New Life

You know how I felt about my Oldie, Harry, who died in November.  He had a big personality.  He had a big life.  He was highly creative. I loved him.

You know that he and Haddy were were married for 67 years.  They were joined at the hip.  But Harry was the "go to" guy of the couple.  They had one of those "Me, Tarzan, you Jane" marriages.

Everybody thought when Harry died, Haddy would soon follow.


After all, at age 93 and with serious memory issues that aren't going to get better - what could she possibly have to live for?

Surprise!  Haddy is flourshing.  She's living in a lovely memory care center.  Despite her dementia she's made friends and is involved in the arts herself.

Among other things, she's painting.  This is Haddy's art work, not Harry's.   So bright and colorful!

And she's into music.

I told you recently that she won a prize for being the best dressed.  No surprise there.  But now the beauty is coming from the inside as well.

As Winston Churchill famously said, "Never, never, never, never give up."

What's the Bottom Line?

Why does the universe exist rather than nothing?  How did humanity come to be on this remote blue speck of a planet?  What happens to us after death?   - Andrew Sullivan

Andrew Sullivan is a journalist who writes for Newsweek and The Daily Beast.  The week prior to Easter  Newsweek ran an article by Sullivan, including a contemporary picture of Jesus on the cover, called "Christianity in Crisis - Forget the Church, Follow Jesus."

All "you know what" broke loose among some national church leaders.  I was hoping my minister hadn't seen it because I didn't want him to be burdened by one more thing at Easter.  Especially when it was leading into our United Methodist World Conference.

The United Methodist Church, like other mainline denominations, is struggling here in the United States.

I, personally, loved Sullivan's article.  It made me think. It made me feel.  He talks about power-mad leaders, both in the church and in politics who use Christianity to push their agendas.

That's not what Jesus was about. Here are some quotes from the article:

Jesus' doctrines were the practical commandments.  Not simply love one another, but love your enemy and forgive those who harm you; give up all material wealth; love the ineffable Being behind all things.

And, get this:

Above all:  give up power over others, because power...requires the threat of violence, and violence is incompatible with the total acceptance and love of all other human beings.  That is the sacred heart of Jesus teaching. 

Christianity itself is in crisis...the fastest-growing segment of belief among the young is atheism.


What do we do?  Andrew Sullivan suggests that we look at folks who went back to living the way Jesus lived..Folks like Saint Francis of Assissi.

As Jesus was without politics, so was Francis...The saints became known as saints not because of their success in fighting political battles...They were saints purely and simply because of the way they lived.


The point was how Jesus conducted himself through it all; calm, loving, accepting, radically surrendering even the basic control of his own body and telling us that this was what it means to truly transcend our world and to be with God.  


Jesus, like Francis, was a homeless person, as were his closest followers.  He possessed nothing - and thereby everything.  


By the way, I shouldn't have been concerned about my minister.  He did read the article.  He wasn't one bit intimated by it.  In fact he agreed with much of it.  I know this because he preached on it on Easter Sunday.




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I Heart Chimps

Today is Earth Day.  What better way could we have spent it than see the new film documentary "Chimpanzees?" We weren't alone.  The theater was full - and that was amazing because they're showing the movie almost every hour.

But I guess folks are anxious to see it fast because for every person who pays in it's opening week, Disney will make a donation to the Jane Goodall Institute.

Speaking of Jane, she's been busy this week making the rounds of talk shows touting this movie.  And that's not all, she made an appearance a couple of night's ago right here at Rollins College.  My two friends tried to go but they couldn't even get the car on to the campus.  When they arrived on foot they couldn't get close to the building she was in. They saw great lines of people wherever they looked.  Ms. Goodall is quite a popular gal.

Dave and I loved the movie.  This photo is of the film's star, Oscar.  During the filming his mom, Isha died and he was miraculously adopted by the alpha male of the group, Freddie.

"Chimpanzee" has great music and is narrated by Tim Allen. There were kids in the theater, of course, but mostly adults, and there was applause at the end.

It always interests me when this happens because, of course, the film makers are not there to hear it. 


Two final thoughts:  First, we learned that in 1960 there were one million chimps in Africa.  Now  there are about 200,000.


Second, our Sunday School class theme this morning was on the importance of friendships.  We heard the phrase "Friendship takes investment."

In the movie Tim Allen used the same phrase as we were watching the chimps groom each other and eat the bugs they found under the other guy's fur.


But I don't think this is exactly what Gary, today's Sunday school teacher, had in mind.




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The State of My Soul - Post Lent

As we've discussed before, Lent is the six weeks prior to Easter when we are to be introspective and soul searching.  This year was a particularly soul searching time for me.

