Brandon's Birthday

Today is the birthday of my one and only chick Brandon Scott Thomas, born in Hendrick Hospital, Abilene, Texas on this day.  As Bruce Springsteen has said, "We all carry a landscape within us."  At the time of Brandon's birth, we lived in the country on a dead end road--the perfect place to roam and play.  It seems like only yesterday that he was picking flowers from the flower bed and presenting them to me, riding his horse Tiger, motoring around on his go-cart, chasing chickens (and being chased by a rooster), raising a championship pig, and going to Interscholastic League contests as a singer and the drum major of the Wylie High School Band. It was just a leap to Abilene Christian where he continued his love of singing by performing in Summer Stage (a presentation for several summers by the music and theater depts.), acting in the Homecoming Musicals, and traveling all over the country recruiting for ACU in singing groups like Reflections, etc.  Of course we attended every presentation he was in and loved it.

The highlight of his time as ACU was appearing in Sing Song.  Again from  a front seat at every performance we loved him--Sam was so sick, he could hardly sit there, but he willed to be there.  And then Brandon came to Nashville, became a worship leader and the leader of the Zoe Group.  Here again were opportunities for me (now alone after Sam's death) to enjoy his presence, godliness and singing abilities from a front seat.  Now he is a husband and father and excelling at that as with all other things.  Of course, he has his failings, but mothers do not dwell on such things--they simply enjoy their sons.

Happy birthday Brandon, your mom loves you.

Demise of Book Stores

It was shock to get up this morning and find out that Davis Kidd Bookstore is closing.  It is one of my very favorite places in Nashville and one that I often visit--and oh the Lemon Tarragon Soup at the Bistro.
Independent bookstores are having a hard time these days because of Amazon and e-books.  I will admit that I have bought the cheapest book where ever I could find it--helps my budget and salves my guilt about buying another book.

It is such a comfort to enter a store and find clerks who know books, and who don't answer with "Huh?"  And to find good books displayed in a usuable fashion.  For example, most chain bookstores display what are called "grandmother books" at the front of the children's section, so that book buyers never get past them to the really good books.  I am grieving for those untutored buyers who settle for the shiniest, cutest things.

I do hope  the corporate office that is closing the store will relent in the face of all who rise up against the decision. Such a sad day for Nashville.

Post-Elections

I am so glad voting is over.The Tennessee races were the epitomy of got-cha and just plain lying.

Have you ever sung the third verse to America the Beautiful?  It is my hope that those who were elected will remember it and love our country more than self or party and show mercy to the poor, the needy, and the homeless.

"Oh beautiful for heroes proved in liberting strife who more than self their country loved and mercy more than life."