dual personalities

Tag: family

November 26, 2024

Good grief, Charlie Brown!

by chuckofish

Today we celebrate the birth of Charles Monroe “Sparky” Schulz (1922-2000), cartoonist and creator of Peanuts. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential cartoonists in history, and cited by many cartoonists as a major influence. I, of course, have been a fan since the mid-1960s.

Funnily enough, as I get older, I look more and more like Linus…

Linus has always been the character I relate to most (not Lucy as my siblings would argue). There is certainly someone for everyone to relate to in this great classic comic strip. To whom do you relate most?

We also remember that in 1789 George Washington recommended that November 26 be “devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks, for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation, for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war, for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed, for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.”

Well said, President Washington!

In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed November 26 as a national Thanksgiving Day, to be celebrated annually on the final Thursday of November. It has been observed on the fourth Thursday in November since 1942.

Meanwhile I am busy readying my house for precious visitors arriving tomorrow. Thankful for good times ahead and praying for travel mercies tomorrow!

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November 25, 2024

“You know I can’t cook.”*

by chuckofish

Boy, I went to the grocery store Sunday afternoon and it was a madhouse. Par for the course I guess. It was also the first time driving my new SUV there and loading up the grocery bags, etc. I had to open the back and I opened the hood instead. I hope no one was watching. Well, tant pis, if they were.

Lottie wore dangly earrings (clip-ons) to church and looked like a gyp-gyp-gypsy, but she only received positive feedback from those around us. (I may have raised my eyebrows.) As you can see the twins were not much taken with the sermon on Melchizedek. But there was a baptism, so that made up for it.

They came over with the boy after church to feed the feral cat and hang out for a bit. I had no food for them because I hadn’t been to the store yet, so they didn’t stay long. But it’s always a treat to see them, earrings and all.

Thanksgiving is upon us and I have hardly taken a breath to stop and ponder the topic of thankfulness, but, wow, I certainly am! I am thankful that DN is cooking the turkey (and assorted other things) and that he sent a Word document outlining the cooking/prep schedule. He is so organized! I’m making the cheesy potatoes, daughter #1 will do the crescent rolls, and daughter #3 is making the pies. Daughter #2 can take the Ocean Spray cranberry sauce out of the can.

Daughter #2 reported that Katie was disappointed that “the snack at the school Thanksgiving party ‘was not really party food.’ In an ironic twist, because it was a party, parents brought in the food and it was cheese and crackers (as opposed to the “treat” snacks like Cheese-Its or teddy grahams that they have every day). Katie did not approve. But she told me…that ‘I bet we’ll have treats at Thanksgiving. At Mamu’s house. Maybe donuts. Or ice cream.'” You can count on that, sweetheart!

On Sunday afternoon I went over to daughter #1’s house to walk Mr. Smith and indulge his desire for unending tummy scratches.

What can I say? I am a sucker for his big black eyes.

This is a very thoughtful piece on contentment and “Wanting what you already have.” “My children once asked me what I wanted most when I was growing up. As I sat at the dinner table looking at my wife and children looking back at me I remembered my childhood dreams for my life and the answer was suddenly obvious: ‘This. Exactly this.'” Indeed, “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6).

And the meme world is on fire…


So be thankful for all the blessings of your life and try to relax. The world is more than we know.

Lord Jesus, our Savior, let us now come to you: Our hearts are cold; Lord, warm them with your selfless love. Our hearts are sinful; cleanse them with your precious blood. Our hearts are weak; strengthen them with your joyous Spirit. Our hearts are empty; fill them with your divine presence. Lord Jesus, our hearts are yours; possess them always and only for yourself. Amen (Augustine of Hippo, 354-430)

*Edie McClurg in Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)

P.S. The video is the edited for TV version, so the kids can see it–no f-bombs!

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November 20, 2024

Casual simplicity

by chuckofish

Yesterday was a perfect fall day and a lovely one wherein to drive down to the city to pick up some “stuff” I won at last week’s auction. Forest Park was beautiful, sparkling in the sunshine. I drove by my old university and sighed contentedly that I no longer work there.

How happy is the little stone
That rambles in the road alone,
And doesn’t care about careers,
And exigencies never fears;
Whose coat of elemental brown
A passing universe put on;
And independent as the sun,
Associates or glows alone,
Fulfilling absolute decree
In casual simplicity.

–Emily Dickinson

I had lunch with a friend and then later in the afternoon the boy and the bud came over while Lottie went to her dance class. We caught up on world events.

Then I had a Historical Society board meeting after dinner–quelle full day! Thankfully such days are not the rule.

And, look, the last rhododendron!

