dual personalities

Month: March, 2026

March 16, 2026

Sometimes a light surprises

by chuckofish

How was your weekend? Mine was springlike until it was not. The magnolia trees are in full bloom and everyone is worried that the cold snap will kill/damage everything. But this literally happens every year. At least it didn’t snow as initially predicted! (But we did have a tornado watch!)

Daughter #1 came over on Friday afternoon and set up my new printer for me. I am good to go after months of frustration with my old printer. We celebrated with wine time and Chik-fil-a for dinner.

Our DAR meeting on Saturday was skillfully run, as usual, by daughter #1. We had a wonderful lecture by our friend Esley Hamilton about all the architectural jewels of St. Louis that were torn down before 1904.

For instance, this house–the “Cracker Castle”–built in 1868 for Jonathan Pierce who produced hardtack during the Civil War, was heavily damaged by a tornado in 1896 and as a result was demolished soon afterwards. It is sad that so little actually remains from the nineteenth century (although the above monstrosity was no great loss).

Saturday night I watched The Quiet Man (1952) in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.

Mr. Smith harumphed a bit at the Irish accents, but he still thought it was pretty great.

Sunday I went to church and heard a fine sermon on Joshua 8:1-35–I have really enjoyed Joshua. It seems very timely. Our final hymn was…

…and I cried…and my mascara ran.

Is this what William Cowper meant when he wrote:

Sometimes a light surprises
The Christian while he sings;
It is the Lord, who rises
With healing in His wings:
When comforts are declining,
He grants the soul again
A season of clear shining,
to cheer it after rain.

I went to the Westminster Catechism class afterwards and it was terrific. We went through #22-38, led by a ruling elder (who is also an attorney). It all makes so much sense! I think I finally understand what effectual calling is!

Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.

This morning I go in for my annual bone density exam, kicking off two weeks of doctor visits and tests. “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. 25 Brothers, pray for us.” (I Thess. 5:23-25)

5 Comments
March 13, 2026

Happy Friday!

by marycompton

Hello, readers. As I write this my crazy pup is running in actual circles around the dining room table. It’s either the zoomies or puppy crack. TBD.

Anyway, it is Friday again. I have a DAR meeting tomorrow, so lots of stress, followed by lots of relief. I am grateful that my term comes to an end in May and that someone has agreed to take over for me. Praise hands ALL AROUND.

I don’t know about where you live, but Spring has sprung, as they say, here.

Of course, it may snow on Sunday. Given the weather prediction track record this year, I’m not holding my breath. Anyway, as I wrap this up, I invite you to listen to my current favorite song on Joy FM. If you’ve already done your makeup, I’ve warned you.

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March 12, 2026

With ten miles behind me and ten thousand more to go*

by chuckofish

Today we toast singer-songwriter James Taylor (b. 1948) on his birthday. A six-time Grammy Award winner, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

So iconic for those of us who grew up in the 1970s.

Especially this song for me, because it is about a cowboy and also mentions the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston. The Berkshires seemed dreamlike…

Well, let that be your blast from the past for this week. You’re welcome.

*Quote used on countless senior pages from the seventies

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March 11, 2026

This and that

by chuckofish

When we were driving back from the prairie, we were really struck by how everything is greening up in our neck of the woods. It has warmed up into the seventies…but storms, not surprisingly, are on the way.

Yesterday I did laundry, caught up on ‘desk work’ and ran a few errands. I feel like I accomplished a lot. Meanwhile I am working on editing a piece for the Kirkwood Historical Review which was sent in by a man whose parents grew up in Kirkwood. He was going through old boxes (as we are all wont to do) and found photos and letters etc and decided to write something up about them and his grandfather who was a state senator. This man, by the way, went off into the wide world from our flyover state and became a well known artist and illustrator with several New Yorker covers to his credit. As usual, I am surprised by what a small world it is.

Last week I watched the movie The Apostle (1997) which was written and directed by Robert Duvall, who also stars in it as Euliss F. “Sonny” Dewey, a charismatic Pentecostal preacher. He was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar.

I saw it when it came out and I have the DVD, but had not seen it in ages. It is a very interesting movie about a denomination I know little about. The soundtrack won the 1998 Grammy Award for Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album. I remember that too–we listened to it a lot back in the day.

It also occurred to daughter #1and me that Euliss Dewey would be a great name for another Westie, with “Sonny” as his nickname. Weeeelllll (as Ida frequently starts a sentence), if you are looking for something good to watch, you might try The Apostle.

This is a good article about Three Reminders for Christian Parents. I was struck by her description of a child drawing pictures in church and that “love for the church is often absorbed more than it is instructed. Children learn to cherish the people of God not only through teaching but through presence.” It really reminded me of the twins who draw in their special church notebooks, seemingly not paying attention, but absorbing what they hear.

And I enjoyed this article about Tim Challies. I start every day with his blog and have for many years.

Have a good Wednesday!

4 Comments
March 10, 2026

We shall gather at the river

by chuckofish

We made it back from the prairie–a very blustery drive! (Par for the course.) The speedwagon did great though.

The weekend was delightful. The grandkids are so entertaining and DN served up gourmet meals–a real step up from my usual egg salad sandwiches! And at dinner Saturday night three-year old Ida, unprompted, broke into shout singing this song (She knows all the words.)

Devil get behind me, run on home
Back to the grave where you belong
In case you forgot, let me tell you the truth
You’re stuck under my blood bought boots
Devil get behind me, you got no hold
I’ve been changed by the Holy Ghost
Try all you want, but it ain’t no use
You’re stuck under my blood bought boots

Get behind me (oh-oh)
Get behind me (oh-oh)
Devil get behind me (oh-oh)

It was one of the greatest things ever. Can you even?

