Remembering Laurence

I went to a beautiful morning get-together on the grounds of Pittock Mansion to honor our beloved friend Laurence on the second anniversary of his passing.  

We sat in the sunshine and talked about our memories of his life, both personal and professional.  Just before we left, we shared a prayer and the reading of one of Laurence's favorites:

Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

(Psalm 103:1-5)

Are You Registered?

Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting.  - Franklin D. Roosevelt

Here in Oregon, the deadline for registering to vote in the November 6 general election is October 16.

Now is the time to do it:

• if you are 17 or older and are not registered
• if you've changed your address
• if you want to change political parties

For information about voter registration, go to www.oregonvotes.org.

September Days

"By all these lovely tokens
September days are here,

With summer's best of weather
And autumn's best of cheer."

                         

-Helen Hunt Jackson

(photo from http://juhatik.blogspot.com)

    

Happy Endings

Now that our mother has been diagnosed with advanced breast cancer, Hospice has entered our lives. Mom will continue to live "at home," which happens to be a wonderful Alzheimer's facility called Lydia's House in Mennonite Village, just south of Albany, Oregon. The staff there will now be working with Hospice representatives "to improve the quality of [Mom's] last days by offering comfort and dignity." (see www.hospicefoundation.org)

Hospice is not a place but a concept of care.  Special emphasis is placed on controlling pain and discomfort.  The emotional, social and spiritual impact of the disease on the patient and the patient's family and friend is also addressed.

I've heard this program unofficially described as a "happy ending."  We are comforted in joining with Lydia's House and Hospice in providing for our Mom's happy ending whenever it may come.

Being Right Versus Being True

"Being Right is driven primarily by facts, and not by Truth. Being Right is having accurate descriptions of "what happened." Being Right is about having the facts in your favor; it's about getting the upper hand in an argument; it's about winners and losers — for when YOU are right then others are wrong. And where does Being Right put YOU in relation to others: an enemy, adversary, competitor, opponent, or rival?"

"Being Right is not the best way to "win friends and influence people." Being Right is the booby prize! The real prize is in Being True. Being True means having integrity of character. Being True is the holistic unity and expression of existence: heart, might, mind, strength, and soul."    (from Matt Moody at http://www.calldrmatt.com/Facts&Truth.htm)

I can read the statement above and agree with it, but it sometimes seems hard to live out in everyday life.  As I grew up, I was so often rewarded for being right.  Decades later, being right is not as rewarding, but I'm still figuring out how to be true.  

The Game Is Afoot

I am intrigued by the contemporary Sherlock Holmes series on PBS, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. The traditional stories, now accessorized with cell phones and nicotine patches, are updated to appeal to new audiences.  (photo above from BBC/Hartswood Films for Masterpiece)

Now, USA Today says, "When CBS rolls out its prime-time Sherlock iteration this fall, Elementary, Holmes will be living in 21st-century Manhattan unraveling mysteries on a new continent, even as BBC's Sherlock, a co-production with PBS' Masterpiece (where it airs in the USA), prepares to film its third season back in the U.K." (from www.usatoday.com)

Perhaps the actual game that's afoot is to see who gives this century's winning performance of the legendary detective. (And, don't forget Robert Downey, Jr.)   Elementary premieres Thursday, September 27, at 10:00 p.m. on CBS. It stars Jonny Lee Miller (as Holmes) and Lucy Liu (as Joan Watson).  (photo at left from www.starpulse.com by CBS Broadcasting)

From Facebook

I saw this yesterday on my sister's Facebook page:

Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed. 

-Herman Melville

Does this remind me of anyone?  Maybe even myself?

Back to the Future

When my son was about 12 or 13 years old, we lived in an upper-story apartment that became very warm on summer afternoons and evenings.  To cool off, we often went to the nearby Laurelhurst Theatre where we could view movies at discounted prices in air-conditioned comfort.

One of our favorites was the 1985 film Back to the Future, starring Michael J. Fox.  It combined time travel with high school life and family relationships in a hilarious comedy.  I lost count of how many times we saw that movie together - and eventually its two sequels.

My son is now an adult, living across the country.  I remember sharing good times with him at the movies every time I see or hear anything about Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, or Lea Thompson.  I am still smiling.

Autumn or Fall?

Today began my favorite season of the year.  The temperatures are cooling.  A sense of anticipation is in the air as we move into a new school year, the World Series, harvest time, football season, and the upcoming holidays.

To Autumn

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run...
-John Keats

Fall Wind
Pods of summer crowd around the door;

I take them in the autumn of my hands

Last night I heard the first cold wind outside;

The wind blew soft, and yet I shiver twice:

Once for thin walls, once for the sound of time.
—William Stafford