hometown Decatur, Illinois, and was reading the section on the town's history and participation in the Civil War. I came across a curious paragraph,
"Trains filled with wounded soldiers passed through Decatur frequently, and all were met at the station by women from the 'Hospital Aid Society.' With baskets of delicacies on their arms they made their way among the suffers, to whom the words of comfort and encouragement meant as much as the food and drink. Decatur was a dinner stop for trains carrying wounded troops. [End of quote]*

It was really neat to read this and realize that long before WWII, there was a place,
[and there are probably other railroad stops not very well known about] that reached out to be of whatever help they could to others.

*History of Macon County, 1976. 24.Civil War Days. pg.185

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

"TEBOWED!"

After seeing trailers of the SNL broadcast on Tim Tebow I'm wondering if they would do the same today on someone who is a Muslim, a Buddhist or Jew?? Seems to be open season on Christians again .......... maybe it never stopped I just missed it?

Monday, December 19, 2011

Two Horses...........

Well I have found it ....................... the 'Indian' connection we've all heard about in the family, but no on believed. My grandpa Chester had said that way back in his family history there was a full blooded Indian, but since no one cared enough to really dig it was discounted as a myth. Yesterday I had a fourth cousin from Tennessee email me, and we began an email relationship about family. He was related to my grandpa's step father family, in which most of them live just across the state line in North Carolina. A little background: when grandpa was two months old his father died in Brushy Mt. Prison in Eastern Tennessee for killing a man; he claimed it was in self defense and so the official records say it was involuntary manslaughter and yet he ended up in state pen. My great grandma remarried and the only father my grandpa knew was his step dad. Well his step father's great grandma [on his dad's side]was a full blooded Sioux maiden from Oklahoma named Two Horses! I am so excited to at last put an end to myth ............ and prove Grandpa knew exactly what he was talking about. Now because it was my grandpa's step relationship I'm without even a half-drop of Indian blood but that's okay ........who knows, maybe some day I can 'track' her family down. Excuse the pun, I just couldn't resist, although I don't really like the term when applied to humans.

p.s. My grandpa, when he was a teenager in TN. broke out of jail, with his older brother for running moonshine, and they went north to Detroit and found jobs with the Wabash Railroad. Grandpa's older brother changed his name and moved back to TN near home. Its hard to explain that except the 'law' in those days, in those parts wasn't exactly in the same caliber as Sherlock Holmes... but Grandpa stayed up north and moved to our hometown, which was a major stopping point on the Detroit to Illinois Wabash line. ... there he eventually settled down and married Grandma. She is 98, in a nursing home, and mentally as sharp as a tack ... matter of fact, Gramma is about the only family member that enjoys talking family history with me.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Bayou Nickel

As I went to pay for my usual morning coffee, I happened to look at one of the nickel's I was giving and saw something on a nickel I've never seen. Since most of us don't closely observe pennies and nickels this was strange to me. It was a 2004 nickel, and on the back were two hands shaking and above them a long peace pipe and axe crossed. The words were 1803 Louisiana Purchase. I guess I never knew that there were some unique nickels out there with historical events on them .............. maybe next time I'll pay a little more attention; and to think I always laughed at people that picked up pennies on the sidewalk? ..duh

Friday, December 16, 2011

Anonymous donors at Kmart

It seems that Santa is getting a rush of donations paying off people's layaways at Kmart. I think that's really neat, and I'm certainly no Scrooge, and hope it continues.........but, but, but...

A lady in an Indianapolis Kmart paid for 50 people's lay-aways, then on the way out handed out $50 bills .. doing this in memory of her husband who had just died. I applaud that woman; and all the others who do likewise. However there are some concerns this raises..
~like the individual who said, "It was like an angel fell out of the sky
and appeared in our store." if the 'angel' had never appeared would
that individual still believe in angels??
~or the person who said, "I was speechless, it made me believe in Christmas
again." So that person's belief in Christmas is based on blessing
she receives; the article went on to say someone paid the balance on
her account which was for nearly $200 in toys for her 4yr.old son.
What's wrong with one or two inexpensive gifts?
has the meaning of Christmas really come down to 'how much we do or don't receive?' And though my heart was warmed by some of the stories of those who had their layaway's paid off, I believe there is a tremendous joy in store for those who chose to give. I would like to hear the stories behind those who paid off these accounts, but since most of them remain anonymous we'll never know them; but for them Christmas is about giving to others, not what they receive, for what they receive for their giving can't be calculated! Merry Christmas to all.

My mother, bless her heart, was really generous this Christmas and gave me a nice sum of money, not huge but certainly nice. She asked me what I planned to do with it, and I said, what I always do with the money she gives me at Christmas buy a book or two ............ but then after reading about Santa's helpers, all that money is
now going for gifts for friends who have so kind, helpful and gracious this past year. This is going to be fun!!
ENJOY

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Ole City Bank

Our church got a Christmas card from the City Bank in our town. Its a picture of when the bank was in its beginning years - one of those gothic pictures ... really neat. Of course its changed numerous times; matter of fact its latest building was built after the good wife and I moved into the area, and I can't even remember what it looked like. The websites for the bank don't have any former pictures, so I'm left with an absent memory and no resources to resurrect it.

In speaking with my office manager about the beautiful card she recalled when her family lived only a short distance from the first bank building and recalled when her mother would go to the 'walk-up' window at the bank .... yeppers, that's right the 'walk up' window. This was before a 'drive up' window; I didn't even know those windows existed. The inside clerk would pass her mom some gumballs for the kids thru the window. Imagine mom's now days giving their kids gumballs without wrappers passed thru a window of a commerical bank - can't see that one happening. But how neat to know that those kind of windows existed so that customers wouldn't have to come inside to do their transactions.
Just another neat little insight into yesterday!

Monday, December 12, 2011

MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME...........

........FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN!!
I can't believe I read this book; I am not a Stephen King fan, and even though he didn't write this book, I'm sure he would be proud of it. Many years ago I bought a book by Stephen King titled, "On Writing," figuring any person that had the following and number of successful novels he had had to know something about writing that I could learn from. My pitiful attempt to writing a book, which at this time is heading into complete rewrite, isn't even a blurp on the list of his voluminous books. After reading this book last night, I tried to find words to describe the book. It was certainly imaginative; and to younger readers probably a story that would keep them up many nights, constantly checking under the bed and jumping out of bed at the slightest noise ... but positively it lacked any bad, or off color language! I still wouldn't let anyone in my family under the sixth grade read it. The author's imagination at times seemed sane, and you actually thought, 'maybe that could happen.' But then a few pages later you were reunited with the totally insane. I know there are many teen series, such as the 'twilight one' that deal with the unnatural, but this book takes you back to an actual historical time and place; and though its not a historical fiction it reminds you how important history was in the authors design for his book. Perhaps its that historical aspect that kept me reading the book when I continually debated just putting it down ...or maybe its the 'time travel' concept, taking you back and forth that kept me hanging in there. But in the end its the 'good vs. evil' struggle that I had to know the conclusion of.
In many ways I guess the author was wanting to raise cultural and relational issues we face in every day life. Finally let me say the author has done something truly 'unique.' Ransom has done a great deal of research and found photo's [and some of these are pretty weird] to 'document' his story line; its akin to a Barnum and Bailey side show journey. Matter of fact the author insists that many of the peculiar children participated in those sideshows, which casts a whole different perspective on that peculiar institution and the true life people who were in them; and lastly of course on ole Mr. Barnum himself, if you take that rabbit hunt far enough. Gee, now I'm starting to sound like one of the characters in the book. It is interesting how Mrs. Peregrine [a peregrine falcon is said to be the world's fastest flying predator]fairs .............. she doesn't die, but..
ENJOY
RIGGS, Ransom. MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN. Quirk Books Publishing
2011 ISBN: 978159474476-1

P.S. Oh, by the way Ralph Waldo Emerson is frequently mentioned.

Friday, December 9, 2011

"Familiars"

Since I'm a descendant of some participants in the Salem/Andover trials [on the accusing side] there is an irresistible tug towards historical fiction that deals with witching. In the historical novel, 'Daughters of the Witching Hill,' the story is told of the 1612 Pendle, England witch trials. I made a mistake that I won't repeat in the future for I went to the Internet and read all about those trials and couldn't finish the book because the author was so on target ... I'm only glad I was 3/4 of the way finished before I went to the net.

While reading the novel I was again reminded of many of the variables that both the accused and the accusers suffered in those disillusioned times. Many of the victims actually came to believe that they had witching powers before they were hung, and that they had actually been instrumental in the destruction and death of others. Witchcraft for the accusers [some of my ancestors] was an easy 'excuse' for conditions beyond their understanding. Through this novel I was again reminded that not all those who issued death sentences to the witches truly believed they were witches, but it was expedient, and since most of those convicted came from the poor it was no great travesty to calm the masses with a few hangings. In all of this calamnity the church can not escape without responsibility for most of the trials were lead by churchmen. In the case of the 1612 trails, England had been switching kings and queens and going from being Roman Catholic to Protestant that hardly no one, certainly not the uneducated poor, knew which side portrayed the truth. Clergymen from both Protestant and R.Catholic sides weren't so interested in the plight, poverty and injustice to the poor as they were 'counting souls' that were saved. Early history, even here in America is replete with clergy/priest preaching hellfire, purgatory and eternal destruction without offering a thread of hope by which even the life of the poorest could have some semblance of present day dignity.
Perhaps the most tragic figures in this book, at these trials, were those who truly had tried to improve the lot of farmers, and their families and their herds and crops and were falsely accused of doing them harm; when before the accusations were cast the authorities had allowed them to continue doing good ... only to arrest them when power and money persuaded them otherwise. I think this was an excellent job by the author.
SHARRATT, Mary. Mariner Books Publishers. 2010 ISBN:978054742229-9
ENJOY

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Pastoral newsletter

I don't usually blog in this manner, but today it seemed appropriate.... so
TUESDAY AM PASTORAL WANDERINGS!
With great anticipation I listened to the youtube video that Tom Gibbons forwarded
us 'Where's the Line for Jesus?' and thoroughly enjoyed it - many times.