I led a class every Wednesday that turned out to be one of the best I've been in for a while.  This is due to the content of the book we discussed and the content of the brains and hearts of the very smart and open, talkative folks sitting around the table.

All of my church's worship services were over top moving and wonderful, culminating with Easter Sunday morning worship finishing with the Hallelujah Chorus.

Hallelujah!

But, by far, the most joyous, moving Easter experience for me was attending an Easter Brunch where several of my friends got up on stage and tap danced to Frank Sinatra's "You Make Me Feel So Young."

To see these women, all 60 something, and some of them with serious health issues and other issues, tap dancing their hearts out, was more than I could take.  I had to excuse myself, go out into the hall, and have a little cry.

And, as you know, I never cry.

All this to say, as far as I can tell this morning, ten days after Easter...

 "All is well with my soul."


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War on Women

This past week the "War on Women" temporarily became a "War on Moms" when Hillary Rosen suggested that Ann Romney can't understand the economic concerns of women because "she hasn't worked a day in her life."

Most of us moms, even though we're not richy rich, have felt the sting of somebody suggesting we don't have a brain because we're not currently out there earning the big bucks.  Despite the fact that we've proven time and time again that, most of us, if we have to, can....bring home the bacon AND fry it up in the pan. 


On the other hand, moms also (still) know the mind numbing, soul crushing reality of being stuck at home, even if by choice, while the other guys and gals do the glamour jobs.  In the 70s I wrote a little poetry book expressing this big time frustration.

Another woman who has made an industry of expressing herself using snarky, ironic wit is Anne Taintor.  She sells these little vintage photo gems with brand new captions.  Many of them go a little further than I care to - but she makes a point.

Her stuff reminds me of the the "Ya Ya Sisterhood" women who's motto was "Smoke, drink and never think."  But Taintor's work is directed toward smart women (sometimes at the expense of men) who understand that raising a family while trying to make a difference in the world (whether we're paid for it or not) is tough.  And it takes a sense of humor.

For more on Anne Taintor, look up her website, Anne Taintor Vintage Revisited.

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Profiling

Yesterday we picked up a couple of things at the computer store.  After paying I stuffed them into my big purse.  As we were leaving we had to wait because the greeter was examining the contents of bags just purchased by three young African American men.

When our turn came, the greeter smiled and just tried to wave us on through.  But I insisted on taking out our merchandise and receipts, just like the fellows before us.

On the way to the car Dave said,

"Aren't you glad you didn't steal anything?"

I thought about that for a minute and said,

"I guess I'm glad I'm old and white."


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New Words

Dystopia-
A society in a repressive and controlled state often under the guise of being Utopian.


This morning Dave and I did a three mile charity walk to benefit homeless families.  We have oodles of them here in Central Florida.  I'm happy to tell you the walkers raised $22,000.00.

During the morning I chatted a bit with a fellow walker and he introduced me to a new word, "Dystopia."  (It could be a word that I've forgotten but I don't know what's worse, to not know it or to have forgotten it.)  After coming home I researched the word and realized that I've been involved in anti-dystopian activity most of my adult life. Good to put a name to it.

By the way, my walker friend is one of the smartest people I know but, I'll have to say, he didn't recognize the Chico's emblem on the back of my jacket so - even though he's smart  as the dickens - he's woefully uninformed about older women's clothing boutiques.

The tension between Dystopian and Utopian societies is always present.  It generally creeps in when we choose safety over freedom.

Here's an example:

Dystopia - Just before giving birth to my first baby I asked my doctor, one more time, about breast feeding rather than formula.  He said, "You don't need to worry your pretty little head about these things.  You just take care of your baby and I'll make all the decisions."

Utopia - By the time my fourth baby came around, I was large (literally) and in charge of the decision making regarding my babies' health and my own.  

Following is a list of popular books (that I've read) that have dystopian themes:

• Brave New World
• Nineteen Eighty-four
• Fahrenheit 451
• Player Piano 
• Metamorphosis

A current Dystopian series that I have not yet read or seen in the movies is The Hunger Games.  


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More on Babies

As you know, I have strong feelings about birth control.  It would be my wish that girls and women all over the world get pregnant for one reason only.  Because they want to.

And now this morning's paper announces that teen births hit record lows in the U.S. again this year.  This is a downward trend that's been happening since the late 50s.   In fact, fewer babies were born to teens in 2010 than in any year since 1946.  So congrats to all of you young women who are delaying having sex and then acting responsibly when you do.

But we have a ways to go because, even with this record, we still have one of the highest rates of teen births in the first world countries.

Over the centuries the concept has been that getting pregnant is the consequence (or some might say the punishment) for having sex - and needs to stay that way.  Unfortunately, most times, the worst punishment to come out of having unwanted babies is to the babies.

