dual personalities

Month: March, 2024

March 15, 2024

“Impetuous. Homeric!”

by chuckofish

Happy Friday! My weekend will be quiet as daughter #1 headed off to visit daughter #2, leaving Mr. Smith with us.

The boy is taking the twins on an overnight camping trip, so they will miss Sunday with us. Sigh.

But Sunday is St. Patrick’s Day so we will be watching The Quiet Man (1952) as this is our March 17th tradition. It is a fairy tale, a make-believe wish of what Ireland is like, but I love it–mostly because John Wayne is great and at the height of his powers.

To get you in the mood to watch, here are a few fun facts to know and share about the movie.

As you recall, when daughters #1 and #2 and I were traveling in Ireland in 2011, we made a pilgrimage to Cong where the movie was filmed.

The Quiet Man Museum is around the block from Pat Cohan’s Bar.

The town of Cong, in County Mayo was just getting electricity in 1951 when the actors and crew were there. A few scenes show utility poles, but no wires are clearly visible. The town folk were excited because they thought the electricity wouldn’t cost anything. When they learned otherwise, they insisted they didn’t want or need it – get rid of it. (Later, of course, their attitude changed.)

Charles B. Fitzsimmons (Hugh Forbes, IRA man) and James O’Hara (Father Paul) were the real-life younger brothers of Maureen O’Hara.

The white-haired, frail Dan Tobin, who gets up from his death bed and runs to see the fight, was John Ford’s older brother, Francis Ford. Four of John Wayne’s children appear in the steeplechase scene, which Wayne directed while Ford was sick.

Barry Fitzgerald, who plays the character of Michaleen Oge Flynn, and Arthur Shields, who played the Protestant vicar Cyril ‘Snuffy’ Playfair, were brothers in real life. They were both Protestants born in Dublin, Ireland. Shields was the family name. The Oscar-winner Fitzgerald, who was nearly eight years older than his brother, was born William Joseph Shields.

It is Maureen O’Hara’s favorite of her own films.

John Ford won his fourth Best Director Oscar and the film was in the top ten moneymakers of the year. Winton Hoch won the Oscar for Best Cinematography.

Stephen Spielberg, a great admirer of John Ford, paid tribute to The Quiet Man in E.T. (1982):

When the film was first screened in Boston, MA, Michaleen Flynn’s line on seeing the broken bed, “Impetuous! Homeric!”, was censored.

Well, watch it or don’t–that’s how I celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!

And here’s a bonus picture of Ida waving at the fish in the fish pond.

3 Comments
March 14, 2024

How like a prodigal

by chuckofish

–from “To the Dandelion” by James Russell Lowell, 1819-1891. Read the whole poem here.

Spring seems to have sprung, but here in flyover country we know better than to jump to any conclusions. We could have snow before the end of the month. It sure is nice, however, to sit on the patio in the seventy-degree afternoons and soak up some sunshine.

In other news, we wish Michael Martin Murphey a happy birthday.

He is 79 years old! Kudos for still touring. Here is a list of other oldsters who are still out there making music in public.

Later today daughter #1 is dropping Mr. Smith off at our house. He will be staying with us while she visits daughter #2 et al in Illinois. So please keep us in your prayers!

Ha!

Daughter #1 will no doubt enjoy spending quality time with Katie and chasing Ida around–did I mention that Ida is now walking/playing soccer? The boy says, “Get out the cones! Agility drills start now!”

We will do our best to keep Mr. Smith from stressing out.

(The painting is by Jean-Francois Millet, 1868)

5 Comments
March 13, 2024

Saints and poets

by chuckofish

The other night I watched the old movie Our Town (1940), starring a stellar cast which included William Holden, Martha Scott, Thomas Mitchell, Beulah Bondi, and Frank Craven as the Stage Manager. He originated the role on Broadway.

