I looked for some quotes about Thanksgiving - but they all seemed trite to me. They didn't really express what is in my heart. The holiday feels a bit strange this year. I guess that is because we are in a new place. It makes me think back to other Thanksgiving celebrations I've known.
I can't remember Thanksgiving as a child, for some reason. I'm sure we had them...but I don't remember the family gathering anywhere. But, when I was an adult, I remember that my Dad said it was his favorite holiday. Perhaps it had always been that way - but as an adult, I started to pay attention to my parents as "people"...not just as my parents. When my Mom got leukemia, Dad would insist on the family all going out to eat...and he paid the bill. It was a way for him to give to us...but I didn't really see it then. Honestly, I kind of dreaded the whole thing...getting dressed up to eat in a restaurant seemed like a "forced" holiday. Now I see it differently, and I wish I had been more grateful at the time. We went for several years to Graves Mountain Lodge. Funny - I think about how much I hated walking up the hill in the parking lot in heels! Of course, now - that I am in a wheelchair, I would love to have that problem again! After Mom died, we went to the Boar's Head Inn in Charlottesville a few times. Daddy was sad then - and would always bring up how much Mom would have loved to be there. As the family dwindled...my grandmother died....my great aunt died...and soon it was just my sister and her family - along with my family - and Dad. And, even then, I still didn't "get it."
They say that with age comes wisdom....and that is certainly true with me. Now I see that Dad's greatest gift was not paying the bill for a Thanksgiving feast. His greatest gift was a sense of family. My sister and I are so close - and I think those dinners paved the way for the relationship we have now. It has made me re-evaluate what it means to be grateful.
This year it will be a small "celebration" - just George, Marilyn and me. But, I am so grateful for love in my life...for this little relaxed gathering in our new home in Pennsylvania. I am grateful that my son, Ben, and his wife, Heidi, are happy and safe in Oregon, and that they can have dinner with her parents - without experiencing the nightmare of air travel! I am grateful that my sister is well and that we were able to spend time together last week (she came for a visit - will write about that on another day). I am grateful that I have weekly phone conversations with my uncle, Weber. He keeps that little thread of childhood family alive for me. I am grateful that I am as mobile as I am, considering everything - and my life is full and active.
And, mostly, I am grateful for age - that transition in life that opens our eyes to what is really important, and what is not. Everyday, I am grateful for the opportunity to learn something new - and to perhaps look at things with new eyes.
I hope you have a wonderful holiday - and that you find that place in your heart where true gratitude resides.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
THERE IS MAGIC TO BE FOUND....WE ONLY HAVE TO IMAGINE IT
"Of course there are fairies - just as there is Father Christmas." George Crawley
George Crawley died this year, on October 29th. Perhaps you have never heard of him...I hadn't. But I had heard of the incident that started the mystery he attempted to solve: the mystery of the Cottingley fairies.
On a summer day in 1917, in Cottingley- a West Yorkshire village- two cousins, Elsie Wright (age 16) and Frances Griffiths (age 10) borrowed Elsie's father's glass-plate camera and took pictures of fairies they claimed to see in the glen near their house. Once developed, the photograph showed Frances surrounded by whitish forms that resembled bits of paper. Their families dismissed the images as a childish prank, but the girls stuck to their story. Later that summer, they took another photo, this time of Elsie confronting what appeared to be a gnome. The families remained skeptical, but kept the photos as private curiosities - and they would have stayed that way, except two very influential men entered the picture.
The first was Edward L. Gardner, who was a leader of the Theosophical Society in Britain. He heard of the photos in 1920 and knew that if they were genuine, it would greatly advance his cause in the belief of the existence of spirit life. After examining the photos, he concluded that they were real - and wanted to use them as illustrations in his lectures. So, he made new prints, using an advanced dark-room technique, which showed the fairies clearly.