It reminded me of this past Sun.PM's message on the beloved carol 'O Little Town of
Bethlehem and the first verse that says, 'above thy deep and dreamless sleep.' No one
in that tiny town, or in all Israel was even dreaming about the possibility the Messiah
could come - how like them we are today.

Then early yesterday morning my sciatic nerve decided to begin an early Christmas journey down my left leg, gathering for some holiday cheer in the bottom of my left foot. Eventually I succumbed to the advice of my good wife and visited the doctor. He gave one of those wonderful shoots and the sciatic celebrations were put on hold, now only minimally allowed to remind me its still there. This story is getting way tooo long; so doc told me to go home yesterday afternoon and go to bed until Wed. .........so as always, since I'm paying for the visit/shot I figured that gives me the right to compromise ...and so here I am writing to youfrom the office, and feeling good. Aren't feelings wonderful when they are dis-illusions [I'm fairly sure that not a word]. This medical advice about compromise I would not advise you to follow.

So my end of the compromise was I went to bed early and not sleepy at all decided to read. I picked up a book I hadn't read for years, "Angels Don't Die" by Patti Davis, Ronald Reagan's daughter. The book is about her journey of faith that was so heavily influenced by her father, and still is today. Its a small book, 122 pages, concluding with Pres.Reagan's address to the nation about his beginning days of Alzheimer's. It was a great read and this time I made list of pages that impressed me ..........and one of them was,
#33 "The ancient Hindu scriptures say, 'deep within each of us is a God embryo. It
has only one desire - it wants to be born."
And I thought wow, that's not new with Hindu, that scriptural ... we are all born in the image of God, its our responsibility to allow that image to blossom and flourish in our lives so that others might know.

Somehow this passage in this book brought the carol, the youtube video and book all together for a great blessing yesterday .... and then this morning Sherry told me that she had been given the story behind the youtube video by a work acquaintance and would email it to me ... I'll share it with you this Sunday AM!! In the meantime here is another youtube video we received this morning from an old friend of ours back in Champaign, Ill.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWrrvQ_3-40

Our ADVENT meditation for today, p.#35 'We are invited to journey deep within the
love of God by giving all of ourselves to loving God and our neighbor!'

HIS Peace
pt.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Les Miserables

Last night the good wife and I gave each other our Christmas present early - a trip to Grand Rapids Devos Performing Arts Center to watch Les Miserables!! It was nothing short of great ..... first, because I was enjoying the evening with the person I love the very most; second we were sharing together the production we love most!

A few brief sketches that precluded the theater. We had gone in early to the city to have supper at a restaurant the good wife had always wanted to eat at. First let me clear the air of negative vibes so they don't sneak thru later.....we had to wait an hour to get our food, which put us in a very precarious situation to get to the theatre in time, and our waitress profusely kept apologizing despite our recognition it wasn't her fault. Finally we had to tell her we would have to skip the meal, but she promised to have the food in a few minutes .... it reminded me of the final two minutes of a football game where a team performs far above the level they have the whole game and one wonders why all of a sudden they do so well; why when we threatened to leave does our food so magically appear. The good wife enjoyed the meal she got, and insisted the time factor didn't play into her not being able to finish the meal - but I suspect it did. My soft crab sandwich was a real mystery, but finally have shredding the half head of lettuce, and lay aside the two huge anemic slices of tomato, I found it .... it looked like they had robbed a sea bed nursery, and on top of that they had possibly paninied [that's my word for flattened]
the crab. Someday I am going to try soft crab again, this time with one large enough to taste .... I've never had soft shell crab before - eating the shell and everything, but I enjoy new experiences.

Waiting for our meal was not however without blessing; matter of fact it was better than the food. Sitting next to our table was a party of about 12 people, and so the good wife was a little upset ..... and their communication was a bit noisey ... however it turned out to be really neat. There was a mother and her two young daughters that seemed to hold court at this gathering; and a grandfather who seemed to be the 'don' for when he spoke everyone listened, literally. Come to find out the youngest daughter was little Cosette in the play, and her real life father, who was not with them in the restaurant was the star of the play, Jean Valjean!! The mom eventually had to take her daughters to backstage and then she was returning as we passed her on the way to the theatre! It was really neat to see her in the play and watch the interaction between her and her father, having got to see her so up close in the restaurant!!!

As I was preparing to write this 'memory' this morning, I took out the playbills from previous events the good wife and I have attended down thru the years and came across the first Les Miserable playbill we had ever attended back in 1989, as a pastors appreciation gift from our congregation. I remember it well, I had read the book, the good wife hadn't, and so it was hard for her to follow. But that troupe was straight from Broadway NY and had performed around the world. We saw it at the Universi ty of Illinois, and it was the only revolving stage I've ever seen in my life ..... it slowly revolved so that a stage was constantly circling in front of you. Then I came across the high school production we had seen earlier this year.
We've seen at least six different productions of Les Miserable. Two from High Schools, one from Jr.College, and at least two professionals ... and there is a time or two I'm sure I've forgotten.

Had a wonderful evening with the most wonderful person in my life ........ 'the good wife!'

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

So that's who she is?!!

I just had the pleasure of reading a good friend of mine's first novel .... really its a historical fiction about Job's wife. I've posted a review on Amazon.com as I promised him I would. I truly believe everyone who reads it will gain a newer and broader perspective and appreciation for this little known woman..

Job’s wife often gets little grace or mercy when she advises
Job to curse God and die. We give little thought to how she might
have been struggling in her faith having just lost her ten children
and all their worldly possessions. Note to those who read the story
of Job in scripture, no where does Job ridicule his wife for her advice; he understands what we fail to realize and Don has so eloquently pointed out to us. In this biography of Job’s
wife Don challenges us to separate fact from fiction because the
possibilities he presents could very well have happened. Another
reason I’ve enjoyed this book so much is that Don has kept Job’s wife out of the limelight in a way that parallel’s scripture portrayal
of her. No one will be disappointed reading this book, and those
who aren’t already aware of who she is will come to her place in the story of Job a lot better equipped to understand the story.
Thanks Don for challenging and comforting us from just a couple verses of scripture ………. I’m eagerly awaiting the little
known character you next chose to introduce us to.

ENJOY!
AREY,Don. "Job's Wife: Wife of Noble Character, Woman of Flawed Faith" Postmodern
Publishing. 2011 ISBN: 9780983963417

Saturday, November 26, 2011

The Anatomists .... a brief review

I have often heard how body snatching in the early days of medical exploration was frowned upon but heads turned the other way when it happened, as long as nothing outrageous took place. This novel is very good at explaining those times when something unusual about the body snatching took place, and the extreme radical conflicts of a greatly distressed public vs the medical establishment accused of robbing the dead. Today this all seems like a macabre story except when from time to time we hear modern day stories of funeral homes that take shortcuts and often rob the dead of dignity and possessions. Good read, not too deep into the particulars, but just enough to remind us of a bygone era ............ maybe in some weird way reflecting the present day conflict of cell marketing?!
ENJOY
MCDONALD, Hal. 'The Anatomists' HarperCollins Publishers. 2008
ISBN-13: 978073949484-4

Happy Thanksgiving and GOOD Friday

The good wife and I got to spend Thanksgiving with Mom, and had a good time. Thanksgiving morning we wanted to get breakfast but even McD's was closed; so the good wife had a 'brilliant' idea. Outside of town there is a Holiday Inn Express, and sure enough they let us eat off their breakfast bar for only $5 a person. It was an okay breakfast and I changed our luncheon reservations for 1PM. Later we visited Grandma B. and stayed with her for almost an hour; Grandma is always a hoot to visit with and rare is the trip to Ohio when I don't stop by to see her.

After visiting with Grandma we made a trip to Dollar General on our way to Thanksgiving Lunch. Now the Wabash Cannonball Railroad restaurant in the Ramada Inn isn't that notable, and it seems ever year we vow not to go back there, but inevitably we return. Since this could well be Mom's last Thanksgiving at home, the good wife and I seriously discussed fixing a meal, and taking it to moms but in the end convenience and time won out. The Wabash Cannonball restaurant has a lot of railroad memorabilia on the walls, and since Grandpa B. retired from the Wabash it brings back memories; we asked Grandma if we wanted to go and she didn't, we sorta figured that but wanted her to know she is always invited to go with us. I think it did her good to be at least be invited. Along the theme of the Wabash railroad there seems to be a resurgence of activities in the hometown about the railroad. There is a new building next to the County Historical Museum at the County Fairgrounds that looks like a small 'depot' and they are beginning to accumulate railroad stuff. I though about contributing my grandpa's conductor hat and articles, but realizing the hassle of what it meant for Grandma to give those things to me instead of one of my aunts and uncles - I'm going to keep them. There was a big promotion with a train ride, etc. earlier this fall; and our town was a major stopping point between St.Louis and Detroit, with a big roundhouse and depot. Later that afternoon the good wife would walk with mom over the railroad tracks and I would regale her again with how I used to walk that viaduct when the old iron bridge was there every morning on the way to school ..... I'm quite sure she doesn't give a 'hoot!'