This week's New Yorker  has a thought provoking article (with a thought provoking title) by Elizabeth Kolbert called The Case Against Kids - Is Procreation Immoral? 


We - and when I say "we" I mean "I" - tend to think it's mostly men who've wanted to keep us barefoot and pregnant but Kolbert's article tells us that men have also been at the forefront of new ideas.

Charles Knowlton, in 1832 wrote a little book called "Fruits of Philosophy."  In it he put forward the idea that the "reproductive instinct need not actually lead to reproduction" and he suggested some primitive (and uncomfortable)  ideas for birth control.  Of course, Knowlton was thrown in prison for his writings - both in the states and in England.

But "Fruits of Philosophy" has been credited with changing the course of history. Knowlton spread the word that, instead of being a consequence of sex, children can be a choice.

Christine Overall has written a book called "Why Have Children?"  Here are some of the reasons we have them and her responses:

• Childbearing is natural - Should we satisfy all of our natural urges?
• Childbearing benefits the child - Nonexistent people have no moral standing.
• Childbearing makes the world happy - How do you know when to stop?
• Childbearing perpetuates a family name - Is ego a good reason?
• Childbearing gives us someone to care for us in our old age - Really?
• Childbearing will make us happy - Research shows that people who have children are no more satisfied with their lives than people who don't.

David Benetar, professor at the University of Cape Town believes that "humans have the unfortunate distinction of being the most destructive and harmful species on earth."  I guess he thinks we all need to get out of here.

I know ethics need to play a part in every decision we make but I still believe that allowing and encouraging girls and women around the globe to get pregnant only when they choose to is a good start.


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The Closer

I love the television show "The Closer."  I'm sad that this is its 7th and final year.  I think the character, Brenda Leigh Johnson, played by the wonderful actor Kyra Sedwick, is one of the most rich, complicated characters on TV.   In researching the characteristics the writers have given Brenda, I haven't found any references to Asperger's or obsessive/compulsive behavior, but it seems to me that it's there

At the very least we know she's quirky.  And tends to drive those around her crazy.  Especially, Fritz, her husband.

By the way, this photo is of Brenda and Fritz - not Dave and me.

When we're watching the show I always fuss to Dave about how Brenda treats Fritz.  It's awful.  I rejoice when he gets fed up.  But, mostly, he's gentle and patient with her inability to focus on anything but her current case.

But this morning - this glorious Easter morning - Dave and I had a little dialogue that might remind some viewers of Brenda/Fritz dialogue.

As you know, I wear black pants (and sometimes a black top) every Sunday to church.  But it's Easter.  So this morning I put on a pair of cream colored silk pants  (I don't own a skirt) and a peach colored sweater.  Oh, and pearls.  It's EASTER!

Dave took one look at me and said,

"I like your outfit."

And then, slowly, like he was picking his complimentary words very carefully,

"You look....soft."

I replied in kind of a loud voice,

"I'M NOT SOFT!"

Dave, in his loving, kind, sweet way, came back with,

"I know you're not soft.  You just look soft"

That is Fritzie and Brenda dialogue.  The kind that sometimes makes me want Fritz, instead of being sweet to Brenda, to boink her over the head.

By the way, instead of getting upset with Kyra Sedwick for making the decision to stop "The Closer" I'll just say to her, for the great seven year run and, since it's in syndication so we can watch it for many more years to come,

Thank you.  Thank you so much.


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Hugo

We finally saw the second of the three academy award nominated movies about movies.  Actually , we weren't particularly excited about seeing Hugo because, one, it's a kids' movie and, two it's in 3-D.  But it's now at our neighborhood dollar theater - so we saw it.

It's magnificent.

First off, Dave and I both love Paris.  The Paris scenes are like the most beautiful Paris you've ever seen but then enhanced in ways that could only be accomplished by a genius like, oh I don't know, Martin Scorsese. At one point Dave leaned over and said, "we've got to go back."  I knew what he meant.

I had no idea that Sacha Baron Cohen was in the movie.  I don't care for him or his movies.  But he was wonderful in Hugo. Here he is with the film's star, Asa Butterfield.

Ben Kingsley is great in every movie but over the top good in Hugo. The movie itself is extravagant and his character goes from small to extravagant.

By the way, we saw the movie in 2-D, not 3-D.

The last Scorsese film I saw was Shutter Island. It was terrifying and puzzling, and very much for adults.  I loved it.

But I loved Hugo too. To me it's a far better and more entertaining movie paying homage to the art of movie making than The Artist.

But, again, that's just me.

I'm A List Maker

Murray, in his thirties, rebel against conventional society and, temporarily unemployed, has care of his twelve-year-old nephew.  A social worker comes to discuss taking the boy out of Murray's charge on grounds that he is an unfit guardian.  Murray expresses his concern for the boy's future. 

