In The Dead of Winter
By C.K. Armistead
December 21, 2014
Even in the dead of winter
There is warmth
In the smile of a friend,
The hug of a loved one,
The laughter of children.
Even in the dark of despair
There is light.
Prayers heard and answered,
A kind word when needed,
A smile from a stranger.
Even on the longest night,
There is hope
Of dawn's coming
Of the return of warmth,
The return of light.
Even on the coldest day,
There is the reminder
That we are each other's warmth
We are each other's hope,
We are each other's light.
Carried On The Wind
By C.K. Armistead
December 23, 2014
Today as I was walking
The wind was strong and cold
And sounded like the talking
Of the wise ones of old.
Telling tales of mystery
Tales of wonder and joy
Tales we know of history
Of the fate of a special baby boy.
And also on that insistent wind
I heard the old songs so sweet
Sung low and soft from around the bend
Their glad tidings to repeat.
And upon the wind was borne
The scent of woodsmoke and memory
Of places and faces that make you warm
In spite of the world's harsh harmony.
Then the wind made my mouth water
With scents it carried past me
Of sugar, flour and butter
Becoming cookies and candy.
Tomorrow night the wind will bring
The sound of many bells a ringing
And my voice among thousands will sing
Songs of hope and joy fit for a King.
So today, as I was wandering
I was thankful for the wind's wild voice
That set me to pondering
The many reasons we have to rejoice.
That's about all the poetry I've got right now. Time now to bake the pies. Time to put some flour, sugar, butter, eggs and other good things to work becoming Christmas treats to share with friends. May you all have a joyful and beautiful Christmas, whether you celebrate or not, you are wished a day of love and joy.
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Sunday, December 21, 2014
The Last Advent Candle Is Lit - On The First Day Of Winter
The shortest day, the longest night of the year, perhaps the coldest where you may be, perhaps the opposite in all regards if you live in the Southern Hemisphere.
Here, this day is dark, dreary, and COLD. The news abroad in the world isn't much brighter. In fact, a lot of it is worse. There is death from disease, poverty, and murder, there is hatred, there is war. No world for a child to be born into.
Arguably, it was the same more than two thousand years ago, when the Child some of us celebrate came into this world. That was no time for a child to be born. The land he was born into was under the rule of Imperial Rome. For the Israelites, it was difficult, dangerous, and offensive to live under the sway of a pagan regime.
This theme is not a new one, in fact, I find it hard to say this in a way that might sound new. Many have observed that this world is almost NEVER joyful, or at peace, or even safe for everyone. Perhaps the theme is best remembered from the old carol I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
You can hear the song and read the lyricsHERE
..."And in despair I bowed my head,
There is no peace on earth, I said
For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men."
That verse was written in 1867. (By Longfellow. No wonder I've always loved it. ) Surely, peace was hard to come by, and strife very strong indeed. So it is today. There are wars ongoing in many places, there are horrible diseases ravaging populations, there is hatred and unrest in our very own nation. Perhaps because we continually lose sight of the meaning behind this season. Even if we catch up with the "true Spirit of Christmas" during the holiday itself, we lose it along the way. ALL of us. Even those of us who really try. We ALL need to try harder, to commit ourselves anew to remembering that Love chose to be born into this world as a tiny baby, in an occupied country, to an oppressed minority. That ALL the religious leaders who have ever been revered in this world have stressed that LOVE is the only really important thing. Love of God, love of others, the kind of love that shares and helps and believes and hopes.
May the God of Love forgive us, we have tainted that message. We have killed in the name of religion, used our different beliefs as a license to revile and condemn those who disagree, totally ignored the more difficult call to love our enemies.
How easy it is to hate. What a lazy way to deal with others. Never try to see the other side of an issue, never tolerate for a moment the idea that you may be wrong, that maybe GOD would want you to listen and to reserve judgement. So easy to get caught up in the clamoring of those who would rush to condemnation and revenge. It is difficult to stand with Love. Love is hard work. You may well love someone, but not like them very much some days. Love is stronger, deeper, and more reliable than mere liking. How difficult it must have been for that Child, born into such a desolate land and people, to look with love upon those who reviled him because of his faith, his ethnicity. How much MORE difficult when the ones who were his own people reviled him because he dared to preach love and forgiveness and not revolution.
Those of us who claim to be followers of that Child, followers of Christ, we have a lot of bad behavior to answer for. We have not listened with our hearts to His call to love. We have let Him down, let each other down, and let the world down. We are NOT called to hate, to sit in judgement, to FORCE others to agree with us, we are called to LOVE. It is the the single most difficult thing I have ever pondered doing. It is even harder in practice. Yes, we are forgiven our sins, IF we repent and recognize that we have done wrong, our resolve to do better will be blessed. He who came and offered Himself for us in love, loves us still. No matter WHAT we have done, it breaks His heart, I am sure, because He loves us, and WANTS that better world for us. The world we would have if we ALL lived by the words given us by the leaders of our faiths. If we live by love.