The second man was Arthur Conan Doyle. That name is familiar because he is the author of Sherlock Holmes. Doyle was a skilled photographer, and a devoted spiritualist as well. Mr. Gardner enlisted his help, and together they began to promote the photos.
There was no turning back now for Elsie and Frances. In 1920, using cameras supplied by Gardner and Doyle, they took three more fairy photos. Doyle later wrote a book defending the photos. (The Coming of the Fairies)
For the next 60 years, interest in the Cottingley fairies never went away. For decades the girls - now grown- were interviewed in the British Press and on television and they did not recant the story. In the late 70's and early 80's an investigation began in earnest, and Mr. Crawley was one of the investigators. He was a chemist and the editor-in-chief of the magazine British Journal of Photography. His 10-part series exposing the photos as fakes appeared in 1982 and 1983. He used a type of photographic forensics to show that the photos used by Gardner and Doyle could not have been produced by the cameras used by the girls without a little bit of darkroom manipulation (I suppose the forerunner of Photoshop!)
Amid all the hoopla of the 1980's the "girls" finally came clean, admitting the hoax in the Times of London. They said that they never had any intention of doing anything other than playing a trick on their family. They used fairy illustrations from a book - cut out and taped on hatpins and then stuck in the ground.
However - while Elsie, who died in 1988, confessed that all the photos were fakes, Frances, who died in 1986, maintained that the fifth photo was real.
Two of the three cameras the girls used are on display at the National Media Museum in Bradford.
I suppose because sometimes this world is an ugly place, there is a part of us all that likes to escape into fantasy. Yes, there is the magic of Santa Claus....and the playfulness of fairies...but more importantly - there is the wonder and gift of imagination. So - Mr. Crawley put a glaring spotlight on what everyone actually knew, even if they didn't want to admit it...the fairies weren't real. At least not real enough to photograph. But they did exist in the endless world of imagination - where they could scamper through the glen, hide behind the trees and dance in the moonlight.
At least, that is how I choose to see them.
George Crawley died this year, on October 29th. Perhaps you have never heard of him...I hadn't. But I had heard of the incident that started the mystery he attempted to solve: the mystery of the Cottingley fairies.
On a summer day in 1917, in Cottingley- a West Yorkshire village- two cousins, Elsie Wright (age 16) and Frances Griffiths (age 10) borrowed Elsie's father's glass-plate camera and took pictures of fairies they claimed to see in the glen near their house. Once developed, the photograph showed Frances surrounded by whitish forms that resembled bits of paper. Their families dismissed the images as a childish prank, but the girls stuck to their story. Later that summer, they took another photo, this time of Elsie confronting what appeared to be a gnome. The families remained skeptical, but kept the photos as private curiosities - and they would have stayed that way, except two very influential men entered the picture.
The first was Edward L. Gardner, who was a leader of the Theosophical Society in Britain. He heard of the photos in 1920 and knew that if they were genuine, it would greatly advance his cause in the belief of the existence of spirit life. After examining the photos, he concluded that they were real - and wanted to use them as illustrations in his lectures. So, he made new prints, using an advanced dark-room technique, which showed the fairies clearly.
The second man was Arthur Conan Doyle. That name is familiar because he is the author of Sherlock Holmes. Doyle was a skilled photographer, and a devoted spiritualist as well. Mr. Gardner enlisted his help, and together they began to promote the photos.
There was no turning back now for Elsie and Frances. In 1920, using cameras supplied by Gardner and Doyle, they took three more fairy photos. Doyle later wrote a book defending the photos. (The Coming of the Fairies)
For the next 60 years, interest in the Cottingley fairies never went away. For decades the girls - now grown- were interviewed in the British Press and on television and they did not recant the story. In the late 70's and early 80's an investigation began in earnest, and Mr. Crawley was one of the investigators. He was a chemist and the editor-in-chief of the magazine British Journal of Photography. His 10-part series exposing the photos as fakes appeared in 1982 and 1983. He used a type of photographic forensics to show that the photos used by Gardner and Doyle could not have been produced by the cameras used by the girls without a little bit of darkroom manipulation (I suppose the forerunner of Photoshop!)
