Been a few days...

 It's not that I had nothing to say--I have.

It's not that I've been too busy--I haven't.

It's that my mind has been in limbo for a number of things.

First of all, we went from looking for a new car to spending over $700 to fix my front brakes and buy two new tires. So, I'm going to drive my car for a while longer. I'm glad....

Second, Dan--Bern's brother is coming on Monday for a visit. He's getting into Hartford on a plane at 10 p.m. or so. So Bern got an Uber to bring him to us since we're in bed before then.

Third, I am so upset about our so-called President and all the awful things he's doing. Making money instead of taking care of the poor. Declaring English as the American language and cutting funds for English classes for immigrants. Building a ballroom and fighting a war, neither of which anyone wants, instead of running the nation. Making the national debt higher than it's ever been while spending money on a war and ballroom nobody wants.

I'm just getting started--but I'm stopping there.

Church today was great except our musician is sick again, so no music. But we did a healing service after communion and after church talked about a Christmas play before a great coffee hour.

I love that church and those people.

What a lucky guy I am...except for car troubles and what's his name in the White House....

Car looking tomorrow

 Bern has almost convinced me I need a new car or a low mileage used one.

It doesn't help that when I hit the brakes it sounds like thunder.

I'll try to have that checked tomorrow.

You have a car for sale? Or want to give it to a good ole guy?

So, tomorrow, we go looking.

I may just give my much loved car to Public Radio since I don't think a dealer is going to give me much of anything for it.

As you've probably deduced--I hate this whole thing.

But I'm a good ole guy....

Driving to Milton...

...wears me out. It's only 33 miles, but on Wednesday the traffic is a lot heavier than Sunday.

I made it before anyone else and luckily remembered the code for the parish house door.

I really needed a bathroom!

There were 6 people at Bible Study--5 regulars and a newcomer.

She was very engaged--hope she'll be back.

Gnostic writings are both 'kinda familiar' and 'quite strange'.

The group is used to that by now and the first-timer was fascinated.

The conversation was so good I didn't eat all my lunch. That was fine. Talk is often better than food.

Driving home I heard weird noises when I used the brakes.

Bern is probably right--I need a new car.

But I thought this car would be the last of my life (I'm that old!) but 184,000 miles is a lot and I will most likely fail my admissions test again next week.

We'll see....

 

Monday, Monday....

 I was on my way to have my re-take my car's emmisions (which I can't spell!) test, but stopped at English Auto on the way.

If you live in Cheshire or near-by and need car work, go to English--they're the best, a family business and they are all great.

The woman who runs it told me my 'check engine' light being on would fail me out of the box. She also told me I could be late for the test and they couldn't do anything. In fact, she told me, people drive for months after failing--you just can't renew your registration.

Bern wants me to get a new car, but I've resisted so far. We'll see.

Also, took a water damaged book--a "Murder She Wrote" novel, back to the library thinking I'd have to pay for it.

But the head librarian said not to worry about it.

So, I won't.

Not a bad day so far.

And Jeopardy is on tonight--if I haven't mentioned it--my favorite show.

Not a bad day at all....

Church

Church, as always, was wonderful. Great music, a good crowd, several kids--all of whom received communion!--and a coffee hour full of wonder (including Josh's birthday cake which we were so full we couldn't eat....)

The newsletter is already on line. A great picture of K. and S.--mother and daughter who were my assistants. S. a teenager carried the cross, gave me the elements, washed my fingers and administered the wine.

She did great and I told her mom, "S. and I won't need you next time!"

She laughed and said, "good!"

Some visitors, who came to communion--YEA!!!

I love the folks at Trinity.

Wish it wasn't 33 miles from home....

I used Prayer C 'cause I love it so.

A great morning.

Home in plenty of time for lunch.

Hope your Sunday was as good as mine....

 

Waiting to shower....

 They didn't arrive (our son and his female companion) until after 7 p.m. so they are pizza late and we sat on the back deck and talked until after 8 and then gave him his birthday cake (a really strange thing called "chocolate avalanche") that none of us had room to eat.

So, I'm taking the cake to church tomorrow for coffee hour. We'll see what Trinity folks think about a chocolate avalanche!

I got up about my normal time but didn't shower because I thought they'd be up and ready to leave in the morning.

Not so. They didn't come downstairs until nearly 11, had some things to eat (coffee and donuts mostly) and didn't leave until after noon.

So, I had a small lunch and then took my shower.

I don't like afternoon showers, I don't know why exactly.

After that I went to get gas and to Big Y for a few things.

Bern and I are both exhausted though we didn't do much while they were here. Having adult kids around is tiring, I guess.

I've said it before, but we really like her. She is so patient and kind and helpful.

I hope it all ends well.

But only morning showers for me.....

Coming soon....

 My son and his companion are coming soon on their way back down the east coast. They stopped on the way north (I mentioned that in a post) and are now headed back to Baltimore.

Today is his birthday. I won't tell you how old he is since it would reveal how old I am! But he's past the half-century mark and I was 28 when he was born--there, I did it anyway.

We have some gifts and an amazing cake ready but we don't know if they will spend the night.

I like his companion a lot--more than I liked his soon to be 'former' wife.

But enough about that.

Bridget is barking at the front door.

Maybe they're here....

Keep going Bible Study....

 Before anyone else got there, Bill and I decided to cancel Bible Study until late September.

As the session was ending, I went to the bathroom while Bill told the six people there about the plan.

When I came back, he told me we were meeting next Wednesday for Bible Study.

I got home and emailed him to ask what happened and to tell him I was fine to keep going.

He emailed back that everyone screamed "NO!" when he told them.

I actually feel good about that since I love to do it (though a few Wednesdays off wouldn't be bad....)

But why do I need that, I only work three Sundays and the Wednesdays each month. I have plenty of down-time.

That those people want to keep digging into the Gnostic Gospels is, after all, wonderful!

Let's go, Gospel of Phillip!

The woman I met

 I took cans back to Big Y today. But when I got to the machine, there was a receipt in it for almost 6 dollars.

I went and found the woman who I thought it belonged to and gave it back to her. She thanked me for my kindness, and I thought that was it.

But later, she somehow found me in the store and gave me a dollar bill.

"It isn't much," she told me, "but I wanted to reward you for your kindness."

I'd like to meet more people like her.

Kindness on my part represented itself in kindness on her part.

That should be the norm.

But it isn't.

I have that dollar bill beside me as I type.

I may frame it along with "Kindness from kindness--too rare."

Thank God for her and others like her.....