I do not exempt myself from guilt. I tend to be self-centered, having lived a lot of my childhood with no playmates to speak of, I did not have to learn much about sharing and cooperation until I started school. I am the absolute WORST at thinking of others first, of reacting immediately with love. I do try, I remind myself, I pray for help, but I still fall FAR short. I am still far too judgmental, even if only in my own head. (Our thoughts can and do affect our actions, so ...)
I can only promise that I am TRYING to change. Every single day. For those of you who interact regularly with me, if I have hurt you, failed you, otherwise let you down, I am sorry. I do love you, I care for you, and I don't WANT to hurt you. (Especially my most long-suffering and loving spouse, who loves me in spite of my many, many faults.) My gift to you at this season, and every day of every year is that I will do my utmost to learn to react first from LOVE instead of selfishness.
If all of us try that, maybe, just maybe, the world will be a brighter place.
As for the devastating news that's been circulating lately, of killings and hate, well, it is nothing new. Those of us who were here in Oklahoma City in 1995 can tell you that. Our church was damaged in that act of violence, and that Christmas (and the next) we were stuck worshiping in the parish hall. I wrote a poem about it. I'd like to share it again, if you'll indulge me:
Christmas Eve
By Carolyn Kay Armistead, 1996
The scent of pine needles, incense, and candlewax fill the air.
There is much confusion about the processional, and just who goes where.
But the night is full of magic, wonder and joy
As our Christian family prepares once again to welcome the baby boy.
The baby boy who came into a world of uncertainty and pain,
Who understands how we feel, being in Dean Willey Hall again,
And not in our beautiful Cathedral, with its comfort and sacredness.
He knows how it feels to deal with hatred's harmful effects.
Well He knows our sorrow, our impatience and our pain
And yet He makes us glad to be together, even if in the Hall again.
For He was not born in a fancy palace, or a hospital clean and grand;
But in a lowly stable, with cows, sheep and shepherds close to hand.
If He could be content with a birthplace so quiet and humble;
Who are we to be unhappy with our lot and to grumble?
After all, we are safe and still together, and together we still can sing
The same joyful song of angels, and isn't that the most important thing?
Yes, we still had each other, and that was indeed the most beautiful and important thing. I see many of those same faces in the choir and the congregation this year, and I am so very glad to see them. These are my fellow travelers on this road of faith, this difficult journey of trying to live up to the gift of love we have been given. It wasn't easy then, and it still isn't.
Yes, there is a LOT wrong with this world, there is a lot of hatred and fear. There is also Love. I have found those who love almost everywhere I go, including the Internet and social media. Yes, there are sour and negative and hateful people just about everywhere, but if you look, there's an awful lot of loving and kind ones, too. Let that give you hope this season, and remember, BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE IN THE WORLD. If YOU don't react with love, how will love grow?
Back to that Christmas carol. The next to the last verse says this all so much more succinctly.
"Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep.
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."
(Down, feminists; "men" was an accepted abbreviation for "human". I believe largely because the Greek Anthropos was translated as "man" instead of "human", or "mankind". )
On this longest night of the year, on this very cold day, when the darkness seems so ready to crush us and put us all in the cold, let us light the fourth candle of Advent, the candle of Peace.
To quote an old TV show I happen to be very fond of, let us remember that darkness is merely the absence of light, and all winters end!
Let us resolve to try and BE the light!
LOVE to you and PEACE!
Here, this day is dark, dreary, and COLD. The news abroad in the world isn't much brighter. In fact, a lot of it is worse. There is death from disease, poverty, and murder, there is hatred, there is war. No world for a child to be born into.
Arguably, it was the same more than two thousand years ago, when the Child some of us celebrate came into this world. That was no time for a child to be born. The land he was born into was under the rule of Imperial Rome. For the Israelites, it was difficult, dangerous, and offensive to live under the sway of a pagan regime.
This theme is not a new one, in fact, I find it hard to say this in a way that might sound new. Many have observed that this world is almost NEVER joyful, or at peace, or even safe for everyone. Perhaps the theme is best remembered from the old carol I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
You can hear the song and read the lyricsHERE
..."And in despair I bowed my head,
There is no peace on earth, I said
For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men."
That verse was written in 1867. (By Longfellow. No wonder I've always loved it. ) Surely, peace was hard to come by, and strife very strong indeed. So it is today. There are wars ongoing in many places, there are horrible diseases ravaging populations, there is hatred and unrest in our very own nation. Perhaps because we continually lose sight of the meaning behind this season. Even if we catch up with the "true Spirit of Christmas" during the holiday itself, we lose it along the way. ALL of us. Even those of us who really try. We ALL need to try harder, to commit ourselves anew to remembering that Love chose to be born into this world as a tiny baby, in an occupied country, to an oppressed minority. That ALL the religious leaders who have ever been revered in this world have stressed that LOVE is the only really important thing. Love of God, love of others, the kind of love that shares and helps and believes and hopes.
May the God of Love forgive us, we have tainted that message. We have killed in the name of religion, used our different beliefs as a license to revile and condemn those who disagree, totally ignored the more difficult call to love our enemies.
