It is January 19 and time to note once again the birthday of our dear mother, Mary, born in 1926. She would be 95! She would not recognize much about our world today and I have no doubt she would feel even more of a pilgrim and a stranger than she did in 1988 when she died.
Be that as it may, I will toast her tonight and watch one of her favorite movies–something with Errol Flynn or John Wayne or possibly Shane. I will remember sitting in the darkened theater with her and how she would lean over and whisper to me to notice something special. I will think of her in that house by the bend in the river where the cottonwoods grow.
P.S. Happy Birthday to Dolly Parton, who as you know, celebrates her birthday on this date as well. Happy 75th!
Daughter # 1 and I were singing to wee Katie and were not able to remember the “real” lyrics to Guys and Dolls (see above) so we looked them up.
We had fun, but she was not impressed:
We also found the Fireside Book of American Folk Songs–a classic published in 1957–
and we sang all our faves, but again:
“Who are they, Mommy?”
I guess our singing stinks, but we had fun anyway. Katie forgave us. Singing is not something I have done much of lately (no church) so I am out of practice, but it is fun and I recommend it. It lightens the spirits.
I will also note that last night we watched the 1951 Alastair Sim version of Scrooge. It was great. The Barbara Allen scene always makes me cry.
…as does the whole second half of the movie. (“Barbara Allen” is in the Fireside book, by the way, and we sang it in the afternoon.) Watch it or, better yet, read the Dickens book which the movie faithfully follows:
“I don’t know what to do!” cried Scrooge, laughing and crying in the same breath; and making a perfect Laocoön of himself with his stockings. “I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a school-boy. I am as giddy as a drunken man. A merry Christmas to every-body! A happy New Year to all the world! Hallo here! Whoop! Hallo!”
–Charles Dickens
At the very least, send a check to the Salvation Army.
Cards in each mailbox, angel, manger, star and lamb, as the rural carrier, driving the snowy roads, hears from her bundles the plaintive bleating of sheep, the shuffle of sandals, the clopping of camels. At stop after stop, she opens the little tin door and places deep in the shadows the shepherds and wise men, the donkeys lank and weary, the cow who chews and muses. And from her Styrofoam cup, white as a star and perched on the dashboard, leading her ever into the distance, there is a hint of hazelnut, and then a touch of myrrh.
“Christmas Mail” by Ted Kooser
Read through this article about the line-up of December Christmas movies (and others) on TCM to find out why Paul Zahl and I should truly be best friends. I mean really. I don’t agree with his take on all the movies, but The World of Henry Orient and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon are spot on.
This is an interesting tidbit about Episcopal minister Endicott Peabody in the Old West. He built St. Paul’s Episcopal in Tombstone that stands today as the oldest Protestant church in Arizona.
On December 21 Saturn and Jupiter will align into a beautiful bright star. This will be the first time they align like this since the Middle Ages. According to Forbes, the two planets will look like a “double planet” and provide an extraordinary amount of light. The last time these two planets aligned like this was on March 4, 1226, according to astronomer Patrick Hartigan at Rice University. Pretty cool. I hope I remember to look.
We were sad to learn that Charlie Pride, country singing superstar and the first Black member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, had died at age 86.
Here’s Mr. Pride bringing some Christmas cheer your way 50 years ago:
‘Tis the season when new holiday outfits multiply…
Lottiebelle sets the standard for 3-year old fashion statements, complete with matching scarf. Ghoulishly chic, n’est-ce pas?
The rest of us just stay home and dress from the waist up for Zoom calls. Not that I’m complaining! And it is, after all, almost the weekend! Huzzah!
This article on “Things I Did My Kids Never Will”–i.e. “Be kind, please rewind.” Mixtapes. Dial-up internet–forces us once again to realize we’re getting old. However, it is written by someone who is closer to my children’s ages than to mine! My list would include much older things, such as having to wait and wait to see your favorite movies on tv because there was no such thing as a VCR! Remember those days?
Speaking of feeling old, the OM and I will be marking our 40th anniversary this weekend! Yikes. (I will just point you to last year’s post as not much has changed.) We’ll toast ourselves without much fanfare.
Earlier this week I opened a blogpost by a well-known blogger which began, “The other day, I was talking to my therapist about…” OMG, the privilege of this statement alone sent me into conniptions…but the gist of the post was about how to stay cheerful this winter. The suggestions ranged from gazing into a light therapy lamp to lighting “candles everywhere” to hosting a virtual soup group. Not to judge, but please. How about getting a spiritual life? Try being grateful for your privileged life and stop feeling sorry for yourself because winter is coming. Try saving the money you would spend on candles and give it to a real soup kitchen! There are plenty of real people in need in New York City these days.
