A CIRCUMSCRIBED LIFE

Yesterday morning, far too early and before I was fully functional, a cousin whom I haven't heard from in a long time called. I don't much care for talking on the phone at the best of times, but never when I'm just waking up. My cousin said she was giving a presentation and wanted to know which of the men in a copy of a photo of two Confederate soldier brothers in uniform was our common ancestor.

She then asked how we were, and I asked how she was, and she said that she had a pacemaker but was otherwise fine and always on the go, with club meetings, her garden club and the Catholic Daughters and such. She is two years older than I am, but she must have a great deal more energy than I do.

She asked me what I was up to, and I said I was a bit of a hermit, that my socializing was confined mainly to my immediate family, children and grandchildren, an occasional lunch with a friend, going to church, and that I enjoyed the internet. She said, "I never use a computer." All right, then.

When the phone call was over, I told Tom I felt sort of sad, because my life seemed so circumscribed compared to hers. And then, I said, "Wait! I never participated in any of that sort of activity when I was young!" I am not a joiner; the only club I've ever belonged to was a literary club, but, when the quality of the books we read deteriorated, I withdrew.

I never asked my cousin where she was giving her presentation, because, as I've said, I was not yet fully functional, but I wondered afterward if the Daughters of the Confederacy was another one of her clubs.

Maybe I need a pacemaker.

IT'S STILL CHRISTMAS - 8

Not eight ladies dancing maids a-milking, but six ladies all in a row.  My grandmother, Aimée, is in the center with her five daughters, from left to right, Eva, May (Aimée), Gladys, Irma, and Pearl (my mother).  Eva and Irma lived in Reno, Nevada, so they must have come to New Orleans for a visit.  My mother and my Aunt May look so young.  My grandmother always looked old to me, I'm sad to say, probably even before she  was old.  She dressed in the old-fashioned way with long dresses, lisle stockings, and sensible, lace-up shoes. 

The young lady pictured above is ready to dance.  My granddaughter was three or four years old in the picture and wears one of her costumes for her dancing school recital.  I sat through the recitals for my sister, my daughter, and my granddaughter.  As a child, I enjoyed my sister's dance recitals, but, as an adult, the recitals with performances by many youngsters seemed endless.  My sister was a talented dancer and danced through high school, but my daughter and granddaughter took dance lessons for only a few years.  Thank heaven for small mercies.

I'm running out of material for the twelve days of Christmas, with still more days to fill.  I should have stuck with the song.

UPDATE: My grandparents had seven children in all, five daughters and two sons. 

BLOGGING LESS - PRAYER REQUEST

Due to increased family responsibilities, I've been posting much less lately. I ask your continued prayers for my extended family, children and grandchildren, who are in situations where much prayer is needed for strength and courage under difficult circumstances. These are not situations open to drastic change, only to change for the better in relationships within the constraints of present circumstances. I know you understand why I cannot go into detail, nor can I mention names, but God knows the names and the needs, and I trust that God will hear and respond to our prayers.

Also, I seem to be spending an inordinate amount of time on maintenance of my old body, with doctor visits, medical tests, upcoming dental appointments, all crowding in on me in a brief period of time, thus leaving me with less free time to spend online.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who sets us in families: We commend to your continual care the homes in which your people dwell. Put far from them, we ask you, every root of bitterness and the pride of life. Fill them with faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness. Knit together in constant affection the members of the families. Turn the hearts of the parents to the children, and the hearts of the children to the parents; and so enkindle fervent charity among us all, that we may evermore be kind and loving one to another; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the joy and care of children: Give us calm strength and patient wisdom as we bring them up, that we may teach them to love whatever is just and true and good, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

(The first prayer is a paraphrase from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church, and the second is a direct quote.)

Image 'borrowed' from my dear friend, Paul the BB.

PLEASE PRAY...

From David@Montreal:

beloved Giants
grounds for gratitude: my dear Mam who will be 90 this November woke from a nap to incapacitating pain in her back, yesterday after getting back from Church.unable to get out of her chair, there was a phone within reach and she called one of my sisters who lives out in the burbs near her and who has a car.
taken to the hospital, turns out she has a fractured spine, has been given medication for the pain and is staying with one of my four sisters overnight.
at her age it could have been a lot worse, so i am profoundly grateful.

i will be going out tomorrow to spend the day with Mam and get a better idea of what we need to do to support her during her convalesence.
in the meantime, I would also beg your prayers for the people of Syria and most particularly for the people of Homs who are being bombarded mercilessly by the tyrant, 24/7
a Muslim friend asks that you ask not only that the people of Syria be delivered, but that the extreme violence which has been inflicted on the people of Syria become a teaching moment for the Islamic leadership.

thank-you my beloved Giants
love always-always Love

From me:

For members of my family who are going through a difficult time.

For positive results from medical tests for me. (Don't worry - nothing life-threatening.)

A Prayer of St. Chrysostom

Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfil now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.

(Book of Common Prayer)

Image at the head of post courtesy of Paul the BB.

CHRISTMAS 2010

In the kitchen

That's Grandpère over the stove and my daughter over the sink and two grandsons. Andrew, in the red cap, cooked a tasty noodles and cheese dish. He thinks he may want to be a chef.

Oh, and I forgot little Gino, the Maltese, in front of the refrigerator.

 

The Gang of Five

My 18 year old grandson is not in the photo. And, of course, certain of the gang must be silly when a photograph is being taken.

 

Oyster casserole (for Cathy)

Cathy asked for a picture of my oyster casserole, which is not much to look at but is delicious, if I say so myself. The recipe is for a stuffing for a turkey, but we had prime rib and leg of lamb, instead of turkey, so the dish ended up as a casserole. The dish is tastier when cooked inside a turkey but is still excellent as a casserole. To die for, if I'm honest, and is in great demand in the family, stuffed in the turkey or not.