I don’t know what it is about this movie but it just destroys me every time I see it. Once again I cried through the whole last act. Part of it is that Aaron Copland score. But most of it is the plain truth of it.

Wilder explained in his preface to the play that “‘Our Town’ is not offered as a picture of life in a New Hampshire village or as a speculation about the condition of life after death. . . .It is an attempt to find a value above all price for the smallest events in our life.” Well, I get that. The movie plays up the romance angle and it changes the ending, but for Hollywood, it does a pretty good job of conveying the message of the play.

I was in the play once–in eighth grade. I played Howie Newsome, the milkman. I saw it performed in Peterborough, New Hampshire, in a production by the Peterborough Players that included James Whitmore as the Stage Manager. (Wilder wrote some of Our Town at the MacDowell Colony in Peterborough, as well as in Zurich and on Long Island and all over.) And I’ve seen several versions on TV. But I do like the black and white movie, sets and all.

Here’s “The birth and life of an American classic: ‘Our Town’” from the Pulitzer files. Some people just don’t get it and write it off as folksy and sentimental. How wrong they are!

Reading the play is good, but seeing it is better. After all, it’s a play. For convenience sake, I recommend the movie.

5 Comments
March 12, 2024

Tuesday musings

by chuckofish

Yesterday I received my Williams College Alumni Magazine–the one with the class notes–and I took a look. I always used to enjoy reading the class notes of the really old guys, the WWII vets, but they are mostly all gone now. So I checked on the class notes with the people I know, who graduated in the 1970s, expecting the usual list of exotic travel destinations and ski and golf outings. Those were there but also quite a few quadruple by-pass operations and cancer diagnoses. Lots of grandchildren, but also news from those still waiting to be grandparents. I sensed the mood was not quite the usual upbeat drumbeat of the privileged 1%-ers.

And then there was one guy I knew back in the day who mused about why he is continuing to work full time:

Amongst my cohort of docs, retirement is the hot topic. I have pushed on; throttling back to a degree and adopting a little ‘fire me and make my day’ attitude…Tapering and keeping a little income flowing now seems right. Packing away my geriatrics skills, simply quitting work, makes me feel somewhat selfish. Am I rejecting the gift of work with selfish intent or battle fatigue? I await direction from God or physical incapacity. Will I miss out on the bucket-list life by keeping on? I don’t see it that way. If today is my last day, I’ll carry a heart of thanks.

Well, well. And well said, sir.

(This is not to say I don’t understand the desire to retire. I myself am retired and, yes, still feeling some battle fatigue. But I get what he’s saying.)

It seems appropriate to remind ourselves of this famous sermon by John Piper: Don’t waste your life!

May I hold forth the way of Jesus
  with my temper as well as my tongue,
  with my life as well as my lips.
May I say to all I meet,
  I am journeying towards the Lord’s given place,
  come with me for your good.

–Valley of Vision
3 Comments
March 11, 2024

Take my intellect and use ev’ry pow’r as thou shalt choose*

by chuckofish

It was a quiet weekend, mostly because it was a busy week punctuated by several visits to MoBap for routine appointments. We also spent eight hours there on Thursday while the OM had an ICD–an  implantable cardioverter-defibrillator–implanted. Fun city.

Meanwhile I am through with my semi-annual cancer checks (until September) and an infusion etc. Onward and upward.

In Sunday School we continued with the Westminster Confession and I cannot tell you how much I enjoy this class. The boy is in agreement. Such a smart class!

All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all; yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed, for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.

We are almost finished with chapter one!

We had a baptism in church–the fifth child in a family, who did not make a peep through the whole thing. I was impressed. As the elder walked her down the aisle, the congregation sang Jesus Loves Me and the twins chimed in with gusto. Once again they got an A for non-depraved behavior.

After church we went home for quiche and fruit salad and jelly beans, of which they ate plenty.

It was too cold for driveway sittin’ so the twins played with Legos while the grown-ups talked. Lovely. After everyone left, I watched some PGA–Scottie Scheffler won!–and took an unintended nap.