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November 19, 2024

“An’ weary winter comin fast”*

by chuckofish

Yesterday was such a dark, gloomy, rainy November day! Lots of leaves came down. Being Monday, I had a lot to do. C’est la vie. I was happy to see that the Prairie Girls were using their time to good advantage.

Oh Mylanta, cuteness overload.

Today we remember President Abraham Lincoln, who gave the Gettysburg Address at the dedication ceremony for the military cemetery at Gettysburg, PA on this day in 1863. Let’s just take a few minutes and read it:

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Of course, not everyone at the time thought that it was a great speech. The Democrat-leaning Chicago Times observed, “The cheek of every American must tingle with shame as he reads the silly, flat and dishwatery utterances of the man who has to be pointed out to intelligent foreigners as the President of the United States.” Yes, times have not changed. Especially within the ranks of our so-called intellectual elites.

*Robert Burns, “To a Mouse”

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November 18, 2024

O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be!*

by chuckofish

As you know I am a creature of routine and this weekend I was a little off-kilter–mostly I blame Mr. Smith because he got his shampoo on Saturday rather than Friday. I managed to do all the same things, but slightly out of order. I guess it’s good to shake things up even a tad.

On Sunday I had my last Sunday School class and, of course, there were nine children–nearly double our usual number. Lottie was in fine spirits–volunteering for everything–and she read Acts 12: 12-15. She has no fear. I was impressed with her reading ability! We learned an important lesson on the power and necessity of prayer. I asked her if she thought anyone prayed for her. Well, I said, I pray for her every day! That angels watch over her and protect her. Insert mind blown emoji. 🤯

We had a good sermon on Hebrews 6:13-20 and the unchangeable-ness of God and we sang good hymns. I felt, as usual, the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.

Meanwhile the prairie girls worked in their yard…

As the Madcaps say, “Here’s to amazing days ahead.”

Have a great week!

*Robert Robinson, 1758–I love this rendition:

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November 11, 2024

The sure and steady anchor

by chuckofish

November is here–already the 11th!

It rained all day on Saturday and after my DAR meeting in the morning I hunkered down at home. I watched Rio Bravo (1959) which was on TCM in the afternoon and then watched The Italian Job (2003) in the evening. Both good choices.

On Sunday I got up and went to church and enjoyed a 40-minute sermon on Hebrews 6:4-12, a difficult passage to be sure. Our new pastor does not mess around and I am continually impressed with this 30-year old who does not shy away from hard ideas. We also welcomed new members and had an adult (!) baptism.

In Sunday School our lesson was Acts 10 wherein Peter learns that the Good News about Jesus is for all people, Jews and Gentiles alike. But as I listened to the woman who leads the big group, I was reminded of my own Sunday School days back in my old Episcopal church and how really awful my friends and I were. I recall that we made one teacher cry and that during her melt-down she harangued the class, especially the girls who went to a certain private school (mine), for our beastly behavior. We were too cool for Sunday School and laughed and giggled at everything. I am horrified now to contemplate it and am very thankful that my current charges would never act that way. They take it all (i.e. their salvation) pretty seriously, as well they should.

Well, I guess there is hope for all of us miserable offenders, even us very slow maturing types.

I went over to daughter #1’s house on Sunday afternoon and Mr. Smith went full terrier on one of her slippers…

(Yes, those are slipper parts all over the carpet.)

And the Christmas cactus is blooming–wow!

Happy Veterans Day!

Eagles on Flag Rock in Plymouth, MA

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November 4, 2024

Let the amen sound from his people again

by chuckofish

We enjoyed a beautiful fall weekend–how about you? I was confused on Friday because it seemed like Saturday, because of Halloween, but what ho. It is the bell and it tolleth for me.

On Friday the OM and I got new phones and switched carriers. Earlier in the week we also switched from U-verse to something else. Although this was all very stressful–and it took months to figure it all out–we were proud of ourselves for doing it. Another box checked off. ✅ I celebrated with daughter #1 at our favorite local hangout.

Wine and French Fries–we know what we like, okay? After that, I watched She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) in memory of my father and my great old friend Dick (WWII Guy) who both died on October 31. I loved it as always, especially after just being there in Monument Valley last month.

Sunday morning I enjoyed that extra hour although I still woke up at my usual time–so make that 5:00 am. We sang good hymns in church and the twins controlled their depravity like good Calvinists. We read about Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus in Sunday School and learned a few new words: persecution and conversion. Everyone enjoyed the wallking-to-Damascus-wearing-a-blindfold exercise. The bud called out–“It’s a conga line!”

Also, the little boy who always ushers with his dad and hands out the bulletins, said, “You look beautiful this morning!” I mean, I know his dad tells him to say that to all the old ladies, but it makes me smile nevertheless. Sometimes that’s all it takes to make your day.

