Thanks be to God. I still can't see clearly yet, but I'm told that will come.
To folks who said the surgery was "short and sweet" and "a cinch", I'd say not quite. Having a doctor probe around in my eye while I was awake, made for a looong 15 minutes. One down, and one to go.
Thanks for the love and prayers. I'm sure they're what kept me from freaking out altogether. I see the doctor again tomorrow morning, and then it's back home for Grandpère and me until two weeks from now, when we do it all over again.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Nine Months Later
A joke for you before I leave. My surgery is at 1:30 PM.
Jack decided to go skiing with his buddy, Bob. They loaded up in Jack's minivan and headed north.
After driving for a few hours, they got caught in a terrible blizzard. They pulled into a nearby farm and asked the attractive lady who answered the door if they could spend the night.
"I realize it's terrible weather out there and I have this huge house all to myself, but I'm recently widowed," she explained. "I'm afraid neighbors will talk if I let you stay in my house."
"Don't worry," Jack said. "We'll be happy to sleep in the barn. And if the weather breaks, we'll be gone at first light."
The lady agreed, and the two men found their way to the barn and settled in for the night.
Come morning, the weather had cleared, and they got on their way.
They enjoyed a great weekend of skiing.
About nine months later, Jack got an unexpected letter from an attorney.
It took him a few minutes to figure it out, but he finally determined that it was from the attorney of that attractive widow he had met on the ski weekend.
He dropped in on his friend Bob and asked, "Bob, do you remember that good-looking widow from the farm we stayed at on our ski holiday up North?"
“Yes, I do."
"Did you happen to get up in the middle of the night, go up to the house and pay her a visit?"
"Yes," Bob said, a little embarrassed about being found out. "I have to admit that I did."
"And did you happen to use my name instead of telling her your name?"
Bob's face turned red and he said, "Yeah, sorry, buddy. I'm afraid I did. Why do you ask?"
"She just died and left me everything."
And you thought the ending would be different, didn't you?
Well, Doug, I confess I did.
Jack decided to go skiing with his buddy, Bob. They loaded up in Jack's minivan and headed north.
After driving for a few hours, they got caught in a terrible blizzard. They pulled into a nearby farm and asked the attractive lady who answered the door if they could spend the night.
"I realize it's terrible weather out there and I have this huge house all to myself, but I'm recently widowed," she explained. "I'm afraid neighbors will talk if I let you stay in my house."
"Don't worry," Jack said. "We'll be happy to sleep in the barn. And if the weather breaks, we'll be gone at first light."
The lady agreed, and the two men found their way to the barn and settled in for the night.
Come morning, the weather had cleared, and they got on their way.
They enjoyed a great weekend of skiing.
About nine months later, Jack got an unexpected letter from an attorney.
It took him a few minutes to figure it out, but he finally determined that it was from the attorney of that attractive widow he had met on the ski weekend.
He dropped in on his friend Bob and asked, "Bob, do you remember that good-looking widow from the farm we stayed at on our ski holiday up North?"
“Yes, I do."
"Did you happen to get up in the middle of the night, go up to the house and pay her a visit?"
"Yes," Bob said, a little embarrassed about being found out. "I have to admit that I did."
"And did you happen to use my name instead of telling her your name?"
Bob's face turned red and he said, "Yeah, sorry, buddy. I'm afraid I did. Why do you ask?"
"She just died and left me everything."
And you thought the ending would be different, didn't you?
Well, Doug, I confess I did.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
"Moving: A riot of riddance"
Ann Fontaine writes at the Daily Episcopalian of moving to a smaller house. It's a lovely essay, but quite guilt-inducing for me, because Ann and her husband are doing what Grandpère and I should be doing, but are not. GP won't consider moving to a smaller house, therefore that idea is closed to discussion. However, we could, in consideration of our children, begin to get rid of a good deal of our accumulation of stuff.
Ann says:
Yes, indeed. At the very thought of getting started on a down-sizing project, my mind leaps to many far more attractive ways to pass the time.
Or is moving/downsizing more like this?
Ann's is a fine essay, which should really be read in its entirety.
Ann says:
Moving and downsizing is a good thing overall but hard to get in gear to do. The process has many blocks for me. Most, like inertia and always finding more interesting things to do are easy to overcome.
