dual personalities

December 18, 2014

Happy birthday, dear dual personality!

by chuckofish

Christmas c. 1985

I chose this photo because I thought my dual personality looks pretty*. But then I noticed how serious she looks. This girl wasn’t always so serious–even though she was a stressed-out graduate student at the time! (If I recall correctly, she wasn’t feeling well this Christmas. Soon, in fact, she would be down with pneumonia!) Maybe she hadn’t gotten what she wanted for her birthday. Or maybe it was that whole birthday/Christmas thing.

Perhaps her older sister was annoying her. Perhaps her darling one-year old niece was screaming in the background. Who knows?

Anyway, today is her birthday and we hope she is celebrating in style and that good food and wine and presents for pretty girls are involved.

Hopefully she is not cooking! As always I wish I could be with her!

“For there is no friend like a sister

In calm or stormy weather;

To cheer one on the tedious way,

To fetch one if one goes astray,

To lift one if one totters down,

To strengthen whilst one stands.”

–Christina Rossetti, Goblin Market

*Note that there is a shadow behind her head that makes her hair look much more bouffant than it actually was!

4 Comments

December 17, 2014

This and that: “Um Dasher, Dancer… Prancer… Nixon, Comet, Cupid… Donna Dixon?”*

by chuckofish

A Christmas Carol was published on December 19 in 1843.

Have you read it recently? One year our headmaster read it in chapel and was much mocked for his efforts. He was new, following a genuine Englishman who could read anything he liked (although there may have been some eye-rolling when he hauled out A Child’s Christmas in Wales every year). Unfortunately the new guy set the tone badly for his tenure at our school with his oafish and over-dramatic reading of this classic (“God bless us every one!”). At least that’s the way I remember it.

I usually watch one of the many versions filmed over the years. Scrooge, made in England in 1951, stars Alistair Sim, and is I believe a very close rendition of the original.

Indeed, much of the dialogue is taken word-for-word from the book (“An intelligent boy!” said Scrooge. “A remarkable boy!”).

I’ll admit I cheated yesterday and read the end of the book online. Dickens writes that the reformed Scrooge:

…went to church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and fro, and patted children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of houses, and up to the windows: and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed that any walk — that anything — could give him so much happiness.

Dickens himself was a great walker in the city and this passage probably is a pretty good description of himself, don’t you think?

Anyway, I think a re-reading might be in order.

In other news, here’s some interesting advice for my fellow introverts.

I love the “Humans of New York” blog, but I really liked this one. Is the world random or is there an unseen finger guiding us? Hello.

The first episode of The Simpsons, “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire,” aired on this day in 1989–25 years ago!

You will recall that in this episode Homer gets a second job as a Santa Claus in a shopping mall in order to pay for Christmas presents. He doesn’t make enough, of course, so he goes to the dog track where Santa’s Little Helper enters into the story and Homer says, “Did you hear that, Boy? Santa’s Little Helper. It’s a sign. It’s an omen.” Bart replies, “It’s a coincidence, Dad.”

Again with the random/not-so-random question. Hmmm. Amazingly, it all ends well.

Have a good Wednesday–we’re over the hump! Daughter #2 arrives on Friday! Can daughter #1 be far behind?

*”Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire” (1989)

5 Comments

December 16, 2014

Lest old acquaintance be forgot

by chuckofish

It is that time of year when “TCM Remembers”. Here is the 2014 edition:

We lost so many wonderful actors and actresses and directors et al this year from James Garner and Lauren Bacall to Shirley Temple and Mickey Rooney to Robin Williams. In fact, there were so many that no one really gets much of a spotlight. I’m glad they put Shirley Temple at the end singing “Auld Lang Syne” from Wee Willie Winkie.

Lest we forget, watch it and remember. Remember Angus Lennie in The Great Escape? Rosemary Murphy in To Kill a Mockingbird? Marc Platt in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers? Harold Ramis in Ghostbusters? Juanita Moore in Imitation of Life? Martha Heyer in The Sons of Katie Elder?

Enjoy your Tuesday!

4 Comments

December 15, 2014

Sleepers, wake!*

by chuckofish

Advent Three. The second lesson was I Thessalonians 5: 16-24, which you will recall I blogged about last month.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil. May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this. (NRSV)

You would think that it would be easy to rejoice during this particular holiday season as we await the birth of our saviour. But it isn’t, is it? We feel harried and under the gun. We try so hard and no one seems to notice. We aren’t included causing us to feel left out and once again like our 8th grade personas. We miss our loved ones and feel lonely. Sigh.

Well, I say turn off Facebook and turn to your prayer book (or Walt Whitman) instead. Take a walk. Give thanks that you can. Have a glass of wine. Give thanks in all circumstances.

It’s all good.

