My Brother Paul

Paul and Fish.

Today is my brother Paul's birthday.  His daughter (and my writing mentor),  put this photo on her Facebook page this morning.  Since then it's been blowing up with birthday wishes - and Paul isn't even on Facebook!

He is well loved.

My niece reminded folks that Paul and I had a pretty awful childhood.  And we did.  But life has been good for both of us for a long time.  And, even more important, Paul has blessed the lives of everybody around him.

As you can see, he's a fisherman.  He's also, in his own way, a fisher-of-men.

Paul and Cess

The other photo is us as children.  You can see that my clothes are too small and his are too big (yes, he does have hands.)  The photo doesn't make me sad.  It makes me grateful for everybody and everything I have in my life.  Today that's specifically Paul.

If love was as valuable as cash Paul would be rich.  Oh wait - it is - and he is.

Happy Birthday, Paul


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Exhaustion

These days I don't very often feel "totally exhausted."  But for most of my life I was chronically exhausted.  Around the time my husband Ken died it had reached critical mass.  Things had to change.  And they did.  If they hadn't I wouldn't be here to experience this, My Best Time.

This morning I talked with somebody I love like crazy.  She loves me just the same.  She's not feeling well.  She didn't say this but I know some of what she's feeling is exhaustion.

A while back in this blog I mentioned the book "Scarred by Struggle, Transformed by Hope."  I'm going to lead a Lenten study on this book at my church.  It's chuck full of gritty reality.  I know we'll have interesting discussions as we search for the truth over lunch.

Here are a couple of quotes on a chapter called "Exhaustion" from this book by Joan Chittister:

It is not so much "struggle"....Rather, it is the bone-sore deep-down, heart-wearying, never-ending weight of struggles, the effects of which never go away that wears us down and turns our spirits into dust....It is the day-in, day-out tenacious cling to the amorphous anger, the depression, the unacceptability of it that stand to defeat us in the end.  

Exhaustion is the invisible enemy, the real enemy, in struggling. 

Yes, I believe all of the above to be true.  But how do we fix it?  Chittister says in her on wisdom filled way that, essentially, we have to, first of all, want to see some light in all that darkness.

And in her next chapter, called "Endurance," she gives us lots of clues on how to do this.


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Selfies

I'm sure you're aware that the Oxford Dictionary Word of the Year for 2013 is "Selfie" - barely beating out "Twerking." Both of these new words are also our two most annoying for the year 2013.  The acts themselves  - tweaking and taking selfies - are also extremely annoying.

Last Sunday one of my ministers, Rev. Jayne, preached a sermon called "Spiritual Selfies."  But just as she was beginning the sermon in our impressive sanctuary, with a full choir and pews filled, she said,

"Wait, I forgot to do something."

Wait!  I can do better. 

Then she searched around in her robe, finally pulled out her phone, tilted her head back and took a selfie.  She then muttered that it wasn't quite right, fixed her hair, moistened her lips and took some more selfies.  All the while several hundred of us were waiting.

She was making a point.  It was funny and a great way to start a sermon on spiritual depth.

I love and respect social media.  One reason is I get to stalk my kids and grand kids and they don't even know it.  It also helps with my work - and it is just plain enjoyable to see photos of friends and family from around the globe.

But it gets out of hand.  Here's a selfie.  But, OMG, my lips look funny!  Can you hold on while I take a couple more?


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Do You Have a New Person in Your Life?

When I was doing consulting work with a group of young professionals or even folks not so young or professional, who were worrying about their futures both career wise and personally,  I would, many times, make this statement:

Me, my granddaughter and the new guy in town

The person you will love the most probably hasn't even been born yet!

This usually prompted much discussion.  As it should.  And not just for younger folks.  All of us need to be open to meeting and getting to know new people all the time.  You just never know how a person you meet today might enrich your life forever.

Case in point.  The new guy in this picture came into my life a few months ago.  He kinda surprised all of us with his winsome ways.  I don't see him as often as I'd like but - due to this fantastic age in which we  live - I get to see photos of him most every day.


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Security Blanket

Did you have a security blanket when you were a kid?  I don't remember if I did or not, but I hope so.   My kids had all sorts of security "blankets" and I encouraged it.  Anything that helped them feel comfort in times of stress, I was all for.

Restoration Hardware's Terry Cloth
Robe in Sable

While I can't remember much of my childhood,  I know I've had security "blankets" for much of my adult life - in the form of terry cloth robes.  Every morning, year round, the first thing I do is put on my big, fat robe.   I love my robe.

