80th Anniversary

Today is the 80th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. It was on a Sunday; I was eight years old and was with my parents coming out of a restaurant after church, and we heard a newsboy shouting the headlines. I don't have any memory of the immediate reaction of my parents to this event. But I do know that my father might have decided in his mind at that time that he needed to serve his country, because not long after this event he made the decision to go into the service as an Army chaplain, which he did in 1942. He started making inquiries in June of 1942 and reported for duty at Chaplain's School at Harvard on Sept. 21, 1942. He was 46 years old. He was under no obligation to go into the army. My mother was understandably upset by his decision. We had just moved from Minneapolis to Texarkana, Arkansas the summer of 1941, so we had been there only six months when Pearl Harbor was attacked, and we ended up being in Texarkana only a year. We had just bought a very nice home in Minneapolis the year before moving to Texarkana! I suspect mother had not been happy with that move. It had not been a necessary move. I think she hated moving, and would have loved settling into her new home. The move to Texarkana seems to have been motivated by a desire by my dad for a new challenge, and perhaps a bit of homesickness on his part for the South, where he had grown up. My mother would not have shared that homesickness. I, on the other hand, was excited by the move to Arkansas. I was perhaps not all that happy in Minneapolis in terms of my social life. Moving to Arkansas was an adventure. We got to make a long train ride. As it worked out, I was really happy in Texarkana. I had probably the best circle of childhood friends there that I had at any time. So I would probably have liked to stay in Texarkana. When I learned that my father was going into the army, and that would require that we leave Texarkana and go back to Minneapolis where we owned a home, I probably was not all that happy. But I also had sort of an almost philosophical attitude toward moving. I think I enjoyed change, and I saw moving as a kind of adventure, even though in this case we were going back to a place that was familiar to me. I have no real memory of how I felt about my dad being absent. I think I was affected by war propaganda, and I was sort of proud to have my father in the service. I still had my older brother with me as well as my mother, so it probably didn't seem like that big a hardship. And paradoxically, this period of my life actually afforded me a greater freedom than I might've otherwise had. I was allowed to do a lot of things that I'm not sure my father would have approved of if he had been at home. For example, I had the freedom to go virtually any place on my bike in Minneapolis, and I did. And then when my brother went into the service in 1944, I became the man of the family, so to speak, and I actually took care of my mother when she would be sick. It was really only later that I realized what I lost not having my father home during those important pre-adolescent years. So anyway, we mark an anniversary today of an event which had a real impact on my life, for better or for worse.

A U.S. battleship sinking in the attack on Pearl Harbor

Dad in his new uniform, Stewart, and me, taken in Texarkana, 1942

Mother and dad in Texarkana, taken about the same time as the one above

Me and my bike in front of our house in Minneapolis

Wow! A trip to the pool!

This was a red-letter day - I went to the pool for the first time in a long time. For years. I have had a membership in the Colonial Motel Pool, but the pool closed when the pandemic hit in March, 2020, and it has gradually opened up in various respects during the past six months or so. Everything is open now except the steam room and the sauna. You can use the dressing room, the showers, the hot tub, the exercise machines and the pool. There are actually two pools, and one of them - the newer lap pool - is temporarily closed right now for installation of a new liner. The multi-purpose pool, which is the one I use, is open. They are offering former members - people whose membership was interrupted (and essentially cancelled - no refunds) by the pandemic - a free ten-day membership. So I'm taking advantage of that. I hope to use the pool daily (if possible) for the next nine days. Then if all seems to be going well, I'll buy a new membership. Today I used the exercise bike, the elliptical machine and the hot tub. I started out modestly, but it went well, and I hope to increase my time gradually during the ten days.

A shot over my shoulder of the men's dressing room and shower area - which I had to myself. Actually, I had everything I used today to myself. So that was nice!**************************************************** After the pool, I went to Cota&Cota, our propane supplier, and asked about our propane stove. We've been waiting for months for parta to fix the burner. He made a call, and there is a good chance they'll have the parts and be able to do the repair job on Dec. 20th! We would have the fireplace stove working for Christmas! That would be wonderful.