On our way back to town from the restaurant we stopped at a Palmida store so the good wife and mom could look for a Christmas tree skirt, and who should I see there, my uncle's son. NOw I haven't seen T in close to thirty years at least and that was a treasured moment for me, it was good to see him again, since he had moved back from Arizona and lives only about 8 miles from town ... its sure seems that when circumstances turn again us, a good majority of people go back to their roots. A few minutes later in the same store I saw another older cousin D.[my fathers nephew] and his wife Donna. They were getting final things for the good thanksgiving supper they would be having with their son and daughter and families. I sure do miss those 'big' family reunions with aunts/uncles and cousins!!

Well I went home to watch the Lions football game. I haven't watched an entire NFL football game all year; and getting home about the end of the first half, the game was so boring I feel asleep and didn't wake up until it was almost over, and figured I didn't miss a thing, with the lions fumbling all over the place. That was during the same time the good wife and mom went for a long walk, then they came back and got the front porch, etc. decorated with Christmas stuff. Oh, I forgot to mention that Thanksgiving morning we had decorated Mom's old artificial tree in the living room for her ... the good wife always does a superb job and Mom profusely thanked her. Finally I said 'hey, what am I? a chopped Santa, how about a little compliment this way?' at which my good wife looked like I must be crazy and my mom mumbled out something that I took for a compliment! Well, its been a good day, met two cousins, one from each side of the family, visited with Gramma B., slept through a Lions football game, sort helped with Christmas tree, and was beginning to feel a little bloated. So I watched TV with the good wife the rest of the evening, with Mom retiring early cause she didn't feel that perky. I've noted, with help from the good wife, that when Mom feels tired, she won't admit it, so she says she doesn't feel just that perky ... its happened three times now. For some reason she can't simply say she's tired and go to sleep. Mom had always been a workaholic and not slept much and I think to admit she's tired would be a stain on that reputation; so we just let her drop off to sleep.

GOOD [I prefer that over Black] Friday came and Mom/I got up and went to our favorite breakfast restaurant, Spoke's, to eat. The good wife said to just let her sleep in and enjoy the meal together - and we did. By now both the waitresses there know us and what we want so we just order our 'regular' and sit and visit. While there I noticed my cousin Johnny S. and his wife were there already, and said hi to them; and then sitting at another table with a group of retirees from Powers & Sons
[a company in my hometown] was another, younger cousin Danny. Danny is a 'higher up' at the company, and for the last two family reunions he hasn't been at our gatherings so its a real treat to talk with him. I told mom after we left I felt like even though we hadn't all been together I'd really had the joy of meeting a lot
of family. I told our waitress about seeing my two cousins in the restaurant and she
said she knew that both well and that it was really neat having three cousins eating
there on a regular basis. Maybe when I retire we'll have a big family breakfast there! Wouldn't that be a 'hoot!' [Can't get that train noise out of my head] It was really turning out to be a GOOD friday. The good wife went shopping at a little store in my hometown [about the only one still open] and bought quite a bit of stuff; she loves that store, and every week when I go to see Mom she tells me what she needs. They have a lot of homemade/packaged candies, cheeses, foodstuffs she enjoys ............ and discounted Starbucks coffee, that both the good wife and my son really like. Well, its getting time to head home, and so we make a quick stop by to visit Gram for just a few minutes and it off to the turnpike! One last note: before we get home we have to stop for supper at Red Lobster. Man, they have really raised their prices, but I've never had a bad meal there, especially since I usually always get the stuff flounder, boiled scallops and shrimp scampi, and the good wife get her usual pick three [two orders of clam strips and chicken tenders]. Well, that's all for now, journal.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Dentures and more................

I'm home in Ohio with mom for a couple days. Last night we were out eating, and had finished our meal, when my mother took her partial out of her pocket and began bobbing it up and own in her ice water ........... stunned I asked, 'what in the world are you doing?'[five years ago my mom would not be caught doing that] 'well, she said, there's no one close by so I'm rinsing my teeth!!

Well this morning we she visited gram in the nursing home, I told on mom, and gram just sat there with this amazed look on her face and shook her head. Last night while reading the local newspaper there was a 1936 picture of the Canning Factory that used to be in our town, so I was showing Gram because I knew she used to work there. Gram informed me that she made the highest wages in the cannery because she was the quickest packer. It also seems there was a co-worker who took out her dentures on day, placed them in a can and set it to the side ............you've already guessed, haven't you?? [be honest]. Yep, the worker inadvertantly filled the denture can with tomatoes and passed it down the line...by the time her mistake was discovered there was no way they could ever find the can. Imagine, opening a can of tomatoes and someone's partial staring back at you, ... what a first bite!!
Such is life.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

THE WAY.

I loved this movie, and plan to purchase the dvd when it becomes available. It ranks right up with Field of Dreams, and The Notebook in my estimation. Its the story about a father [Martin Sheen] who takes the sacred pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela where supposedly St.James is buried. The route is called Camino - the way. I'm not going into details because you can easily find those, and other endorsements on the website. Let me say that this movie was spiritually, and relationally, inspiring to say the least. It was not only about the journey of a father, with his sons ashes but also about a group of three other people who for their own reasons make the pilgrimage together. A woman from a failed relationship in which she had aborted her baby; a dutchman walking the route hoping to lose weight so his wife will regain the love she once had for him; and a writer suffering writer's block. How each of them handle their personal dilemna while traveling the Way has lessons for all of us.

I like Martin Sheen as an actor. His role in 'West Wing' was one of my favorites. I even purchased a book about the whole story of West Wing. Rarely did I agree with most of the opinions taken on both the program and Martin Sheen, but I admired his acting....there is something about it that takes you to a place past the issues; I feel his passion in whatever scene he is playing .. and this movie about a father and son relationship is no exception. The many interviews that both Martin and his son, the director of this movie, share are deeply personal. For those looking for blood, violence, raw language and sex, this movie will be complete bore; but for those looking for something lasting they will not go away empty! Some religious leaders like Rick Warren and the Archbishop of New York have recommended it. Go and see, but definitely not alone; its a movie that cries for its viewers to be with a
companion, friend or foe.
ENJOY

Caught him [or her?]...... and Seven Deer.

Wow, what a morning this is turning out to be. The first thing I did in getting into the office early this morning, before the sun had announced its eventual appearance was to check a mouse trap on my work desk ........... the red flag was up, I had caught Rudolph. Now Rudolph is the 10th great grandson of Ralph the field mouse I caught last year in my office. Ralph's crime was not that he was a field mouse, I basically like field mice, I think they are cute, [remember I have a family history with them]and aside from their untidy habit of leaving evidences of their presence, they are okay. Ralph just insisted on making public his appearances rather than staying in the background, so drastic measures had to be taken. Early Sunday as I was meditating at my desk Rudolph and I became acquainted. He appeared on my desk, and sat looking at me, he didn't even have the courtesy of replying to me when I inquired about his health, that was his first mistake .... then he procceeded to decorate my work space with his leftovers; so I had to make the decision to take the same drastic measures that had proven so successful with his forefather. My office secretary finds great amusement in how I chose to name these visitors of ours, especially since we don't know whether they are male or female; but you know my parents always forbid me to hit a female, so I guess it just eases my conscience to believe all field mice that must be dispatched are males, though its the females that keep having babies. I guess its six of one and half-dozen of the other.

Then I went home to take my good wife to work. She wasn't quite ready, which is normal so I decided to sit in front of the picture window. It was one of those beautiful mornings where the fog is so thick you can barely make out the landscape. The closer the obstacles the darker they were, then as you looked further in the distance the objects were lighter .......... I don't know how God does it, but He
is the Master Painter! While sitting there 7 deer, and that's not pastoral exaggeration, each one would be a fine kill, ran across the front yard, and across the roads into the woods - what a great sight, reminding you of an adult deer marathon! About that time my good wife calls out from making the finishing touches
on hair, 'did you hear that shot?' Then it dawned on me, this was the first day of deer season, and for the first time since 2000 I did not have a hunting license. I
guess its a combination of things that keeps me from hunting; [1]last year I got a license and didn't go hunting once [2] my growing senility can't take the waiting and cold like it used to [3] I'm not altogether that excited about field dressing a deer and would probably make a mess of it, put probably the biggest reason is 'just to doggone lazy. ...... I would certainly be willing to accept any 'backstraps' anyone wanted to give me though!

I also got an email from Don this morning. He's an old online classmate from when I was getting my Master's Degree a couple years ago. He's gotten remarried and happier than ever, and has written a book. YOu can find it on Amazon.com, its 'JOb's Wife,' I'm sure you'll enjoy it. I get an original signed copy and will be more than happy to promote it for him in a review. My book, which is more like a journal, is also available on Amazon.com; but there are so many grammatical errors and the good wife doesn't like some of the pictures, I'm not going to tell you the title, and since you don't know my name that route is blocked also. Maybe in three months after the rewrite I'll share more.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Mother & Son - authors

TODD,Charles. A DUTY TO THE DEAD
This is a novel, in a series of novels, written by Mother and Son, that live in Delaware and North Carolina respectively. How they do this, I'll never know; but they've authored together at least 13 novels - go figure, and write under the name of Charles Todd. This novel is really unique ......I never suspected such an ending. Its also a novel that pays homage to the unspoken warriors of the Great War. [WWI] Those nurses who sought to care for the wounded, maimed and dying soldiers. Its a novel about how one nurse determines to carry a soldiers mysterious message home to his family after his death, and her almost death, as their hospital ship is sunk by a German mine. I have not heard much about the nurses who ministered alongside the soldiers of WWI, but after reading this book my appreciation and curiosity about these
brave woman has certainly grown. I would say in many ways this is about human integrity, determination and bravery despite all odds. A very good read. ENJOY

Three Wives and more..................