 

Voting, Shopping, Killing Ants

I voted in the primary today--there were only 2 offices up for voting on the Democratic ballot. I'm a 'Yellow Dog Democrat' (a term a friend of mine gave me meaning if the ballot was for a human on the Republican side and a yellow dog on the Democratic side, I'd vote for the dog).

I also talked to 'the boys' as Bern calls them, on-line for an hour and a quarter. They are all Episcopalians (clergy and lay) except for my brother-in-law, a Roman priest in West Virginia. That's where I got the 'yellow dog' line, on that call from Michael.

Dan is coming to visit in a few weeks and we decided to get into the Episcopal Church (one of us is an important member there) and have communion before going to lunch.

That's how the group started, when I was Rector of St. John's in Waterbury and we'd have communion in the chapel and then talk for an hour.

When I retired from St. John's we had to stop that (a former priest is to be out of the way for a year). Eventually, after a few more spots for communion, we went on line and have been for years.

I also went grocery shopping for dinner tonight--my amazing salad!

I also killed some of the dozens of ants in my little office.

I let them live for days but there were so many today I had to kill some of them.

I don't like killing anything and have repented...but if they stay around, they are doomed....

 

 

Lazy Monday

 I got up a little after 8 a.m., about the time I get up every day except Sundays when I have to go to church.

I ate multi-grain Cherrios with blueberries and little round chocolate things that claim to be milk-chocolate covered cookie dough (I kid you not) with 2% milk, as always and iced coffee with lots of sugar.

That's my normal breakfast--weird as it may sound.

Then I read a Quinn book about a private detective and his dog Chet so I could take it back with 4 other books to the library.

I go to the library twice a week because I read almost a book a day.

I found a book by my favorite author, David Rosenfelt that I don't think I've read before and four others I look forward to.

I've fooled around on line for an hour or so, played Hearts and won, read some stuff about Trump and felt a little ill from doing that.

Not much else to do today that can't wait until tomorrow. Tuesday I fix a big salad for dinner that we both enjoy--lots of stuff in it.

I'll watch Jeopardy after dinner and read in bed for an hour or more when I go to bed at a little after 9 p.m.

Quite a day, huh????

Sunday Eucharist and Healing

 It went very well.

Our wondrous musician, MF was back for the first time in a month.

He even let me anoint him for healing after all he's been through.

My sermon was well received, as was the healing after communion.

I had EL anoint me and pray for my healing to give the congregation an understanding that lay people can do the anointing. I hope, over time to have lay people do it each Sunday.

(There are two very active and generous members of the congregation who won't receive communion. I'm working up to talking to them about why they don't. Maybe next week....)

Coffee hour was great and several folks told me not to worry driving home because in my sermon I said something about 'being afraid' driving up Route 8. Great of them to wish me well.

I've loved every congregation I've served in all these years--4 one-on-one and three in a cluster ministry. But Trinity is becoming my favorite.

I can't tell you exactly why, but I'll try soon.

(I did get home safe and sound!)

Backing up

I don't know much about cars.

I did fill up my windshield wiper fluid yesterday--a big accomplishment for me!

My car failed it's admissions test a few weeks ago. I have to got get tested again soon. What if I fail again?

The testing guy told me I hadn't driven enough miles since my check engine light had been turned off. I didn't even know how he knew that had happened. My car fixers told me to drive a hundred miles before getting tested, but I didn't. So, they were right.

Besides that, though I drive fine and carefully, backing up is a challenge for me.

Josh and his significant other are coming today at 3 and Bern told me to back in so I could pull out when Josh's car was behind me in the driveway.

I did it somehow--good for me!

I have to leave for church at 8 a.m. tomorrow and I don't know how long Josh's car will be in front of me.

We'll see, I guess.

At least I won't have to back up to leave....

 

OK, one minor criticism...

 I've told you how much I love Bern and why.

The list goes on and on.

I couldn't ask for more--even imagine what 'more' to ask for....

But she moves things around.

If it were up to me, every thing would stay where it was forever.

No moving around.

But Bern does it all the time.

Most recently, our back porch.

The chair I sat in for years was moved to the corner by the door. And the trash can for bottles and cans (worth 10 cents when returned) still sits beside my chair but on the wrong side of the door. I can't just open the door and toss in a ginger ale can, I have to go on the porch and shut the door to hit the can.

OK, a little thing I know.

But I don't like things moved. Never. Not ever.

(Am I an idiot? Which is what she thinks when I complain....)

Don't move things around is my motto.

Hot Thursday

 I got a lot done today.

Washed me clothes and put them away.

Wrote my sermon.

Deposited my check from Trinity Church.

Bought some windshield washer fluid. (Tomorrow I'll try to figure out how to put it in....)

Erased the dumb stuff on my email.

Read 50 pages of the David Rosenfelt book I'm reading.

Even relaxed some.

Well, for me, that's a lot! I'm not a workaholic!

The sermon is about Jesus walking on water, which I can't do. (You can't either, I'd bet.)

I don't even swim well. I'm mostly ok in a pool but put me in the ocean and you'll never see me again.

It's hot and humid, but I don't complain since I hate the cold winter so much. Besides we have air-conditioners.

I'd better rest up for Friday....

 

 

Bible Stiudy (part 2)

 So we met today--only 4 of us, it's summer after all.

And we never got to actual 'study' of the Gnostic Gospels.

We had communion and then talked about my idea to have lay folks do the healing service. Why not? We let lay folks administer the chalice and take communion to folks who are stuck at home.

The bread and wine are blessed, so they can do it.

I think it might be against church law--but why not try and tell the Bishop "I'm sorry" when he or she tells me to stop.

But there were concerns because lay folks aren't under the rule of secrecy that priests are.

Anything a lay person tells me in private stays secret, it's part of my vows.

You could tell me you robbed a bank and when the cops came I would tell them what you told me was between you and me.

I would refuse to testify against you.

So, if you told someone anointing you for healing that you had a disease from an out of wedlock sexual encounter and wanted to be healed, a priest couldn't tell your spouse but a lay person could.

So, I get it.

We'll have healing Sunday but I'll do the oil.

We'll talk about lay people doing it later....

Bible Study

 We're reading the Gnostic Gospels. Some are fascinating and some are just dumb!

Anyway, there's usually 8 people or so there and they are great to talk with. I appreciate their insights and humor a great deal.

You get to know people sitting around a table, sharing communion and talking about spiritual things...among other things.

We've had to miss a few sessions so I hope they remember where we left off, I don't.

And I'm the priest!!!!

They know a lot more than me about a lot of things.

Bless them....

Rain, rain, don't go away....

 It's rained like crazy in Cheshire the last day or more.

That's fine with me (besides getting wet going out!) because much of the country has heat waves and/or forest fires.

So, let it rain.