Yes, indeed. At the very thought of getting started on a down-sizing project, my mind leaps to many far more attractive ways to pass the time.
The process of moving has a death and resurrection sense about it but it is also like waiting for a birth. We are in the “soon but not yet” phase of leaving our life in Wyoming.
Or is moving/downsizing more like this?
Perhaps it is most like Advent, a time of waiting. The old things that made our life are ending – the new has only made its presence felt with a few light kicks.
Ann's is a fine essay, which should really be read in its entirety.
Rep. Anh Cao - "I feel both courageous and lonely''
From the Times Picayune:
Even with the compromise...
I'm sure that Charlie Melancon's district, which is my district, includes a good many uninsured. At times like this, what good is it to have Democrats like Charlie and the rest of the 39 in the House? And doesn't Charlie care about his uninsured constituents?
I'm tired of Obama's compromises for the sake of bipartisanship, but I want a health care bill that includes the public option.
H/T to Oyster.
In the end, satisfied that the House health care reform bill would not subsidize abortions, Rep. Anh "Joseph'' Cao, R-New Orleans, voted "yes" late Saturday night, making him the only Republican in the House to vote for a bill that passed 220-215.
Even with the compromise...
Cao also was the only member of Louisiana's seven-member House delegation to support the Democratic plan.
Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville, who is running for the Senate, joined the other five Republicans in the delegation in voting "no.'' Melancon was one of 39 Democrats to vote against the plan.
....
"Twenty percent of the people in my district are uninsured and we have tremendous health care issues in the district, and I believe this is good for the people of my district," Cao said minutes after the vote.
....
Cao, who said he was sitting next to Republican Whip Eric Cantor, R-Va., during the historic vote Saturday night, was asked whether he felt courageous or lonely after the vote.
"I feel both courageous and lonely," he said.
I'm sure that Charlie Melancon's district, which is my district, includes a good many uninsured. At times like this, what good is it to have Democrats like Charlie and the rest of the 39 in the House? And doesn't Charlie care about his uninsured constituents?
I'm tired of Obama's compromises for the sake of bipartisanship, but I want a health care bill that includes the public option.
H/T to Oyster.
Eye Surgery Tomorrow
I began to write the post for tomorrow morning, and by accident I hit publish, and the post went immediately into the Google reader, so it's best that I go ahead and finish and publish the prayer request today instead. Tomorrow afternoon, I will have cataract surgery on my left eye. I'm sure that all shall be well, but I ask for your prayers, because I'm a bit jittery. My doctor has an excellent reputation, and the surgery is quite routine for him, but - Alas! - not for me. All prayers, good thoughts, whatever are welcome.
To make the adventure more interesting, Hurricane Ida is in the Gulf of Mexico. A hurricane in November! I believe that this may be a first. We may only get winds and rains. We plan to spend the night in New Orleans, because I have to see the doctor again on Tuesday morning, so at least we won't be on the road during the bad weather. I only hope that the power won't fail in the middle of the surgery. You know me. I always look on the bright side.
UPDATE: Weatherwise, the outlook for New Orleans is better.
To make the adventure more interesting, Hurricane Ida is in the Gulf of Mexico. A hurricane in November! I believe that this may be a first. We may only get winds and rains. We plan to spend the night in New Orleans, because I have to see the doctor again on Tuesday morning, so at least we won't be on the road during the bad weather. I only hope that the power won't fail in the middle of the surgery. You know me. I always look on the bright side.
UPDATE: Weatherwise, the outlook for New Orleans is better.
About Roseann
This morning I talked with Roseann by phone. She is incredible. She does not want us to be sad. She reads and enjoys your emails. She prays for us and would like to be able to thank each one of you for your love and your prayers, because she is so very grateful for them all. We truly are the Communion of Saints (and Beloved Sinners!) and the Body of Christ for her. Roseann is very much at peace, and she praises the hospice folks to the high heavens. She rejoices that, one day, each of us in this whole, wonderful, loving internet community will see one another face to face.