Christian Ehresman, a distant ancestor, married three sisters. With the first sister he had five children in Germany, then they immigrated and settled in Butler County, Ohio where his first wife died. Then he married her younger sister and they had five children. They moved from Ohio to Deer Creek Illinois where Anna died. Then Christian married their younger daughter Fannie. He had eleven children with her, some of which died in infancy ............ altogether he had 18 children that lived to adulthood. Family lore has it that on the wedding day to his first wife he held her infant sister Fanny in his arms!!! This family info gets better and better.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Pumpkins & Field Mice

PUMPKINS
A couple weekends ago mom came to stay with us for a few days, which literally turned into two nights and not quite two whole days ......... which for mom is a long vacation away from home. While she was here I thought I would take her for a field trip out to the pumpkin patch that our grandkids love to visit while in town near halloween time. They were only going to be open two more days, so mom and I decided to stop by before we picked up the good wife from work. I pulled the car up to the pumpkin store and went inside to buy some hot cider and the sugar donuts we'd come for .... only mom wasn't coming into the shop. I asked the man who came to help me if there was an elderly lady in the car outside, 'yah, he said but she's crawling over something?' I went outside and sure enough there was mom crawling over the console in the front set to get out on the driver's side; I had left my door open! What in the world are you doing? I asked. Somewhat disgusted she replied, 'this is the second today you have not unlocked my door!!' Since mom didn't ride in my car very often, and I forgot she didn't know how to unlock her door ........ she was locked in, but was also just as determined to get a sugar donut! [Mom, craves sugar cookies and sugar donuts]
Picture it if you can, an 81 yr. old woman climbing over the front console, with her one leg hiked up in the air over the steering wheel .......... not bad for 81!
Later the good wife laughed so hard, and so did mom, that I think there were a few wet undies!!

MICE .....................Field Mice
This morning at our usual breakfast niche, over eggs, sausage, home fries and biscuits and gravy, mom and I were discussing her childhood. Somehow we had gotten on the subject of when her dad was employed only part time by the railroad and mom,
her parents and her next oldest sister lived on a tomato farm. Grandpa/grandma farmed about 10-12 acres of tomatoes, selling them in town to a middle man who sold them to Campbells factory about 45 minutes away. Mom said 'you're not going to believe this, but when mom was out gathering tomatoes she would place a blanket in the yard where she could see us, and my sister and I would play. From time to time grandma would find baby field mice [which were a'plenty in the fields] and bring them to the girls to play with. Mom said she and her sister played with these baby mice like they were dolls. ..................well, you're right mom, I don't believe you. After breakfast and a few errands we ended up at the nursing home to see grandma - 97 yrs. old and a sharp mind - so I asked Gram ......... and sure enough mom had been absolutely right, Gram had brought them baby field mice to play with!!
Try getting away with that one today.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Some 'BRIEF' book summary's

BARTOK, Mira. "The Memory Palace"
I have been wanting for some time to read this book, probably because of my background in psychology. My office manager Kay bought it for me, and I told her she could have it for the Library she's director of when I finished. But now that I've read it I'm a bit selfish about giving it up.
Its the real life story of two young ladies who grow up in a home where dad runs away while they are very young. MOm has constant bouts with mentally dropping in and out of life, and abusing the children. Finally both girls move away from home, change their names and attempt to conceal where they life so she can't find them. Yet at the same time they battle with not being with her. It's an engaging story in the sense that it shows us how family situations are not always easily solved, and even the most sincere attempts to help go astray. It does get a little tedious, but nonetheless it's amazing how a social worker finally tracks down the girls and lets them know that their homeless mother is in the hospital facing her last days ....... and then how they come together, and what results changes both their lives. ENJOY

GOWDA, Shilipi Somaya. "Secret Daughter"
Although this is a novel it is taken from a real life happening. Its how an American couple adopt a baby from India ... and the long journey of how both that American couple, and the parents of the adopted baby have their paths cross. However if you're envisioning a Hollywood ending - forget it!! That's all I'll say about that. But I still wonder how much of this story is the personal journey of the author? Its interesting how the author keeps rotating between the life story of both set of parents, and how strained family situations can strengthen unconsciously.

LIEBERMAN, Joe. "The Gift of Rest"
I've never been a Lieberman fan, that is until I read this book. Joe Lieberman is a practicing orthodox Jew. Throughout the whole book as he wrote about how, in the midst of world crises and his job as a Senator, he kept the Sabbath holy brought me a deep respect for this man and challenged me to keep the Sabbath holy. In this world where we so often compromise so that we can just get along, I'm reminded that God still wants to spend a 'special day with special time' with us; and I'm not doing nearly as good a job at that as Senator Joe. Its so easy to make excuses on why I don't keep the Sabbath holy as I should, and neither does the church, and yet Joe calls us back to more than the practice of the Sabbath, but the Sanctity of it.
ENJOY.

What a fun day at home!

Last Thursday afternoon and Friday proved to be great fun! While mom and I were picking up one of her prescriptions at Walmart we ran into my cousin Sonny. Now Sonny was a close relative/friend of my aunt Tom. Yes, I said 'aunt Tom,' that's what everyone in the family and close friends called her 'Tom.' She was definitely a tom-boy. We sat down at the table in a Subway restaurant there and swapped a few family stories. Sonny told me about the time he and aunt Tom were in a garden, I have no idea what they were doing there and he didn't elaborate .... but anyway, my dad was picking up spoiled peaches and throwing them at Sonny and Tom. Sonny got tired of it, and my dad being older and bigger he wasn't going to fight him .........well Tom happened to have her bb gun with her, so Sonny told her, "give me your bb gun," and the next time dad bent down to get a peach Sonny shot him square in the butt. Then Sonny said Tom and I ran for our lives, needless to say 'dad wasn't a happy camper,' but hey it stopped him from throwing rotten salvos of peaches at them. The amazing thing about all this is Sonny says he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with a gun even standing inside the barn!! I then shared with Sonny that his mom, my dad's oldest sibbling, had gone on vacation to Maine two years with my family to babysit my sister and I while mom and dad where out hunting for deer and bear in the Maine wilderness - he was surprised, and told me he must have been in the military at that time cause he had never heard the story.

Later Friday morning, we were returning to mom's house from downtown and we went past a home, on mom's street, where some old friends of ours used to live. The oldest daughter, Marcia and I, [she was a year older than me]used to walk over a mile one way to high school. We thought she lived there, but didn't know. Anyway as we're driving past there is a lady getting into a truck in the drive-way so I stopped, got out and went over to talk with her. Come to find out it was Marcia's daughter, she lived there now. I told her who I was and that Marcia and I used to walk to school; that Marcia, her sister Susie, and brother David and Danny went to the same church; and that Marcia's family vacationed with my family once in Maine. She said Marcia and her dad were doing well, and she would let Marcia know I stopped by. Wow! that was cool .............. old friendships updated!!!

Have a great day
Eutychus.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

never, never assume

I don't know how many times I have heard the admonition, 'never, never assume.' I have been asked to officiate at the memorial service of a dear old saint in our church, and this morning, after breakfast decided to stop by the Funeral Home just to get an early copy of the obituary. While perusing it in the Director's office I noticed that the dear old saint was survived by a daughter-in-law whose funeral I had
just officiated at only two weeks ago. Going back to my office, I called the deceased's daughter to verify the facts and sure enough the funeral home had failed to make the correction .................. now not only was the dear saint's daughter distressed at hearing that news, but she had also noted that a charity they wished donations to go to had not been mentioned. Well, I've been reminded again, never assume, and always check early. Now I'm not thinking I would have mentioned the daughter-in-law as still surviving, but sometimes in the midst an event you go on auto-mode ......
Such is life
Eutychus.

Monday, September 12, 2011

It's distant ................but it counts!

I have just discovered that I am a verrrry dissssssssssssstant relative of President Ulysses S. Grant and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The discovery came when I was looking into the wife of my great great grandpa on my mothers side. Matter of fact I've visited the tombstone of that great great grandpa a couple of times, its less than 10 miles from my hometown; and his one son figured into my sabbatical journal as being 'called' to ministry. One day while just looking through my genealogical files on my mother's side I noted that I hadn't really done any exploring into her family history. It really bugs me when I find a relative whose genealogy is almost totally unknown, and besides the previous background info I had on her was seriously doubtful...............so I began to explore.

Now I'm still trying to make sure my present info is authentic; and the sources from which I've attained seem to be ..... and if all this checks out I can claim distant relationship to two figures, each of which made a definite impact in their respective country's history ........and each contributed mightily in a time of war. Stay tuned for either further proof or correction - I really hope this stuff is true!!

Saturday, September 10, 2011

A 9/11 memorial

I just found out while watching a memorial on 9/11, that the steel from the twin towers has been donated to different fire departments in towns across America .........AND one of those towns is the town I was born in in Wauseon Ohio. So I called my mom and told that when I am home for my regular weekly visit next week we are going to the town, and I want to see how they have fixed up the memorial ... this is really cool, I am already anticipating it.

Anything but sleepy summer!!

