Copland at St. James, Chicago

The Episcopal cathedral in Chicago, St. James, is presenting Aaron Copland's "Appalachian Spring" as originally written (for 13 instruments) late this afternoon. Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Lyric Opera comprise the ensemble. The concert, which begins at 5:45, is preceded by a reception with light refreshments which begins a half hour earlier. Running time of the piece is twenty minutes and folks at the cathedral say the program is expected to wrap up by six fifteen p.m. St James Cathedral is located at 65 E. Huron Street, and the telephone number is (312)787-7360. The concert and reception are free and open to the public.

Found!

Late this afternoon my calendar emerged from way at the bottom of a decent sized pile of photo boxes I've been trying not to go through. I'm assuming it just got naturally stacked there: bottom line, I'm very glad to have it back in my hands. The very few things I need to jot down should make it in by the end of the week.

Have a great night, all.

Sigh -- an Entire Summer Down the Tubes?

Hold a thought for my paper calendar, which has gone South! I'm confident it's just under a pile of papers, but you never know ...

Meanwhile, if I've made a commitment to you that you consider crucial, please contact me by phone, email or in person so you can be sure I'll be where I said I'd be when I said I'd be.

Thanks.

The Quote I Never Used -- a Gutless Gut Check Time for a Former Reporter and Editor

"Give it to some crippled children." Respecting a man for what he says is important, not how politically correctly he says it.

The one I wish I'd never said: "You have enough bling to go with that?"

Oh, and don't tell me it's for a favor, or that it's a press release from somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody. Is it a story? Is it worth telling? Is it true??? That's all I want and wanted to know. That's what I used to write.

Overdue Thanks

I have not used the gifts, most of them, from the Christmas before my sister left to take a teaching job in Florida. They are sitting in a pile waiting for a slew of thank-you notes for which I simply do not have the words. I will say this, though: Rarely have I felt more cherished, more appreciated and more simply understood than I did on that day. I was surrounded by people who constitute my family -- not all of them, but the core minus Jackie and hers. I really felt everyone went out of their way to make that a memory we can all cherish. Maybe what meant most to me, besides being surrounded by Mom, Beth, Lauren & Joss -- and a bit of snow -- was that Joss (Jonathan) made it a point to come over so his mom could make him mashed potatoes. They were very tasty, and sometimes food does equal love, though one shouldn't stuff oneself overfull. I haven't even delved into the thoughtfully chosen book of novellas with critical essays: I think I felt the hand of both my sis and Lauren and Jonathan's dad in that. I'll never be able to explain how very much all of that meant to me. Sometimes it's the being there that is the most important thing, but the gifts, too, made me feel cherished. I love all of you family types of mine, and regret that I end up feeling so isolated from you for one reason or another.

-----

The unfortunate name which my little beastling dog ended up carrying (accidental insults abound through it -- she just didn't look like a "Gracie," and I didn't have the heart to fully change her name as I felt she'd already been through too much) calls to mind the first person for whom my own dad ever named a dog.

That man, Andrew I. Kane, is suffering the loss of his wife, Jean M. Kane, and we all suffer for loss of her. I was physically incapacitated as the undertaker's widow drove my mother through a bad, bad rainstorm to be there about two weeks ago at Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Church in North Wales, Pennsylvania. I'm not intent upon imposing my religion, culture or worldview on anyone, but I do want to capture the details of her service here if not for you, then at least for me to come back to at a later time to get an idea of Mrs. Kane's legacy and lasting impact on this world. We've all got 'em.

If you'll indulge me, I'm just going to type:

Jean M. Kane

Entered This Life: October 6, 1935

Born to Eternal Life: May 10, 2014


Those we love remain with us/for love itself lives on,/and cherished memories never fade/because a loved one's gone./Those we love can never be more/than a thought apart,/For as long as there is memory,/they'll live on in the heart.


Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Church

North Wales, Pennsylvania

Friday May 16, 2014

10:30 a.m.


Footprints

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord./Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky./In each scene I noticed the footprints in the sand./Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,/other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed/that during the low period of my life,/when I was suffering from/anguish, sorrow or deteat,/I could only see one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,/"You promised me Lord/that if I followed you,/you would walk with me always./But I have noticed that during hte most trying periods of my life/there have only been one set of footprints in the sand./Why, when I needed you the most, have you not been there for me?"