On Tuesday, Nov. 10, Roseann will have a Eucharistic celebration, with her priest, Terri, presiding. When Terri asked Roseann which Eucharistic rite she wanted, she said she wanted the Star Trek Rite. She asks us to join with her to pray during the Eucharist, even if for only a short prayer.
Date and time:
Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 6:00 PM CST
"Engage! Make it so! Resistance is futile!"
Now a story. As I drove to New Orleans yesterday, I played a CD of Ray Charles songs from the early days of his career. I could see Ray rocking back and force as I listened. I thought to myself, "Wouldn't it be lovely to have Roseann in the passenger seat listening and rocking with me to Ray." Several times during the ride, I thought of Roseann and wished she was with me.
I told her the story when I talked to her, and she said, "I'd have loved to be there! The first song I ever heard him sing was 'You Are My Sunshine', a long time ago. I have his framed picture on my wall, and I've seen him LIVE!"
I knew none of this, and yet I wished for Roseann to be with me on my ride. She was - in spirit - very much with me.
Roseann said this time is very hard for Gary. His boss has given him time off to be with Roseann, as much time as he needs. Lovely. May God bless Gary's boss and the company that he works for. There are good people in the world.
Hold Roseann and Gary in your hearts and in your prayers. Send love and good thoughts their way during their journey.
Roseann's email address is
revamundo@gmail.com
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Meet And Greet The Candidates For Bishop
To the sound of Ray Charles' voice and piano, I headed to New Orleans to attend the walkabout to meet the candidates for bishop in the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana. The format was for each candidate to give a statement about 15 or 20 minutes long, after which we broke up into separate groups, and each candidate took a turn answering questions.
Since I am not a delegate nor an alternate to the electing convention, I was only able to ask a couple of questions, because I had to wait until all the delegates and alternates who wanted to ask questions were finished to have my chance. In all but two of the sessions, time ran out before I could ask my question. When I finally had my turn, since I foresee major challenges facing the church, the falling attendance numbers and the resulting diminished income, I asked the candidate about his ideas for addressing the problems. He did not quite understand what I was talking about and apparently did not agree with me that great changes were ahead for the church, therefore he did not really answer my question. Maybe I used the wrong phrasing.
My next and last opportunity for a question came with Bishop Michael Smith, about whom I blogged and later attended a class that he taught in the School for ministry in New Orleans. Before I asked my question, one of the delegates asked him how he could minister to his diocese in North Dakota and still spend so much time in Louisiana helping out here. Bp. Smith said that he was not moonlighting, but I don't remember if he truly answered the question. It seems not, but I could be wrong. In any case, he did not answer to my satisfaction, or I think I would have remembered. By that time, I had lost my pen and had nothing to write with to take notes. Toward the end of the session, when it seemed that the delegates were done with their questions, I raised my hand. Whoops! A delegate raised her hand at the same time, so she got her turn first. I thought the time would run out before I had my turn, because Bp. Smith gave the other woman a long answer. Could it be that he saw my hand up and wanted to run out the clock?
Anyway, my turn came. Earlier in the session, someone asked him how he handled difficult and hostile people. He said that one thing he does is pray for them. When I stood up to ask my question, he greeted me kindly and said he remembered me. I said, "You pray for me, don't you?"
He laughed and said, "No. I don't dislike you."
In his biography, Bp. Smith wrote of "...appropriate pastoral care for persons who experience themselves as gay, lesbian, bi-sexual or transgender...." Now Bp. Mark Lawrence used this very same phrase in his address to the Special Convention of the Diocese of South Carolina. You can find it in his address that runs to 9 pages, or you can take my word that it's there. I've seen the phrase used by others opposed to equality for GLTB folks. To me, the phrase is code for, "...persons who are not really gay, but who think they are."
I read the phrase to him and said, "This seems an odd way to phrase the statement. It implies that the persons may not really BE gay. Why not say 'persons who ARE gay, lesbian...'?"
Bp. Smith shook his head and said, "The science is not clear." Mistake.
I asked, "Well then, is it that I only experience myself as heterosexual, rather than that I AM heterosexual?" I heard laughter in the room, and I did not press for further elaboration of his answer to my question. I thought I'd made my point. In truth, I was in somewhat of a surreal state, because I was quite nervous about asking the question, and I half hoped that time would run out before I could get it in.
