family | dual personalities

Little feet along the floor

by chuckofish

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Daughter #2 asked me to find a vintage mother/daughter photo for her to post on Mother’s Day. I told her I would look. There are really very few and I’m sure the above example was not really what she had in mind.

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The other choices weren’t a whole lot better.

Oh well. It was sweet of her to ask.

Mother’s Day will be the highlight and raison d’être of the weekend. Daughter #1 is coming home and we will get together with the boy and his wee family for a barbecue on Saturday. Then on Sunday I’ll take the OM and daughter #1 to my faculty club for brunch/mimosas after church.

Lovely, lovely, lovely.

And to all the young mothers out there I say: don’t waste a minute complaining about being tired or bored or too busy. It all goes by in a flash and “there isn’t always someone who wants you singing to him or nibbling his ear or brushing his cheek with a dandelion blossom. Somebody who knows when you’re being silly, and laughs and laughs.” (Marilynne Robinson, Lila) Sooner than you can believe it, you’re a grandma and they’re giving you the side-eye, not so sure who this crazy lady is.

So enjoy your kids. There is nothing like that feeling of being the most important person in the world to someone. It doesn’t last. They are God’s gift to you for a little while.

Have a great weekend. Call your mother!

5 Comments

May 2, 2018

Curse you, Red Baron!

by chuckofish

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Today is the birthday of Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen (May 2, 1892 – April 21, 1918), also known as the “Red Baron” and Snoopy’s nemesis.

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A fighter pilot with the German Air Force during WWI, he was considered the ace-of-aces of WWI, being officially credited with 80 air combat victories.

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The Red Baron’s all-red Fokker

Charles Schulz introduced Snoopy as the WWI Flying Ace in 1965, and over the decades the Flying Ace became one of Snoopy’s most recognizable personas.

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He was even on a stamp!

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I was always a Peanuts fan and I loved Snoopy as the WWI flyer. Our pater, whose own father had been a pilot in WWI, was also a fan. His father had been shot down and pulled from the wreckage of his plane by members of the Royal Tank Corps. Our father corresponded with one of them for many years.

Well, FYI, there is actually a new traveling exhibit called “Snoopy and the Red Baron” from the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa, CA. It made it’s national debut at the Elmhurst History Museum–that’s in Elmhurst, Illinois in flyover country. It moves on to Virginia Beach, VA. in July. So if you’re interested, start planning your road trip!

Screen Shot 2018-05-01 at 11.35.43 AM.png I think this calls for root beer and a viewing of Dawn Patrol (1938), don’t you?

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6 Comments

April 30, 2018

“Abide in me as I abide in you.”*

by chuckofish

I stood on chairs this weekend and put things away in closets (not preserves and without the help of a maid). I also assisted the OM in replacing the old hose which had connected the dryer to the dryer vent. That was quite a job and took quite a while, not to mention quite a bit of cursing (which worsened as the task lengthened) to accomplish. The result is certainly not perfect and there is still electrical tape involved, but it works and I caught up on laundry.

I did some reorganizing in my kitchen. Our friend Gary came over on Friday and took out our old non-functioning trash compactor and built in its place a shelf/cabinet in which to put our toaster oven, blender and other infrequently used appliances.

A big improvement!

I went to an estate sale at the home of a man who had rowed crew at Yale back in the day. I bought a watercolor of the Yale Crew team,

which I like a lot and which reminds me of my old friend Tom Mendenhall. (Hard to take a picture of it though.)

I also got a box together to send daughter #2 containing things she forgot to take back with her last weekend and a few other goodies.

I got out the ironing board and did some actual ironing…It is now linen season and all that entails. Ironing is not one of my favorite things, but it can be restful if you listen to some good music and don’t rush.

After church I took a walk around the neighborhood to enjoy the beautiful spring day.

I gabbed on the phone with my daughters and the wee babes and their parents came over for a barbecue. It wasn’t the same as last weekend, but I am very grateful nonetheless.

Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Have a good week!

*John 15: 4

3 Comments

April 27, 2018

Keep your eyes open

by chuckofish

First of all, a hearty happy birthday to one of our favorites, U.S. Grant–or Cousin Lyss as we like to call him. Born in 1822, he would be 196 today. I think his 200th birthday in 2022 calls for a big blow-out party. Let’s put that one on the calendar!

I have to say, I was struck once again, when my DP posted a picture of our dear brother a few days ago,

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how much he resembles our old cousin.

