It has finally been made public that my church is going to purchase a new pipe organ. An anonymous donor has come forth with a sizable (and flexible) amount that should enable this community to purchase a small excellent pipe organ. I have been in contact with two builders either of which would put in a significant little instrument: Taylor and Boody, and Fritts. There was some resistance in the committee to my initial comments  about what makes a good pipe organ. My friend and former teacher Craig Cramer has consented to come and talk the committee through the process. That will help.

In the meantime, I continue to watch people in this church and community underestimate my understandings and abilities. Oh well. This is probably inevitable with my personality which can seem eccentric in this insular context. It probably doesn’t help that I insist on continuing to attempt to develop my abilities, critical thinking and discernment, not so much working to improve how I am seen by others.

At the same time many individuals locally do seem to “get” me.  Yesterday a woman who was a professor in a large California university and recently suffered a brush with death in a heart attack took me aside and told me the music was especially good today. I told her that it was especially nice to see her up and about. Also one trained choir director who is consistently very gracious complimented me on the music yesterday. So not all underestimate me.

Tomorrow evening I am supposed to give a presentation my boss has dubbed “Organ 101.” Unfortunately I have  a pretty busy couple of days and will have to sandwich preparation in between other stuff like work today and doctor appointments for myself and my Mom tomorrow.

I am planning on using Google Presentation (which looks to be a kind of free power point) to do this. If possible will link the finished product in here.

1. How Long Have I Got Left? – NYTimes.com

This is an amazing essay by a 36 year old neurosurgeon. I love the way he has developed a clear attitude about what it means to be alive.

 Before my cancer was diagnosed, I knew that someday I would die, but I didn’t know when. After the diagnosis, I knew that someday I would die, but I didn’t know when. But now I knew it acutely. The problem wasn’t really a scientific one. The fact of death is unsettling. Yet there is no other way to live.

2. A Racist Turn in India – NYTimes.com

The USA’s evil foible is not limited to our shores. Essay by someone on the ground in India. Excellently written. Am planning on checking out The Wildings a novel by the author, Nilanjano Roy.

4. More Imperfect Unions – NYTimes.com

Ross Douthat is a writer I read and often disagree with, but he at least mentions “mass incarcerations” as part of our problems here in the USA. I hope I am seeing a growing awareness of “The New Jim Crow.”

5. ‘Just the Facts, Ma’am’ No More – NYTimes.com

Bookmarked this because of this quote:

E.B. White’s retelling of his teacher William Strunk’s belief: “Will felt that the reader was in serious trouble most of the time, a man floundering in a swamp, and that it was the duty of anyone attempting to write English to drain this swamp quickly and get his man up on dry ground, or at least throw him a rope.”