Another Concert! - 30 October 2021 - Plague Journal Day 597

Micah 6:8
Psalm 150
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Yes, we're headed for another concert by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra tonight. We've been subscribers for nearly forty years now, and have what we consider the best seats in the house - and that's in a house with no bad seats!

We're looking forward to hearing the Dvorak New World Symphony as well as a first - two piano concertos played by the same soloist in the same half of the concert. This should be pretty interesting; the sheer bravery is impressive at the very least.
The program has two premieres tonight - the North American Premiere of the Enesco piano concerto and the World Premiere of a contemporary piece by a Michigan composer.

Can't hardly wait!


Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Oldsters? - 29 October 2021 - Plague Journal Day 596

Micah 6:8
Genesis 5:21-27  1 Timothy 5:1-2
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

On this date, 29 October 1998, John Glenn flew on the Space Shuttle Discovery, setting the record as the oldest person to fly in space - at the age of 77.
Just recently, William Shatner flew in space and set the new record at the age of 90.

However - John Glenn was born on 18 July 1921, while William Shatner was born on 22 March 1931. That means Glenn is nearly ten years older than Shatner. This makes me think I need to get a list of the birthdates of all the folks who've flown into space to see who the first-born (and thus, in a way, oldest) person is to have done so.

Regardless, I'm still younger than either of those two, so there's still hope for my getting to space before I shuffle off this mortal coil. I still might slip the surly bonds of Earth and dance to space on a tower of flame.

On a totally unrelated note, today is World Psoriasis Day. (Does anyone else remember "the heart-break of psoriasis?") Perhaps providentially, today is also National Oatmeal Day. I suggest those among my readers who are stricken with that particular heart-break might want to fill a tub with oatmeal and soak away some of the discomfort.

Enjoy!

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Watch the Ottoman! - 28 October 2021 - Plague Journal Day 595

Micah 6:8
Proverbs 16:17-19
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

On this date, 28 October1964, the 100th episode of “The Dick Van Dyke Show” aired. Jacki and I always thought Dad and Dick Van Dyke were very similar, although I don't remember Dad ever tripping over an ottoman when he came home. (Did you know there were two versions of that opening? One where he trips and one where he steps around it. They randomly rotated the openings each week. Pretty fun.)

Anyway, seeing that in a "this day in history" listing made me think (duh) of Dad, and I was originally going to save this for a post when we got closer to a memorial service, but since I have no idea when that will actually happen (and I like this piece) I decided to go ahead and post this now.

It was originally written when Dad's father died back in 1983, but I've used it quite a few times since.

For Grandpa

Suddenly we are without you:
Without your life and laughter.
And yet; we are not less,
The world is not less:
Where, then, is the loss?

Deep within us all,
At the core of each of us,
In the hearts of those you love, and who love you,
There is still your laughter, your life, your light:
Where, then, is the loss?

We weep for ourselves,
For our family and friends who feel a loss;
At times we think we weep for you.
But you are with God, with Christ:
Where, then, is the loss?

What is lost has yet to come:
The beauty and the wonder we'll long to share with you,
The children who'll not hear your laugh, not see your light.
But through our lives, our love, and laughter, they'll know yours:
Where, then, is the loss?

We weep at our pain,
At our bewilderment at your death.
And yet with you, for you, we must rejoice!
You have left pain behind, and fear and longing as well.
Where, then, is the loss?

What is lost is the easy affection we thought would never leave.
What is lost is your smiling face each evening, each morning.
What is lost is myriad things we wouldn't believe could go.
But realizing this much, we realize more:
There is no loss – there is only Love.

copyright by Charlie van Becelaere, administered by Grand Teuton Press, all rights reserved

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

A Presidential Dog Walk - 27 October 2021 - Plague Journal Day 594

Micah 6:8
Joshua 4:1-7
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Today is the 163rd birthday of the 26th President of the United States and Nobel Prize laureate, Theodore Roosevelt. Teddy was a bigger than life kind of guy, from his 7th Cavalry Rough Riders times (I wonder if he was a fan of either the Saskatchewan or Ottawa entries in the CFL) to his Presidency, founding the Bull Moose Party, starting our system of National Parks, exploring, canaling Panama (A man, a plan, a canal: Panama - it's always good to have a palindrome to post), and burying dead bodies in the basement for his "eccentric" aunts who mixed arsenic in the elderberry wine. (that last part may be fictional)

At any rate, I bring this up because the other day Billie and I had what we considered a Presidential walk. Not only did we see all the Presidents of Mount Rushmore, but also visited Denali.
"How could a human and a (still a puppy) dog - no matter how peripatetic - manage such a feat in a single day?" I hear you ask.
Well, we actually only walked in two of the Grosse Pointes, but managed to see the streets named for:
Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt in the City, as well as McKinley in the Farms. (Yes, I said Denali, but that's Mount McKinley on older maps if nothing else!) Pretty impressive, eh? (Oh great, that 'eh' probably means we'll have to look for some Canadian Prime Minister streets or something now.)

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Up the Erie Canal - 26 October 2021 - Plague Journal Day 593

Micah 6:8
Matthew 21:5
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

On this date in 1825 the Erie Canal opened for shipping. Barges were often pulled by mules along parts of the waterway, as many of us of a certain age learned in Elementary School music classes.

This reminds me of my High School Heritage Tour to England, where we created our own semi-bawdy lyrics to the old song about our old mule named Sal. Perhaps not surprisingly, today is also National Mule Day, so why not hug a mule and call her Sal to celebrate this historic infrastructure event.

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

What a Glorious, Rotten Day - 25 October 2021 - Plague Journal Day 592

Micah 6:8
Hosea 13:14  1 Corinthians 15:51-56
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Today's post is coming a bit late, but I have a good reason for that - I'm simply worn out from emotion. My 92.7-year-old father died last night, and I've spent much of the day calling friends to tell them and making initial arrangements. Frankly, it sucks. (note: Dad was an engineer, so he would have liked the 92.7 age reference.)

Dad spent the last two months almost exclusively in a hospital bed, first in hospital, then at home where he could watch the birds in the back yard listen to the music and watch the things he wanted, and where he was in charge of how many visitors he could have. For a man who - right up to his hospital stay - was always able to be independent, being stuck in a bed, depending on others for everything was pure torture.

It was amazing to watch him when he had visits - whether from friends and family or from the hospice folks - as he was always still interested in and checking on how everyone else was doing. He never lost that other-people-are-important sense of the world. He still treated everyone with even more respect than they deserved - a model for the rest of us.

I am going to miss him fiercely, but I'm happy to know he's gone to be with his Lord, and with his beloved Shirley, my Mom. I'm looking forward to seeing them both someday.

To add commemoration to injury, today, the day after Dad died, was the 29th anniversary of the death of Roger Miller, one of Dad's musical heroes.



Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Worship - 24 October 2021 - Plague Journal Day 591

Micah 6:8
Mark 10:46-52
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one? 

 

For our 9:30 worship service we have the Chancel Choir at offertory time, and three(!) hymns for congregational singing. (Yes - we're back to congregational singing. We're Methodists again!) Remember, we'll be streaming for all those who can't join us in person, and intend to continue that practice indefinitely. Still, know that we miss seeing you in person - please come join in corporate prayer, praise, and worship as soon as you feel ready.

As usual, today's stream should just appear as the latest entry on our YouTube channel, here.
You'll find all our previous worship videos right there at that same place, and today's stream will stay there as a recording as well.

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264