To say that this has been a bitter/sweet summer is no exaggeration, and I will try to start from the beginning. Family camp was again a wonderful, relaxing experience as I got to worship without being responsible for duties and enjoy the flow of the Spirit in my life. The 'good wife' was able to join me for the last weekend. One of her favorite speakers, Dr.Jim Diehl, was one of the speakers and I was able to purchase all
his preaching cd's.

Sister Gretchen, our towns Episcopal priest had surgery on her arm and asked me if I would officiate a wedding in her church for some members. It was an exciting celebration. At first, I was nervous, but Gretchen graciously provided me with all the words and actions expected and it really turned out well. At rehearsal things were a bit sketchy to say the least, but when it came time for the wedding everyone was prompt and on their best behavior - it was truly a blessing. There are not many Nazarene pastors who can say they performed an Episcopalian wedding in an Episcopal Church ... I shall ever grateful to Gretchen for her confidence in me. She is a wonderful sister in Christ; and her recovery is nearly complete. Gretchen has a story for everything - and each one is really neat!!

Later this summer I was asked by my pastoral friend Jeff if I would fill his pulpit for him. He's the pastor of the largest church in the county and they have a Saturday evening worship and two Sunday morning worships. It was a challenge I just couldn't resist; and though Jeff said he planned to be there, he found out that his brother Rick was battling severe cancer[as though there's any other kind] and since I was filling in was able to leave and fly to California to be with him. HOwever the church has one of the most excellent Worship ministers I've ever met. He is one year older than our son, and has the same first name. My spiritual life was eternally enriched through this experience.

My prayer is that both my Episcopalian and Independent church experiences will be an encouragement to our congregation in building better relationships with the other churches in our community, and that more and more of our people will attend area community special worship opportunities.

The bitter part of the summer was when we found out our oldest granddaughters new husband, they had only been married a few short months, had committed suicide. He was in Special Ops in the Army and had had two tours overseas,[one in Iraq and Takisjanistan, and was battling severe paranoia. They were the proud parents of our first 'great grandchild,' a boy!! While the good wife and I made a quick three day trip to Ft.Bragg, N.C. we enjoyed holding our newest edition to the family! The memorial service, though rather brief, was very meaningful, and his commander and a fellow Ops companion both gave stirring thoughtful memories. From all the comments and special services given for him you would never know he had committed suicide, for
he was described as 'dying in the line of duty!' His ribbons and military schooling are much to detailed to list here, but I have a memorial ceremony bulletin in my daily journal. Our travel on airplanes was uneventful and boring, which is a most positive thing!

We had no longer returned than we departed a couple days later for our vacation to southern Alabama [barely an hour north of the Gulf of Mexico] to visit our oldest daughter, her husband and family. I feel in this day in age, especially in our culture it is always important to tell people that we 'visited our daughter - and her husband, that way people know the family is together. We had a few days of heavy rain from the hurricane in the gulf, but otherwise were spared any serious
consequences .... the weather turned out beautiful! Also my granddaughter had a volleyball game in the Mobile area and we really enjoyed that. This was the first year she school has had a volleyball team, and so when you consider that, I think she did quite well, she has a couple more years, so as the basics become more a part of her game, she will improve. While there I preached the Sunday morning message and really enjoyed that experience; people were complimentary and I believe for the most part probably sincere! [Talk about believing your own press - I'm a fan of that!] My daughter started a ministry to high school students [6th - 12th] called
FUEL. Its takes place on Thursday morning from 6:45 - 7:10AM before the kids go to school. They met at the church and are given breakfast, then there is a five minute
devotional [which I was privileged to present] then divide into small groups and pray for each other. It is neat that the adult sponsors come from the Baptist church, the Assembly's church, and the Methodist and Nazarene churches!! This is a community that 'worships and serves' together!! They do however have a problem that must be addressed very soon - 'THEY ARE GROWING TO FAST' ... this past Thursday they had 102 students and 19 adults. This is a community with a population of a little over 400 - God is blessing! My younger granddaughter loves to ride horses, and so on Sunday afternoon I was able to go and briefly ride horses with her ... that was a fantastic experience. There was one comedic moment when I couldn't get my leg swung up over the horse, and finally Marv had to stand the horse in the ditch while I stood
on the bank and was able to mount Dixie!! That pour horse, I can only begin to imagine what in the world he thought must be going on with that Yankee rider?! ... and I am so grateful neither my wife or daughter were watching. Again our travel was uneventful and this was positive.

Standing in the Atlanta airport waiting for our last flight back to Grand Rapids, I heard my name called a couple of times. Now, who in the world in Atlanta would know me well enough to be calling my name? It was a young man we knew from the youth group who had gone into the Army ... he was coming home from Iraq for a two week leave and saw us there; this was a great time as we talked with him for about thirty minutes before we all boarded the same flight home. His grandparents were picking him up at the airport as he was going to surprise his mom, who incidentally had been very instrumental in helping the 'good wife' through college. They both took the same night classes and alternated driving to and from; and his mom and step dad attend our church.

Well, its been a full summer, and my life has been extremely enriched ... there is one more episode that I will share with my journal, but it has to stay a secret until the appropriate time in the future.
timm

Friday, July 8, 2011

Wish I Were A............

Having been on a short safari to the Masai Mara part of the Serengeti I found myself reliving it as I read Stefan's African fable, thinking how great it would have been to have had a tour guide who related different animal behavior to how we live. After reading the book I found myself examining my life as to what animal I might represent; then rather than trying to relate what animal I might be like, I began to think about what characteristics of all those animals I might have and what priority they seemed to have in me. I also learned that how I look at people and see their characteristics often determines my relationship with them. The word 'survival' insinuates that without finding out your strengths in life you will be not survive, and I believe in both the emotional and spiritual world this is so true; although I also believe that knowing your areas of weakness are just as important. It was interesting that the cheetah, recognizing its brute weakness compared to the lion, hunts at the time day when it is least apt to come in conflict with the lion. It doesn't always mean the cheetah is scared of the lion, but wise enough to avoid it. Reading Stefan's book made me want to revisit the Masai Mara. It's a good book, with excellent principles to share with everyone, whether or not they are a believer.

I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers for an honest evaluation.
SWANEPOEL,Stefan. Surviving Your Serengeti. Thomas Nelson Publishing. 2011
ISBN: 9780470947807
Enjoy

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

My grandchildren shall lead me

Yesterday [July 4th] we packed up the grandkids and headed to Saugatuck, one of our favorite places to go and watch the Freedom Day parade. Its not a big parade, its not even a very fancy parade, but its a parade that has become a family tradition ever since our first visit there when our 7yr old granddaughter Marilyn was just a baby in a stroller! So minutes before the parade was ready to start, our kids and grandkids, along with Gram found a street corner flower box to sit on. It was the perfect spot as the parade made its first turn and there weren't a bunch of other kids to compete for candy right close by.

Some time back in history it became a tradition that when the kids would see candy being tossed into the crowd they would stand up and cheer so that the coming paraders would toss candy their way ..... you should have seen Marilyn and her four year brother Neil, they were a cheering section all themselves, with little two yr. old Ross raising his little arms from time to time. I'd sure like to experience that excitement in worship some time.

Beside them there was a young mom and dad with their two year old, who had never been to the parade sitting right beside them .... he didn't stand a chance of beating out Marilyn or Neil in getting candy, even candy thrown right in front of him. But then I noticed something that would bring tears to any grandparents eyes .. Marilyn & Neil would take turns picking up candy and taking it over and giving to the little boy!! Later I found out that the little boy's parents would let Marilyn & Neil keep the hard candy, so they began giving the little boy extra pieces of soft candy.

Now Marilyn & Neil each came away from that parade with plastic gallon bags over half full ... and the little boy's parents said to my kids, 'this was such a great experience, let's meet next year at the same time, same place!' I don't know if this will happen, but I do know my grand kids had a Christlike influence on that young couple, and they in turn got more candy than at the parade last year. I'm already looking forward to next years Saugatuck 4th of July parade ... maybe I'll take along a plastic gallon bag??? Sometimes its more than sharing what you already have, its sharing what you're receiving, which can often be more sacrificial.
HIS peace
ptimm

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Missed that one

I thought this was a wonderful book; Ian is a very good writer. It was inspiring to read how he was able to triumph over the alcoholic influence of his father. His book fell short when he decided to elucidate about his experience in church when he heard the words,'forgive me.' Sadly the nun who interpreted that for him was far, far doctrinally off-base. This was not a message from God asking for forgiveness, God, Jesus never needs to be forgiven by us, just the thought of it is almost unholy. Its as though she was telling him what she thought he needed to hear; while what he needed to do was 'forgive his father' himself. Forgiveness is not primarily about the one who offends us as it is our own spiritual growth. I am somewhat puzzled as to why Thomas Nelson was willing to publish this section of the book, given the misguided theology of God that is not accepted across the Christian spectrum. I would definitely recommend this book with the caveat that people understand the section about 'forgiveness' is not a doctrinal statement.