‘Til He returns or calls me home
Here, in the power of Christ, I’ll stand

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November 1, 2024

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock*

by chuckofish

Happy November 1! We had a wild storm on Wednesday night with the tornado sirens going off at 2:30 a.m. Wild! Nothing really happened–just some much needed rain–but it was a very dramatic start to Halloween.

I had to share the Halloween cuteness of this little witch wearing the cape her great-grandmother made.

Her big sister wore her cousin’s hand-me-down unicorn costume (made by her aunt) to her pre-school parade. But then at night she wore the vintage witch costume…windy much? Good job hanging on to that hat!

Baby sis was a hand-me-down dinosaur…

The twins were a policeman…

and some Disney villainess…

Meanwhile the ancient mulberry tree finally came down yesterday.

It was quite a process. Multiple large trucks and machines.

This tree was huge! They are coming back today to take away the giant pieces.

Daughter #1 came over after work with Mr. Smith and had dinner with us. Then we turned off the lights and watched several Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episodes. No one ever trick-or-treats on our quiet cul-de-sac!

Onward now to Thanksgiving!

*James Whitcomb Riley

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October 30, 2024

“The wind rises… We must try to live!”*

by chuckofish

Today we toast the great, but under-appreciated, writer Conrad Richter, who died on this day in 1968. Isaac Bashevis Singer wrote, “There are in the literature of the world few works of historical fiction that make the reader feel that the writer must have been a witness to what he describes; he was actually there and came back – a transmigrated soul – to tell a story. The Awakening Land is such a work… it would be a great novel in any literature.”

I would heartily concur. Richter wrote short stories and 15 novels. His novel The Town, the last story of his trilogy The Awakening Land about the Ohio frontier, won the 1951 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. His novel The Waters of Kronos won the 1961 National Book Award for Fiction.

A strange, uneasy feeling ran over him. If he had been wrong about his mother in this, might he by any chance have been wrong in other things about her also? Could it be even faintly possible that the children of pioneers like himself, born under more benign conditions than their parents, hated them because they themselves were weaker, resented it when their parents expected them to be strong, and so invented all kinds of intricate reasoning to prove that their parents were tyrannical and cruel, their beliefs false and obsolete, and their accomplishments trifling? Never had his mother said that. But once long ago he had heard her mention, not in as many words, that the people were too weak to follow God today, that in the Bible God made strong demands on them for perfection, so the younger generation watered God down, made Him impotent and got up all kinds of reasons why they didn’t have to follow Him but could go along their own way.” (The Town)

Like all great fiction, his words still speak to us, even seventy-five years after being published.

Well, as you know, I am a great re-reader, so I will reward myself with some Conrad Richter today.

Yesterday the boy came over and fixed our shutters which have been buffeted around by the wind all year and thus we were beginning to look like that house in the neighborhood that looks like it is decorated for Halloween all year. He also took apart the crib which was taking up a lot of room in our spare bedroom and moved it to the garage. I am so grateful to have adult children who are still speaking to me. This is a blessing not everyone can claim.

So re-read an old book, count your blessings and remember:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

(Lamentations 3:22)

*Today is the poet Paul Valéry’s birthday (1871-1945)–“Le vent se lève… il faut tenter de vivre !” Read the whole poem here.

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October 29, 2024

Trick or treat

by chuckofish

If you cannot tell, Baby Me in this picture is giving the raspberry to this holiday. But I will duly note that we have reached, indeed, the last week in October! Whenever I venture out into my neighborhood I am reminded that it is the spooky season by all my weird neighbors who insist on putting up lavish yard decorations featuring 30-foot skeletons and mock graveyards.

Well, I barely got out my vintage Halloween candles this year and never bought any pumpkins. I have no idea what the twins are doing for Halloween (Thursday!) So, c’est la vie. I much prefer to celebrate Reformation Day anyway.

So here are 5 things you should know about Martin Luther.

And here’s R.C. Sproul on how the Reformation spread.

In other news, the bud is coming over this afternoon while Lottie goes to her dance class. Hopefully I’ll get the scoop on Halloween costumes. Now that he is a big second grader it will no doubt behoove him to go as a soccer player and wear one of his Messi jerseys. I’m sure he is too cool to wear an actual costume. Last week when he came over we watched Cars (2006) from the Pixar glory days. I enjoyed it a lot and recommend it. You may recall that it takes place in Monument Valley. Plus there are important lessons about teamwork and respecting your elders and friendship. And Paul Newman is super cool.

And this from our most trusted news source literally had me LOL-ing throughout: 10 More Images Of Trump That ‘Newsweek’ Is Warning Might Be A.I.-Generated. I mean thank goodness Newsweek has taken it upon itself to make sure the American people are protected from potential misinformation and for pointing out that this is not a real picture of Donald Trump:

Oh my goodness.

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