The Birthday/Anniversary Bash

September birthday people

Above are me, my grandson, my daughter, and my son. We made our reservation for 4:00 PM so the restaurant wouldn't be crowded, because we are a large group, and we tend to be a tad rowdy - to say the least. And never let it be said that we can get together without a little excitement. My daughter arrived missing one of her boys. He went to spend the night with a friend and let his phone battery die. While he and his friend were out riding their bikes, it was time for my daughter to leave to come to Thibodaux, and he could not be reached, so she left him. We all missed my 13 year old grandson, but this isn't the first time he does this sort of thing, and he needed a lesson. As we say in my family, tant pis.



The crowd

My other son, who did not have a birthday this month (September is too full of celebrations, so we put them all together!) arranged the gathering, and it was nicely done. Because of miscommunication (a common family failing), we had two birthday cakes instead of one, but that turned out well, because we had a choice between a dark chocolate cake with chocolate icing and a doberge cake, white with white icing, garnished with fresh blueberries and strawberries, both of which were delicious.



Another view of the crowd

Most of us in the family talk quite a lot, so there is much vying for the floor and talking over each another. If you don't insist on your turn to talk, you won't have it. Grandpère is deaf in one ear, and he won't get a hearing aid. It's hard on the rest of us, but it doesn't bother him at all. My daughter-in-law, son, and I were sitting on the side of Grandpère's bad ear, and we had a fine time talking about him without his ever being aware of it, sort of as payback for all the times he makes us repeat ourselves because he won't get help. I'm deaf, too, but at least I wear two hearing aids and help myself as much as I can. Once he caught something we said and asked if we were talking about him, and we all burst out laughing and said we had been talking about him for quite a while. I know. We're wicked.

Anyway, a good time was had by all, except for the missing grandson. Maybe he will learn to stay in touch. He's a sweet boy. He called me tonight to apologize for not being here. Maybe next year....

UPDATE: A note from my daughter on Facebook:

Dinner was sooo much fun yesterday. We really do have a crazy family but that is what makes it fun!

Indeed!

In Thanksgiving For Blessings Of The Day

Yesterday, I was outside talking to our young friend, who so suddenly lost his father. Our neighbor was there along with Grandpère. The neighbor and GP went into the fenced-in part of the yard and did not secure the gate. As some of you may know, our dog, Diana, is not very obedient, and she hates cats. If she gets out of the yard, she will go after cats. I rushed to close the gate properly and walked smack into the long hitch on the back of GP's truck and fell onto the concrete driveway, hitting my hip and my knees and twisting my ankle slightly. Damned hitch!

At 75 years of age, falls can be dangerous, but - Thanks be to God! - today I have only slight aches and pains and a slight swelling in my ankle. When I think what could have happened, I am humbled. Last night, I was hurting more than today, and I could not fall asleep even though I had taken extra-strength Tylenol. I spent my time reading Angela Ashes, which I am about three-quarters through. When I finally went to sleep, I woke up late and missed not only my Sunday school class, "Living the Questions", which I love, but I missed church, too. I rarely miss church, since I enjoy church and go with wings on my feet, but today I didn't make the flight.

In lieu of church I read Morning Prayer from The Mission of St. Clare. What a blessing to have access to the site. They even provide karaoke accompaniment, so I can sing along.

Grandpère is really down today, since he lives his life in denial that he will die one day, and he's having to face the sudden death of a friend who was only 58 years old, which brings to mind the reality that the death rate is 100% and includes him.

Later today, our family will meet at a local restaurant to celebrate the four birthdays and the one anniversary that fall in September. We celebrate birthdays for my grandson who will turn 18, for my daughter who will be 41, for my son who will be 45, and for me. I have already passed the three-quarters of a century mark on this good earth, which I find absolutely amazing.

Today my heart is full of gratitude for my family and for only slight injuries as the result of my fall. Sometimes I think I have a guardian angel.

Headline Of The Day

Catholic U. wins grant to convert nuclear waste

From The State

Thanks to Lapin.

"Brief (I Promise) Update On Myron"

From Sue:

Hello Everyone,

It is a beautiful autumnish day here in the Northeast and there is good news. Myron is off the ventilator!! He is receiving oxygen through the trach tube but is no longer ventilator dependent. The physical therapist had him sitting up on the edge of the bed yesterday afternoon also. I'm quite sure that felt good to be upright for a change. Ones back sure gets tired of being in the prone position even if you are turned from side to side.

The trip to Bryn Mawr Rehab Center is now in the very near future, The left side is still not functioning, and the therapist told Maryann that injuries to the brain such as Myron's take 6 months to a year to heal.

So there you have it. Brief as promised.

Thanks be to God for all of these small miracles!

If You Can Spare A Prayer...

please pray for the family of a young friend of ours. His father, aged in his late 50s, died suddenly of an apparent heart attack on Thursday. There was no known history of heart disease.