Towards the end of the book we see an Ian that is spiritually strong in determining not to make the mistakes his father made with him, and to guide his children in the ways of the Lord. I would have however enjoyed the second half of the book being a little more like the first; for the second half seems to skip over his life's story more than the first half. It is definitely a book where there are places everyone can associate with; Ian definitely is a creative writer. I received this book from Thomas Nelson publishers for an honest evaluation.
'JESUS, MY FATHER, THE CIA, AND ME.' CRON,Ian Morgan. Thomas Nelson Publishing
ISBN: 9780849946103

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Nothing like a soldiers view

While looking thru the shelves of books on the Civil War in the library I came across 'Rebel Private: Front and Rear: Memoirs of a Confederate Soldier.' To merely say this was an interesting read would be close to an insult to the author, whose journal it is. Within a few pages it was more than apparent to even the most surface reader that this was a classic. There is an afterword by one of Bill Fletchers great granddaughter who writes that inspite of his business successes following the Civil War, Bill was a true philanthropist, giving to organizations that had helped in some way to his surviving the great war.
This was an exceptional read as we are given a view of the civil war from one who endured it, not as an officer or special agent, not from a historian commenting from research, but from one who actually lived it and had no deep personal axe to grind; he was simply dedicated to a cause, but when that cause failed, he didn't fail. His acceptance of being on the losing side has many lessons about character, forgiveness and grace that all of us need to be reminded of from time to time. And yet, it was not a characteristic born because he had gone through a war, but a characteristic of his very being that one suspects he would have even if he hadn't been in war. I truly admired the man, and I am sure I am a better person for having read his account.
FLETCHER,William A., Rebel Private: Front and Rear., New York, New York. Originally published in 1908, MERIDIAN, Penguin Books. ISBN:31348001091434
ENJOY

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

The Final Summit

I thought it was……
I am fan of Andy Andrews but I regretfully didn’t find his book “The Final Summit” the final principle or final answer to save mankind. His fable about David Ponder having a summit with past great world leaders was good
reading, however he was quite correct in that even their accumulative wisdom couldn’t come up with the solution …. Let’s be serious what kind of
solution to the salvation of mankind is ‘do something.’ There have been plenty of times when most of us, not knowing what to do, did something, then wished we had done nothing.

We’re introduced again to Gabriel the archangel who has anything but angelic characteristics [what is an angelic characteristic aside from carrying out God’s instructions] and yet character is one of the main considerations.
How many angels, on a mission from God are going to take offense because
Their station in the hierarchy of angels is not respected; or how many angels
Have the ability to take on human characteristics. If this was just a read for entertainment or pleasure I could over look these things, but obviously
Andy has an agenda, and with an agenda one must be extremely cautious
in developing characters, and making unsustainable generalizations.

After their third guess in the book I thought I had found the one principle, ‘love others.’ That seems to be the main message that Jesus brought with him, and the same message he left his disciples. It appears to me to be the height of human arrogance to think that we, in our own wisdom, can find the
solution to get civilization back on track. Perhaps sticking with a couple
principles to influence our society might be better than trying to find that
‘one’ that eclipses all others; particularly when that ‘one’ found is devoid
of the very essence that makes us different from the rest of God’s creation.

This book was free from the Thomas Nelson booksneeze.com bloggers
Review program; and no conditions were made on its review. ANDREWS, Andy. ‘The Final Summit.’ Nashville, Tenn. 2010, ISBN: 9780785231202

Friday, May 27, 2011

Memorial Day - In Remembrance

This memorial day worship we will begin with Communion. The last Monday in May was set aside as that day when the whole nation would remember those who had given of their lives in keeping us a free nation. There are many different ways in which this day will be celebrated; to those in warmer climate's it may be trip to the park or to the lake with a picnic on the grounds; others will gather for family reunions with family members coming together who haven't seen each other for a long time; yesterday my mother and I visited the family grave sites and purchased flowers for those who still didn't have any .... it will be a day of remembrance!
Communion is about remembrance - remembrance that 2,000 years ago a rough hewn rabbi from a small notorious town in the foothills of Galilee was crucified on a cross,freely giving his life so that we might have the privilege of accepting the gift of salvation - now that's something to celebrate - to remember every day - every moment. Its not coincidence that this memorial celebration was initiated at supper time, that the symbols by which we remember are in eating bread and drinking wine. Everyone has to eat and drink, what better time to remember than through this seemingly daily ordinary activity. Oh yes, this coming Memorial Sunday we will remember, we will celebrate, then we go forth to complete the covenant, to make the gift a noun rather than just a memory. I can't wait...............

Monday, May 23, 2011

Poor Harold Egbert Camping

The president of an American Christian radio station that spans more than 150 markets in the United States, control the flow of millions of dollars, was wrong again. In 1994 he had predicted the end of the world, and when we were still left he said that his math had been wrong - personally, I believe it was much more than a mathematical calculation gone astray. Despite the fact that Mr. Camping was wrong, I believe he represents far more believers than will ever admit their lives are not being lived as though tomorrow, or even today, could be their last. Oh, we make allowances somewhat for accidents, but over-all we don't really believe the world is going to end very soon. Yet the issue is not when the world is going to end, but when will my life here expire?! There is a subtle 'security' if you will in knowing when the end is upon us; then we can prepare, then we can get out house in order, then we can plan how our final goodbyes are going to take place; not knowing when the end is going to come is far less appealing, hence we ignore the whole issue, at least as much as possible. If Mr. Camping has done anything positive for us in his last failed prophecy it should be that he has reminded us how blessed and fragile every moment we live is - sadly I'm afraid the church, Christ followers, have chosen to focus on the error of his prediction, rather than the warning. Its not the date, its the intimacy of our relationship with the Creator.
Most of the comments I heard this past Sabbath were that if Jesus told his disciples that he didn't even know, then how can we.[Matt.24:36] We must remember that Jesus was also giving his followers a warning that its wasn't about time its was a relational issue. There was a laizze-faire attitude every time this verse was recalled. Let us not forget that Jesus did give them some signs to be aware of, that would point to the end of times .... and all these calamities of nature, which have certainly been compounded in the decade, could definitely point to a coming of the age when Christ returns. I've never been especially interested in prophecy, and sorely lack expertise in it for a minister of the gospel; but I can't help but recognize nature's unrest. A man who suffered in the tornado that ripped half of Joplin, Missouri from the map yesterday, commented that before the tornado his dog had alerted him to coming disaster and probably saved his life....could it not be that nature, and the animals God created are much more in touch with coming events ..
I know, now you think I'm sounding like Mr. Camping; nonetheless, regardless of what you may think, I think nature's groanings [Rom.8:19]'For creation waits in eager anticipation for the sons of God to be revealed.' v.22 We know that the whole of creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time..' nature's groaning have a design to them.
The murder mystery musical that spoofs detective stories may not be that far off when it proclaims, 'something's afoot.' Something is afoot and only the foolish in heart refuse to acknowledge it, regardless of how far into the future its pointing.
There I've said, now I can be 'officially' proclaimed a nut!

Friday, May 20, 2011

Andrews' Raiders

I read this book in just a few seconds over 2hrs. Its the story of the great train heist by a band of Union soldiers during the Civil War ........ although the attempt was unsuccessful, the early stages of its success is quite a read. I had heard about it before, but finally decided to read the story. A little less than half the twenty some men that tried to steal the Confederate engine the 'General' were finally hug, while over half of them finally made it back to the Union lines is quite a story, plus all of them were first recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor. When most of the Union raiders where being transferred from Chattanooga to Atlanta in boxcars, the engine on the train was the General, go figure; another strange quirk of history. As I was reading the book memories concerning it began to float back into my mind. I remembered that in the County Historical/Genealogical Library there were copies of books, and newspaper articles, about this raid .......... then I remembered that out at the County Historical Museum [in my home town] there was a whole gallery dedicated to this Raid. Books, articles, huge pictures of different phases of the raid, etc.. So on my way out of town, from visiting with mom, I stopped by the museum, and asked the director about it and she told me that the Union engineer, William Knight, who finally escaped to freedom through the Underground Railroad was a resident of a town in our county - matter of fact I have an uncle and aunt living there, and used to have more relatives in that very town. My, my, this world is getting smaller.
FEUERLICHT, Roberta Strauss. Crowell-Collier Press. New York, New York. 1963
ISBN: [I can't find one; unless this is it, though I'm suspecting it might simply
be a local library number] 31348000208245
Crowell-Collier is a subsidy of The Macmillian Company, New York.

Lost and Found

Yesterday afternoon I was about 25min. from home on a 2hr. trip back from visiting mom in Ohio when I received a phone call from my aunt that mom had lost her purse and thought she had left it in my car. First of all mom was never in my car, and second she had had her purse when we went down to grandma's house where my aunts/uncles are holding a rummage sale to sell gram's things. Gram B. is in a nursing home. To make a long story just a tad shorter, I waited in a mall shopping center, praying what to do, when my aunt called back and said my uncle had searched gram's house, my mom's car, and mom's house and they still couldn't find it..... so I told my aunt I was turning around and would be back to mom's in about an hour and half. After about a half hour I called mom's house, and my uncle answered. They had found mom's purse tucked away under the sink at Gram's house. Evidentally she had placed it there so that no one at the sale would run off with it..................and finally uncle D. found it.
Of course when I got home Mom said she had told them it was there all along, it was just pushed back into the recesses of the cabinet; and so I tried to calm her down, she was quite shook by all the commotion she had caused, and yet she did at least begin to talk about some measures that need to be taken, that she hadn't prior been willing to consider - I think it scared her, a whole lot more than she will admit. So we went over to visit Gram again, who was quite shook by the affair also.
Well every day is a new day, and I am earnestly going to try call mom every single day early in the morning as she's getting started ......... time will tell. Truthly I never thought I'd be at this stage with mom, but better she than dad; he would have really been an over-the-top challenge. God is good, and I really prayed hard, as was my aunt and uncle over God helping them find the purse - and He did!

sexy eyes peek thru.....................