• "And he started to make lists this year.  Lists of everything; subway stops, underwear, what he's gonna do next week...Hey, suppose they put him in with a whole family of list-makers?...he'll learn how to be one of the nice dead people."

From the play "A Thousand Clowns," Herb Gardner, playwright

I've spent a lot of my life with folks who, occasionally, are out of control.  Not necessarily an altogether bad thing.  Sometimes doing something risky, wild and crazy can have positive results.  Dreamers and artists and futurists have moved us, as a species, forward, in all areas of life.

But there is a price to pay when they lose too much control or lose it for too long a time.  Fortunately, many of these folks have boring "list makers" like us around to help them get back on track.  I'm a planner.  I'm dependable. At this late date, I'm not likely to go off the deep end.  I'm comfortable with myself.

I would argue with Murray that we are not the dead people.  Occasionally, folks like Murray go so far that they can never find their way back - no matter how much we try to help them.  Sometimes they end up - literally - dead.

You, my friends, were called to be free people; only do not turn your freedom into licence for your lower nature, but be servants to one another in love.

Galatians 5:1

Randomness

There are Publix Supermarkets all over the Southeast.  They're one of the ten largest supermarket chains in the country, with 748 stores in Florida alone.

Early Monday evening a small plane crashed into a Publix Supermarket in Deland, Florida.  The pilot and passenger were badly burned.  Fortunately, the injuries to shoppers were minor.  The plane was destroyed.  The store is in bad shape.

Do you believe in randomness?  Some folks don't.  They believe everything happens for a reason or God makes everything happen.

A definition of randomness is the unpredictability of events, i.e., events that have no aim or purpose.

Randomness is studied in every discipline.  Theology certainly.  For instance, Buddhists believe that any event is the result of previous events (Karma.)

In the world of finance there is the randomness of the stock market.  Folks make predictions based on random variables but, from day to day, nobody knows how the market will do.  

Plenty of people think they have the randomness thing solved and head for Vegas.

Suppose you were a man or woman stopping by Publix for bread and milk on your way home from work on Monday evening in Deland, Florida and an airplane falls from the sky into the dairy department.

How is that not random?


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Ragtime

On June 1st, 2009 I wrote a blog post titled "Broadway Musicals."  In it I told you about how the musical "Ragtime" brought out so much emotion that I had to stop listening to the CD.

On Friday night Dave and I saw "Ragtime" at the University of Central Florida.  It was just about as good as the Broadway version...and more emotional.

"Ragtime" takes place at the turn of the 20th century.  It features three distinct groups:  Upper class New Rochelle suburbanites, who, for the most part, think life is perfect and should remain that way;  African Americans and Jewish Immigrants.

This time around I experienced the play through the lens of the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman tragedy in Sanford, Florida.  Orlando Sentinel columnist Darryl Owens conveyed my feelings perfectly in his Saturday column.  His daughter was in the play.  Here are some lyrics from "Ragtime" that reminded Owens... and me, that we're still struggling.

There was blood on the ground/She was only a girl/It will happen again/It will happen again/And again/And again.

Why does nobody care?//There is blood in the air!/We have voices and souls!/What is wrong with this country?/She was somebody's child!

Why should I turn the other cheek?/What about justice!

We are one with you/Now the world will know/There are Negroes out there/To make them listen!/We're all Coalhouse!

Let the new day dawn?Oh Lord, I pray,/We'll never get to heaven/Till we reach that day.


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Medical City

On Friday Dave and I, along with several other folks, toured the University of Central Florida's new College of Medicine.  It's several miles from the main campus - out in the middle of nowhere.  But that won't last long.  Soon there will be teaching hospitals of all types, residences and shopping centers. 

This cutting edge med school was built from the ground up.  It's the first medical school in history to offer full four year scholarships to an entire class.  

Here is a photo taken during our tour.  Our guide is introducing us to her four friends, David, David, David and Harvey (back behind the glass.)  They're all manikins, but very pricey ones.  They get sick, sweat, throw up, pee, have heart attacks, etc.  And they can be male or female by just changing a few parts. 

Later we went to the anatomy lab.  Also cutting edge.  The caption on the painting of the hands  reads, "This is the place where death delights to help the living."

When Dave and I left this lecture we, along with many others,  went directly to find literature on how to donate our bodies to this program.

Here is a little quiz:

How many books are in the UCF College of Medicine library?

Answer:  Virtually none.  Everything is done with technology.  We held an ipad that told us about a beating heart, let us hear beating hearts and let us feel beating hearts.

It takes about three years to publish a text book.  ipads can deliver the material almost immediately. And deliver it to all of our senses.

Never heard of the University of Central Florida?  With around 60,000 students it's the second largest university in the country.

And still growing in ways that boggle the mind.


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