In Living Color - 28 January 2022 - Plague Journal Day 687

Micah 6:8
Joel 2:28-32
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?

A newsletter I receive had this "Friday Fact" as a closing fun item. (note the quotation marks)

"About 12 percent of people dream entirely in black and white."

I haven't verified this "fact" yet (I haven't even tried, to be honest), but I wonder what that would be like. Apparently I'm in the majority here, as I generally dream in color. In fact, I Dream In Technicolor. If you're a black and white dreamer, please leave a comment below and tell me about it.

• Is it disconcerting to dream in monochrome?
• Does it seem distracting at the time?
• Does it make you aware that you're dreaming, or do you see the world in black and white all the time anyway?
• Those are the kinds of things I'd like to find out.

This just reminded me of when I was a kid, watching Gilligan's Island on our family set with my Dad. The screen said "In Color" as the theme song finished. I turned to Dad and said, "No it's not."
He might have explained to me that we had a black and white set and the neighbors with a color set were seeing it in color. More probably he lied to me about it with something radically more interesting and fun. Maybe something like, "The network people are trying to see how many of us will either complain or pretend that we see it in color. It's kind of the Emperor's New Clothes as a test."
Those network people!

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our insane 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.

Over a Month - 27 November 2021 - Plague Journal Day 625

Micah 6:8
Revelation 21:1-5
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?

It's been over a month now since my Dad died. It's a bizarre mixture of sadness, happiness, surprise, and grief. It's pretty much and every day occurrence that I think, "O, I should call Dad and tell him about that," and then I realize I don't know his number now.

It's much easier to deal with since we know he was both ready and prepared, but it's weird (as my cousin, Christy, said the other day) to be the oldest one in the family now. I can't call a parent to ask advice - now I'm the sage. Pray for my kids.

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.

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.

More Updates - 08 September 2021 - Plague Journal Day 545

Micah 6:8
Psalm 118
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?

First, an update from the Labour Day Classic at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ontario. The streak is up to seven - the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have beaten the Toronto Argonauts seven straight Labour Day Classics (it took eight Labour Days, as there was no CFL season in 2020). Oskee Wee Wee!

Dad is a bit up and down these days. He's at home with constant care, but it's depressing to be unable to do much of anything for oneself, after all. He's healing (slowly), so the next goal is to build up some strength and get out of bed now and again. The long-term goal is to get back to church. We know there are lots of prayers going up for him to do just that, so you'll find no despair in us - and feel free to add your prayers to those already being said. We really do appreciate them.


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.

Update - 04 September 2021 - Plague Journal Day 541

Micah 6:8
John 16:20-24
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?

Just a quick update - Dad is home from hospital, now in home hospice. Things are so much nicer this way. No beeping machines all night. No wondering when / if a meal will be delivered. Seeing the birds and various critters running around the back yard. Listening to the music he chooses and watching TV with all the channels he likes.

Who knows? He may achieve his goal of getting back to church one of these days. We shall see. Until then, things are nicer and more peaceful.

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.

Tucker? - 28 August 2021 - Plague Journal Day 534

Micah 6:8
James 5:13-16
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 National Bow Tie Day! How appropriate to celebrate this sartorial splendor the day after we celebrated Pee-Wee Herman's birthday, eh? I plan to tie both of my shoes' laces in bows to commemorate this important holiday.

No real update on my Dad. He's still in hospital, still in hospice, and still living in the Grace of God. Prayers are always welcome, requested, coveted, and appreciated.

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.