How easy it is to hate. What a lazy way to deal with others. Never try to see the other side of an issue, never tolerate for a moment the idea that you may be wrong, that maybe GOD would want you to listen and to reserve judgement. So easy to get caught up in the clamoring of those who would rush to condemnation and revenge. It is difficult to stand with Love. Love is hard work. You may well love someone, but not like them very much some days. Love is stronger, deeper, and more reliable than mere liking. How difficult it must have been for that Child, born into such a desolate land and people, to look with love upon those who reviled him because of his faith, his ethnicity. How much MORE difficult when the ones who were his own people reviled him because he dared to preach love and forgiveness and not revolution.
Those of us who claim to be followers of that Child, followers of Christ, we have a lot of bad behavior to answer for. We have not listened with our hearts to His call to love. We have let Him down, let each other down, and let the world down. We are NOT called to hate, to sit in judgement, to FORCE others to agree with us, we are called to LOVE. It is the the single most difficult thing I have ever pondered doing. It is even harder in practice. Yes, we are forgiven our sins, IF we repent and recognize that we have done wrong, our resolve to do better will be blessed. He who came and offered Himself for us in love, loves us still. No matter WHAT we have done, it breaks His heart, I am sure, because He loves us, and WANTS that better world for us. The world we would have if we ALL lived by the words given us by the leaders of our faiths. If we live by love.
I do not exempt myself from guilt. I tend to be self-centered, having lived a lot of my childhood with no playmates to speak of, I did not have to learn much about sharing and cooperation until I started school. I am the absolute WORST at thinking of others first, of reacting immediately with love. I do try, I remind myself, I pray for help, but I still fall FAR short. I am still far too judgmental, even if only in my own head. (Our thoughts can and do affect our actions, so ...)
I can only promise that I am TRYING to change. Every single day. For those of you who interact regularly with me, if I have hurt you, failed you, otherwise let you down, I am sorry. I do love you, I care for you, and I don't WANT to hurt you. (Especially my most long-suffering and loving spouse, who loves me in spite of my many, many faults.) My gift to you at this season, and every day of every year is that I will do my utmost to learn to react first from LOVE instead of selfishness.
If all of us try that, maybe, just maybe, the world will be a brighter place.
As for the devastating news that's been circulating lately, of killings and hate, well, it is nothing new. Those of us who were here in Oklahoma City in 1995 can tell you that. Our church was damaged in that act of violence, and that Christmas (and the next) we were stuck worshiping in the parish hall. I wrote a poem about it. I'd like to share it again, if you'll indulge me:
Christmas Eve
By Carolyn Kay Armistead, 1996
The scent of pine needles, incense, and candlewax fill the air.
There is much confusion about the processional, and just who goes where.
But the night is full of magic, wonder and joy
As our Christian family prepares once again to welcome the baby boy.
The baby boy who came into a world of uncertainty and pain,
Who understands how we feel, being in Dean Willey Hall again,
And not in our beautiful Cathedral, with its comfort and sacredness.
He knows how it feels to deal with hatred's harmful effects.
Well He knows our sorrow, our impatience and our pain
And yet He makes us glad to be together, even if in the Hall again.
For He was not born in a fancy palace, or a hospital clean and grand;
But in a lowly stable, with cows, sheep and shepherds close to hand.
If He could be content with a birthplace so quiet and humble;
Who are we to be unhappy with our lot and to grumble?
After all, we are safe and still together, and together we still can sing
The same joyful song of angels, and isn't that the most important thing?
Yes, we still had each other, and that was indeed the most beautiful and important thing. I see many of those same faces in the choir and the congregation this year, and I am so very glad to see them. These are my fellow travelers on this road of faith, this difficult journey of trying to live up to the gift of love we have been given. It wasn't easy then, and it still isn't.
Yes, there is a LOT wrong with this world, there is a lot of hatred and fear. There is also Love. I have found those who love almost everywhere I go, including the Internet and social media. Yes, there are sour and negative and hateful people just about everywhere, but if you look, there's an awful lot of loving and kind ones, too. Let that give you hope this season, and remember, BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE IN THE WORLD. If YOU don't react with love, how will love grow?
Back to that Christmas carol. The next to the last verse says this all so much more succinctly.
"Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep.
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."
(Down, feminists; "men" was an accepted abbreviation for "human". I believe largely because the Greek Anthropos was translated as "man" instead of "human", or "mankind". )
On this longest night of the year, on this very cold day, when the darkness seems so ready to crush us and put us all in the cold, let us light the fourth candle of Advent, the candle of Peace.
To quote an old TV show I happen to be very fond of, let us remember that darkness is merely the absence of light, and all winters end!
Let us resolve to try and BE the light!
LOVE to you and PEACE!
 | |
| The Advent Wreath |
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
There's A Crack In Everything...
A friend posted the quote from Leonard Cohen this morning. "Ring the bells that still will ring, forget your perfect offering. There's a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in."