The triple baptisms went off without a hitch on Sunday. Pastor Luke gave a very nice introduction to covenant baptism and why it is entirely appropriate and biblical to baptize a household.

We also heard a fine sermon on revelation 1:9-20 about how God reigns now even as we wait until He comes again–the already and the not yet overlap in the present. So let your light shine, even as we long for the fullness of the kingdom to come!

Afterwards we drove to Bloomington for a lovely lunch at the home of DN’s parents, who have moved there from Maryland.

Mr. Smith was a good boy, although he had to stay home and miss the festivities. He got along great with the baby.

Praise the Lord!

And I love this so much.  It takes a minute and a half.

Now Go out there and kick it!

3 Comments
March 9, 2026

Devil get behind me, run on home

by chuckofish

Our three baptisms this weekend went very well and I’ll have more to report tomorrow! Daughter #1 and I are traveling home today. All is well. Praise the Lord!

1 Comment
March 6, 2026

Let the children come

by chuckofish

It’s Friday again–another week has skied by and once again I did not accomplish everything on my To Do List. Some things, but not everything. As Grant famously said to Sherman after the first day of fighting at Shiloh did not go well, “Lick ’em tomorrow though.”

Daughter #1 and I (and Mr. Smith) are planning to drive up to the prairie tomorrow morning so that we can go to church with daughter #2 where the three kiddos are being baptized on Sunday–praise the Lord! (You will recall that we had planned to do this last weekend, but the flu delayed us.)

This is our first Presbyterian baptism! According to the Westminster Shorter Catechism:

Q. 94. What is Baptism?
A. Baptism is a Sacrament, wherein the washing with water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, doth signify and seal our ingrafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord’s.

“Consider the Apostle Peter’s striking admonition to his fellow Jews on the day of Pentecost, ‘For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself’ (Acts 2:39). In other words, those who follow Jesus Christ as His disciples are responsible by faith to entrust the spiritual awakening of their own children to God’s gracious work (John 3:3-5; Titus 3:5-7). We do this by presenting our “Covenant Children” for baptism and by instructing them in the truths of the Gospel as they mature.” (The Genevan Foundation)

So please pray that our travel is smooth and easy and rain-free!

Soli Deo Gloria!

3 Comments
March 5, 2026

“Until you stirred him up I had no trouble with God.”*

by chuckofish

I spent most of yesterday catching up on my Bible Study and community group homework–no kidding, it was a lot. So I don’t have a lot to say today, except happy birthday to the great William Powell (1892-1984).

This wonderful actor was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor three times: for The Thin Man (1934), My Man Godfrey (1936), and Life with Father (1947). I suggest we all toast him and watch one of these movies.

I am partial to Life With Father (1947) wherein Powell plays Father, the quintessential Episcopalian:

Father: I don’t go to church to be preached at as though I were some lost sheep

Vinnie: Clare, you don’t seem to understand what the Church is for.

Father: Vinnie, if there’s one place the Church should leave alone, it’s a man’s soul!

Indeed. Enjoy your Thursday!

*Father

4 Comments
March 4, 2026

How’s it goin’?

by chuckofish

We haven’t gotten anywhere near the rain I thought we were going to get, and while that’s a good thing for me, it doesn’t help the drought my state is experiencing. But I guess “wet and stormy ” are still the watch words of the week.

Recently Anne was waxing eloquently and coherently about the world we live in–“What a time we live in, when how many children a person does or doesn’t have is an invitation for other people to criticize them and existentially question their abilities and desires. That used to be the sort of thing one would do privately, after church, over the Roast and Pudding and a beautiful amber glass of sherry. Now somehow I—who know neither party—get to read it and then form my own opinion.”

Well, I think I’ve mentioned that we happen to be studying I Thessalonians in my women’s Bible study and I was reminded of what Paul had to say about just that thing–“We urge you…to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” (I Thessalonians 4:11-12)

That’s the ticket: mind your own business. Or try to–I know it’s hard. But that’s what I’m going to try to do.

Yesterday I had lunch with my BFFs Becky and Carla and we discussed, among other things, our levels of Instagram addiction. It really is shocking and I excoriate myself for this daily. If I still recognized Lent as a thing, I might have tried to give it up for 40 days. But I am trying to leave my phone in another room for extended periods of time, although this is hard because I am worried that my daughters will request a welfare check for me if I don’t respond to text messages in a timely fashion. (jkjk.)

Don’t get me wrong–I’m not complaining. But life was simpler when we had three TV channels to choose from and a rotary phone. I’m not wrong, am I?

3 Comments
March 3, 2026

I’m just passing through

by chuckofish

It was supposed to rain all day yesterday, but it did not, so I’m hoping the rest of the week will not pan out as predicted as well. YIX! (as Katie spells Yikes!)

In other news, it is the English illustrator Ronald Searle’s birthday (1920-2011), so I will repeat in his honor all Latin teachers’ one joke: “Caesar adsum jam forte / Brutus aderat.” 

(Caesar had some jam for tea / Brutus ate a rat.)

Always makes me laugh.

And did you see this?

East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, now re-named Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital and known locally as Dolly Children’s, is a private, not-for-profit pediatric medical center located in Knoxville, Tennessee. It provides specialized care for children and has been serving the community since 1937.

Dolly rides again! You go, girl!

And here’s one for my baby girl Ida…”Oh, this is a good one!”

It’s March! It’s Tuesday! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

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