Amid all the hoopla of the 1980's the "girls" finally came clean, admitting the hoax in the Times of London. They said that they never had any intention of doing anything other than playing a trick on their family. They used fairy illustrations from a book - cut out and taped on hatpins and then stuck in the ground.
However - while Elsie, who died in 1988, confessed that all the photos were fakes, Frances, who died in 1986, maintained that the fifth photo was real.
Two of the three cameras the girls used are on display at the National Media Museum in Bradford.
I suppose because sometimes this world is an ugly place, there is a part of us all that likes to escape into fantasy. Yes, there is the magic of Santa Claus....and the playfulness of fairies...but more importantly - there is the wonder and gift of imagination. So - Mr. Crawley put a glaring spotlight on what everyone actually knew, even if they didn't want to admit it...the fairies weren't real. At least not real enough to photograph. But they did exist in the endless world of imagination - where they could scamper through the glen, hide behind the trees and dance in the moonlight.
At least, that is how I choose to see them.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT!
"Do you ever get the feeling that the only reason we have elections is to see if the polls are right?" Robert Orben
I am so tired of this election. I am tired of the constant bombardment of stupid ads. I am tired of the litter of political signs stuck on every available inch of free ground. I want to hurry up and vote and get it over with. As tired as I am of politics - there is something else that I am even more weary of....bedbugs.
At least two or three times a day, I am reminded in some way that there is a bedbug infestation. It is the stuff of nightmares. I was reading the paper this morning and when I glanced up at the TV - there was yet another video of bedbugs. There are videos of clusters of bugs hiding in the folds of mattresses...close-ups of the wretched insect....and pictures of the plethora of tiny red bites on some unfortunate person's body. EEEWWWWW!
In the NY Times this morning, there was an article about a new app for the iphone. A Bedbug Alert. It is a real value - at only $1.99. A GPS-enabled Google map indicates nearby bedbug-infested sites as red push pins. The locations are based on addresses of bedbug outbreaks reported by the media, by governmental agencies and by users across the country. You can click on a push pin for more information. It lists names of public places, like hotels or theaters...but not private places like a person's home. You can also report an encounter with bedbugs using the app.
I live within an hour - an hour and a half - of New York City and Philadelphia - numbers one and two on the list of top ten cities of infestation. So - this app seems like a great idea to me! I don't have an iphone...but if I keep seeing the videos of these creepy crawlies, I may have to go buy one just so I can get the app. Hmmmmm...suppose this is just a ploy by Apple to sell more phones! I don't trust anyone these days...after all - it is election season!
I am so tired of this election. I am tired of the constant bombardment of stupid ads. I am tired of the litter of political signs stuck on every available inch of free ground. I want to hurry up and vote and get it over with. As tired as I am of politics - there is something else that I am even more weary of....bedbugs.
At least two or three times a day, I am reminded in some way that there is a bedbug infestation. It is the stuff of nightmares. I was reading the paper this morning and when I glanced up at the TV - there was yet another video of bedbugs. There are videos of clusters of bugs hiding in the folds of mattresses...close-ups of the wretched insect....and pictures of the plethora of tiny red bites on some unfortunate person's body. EEEWWWWW!
In the NY Times this morning, there was an article about a new app for the iphone. A Bedbug Alert. It is a real value - at only $1.99. A GPS-enabled Google map indicates nearby bedbug-infested sites as red push pins. The locations are based on addresses of bedbug outbreaks reported by the media, by governmental agencies and by users across the country. You can click on a push pin for more information. It lists names of public places, like hotels or theaters...but not private places like a person's home. You can also report an encounter with bedbugs using the app.