Our friend's father and mother had both retired, and the two did everything together. They were not like Grandpère and me, with certain interests in common and others in which we went our separate ways. They shared a great many interests and did EVERYTHING together. The wife will miss her husband terribly.

Please pray especially for the wife and also for our friend and his two sisters and all the friends and family of the man who passed. He was an excellent cook, and he sometimes shared with us samples of his culinary art. He was a fine man in every way.

O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our brother. We thank you for giving him to us, his family and friends, to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth, until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Book of Common Prayer, p. 493)

The Episcopal Church Is A Hierarchical Church

Mark Harris posted a link to an affidavit by Professor Bruce Mullin which provides expert testimony for the court in Fort Worth on behalf of The Episcopal Church. I've previously posted several fillers for your amusement, as I do my homework and read the 57 pages of the affidavit by Prof. Mullin on the history of the polity of the Episcopal Church.

Prof. Mullin writes in a clear and easy-to-understand style. So far, I'm about halfway through the document, but it seems plain to me that TEC is a hierarchical church and was so from the beginning. I don't know what sideline issues are introduced by those who argue that they have a right to the property when they leave TEC, but they would seem to me to be simply diversions and distractions. Of course, I'm no legal expert, nor am I an expert on the polity of TEC, but in my opinion, to conclude that TEC is anything other that a hierarchical church would be to go against reason and common sense.

I believe this document to be of great value and not only in the case of the faux diocese versus the real Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth.

UPDATE: I read the entire affidavit and found it to be quite interesting and persuasive. I learned a good deal about the history of the polity of the Episcopal church that I did not know. Now if only someone could persuade the Archbishop of Canterbury to read the document, it might help him to understand the workings of the Episcopal Church, if he cares to understand.

Why am I doing this. Next I'll be reading the entire text of the Constitutions and Canons of TEC.

I was amused by these words in the text:


Have a care there, you priests amongst us. We're watching you.

Old Medical Equipment

 

This picture and description is probably TOO MUCH for my sedate blog, but it made me laugh out loud for quite a spell, so, you know, I had to post it.

From the usual suspect.

Story Of The Day - Right Accessory

Sometimes you just need the right
accessory, she said & I said I know,
sometimes it takes me an hour to pick
the right head & she just ignored me.


From StoryPeople.

Some We May Have Seen. Still Funny?

It's not for me to say. If they're not, don't blame me. Blame Doug.


I have kleptomania,
But when it gets bad,
I take something for it.

Sometimes too much to drink isn't enough.

Suicidal twin kills sister by mistake!

My short-term memory's not as sharp as it used to be.
Also, my short-term memory is not as sharp as it used
To be.

In just two days from now,
Tomorrow will be yesterday.

A bartender is just a pharmacist
With a limited inventory

The statement below is true.
The statement above is false.

I am a Nobody.
Nobody is Perfect.
Therefore I am Perfect.

I LOVE COOKING WITH WINE
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

Money isn't everything,
But it sure keeps the kids in touch.

Reality is only an illusion that
Occurs due to a lack of alcohol.

I am having an out-of-money experience.

Don't sweat the petty things.
Don't pet the sweaty things.

Corduroy pillows are making headlines!

I want to die while asleep like my grandfather,
Not screaming in terror like the passengers in his car.

The Real Magnificent Seven Bishops...

...speak out on social justice. From Episcopal Life:

Bishops representing 200,000 Episcopalians from Maine to California made the case for health care and immigration reform, and stricter environmental protection on Capitol Hill Sept. 16.

Together as "Bishops Working for a Just World" and organized by the Episcopal Public Policy Network's capitol-based Office of Government Relations, the seven bishops, guided by General Convention resolutions, made their annual trip to Washington, D.C., Sept. 14-16 to lobby Congress, meeting with more than 30 elected officials and/or their legislative staffs, on behalf of the Episcopal Church.

"Our involvement says that it's appropriate for Christians to be involved in conversation about social issues and bring an informed, theological perspective to the discussion," said Diocese of Connecticut Bishop James E. Curry, the group's convener. "We [bishops] model that, and I could make the case that that is more important than taking a stand [on a specific issue]."
....

Though the congressional visits centered on the bishops' requests for universal, affordable, quality health care for all Americans; comprehensive immigration reform grounded in family unity; and support for the climate bill, the recent infusion of incivility the health care debate has inserted into politics and public discourse entered the discussion.

Read the report from ENS.

The "Magnificent Seven" bishops are:

Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut Bishop James E. Curry
Episcopal Diocese of Newark Bishop Mark Beckwith
Episcopal Diocese of Maine Bishop Stephen Lane
Episcopal Diocese of Maryland Bishop Eugene T. Sutton
Episcopal Diocese of Washington Bishop John Chane
Episcopal Diocese of Rochester Bishop Prince Singh
Episcopal Diocese of California Bishop Marc Andrus

Bravo, Bishops! You do the work of the Lord when you advocate for the least amongst us. You are disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ who follow the way of the Gospel. Thank you. You make me proud to be an Episcopalian.

H/T to Andrew Gerns at The Lead.