It is one of my very favorites. It spoke to me especially right after our dog Bear died. It broke my heart. He was such a sweet boy, and had fought through so much in his 13 years on this earth, and I STILL miss him.
Today, though, it fit with my ruminations about music.
There is a true feast of music available to us today. You can search out and find something beautiful to just about any taste. My own musical horizons have been expanded by interactions with friends sharing their favorites online. To think I might not have found Post Modern Jukebox, or Pink Martini; that would have been tragic!
Where the quote comes in is in my own pondering over the recital I will sing in on Sunday. It is the holiday recital given by the voice students of Karen Smith-Pearson. We range in age and skill level all up AND down the spectrum. There are always mistakes. The mistakes aren't a problem. They are beautiful reminders that we are present in a REAL moment, hearing music made LIVE, by people who sing because they LOVE it. When you are the one making the mistakes, though, they feel awful. I especially feel a burden, because I SHOULD be able to give a near-perfect performance. I've been at this a LONG time now. As always in my life though, I just don't have the time or patience with myself to practice as much as I really NEED to. I will practice, I run over the runs in my head, my subconscious chews on the piece constantly. I even hear it in my DREAMS!
The piece I will do my best not to mutilate on Sunday evening is "Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter Of Zion" by Handel. (From The Messiah).
My worries aside, the recital will be wonderful. In this world, we tend to be far too concerned about "perfection" and not nearly concerned enough about the beauty of spontaneous humanity. Music is an expression of the soul, it is not always going to be perfect, especially not if performed with true feeling. Emotions are an important part of humanity, and are reflected in our music. Voices are as individual as we are, there should be NO SUCH THING as Autotune. It is a lie. Live performance, out in the open, exposed, on your own with just the piano, that is a scary, scary place to be if you are not the world's most confident singer. (And I most assuredly am NOT.) I would wager there are some pop sensations out there today who would not do so well in that environment as even our most timid young singer. When you sing like we do at this recital, you are putting yourself out there, warts, flat notes, forgotten lyrics and all for others to hear. In THIS crowd of fellow students, chances are that the more experienced students who sing in the same voice part have done your piece themselves. They know it intimately. They will KNOW when you screw up.
Those who hide behind Autotune and studio fixes would not like this environment. You have to be true, you have to be human, and you have to count on the charity of your fellow humans when you step up to sing at one of our recitals.
Truth is important in this life. It isn't always pretty, sometimes it's painful, but it is the only thing that will stand in the end. It has taken me a long time to figure this out, but I am now content to be who I am, to stand up and sing because I LOVE the music, and I want to share it. I also learned that when you DO step out in sincerity and truth, people respond well for the most part. They honor it, because sincerity is a beautiful thing. Truthfulness is difficult; it leaves you vulnerable. Learning to be vulnerable when you have spent a whole lifetime trying to protect yourself is very hard. A long, slow process. This has been happening for me over the last few years. Friends have noticed. I am more willing to speak up, more open and present in conversation, more willing to forgive others their faults because I have learned that others will forgive me mine. I do not have to be perfect. I just have to be myself.
There are people out there who hide their truth, and lie about themselves constantly. How much they must be hurting to live like that. Perhaps they have tried showing their real selves before, and have been badly hurt. We humans are not always so kind to one another. I know, from hiding, not really lying, just not sharing, who I am how isolating and how difficult life is under those circumstances. You miss SO much, you miss the joy to be found in sharing with others. It's easier to focus on others when they sense you are sincere, and they in turn are relaxed and sharing with you.
One of the things I loved most about Easy Street: The Hard Way, Ron Perlman's memoir, is that he tells it completely in his own voice, no trying to sound like someone he's not, no hiding behind a ghost writer, he puts it all out there.
A favorite quote from his book: "What's the point in having a hero in name only? What good is it to admire someone and not be willing to emulate them and to try to live up to the qualities that made them inspirational to you in the first place? They stood for things that were noble, spoke about the human condition. What good is it to complain about cowardice or the lack of backbone or resolve that you see in others if you're going to do the same things? Whenever I catch myself being hypocritical I chastise myself, have trouble sleeping at night."
This challenged me to be more true to myself, to live more fully into the faith I profess, to stop hiding and start living. Some may say that I am just being a "fangirl", but Mr. Perlman seems more like one of my siblings to me. I have met the man, however briefly, and I know he is the genuine article. He puts himself out there, flaws and all, and ya know what? It makes him loveable. He makes you feel at ease, because he isn't pretending. He genuinely appreciates his fans.
I guess the point of all these ruminations is this: It takes guts to really be ourselves, to step out and do the things we want to do, to stand up for what we really believe. I was timid and content to lurk in the shadows, afraid to let my flaws be seen for so many years, it has taken a lot of work to finally really join the rest of the world.
It takes courage to stand up in front of a bunch of people and sing. I have finally found that courage. It is also important to cherish those flubs, goofs and flaws that make a live performance REAL. They let you know you are HERE, living this moment, this isn't a creation made by a machine. This is REAL. This is HUMAN.
