Death of a family friend: My Dad's best friend, Charlie, died this past week. They have been friends for over fifty years. In their retirement these two friends would get together several times a week to talk and laugh. Just about every time I have visited my parents in the last ten years or so, we have seen Charlie and his beautiful wife Lorraine. His death is such a poignant reminder that the clock is ticking. Today I shed tears for my father because he lost a good friend.
University of Oregon Basketball: When one thinks of UO sports, Football usually comes to mind. But this week there is excitement over the men's basketball team which were selected as a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament (of 64 teams.) They play their second game today. You bet we will be watching.
Graduate school interviews: Today Carly is flying out for her first of four graduate school interviews hoping for a slot in a Genetic Counseling program. Keep your positive thoughts and prayers heading her way.
Jane Austen Week: This past week was the tenth annual Jane Austen Week in the library at my school. I showed the Sense and Sensibility DVD which features Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman. It was a little too long for the event, since I have to divide it up to fit into the 1/2 hour lunch period for five days, so I didn't have as much time for trivia and games as I have in the past. The students who stuck it out for all five days really seemed to enjoy it, one group even cheered when they learned that Edward hadn't married Fanny afterall.
For your listening enjoyment: Listen as you read the rest of my blog post, "My Father's Favorite" from the Sense and Sensibility movie:
- Another America by Barbara Kingsolver...a poetry collection by a favorite author. All, and I mean all, of the poems deal with very serious subjects like rape and poor treatment of immigrants. This was a tough read.
- Four Quartets by T.S. Eliot... this slim volume of poems has long been on my TBR pile. Progress 25%
- Letters to a Young Poet by Rainier Maria Rilke...another classic I've had my eye on for years. Progress 80%
- Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron...my book club selection for this coming Wednesday. I got started on the audiobook too late and worry I may not finish in time for our meeting. Progress: 64%
- Shipwrecked! The True Adventures of a Japanese Boy by Rhoda Blumberg... a gem of a book I found hidden on my library shelf when I was doing inventory this week. Progress: 40%
- The Porcupine of Truth by Bill Konigsberg...admittedly I haven't read a page of this book all week but I am determined to finish it. Progress: 33%
- The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. This will be my fourth Classics club spin book I've read in a year. The spin rules: list 20 classic books, number 1-20. Someone at the Classics Club website spins and announces the "winning" number. Look down your list to see what book you will read. The winning spin number was 8. The Age of Innocence was in the number eight slot on my list. I had hoped to start the book by the end of the weekend but I am still stuck in the middle of five other books (see above) and I want to finish them before I launch into this book.
Served lunch for homeless folks today: Don and I served lunch at a homeless center today after helping make the sandwiches after church. We served a very simple meal: ham or turkey sandwiches,
bananas, chips, and Oreo cookies. Afterwards we went out to lunch with another couple who also served food to the homeless folks with us. The irony was not lost on any of us and we commented on it as we munched our sandwiches and soup, or burgers and fries.
Today is Palm Sunday: a day of celebration on the church calendar. Our church celebrated by including children in the service by leading a processional with palm branches and in song. Hallelujah! This week is considered Holy Week with Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Next Sunday is Easter! I can't believe it is already here.
Prayers for:
- Carly and her Graduate School interview at University of Utah.
- Dave W. who had a heart-related event at church and had to rush to the hospital.
- Lorraine, Charlie's widow and for my dad, who lost a friend.
Batman puzzle: a teacher donated this puzzle to the library. I thought we'd better try it out at home first. Working on it is bringing back lots of memories of reading comics when I was a kid. (see above.)
It looks like we are back to gray and wet! I am relieved that I got my back lawn mowed, at least. I am excited for Carly in this journey and hoping and praying for the best for her!
ReplyDeleteWe shall miss Charlie's presence in our lives. Very very sad for my wife and I. Charlie was instrumental in his early acceptance and love of my relationship with Katherine. No judgement just support and joy. Nothing artificial or fake about Charlie. The spirit of God flowed though Charlie into this world like few men I have met in my 61 years on Earth. Charlie is/was spiritual, honest, loving, sweet and a wryly funny man. Over the years, out of the blue, Charlie would send me cartoons from the New Yorker that he thought I might find of amusing. Prayers for Lorraine as she is just devastated. Charlie will be missed but never, ever, gone in our hearts.
ReplyDeleteThank you Tom for this lovely tribute to Charlie. I remember his laugh first and foremost.
DeleteI haven't done a puzzle in so long, your picture makes me want to do one. Sounds like you had a long week. Hope that this upcoming one is better.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a good week, though I am sorry to hear about your Dad's friend.
ReplyDeleteHad to laugh when reading about the books you are in the middle of. Though I usually read just one at a time (plus an audio), I am almost ALWAYS starting my book group books too late & worrying I won't finish in time!
Good luck finishing all those books - enjoy!
Sue
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