I had a great night's sleep--not always true.

I went to the library and checked out as many books as I could get in my blue and gold West Virginia bag.

I love reading almost as much as sleeping.

I haven't been hungry for several days. I eat what I can and leave the rest (much to Brigit's delight!) I looked on line to try to figure out why and got nothing that made sense.

Causes went from minor things (slowed down aging metabolism) to serious things (depression and cancer).

Maybe I don't move around enough--that's true.

But we shall see how my apatite goes the next few days before I panic.

I don't like to panic more than I don't like to sleep well....

Losr in thought...or somewhere....

 Haven't posted for a few days.

Not like me.

I've been 'lost' since a tooth cleaning that wore me out. And I go back to get my implant on Tuesday. Yea! Maybe I'll be able to talk better after that.

But I'm typing now, not talking.

I got a long reply to my most recent post from MM a friend since high school and college.

He was telling me what a great country we live in. He went on and on--a great American.

I agreed with most all he said.

But I think the nation he accurately described is being threatened in many ways by the current president and his 'yes' men and women.

The cost of so many essentials is making life so hard for so many.

Health Care is being hurt badly.

Immigrants are being deported who are working hard and being law abiding. And we all came from somewhere (unless you're Native American)--immigrants made this country great.

The war goes on and on--the one he promised would be very short.

There's more and more, but I'll stop there.

People like MM and me and you have to do whatever we can to push back to the President and keep our country the best place to live in the world.

Let's get busy....

Didn't post yesterday

 Had nothing worth writing...

Maybe it's the same every day!

I noticed my blog, according to the blog police "has sensitive content".

Well, I would hope so!

How's this for sensitive content--our President is an Idiot!

I talk every week to 'the boys'--as Bern calls them. All but my brother in law, Dan P., are Episcopalians. He's a Roman priest.

Today we were all whining about what 'dumpy trumpy' has done to our country.

But then I said, "Our Country elected him twice, so Our Country brought it on ourselves"...or something like that.

It's true.

We live in a country that elected that Idiot twice.

What kind of country are we living in?????

Let me know....

Church was great

 I left to go to Trinity, Milton at 8:15 a.m. Very little traffic, lots of 4 lane roads and only 32 miles.

It took me 50 minutes! Why is that? I don't know.

But a good congregation, a couple of visitors who said they'd be back, my sermon was wondrous (just me talkin'!) and coffee hour great.

When I got home, B.S., Senior Warden and newsletter guy had sent a newsletter with two photos of me I never saw him take--one giving communion and one blessing food and clothes people brought for those in need.

He could be a CIA agent!

The drive home took less time--I'm an idiot about time....

I love that little church and all their wonderful members--confirmed liberals, thank the Lord--and wonder how long I can do this.

Bern asked me the other day.

I'll see next April 17 when I turn (God Help Me!) 80....

I never dreamed I'd live this long.

Another reason I love my wife so....

I messed up my computer real bad.

I 'signed out' instead of hitting 'sleep' last night and couldn't get back on. Besides that, the picture that came up to sign in had been on for weeks and when I tried to open the computer, it told me I couldn't.

I explained it all to Bern.

She unplugged it and plugged it in again and it worked!

"Always 're-boot'," she told me.

I had assumed 're-boot' meant to kick the computer across the room twice.

So, she's why I'm able to write this.

I love her so.

 

How much I love my wife....

 I love Bern so much that I went to Costco with her today.

The credit card I use gives us cash to spend at Costco. This year we got $367.42 from them in a gift certificate.

So we went.

I would rather go to the 5th ring of hell than to Costco.

It is so big and so crowded and the carts are huge and I get very tired walking around in it and paranoid about the crowds and size of it.

When I die, if an angel asks me, "You want to go to Hell or Costco?" I'll answer as loudly as I can when dead, "Hell, you idiot! Now!"

We got over 200 dollars in cash back and I got some shorts, tee shirts and underwear out of it.

But I would never go again.

When we got home, Bern told me we can deposit the gift certificate in the bank, which I didn't know, and said she never wanted to go to Costco again.

That's my woman and why I love her so.

Could've, should've stayed home

 I just needed a couple of things from the store--nothing vital--but, like a dummy I went out in the rain to go to Big Y.

Even with a raincoat and umbrella, I got drenched getting to the car--maybe 20 feet--and from the car to Big Y--even closer.

So, I got the few things and when I came out of the store, the sun was trying to break through and no rain.

My raincoat is still on the front porch. It won't dry out soon!

Hope you stayed home if you live in this part of CT.

Then a friend who works at Big Y told me most people drown in their car. "They get stuck in water and then deeper water and can't open their doors," he said.

Just what I needed to hear, having driven through a downpour....

 

The World Cup

 I don't get soccer (or 'football' as most of the world calls it).

It goes on forever and there's almost no scoring.

Yet the crowds chant and cheer and sing to whole time.

And videos from Spain showed what must have been 3/4 of the country on the streets in the middle of the night celebrating.

Nevermind the penalties--they run into each other and kick each other all game long...what makes some of that a foul?

But I did like this about the World Cup Championship game--how loudly and long they boo-ed our 'so-called president'.

That may have made soccer my favorite sport....

Sunny Sunay

 Church went well. No musician but we sang "Morning has Broken" for the processional and "Amazing Grace" for the recessional and both went well. But miss Michael a lot....

On the way up to church (30 miles) I was just out of Thomaston and heard these weird sounds (pop, bang) that seemed to be coming from my driver's side door. I was perplexed and worried.

Then I stopped at a red light in Litchfield and after that, the sounds were gone. I think the car I drove behind for 7 or 8 miles, must have been backfiring.

I also got paid for a wedding I did a month ago. I'd let the couple know by email several times and it finally came in the mail yesterday, which I only picked up when I was about to leave for church today.

I love that little church--16 people today but a great coffee hour and lots of conversation.

How lucky can an old guy get?

A great life-long wife, two wonderful kids, 4 grandchildren...all a man could want....

Great sunny Sunday--not even too hot....

Rainy Saturday

I've been inside most of the day.

I wrote my sermon about Jesus sowing seeds.

I know nothing about sowing seeds. I'm a gardening idiot. If it weren't for Bern I'd cement over the yards. But she's in charge--won't even let me cut the grass 'cause I don't do it right.

But I did go out to the drug store to get a perscription refilled. (My computer tells me I misspelled the 'p-word' in that last sentence but I don't know how to fix it.)

I also got a box of large paper-clips. I don't know why but I love having paper-clips and haven't any for a while.

Sermon and paper-clips: not a bad rainy day.....

 

How can this be?

 My youngest child is turning 48 soon.