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I mean really. Personally I think the wee laddie is headed in that genetic direction as well.

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Time will tell…

And it’s Friday again. The weekend looms; the weather forecast is promising. Although it has been delayed several weeks, I think spring is finally here in flyover-land. The signs are everywhere!

My weekend plans have not jelled yet, and that’s okay. After last weekend’s full schedule, I am ready for some down time. It is really just a matter of choosing the wine and the movie to match, right?

And I love these guys:

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They get it.

9 Comments

April 26, 2018

And she was

by chuckofish

I heard this song recently and so I thought I would share it for a throwback Thursday post– a favorite song from a favorite album from back in the day.

I always liked the Talking Heads.

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I liked David Byrne and I liked their ladylike bass player Tina Weymouth. I am happy to report that she and Chris Franz–the drummer–who married in 1977, are still married all these years later. Chris Franz is the older brother of one of my students at St. Catherine’s in Richmond way back when, so I assume he was/is an Episcopalian and a fine young man. (His sister Ruthie was a nice girl.)

It made me happy when daughter #2 and DN chose a Talking Heads song for their “first dance” at their wedding reception. The song was:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUlTtxufQes

When you were little
You dreamed you were big
You must have been something
A real tiny kid

You wish you were me
I wish I was you
Now don’t you wake up
The dream will come true

Every dream has a name
And names tell your story
This song is your dream
You’re the dream operator

It’s bigger than life
You know it’s all me
My face is a book
But it’s not what it seems

Three angels above
The whole human race
They dream us to life
They dream me a face

And every dream tells it all
And this dream is your story
You dreamed me a heart
You’re the dream operator

Shake-it-up dream
Hi-di-ho dream
Fix-it-up dream
Look at me dream

I’ve been waiting so long
Now I am your dream

Hard to forget
Hard to go on

When you fall asleep
You’re out on your own

Let go of your life
Grab on to my hand

Here in the clouds
Where we’ll understand

And you dreamed it all
And this is your story

Do you know who you are?
You’re the dream operator

And you dreamed it all
And this is your story
Do you know who you are?
You’re the dream operator

(David Byrne)

Perfect.

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And you dreamed it all and this is your story. Have a good day!

4 Comments

April 23, 2018

Where’s the action? Where’s the game?*

by chuckofish

My birthday weekend (shared with daughter #2 who turned 28 last weekend) was so fun, starting with our traditional margaritas on the way home from the airport.

Over the three day weekend we managed to fit in trips to the botanical garden and Grant’s Farm, lunch out and Ted Drewe’s, a night at the Sheldon with a red hot bluegrass band, plus three visits with the wee babes. We also watched Guys and Dolls (1955)! I even managed to squeeze in church–albeit the 8:00 a.m. service where I saw people I hadn’t seen in years!

This toy is too darn fun

Not to mention we enjoyed our first barbeque of the season, with cake and lots of presents!

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The OM joined the TCM wine club on my behalf–It’s official: I am a total nerd.

My cup runneth over.

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*It’s the oldest established, permanent floating
Crap game in New York!

Have a good week!

5 Comments

April 20, 2018

“I’ve got nothing to do today but smile.”*

by chuckofish

It must be my birthday, because there was a cake waiting for me at work! Actually, that was yesterday–I took today off so I could hang out with daughters #1 and #2.

Tonight we are going to the Sheldon to see these guys,

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who are stepping in to replace Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, originally scheduled for this date, but who, due to “a scheduling conflict,” will no longer appear. Of course, I would rather see Marty et al, but I was given the tickets so I’m not going to complain. I’m sure Daily and Vincent will be entertaining as all get out. They look like fun, don’t they?

Tomorrow we are babysitting for the wee babes in the morning, so that their mommy can go with her sister to pick out a wedding dress. (The boy has to work.)

The soundtrack of giggling with this video was hilarious…

They are all coming over to our house on Saturday night to celebrate with the birthday girls. The OM will cook.

Well, as Gratiano says in The Merchant of Venice:

“Let me play the fool.

With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.

And let my liver rather heat with wine

Than my heart cool with mortifying groans.”

Have a great weekend!

*Paul Simon, “The Only Living Boy in New York”

2 Comments

April 16, 2018

“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God”*

by chuckofish

On Friday I forgot to wish daughter #2 a happy birthday–which was on Saturday. She is coming home on Thursday to celebrate both our birthdays next weekend, so I am focused on that, and so I forgot! Mea culpa. Love you a lot.