It is one of my very favorites. It spoke to me especially right after our dog Bear died. It broke my heart. He was such a sweet boy, and had fought through so much in his 13 years on this earth, and I STILL miss him.
Today, though, it fit with my ruminations about music.
There is a true feast of music available to us today. You can search out and find something beautiful to just about any taste. My own musical horizons have been expanded by interactions with friends sharing their favorites online. To think I might not have found Post Modern Jukebox, or Pink Martini; that would have been tragic!
Where the quote comes in is in my own pondering over the recital I will sing in on Sunday. It is the holiday recital given by the voice students of Karen Smith-Pearson. We range in age and skill level all up AND down the spectrum. There are always mistakes. The mistakes aren't a problem. They are beautiful reminders that we are present in a REAL moment, hearing music made LIVE, by people who sing because they LOVE it. When you are the one making the mistakes, though, they feel awful. I especially feel a burden, because I SHOULD be able to give a near-perfect performance. I've been at this a LONG time now. As always in my life though, I just don't have the time or patience with myself to practice as much as I really NEED to. I will practice, I run over the runs in my head, my subconscious chews on the piece constantly. I even hear it in my DREAMS!
The piece I will do my best not to mutilate on Sunday evening is "Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter Of Zion" by Handel. (From The Messiah).
My worries aside, the recital will be wonderful. In this world, we tend to be far too concerned about "perfection" and not nearly concerned enough about the beauty of spontaneous humanity. Music is an expression of the soul, it is not always going to be perfect, especially not if performed with true feeling. Emotions are an important part of humanity, and are reflected in our music. Voices are as individual as we are, there should be NO SUCH THING as Autotune. It is a lie. Live performance, out in the open, exposed, on your own with just the piano, that is a scary, scary place to be if you are not the world's most confident singer. (And I most assuredly am NOT.) I would wager there are some pop sensations out there today who would not do so well in that environment as even our most timid young singer. When you sing like we do at this recital, you are putting yourself out there, warts, flat notes, forgotten lyrics and all for others to hear. In THIS crowd of fellow students, chances are that the more experienced students who sing in the same voice part have done your piece themselves. They know it intimately. They will KNOW when you screw up.
Those who hide behind Autotune and studio fixes would not like this environment. You have to be true, you have to be human, and you have to count on the charity of your fellow humans when you step up to sing at one of our recitals.
Truth is important in this life. It isn't always pretty, sometimes it's painful, but it is the only thing that will stand in the end. It has taken me a long time to figure this out, but I am now content to be who I am, to stand up and sing because I LOVE the music, and I want to share it. I also learned that when you DO step out in sincerity and truth, people respond well for the most part. They honor it, because sincerity is a beautiful thing. Truthfulness is difficult; it leaves you vulnerable. Learning to be vulnerable when you have spent a whole lifetime trying to protect yourself is very hard. A long, slow process. This has been happening for me over the last few years. Friends have noticed. I am more willing to speak up, more open and present in conversation, more willing to forgive others their faults because I have learned that others will forgive me mine. I do not have to be perfect. I just have to be myself.
There are people out there who hide their truth, and lie about themselves constantly. How much they must be hurting to live like that. Perhaps they have tried showing their real selves before, and have been badly hurt. We humans are not always so kind to one another. I know, from hiding, not really lying, just not sharing, who I am how isolating and how difficult life is under those circumstances. You miss SO much, you miss the joy to be found in sharing with others. It's easier to focus on others when they sense you are sincere, and they in turn are relaxed and sharing with you.
One of the things I loved most about Easy Street: The Hard Way, Ron Perlman's memoir, is that he tells it completely in his own voice, no trying to sound like someone he's not, no hiding behind a ghost writer, he puts it all out there.
A favorite quote from his book: "What's the point in having a hero in name only? What good is it to admire someone and not be willing to emulate them and to try to live up to the qualities that made them inspirational to you in the first place? They stood for things that were noble, spoke about the human condition. What good is it to complain about cowardice or the lack of backbone or resolve that you see in others if you're going to do the same things? Whenever I catch myself being hypocritical I chastise myself, have trouble sleeping at night."
This challenged me to be more true to myself, to live more fully into the faith I profess, to stop hiding and start living. Some may say that I am just being a "fangirl", but Mr. Perlman seems more like one of my siblings to me. I have met the man, however briefly, and I know he is the genuine article. He puts himself out there, flaws and all, and ya know what? It makes him loveable. He makes you feel at ease, because he isn't pretending. He genuinely appreciates his fans.
I guess the point of all these ruminations is this: It takes guts to really be ourselves, to step out and do the things we want to do, to stand up for what we really believe. I was timid and content to lurk in the shadows, afraid to let my flaws be seen for so many years, it has taken a lot of work to finally really join the rest of the world.
It takes courage to stand up in front of a bunch of people and sing. I have finally found that courage. It is also important to cherish those flubs, goofs and flaws that make a live performance REAL. They let you know you are HERE, living this moment, this isn't a creation made by a machine. This is REAL. This is HUMAN.