A change in plan

Our original plan today was to go to the Bergh's at 3 o'clock to watch the Tar Heels play Georgia Tech in men's basketball. However, Eliza called and said that Phoebe had thrown up last night and that Sarah, Phoebe' mother, was having upset stomach problems today. So maybe we probably shouldn't come, because she didn't want us picking up a bug. So we stayed home. Ellen actually has been using this opportunity to stack wood. She finished one pile and has a good start on the second. Since snow is coming, that's really great. I worked on this blog and also started reading George Saunders' Lincoln in the Bardo. It is an unusual book; I would say even a strange one; but it is also a very compelling one. I'm about 100 pages in. I'll report on it when I finish it.

LATER: A quiet evening listening to Says You and All the Traditions on Vermont Public Radio. I did the dishes while Ellen went to Putney and I'll do the supper ones now before I get ready for bed.

Reflections on this morning's anthem

We went to church this morning and sang in a small choir. We sang a hymn with words by Shirley Erena Murray, a prolific hymn-writer in New Zealand whose work I have often admired; one of my favorites among contemporary hymn-writers. I was saddened to learn that she died last year, January, 2020. I had not known that until now. The hymn we sang was A Place at the Table. ******************************************************** 1 For everyone born, a place at the table, for everyone born, clean water and bread, a shelter, a space, a safe place for growing, for everyone born, a star overhead. ********************************************************* Refrain: And God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy, compassion and peace: yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice, justice and joy. ********************************************************* 2 For woman and man, a place at the table, revising the roles, deciding the share, with wisdom and grace dividing the power, for woman and man, a system that's fair. [Refrain] ********************************************************* 3 For young and for old, a place at the table, a voice to be heard, a part in the song, the hands of a child in hands that are wrinkled, for young and for old, the right to belong. [Refrain] ********************************************************* 4 For just and unjust, a place at the table, abuser, abused, with need to forgive, in anger, in hurt, a mindset of mercy, for just and unjust, a new way to live. [Refrain] ********************************************************* 5 For everyone born, a place at the table, to live without fear, and simply to be, to work, to speak out, to witness and worship, for everyone born, the right to be free. [Refrain] ********************************************************* I did not realize until just now that there are two verses of this hymn we did not sing - Vss. 2 and 4. Hmmm., I wonder why? This is, I suppose, a fairly radical hymn which some folks, certainly, would take exception to. But I would be surprised if either our pastor or our choir director would think that. It may be something as simple as needing to make it briefer - five verses is a lot of verses for an anthem. But it is interesting that it was these (somwehat more radical) verses that were omitted. But as I learn more about this anthem, especially about the origin of the musical setting (see below), I'm wondering if maybe the publisher of the anthem might be a conservative press which made the decision to omit vss. 2 and 4. I'll have to ask Peter about that. LATER Yes, after talking to Peter, I have learned that the score he purchased online came only with vss. 1, 3, and 5. It is very possible that Mary McDonald composed this piece for this hymn, and she is the one who left out vss. 2 and 4. That feels like the most plausible explanation. I wonder how Shirley Murray felt about that?

Shirley Erena Murray (1931-2020)********************** These words have been set to more than one tune. Our setting this morning was composed by Mary McDonald, and had a rousing, gospel beat. It was fun to sing. However, it is not the tune that you find this hymn set to when you go to "Hymnary.org" which is the online resource for hymns. Mary McDonald, I learn, is a prolific Southern Baptist composer of hymn tunes and anthems. I have to imagine that Mary McDonald and Shirley Murray might not see eye-to-eye theologically! And when you look at their pictures, you feel they are from two very different cultures, or at least very different generations. They seem to be an unlkely team. However, the hymn and the tune work very well together. I think there is a lesson in there somewhere!