How in the world did this email get through my spam filter? 'sexyeyes'peeked through and got on my regular email list - now, despite my curiosity, I'm not opening the email up ... but its leading line reads "Look up your HoopUp tonight." Yah, right I'm at the end of the church year, a ton of things to get done, my mother can't remember the last thing she did ten minutes ago, and they want me to get a HookUp - why me?ha.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Suspended Sex

I've just been informed that both teenagers having sex on the charter school bus have been suspended.

Sex on a School Bus

A Ohio mother reports that a charter school has banned her daughter from her eighth grade prom or picnic because this 14 year old girl failed to report two of her classmates having sex on a school bus and for changing her seat [I suppose they would have much rather she got out her cell phone and taken pictures]. So because this teenage girl was first of all, undoubtedly embarrassed and/or afraid of repercussions, she at least told her mom when she got home. So, I'm wondering here why the school is taking issue with this young girl than with the boy and girl who were having sex - bet they didn't want to offend the offenders - now in this day and culture that does make sense I guess. And of course, the bigger question - the elephant in the room [oops, I mean the bus] where is the chaperon at, or was there one on the bus? I'm rarely one for taking people to court, goodness we don't need another frivolous trying up of the courts, right Sherm? But on this matter, I'm all for the mom suing the pants off the school [I love the pun; maybe suing the pants off a school means taking down the lawn sign announcing who they are?], or at least threatening them enough that there is a 'PUBLIC' apology. There is an immoral message being sent to this young teenage girl by the school. I'll anxiously being looking forward to more on this case - and I hope there is either more to it, or we've been misinformed.

Its Now Okay to Forget the Hippocratic Oath!

The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports that there are now a group of obstetric-gynecologists who are refusing to doctor women who are overweight but otherwise healthy. This causes me to wonder if I can now refuse to let anyone worship in our church who does not have the 'right' sins, oh good people to be sure, they just don't fit our perspective of who the gospel wants to save and help!
Some of the reasons given are because their exam tables and other equipment can't handle people over a certain weight .. now come on, could we at least make an attempt to be credible, although I think in light of the Hippocratic oath this whole issue is being very unethical. So, we have now come to point 'equipment determines who or who doesn't not get medical attention' and we thought Obamacare was so terrible. Another reason was that they were trying to avoid obese patients because they have a higher risk of complications: something going wrong, more risk of getting sued ... everything is more complicated with an obese patient. Now according to this, I'm really frightened because medical attention might be based on not the chances of my survival but the chances a doctor might be sued .... and if his chances of being sued are great, the possibility of my being doctored decreases.
One ob-gyn official said that ultrasound machines aren't as clear with obese women, and make it harder to treat them ... yah, so??? HOwever I'm really puzzled by a statement from the American Medical Association in their evaluation of this situation, 'Physicians can decline service to whomever they choose for any reason - including personality conflicts - as long as it's not discriminatory, i.e. race, gender, sexual orientation or infectious diseases........... my mother didn't birth a genius, but neither did she raise an idiot [contrary to public opinion], some legal beagle somewhere is going to figure out half of those reasons you can't refuse medical treatment were just met by refusing to care for obese women [my guessing is that women do not fit any longer into the category of gender or sexual orientation]. Evidentally the Hippocratic oath is being interpreted as the Hypocratic oath??!

Felt kinda' sorry for......

The room was all prepared for area pastors to come to the annual volunteer chaplaincy program. There were all sorts of cold drinks, orange juice and coffee. Some delicious cherry turnovers and a huge bowl of fruit; the speakers were all confirmed and the hospital chaplain was cheerfully prepared to greet each one - there were all most a dozen volunteers who said they would be there ......... but as the minutes passed by there were only two of us from the community. Evidently it was not a good time for the conference, and so a half hour into waiting the two of us were regretfully dismissed by the chaplain, as his assistant was making calls of cancellation to the scheduled speakers - maybe in the fall. I'm not throwing stones at my fellow brothers/sisters, in ministry, there are always last minute interruptions; and had the chaplain not personally phoned me last Friday, I would have forgotten it also. I guess its just that I know the disappointment when you've gone to a lot of time and energy to plan something and hardly anyone shows up .... but he put on his clergy face and was a good sport about it - maybe in the early fall sometime?!
I think another concern of mine is how this will appear to the hospital staff that was going to be involved in it; I'm sure that each speaker had spent time in preparing for their individual 15 minute presentations - though the sessions appear brief the information they share is vital to effective hospital chaplaincy and relations...well perhaps grace will prevail. Oh, I did get my annual TB shot, and in my paranoia looked away, now I'm glad the lady didn't give it to me after she finds out the conference was going to be cancelled, after the scheduled starting time ... I'm always a little scared of people that either give shots or cook my food if they've just discovered some negative news.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Once Upon A Town

Last Tuesday night I was searching for something to read in the historical fiction genre at the Library. I wasn't having much luck and was about to go home empty handed when my eyes feel upon an interesting title, 'Once Upon A Town' by Bob Greene. Now Greene is an interesting author who sometimes ventures out into the oft forgotten; and in this book he does.
Greene takes us to a little known town, and even lesser known historical incident. NOrth Platte, Nebraska. At the beginning of America's involvement in the WWII there was the constant transfer of men in training and assignment moving from one coast to another by rail. This got my attention because of my mother's family history of working on the railroad, and the fact that all these military trains ran through the little known town of North Platte, and would stop there for about 10/20minutes to take on water for the steam engine.
One day the townspeople heard that a military train was coming through with boys from Nebraska going to their assigned places, and the woman thought it would be nice to make up little baskets with apples, chocolates, etc. to give each boy. Well, the train wasn't filled with soldier boys from Nebraska - they were from Kansas - but the ladies passed out the baskets anyway; figuring this was their way to contribute to the war .............. and from that the idea was birthed to meet every military train and make available to every soldier boy a canteen of goodies and home cooked foods. The depot was renamed the North Platte Canteen; and while the train was taking on water the soldier boys flooded the canteen, all the food was free, there was even a piano where some of the boys played and danced with the local girls there helping out - even some marriages later came about because of this enterprise. I don't want to tell you too much because then you won't read the book..... but for five years, regardless of the weather, and every day those five years, no holidays missed, over 6 million soldier boys visited that canteen. This is an incredible story that will probably never be repeated in the history of our great country ... and Greene gets in contact with many of the survivors from both the town and soldier boys, especially touching are the memories of soldiers who had that experience! If the author hadn't written this book it would have been a piece of Americana that shows how people come together, how they sacrifice; one soldier said that they were aware many of those who gave to them were sacrificing their own food rations for them. Its an incredible story which reaffirms the goodness of our country that often gets overlooked because of political and cultural greed. ENJOY
GREENE,Bob. Once Upon A Town: The Miracle of North Platte Canteen. 2002, HarperCollins Publisher, New York, New York. ISBN: 0060081961

Wicked Divas

This past friday night the 'good wife' and I went with some good friends to the symphony. Every year for Christmas our oldest daughter and son in law buy us tickets to the symphony and opera; last year we watch a ballet, which was fantastic, and this year we went to the presentation of 'Wicked Divas'. This was a night of specials from women who were major figures in stories; and Julia Murney & Jennifer Laura Thompson, singers from the New York presentation of 'WICKED' were there to sing most of the songs ... and they were absolutely wonderful. Song selections came from 'Gypsy; Carmen; Chicago; My Fair Lady; Ragtime; The Phatom of the Opera [my favorite]; Conga;
Symphonic Sounds of Diana Ross; Titanic; Spamalot; Wizard of Oz; and of course a number of songs from Wicked. Their closing number was just wonderful, and they received such an ovation that they did another special from Wicked. It was truly a really wonderful time. Before that we had eaten at an Italian restaurant called Tre Cuzini. I had linguini with mussels, small neck clams and shrimp - it was everything the word delicious means!

Monday, May 9, 2011

134

I hadn't checked my spam file for a couple days so there were 134 messages awaiting for me to open them ..... one of the file titles that got my attention was 'WE'RE OVERSTOCKED!' - now that insinuates a pretty good deal .. and true to its title if was offering Amazon Kindle3's for only $8.76. So I thought what a hit dad [and/or grandpa]could be this Christmas if I gave all the kids/grandkids a Kindle3 for Christmas?! ..but alas, keeping true to my disciplined nature [ha! ha!] I didn't open any of the 134, and simply clicked the delete button, and watched as my opportunity to be a great person went off the screen. Maybe tomorrow there will be spam I just can't refuse ........... like Amazon Kindle3 for .88 each???

attachment to Family Treasures

Well, I finally finished cataloging all the Funeral Book of my great, great grandma! There were 27 obituaries of family members close to her; there was also the upcoming newspaper announcement of a granddaughters wedding - and then a newspaper account of that wedding ... in a funeral book, go figure. There was also the announcement of a birth, I haven't figured out the genealogical lines of this? As I commented in the earlier article, this book is incredible .. there is a listing of everyone who was present at the funeral, a complete listing of everyone that gave flowers. Now the neat thing about all these lists, is that except for a couple of pages where people signed their names, these lists are in the same beautiful handwriting, for example: the list of those coming to visitation is in their own handwriting, but the list of those at the funeral, which is a lot longer - completely opposite how things happen today, is in the same handwriting. Perhaps this means that there was someone making the list as people appeared?! There are some pictures of a favorite grandson in his military uniform, the ship he was on, and a handwritten post card by him back to my great grandma who inherited the book. There are some other handwritten notes, most of them barely legible anymore. I'm further convinced that this book was merely passed on to my grandma, and no other notations made because there are no obits of my great grandma or great grandpa; the only thing about my great grandma was
the original railroad health insurance card she had and also her original social security card - both of which are in excellent condition. In the earlier article I mentioned the unusual pages titled: 'MOTOR CARS DONATED', so now that I'm done cataloging the book I'd like to record the other pages here: a couple of 'poem' pages spread throughout; a MUSIC page; IN MEMORY OF page; FAMILY RECORD page; SERVICES & OFFICIATING on the same page; SERMON NOTES, which is blank; a page with the BEARERS, the casket bears names and towns where they lived!; FINAL RESTING PLACE page, including date,hour and year; REALTIVES attending, this page is full; FRIENDS WHO CALLED, these are five pages where people signed; FLOWERS, six pages filled with names; then the MOTOR CAR pages; then NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS pages; concluding with pages of poems.