But here's the problem.  I like white terry cloth robes.  And since I sit in my favorite spot on the couch every morning for several hours reading and drinking tea, the robe gets spotted.  So it has to be washed.  This takes a while since it practically fills the entire washer, takes an hour to dry and it wears out the robe.

The other Saturday morning we stopped into Restoration Hardware.  Hanging there on a headless manikin was the solution.  A terry cloth robe in the color "sable" but, to me, looks like "tea."  Perfect.

My Dave immediately bought the robe.  But here's the problem.  My size wasn't in the store so had to be ordered.  In the meantime, the church had a rummage sale so I gave away my old robe.  And then, on Tuesday I had the cataract in my right eye removed.  When I got home from the surgery center, all doped up, I needed my robe.

I hope the new robe arrives soon.  In the meantime I'm wearing my pink hoodie.  It's not the same.


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Monument's Men

George wears all the hats

A funny thing about reviews - "American Hustle" received fantastic reviews and will probably win the Academy Award.  I disliked it so much that it was all I could do to sit in the theater until it was over.  I would say "Exceedingly boring with no redeeming value."

Bill Murray

On the other hand, "Monument's Men" has received terrible reviews, locally and nationally.  And I loved every minute of it.  Produced, written, directed by and staring George Clooney, it's the true story of a group of eight men who were tasked by President Roosevelt to go to Europe during World War II and rescue artistic masterpieces from the Nazis.  Hitler wanted them all for himself - but if he should lose the war - he wanted all of them destroyed.

Cate Blanchett

So the question was, is it worth the loss of life in order to save ancient treasures?

John Goodman

I was very moved by scenes of great art lost and then found, of a warehouse loaded with the personal artifacts of displaced Jews, and of a Jewish soldier who was shown a Rembrandt stolen from his hometown.  He'd never been allowed to see it prior to the war because he was Jewish.

Matt Damon

 I loved the final scene.  The question to Sparks, played by George Clooney, is " Will it make any difference 30 years from now that we saved this art?

Nick Clooney

The final scene, 30 plus years later, is of Sparks, this time played by Nick Clooney (George's father) visiting the saved Bruges Madonna by Michelangelo.

Michelangelo's Bruges Madonna


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Shirley Temple - Hollywood Success Story

Movie Star

We all know the grim statistics regarding the prospects for child actors.  Few of them make it as adults and many if the ones that do flame out in big ways.  (I'm thinkin' about you Lindsey.)

Easily the most popular child star of all time, Shirley Temple died a couple of days ago at age 85.  Her heyday was a little before my time but most people across the globe have seen at least one "Little Shirley Temple" movie.  She was a huge star at age four - and remained a huge star for several years.

And then she wasn't.  Shirley acted a bit as a teen and young adult but she was never again a big movie star.

By the way, I love the movie "The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer" with Cary Grant as the bachelor and Shirley as the bobby soxer.  Find it on Netflix.  You'll love it too. 

So, what did Shirley do for the next 70 or so years?  Plow through a bunch of lovers?  Deal drugs out of her palatial home?  Get fat and go to therapy?

No!

Diplomat

She turned her talents and energy to other things.  She did volunteer work, mostly for the Republican party.  That led to unsuccessfully running for office, but that led to:

• Appointment to the 24th Assembly of the United Nations General Assembly by President Nixon.
• Diplomatic appointment as ambassador to Ghana by President Ford.
• Appointment as Chief of Protocol - she was in charge of the inauguration of President Carter
• Appointment as ambassador to Czechoslovakia by President Bush (H.W.)

For 55 years, Shirley Temple was married to Charles Black, a successful oceanographer with an MBA from Stanford.  When she died she was surrounded by her family.

Shirley Temple's life, to me, from beginning to end, is truly a Hollywood success story.


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Waiting Is Our Destiny

Dr Bob preached on "Waiting" this morning.  Not the trivial kind that we hate - like when your spouse is never on time - but the important kind like when you're waiting in the hospital for the doctor to come out and give you news that may change your life forever.

Dr. Bob said this:

What God does in us while we wait is as important as what it is we're waiting for. 

But before he got to the serious part he quoted one of my favorite poets.  In case it's been a while since you've read this one, here it is.

THE WAITING PLACE by Dr. Seuss

Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come,
or a plane to go or the mail to come,
or the rain to go or the phone to ring,
or the snow to snow or waiting
around for a Yes or No
Or waiting for their hair to grow.

Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting of the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.

Everyone is just waiting.

I guess the important thing is what is going on with us while we wait.


