A contrast of opposites

(ok, very political, if you want to avoid that)

Both the president and Joe Biden held town hall meetings this week. The president was in a hall in Philly and Joe was at a drive-in movie theater in Scranton.

That wasn't the only contrast.

George Stephandopilis (if I could spell his name) hosted the president and was fact checking him all the way through the 2 hours or so. Anderson Cooper didn't have to fact check Joe at all. He told the truth.

The president contradicted things he had said about the pandemic and health care and George called him on it.

Joe spoke with compassion and care to everyone, even the Republicans who asked him questions. There was genuine concern for the people asking him the questions. The president just tried to make political points.

Joe pointed out things he disagreed with the president about while the president downgraded Joe several times.

The president has made a big mistake in calling Joe names and labeling him 'slow' and 'not smart'. It lowers the bar for Joe so he'll sound brilliant in the debates if he merely makes sense!

Such a contrast between two men and two opponents.

(Just found out)

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg died today.

Want to make a bet the the president and Mitch will try to replace her even if the president loses in 45 days?

I bet they will.

She was a champion of the Constitution and human rights. She will be missed.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcFflZ7LjKCAqPJyfVmdNA8L7eeADtTSW (link to my youtube blog)

all opinions here, under the castor oil tree, are mine and mine alone

 

Masks

What is this nonsense about not wearing masks because it violates your constitutional rights?

I watched a video today of dozens of people storming a Walmart without masks, shouting and singing, spreading whatever germs they have around the store for those there and those to come later.

I may always wear a mask when I go out in public.

Experts say the flu season won't be as bad this year because people are wearing masks.

People in hospitals have always worn masks to protect themselves and those they go home to.

Put on a mask you idiots!

It's not about you, it's about the people you love.

It's about me and everyone else.

Our constitution says we are all created equal.

So put on a mask to protect your equals.

Just do it. It's not hard. I'm used to it now and actually feel uncomfortable without one, just walking down our street.

Save lives. Wear a mask. Socially distance. Wash you hands more than usual.

It's common sense--and common sense is what created our constitution.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcFflZ7LjKCAqPJyfVmdNA8L7eeADtTSW  link to my video blog. All opinions here are mine and mine alone.

 

I have nothing much to write

I have nothing much to write tonight.

I want, at all costs, not to mention the president or the race for president.

The Yankees (my team since childhood) have hit six home runs in two straight games--a record for even a team called the 'Bronx Bombers'.

The day was so cool I have on jeans and a light sweater. 

Brigit is completely well from her sickness. Not only does she eat breakfast and dinner all down, she wants treats and stuff from our meals. It's so good to have her back. We love her so.

I thought today was Thursday so that I tried to get on a zoom that IS for Thursday.

Life is so weird I forget which day it is from time to time. Nothing is regular.

Pinot Ggrigio is what I drink, though my spell check doesn't recognize that wine.

I miss Josh and Cathy and the three Bradley girls so much. We haven't seen them since Christmas.

We have seen Mimi and Tim and Eleanor 3 times since then, but they're in upstate New York and can come to CT. You can't go from Maryland to CT or the other way around yet because of the virus.

See, I got through this without being political at all.

But wait for tomorrow's post! 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcFflZ7LjKCAqPJyfVmdNA8L7eeADtTSW (my video blog)

I shouldn't have to say all opinions here are mine and mine alone for this post.

  

Climate change

 It was cloudy in CT. The weather gurus told us over and again it was smoke from California and Oregon and Washington state's forest fires.

3000 miles the smoke has traveled!

How bad must it be out on the West Coast?

And hurricane Sally is flooding areas from Florida to Alabama and Mississippi. 

The 7th hurricane of the season. Three more storms are lining up across the Atlantic. Six is the average number of hurricanes a year until now. A month and a half left in hurricane season. It gets longer each year, just as forest fire season gets longer each year in the west.

Biden is proposing massive Climate Change legislation that would create millions of jobs.

And the President, just a day or two ago, meeting with the governor and scientists is California, denied climate change by saying, it will get 'cooler', believe me, it will.

I have four granddaughters. I want to give them a world that is safe.

If this president is re-elected, the world will grow more frightening.

Do what you need to do. Vote for Biden/Harris in November.

Only that will make my granddaughters world livable.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcFflZ7LjKCAqPJyfVmdNA8L7eeADtTSW  my youttube blog link.

All opinions here are mine and mine alone.

The part I don't like--but need to do

There is so much about being an Episcopal priest that I love--the community, the love, the fun, the relationships, the conversations, the communion (both liturgical and personal).

But there is a part I don't like--but need to do.

The priest at St. John's in Waterbury, where I was for 21 years, called me yesterday. He's on vacation in Maine, and asked me for a pastoral favor.

A couple I married 20 some years ago, were at Waterbury hospital with their 19 year old son on life support. 

Of course I did the favor. This is the part of being a priest that I don't like--but need to do. All the good stuff is to build relationships for moments like these. This is what I need to be to be a priest.

I called them and met them at the hospital half-an-hour later. I'd never seen a patient on so many machines and I've been in Intensive Care a lot.

Masked, I hugged his mom and dad. And then anointed him and prayed for him, holding his hand and touching his face.

Then I asked, "I know this is a hard question, but do you want me to give him last rites?"

They sadly, but earnestly, shook their heads 'yes'.

So, I did.

I'm not sure I've given last rites to a person I baptized as a baby before. But I've baptized lots of babies and given lots of last rites.

I left with more hugs and not a few tears.

I hardly slept at all last night.

He died at 3:18 a.m. this morning.

What a tragedy.

I enjoy the good parts, the joyous parts of being a priest.

But these are the things I was called by God to priesthood to do.

I don't like them--but I need to do them.

These are the times I was chosen to live.

I blame God and thank God at the same time for the pain and privilege to be there for those times.

Those times are why I am a priest.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcFflZ7LjKCAqPJyfVmdNA8L7eeADtTSW   (link to my youtube blog)

 

 

Emma and Morgan

Today on zoom, we talked to our twin granddaughters. Emma and Morgan Bradley on their birthday. They are 14, turning into young women.

We were in NYC the day they were born and saw them, along with their maternal grandmother, Mrs. Chen, because the nurse stopped at our floor and let us look at them in the elevator.

They didn't look much alike that day--Emma had black hair and Morgan had brown hair, for one thing.

They are far from identical twins. If you saw them in a group of young women, you might even not think that they could be sisters.

Emma has her mother's Asian hair but very American looks. Morgan's face is slightly Asian, but her hair is American brown.

Tegan, three years younger was on the zoom call as well. She really doesn't look much like either of them.

Granddaughter--4 of them, the Bradley girls and Eleanor McCarthy--are our gift to the world.

We love them so.

They are so perfect, so fine, so lovable.

We are blessed by them.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcFflZ7LjKCAqPJyfVmdNA8L7eeADtTSW  iink to my youtube blog

  

An autumn day

It was crisp and cool all day.

 Autumn in New England is wondrous!

Soon, all the leaves will be falling and cool nights will prevail.

I love the autumn.

Darkness comes sooner every day and missing the light is one of the precious things about autumn.

Air-conditioners will be off and out soon. Long sleeves will be the rule.

I wore jeans today instead of shorts for the first time in months.

We didn't get to go on vacation at Oak Island, North Carolina. We would have left today to fly to Myrtle Beach and drive north.

I missed that. Tim and Mimi and Eleanor would have been with us--and Jack and Sherry and John. It would have been great. But not in this pandemic. Not at all.

I don't like winter--and autumn means it is coming. But for a few months I'll relish the chill and the vanishing light and the pray for Spring.

Always pray for spring....