The Lord replied,/"The times when you have only seen one set of footprints in the sand is when I have carried you." -Mary Stevenson


Funeral Mass

Reverend William J. Teverzcuk

Entrance Hymn: How Great Thou Art

First Reading: Revelations 21:1-5a,6b-7, read by Matthew A. Taormina

Responsorial Psalm

Second Reading: Thessalonians 4:13-18, read by Patrick J. Taormina

Gospel

General Intercesions read by Kathryn K. Taormina

Presentation of Gifts: Amazing Grace

Communion Hymn: I Am the Bread of Life

Meditation Hymn: Ave Maria

Words of Remembrance delivered by Andrew J. Matin

Recessional Hymn: On Eagles Wings

It is my shame and mine alone that I was not strong enough to make it there, and my worse shame still that I do not have the words that can console Andy or his daughters. I am unafraid to say that I love them; that they were an indelible, sparkling part of my childhood and that I feel the lack of them sharply. It's like losing two pints of blood each time someone I love passes or someone I love suffers loss.

I will deal with the death of my own father one of these days, one of these days soon I hope. I know for certain that he wouldn't be pleased at how hard I've taken his passing, though of course everybody needs to be remembered and everyone likes to know they're missed -- that they've made an impact.

For my part in the meantime I will do my best to be cheerful and to be good. Most importantly, I will try not to be such as Cassandra -- though I will warn people and admonish them as conscience dictates. Hypocrisy is a always a risk when one feels the need to share one's views with another: that is something I'm going to strive to minimize, too. Sometimes there's a veritable sheet of sheetrock covering both of my eyes that I really should peel away before I presume to tell the rest of the world, if I even do, how to conduct its business.

Try to be patient with me if you read these words. It may not always look like it from where any one given person is standing, but I really am trying my best here in all I do.

The New York Post's Take on Bergdahl

the New York Post's take on last known POW

U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Berghdal, taken by the Taliban in 2009, has been freed according to multiple media sources. Our only POW of the Afghanistan war, his release was effected by a swap for several Guantanamo Bay detainees.

Don't Blame the Chicken!

Thanks go to Paul Cantin for sharing this knockout Little Feat mellow goodness. Gotta love "Dixie Chicken," especially with a lineup like this -- live in 1977 on The Midnight Special.

Thanks -- Christmas 2013/2014

Too much! That is all I can say to those who felt the need to spoil me this year. TOO much. But thank you.

Last year, I missed one sis as I was spoiled with attention and great kindness while snowed in with the other. This year, there wasn't much of me to go around -- and Mom and Pete did too much! Much of it is going back. I missed seeing the Marches and only saw one Pirkey (LOVE her!!), but I did split the day among time spent traveling with Pete, hanging with Mom and convalescing alone. Jackie made my day by sending back the sweetest pie from the celebration Mom was, I am so glad to report, well enough to attend!!!

I'm only a small part of what is essentially an opportunity to rekindle love in our hearts, tenderness in our relationships and peace in our communities and the world. I need for nothing and want for little. That having been said, I was happy to be able to buy myself a planning calendar and Santa Barbara (ha -- I wish) is only going to have to fill in from the extravaganza by picking up some indigo or navy Rit dye, some ink refills and looseleaf paper and dropping off or mailing a few late gifts. That's an embarrassingly short list, and there's nothing there I cannot live without! Sadly, only a few cards went out and those were a dog's breakfast, so please consider this yours and consider yourself lucky if you didn't get one. In addition to the family around me, I am grateful that 2013 was the first year I was able to knit a hat, and I was thrilled to be able to take two small trips out of the area -- one to Lake Placid (cool place, and I want to go back) and one to Chicago (I feel the same way about it). I do wish the joy of Christmas to hold you close all year long, and I hope that you, wherever you are, have a new year filled with friends, family, freedom and fulfillment.

The best gift from any of you would be actual snail mail correspondence -- a hobby I hope to revive, at least for myself, throughout 2014. If you don't have my address and would like it, please reach out through the contact link on this blog.

Help Wanted -- Storm Edition

For your practical help and general edification it might help to know this: If you're out of work, there is some work out there to do. Terra landscaping and hardscaping employees report that their company pays $20 an hour and often there's a need to hire when crews cannot or do not show up during snow and ice storms. Other companies are likely in the same boat and willing to take on capable hard workers. Check your Yellow Pages for landscaping companies. If it's Terra that you want, its local address to my part of the Delaware Valley is 3481 Germantown Pike; Collegeville, PA 19426. My sense is that showing up or just talking to the guys in the landscaping truck might be the best way to snag one of these jobs. Terra's number, though, should be in the book.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and much health and happiness to all in 2014!