I didn’t watch the Academy Awards last night (of course). Instead I watched True Grit (1969), starring John Wayne in his Oscar-winning performance. It was a very good choice! Here’s his acceptance speech: humble and grateful.

And here is some news we can all use: good advice on how not to be a grumpy old woman. “It is good to give sober thought to the fact that life is short, and if we hope to finish well, we must intend to finish well.”

Have a great week!

*Frances R. Havergal, 1874

4 Comments
March 8, 2024

“I’m on the pavement, thinking ’bout the government.”

by chuckofish

Well, I had a thrilling evening helping the University City Historical Society host the annual State of the City (when they picked the date they didn’t know it would also be the State of the Union). It was a nice event, but I was ready to get home and let Mr. Smith play for a bit by the time it was over. I didn’t stay to help clean up–but I was the only person who has to report to work in the morning. I was also the only person under 70. I am not kidding when I tell you that I had a conversation about hearing aids and how high-tech they are now.

University City has quite the City Hall and the Council Chambers are on the fifth floor. You’ll be happy to know that both the City Manager and the Mayor report the state of the city is strong.

In other news, I caught this cute guy keeping watch while I took the trash out the other night. He didn’t bark at me but he seemed very confused.

A quick post tonight after a busy day. Have a great weekend!

*title is from Bob Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues”

2 Comments
March 7, 2024

Relentlessly superficial

by chuckofish

When I was growing up I never heard bad language. It was not allowed in our house and, of course, it was never heard in movies or on television. Gentlemen did not swear in the presence of ladies. (Can you imagine?) Truly, I had hardly ever heard a four-letter word until I went to college. It was all downhill from there.

The world has changed in the intervening years. Vulgarity and bad language are literally everywhere. We are bombarded with f-bombs. Only in our own homes and in church can we escape the verbal onslaught. (But, yes, I do watch a few R-rated films.)

I confess I try and fail every day not to swear. I have trained myself to say “Oh my gosh,” for the benefit of my grandchildren, but we all know that is a euphemism for the terribly overused “Oh my God.” And there is no getting around the fact that that is taking the Lord’s name in vain.

Here are John Piper’s thoughts on cussing. I love the term he uses–“relentlessly superficial”–it is a perfect description of the world we live in. Well, I agree with what he says and I pray I can give up “corrupting talk and speak grace to others.”

Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

–Ephesians 5:4

By the way, the Piper article is adapted from the new book, Ask Pastor John: 750 Bible Answers to Life’s Most Important Questions by Tony Reinke, who summarizes and organizes ten years of the most insightful episodes of their popular podcast into accessible, thematic sections. I have ordered the book and eagerly await diving in.

And I had to laugh with Anne at this: “I guess I do have one bonus thought. I was transfixed yesterday by those pictures of Victoria Nuland going around—the sort of ‘How It Started’ and ‘How It’s Going’ meme. As a younger person, Nuland looked fresh-faced and eager. Now that she’s resigned, after decades of work in the American government, she looks bitter and angry. It’s not that she’s aged, of course we all do, it’s that the traces of compromise and entitlement are etched into her face. She, in the spirit of the age, rose to the top of power, determined to get what she could along the way, under the guise that if only women could rule, the world would be covered with peace and security. What a lie that was. Turns out women are human, just the same as men, which means that they do bad things, that they believe bad ideas, that their bodies are full of sinful frailty and age, and that if you lie enough, eventually you sound stupid.”

Enjoy your Thursday!

P.S. Even Ned Flanders lost it on at least one occasion.

As Mark Twain said, “under certain circumstances, profanity provides relief denied even to prayer.”

7 Comments
March 6, 2024

It is the bell and it tolleth for me

by chuckofish

I may have mentioned that my 50th high school reunion is coming up in May. After receiving the class email describing the calendar of events–5 get-togethers!–and reading the class survey, I am thinking about my options. I wrote a whiney blogpost about it, but threw it away. I mean who cares?