*Hymn #61

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December 13, 2014

(Happy) Ghosts of Christmas Past

by chuckofish

We’ve been trying to get in the holiday spirit here. First we decorated and then we watched “3 Godfathers” (a great, but sadly underrated movie). Don’t get me wrong, those things helped. But something was still missing. I realized this morning that what I really miss is the sound of excited children. Not having any happy children immediately to hand, I went to my photo albums. I must say that these pictures have given me a great boost in holiday spirit.

Remember when snow meant adventure — sometimes including dinosaurs?

Remember when visiting Santa was super exciting and not that creepy?

maybe just a little creepy

Remember when an indoor tent, sleeping bag and action figures were the best thing in the world?

we still have those sleeping bags

And let’s not forget Lego…

so much Lego

or the happy, happy baby brother!

there’s nothing better than a squeaky toy

There. Now I feel the excitement of Christmas, don’t you?

While presents are nice, let’s not forget that we’re really celebrating a very different type of gift.

Merry Christmas!

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December 12, 2014

Friday movie picks–Christmas edition

by chuckofish

It being that happy season of Christmas movie viewing, I thought I’d just remind you of my favorites. Here are my top five:

1. White Christmas (1954)

Oh, I do love this movie and have blogged about it here. I just watched it last weekend for probably the 50th time. It never gets old.

2. The Bishop’s Wife (1947)

A wonderful film with a stellar cast–and it’s about Episcopalians!

3. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Here’s another one that never gets old. I watched it over the Thanksgiving holiday and enjoyed it anew.

4. Home Alone (1990) This one still makes me laugh out loud. Do not, however, waste your time on Home Alone 2 (1992).

5. 3 Godfathers (1948) This John Wayne classic is my all-time favorite Christmas movie!

Other favorites include Scrooge (1951), It’s a Wonderful Life (1947), and A Christmas Story (1983).

Other movies I like a lot which can’t really be categorized as Christmas movies, but include a Christmas element are Edward Scissorhands (1990) and The World of Henry Orient (1964).

Here’s a blast from the past that is available on YouTube: A Smoky Mountain Christmas, which was first aired on TV in 1986. It stars Dolly Parton, Lee Majors and John Ritter, and, although admittedly a bit hokey, I liked it then and I still do.

Have I left out anything? I think I’ll hunker down this weekend and get in the mood. It sounds like a plan to me.

11 Comments

December 10, 2014

This and that

by chuckofish

Our grandmother Catherine Cameron 1966

Remember when people received so many Christmas cards in the mail that they could use them as a decorative device at home? Well, times have certainly changed, haven’t they? I get fewer and fewer every year. As of 12/10/14, I have received five.

Mine are ready to go in the mail. Maybe I’ll get a few in response. Some people seem to wait and see who sends them before they return the favor. Please. Oh well, c’est la vie, but I like getting cards! Don’t you?

Here’s a link to an interesting story about Billy Graham and Louis Zamperini, the hero of Unbroken, the bestselling book by Laura Hillenbrand. You won’t see anything about Billy Graham in Angelina Jolie’s movie adaption of the book, but he was the guy who saved Zamperini’s life after he survived WWII. I knew when I read the book that this would be the case. Hollywood would never tell the whole story.

Indeed, Zamperini survived the war and years of incarceration in a Japanese prisoner of war camp against incredible odds, but he was a broken man when he returned to California. He was angry and bitter and could not get back on track. The happy ending came, however, when he went in 1949 to one of Billy Graham’s first revivals and literally had a come-to-Jesus moment.

On the night of Oct. 23, Zamperini heard Graham say: “If you suffer, I’ll give you the grace to go forward.”

Hillenbrand, drawing on more than 70 interviews with Zamperini for “Unbroken,” tells how he recalled all the miraculous moments when his body might have broken and yet did not.

But on that night, Zamperini’s broken soul was touched. He walked down the sawdust aisle toward the Graham.

Over the next six decades, hundreds of thousands heard those words and did the same.

“God has spoken to you,” Graham said then, and ever after. “You come on.”

Zamperini became a devout Presbyterian and spent his life “giving back” and working with young people. What a made-for-Hollywood ending! But, of course, Hollywood no longer sees it that way. Perhaps that is why no one goes to the movies anymore.

And for all you LEGO nerds out there:

LEGO Christmas tree in Sydney, Australia

Pretty cool, eh?

And to wrap up this and that, here is a good prayer for the Feast Day of Karl Barth, which was yesterday, December 10:

Almighty God, source of justice beyond human knowledge: We offer thanks that thou didst inspire Karl Barth to resist tyranny and exalt thy saving grace, without which we cannot apprehend thy will. Teach us, like him, to live by faith, and even in chaotic and perilous times to perceive the light of thy eternal glory, Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who livest and reignest with thee and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, throughout all ages. Amen.

Have a good Thursday!

7 Comments

December 9, 2014

“There’s a certain Slant of light”*

by chuckofish

Today is Emily Dickinson’s birthday!

Emily lived her whole life (December 10, 1830 – May 15, 1886) in Amherst, Massachusetts. She lived in this beautiful house, called by her family “The Homestead”.

