Done with her

I was impressed that McCain chose Palin for his VP. She seemed to have all the credentials and fell into the place of a political maverick. Then, as it will these days, all "hell" broke loose as
"investigative" (reporters looking for a Pulitzer) journalists began digging all sorts of trash up about her and her family.

I admire Obama's comment on the pregnancy of her daughter--that it was family business--and had no place in the campaign.

Then on a library list-serve, Jim Elliott reported from a New York Times story which said that when she was mayor of that small town 8,000 pop., she inquired of the town librarian what it would take to get some books taken off the library shelves that some townspeople objected to because of the language. The librarian was aghast and fought it tooth and toenail. Palin fired her( for "not giving the mayor her full support"), but recanted when many of the townspeople objected. Palin said about inquiries to the librarian, "They were rhetorical." Banning books as mayor???? Will she then, working with Homeland Security, work to ban books on a national scale? O. K. That does it for me.

Vacations

I could count on one hand the most wonderful vacations I have had. It's not that I don't like to travel, it is just that I have not had much opportunity to do it.

The first was about 25 years ago when Sam and I climbed into a mini-van with his nephew Sam and wife Jan, Brandon and cousin Josh and took a long road trip to Las Vegas. Stopping at the Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, etc.........What beautiful country!

When Brandon was entertaining on the cruise lines, my sister-in-law and I joined him for one of the cruises to the Virgin Islands. So many wonderful memories.

Then when Maddie was two, Brandon, Sheryl and I took her to Maui for several days of soaking in the lovely surroundings--no words to express the beauty and fun.

And this weekend a very different and shorter vacation as The Thomas family and I went to Atlanta to the American Girl Store. The excitement of the girls was unmatched with any I had seen previously--and the store--well, you would just have to and see it. We returned to Nashville with two members of the family, Elizabeth and Samantha and loads of new memories to file away.

As far as I know, my parents never left the state of Texas in their lifetime, except for the time my dad traveled to Kansas and South Dakota to work; they never traveled much because of finances. Sam and I took them up to East Texas to Dad's old home-place and then we took them to Big Bend. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunities to visit other places and cultures. I just wish I had done more when Sam was alive. If you are able, and have a living spouse, don't wait until later to take trips and have fun together--do it now.

The Orator

Last night was the first time I have heard Obama speak at length. And I must say: Wow. Excellent writing and excellent delivery. There were enough personal references to humanize him, enough stories of real people to show his heart, enough attributions to others on whose shoulders he stands, and just the right tone of confidence to salve any thoughts of ambiguity. No, he may not have enough experience, but who did you say Ronald Reagan was? He was an actor for goodness sake.

Pity the poor Republicans who now have to follow him and on a holiday too when no one will be watching. The staffer who chose the date must be waiting for his pink slip.

Leave it to the Women

I think both Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton hit home runs the last two nights. While men just drone the same old cliches, these women came up with some emotion to light the fires of voters.

I loved Clinton's reference to Harriet Tubman's wonderful quote to "keep going" and Obama's reference to the night her husband drove her and their new daughter home from the hospital--so humanizing and personable.

So, I say, let's vote for the ticket of Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton--it couldn't be any worse than the choices we have now. And at least it would be exciting and truly a change.

Harry T. Burn

Today is the day that Harry T. Burn voted in the Tennessee Legislature to ratify the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote. It seemed as if the motion would fail when several votes ended up tied. However, Burn received a letter from his mother asking him to vote for it, and like "any good boy, obeyed his mother." Burn had previously voted against and was wearing the red rose symbolizing anti-suffragists as he voted. Burn was called a "mamma's boy" and was actually chased out of the Legislative Hall by the anti-suffragists.

The proclamation was signed into law by Bainbridge Colby on August 26, 1920. For all the years since the Constitution was ratified, women were not allowed to vote in this country which promised freedom and equality for everyone. We can scarcely imagine such treatment today.

Thank you, Tennessean Harry T. Burn. Now the question is: "For whom do I vote?"

Vespers

I just got word from Scott Owings that we will be continuing Vespers at Otter on Wednesday nights. Scott left Otter recently to take a new job, and Vespers seemed hanging in the balance. But, praise the Lord, Scott has agreed to lead it again with the help of others.