Well, I’ll pray about it.

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

–James 4:10

Meanwhile life goes on. Tim Challies linked to a great Twitter post which he prefaced by saying, “I don’t often link to Twitter posts (though when I do, I always preface it by saying “I don’t often link to Twitter posts.”). But this one is especially good and challenging for parents with athletic children.” I know this has already come up with the boy’s children and they are in first grade!

And how did I miss this?

4 Comments
March 5, 2024

This leaping combustion of spring*

by chuckofish

In my daily Bible reading I am currently reading Deuteronomy. Moses really has his hands full with those stiff-necked Jews.

And if you forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish.

–Deuteronomy 8:19

Of course, nothing has changed since then and we are worse than ever. Remember what Calvin said about the human heart being a factory of idols. He had read Deuteronomy!

In other news, today we celebrate the birthday of American illustrator and author Howard Pyle (1853-1911). Pyle was widely respected during his life and continues to be well regarded by illustrators and fine artists. His contemporary Vincent Van Gogh wrote in a letter to his brother Theo that Pyle’s work “struck me dumb with admiration.” I had a copy of Otto of the Silver Hand as a child, which deeply effected me. Looking at his art makes me want to watch Captain Blood (1936)–clearly the art director of this film was a fan of Howard Pyle.

Sixty-seven years later Hollywood still looked to Pyle for inspiration…

Today is also the anniversary of the day the great actor William Powell died in 1984. He was in a lot of really good movies throughout his long career, most notably The Thin Man (1934) et al, My Man Godfrey (1936), Life With Father (1947), and Mister Roberts (1961). I recommend watching any of these. Pour yourself a highball first.

This is a good example of sports testimony. “So yes, a missed pop fly did lead to grace — revealed in the instincts of a loving father, the kindness and generosity of a doctor, and a gift that kindled a lifetime of enriching interests. Sometimes the things we fear the most do happen. But that is not the end; there is One who is more. In those panic-stricken and dark moments, grace mysteriously goes to work.”

And speaking of baseball, can you even believe the uniform debacle in the MLB? See-through pants? Mis-matched uniforms? Stupid Nike.

And did you hear that the “British Board of Film Classification has decided to raise the rating on Mary Poppins from U (for Universal) to PG because of racial slurs. At two points in the film the neighbor of the Banks family, Admiral Boom, uses the term “Hottentots,” which some people now consider a derogatory name for one of the indigenous peoples of South Africa. The film has also been criticized for blackface because of the scene in which sooty chimney sweeps dance over rooftops.” (World News Group) The world is a clown show.

Enjoy your Tuesday. Do not forget the Lord.

*D.H. Lawrence, “The Enkindled Spring”

4 Comments
March 4, 2024

Ponder anew, what the Almighty will do

by chuckofish

A quiet weekend by some standards, but one filled with low key blessings and great weather.

Everything is starting to pop!

At church we had a guest preacher who also played the guitar, accompanied by piano and…harmonica! I have to say I didn’t hate it. The congregation sang with gusto. The twins got an A for non-depraved behavior. They have really crossed a line in general maturity. When I was talking to the head of the Sunday School on Thursday, she said the boy is the friendliest boy there and that Lottie is a real thinker. I concurred. I said that if you asked the twins what they learned in Sunday School, Lottie could tell you in detail and the boy says, “We had fun.”

After church we headed to our house where, after bagels and bacon and handfuls of jelly beans, we indulged in some driveway sittin’ with Mr. Smith.

Meanwhile Ida caught up on reading my article about Alphonse Smith, Kirkwood’s greatest athlete, in the latest edition of the Kirkwood Historical review.

This will be a busy week. Here’s some Dolly to help get us through.

Sit in the sun if you can. Pet a nice dog. Read some history. Rock on.

3 Comments