I live within an hour - an hour and a half - of New York City and Philadelphia - numbers one and two on the list of top ten cities of infestation. So - this app seems like a great idea to me! I don't have an iphone...but if I keep seeing the videos of these creepy crawlies, I may have to go buy one just so I can get the app. Hmmmmm...suppose this is just a ploy by Apple to sell more phones! I don't trust anyone these days...after all - it is election season!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
WHEN IS A DOG BISCUIT NOT JUST A DOG BISCUIT??
"If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then giving Fido only two of them." Phil Pastoret
My dog, Bizy, loves dog cookies. Actually, I believe she would come out of a coma if I merely whispered the word, "cookie." Yesterday, however, I observed a real first...at least for her. She usually starts working me for dinner at 5:00 - but yesterday, she was restless and started at 3. So, in order to buy me some time, I gave her a chicken leg. Now...don't panic...it was not a REAL chicken leg...it was a dog cookie SHAPED like a chicken leg. (Made by Milkbone)
She felt this was such a treasure, I guess, that she LITERALLY carried in it her mouth for THREE HOURS. She didn't sleep...she didn't even lay down...she just paced with this stupid chicken leg poking out of her mouth. She looked desperately in my face - like she wasn't sure what she was supposed to do with it. It wasn't until 6:00 - when I put her dinner out (an hour late - which is UNHEARD of around here) that she finally ate the thing.
This fabulous dog cookie produced anxiety and stress for my dog. Simple as that.
I think her experience was nearly "human" if you think about it. How much stress do we feel over our precious "stuff?" What if someone dents your new car - or you lose a favorite earring...or how about all the china that sits around and collects dust as you wait to use it on a special occasion? What do we do with our treasures? Kind of like that little creature in Lord of the Rings that kept referring to the Ring as "my Precious."
No huge earth-shattering conclusion here...just an observation. I do think Milkbone should consider changing the name of those cookies to Hush Puppies. Sure did work on Bizy!!!
My dog, Bizy, loves dog cookies. Actually, I believe she would come out of a coma if I merely whispered the word, "cookie." Yesterday, however, I observed a real first...at least for her. She usually starts working me for dinner at 5:00 - but yesterday, she was restless and started at 3. So, in order to buy me some time, I gave her a chicken leg. Now...don't panic...it was not a REAL chicken leg...it was a dog cookie SHAPED like a chicken leg. (Made by Milkbone)
She felt this was such a treasure, I guess, that she LITERALLY carried in it her mouth for THREE HOURS. She didn't sleep...she didn't even lay down...she just paced with this stupid chicken leg poking out of her mouth. She looked desperately in my face - like she wasn't sure what she was supposed to do with it. It wasn't until 6:00 - when I put her dinner out (an hour late - which is UNHEARD of around here) that she finally ate the thing.
This fabulous dog cookie produced anxiety and stress for my dog. Simple as that.
I think her experience was nearly "human" if you think about it. How much stress do we feel over our precious "stuff?" What if someone dents your new car - or you lose a favorite earring...or how about all the china that sits around and collects dust as you wait to use it on a special occasion? What do we do with our treasures? Kind of like that little creature in Lord of the Rings that kept referring to the Ring as "my Precious."
No huge earth-shattering conclusion here...just an observation. I do think Milkbone should consider changing the name of those cookies to Hush Puppies. Sure did work on Bizy!!!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
HERE WE GO AGAIN....
"The worth of a book is to be measured by what you carry away from it." James Bryce
Last night was Book Club night at Barnes and Noble. My goal in attending was to meet some nice people with a similar interest - and I did. The ladies there were lovely and we certainly had a lively conversation! The book we read was The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent. It was the author's first novel - which is always of interest to me.
The plot centered around the Salem Witch Trials and was told from the point of view of one of the daughters of an accused witch. It was a new twist on an old story - and quite factually accurate since the author is a descendant of Martha Carrier, the accused witch. So, while it was technically fiction - it wasn't. Kent said that she had heard the story of Martha all her life - that the subject came up at every family gathering she could remember, and so she wanted to document the story in a way that was accessible for everyone.