Sorry–I am trying to quash my desire to rant…It will take a concerted effort this weekend and listening to Bob* on repeat.
Today the Episcopal Church remembers Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, Bishops and Martyrs, 1555. “Play the man, Master Ridley. Today we shall light such a fire in England as shall never be extinguished.” With these words Latimer and Ridley went to the stake and were burned to death on this day in 1555 at Oxford. Both were English bishops with strong protestant sympathies. Each was an exceptionally fine preacher in an age of great preachers. Both were Cambridge men. Both were social reformers. Their “protestantizing” sermons brought down upon their heads the wrath of Bloody Mary’s most unreconciliatory regime.
You will recall that the old lady in Fahrenheit 451 quotes Hugh Latimer when the firemen come to burn her books–“Play the man, Master Ridley.” She goes up in flames with them, a martyr as well.
We need to remember such historical events, lest we let them happen again. (Does anyone these days seeing this film, get the reference?)
The Oxford Martyrs monument
Keep us, O Lord, constant in faith and zealous in witness, that, like your servants William Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, we may live in your fear, die in your favor, and rest in your peace; for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
I had a quiet weekend. There were no margaritas and no wee babes. I went to an estate sale and to TJ Maxx. I swept out the garage. I moved my plants inside from the Florida room. (We turned the heat on!) I put my spring/summer clothes away and got out my turtlenecks.
I started reading Marilynne Robinson’s newest book, Jack. It takes place in St. Louis.
St. Louis was quite a town. He wondered if Della had ever seen Eads Bridge from down by the water. It. looked like the walls of Troy. Gigantic, tawny stones, soaring arches. Of course, the stones themselves would be as ancient as the stones of Troy, and the fossils in both of them older, by the measure of the little lives that had fallen into whatever it was, clay by the color of it. And the eons they had spent evolving so they could end up there.
I literally slept through Marooned (1969), a movie I had not seen since I saw it at the movies back in the day. (I still haven’t seen it.) Despite Gregory Peck, Richard Crenna, Gene Hackman, James Franciscus, David Janssen, and John Sturges directing, this movie about three American astronauts stranded in space could not hold my attention. Maybe I’ll try again.
And maybe not.
I watched Key Largo (1948) which is a great movie. It is my favorite of the Bogart/Bacall films and, as I’ve said many times, Claire Trevor is spectacular. Lauren Bacall takes a backseat in this movie, allowing Claire to shine in the spotlight, but in her own quiet way, she was never better and she looks great. Edward G. Robinson is pretty swell too as a bully and a coward.
In one of the filler segments on TCM, the six hosts talked about what movies they watch in order to feel better in trying times. It was interesting and, not surprisingly, their choices to me were quite banal–but the point is, to each his own. The two women picked musicals that lifted their spirits and the men all picked their favorite movies–you know, The Godfather, Taxi Driver etc. I would agree that comfort to me comes in the form of my favorites, be they comedies or dramas. I happened to watch part of The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) while I was folding laundry, and felt much better having seen ol’ Steve McQueen drive that dune buggy on the beach. Faye Dunaway laughs and loses her cool and squeals in terror and then laughs. It seemed very real.
A quiet weekend at home is fine. I enjoyed seeing texted pictures of my busy grandchildren playing soccer…
at the playground…
and taking walks in the stroller…
Pax vobiscum or “Well, my friend, are you ready to do me this service?”.
And now it is Monday and we’ll start another week with a little help from Marvin Gaye, hopefully on the right note:
*”I sing because I’m happy/And I sing because I’m free
His eye is on the sparrow/And I know Jesus watches me” (Harvey Fuqua)
How was your weekend? On Saturday the OM and I took a drive out to Washington, MO. We ate lunch outside at a sidewalk cafe (we have those in flyover country) and sat by the river and watched it roll by. Very pleasant and I highly recommend it as a way to get out of the house and unwind a bit. (Any river will do.)
Washington has a big park with a lot of benches, so you can just hang out. It’s free! As daughter #1 has mentioned, a little time spent by the Big Muddy puts things in perspective. It also brought this song to mind. Our parents had this album (and I’m sure it’s still in my basement.)
On Sunday the wee babes came over for a wee frolic and havoc parade.
After they went home, I tidied up, talked to my DP, caught up with daughters #1 and #2 and Miss Katiebelle…
…and caught some Olivia de Haviland on TCM. I ended up watching the best movie ever–The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938).
In other words, I followed my own advice for a good weekend: keep it simple, add a little spontaneity, get your vitamin D, stay close to family…Life is (still) good.