I could have asked him a more difficult question, like whether he attended the GAFCON conference in the Middle East, or who paid for his trip to visit the Archbishop of Canterbury, but in that milieu, I believe that I asked the right question. During the break, a few folks came to me to thank me for asking the question, and after the walkabout was over, a small group of people whom I met outside, thanked me. One of them told me that, at the time I asked the question, she said, "Who is SHE, from Thibodaux, asking THAT question?" Another said, "And you looked so innocent!"
Another of the candidates, Fr Ken Ritter, a former Roman Catholic priest, disagreed with the RCC on birth control, the hypocrisy of the annulment process, and, although he felt that he was called to be a priest, he could not live as a celibate. He left the priesthood, married, had children, and then became an Episcopal priest. He wishes to remain in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion and approves of the Windsor Report and consideration of the Covenant. Thus, he would continue the moratorium on same-sex blessings and "on the consecration of bishops whose lifestyles present a difficulty for the wider Anglican Communion".
Along with at least one other person, I sensed a bit of dissonance here. Fr Ritter could not live a celibate "lifestyle" as a priest, but he expects GLTB clergy to live a celibate "lifestyle" for now, whether or not they are called to a vocation of celibacy.
At the walkabout, I found that a couple of the candidates looked better on paper than in real life. My favorite of all and the one I would vote for if I had a vote is Fr Morris Thompson. He looked good on paper, and I liked him face to face. My second choice would be Fr Paul Johnson. Links to the biographies of the candidates may be found at the diocesan website.
Since I am not a delegate nor an alternate to the electing convention, I was only able to ask a couple of questions, because I had to wait until all the delegates and alternates who wanted to ask questions were finished to have my chance. In all but two of the sessions, time ran out before I could ask my question. When I finally had my turn, since I foresee major challenges facing the church, the falling attendance numbers and the resulting diminished income, I asked the candidate about his ideas for addressing the problems. He did not quite understand what I was talking about and apparently did not agree with me that great changes were ahead for the church, therefore he did not really answer my question. Maybe I used the wrong phrasing.
My next and last opportunity for a question came with Bishop Michael Smith, about whom I blogged and later attended a class that he taught in the School for ministry in New Orleans. Before I asked my question, one of the delegates asked him how he could minister to his diocese in North Dakota and still spend so much time in Louisiana helping out here. Bp. Smith said that he was not moonlighting, but I don't remember if he truly answered the question. It seems not, but I could be wrong. In any case, he did not answer to my satisfaction, or I think I would have remembered. By that time, I had lost my pen and had nothing to write with to take notes. Toward the end of the session, when it seemed that the delegates were done with their questions, I raised my hand. Whoops! A delegate raised her hand at the same time, so she got her turn first. I thought the time would run out before I had my turn, because Bp. Smith gave the other woman a long answer. Could it be that he saw my hand up and wanted to run out the clock?
Anyway, my turn came. Earlier in the session, someone asked him how he handled difficult and hostile people. He said that one thing he does is pray for them. When I stood up to ask my question, he greeted me kindly and said he remembered me. I said, "You pray for me, don't you?"
He laughed and said, "No. I don't dislike you."
In his biography, Bp. Smith wrote of "...appropriate pastoral care for persons who experience themselves as gay, lesbian, bi-sexual or transgender...." Now Bp. Mark Lawrence used this very same phrase in his address to the Special Convention of the Diocese of South Carolina. You can find it in his address that runs to 9 pages, or you can take my word that it's there. I've seen the phrase used by others opposed to equality for GLTB folks. To me, the phrase is code for, "...persons who are not really gay, but who think they are."
I read the phrase to him and said, "This seems an odd way to phrase the statement. It implies that the persons may not really BE gay. Why not say 'persons who ARE gay, lesbian...'?"
Bp. Smith shook his head and said, "The science is not clear." Mistake.
I asked, "Well then, is it that I only experience myself as heterosexual, rather than that I AM heterosexual?" I heard laughter in the room, and I did not press for further elaboration of his answer to my question. I thought I'd made my point. In truth, I was in somewhat of a surreal state, because I was quite nervous about asking the question, and I half hoped that time would run out before I could get it in.