I thought the book was interesting - although the last few chapters drug on a bit and I will admit to skimming over the parts about the deplorable conditions of the prison. I can only read so much about lice, oozing wounds and feces! But the thing that impressed me most was how relevant it was for today. We see the same kind of craziness happening now - with the excessive bullying in schools...the horrendous results of fundamentalism in all religions....and the atrocities that are committed in the name of God. It is a cycle of violence that simply continues to happen -which is very sad.
We look back at Hitler and his persecution of the Jews, and we say it could never happen again. But it does. In Serbia, in the Sudan, in the Middle East, and in the growing face of terrorism. On a different scale, we have the tragic bullying of gay teens and the mean spirited division of Republicans and Democrats. Oh...and don't forget the Tea Party! Did you see the women who was stomped in the head at a recent Rand Paul rally???? Dear God.
So, if you are looking for a book that will cause you to reflect on things as well as provide more information about the witch trials, then give The Heretic's Daughter a read. I don't think we have evolved very much in the last 200 years. A sad commentary of life on our planet.
The next Book Club meeting is Nov. 30th. I will let you know how that one goes. Now I have to go work on the book I am writing!!!
Last night was Book Club night at Barnes and Noble. My goal in attending was to meet some nice people with a similar interest - and I did. The ladies there were lovely and we certainly had a lively conversation! The book we read was The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent. It was the author's first novel - which is always of interest to me.
The plot centered around the Salem Witch Trials and was told from the point of view of one of the daughters of an accused witch. It was a new twist on an old story - and quite factually accurate since the author is a descendant of Martha Carrier, the accused witch. So, while it was technically fiction - it wasn't. Kent said that she had heard the story of Martha all her life - that the subject came up at every family gathering she could remember, and so she wanted to document the story in a way that was accessible for everyone.
I thought the book was interesting - although the last few chapters drug on a bit and I will admit to skimming over the parts about the deplorable conditions of the prison. I can only read so much about lice, oozing wounds and feces! But the thing that impressed me most was how relevant it was for today. We see the same kind of craziness happening now - with the excessive bullying in schools...the horrendous results of fundamentalism in all religions....and the atrocities that are committed in the name of God. It is a cycle of violence that simply continues to happen -which is very sad.
We look back at Hitler and his persecution of the Jews, and we say it could never happen again. But it does. In Serbia, in the Sudan, in the Middle East, and in the growing face of terrorism. On a different scale, we have the tragic bullying of gay teens and the mean spirited division of Republicans and Democrats. Oh...and don't forget the Tea Party! Did you see the women who was stomped in the head at a recent Rand Paul rally???? Dear God.
So, if you are looking for a book that will cause you to reflect on things as well as provide more information about the witch trials, then give The Heretic's Daughter a read. I don't think we have evolved very much in the last 200 years. A sad commentary of life on our planet.
The next Book Club meeting is Nov. 30th. I will let you know how that one goes. Now I have to go work on the book I am writing!!!
Monday, October 25, 2010
WARNING: BORING POST AHEAD
In Virginia, everything is done at the same location...the DMV. I have complained many times about the long lines there, and the slowness of service - but now that I have experienced Pennsylvania's requirements, I realize Virginia is much, MUCH easier and decidedly more efficient.
I actually obtained my driver's license with minimal effort. Yes, I had to provide my social security card (which I lost a bazillion years ago, so had to apply for a new copy), a copy of a bill with my name on it sent to my PA address, my birth certificate...uh...I think that was all. There are not many PennDot centers in the area (the equivalent of DMV) - and the ones that are available have different days and hours of operation. Just to make it interesting, I guess. The PennDot centers DO NOT deal with license plates. That part of the procedure has been privatized - so it is a business. There are lots of these - with different days and hours of operation. Sigh.
