[…] poetry by rich and updike […]

I hope your Mom feels better soon. I think your picture of Night Nurse is for you, as in “you wish”. I still read, but am mostly too busy to comment.

Thanks, Ray. I’ll pass along your kind words….. yes it is a busy time for me as well…. looking forward to some time off this summer

At St. David’s in Garden City, there was a large wooden cross that we used for the veneration of the cross on Good Friday. Then, on Holy Saturday, the Altar Guild would decorate it with greens held on by rubber bands. At the Vigil and before the Sunday service, parishioners would bring flowers and attach them to the cross, sticking their stems into the rubber bands. The cross was then carried in the Easter Day procession.

When I first arrived this cross was not used on Good Friday (they weren’t doing the Prayer Book liturgy). When we introduced the service and started using this cross, it became a very powerful image of the connection between the tree of crucifixion and the tree of life.

I know nothing of this as a Roman Catholic tradition. Always thought of it as a tacky Protestant tradition until u saw it in GC. Aft that I thought of it as a tacky Prot tradition that had redeemable qualities…

I have avoided commenting on much of anything the last few months. My Father’s medical issues consumed me emotionally and physically with the multiple calls at all hours of the day and night. I was relieved when my Father passed away, but now am feeling the impact of him being gone. My remorse is that I should have done more. What made me comment was the reference to “What a friend we have in Jesus”. I selected this song for my Father’s funeral last week along with two other songs, “How Great Thou Art” and “Just as I am”. I did not go through the songs prior to the service and realized that “Just As I Am” was a difficult range for some people. Although, it was difficult to sing,it is a lovely, invitational song. We managed through it, thankfully. I actually was going to call you about the music, but it was just too much to contemplate. I still read every day.

It is difficult to bury a family member. Your Dad was a great man. I understand being relieved and also remorse about what more could have been done. In the end we do the best we can. I’m sure you did what needed to be done. Hang in there.

Charles Colson spoke at my graduation ceremony from seminary many years ago-never read any of his books-peace

I would recommend not doing hearing aids for as long as you can. They actually cause other issues, i.e. wax build up in the ears, constant ear cleaning, etc. I have never found any that actually are effective and you can pay $3000-5000 and still not hear. When you cannot hear conversation, then you will have to do something. I hate to sound so negative, but there are no good answers. I have 25% hearing loss in my left ear and about 15% in my right. My Father had severe hearing loss and his hearing aids were very expensive and they were a constant nuisance to fix, repair, battery replacement, cleaning, adjustment and so forth. There are some new ones that have recently come on the market which are imbedded which are supposedly better than other methods, but I do not know any more than that. Good luck

Thank you for sharing his poem. And for the Mrs. Disneys in my life; Miss Maran, Mrs. Cross, Miss Hanley. I still remember their names & still feel much of their encouragement. Thank you for the memory.

Thanks for your comments! My Mom currently uses hearing aids as my Dad did before his death. I have the wax build up anyway. I’m not currently considering this step. I just want to stay open to keeping my functioning as high as possible.

Michelle – you’re welcome and thanks for commenting. I know that many of us have Mrs. Disneys to thank….

OMG–you’re in NH!! I’m days/weeks behind in my blog reading (blame new Kindle, new Puppy, & busy at work…) Are you scheduled to the max? Are you planning to come to the NH Seacoast (it’s only 23 miles long if you measure around the rocks; 17 if you don’t)? Would you (& your traveling companion/s like to have dinner of lunch? And I nice way for me to reciprocate, while not in kind, for your blog trip. I’ll certainly understand if you can’t, but NH is fun (& not as conservative as it was when I moved her 22 years ago…), it’d be fun to show you around a bit. Best wishes, Michelle in (Hampton) NH

New Hampshire is a great place. It is, however, not reachable by car from here. I exaggerate for a reason. My daughter, Gretchen, attended Colby-Sawyer College. She was given a scholarship to attend, so in being dutiful parents we drove from here across Canada through New York and after 16 hours arrived at New London to take her to school. Great scenery, but no east-west roads through Vermont into New Hampshire. Anyway, New Hampshire is quite quaint and a lovely place to visit.

I like to visit someday the bookstores in Ann Arbor someday-paradise on earth-glad to read you had a nice vacation-peace

Gentlemen,

Thank you for your comments. Ray, my brother and his wife routinely drive back and forth from Keene to Michigan to see their kids. It does seem like a long drive. I inadvertently booked in to Boston’s airport and added an hour to my drive time from the airport to Keene. Nevertheless, it was a pretty short 2 leg flight with a quick connection each way to GR. The scenery put me in mind of East Tennessee where I was raised. Jonny, the bookstores in Ann Arbor are quickly getting worse and worse. I found the bookstores in New Hampshire thriving a bit more.

Yes, you are right about the flight connections. i would fly her from Manchester through to Grand Rapids. Was great connection and the trip was easy. She did this several times a semester.

Hi Steve,
Yesterday I watched the Brown video you posted. I enjoyed her differentiation between guilt & shame. And for me shame took on a different shape. I have been thinking about racism. Strange, one might think, a white woman, living in a mostly white state, thinking about race. Well first, I got one–and it’s white. But I think I feel shame that white people have mistreated those people who are not white. I feel shame because I remember feeling superior & wonder if given the circumstance I might feel superior again. I think about encounters with people of color; I just want to be genuinely human. But I continue to feel shame about how white people think they’re superior. I think the shame fits the situation; I don’t see it changing any time soon, but I want to give this feeling presence, shape. Man it sure was a different take on shame than Brown intended or may be even meant, but it fits. Wishing you & yours all things safe & beautiful, Michelle

Yeah. the “Shame” word. I think that racism is so basic to the American experience that all Americans have a vested interest in understanding themselves regarding it and doing something about it. The “shame” you are talking about doesn’t seem to be a “fear of disconnection” from others that Brown is talking about. Your (and my) shame regarding the continuing racism in our country is more like seeking clarity and responsibility. Maybe it’s guilt. In the second video, Brown specifically mentions race and shame. “You can’t talk about race without talking about privilege and you can’t talk about privilege without talking about shame.” You might want to check this video out as well. I like it when she distinguishes Shame and Guilt:

“Shame is a focus on self

Guilt is a focus on behavior

Shame is I am bad

Guilt is I did something bad.

Guilt I’m sorry I made a mistake

Shame: I’m sorry I am a mistake.” (quotes from the second video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psN1DORYYV0)

Best to you and yours as well, Michelle. I would love to get together with you and husband if we ever have some time in New Hampshire when I’m not doing the family thing.

In the meantime, thanks for reading.

I agree with Governor Brownback.

Check ur email ur grandson should be up and running with email.