How can this be?

I was 31 when birth occurred and 48 when they were leaving for college and life of their own.

How can I be this old?

Is the calendar wrong?

Am I in a trance?

My baby is going to be 48.

How can this be????

Smoke from Canada???

 All day the air outside has had a weird yellow-orange color. Very odd, I'd say.

Bern tells me it's smoke from wildfires in Canada.

I looked at the map--seems to me that's quite a distance for smoke to come.

Or else those are some huge wildfires.

I've since heard on radio that the smoke could be dangerous to folks with lung conditions and isn't good for anyone.

Smoke from Canada--who would have imagined that?

Stay inside if you're in CT or anywhere north of here....

What an idiot...

OK, today proves it.

I am a world-class idiot.

Bern told me she'd heard about wrecks in Litchfield and on I-84 and I should leave a little later for Bible Study.

I said I'd leave a little later--like 15 minutes.

Than should have meant 11:15, not 11:45!

I was on the road to Waterbury when I got a call from the church that they were wondering if I was ok.

It was 12:15--class starts at noon.

We called it off.

And I am, without a doubt, a terrible idiot....

 

Not that hot

Weather folks don't always get it right--thank goodness!

It was supposed to be near 100 degrees today but landed in the low 80's.

That would normally feel hot--but not when they told you it would be much hotter.

What should be much hotter is the pressure on our so-called president.

He is bombing Iran AGAIN!

He is attacking our health care system.

He is trying to get our life insurance companies to invest in (his) crypto-currancy (which I don't even understand what that is....)

He is obviously 'loosing it' in many ways.

What can we do?

That's what I keep waiting to know.

ICE is being curtailed in Maine after two killings and much protest.

Why not everywhere?

Life is hard even though its not that hot....

 

Sunday off....

 One Sunday off a month is fine with me. I don't even feel bad about not going to church--I've handled that.

I talked to my first cousin, M., a short time ago. I love her so. She was my companion as an only child. We had 12 other first cousins on my mother's side. I was the youngest until my childless aunt and uncle adopted D. M. and I decided only the three of us--M., D., and me--are still alive except maybe D., who cut himself off from the family years ago, so we don't know.

Talking with her makes me feel young again. Her little dog was in her lap and our dog, Brigit was by my side until Bern came come--then Brigit ran down to greet her.

Talking to M. is a lot like going to church--God is involved....

Grocery Stores

 When I was a teen, I worked in my uncle Russel's grocery store called the H and S. I never did know what that stood for.

Uncle Russel had only two cash registers and I was at one of them. This was before machines charged the price, so I had to ring up every item manually. Russel has a Black man named Gene who cleaned up. He could also find mysteriously unwrapped ice cream bars we would share. I really liked Gene.

I go to Big Y and Bern goes to Stop and Shop. Today I went to Stop and Shop because they have 5 pound bags of ice and Big Y doesn't and we needed ice.

Stop and Shop is so huge it makes me nervous. Oh, Big Y is big--not stop and shop big.

Last week I went to the Stop and Shop in Litchfield on my way back from Bible Study. It made the Stop and Shop in Cheshire look like a Big Y!

But I did get Polar Ginger Ale, hard to find in Cheshire.

Grocery Shopping is both a burden and a joy.

I don't know which is most true.

But Big Y is more a joy than Stop and Shop. 

That I know....

Thursday Blues

 A Thursday with nothing to do except read and go on line and watch tennis.

Well, that's not 'nothing' is it!

Co-co Gauff lost, which disappointed me. Bern was rooting for her opponent for some reason.

Well, Co-Co is young, she'll win the English open someday.

And I love the books I'm reading, mostly Jessica Fletcher and other mysteries. I'm a real mystery guy.

And on-line I learn more reasons to hate our President. That doesn't take long.

So, Thursday isn't as bad as I thought.

I missed two days!!!

How did I do that--I intend to post every day.

Well, maybe Monday and Tuesday found me unconscious in the bed.

No, that didn't happen.

And there was nothing much to distract me.

I just don't know what happened.

Maybe I posted in no-blogger land.

Anyway, today at Bible Study we began looking at the Gospel of Thomas.

Very familiar and very strange at the same time.

But well worth reading.

We didn't get far. (Find it for yourself, very interesting.)

Still next Wednesday to go.

I also want to find folks willing to do the annointing and prayers for healing, so we'll do that next Wednesday.

I'm off Sunday.

I won't go to church.

I'm getting over the shame of only going to church when I'm celebrating the Eucharist.

Just me....

 

Last night and this morning

 Last night a thunderstorm came through dropping gallons of rain and with powerful lightning.

Besides needing rain, it kept people in our neighborhood from setting off their illegal fireworks! Two goods at once....

This morning at church the folks at Trinity celebrated my 5 year anniversary with them--some of the best cake I ever tasted (it was mostly icing!)

Bern cut my hair yesterday and I told her I'd keep count of how many people complimented me on it.

A dozen, just a little less than the 30 folks in church.

The musician was sick, so no music--but it made the service shorter!

No one ever complains that my hair and beard are too long--but boy they make up for that by complimenting when it's cut!

Good night and great morning....

Happy Birthday USA!

 It's the 4th of July for the 250th time.

I love our country but not our administration.

I went out to stores  today and saw lots of folks dressed in July 4th clothes. I had on a yellow shirt and gray shorts--not  up to par with the others.

My 4th of July message is from a Polar Bear on a card I have called "Advice from a POLAR BEAR".

Odd, I know, but read on.

                                ADVICE FROM A POLAR BEAR

                    Live large

            Sniff out opportunities

            Learn some good icebreakers

            Be thick-skinned

            Be fearless

            Appreciate long winter nights

            Keep it cool!

Happy 4th!!!!

Welcome to the Heat

 Coming back from Big Y rather early this morning, I passed a public sign that said it was 94 degrees.

I believe it.

Being outside is like being in a sauna. 

This is New England--I thought we were the land of the cool.

So, drink lots of liquids that don't have alcohol in them and stay indoors as much as possible.

I know I complain for months about the cold so I won't complain about this, just to save my complaining for winter.

But it is hot.

Really hot....

Excuse me for ranting....

 I heard callers on Public Radio today saying they weren't happy to celebrate the 4th of July on the 250th anniversary of our country because of the current administration.

I must agree.

So, don't get me started on all the things I despise about Donald J. It would take up too much of my time and yours!

I simply don't know what it will take to restore our country to what it should be after all he has done to deform it.

My prayer on the 4th and in church on the 5th is God to move in mysterious ways to give us back the land that we love.

What I see in Washington these days is a president enriching himself and those wealthy who support him while letting down the people who need our country's help to live well.