It’s Monday and I have no cute pictures of darling wee babes to share. Oh well, c’est la vie. Sometimes we have to fend for ourselves, latch on to the affirmative and smile, dude! I had fun this weekend–even without a visit from wee babes–how about you?
Daughter #1 drove home on Saturday and we went to three estate sales (!) and found nothing! Not even so much as a plant rescue or a book. Unheard of, you say. Indeed. We consoled ourselves with take-out margaritas from Club Taco and listening to music all evening.
When daughter #1 drove home to mid-MO on Sunday morning, I tuned in to Morning Prayer with Christ Church, Charlottesville, where David Zahl gave a good sermon on Joseph and his brothers. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20) Joseph’s story is a good reminder for us all during a trying time that God is with us through thick and thin.
In other news, Matt Rollings, super keyboardist, who has played with Lyle Lovett, Mark Knopfler and many others, just released his first solo album in over 30 years, Matt Rollings Mosaic, and I bought it. I highly recommend it. Here’s a taste:
In another track, Lyle Lovett sings the old Johnny Mercer/Harold Arlen standard, “Accentuate the Positive.” The lyrics seems appropriate to the times.
Gather ’round me, everybody Gather ’round me while I’m preachin’ Feel a sermon comin’ on me The topic will be sin and that’s what I’m ag’in’ If you want to hear my story Then settle back and just sit tight While I start reviewin’ The attitude of doin’ right You’ve got to accentuate the positive Eliminate the negative And latch on to the affirmative Don’t mess with Mister In-Between You’ve got to spread joy up to the maximum Bring gloom down to the minimum Have faith or pandemonium’s Liable to walk upon the scene To illustrate my last remark Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark What did they do just when everything looked so dark? (Man, they said “We’d better accentuate the positive”) (“Eliminate the negative”) (“And latch on to the affirmative”) Don’t mess with Mister In-Between (No!) Don’t mess with Mister In-Between (Ya got to spread joy up to the maximum) (Bring gloom down to the minimum) (Have faith or pandemonium’s) (Liable to walk upon the scene) You got to ac (yes, yes) -cent-tchu-ate the positive Eliminate (yes, yes) the negative And latch (yes, yes) on to the affirmative Don’t mess with Mister In-Between No, don’t mess with Mister In-Between
On that note, I’ll wish you a good start to the week. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Well, that long-haired country boy Charlie Daniels (1936-2020) died yesterday.
Before becoming a superstar on his own, Charlie worked as a Nashville session musician, including playing guitar and electric bass on three Bob Dylan albums during 1969 and 1970.
I bet you didn’t know that.
Skilled on guitar, fiddle, banjo, and mandolin, Daniels was also known for his song-writing over his long career and was honored as a BMI Icon at the 53rd annual BMI Country Awards. Throughout his career, his songwriting garnered 6 BMI Country Awards. He also made a musical guest appearance in the Veggietales episode “Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Samson’s Hairbrush,” writing, producing, and performing the Minnesota Cuke theme song.
As Marty Stuart said on Instagram yesterday, “Charlie Daniels will forever be remembered as a true American folk hero. The joy he brought to our lives is inestimable. I admired Charlie for not only standing up for what he believed in but living it out on a day to day basis. We’ve lost a true statesman. Connie and I send our love and prayers to Hazel, the family and Charlie’s extended musical family.”
This 1970s classic says it all.
So a toast to Charlie Daniels. Into paradise may the angels lead thee; and at thy coming may the martyrs receive thee, and bring thee into the holy city Jerusalem.
Today is the 332th anniversary of the day the Immortal Seven issued the invitation to William of Orange which culminated in the Glorious Revolution in England in 1689. One of the Seven was, of course, the OM’s ancestor Henry Compton. Perhaps we should watch The Magnificent Seven (1960) in honor of the occasion.
Perhaps you think I have gone ’round the bend, but, no, that is always how my mind has worked.
Today is also the birthday of John Gay (1685-1732), British Poet and Playwright. He is best known for “The Beggar’s Opera,” a ballad opera upon which “The Threepenny Opera” is based. Laurence Olivier filmed his version of “The Beggar’s Opera” in 1953 (his only musical film), and I think I may have to find it and watch.
At the very least, we should listen to “Mack the Knife” on repeat.
It is also the birthday of singer-songwriter Dave Van Ronk (1936-2002) upon whose life the movie Inside Llewelyn Davis (2013) is loosely based (according to Rolling Stone Magazine.)
Bob, Susie and Dave back in the day
So here’s something for your listening pleasure in honor of Dave–can’t help thinking the wee babes would really enjoy this.
dual personalities 