In order to get a handicap license plate, a doctor's note is required...but they won't take one from Virginia. They will accept one from any state that touches Pennsylvania's borders. Since I don't have a doctor here yet...I had to go with Plan B...which was to receive authorization from the police. So, I went to a police station (which was nothing more than a glorified trailer) and had the officer filled out a form certifying that I was indeed in a wheelchair. DUH.
On Saturday, George and I went to one of the License Plate centers and stood in line. When it was our turn - we proudly put all the required forms on the counter, along with our PA driver's licenses...and she asked for our insurance cards. When we gave her those, she said that we needed cards that said Pennsylvania. So...George (not the most patient person in the world) called GEICO...explained everything and asked that they fax the new cards to the center. The cards arrived...but they still said Virginia. Hmmmm....So, he called again...they apologized and faxed new ones that did indeed say Pennsylvania - but they put the wrong effectiveness date. Now, his patience is truly at an end. He calls again...and they finally fax the correct cards. We signed several forms, and then wrote a check for $120 for my van and $195 for George's truck.
Now we have ten days to get the vehicles inspected. Cost is a minimum of $70 per vehicle. It was $10 in Virginia. Also - have to wait for my handicap license plate and placard...so after all of this - I am still driving with my Virginia plate.
If you have read this boring post - my hat is off to you, dear reader! I tried to think of some way I could make this information more entertaining - but the entire experience sucked out my creativity! So - now I am free from the millstone of this legal necessity hanging around my neck and I can get on with things more interesting. At least, I hope so.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
DID YOU HEAR THE ONE ABOUT THE HONEST POLITICIAN???
"The only time a politician is telling the truth is when he calls another politician a liar."
I saw this quote posted in the front yard of a house on my way to the grocery store - and it made me laugh. But, it was a laugh mixed with a bit of sadness and a lot of frustration and anger. I am so weary of the assault of political ads every time I turn on the TV. Just a bunch of hot air and negativity, and....yes....lies. The thing that astounds me is the amount of money being shelled out for these campaigns. Millions and millions of dollars. And - the candidates have the nerve to talk about wasteful spending by the government...the plight of the struggling middle class...the homes falling into foreclosure...the unemployment rate, etc.
I would like to see them throw the money that they are spending on these ads into one of these areas of need. If politicians can raise this much money - then why can't they find a way to pay for health care...or help the homeless...or improve education. The list goes on and on. Just think what this money could do.
I don't know what the answer is. Maybe if NO ONE showed up to the polls to vote. Maybe then they would get the message. Of course - the problem with that is the impossibility of getting EVERYONE on board. So - I know it is not an option. So...once again....we will trudge out to the voting booths...cast our one little vote...and pray. However...I kind of feel like it is as useful as spitting in the wind.
I saw this quote posted in the front yard of a house on my way to the grocery store - and it made me laugh. But, it was a laugh mixed with a bit of sadness and a lot of frustration and anger. I am so weary of the assault of political ads every time I turn on the TV. Just a bunch of hot air and negativity, and....yes....lies. The thing that astounds me is the amount of money being shelled out for these campaigns. Millions and millions of dollars. And - the candidates have the nerve to talk about wasteful spending by the government...the plight of the struggling middle class...the homes falling into foreclosure...the unemployment rate, etc.
I would like to see them throw the money that they are spending on these ads into one of these areas of need. If politicians can raise this much money - then why can't they find a way to pay for health care...or help the homeless...or improve education. The list goes on and on. Just think what this money could do.
I don't know what the answer is. Maybe if NO ONE showed up to the polls to vote. Maybe then they would get the message. Of course - the problem with that is the impossibility of getting EVERYONE on board. So - I know it is not an option. So...once again....we will trudge out to the voting booths...cast our one little vote...and pray. However...I kind of feel like it is as useful as spitting in the wind.
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