Saturday, December 13, 2014
It's Already Time For The THIRD Advent Candle To Be Lit!
This week we light the pink candle, the third candle. Pink, or more properly rose, because this is the week we rejoice and celebrate with joy the coming of the savior.
The liturgy will be a little different, we will of course light the different colored candle, we will be almost ready to move to full-tilt celebration mode that comes on Christmas Eve. (Next Sunday is still a time of solemn preparation, though.)
This reminds me that though the Christmas tree is up and decorated, I still have LOTS to do before Christmas Eve arrives. There is still the small matter of unfinished and unsent Christmas cards, cookies to be made. (Only a few, we can't eat too many, and most of our friends are in similar circumstances!)
The tree went up today, as any of my Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram friends know. I shared a lot of pictures. Meeting all my ornaments again is always fun and full of memories. I also think I felt my Pop hanging around telling me where the bare spots were. We decorated many Christmas trees together over the years. I always miss him at Christmas. He was my Pop, I was his Baby Girl, and he spoiled me. At Christmas he seemed to approve of my singing because I did it at church. He always discouraged the serious pursuit of music or writing, the two things I enjoyed most, because they weren't practical. ( I sometimes wondered if it was because he thought I wasn't very good.)
He loved Christmas more than any other adult I've ever met except for my Uncle Dick, his older brother. They both got almost childlike at Christmas time. It was good to see them share happy memories, because they had so many that weren't so happy. Pop was a teen during the Depression. Even his relatively well-off Grandfather, who was a physician, was for the most part paid in farm produce by his patients during those years. At least they had enough food...
On another subject, I have found new music to listen to, not Holiday music, but many renditions of Burns' songs, which I love. The artist is Dougie MacLean. I found him because my friend Gillian mentioned him to me on Facebook. Gorgeous stuff. Relaxing. Here's a link to Ae Fond Kiss It's my favorite of Burns' songs. This is a lovely rendition. Thanks, Gill! ;-)
My sister has taken to buying me the "Beauty of Birds" ornaments that I collect each year. She is carrying on the fine tradition all of them started when I was little. She spoils me. Still. Even though we are both grown-ups now. Now, I have several more special memories of trips to Mom's to help Susie with the yard work that I bring out and polish as I hang the ornaments on the tree.
 | |||
| This year's Beauty of Birds Ornament |
As Bing sang "It's not the things you do at Christmas time, but the Christmas things you do the whole year through."
 |
| This year's tree. |
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
As The Second Week of Advent Begins
I STILL haven't started on the Christmas Cards, and I have not done any more decorating. This year, things feel like they are really getting away from me. There are no lists made, so I am adrift.
Yesterday, I did a bit more decorating. The Christmas cards are still sitting untouched on the corner of my desk. There are songs I should rehearse, for a recital is coming. I should think about the few gifts I intend to buy, and the tree still needs to go up.
There has been a bit of bah, humbug! about our house this year. We do not have children, so there's no one counting on us to do the holidays up big. However, we DO have our small traditions, and I will likely put up the tree, we will have a good dinner on Christmas Eve, probably smoked brisket this year, and we will go sing at church as usual.
Yesterday, I did a bit more decorating. The Christmas cards are still sitting untouched on the corner of my desk. There are songs I should rehearse, for a recital is coming. I should think about the few gifts I intend to buy, and the tree still needs to go up.
There has been a bit of bah, humbug! about our house this year. We do not have children, so there's no one counting on us to do the holidays up big. However, we DO have our small traditions, and I will likely put up the tree, we will have a good dinner on Christmas Eve, probably smoked brisket this year, and we will go sing at church as usual.
I have been trying new things lately. I've found a stylus that actually works with the Android phone and both tablets. Since it makes typing on the phone easier, I am using it to test the mobile Blogger app for this post. I can add photos directly from the phone this way, I hope.
I have added photos of the Christmas lights, the decorations up in the house so far, (including Baby Jesus hiding out in the shot glass in the drawer of the liquor cabinet so we don't lose him before Christmas Eve.) There's also a shot of tonight's sunset with pretty contrails through the clouds, and a picture of these styluses . (Styli?)
I have added photos of the Christmas lights, the decorations up in the house so far, (including Baby Jesus hiding out in the shot glass in the drawer of the liquor cabinet so we don't lose him before Christmas Eve.) There's also a shot of tonight's sunset with pretty contrails through the clouds, and a picture of these styluses . (Styli?)
That's about all I got tonight. More as the season progresses.
 |
| Sunset from the library parking lot this evening. Lovely bright contrails. |
 |
| The Christmas lights this year. |
 |
| Decorations here |
 |
| Decorations there, |
 |
| Decorations on the mantle, |
 |
| Manger on the piano, awaiting Baby Jesus |
 |
| Baby Jesus waiting safely in the liquor cabinet until Christmas Eve |
 | |||||
| The beautiful, useful styli. Also ballpoint pens. |
So, now that I have saved what I typed on the phone, I had to come back to the desktop interface to finish it up properly for posting. I could post short bits from the phone, with maybe one picture, but for my usual posts, the desktop with my trusty keyboard and more powerful text editor are going to be my tools of choice.