A Republican congressman suggested putting a stop sign in the hand of the statue of liberty rather than a torch to welcome others to the Land of the Free.

We all came from somewhere to get here but the current racist actions against immigrants is dispicable....

I told you to not let me rant.....

A free week

 Last week I had something I had to do every day--car stuff, church stuff, doctor stuff, fixing dinner stuff.

Lots of stuff.

This week, except for dinner stuff, my calendar is empty.

Even Wednesday's Bible Study is cancelled because people are away for the 4th.

A free week.

Being sort of retired you'd think it was normal--but it isn't.

I'm sitting around in the heat on the back porch or in my air-conditioned 'office' (I call it that because my computer is here and I write sermons here) figuring out what to do with the free week.

I haven't come up with much yet--advice is welcomed....

Is five years that long?

 I found out this week that Sunday will be my 5th anniversary as a retired, part-time priest at Trinity, Milton.

That actually ties Milton with the other two churches I served as I began my ministry.

Five years as St. James in Charleston, WV, a Black church though while I was there it became integrated, much to the members delight.

It was near a historically Black College so lots of Ph.D.'s in the congregaton. Both our children were born in Charleston, so they started their lives in a mostly African-American and very educated environment.

Good for them.

Next, I was as St. Paul's in New Haven for 5 more years. A very liberal, racially diverse parish with more Ph.D's from Yale. It's the only time we lived in a Rectory and my father lived with us for a while, before nursing home--where he tried to escape. He died at Yale Hospital.

But Milton won't ever catch up with my longest ministry at St. John's, Waterbury. At one point we had members from 18 different towns. I always had a full-time assistant and an Hispanic minister for the Hispanic Congregation, which was large. Plus lots of seminarians from Yale who went on to have great careers in the church.

But Milton will never match that 21 years, but will go into second place in a month or so, if I live that long.

I love the folks at Trinity--they do so much good for a tiny congregation.

It's hard to believe I've been there 5 years.

It doesn't seem that long.

But it has been a ministerial BLAST!

Thank you Trinity--I love you.....

New Zealand doesn't sound so bad

 Bern was watching a house hunter show from New Zealand and jokingly said, "I want to move to New Zealand."

After a short pause, I said, "I'll miss you.'

We both laughed.

But after watching the news at 5 on MSNBC--most of it about our so-called 'president', especially his obcessive (sp.) hatred of Obama, I said to Bern, "New Zealand doesn't sound so bad."

Honestly, if djt getting elected (twice!!!) doesn't say something about the brain power of our country, nothing does.

I still want to be an American, but there will be so much to clean up and fix when Trump leaves office it will take years to get things back in shape.

Lord help us....

 

Dr. A.

 I went to Dr. A. today.

She's my cancer doctor. I had cancer so long ago I've forgotten where it was. But she fixed it. So I see her ever 4 months or so just to be safe.

They took blood and gave me a shot I've gotten before in my stomach, for something else I've forgotten--but not life threatening.

Dr. A. is an Episcopalian.

And when I checked in, the receptionist called me "Father Jim."

I'm not happy about that--but what can I do? Renounce my vows though they keep me busy and make money?

And maybe save souls--but I leave that up to God.

So, I don't think I'll stop being a priest.

So, Father Jim and Dr. A. had a good time together and my blood tests were all better than the last time.

I may live to be 80 after all!

(Oh, that's only 10 months from now....)

Driving 'home'

 A week or so ago, I finally realized why I like driving back and forth to Milton to Trinity Church--it takes me 'home'.

Once passed Waterbury the rest of the ride is like driving in Southern West Virginia where I grew up.

The mountains and foliage is just like it was back then.

But the roads are better.

"Take me home, Country Roads..." is true.

Failed Test and other idiotic things

 So, my car failed the emissions test.

But before that I went to the wrong place and had to come home to find out where to go.

And then, I drove right past the testing place and went a mile before I could turn back.

And before all that, the folks who work on my car told me to 'drive it for quite a few miles' before taking the test.

Then the guy who failed me told me if I had driven "a couple of hundred miles" after having it worked on, it would have passed.

How many idiotic things can I do?

In a short time: quite a few.

I must be a pretty good idiot....

Car and rain

 This morning I took my car to English Auto, who have worked on it since I owned it.

The 'check engine' light keeps coming on for no reason they can find.

But tomorrow I have an emissions test and wanted it fixed.

It took most of the day and was raining like crazy when Bern took me down to get it.

The rain never stopped--which Bern and Mrs. English both told me was greatly needed.

I don't keep up with stuff like rain, but I drove through it for 20 miles to see how the car ran.

It was fine, but I got real wet just getting to the house.

Rain is a blessing--when it's not on you!

Father's Day in the Forest

 My son called me earlier today and my daughter will later, I'm sure.

Father's Day is odd and I live in a forest.

A great guy from Torrington's Soup Kitchen was in church last Sunday and spoke to us as the sermon.

Afterwards we talked and I told him about the 20 trees in our side and back yard.

He said, "you live in a forest! And that's what I want."

I hope he finds it.

And I love it.

Happy Father's day to all the dads out there in cyber-land.

I'm loving it in my forest and with Bern making me a pizza for dinner.

What could be better?

Wedding

 It went well!

Well over a hundred guests.

Groomsmen in white, bridesmaids in green--groom in green, bride in white--very thought  out.

They're a great couple and their families were thrilled.

I kept it short but our musician did a great job before and during and after.

God love K and C--may their lives be full of wonder.

(But I'm glad I mostly go to Milton--30 miles away--on Sunday. The traffic the last two days through Waterbury was horrific!)

Wedding rehearsal

 I'll be leaving in half-hour or so to go to Milton for a wedding rehearsal.

Back years ago at St. John's, Waterbury, I did lots of weddings.

This is my first one in several years.

There's something encouraging about weddings--two people setting off on a journey of a life-time.

However, not all of them end up that way.

I like K. and C., who are getting married. I did their pre-marriage counseling  and came to admire them both.

I'll bless their vows and pray God that it goes for them as it has for me and Bern--decades of love, change and adventure.

Best of luck, K and C!

What to drink

 A few months ago, Bern thought I was drinking too much wine and asked me to stop.

She may have been right or wrong--I'm not sure--but I stopped.

Since then I drink 6 cans of Polar Ginger Ale a day.

I may have become a 'gingeraleaholic' for all I know.

But I love ginger ale--but only Polar when I can find it or Bern can.

Most times the bottom shelf of our refrigerator is full of it.

Have a Polar Ginger Ale on me....

Straighten it out...

 I don't know if it has to do with growing old or something else, but I have become frantic about having things straight.