Vespers is a very special program in the middle of the week where worries and anxieties slide off in the midst of the reading of scriptures, the singing of a Psalm, a short message, soothing music and glorious graphics and stations with art, crafts, and meditations. I am in charge of writing meditations on one of the three scriptures chosen for each night--the scriptures are chosen as part of the church calendar created by other denominations. We celebrate the divisions of the church calendar as well. We will begin with Common Time leading up to Advent.

I am so ready for it.

Son of a gun

The news this week has been full of people with guns breaking into houses, robbing banks, shooting former employers, and other craziness.

Then yesterday, another shooting at a high school--in Knoxville in the school cafeteria. One student dead, another bullied and bedeviled student in jail.

I don't know what the answer is--maybe tougher laws or banning guns altogether except for those people who like to go out and shoot tiny animals in the forest.

I am from Texas and grew up with a cap gun and holster strapped to my waist as I played cowboys and Indians with my brothers--but I have never owned a real gun, nor do I intend to.
Texans (at least those I know in West Texas) rarely use guns on a dark street to kill a rival gang member or in other nefarious deeds. Those shotguns in the pickup windows were used to kill
predators of the furry variety.

It is time for the silly comments like "people, not guns kill people." And "you can't take away my constitutional rights to bear arms"--generally said by people who have no wish to go to Iraq, to stop. And it is time for everyone to look soberly at the bloodbath going on in our country of the brave and the free.

I just don't understand the ranting about freedoms when children are dying.

Obama's pay grade

I am still musing about Obama's flippant answer to the abortion question last weekend: That's above my pay grade.

Is this flippancy the real Obama? Where was his always carefully nuanced answer to a question he surely knew would come up? Or were he and his handlers so dumb as to not think it would come up?

It is a puzzlement.

Swing Vote

This current movie is good viewing before our November election. A very jaded look at all the behind the scenes contortions of political campaigns, the film was actually better than I thought it would be. The premise is that the Presidental election comes down to the vote of one man--a red-neck, beer-guzzling, sorry single parent played by Kevin Costner.

I am always uncomfortable with the depiction of parents being raised by their children--saw too much of that in my tenure as a teacher. Costner's daughter is, of course, bright, sunny and very into politics. It is actually she who cast the vote, but a voting machine glitch prevented the vote from culminating--and thus her father, whose name she forged in front of a sleeping voting judge, gets the chance to vote again. The bulk of the film shows the degree to which candidates and their handlers will go to affect the process.

With our current election headed toward being razor-close, it does give one pause for thought.
Set in the dying town of Texico, New Mexico (been through there), the movie is a good look at
our election process which is now on life-support.

My favorite "political" movie is Primary Colors--what is yours?

Happy Anniversary

Today is Brandon and Sheryl's tenth wedding anniversary. Thinking about it has surfaced many happy memories:

I remember when I first realized she might be the one--when I saw then together at the old house at Otter Creek one Sunday night.

Getting to know Sheryl and her sweet personality and many gifts--singing, creating, mothering, and being my son's true helpmate who has stood with him through several trying circumstances

Knowing that she truly loves and honors Brandon, as the one I always prayed for as his wife

The day they told me that Maddie was on her way--what joy! And then Ella , and then Sam!! Joy after joy after joy.

Our trip to Maui together when Maddie was two. What other couple would take their mother on a trip to Hawaii????


Watching them parenting my grandchildren in many ways better than I was--ways that often seem almost magical.

And just the fulfilling joy of watching their family together--playing chase, cooking together, laughing, hugging, and worshipping God.

May their days be forever happy, blessed and may their marriage grow stronger every day.

Love, Mom

1st Day of School

From all accounts the first day of school was a huge success. The girls looked so cute, and so grown in their uniforms and backpacks.

Maddie was thrilled to have her own calendar of events to keep in a folder, and Ella was looking forward to the treats the students get for earning stars. Maddie is looking forward to going to the gym today (so unlike her grandmother!!!).

We celebrated at Toyoma last night--the kids ate fried rice and teriyaki chicken as if they were starving. And I know that they will not fight sleep either--some of the real benefits of a scheduled day at school.

Thank you God bright, curious, ready-to-learn grandchildren.

Blsssings

Yesterday was an especially good day at Otter.