As for the Christmas decorations and our unusual seasonal ennui, I guess I'll just have to work on it!
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Found Poems Quickly Posted
Vanity
By C.K. Armistead
December 2014
Vanity
Suffering for fashion
Yet most of the time
There is no pain
And I feel so good
About myself
The extra time
And slight pain
Become very much worth it.
Exercise
Working hard
Sweating
Challenging my body
Pulls the excess pounds off
Makes me stronger
Helps my singing
Makes me feel good
AND look good.
Passing Time
By C.K. Armistead
Once, time seemed endless
So many, many years
Spread out before me.
Time enough to dream
And make dreams come true.
Now, days seem far too shrot
TIme has collapsed
Dreams are a luxury
The ones realized
A tremendous gift.
So many things still to do
Books to read,
Poems to write,
Places to explore,
People to meet.
I fear my idle nature
Has left me
With too little time
And too few resources
To get it all done...
A Poem That Begged to Be Written
By C.K Armistead 12/4/2014
What year is it?
And how is it that
Young black men still die
For no good reason
At the hands of those
Whose authority
We are supposed to trust?
Why is it that no one
Is brought to account
For breaking that trust?
Is this the Old South,
The age of Jim Crow
Come again to mock
Our assertions of Liberty
And Justice for ALL?
It cannot be so.
Laws abolished that
Abomination.
And yet...
The shame that should be
Behind us
Appears to face us again.
The ugliness of hate
Dares show itself
Among us.
Old wounds ripped open
And salt rubbed on them.
What of those like
Rosa Parks, Dr. King,
President Kennedy,
Robert Kennedy,
And many others
Who fought the injustice
And brought the changes
We had seen?
Were their sacrifices,
Their very lives,
In vain?
Shouldn't Justice now
Be something ALL
Can count on?
Shouldn't EVERYONE
Be free
To walk about without
Fear?
For if ANY are denied Justice,
If ANY are treated
With disdain and
Subjected to such
Terrors
We ALL are.
NONE are safe.
And those of us who still dare
To dream of this land
As free and fair
Weep for that dream
Still deferred.
By C.K. Armistead
December 2014
Vanity
Suffering for fashion
Yet most of the time
There is no pain
And I feel so good
About myself
The extra time
And slight pain
Become very much worth it.
Exercise
Working hard
Sweating
Challenging my body
Pulls the excess pounds off
Makes me stronger
Helps my singing
Makes me feel good
AND look good.
Passing Time
By C.K. Armistead
Once, time seemed endless
So many, many years
Spread out before me.
Time enough to dream
And make dreams come true.
Now, days seem far too shrot
TIme has collapsed
Dreams are a luxury
The ones realized
A tremendous gift.
So many things still to do
Books to read,
Poems to write,
Places to explore,
People to meet.
I fear my idle nature
Has left me
With too little time
And too few resources
To get it all done...
A Poem That Begged to Be Written
By C.K Armistead 12/4/2014
What year is it?
And how is it that
Young black men still die
For no good reason
At the hands of those
Whose authority
We are supposed to trust?
Why is it that no one
Is brought to account
For breaking that trust?
Is this the Old South,
The age of Jim Crow
Come again to mock
Our assertions of Liberty
And Justice for ALL?
It cannot be so.
Laws abolished that
Abomination.
And yet...
The shame that should be
Behind us
Appears to face us again.
The ugliness of hate
Dares show itself
Among us.
Old wounds ripped open
And salt rubbed on them.
What of those like
Rosa Parks, Dr. King,
President Kennedy,
Robert Kennedy,
And many others
Who fought the injustice
And brought the changes
We had seen?
Were their sacrifices,
Their very lives,
In vain?
Shouldn't Justice now
Be something ALL
Can count on?
Shouldn't EVERYONE
Be free
To walk about without
Fear?
For if ANY are denied Justice,
If ANY are treated
With disdain and
Subjected to such
Terrors
We ALL are.
NONE are safe.
And those of us who still dare
To dream of this land
As free and fair
Weep for that dream
Still deferred.
Monday, December 1, 2014
Of Books, Birthday Cards, Backaches, and Advent
I am almost done with the cataloging of the physical books I own. In fact, before I post this tonight, I will have finished the cookbooks. (I'm taking a break, see "Backaches" mentioned above.)
There are over 900 books so far. I am not cataloging the books in Matt's office. That's HIS job, if he wants to do it. There are almost 300 books on my Nook reader, and I have no idea which ones may already be in the database because I put them in Goodreads when I read them. Just going to have to type those ISBNs in and see what I get.
I have an AWFUL lot of books about writing. I have a lot of books on prayer, too. Of course, I have a LOT of music books, too. The cookbook collection trumps them all, though. I have two bookcases in the dining room full of cookbooks. I also have several cookbooks on my Nook. The ones on the Nook are nice because you can keyword search the contents. EASY to find a recipe. Downside is, gotta find a way to protect the device while you use it in the kitchen. Not usually too big a deal. If I know it's going to be a situation where flour will be flying, or there may be splatters, I put the Nook on the far side of the peninsula, or on the dining table, and I walk over and write down the next few steps so as to avoid damage.