Screen Shot 2018-04-15 at 7.48.33 PM.png My weekend was a good one, full of good friends, good estate sales and good old movies, including the politically incorrect, but hilarious, Gunga Din (1939)–continuing my Cary Grant thread.

Screen Shot 2018-04-15 at 2.57.15 PM.png I read the first lesson at church, a great section from Acts, ending with Peter’s exhortation to “Repent therefore, and turn to God“–I mean how many times a day do you get to say that? (Not nearly enough, although I frequently wish I could.)

On the other hand, the second reader got every other word wrong and stumbled through the entire thing. Carla and I promised to tell each other, when the time comes, that we need to stop reading. Sigh.

The OM and I dined at Steak ‘N Shake on Saturday and hosted the wee babes and their parents on Sunday night. The babes ate spaghetti and peanut butter and jelly and were happy campers.

Oh, hi, Aunt Susie, Uncle Nate. How’s it going?

I was sorry to hear about Barbara Bush, who is my mother’s age. I’m with Nikki Haley.

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A classy lady.

*I John 3:1

3 Comments

April 10, 2018

Roll on Mississippi*

by chuckofish

I was definitely jumping the gun when I posted this Calvin & Hobbes cartoon last January. But really now, spring IS coming! Maybe even this week. The daffodils, despite the freezing temperatures, are doing quite well, thank you.

Anyway, my quiet weekend turned out to be busy per usual. I got my hair cut and did a little shopping. And I convinced the OM to drive me to Elsah, Illinois to go to an estate sale on Sunday.

Elsah is a lovely little historic town on the Mississippi River. It is the home of Principia College which sits on the bluffs overlooking the river. The village has a total population of 673 (as of the 2010 census.) The entire village was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

The estate sale was in a neat old house, owned by a couple who had been professors at the college. I got some books.

After perusing the sale, we drove up the River Road to Grafton, hoping to find somewhere to eat lunch, but the “season” it seems has not started yet, so rather than dine at some biker bar, we headed back to Alton, which was on the way home. We had lunch at My Just Desserts and bought a pie, because they are “downright famous for their homemade pies.”

Screen Shot 2018-04-09 at 10.19.35 AM.png That evening the wee babes came over for dinner with their parents.

They enjoyed their meatloaf and playing with vintage toys. They even tried the pie!

This weekend the OM and I also watched Darkest Hour (2017) with Gary Oldham as Winston Churchill. As my DP noted earlier, it is a remarkable movie.

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We enjoyed it immensely. The OM even put his iPhone down and watched the whole thing. I couldn’t help feeling surprised that they can still make a movie like this in Hollywood. Bravo. And bravo, Gary Oldham, who really deserves that Oscar!

*Charley Pride

8 Comments

April 6, 2018

Floating downstream

by chuckofish

Screen Shot 2018-04-05 at 10.32.34 AM.png I am looking forward to a relatively quiet weekend with not much on the radar. I hope to catch up with some “desk work” and puttering, which I have been too busy to do lately. If it is cold and snowy, all the better.

I am going to continue to peruse my New Yorker magazines from 1947-48…

…and I’m going to read/listen to some more sermons by the Rev. Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC.

“The Christian Gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time. It undermines both swaggering and sniveling. I cannot feel superior to anyone, and yet I have nothing to prove to anyone. I do not think more of myself nor less of myself. Instead, I think of myself less.”

He is really good. Listen to his sermons here.

The wee babes are coming over on Sunday for dinner, God willing and the creek don’t rise.

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In the meantime, here’s another 1947 vintage cartoon that made me smile.

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Have a great weekend!

2 Comments

dual personalities

Category: family

May 11, 2018

Little feet along the floor

by chuckofish

May 2, 2018

Curse you, Red Baron!

by chuckofish

April 30, 2018

“Abide in me as I abide in you.”*

by chuckofish

April 27, 2018

Keep your eyes open

by chuckofish

April 26, 2018

And she was

by chuckofish

April 23, 2018

Where’s the action? Where’s the game?*

by chuckofish

April 20, 2018

“I’ve got nothing to do today but smile.”*

by chuckofish

April 16, 2018

“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God”*

by chuckofish

April 10, 2018

Roll on Mississippi*

by chuckofish

April 6, 2018

Floating downstream

by chuckofish