I could have asked him a more difficult question, like whether he attended the GAFCON conference in the Middle East, or who paid for his trip to visit the Archbishop of Canterbury, but in that milieu, I believe that I asked the right question. During the break, a few folks came to me to thank me for asking the question, and after the walkabout was over, a small group of people whom I met outside, thanked me. One of them told me that, at the time I asked the question, she said, "Who is SHE, from Thibodaux, asking THAT question?" Another said, "And you looked so innocent!"
Another of the candidates, Fr Ken Ritter, a former Roman Catholic priest, disagreed with the RCC on birth control, the hypocrisy of the annulment process, and, although he felt that he was called to be a priest, he could not live as a celibate. He left the priesthood, married, had children, and then became an Episcopal priest. He wishes to remain in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion and approves of the Windsor Report and consideration of the Covenant. Thus, he would continue the moratorium on same-sex blessings and "on the consecration of bishops whose lifestyles present a difficulty for the wider Anglican Communion".
Along with at least one other person, I sensed a bit of dissonance here. Fr Ritter could not live a celibate "lifestyle" as a priest, but he expects GLTB clergy to live a celibate "lifestyle" for now, whether or not they are called to a vocation of celibacy.
At the walkabout, I found that a couple of the candidates looked better on paper than in real life. My favorite of all and the one I would vote for if I had a vote is Fr Morris Thompson. He looked good on paper, and I liked him face to face. My second choice would be Fr Paul Johnson. Links to the biographies of the candidates may be found at the diocesan website.
Pray For Roseann And Gary
Just before I left to go to New Orleans this morning, I received this very sad news:
Morning June,
I am writing to tell you that Roseann has decided to stop the dialysis. She feels she is not improving in anyway and is suffering. She did this after having conversation with her doctor, priest, social worker and nurses at the dialysis center. She told me she has 7-14 days beginning this past Thursday. She is at peace with this decision as is Gary, and has made preliminary funeral arrangements with her priest.
My heart is very heavy right now.
Sue
I am so sorry. This breaks my heart, but I understand Roseann's decision. I pray that Roseann does not suffer any more, and that she goes gentle into that good night. How fortunate that she now has a good priest and a church community ministering to her. I pray for strength for Gary during this most difficult time. I have no more words now. Maybe later.
MadPriest has more.
Roseann's email address is
revamundo@gmail.com
Morning June,
I am writing to tell you that Roseann has decided to stop the dialysis. She feels she is not improving in anyway and is suffering. She did this after having conversation with her doctor, priest, social worker and nurses at the dialysis center. She told me she has 7-14 days beginning this past Thursday. She is at peace with this decision as is Gary, and has made preliminary funeral arrangements with her priest.
My heart is very heavy right now.
Sue
I am so sorry. This breaks my heart, but I understand Roseann's decision. I pray that Roseann does not suffer any more, and that she goes gentle into that good night. How fortunate that she now has a good priest and a church community ministering to her. I pray for strength for Gary during this most difficult time. I have no more words now. Maybe later.
MadPriest has more.
Roseann's email address is
revamundo@gmail.com
Friday, November 6, 2009
Friday Shuffle
Padre Mickey says I gotta to do this every Friday, but I don't. Howevah! I'll oblige him one more time.
1. As I Roved Out - Kate Rusby
2. Hoodoo Voodoo - Billy Bragg
3. Cage The Songbird - The Low Anthem
4. I Wonder What Is Keeping - Tim Chesterton
5. The Lakes of Pontchartrain - Paul Brady
6. Winin' Boy Blues - Allen Touissaint
7. Undone in Sorrow - Crooked Still
8. Soon and Very Soon - Andrae Crouch
9. Walk On - Ruthie Foster
10. The King of Rome - June Tabor
Instructions For The Tourist
Click on the picture for the enlargement.
Don't blame me. Blame Paul (A.), who left a link to this gem in the comments at Padre Mickey's blog. Paul was especially interested in visiting the naughty palace.
Photo courtesy of Alison Honey.
Sign found at mall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Some have suggested Paragon Mall is in Bangkok or Singapore.
(Translation: we don't know where the hell the mall is.)
From Engrish.com
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