I am really impressed with what a big, communal event a funeral was; and in many ways I am saddened by the demise of experience. Hardly anyone likes to view a dead body, but there are so many psychological, communal and family benefits to a funeral.
I've also noted that fewer and fewer people will drive their cars to the side of the road as a funeral passes by - I think this says a lot about the demise of our social culture. I try to go to the side of the road, to turn my lights on, when a funeral passes by, if I can't I at least turn my lights on to acknowledge the passing.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

'Old Fashioned Hymn Sing!'

Last night, Saturday, myself and a couple of people from our church family went to the First United Methodist Church for an 'old fashioned hymn' sing. It was sorta fun as the leader would ask a question, such as 'whose the oldest one here?' 'who drove the furthest to get here' 'who has the most family pictures in their wallet' etc. etc., then that individual would pick out one of their favorite hymns.
There was a high school teen there from our church family and her favorite hymn was 'Amazing Grace,' and she was hoping that someone would ask for it to be sung. I was wishing the woman would ask who was the youngest, then she could have requested her favorite hymn, but that ended up not being necessary - and we sang her hymn.
Thinking about Jessie and her favorite hymn, I was reminded, old hymn's don't die because of time changes, because of contemporary musical styles, old hymn's live on and on, even into the hearts of the youngest of every generation because of the message that they bring ...
~amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me
~once was lost, but now found
~how precious did that grace appear
~tis grace has brought me save thus far, grace will lead me home
one can't help but realize that the author of thiss eternal hymn of praise [John Newton]had experienced that grace he wrote about first hand. Two quick thoughts come to mind, first we're not teaching our kids about the scriptural truths in these hymns, and consequently we ourselves are losing the joy, the grace and the help that
comes from sharing them. It doesn't matter how updated the music is or isn't the words are a symphony themselves - and this sounds resonates so powerfully when it is sung a capella!!
ENJOY this Sabbath.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Family glasses, etc.

The garage sale that my aunts and uncles were preparing for, alluded to in my previous article,happened while my 'good wife' was home visiting mom. They invited her to see if there was anything she would like to purchase before the public sale. She purchased a circular coffee table, some luggage and ALL the things in grandma's china hutch. When I talked with grandma about it this Thursday afternoon she informed me that all the glassware, which was quite a bit, all came from my great grandma - the same one that owned the Funeral Book I talked about.
I have no idea what the 'good wife's' plans for these things are, although I think there is going to be a Memorial sale, and many of them may find temporary lodging there; but whatever, its kinda neat to have them for a spell. While transporting them home [which is a two hour drive one way], I drove extra careful .... and am so proud of myself, not one crack in all that fragile stuff!

A Priceless Family Treasure

My grandma [Mom's mom], 97 and of sharp mind, and living in a nursing home in my hometown, directed her kids to sell her household stuff. Some family artifacts that she had she specifically directed to family members; knowing how much I love family genealogy, and about the only family member that is always asking her to share about the past she directed that her mom's funeral book about her grandma be given to me. That would be the funeral book of my great, great grandma, on my grandma's maternal side.
I didn't even know it 'existed,' and when my mother gave it to me Wednesday when I got home - I almost cried ...........I couldn't believe none of my aunts or uncles wanted the book! It is a family treasure trove!! I'm about half way through carefully cataloging the numerous newspaper, personal and funeral card attachments in it. The attachments in the book are held there with straight pins - not staples, that's how old this book is.
It's a tedious labor of love because some of the articles have notes written beside them in the funeral book, so I must be very careful to mention them; and some I've had to look up on family charts, and still don't know where they belong on the family tree. There are many in the family who are somewhat familiar with grandpa's side of the family, but this is grandma's side. This book, thus far, appears to be the funeral book kept by my great grandma, for all the notes are by her; matter of fact I'm beginning to speculate that maybe my great grandma did most, if not all of it, and my grandma just got the book passed on to her. Thus far I've counted almost 30 pins holding article's in the book.
This book is from the first Funeral Home in my hometown; it precedes the two that are there now, and even they are now under one owner. The cover title is 'Cherished Memories.' I came across two interesting page titles that I've never seen before, if any of you have, I'd love to hear about it .... the title to those pages is 'MOTOR CARS OUR FRIENDS DONATED,' is that not unusual or what?! Well, back to my adventure - I may have something further to report later.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

The Dead Beat:: Perverse Pleasures of Obituaries

Early in the book the author refers to 'obituaries' as gardens of emotion. They are meant to help grieving people begin to heal and even laugh. They are meant to bring fellowship and bonding through a mutual friend/family member from in the past. Obituaries are those strange vessels through which we are reminded of our fragile existence, and that none of us escape death, so what memories are we creating through our living for those who will read our obituaries.
I truly did enjoy this book, although a lot of it was dull, but then there have to limits to how exciting obituaries can be, even if reading them becomes a have-too. I was not aware that there is a whole sub-culture out there that indulges in obituaries far past just reading them. There are people who save them, and make scrap books out there; there is serious newspaper competition. The author talks about when the N.Y.Times created its 'Portraits of Grief' following 9/11. Of course there were those who criticized it, but by far and large it had a positive impact as it focused on the daily lifestyles of those who had lost their lives. It also helped to create a sense that the 'ordinary' person can have a huge impact on one's community without being in the spotlight, and thousands congratulated the Gray Lady for her sensitivity to these subjects, and for taking the time to care and print.
Overall this book was a great read, and I am glad that I read the book. It has given me a whole new perspective, not only about reading obituaries - which often have hidden 'obit codes' that are fun to discover, but also about being more observant and letting people know how I appreciate their lives before they become an obit.
JOHNSON, Marilyn, New York, N.Y. Harper Collins, PUb., 2006
ISBN: 9780060758752
[I really need an editing and proof reading department for this blog spot!!]

While we're on the subject of death, I recently came across an article on the internet: 'Will Osama bin Laden's death save Barrack Obama's presidency.' I have no answer or political opinion about that; but I do know that Osama's death has certainly raised a lot of controversy - and a lot of it I suppose is very much needed. For the Christian community definitely needs to tread lightly upon this issue, and realize that it is an opportunity to 'reach out' rather than 'rejoice.' Monday I briefly mentioned Osama's death in this blogsphere, and receive an excellent comment from Sherm. Sherm then referred to me an excellent blog about this subject, if you have the time you need to follow up on that blog - it was excellent.
ENJOY.

Monday, May 2, 2011

May Day! May Day!

The NY Daily News reminded us that both Adolf Hitler and Osama Bin Laden, two of the worlds most sought after evil men share an anniversary - this on could down in the 'Dead Beat' book I mentioned - they were both declared dead on May 1st. A day that is
in some cultures highlighted as the beginning of summer, it is certainly becoming a day of judgment for so evil doers. Maybe all the Hitler and Laden' wanta be's will stay holed up on May 1st at least.

What's in a Name - today Spam.

Since I haven't surveyed my 'spam' file for a couple days before I delete it, there are nearly a hundred items there .... and a few of them are about an insurance called Cobra. Now I admit I'm really ignorant about this insurance except that I guess its insurance that people who are suddenly out of employment can take to keep up their coverage [ooh, being covered by a cobra isn't exactly a cozy feeling], although I guess its an extremely high rate - if its' got any government link's that's no surprise ... But I was just thinking why would name a health insurance COBRA .. are those who gave it its name aware of what a cobra is - one of the worlds most poisonous snakes. Maybe its a subtle signal, watch out for this insurance. One of the those spam invitations even suggested there are options; do these options have anything to do with how much venom you have to take to be fully or adequately insured ... or how long are these options effective before the full force of the venom kicks in, breaks the bank and you're left again without coverage?
Well, I've already spent too much time on this spam; but it was fun - later.

A Dead Beat

This is almost a companion article to the one I wrote earlier this morning in theme of 'death.' It is not my habit to talk about books I'm in the process of reading, I much prefer to critique them after-wards - but alas temptation has once again hooked its claws into my mind.
A week ago while perusing through the library's new books shelve I came across a most interesting title to a book, 'The Dead Beat: The Perverse Pleasures of Obituaries'
...and I'm certainly enjoying it. Let me say upfront if you find obituaries somewhat boring, you probably would ditch this book before finishing the first chapter. However I'm finding it delightful and can't wait to share it with you. Matter of fact I'm paying a lot closer attention to the obituaries in our little town paper and have thought about writing my own. Now that births [catch the pun there] many problems, how do I write my own obit without sounding prideful? what is the proper amount of humility without failing to broadcast my many virtues? will my family/friends yield to the temptation to change some of it? where can I store it so I don't forget where I placed it, yes even in computer files ... these questions rather than helping to pave the way are only tiring me out - guess I'll just wait to start tackling them for another day, if I live that long! Now that's a terrible thought because then my obit will be totaling in the hands of others????