Scatter rugs most of all. We have lots of them and I'm constantly moving them around to look right.

I'm rigid about having things straight.

I've also started counting stuff: how many people are in church or on the street, how many books are on the table, even how many steps I take to get from the house to the car.

I'm always saying to myself, "Stop Counting!"

But it doesn't work.

Next I'll be counting how many times I say "Stop Counting!" to myself.

Both these things are driving me a little nuts.

But I was 'a little nuts' already, so it won't hurt....

I am an idiot

 Church was great! The head of the Torrington Soup Kitchen was our speaker. Michael and I tried to find a gospel hymn having to do with 'eating' and the best we came up with was "Let us break bread together on our knees", which was fine.

Everybody--including our guest--received communion. That doesn't happen often--there are always a few who don't come forward.

But that has nothing to do with why I'm an idiot.

I went to the grocery store to get small crossants (excuse my spelling--I'm a spelling idiot too). I got them at Stop and Shop, where they are available--not at Big Y where I go always. Bern and I go to different stores!

When I came out I left my cane on my shopping cart and didn't realize it until I was home and reached for it. I don't need it much, which is why I forgot it!

So, I raced back and lo and behold, the cart and cane were where I left them.

I was as over-joyed as an idiot like me can be....

My tooth

So, I have this tooth in a plastic thing that fits over 6 or 7 teeth and holds the tooth in the space where I will--some day....--get an implant.

I dropped it in the kitchen sink one day and couldn't get it out of the garbage disposal.

Bern got it out.

Then today I dropped it in our downstairs bathroom, which is tiny, but it went behind the toilet and I couldn't get it.

Bern got it for me.

I have a tooth I wouldn't have twice over if it wasn't for Bern.

Could she be the tooth fairy???

 

Appreciating Life

 Today I was walking downstairs from my office and I told myself, "really look at what you're seeing".

All over our house, where we have lived for over three decades, there are things that give me joy.

*pictures Bern created for me

*photos of grandchildren

*pictures of both our children't marriages (which I preformed!)

*nick-nacks that go back years

*furniture that has held me for decades

*Books I read and grew from years ago

*plates from places in West Virginia where we both grew up

*plants I don't know the names of but which Bern lovingly cultivates

*rugs from the past

*a bench from my childhood

I could go on and on and then go outside and tell you about the wonders of nature on our property, but I'll stop there.

Here's what to do: decide to take a stroll around your home or your neighborhood and actively appreciate what life gives you.

It's well worth a try....

Bible Study

 After a long time off, we started Bible Study again today at Trinity.

We're going to be reading the Gnostic Gospels so I should probably write "Bible" Study, since those writings aren't in the New Testament.

But some of them were written at the same time as the rest of the New Testament but were either over-looked or rejected by the early church.

They were found in 1945 buried in Egypt in a place called (help my spelling, Lord!) Nag Hammadi.

They have lots in common with the 4 gospels, but lots that is different.

Some of them bear the names of women! Possibly why those were outlawed.

Luckily someone saved them and hid them so we can read them.

I look forward to it in many ways....

Talking to Owls

 When I go out on our back deck (if Bern isn't there to talk to) I talk to Owls.

They aren't real owls. They are plastic and supposed to scare away something--squirrels? chipmunks? who knows?.

One has been on our deck for years. The other used to be down at the end of the back yard with wings and on a pole. The wings fell off and she fell off the pole so now she is in a huge pot with him on our deck.

I assigned them gender. The wingless one is a girl named Olivia and the sitting one is a male named Oliver.

Clever names, huh?

I don't talk about serious things with them--the weather, the time of day and time of year. Stuff like that.

I don't talk to real owls, though I saw one in one of the trees on our side yard and few weeks ago and tried to strike up a conversation.

None of the owls--plastic or real--talk back.

I could be talking to nothing, just to hear my voice.

But I prefer talking to owls.

Try it out. You'll see what I mean.

A good night's sleep

 I haven't been sleeping well for a few weeks.

Saturday I probably slept 4 1/2 hours and then went to church.

But Sunday, I had a good night's sleep!

I went to sleep before Bern and only work up once--4:20 a.m.--but dozed right back off.

Sleep really matters.

It changes the whole next day.

Funny thing, it's only 3 p.m. and I'm a tad sleepy.

Just longing for last night.

Sleep well, my friends, sleep well....

Healing

 The Healing Service after church today went well.

Almost everyone came up for anointing and prayers for healing.

Some shared a particular issue and others just wanted general healing..

It went so well we may do it a Sunday a month.

Healing is something we all need.

Usually we know it, but sometimes not.

Long for healing and have faith it will come.

Dog Dream

 I had a dream last night about our dog.

A young couple came by the house, he was dark and she was blond and both were tall. They told us they were new to the neighborhood and had built a 'dog room' in their house.

They wanted to know if they could take Brigit to see the 'dog room'--whatever that was.

Bern said they could, without asking me.

They came back and said Brigit really liked the 'dog room'.

The next day they came back and asked if Brigit could spend the night with them.

Before Bern could answer I asked, "where will she sleep?'

They said, 'the dog room'.

'And where will you sleep?' I said.

"Our room," they answered together.

I told them 'no', that Brigit sleeps in our bed and I never wanted to see them again.

Then I woke up.

I told Brigit about the dream, but she didn't seem to understand.

Dogs....

A.I. in my computer?

 I've noticed that things I write about in emails suddenly show up on my computer when I go to look at news and things.

Obviously, I'm an Episcopalian, but every time I go to Microsoft Edge I get ads to buy Episcopal stuff.

Plus, I mentioned the Gospel of Phillip (from the Gnostic Gospels) in an email and suddenly there are ads to buy copies of Phillip and the Gnostics on M. Edge.

I hate and fear A.I.--I think it will make us dumber (several studies frorm MIT prove that) and it will take over our lives in ways we're not aware of...like our computers.

Maybe I'm just being anxious, but I don't think so.

Our normal human intellegance gets us in enough trouble (like this: I don't think I spelled the 4th word in this sentence correctly!).

And think of the trouble our votes in the last presidential election got us involved with!

But AI will get us in even more.

Believe me, AI does not have our best interests in it's 'artificial' mind....

Healing

This Sunday I want to preach about healing.

In the gospel for the day, Jesus raises a woman from the dead--but before than, another woman, who is seriously ill, touches the hem of his garment and is healed.

I think a lot about healing.

I pray for those (including me) who need to be healed.

I may even offer prayers for healing and anointment with oil after church for any who want it.

I long for things in life to find God's healing.

Especially our beloved country turned inside-out by the oligarch who is president.