Mary McDonald (b. circa 1957)

A visit to the Carnahans in Randolph

Yesterday, Ellen and I drove up to Randolph, VT, a drive of about 1 1/2 hours, to visit John and Mary Carnahan at their new venue, a retirement community calledMorgan Orchards. It was a very nice trip and a good visit. It was a lovely day, though chilly and windy, but nice to look at the scenery from inside the warm car! John and Mary have a lovely apartment, fairly spacious, I would say, with an ample living-dining area, a fairly large kitchen, a master bedroom and a second bedroom serving as an office/study. We arrived just as someone's furniture was being moved in, so things were a bit chaotic in that sense, but we saw the public lounge area which was set up with tables filled with items made by residents which could be purchased for gifts (Ellen bought some very nice cards). Coffee and coffee cake is served every morning in this area and many residents take advantage of that. J&M take one meal a day in the dining-room (we did not see that), but otherwise have been busy just getting settled in - they have been there only a month or so. They have gone to the Episcopal Church in Randolph - quite small - and have met people there. Being close to their son, Paul, and his wife, Eve, they went there for Thanksgiving ; they were joined by Paul and Eve's daughter Rachael, and her husband (I thin that's right), and their late daughter Sarah's husband, Al Quintero, and one of Al and Sarah's daughters - Elizabeth - who is in school in Cambrdige, MA. It's probably too early to say just how this move will work out, but it looks good so far. They are, of course, exhausted by the whole process and are still unpacking boxes. Their daughter, Susan, helped out a lot. But still -- it's exhausting no matter what. Our impression of Morgan Orchards was that it is a well-managed and friendly place; we met several residents casually in the lounge area. There are not a lot of trees around it though. It is perched on a hill with great views of a mountain range, but I did't see any orchards. We will try to go up for a visit on a regular basis. We like making little trips. I suppose, however, that that will be influenced by the course of the pandemic. There is one disturbing statistic in Vermont: deaths are high, and they are half unvaccinated people and half vaccinated people. That is not the way it's supposed to be!

The beautiful wreath on the Carnahan's door. I think I'm right in saying that it has been handed down in Mary's family.

John, Ellen and Mary in the living-room

John, Mary and me, same spot!

The public lounges at Morgan Orchards************************************ Just a P.S. - I am aware that I am feeling some sadness not only to have the Carnahans farther away - although we can still go see them - but also because I will not be able to visit them at their home at 29 Tyler Street any more. I have been in that home countless times, have spent the night there on several occasions, celebrated birthdays and holidays there, enjoyed picnics in the backyard - etc. It is an important place in my life. So I can sort of imagine what it is like for them to have left it behind. And for their children also. Physical spaces do matter, and I will treasure that one in my memory.

The Carnahan's home at 29 Tyler St., Brattleboro. Thanks to Zillow for the photo.

Fruitcake weather!

We got two plus inches of snow last night.

It has already started to melt. It's supposed to get pretty warm this afternoon. And today is the day Ellen makes fruitcakes, and I read aloud Truman Capote's A Christmas Memory. A wonderful tradition! LATER: The fruitcakes are out of the oven, out of the pans, and sitting on the counter cooling. Wow! Meanwhile. I read A Christmas Memory. Nancy Tierra came by to be part of the audience - as she has done for many years.

Fruitcakes galore!************************************** STILL LATER: It is early evening, Nancy has gone home, we just watched the PBS evening news, and it is raiing hard!

Finding joy

Today, in our centering prayer zoom session, Pastor Elisa asked how we had found joy this past week. Our thoughts went immediately to last night, at River Singers, where we were being led by Kathy Bullock. Kathy definitely brought us joy in our singing of several Gospel songs. But my mind also went to a couple of men, Charlie Richardson and Merrill Barton, who brought us a load of dry firewood. Charlie had asked me at church Sunday if we needed some, and I said "yes." They showed up yesterday with a pick-up truck full of nice, dry wood. That made me very happy and I thanked them profusely. Charlie and Merrill preside over the Dummerston Church Wood Pantry, and evidently they have a lot of wood that has been donated. A wonderful service to the community.

Merrill and Charlie, unloading wood at our woodpile.****************

Kathy Bullock, Gospel song leader from Berea College, KY, presently teaching at Bennington College