Back from finishing the cookbooks. Database book count now at 1,013. That is all of the physical books, plus a few digital ones. Now for the Birthday Cards.
I make the cards for the staff birthdays at the library where I work. My Hallmark Card Software updated today, so along with the cards I feel qualified (ie I know the people well enough) to make custom, I have new prefab cards to choose from. It is refreshing to be able to access new content. Sometimes I just can't come up with a good custom card, even when I know the person pretty well. Can't make the idea work, usually. I try to touch on their hobbies or favorite entertainers when I make cards. I'll be back when I finish the cards for December birthdays, I HOPE!
I made it! It isn't even midnight yet! Yay! All the December birthday cards are done. Including a couple that I apparently didn't need to make for a couple of our police officers who used to work security for us. Hmm. Oh, well, I can still have people sign the one card and I'll mail it to the police station.
My back feels a lot better now that I'm no longer crawling around on the floor pulling books off bottom shelves, scanning them, and putting them back. My left leg hurts, but that's the way I've been sitting here.
It is officially Advent. The season of preparation for Christmas in the more liturgical Christian traditions. (Catholic, Episcopalian, some Lutheran, some Methodist, and some Presbyterian congregations.) At our house, it means that Christmas decorations trickle in slowly. Today, I put the December quilt square on the door in the entry hall. It was made by my Mom and is hand quilted. It's a wreath, very seasonal. Tomorrow, the jingly bells that go on the doorknobs may show up, and maybe some stuffed animals. I like to prepare carefully for Christmas, not rush it. We don't do it up really big anymore, but we have friends and special food, and we put up the tree eventually. No kids in our house, so it's easier to be more meditative about it.
The one thing that may panic me is, I haven't done Christmas cards yet! Gotta get on that, I used to always do them the day after Thanksgiving, but this year, I had The Book Cataloging Project.
The hour grows late, it's cold in here, and I am more than tired.
If you stuck with me this far, I thank you.
There are over 900 books so far. I am not cataloging the books in Matt's office. That's HIS job, if he wants to do it. There are almost 300 books on my Nook reader, and I have no idea which ones may already be in the database because I put them in Goodreads when I read them. Just going to have to type those ISBNs in and see what I get.
I have an AWFUL lot of books about writing. I have a lot of books on prayer, too. Of course, I have a LOT of music books, too. The cookbook collection trumps them all, though. I have two bookcases in the dining room full of cookbooks. I also have several cookbooks on my Nook. The ones on the Nook are nice because you can keyword search the contents. EASY to find a recipe. Downside is, gotta find a way to protect the device while you use it in the kitchen. Not usually too big a deal. If I know it's going to be a situation where flour will be flying, or there may be splatters, I put the Nook on the far side of the peninsula, or on the dining table, and I walk over and write down the next few steps so as to avoid damage.
Back from finishing the cookbooks. Database book count now at 1,013. That is all of the physical books, plus a few digital ones. Now for the Birthday Cards.
I make the cards for the staff birthdays at the library where I work. My Hallmark Card Software updated today, so along with the cards I feel qualified (ie I know the people well enough) to make custom, I have new prefab cards to choose from. It is refreshing to be able to access new content. Sometimes I just can't come up with a good custom card, even when I know the person pretty well. Can't make the idea work, usually. I try to touch on their hobbies or favorite entertainers when I make cards. I'll be back when I finish the cards for December birthdays, I HOPE!
I made it! It isn't even midnight yet! Yay! All the December birthday cards are done. Including a couple that I apparently didn't need to make for a couple of our police officers who used to work security for us. Hmm. Oh, well, I can still have people sign the one card and I'll mail it to the police station.
My back feels a lot better now that I'm no longer crawling around on the floor pulling books off bottom shelves, scanning them, and putting them back. My left leg hurts, but that's the way I've been sitting here.
It is officially Advent. The season of preparation for Christmas in the more liturgical Christian traditions. (Catholic, Episcopalian, some Lutheran, some Methodist, and some Presbyterian congregations.) At our house, it means that Christmas decorations trickle in slowly. Today, I put the December quilt square on the door in the entry hall. It was made by my Mom and is hand quilted. It's a wreath, very seasonal. Tomorrow, the jingly bells that go on the doorknobs may show up, and maybe some stuffed animals. I like to prepare carefully for Christmas, not rush it. We don't do it up really big anymore, but we have friends and special food, and we put up the tree eventually. No kids in our house, so it's easier to be more meditative about it.
The one thing that may panic me is, I haven't done Christmas cards yet! Gotta get on that, I used to always do them the day after Thanksgiving, but this year, I had The Book Cataloging Project.
The hour grows late, it's cold in here, and I am more than tired.
If you stuck with me this far, I thank you.
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