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Check to See if You Have These Things in Your Home

I love my state.  Florida is a wonderful place to live.  As Stefon used to say on Saturday Night Live,

This place has everything!

A few days ago sheriff's deputies raided a home in Central Florida and discovered the following:

• Two frozen alligators
• Meth in a box of baby wipes
• A marijuana plant
• A live bass in an aquarium
• Ammo
• Homemade drug pipes
• Ten month old twins

The couple living in the home had logical explanations for some of these things.  For instance, They planned to stuff and display the alligators.  

Unfortunately, this is no logical explanation for this couple having twin babies. 

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Cataract Tales

When my good friend was a teenage volunteer Candy Striper in the 1960s, her job at the hospital was to feed folks who'd had cataract surgery.  This was because they couldn't move for several days. They had to remain perfectly still and, even then, serious head pain was an issue.

Cataracts have been dealt with in some fashion or other for centuries.  The first procedures involved sliding the film over to the side of the eyeball.  That must have been a little uncomfortable!

I had cataract surgery on Tuesday.  I was in and out of the Ophthalmology surgery center in about an hour and a half.  I'd like to tell you about the procedure but I, apparently, was asleep.  Only a little discomfort the first night, but now, two days out, I'm in no pain, and, best of all, I'm seeing better.

What interests me this morning is seeing different colors with my "new" eye than I'm seeing with the "old" one.  The wall looks a creamy beige with one and grayish with the other.  How exciting!

It's not quite as dramatic as the photo above but, there is a big difference, for sure.

Claude Monet was a famous cataract sufferer.  Lots of his paintings have been categorized over the years according to where he was in the process.

I'm just happy that things are rocking along with my eyes. And I'm being a good patient....using my various eye drops on schedule and not bouncing around at the gym too much.

Hopefully, I'll be ready to have the cataract in my other eye removed in a couple of weeks.  Can't wait to see what color the walls will be then.


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Will We Floridians Ever Evolve?

Orlando Sentinel columnist Beth Kassab alerted us this morning to the latest Florida evolution  controversy.  The newest member of the State Board of Education opposes teaching evolution as a "fact" in Florida.

He's quoted as saying "I'm purely in favor to it staying a theory and only a theory."

Beth Kassab's response:  "Oh, brother."

It would be funny if it wasn't so serious and scary.  In the great world math and science competition the United States is mediocre at best.  We rank about 25 world wide.  What are some of the top performers?  Shanghai Singapore, Hong Kong, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Estonia.

I was in Estonia a couple of years ago.  It's beautiful, but a cutting edge science country that is kicking the butt of the United States of America?  Come on!

Beth Kassab says, and I wholeheartedly agree:  "There's irrefutable evidence that evolution is the underlying biology behind how living things develop over time."

This new school board member admits evolution exists but his problem is that scientists can't say for certain how and when the universe began.

I think I can help.  First, there's this book that tells me spiritually and theologically all I need to know.

Genesis 1  In the Beginning God...

Then, as you know from older postings, there's this song that explains the science:

The whole universe was in a hot dense state,
And nearly 14 million ears ago
Expansion started, Wait...
The earth began to cool,
The autotropes began to drool,
Neanderthals developed tools
We built a wall (we built the pyramids)
Mather, science, history
Unraveling the history
That all started with the big bang.
                 - Barenaked Ladies


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Phillip Seymour Hoffman

Forty-five or so years ago when I was part of a production of "The Glass Manager," I asked the director,

How can a person (Truman Capote) know so much about life yet not live it well?

His reply was something like, knowing how to do something and actually doing it are two different things.

And now we've learned that Phillip Seymour Hoffman, who won an Academy Award for playing Truman Capote, died yesterday in his Manhattan apartment from an apparent heroine overdose.

Ever since seeing "The Talented Mr. Ripley" I've been a huge fan of Hoffman.  He always seemed to become  the character he was playing.

A couple of years ago I saw him in as the very creepy master in "The Master."  Seriously disliked the movie and the character and had to keep reminding myself he was acting.   Two relatively recent serious films that I loved and loved him in were "Doubt" where he played a priest and "The Savages" where he played a son who had to put his dad in a nursing home.

At lunch today Dave and I talked about how, since neither of us is prone to addiction, it's hard for us to truly understand how addiction can and does devastate so many lives.  From what little I know about Phillip Seymour Hoffman as a person, he seemed like a good guy.  Not "Hollywood" but New York apartment, subway riding, taking his kids to school kind of guy.

I'm sorry he's gone.  His talent was immense.


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