Just as I am
by chuckofish
While organizing a whole mess of some old photos, I found this great one of my dual personality when she was on a dig in Jordan back in the 1980s. I think it was when she was getting a master’s in archaeology at Mizzou, before she went on to Yale, but if I am wrong she can set us straight. She was always much less timid than I, more like our mother. Being in the desert with a camel (and without a hairdryer) would not have fazed her much.
Anyway, I spent my weekend per usual. I went to the book sale at the Unitarian Church, braving the Prius-filled parking lot in order to search through their treasure trove of books. Their thinking may be a little to the left of whoopee, but they are good readers.
I went to three estate sales and got a few more books and then I came home and worked in the yard for awhile. It was a beautiful day–the sun was shining, the sky was blue and the daffodils were poking up.
By Sunday, the temperature had plummeted, the wind was howling and it was sleeting, but I forged on to church nevertheless. I sat with my good friend Marty. It always amuses me to remember that her son was the coolest guy in school forty years ago and wouldn’t have known me from Doris Day, but it is proof positive that all things come to those who wait, if not in a semi-skewed fashion. It is the skewed part that is the point.
God does have a sense of humor and so should we.
Write deeply upon our minds, O Lord God, the lesson of thy holy Word, that only the pure in heart can see thee. Leave us not in the bondage of any sinful inclination. May we neither deceive ourselves with the thought that we have no sin, nor acquiesce idly in aught of which our conscience accuses us. Strengthen us by thy Holy Spirit to fight the good fight of faith, and grant that no day may pass without its victory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
–C. J. Vaughan
Have a good Monday!
dual personalities 
Cool picture–and sounds like a lovely weekend! xo.
Oh, my goodness that camel picture! What was I wearing? Is that your down vest? And yes, I went native with the kafiyeh (or whatever the women’s head scarf is called), though I was more motivated by a fashion fear (dirty hair) than political correctness. I’m jealous of your books and daffodil shoots. We’re still buried under lots of snow… You always come up with great quotes, too!
I noticed the vest too! I had forgotten that it had traveled the world. I think it is still around and several children wore it from time to time. L.L. Bean probably doesn’t make ’em like that anymore!
Did you get a chance to watch The Sea Hawk and Dawn Patrol…am anxious to hear how Errol Flynn extricated himself from the Spanish slave galley (watched it last week but couldn’t make it to the end).
Yes, I watched both! In the Sea Hawk, when Errol is a galley slave, he meets an Englishman who was captured trying to uncover evidence of the Armada’s true purpose. Then–because they are English and are presumably smarter–the prisoners take over the ship during the night. They board another ship in the same harbor, where an emissary has stored secret incriminating plans. Thorpe and his men capture both and sail back to England with the plans in hand. At the end of the movie Queen Elizabeth gives a rousing speech about England building a fleet that will keep England safe from crazy leaders with evil motives –some great 1940 WWII propaganda trying to get the U.S. into the war!
Now that’s a great description…thanks!
Awesome book finds! Nate says he hopes the Dillard is for me because those are his three favorites!
I love her too and already have them, so…