She had a room of her own, and for Emily, this seems to have been enough. She also had her family and she did not lack for friends. She may have seemed “eccentric” to some, but plenty of people thought she was pretty cool. If she was mysterious back in her day, she is increasingly misunderstood now.

The Emily Dickinson Home, a National Historic Landmark, is located at 280 Main St. in Amherst, MA. Although I lived in the vicinity during my college years, I never visited the house. I saw it, but never went inside. The property, which is now owned by Amherst College, is a museum and is open to the public for guided tours March through December. It is definitely on my “to do/see” list.

So tonight let’s toast Emily and read a few of her poems. Here’s a good one for a winter afternoon:

There’s a certain Slant of light,

Winter Afternoons –

That oppresses, like the Heft

Of Cathedral Tunes –

Heavenly Hurt, it gives us –

We can find no scar,

But internal difference –

Where the Meanings, are –

None may teach it – Any –

‘Tis the seal Despair –

An imperial affliction

Sent us of the Air –

When it comes, the Landscape listens –

Shadows – hold their breath –

When it goes, ’tis like the Distance

On the look of Death –

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December 8, 2014

Comfortable in Babylon

by chuckofish

On Sunday our preacher (the Associate Rector who is pretty good) reminded us that we post-modern Christians are like Isaiah’s Jews in exile in Babylon. He warned us against becoming too comfortable in this world, especially during Advent. Good point.

I try to keep in mind that Jesus is indeed the reason for the season. I try not to go overboard on buying presents and decorating the house. But December is the month when the Puritan in me takes a vacation.

I think this is because so much of the Christmas season is tied up in memory and in remembering our childhood Christmases. In tradition: This is how we always did it.

So happy in 1959

Our mother loved Christmas. She loved the decorations, the presents, the wrapping of presents, the writing of special poems for cards, the mailing of packages, the making of fruit cakes. It was a big deal at our house.

Happy again in 1962

Not to decorate the house and have two trees and all that goes with them would seem like treachery somehow. That may seem like a strong word, but that’s how I feel. I am always surprised by people who no longer put up a tree in their empty nest. Why bother? Well, because.

The Scrooge in me does get annoyed with the houses that have their lights done professionally in the neighborhoods where one-upmanship seems to be rampant. And I never get started before Thanksgiving. The big tree will never go up until a week before Christmas. I do have standards.

Home is definitely the place to be for the holidays–even if only in your dreams.

5 Comments

December 8, 2014

We all got into this together, we’ll all get out of it together! *

by chuckofish

I promised my dual personality that I would post the latest family history update today. It’s not earth-shattering or particularly romantic, but it does help to fill the blanks just a little bit. Today’s post concentrates on a collateral branch of the Cameron side of the family. Specifically, we take a look at my grandfather’s sister, Hazel Stuart Cameron, who (along with her two older siblings) was born in Clarence, Ontario before the family moved to Burlington VT in 1899 or 1900. After a few years living in various Burlington abodes, the Camerons bought a brand new (built in 1899), four bedroom, 2,082 sq ft. house at 140 Loomis St. Here it is today via Google Street view.

Unfortunately, the picture oddly compresses the house (see the front porch), but you sort of get the idea. Anyway, this was the Cameron home until the family patriarch’s death in 1929. In the 1920 census, three of the children still lived there: Bunker, Hazel and shell-shocked WWI veteran, Erskine. They had already lost Leila, who died in the great influenza epidemic of 1918, leaving behind a husband and two small children. But for the years before the war, we must imagine the home a happy one.

Hazel attended UVM. She doesn’t appear to have been as involved on campus as great aunt Carly and great uncle Guy were, but she did pledge to a sorority

Note the connection to DePauw University, my niece’s alma mater! It’s a small world. Here’s Hazel’s senior page, which is not exactly flattering.

Considered the family beauty, Hazel was also something of a “daddy’s girl” and, by all accounts, spoiled. After she graduated, she got a job with Underwood Typewriter in Brookline, Massachusetts, where she met Harry Powers. The two were married on Christmas Day, 1926.

Here’s the announcement in the UVM alumni magaine:

The College St. Church is apparently the Congregational Church in Burlington.

I’m not sure why the Congregational minister married them, since they were Baptist. Perhaps Mr. Powers was Congregational. Dual personality, do you know?

Here’s what Harry Powers looked like back in the day. By the look of things, this was taken when he was about 17.The two never had any children, but lived a quiet life — he as a professor at Tufts and she as the mild professor’s indomitable wife. She always seemed formidable to me, but she must have had a fun side because she is remembered fondly as ‘Tid’ by members of Harry’s family, who posted these pictures of Harry and Hazel on Ancestry.com.

Don’t forget to toast the Powers on Christmas! In the meantime, remember — always remember — those who are gone. And enjoy this wonderful Christmas season!

*Hazel in Watership Down

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