First those children going in to first grade were given a very nice children's Bible. Then
since school was beginning on Monday, the children's minister called all the children of the congregation (I wish there was a warmer word for the assembly) who would attend school from pre-school to college up to the stage. Sitting on the front seat as I do, watching that was astounding. It looked like a flow of lava coming down the aisles. I believe there must have been at least 200 on the stage. (We do have a population of over 400 children!) Parents and teachers were also asked to stand in the audience; it seemed like most of us were standing.
After a sweet blessing, we sang "The Lord Bless You and Keep You." I did miss seeing my grandchildren up there.

Following, Nan Smith came forward and asked for a prayer for the new minister search, and Tim said she should go ahead and lead the prayer. It may have been the first time a woman has lead a prayer in the Sunday assembly--good move! Tim's "Regospeling" series is probably the strongest and most convicting of his tenure at Otter. What a way to go out!

I could see why education is such a big deal in our lives--and why so many of us build our days and hours around school.

Happy school days everybody! Pray for the teachers and administrators.

Olympics

Things I like about the Olympics:

Bob Costas--he is so good!
The backstories on the athletes
Watching Pres. Bush cheer Michael on last night to our first gold medal. I am so glad our president decided to attend--it makes him and us more human.
Broadening my sport knowledge (that wouldn't take much)
The views of China offered--such an exotic country
Even the commercials seem better.

Printables

The word "printables" was not even in my vocabulary until my grandchildren discovered the art of printing pictures off the Internet. They think that my printer is the greatest thing since ice cream, and we go through a lot of ink and paper each time they come.

As they spent the night last night, we watched some of the Olympics--we all enjoyed the spectacle and the parade. The kids especially enjoyed the drum sequence and seeing the little Chinese kids. We wanted to see the fireworks, but they were on too late.

Sam discovered an old ice bag in one of my drawers and was fascinated with it--what is this, what is it for? When I explained that when one had a headache or a bodyache of some sort, it would be filled with ice and placed on the sore spot. Sam had a "headache" for the remainder of his time here. I think he even slept with it.

Maddie and I did printables of Hannah, and the High School Musical Gang. Ella and I played restaurant--she loves taking the order, bringing the "food" and conversing with her tables.

So glad the Olympics has started. Now something good to watch each night. I like the swimming, diving....and I will watch one of our Tennesse girls compete in woman's basketball.

Woof! Woof!

As Phil Wilson notes in his blog, these are the dog-days of summer--those days which are hot and draining and which seem to lack any motivation for action. Those days which we would readily wish away if we could. Like him, I find very little to write about on my blog and very little happening in my brain.

However, many schools begin this time of year (why, why not wait until after Labor Day and be a little cooler???).

There are so many memories retired school teachers have this time of year--students, particular schools, and smells. Yes, smells.

Remember the smell of a new box of crayons? Or the smell of the pencil-sharpener "catcher" when you took it off to empty it? Or the smell of the school when you walked in on the first day--mostly soap, Pledge and wax. That smell when all the sweat, blood and tears of the former year are gone and the clean shiny halls promise a new, better tomorrow.

For a librarian, it was the smell of new books--all stacked in boxes and waiting to be put on the shelves for readers to enjoy. I do miss these new beginnings that come every year.

Batman and Other Dark Imaginings

Doris and I saw the Batman movie yesterday.

And unlike Phil Wilson, I do not think it the best film of the year, nor do I think it was good in any way--in fact, I did not like it at all. Having said that, I will say that I am glad I saw it.

I have not seen any film yet worthy of Oscar this year, and the prospect as seen from the previews yesterday does not seem good. Why must everything be so loud, so violent, so gross????? Am I showing my age here?

The dark elements in the film yesterday bother me much as the Camus books do. I simply cannot believe (in what some would say my naievte) that God would have any truck with loving us or saving us if we were indeed so horribly without hope and vision as shown. It takes just 5 chapters in Genesis to progress from Eden to Gen. 6:5 "The Lord saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time."
God did choose to destroy that generation.

We, however, are the products of a "do-over", and we have a God who was willing to die to give us hope not only in the beyond, but in this world, as well. I know he promised not destroy the world again....and I see hope in that. I know that are more than 8 people in this world who have a faith-based view, and who are doing their best to improve the world. Yes, there are dark forces in this world; there will always be, but Jesus himself has overcome the world as he reminds the disciples in John 16:33 to "take heart."