But also for the healing of those I love--their relationships and their bodies and their minds.

Healing is God's greatest gift to us.

Lean into God's healing power.

Long to be healed.

 

 

Did I not post yesterdsy?

Monday is a blur to me. I don't know why.

I went to the library and got great books, including a David Rosenfelt mystery that is a prequel to all his others. Yea!

I also got Bern Winston Gold and me Marlboro Red. Yes, we both smoke (Bern more than me). Get over it and have a cig....

I slept until 9:07 a.m. this morning and skipped breakfast for coffee and my Tuesday group chat.

We talked about Baptism a lot.

M. told them how I always invited everyone--I mean EVERYONE--to receive communion.

Then I told them of the half-dozen or more folks who came to me, after receiving communion, to ask to be baptized.

The font leads to the altar, but the altar can lead to the font.

Those of some of the moments I remember most in my 21 years at St. John's in Waterbury.

We also talked about our own baptisms.

I will spare you that for now--but maybe in a day or two....

Great Tuesday to you!

 

Church today...

..went well. Great Trinity hymns and a Mozart postlude that made it sound like Michael had three hands!

Heat on in the car all the way there!

Tomorrow is June and the last few days felt like March.

When is Spring coming to Connecticut?

We'll probably go straight to summer.

Several people told me stories about how my sermon on the Trinity applied to their lives.

That kind of stuff makes 2 years at Harvard Divinity, 2 years at Virginia Seminary and a year at Hartford Seminary worth it.

3 degrees (MTS, MDiv and Dr of Ministry) don't mean much if you can't touch peoples lives in your words.

I must admit, though I never dreamed of being an Episcopal priest, I'm glad I am.

That makes the day worthwhile.

 

The Holy (and 'wholly' mysterious) Trinity

 Sunday is Trinity Sunday.

I dread it every year!

Even though the 'doctrine of the Trinity' is something we have to embrace to be Christian, I find it hard to understand.

(That's not unusual--I find lots of stuff about the Christian faith to be difficult to understand....Even though I'm an Episcopal Priest!)

3 in 1 and 1 in 3 isn't math that I comprehend.

I try in my sermon to clear things up--not well, by the way!

You are one person to your family, another person to  your friends and yet another person to strangers.

Not good enough.

Your mother brought you into being, protected you from harm and gave you guidance on how to be an adult.

3 in 1 and 1 in 3.

Still not enough for me.

But what the hell! Why understand it, just rejoice in it!

Our God is OUR GOD!

That should be enough....

Happy Trinity Sunday....

Ouch!!!

 I went to the peradontist today (that's probably not how to spell it) and he cut into my gum, inserted something and gave me two stitches. 

I feel like some George Floyd or some boxer hit me in the mouth.

As the numbing wears off, it hurts more.

Plus, it's still bleeding a bit.

He told me to put tea bags, wet, onto the wound. I've been doing that though I had to go to Big Y to get tea bags--we don't have any.

Now, to my surprise, my regular dentist will put the implant in.

This has taken 6 months, at least and will be a few weeks more.

I've left our my dental thing that puts a tooth in the hole (# 8 if you're a dentist).

But he told me it used to take over a year.

Why did I decide to do this in the first place?

I don't remember.

His office is on Chapel Street in New Haven. We lived there for 4 years--on that street next to St. Paul's Church, where I was Rector.

But that was over 30 years ago and I didn't have any idea where I was when driving there.

We forget things, I know, but New Haven looked like Pluto to me today.

Getting old is not a ton of fun....

 

A bit off center

 Memorial Day felt like Sunday so I didn't realize it was Tuesday when I got up at 9 a.m.!

9 a.m.--do you sleep that late? I don't either. Memorial Day and being with 40 people at the birthday party wore me out.

So, I forgot my face-time with 'the boys' as Bern calls them--accurately I might add. No women on the screen.

Tried to get on and was told there was a problem.

Alas and alack!

No Tuesday morning talk with my brother-in-law, the only non-Episcopalian on the call (he's a RC priest) or any of the others.

There would have been talk about the Clergy Conference last week--which I didn't attend.

Good grief, I'm an old man, I don't need to be around a bunch of priests for two days!

So, today has slipped away on me. But I'm making dinner as I do on Tuesday--a big salad with lots of stuff on it.

That, at least, I'll get done today....

Memorial Day

 Today's the day to honor those who fought in wars to keep our country free.

My father (God rest his soul) was in General Patton's army in WW2. He lived through it and I was born when he came home.

He never talked about his years of service. He must of saw things that troubled him deeply.

Our 'president' is having people fight on the White House lawn today.

Memorial Day is a day of peace not fighting.

We're going to an old friend's birthday party today.

That seems an appropriate way to honor those who fought in horrible wars for our freedom.

On line I saw our 'president' standing around flags. One had 48 stars instead of 50 and the other had 11 stripes instead of 13.

Is there no one around him that could see those mistakes and help him avoid them?

I'm afraid not.

Very afraid not....

Have a great day and thank God for those who risked and those who lost their lives to keep us free.

My Dumb Phone

 I used to have a 'smart' phone--but it was smarter than me and I never figured out how to use it very well.

So, I left it behind and got a flip-phone, which no one could consider smart in any way.

I believe I could enable it to receive messages, but I've never tried. All I can do is call and be called. If I don't answer, the number that called me comes up and I can call back or not.

Bern does all sorts of stuff with her 'smart' phone. She reads emails, goes on line to look stuff up and even has whatever they call it when you talk to someone and you can see each other.

I much prefer my dumb phone.

I'd even like to be 'phone-less' (which you might call 'phone-ey') but I don't discard my flip.

About once a month I get a call that I am glad to get.

All the other times it's someone trying to get money or make me enroll in something.

When I answer those calls I say, "you're a recording...let me get my recorded voice to talk with you" and they hang up.

A couple even answer, 'there might be something wrong with my mike but I'm a real person."

And I say, "Real Person, whats 5 times 7?"

And they hang up.

That may make me 'dumb' enough to deserve a 'dumb phone'....

dithyramb

 That's actually a word.

"Dithyramb" means 'a wild hymn to the god/godess of wine'.

I sent it as a joke to some folks from the church I serve.

I included the musician.

I thought I'd ask him for a 'wild hymn' for next Sunday.

Dumb thing I do.

I do do dumb things.

Alas and alack.

Betwixth and between.

Yea and Nay.

Stuff like that.

Sing a dithyramb and have a glass of wine....

I hate A.I.!

 Everything I hear about Artificial Intellegence makes me a little crazy.

It seems to be creeping into our lives in ways we don't even know.

For all you know A.I. could be writing this blog!

Not beyond it's capability.

That's the problem--nothing seems beyond it's capability.

We should all be worried.

I'm starting the SHUT DOWN A.I. movement.

Want to join.

I hate A.I.!

Totally.

What's wrong with Human Intellegence?

Except that H.I. created A.I.

God help us!

Really.....

Could we be so lucky?

Much is being made of our President's health--physical and mental.

Some are suggesting he could be removed from office under the Constitution.

I hesitate to wish illness on anyone--but I wouldn't want him to die, just get so sick he had to go to some expensive nursing home in Florida and live to hear all about what people have to say about his time in office.

That's mean, I know. But being a little mean doesn't ruin our democracy--he might!

Just wishin' and hopin'....

 

ticking off the days....

 Two mistakes today.

First, I left the freezer open after getting ice for my coffee in the morning.

Now there is a note on the freezer warning me to make sure it's shut.

Then, Bern talked about putting the air conditioner in our bedroom and I told her I'd help.

She then detailed how I not only couldn't help, I'd get in her way.

Guess she told me.

Sometimes I feel like I'm ticking off the days until I go to the old folks home.

Some days I'm fine.

Others I'm not.

I still go to the store and fix dinner twice a week.

Two out of seven isn't an MVP average.

Tick...tick...tick....

Warm Monday

I woke up at 6:30 am, really early for me. I finished a novel I was reading in bed and tried to go back to sleep and couldn't.

Monday turned out to be warm. It's 80 or so. Tomorrow is supposed to get to 90.

I complain so much about the cold that I know better to complain about heat--you can't have it both ways is what I think.

So, if it were 130 degrees in the shade I wouldn't complain out loud.

Truth is, I'd like it to be 65-70 year round!

Bern thought the Library was going to be closed for a week so I went and checked out so many books I could hardly carry them.

But when I asked a librarian she told me they were changing out the computers and you'd have to check out books the old fashion way rather than on one of the machines.

Well, I have enough to read for a while.

Reading takes up most of my time--besides playing Hearts on-line.

I don't watch TV until 7 pm weekdays for Jepordy (however it's spelled!) I watch a bit of news but our President (it shouldn't be a capital 'P' for him) ruins that most days.

So, welcome Monday! Glad to be around for you....

 

Church today

 It all went well.

Great hymns, open front door, good readers, wondrous coffee hour (the strawberry desert was great!)

I even got away with my sermon.

But I looked around at the crowd and only saw 5  people who I think are younger than me.

I pass a Evangelical church called Cornerstone in Cheshire on my way to I 84. They have four services and a huge parking lot. On the way up they're having their first service and the lot is packed. On my way back the third service is ending and two policeman are there to clear the lot.

What are they serving up?

I should go and talk to them and see what I can discern.

(I may have posted about Cornerstone Church before--I'm a bit obcessed by their crowds.)

Bet they don't have Eucharist....

 

Best Dog Ever

 I don't remember her name when we got her from the rescue group, but she showed fear when we said it, so we called her BRIGIT.

And she is the best dog ever!

Well, except when she barks....

She didn't bark for a couple of years, but she must have 'felt at home' and started barking.

Barking to let us know someone is on our porch is not the problem.

The problem is, we eat dinner in the TV room, She gets a little from Bern's plate but since Bern eats faster than I do, when I finish she starts barking, wanting scraps.

I figured out a solution and it's worked so far.

Bern gets up to leave and I get up as well. I walk to the door to the hallway and either give Bern my plate or carry it down.

Brigit doesn't bark, but follows us and gets a treat from my plate while we're cleaning up the kitchen.

Seems to work.

And restores her 'best dog ever' title....

At Big Y

I was checking out with things for dinner (my turn today!) and heard someone behind me answer their phone and said what sounded like "Hey, Bern!"

I turned around and a man was getting a soft drink out of the cooler and looked just like my son, Josh.

I almost said, "What are you doing here?" when the man turned toward me and had a brown, turning gray beard.

It wasn't Josh, no matter what I had thought, and why would Josh have said 'Bern' instead of 'Mom'?

If I keep seeing my long-dead father on the back deck and my son at Big Y I may have to evaluate my senses a bit.

Maybe the cool, rainy May is a time for seeing what isn't there.

I'll keep my eyes open....

 

Writing my sermon

I wrote my sermon for this coming Sunday today. It's about stories of the resurrected Jesus.

I'm not comfortable writing about the resurrected Jesus because I've never met someone who was dead that was alive again.

Until recently....

I went out on our back porch at dusk to smoke a cigarette--yes, I smoke, get over it!--and saw my father sitting in one of the deck chairs.

My father has been dead for decades and I was both horrified and fascinated to see him.

My heart almost stopped--or beat faster--I'm not sure which.

I turned on the porch light and put on my glasses and saw the various things on our deck and deck railings that made me think it was my father.

Seeing a dead person alive doesn't compute.

It explains why the disciples were so confused by the resurrected Jesus.

They knew it was him, BUT....stuff like that doesn't happen.

We all need to keep our eyes open and our hearts ready to see proof of the Resurrected Jesus in our lives.

Keep looking.

Keep looking.

Then, keep on looking....

 

Don the Dunce

When falling asleep on camera in the middle of a meeting is only a minor one of many offenses, you know you're in trouble.

Our President (it took all my courage just to type that!) is always starting useless wars, insulting women reporters--calling them 'stupid' or worse--getting facts wrong and saying gas is cheap and he 'doesn't think about the financial plight of Americans.

What can be done?

We're on tract to either oligarchy or financial ruin.

Where's the 25th Amendment?

I think it should be tried....

Or else we have 2 1/2 years of chaos left....

That can't go well. 

Mother's Day

 I got Bern a flower arrangement, white chocolates and a card.

She doesn't like white chocolates--so I got them!

Got her some chocolate chocolates when I went to pick up fish and chips for dinner.

Sent emails to my daughter and my soon to be ex-daughter in law. (Don't ask, I'll explain another time.)

Not a very busy day, but I am so lucky to have met her in Latin class when I was a Senior and she was a Freshman in high school.

She hasn't 'made' my life--she 'is' my life....

Happy Mother's Day to those out there in blog land.

 

Sitting around....

No church tomorrow. I'll miss not being there. Morning Prayer by one of the laity. I hope it goes well.

When I don't have church I'm just sitting around wishing I did have it.

I've mentioned that I don't 'go to church' except when I'm celebrating Eucharist. I feel bad about that, but not bad enough to 'go to church'.

So, Sunday is like most days when I'm off.

Just sitting around. Reading David Rosenfelt's books. Playing 'hearts' on my computer. Watching a little TV.

Like I said--just 'sitting around'....