I will always choose the heart over darkness, the good over the evil, the hope over hopelessness. Hollywood's writers and producers are simply walking down the long hallway of trying to deduce what we are all about. I give thanks that there are still some of us around to point the way out of the hall into sunlight.`

Opening Minds

Our Wednesday night class is enjoying sharing thoughts on The Shack. We covered chapters 8 and 9 last night, which in my opinion are the meat of the book--they are also the hardest to digest. I pride myself in having an open mind, but my legalist background often gets in the way of enjoying the Holy Spirit. One of the ideas that came to my mind while rereading those chapters was--I don't think we have even touched the hem of the garment in realizing the implications of the Fall in the garden. To think that to choose independence (as Young says it) would change the course of human and religious history for the lifetime of the earth is mind-boggling. Young's depiction of the Holy Spirit as a "a garden keeper" is interesting too, I think.
Doris Colvett is doing a masterful job of leading the conversations.

One thing the book does do is open the reader's mind to the overwhelming love of God for his creation. If we could only accept that with trust and faith.

Mamma Mia

We had lots of fun Friday watching Mamma Mia. As Doris Colvett says, "It is High School Musical for older ladies."

Watching Merle Streep dance, sing, and clown was marvelous. She can honestly do most anything in a movie, I think. And her voice is not bad either.

Of couse, the music of ABBA was a blast too. Everything worked together--the music, the acting, singing, dancing (the company was excellent) and the Greek locale to make this a wonderful summer escape.

Farmer's Market

If there is anything more fun than going to the Farmer's Market in Franklin, I haven't done it yet.

The whole thing is a sweet adventure: Driving down Franklin Road lushly-lined with trees, wild flowers and shrubs (wishing I had been in Tennessee long enough to own one of the older houses fronting Franklin); walking into the Market and seeing the first booth (Frisky Berry) selling cafe lattes; then browsing among the wonderful fruit, vegetables, homemade soaps, honey, fresh meat, eggs and milk, and baked goods of all kinds. So many colors abound: the beautiful soft purple of the eggplant, the various reds of the Pink Lady and Heirloom tomatoes, the golden cantelopes, and green corn--plus the gorgeous fresh flowers for sale (some of the biggest sunflowers I have ever seen--and I am from Texas); and people watching--some with leashed dogs, sun hats, bib overalls, and city ladies dressed too formally. The bluegrass band adds sound as the hubbub grows with the crowd. Then taking my treasures home, cooking the fresh squash (y ellow fingerlings with a green end) and virtuously eating them with salted tomatoes. Yum, yum. Fresh peaches for dessert too. What a morning! Wish Sam could be here to share it with me--on the other hand, if he were here, we would probably among the fruit and vegetable sellers. I prefer to be a customer.

65 years of Reading

Monday night I spoke to a large group of women at Otter as part of a gathering on hobbies. I tried to tell them my reading history and how much the hobby of reading has meant in my life. Readers of
this blog already know some of this. It was, however, interesting to trace back to early days in my life to consider how I came to have such passion for books.

There were no books in our home as I was growing up...it was more important to provide food for the family in the midst of the Great Depression. The first time I remember having a book occurred when a book showed up in a hand-me-down box from friends of my grandmother. The book was
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. It is still in print. A rather sad tale about the treatment of horses in the horse-and-carriage Victorian days, the book (as most classics do) still bears reading. That book whetted my appetite for more.

In elementary schools in the 40's in Hamlin, Texas , there were no libraries--just corner-of-the-room shelves filled with cast-off home readers and whatever teachers could scrounge up. So I had no experience with books there. Nor did our small town have a public library.

In my first encounter with an adult book, as a 6th grader I listened to my art teacher, Mrs. Griggs read Francis Parkinson Keyes' Dinner at Antoines'. She had just taken a trip to New Oreleans and shared that adventure with us land-locked uncultured West Texas students via pictures and that book. One could not get away with it today, but we all loved it--perhaps mainly because we didn't have to draw still-lifes while she read. Later on our Senior Trip in high school, we went to New Orleans, and several of us who had heard that book in 6th grade went to Antoines' and had the famous Oysters Rockefeller described by Keyes.

Our middle-school and high-schools were together in the same building, so imagine my delight and amazement when I encountered there a huge room filled with books called a library. There was only one problem--these were closed stacks--that is, the books were behind closed doors and one had to ask at a window for book desired. Never having had any experience with books, I didn't know what to ask for. I quickly wrangled a job as library helper and thus had access to any book I desired. And by the way, in my first job as librarian at a small school, I had the privilege of getting rid of the closed stacks there.