Jubilant at 49

On Monday, I celebrated my 49th birthday - my Jubilee year! Huh? The Jewish tradition in the Old Testament honors and celebrates seven years times seven, equalling 49. It was a time when debts were forgiven and slaves were freed, a time of Liberty. The idea carried over into the New Testament in the Christian and Catholic faiths as a time of Reconciliation and Joy. All concepts worthy of 50 years of existence.

For my birthday, my sister and I were able to drive down to Clarksdale, MS. It occurred to me that Shacksdale is located on Highway 49! I just love serendipity, especially on my birthday! Along with several friends, I have devised a Jubilee List, which is a spin-off of the bucket list. We have a combined list of places to visit, from restaurants and museums to places that require a passport. My list also includes personal goals (completing a half-marathon, for instance) to spiritual intentions. I realize that this entire list will probably not be accomplished in my one Jubilee year, but I hope that it serves as prompt for the years to come.

But what I do intend for my Jubilee year, is to celebrate, embrace and live each day with Liberty, with Reconciliation and with Joy. What Jubilation!

Hallelujah - It Is Summertime!

To say that our spring season was "hectic" would be like saying the BP oil spill in the Gulf is a "little mess." It was a time to be treasured. And...whew!

Lucy graduated high school.

Anna Lynn graduated 8th grade.

In between, around and after these momentous events, we have had prom, an class trip to Washington, DC, a new driveway poured, Project Graduation, parties and preparations, and finally, the sweet respite of Summertime!

This is one of the quotes that was in my inbox this a.m.:

Getting started, keeping going, getting started again - in art and in life, it seems to me this is the essential rhythm. Seamus Heaney

So I feel vindicated from the stop-and-start pattern of writing, my respite...when my life allows!

Confirmation - April 12

When you are "confirmed," you are sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The ceremony was a beautiful, ritual-rich event: it was held at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, "girls in white dresses," John Angotti was the soloist, and the Bishop was entertaining (wearing 3-D glasses) while delivering a powerful message (seeing differently with Christian eyes).

The foundation of his message was Luke 10:23, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see."

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel (right judgment), Courage, Knowledge, Reverence and Fear (awe). For my non-Catholic friends, these are a different and a separate listing from the fruits of the Spirit. The gifts are from the Old Testament, fruits are from the New.

Several themes are present in this coming-of-age ritual. Choice, Awakening, Commitment.

I was certainly blessed to see what I saw that Monday evening. And every day, I strive to choose to see the blessing.

Ties that Bind

As I follow the concept of Dream Strings, connectedness continues to surface:

Lucy and I attended the Mother-Daughter Tea this past Sunday afternoon. (This is the cake from the Busy Bakery in Bartlett - darling and yummy!) In her opening remarks, Eleanor told the story of being about the same age as these girls, in college in Louisiana, meeting new people and making new friends. She attended a party wearing a sassy hat and looking oh-so-cute. A girl at the party was looking at her, kinda snooty like. Eleanor went on about having her fun, as did Karen, the other girl. Time went on, and they saw each other again, and eventually, despite the party-hat-night, they became friends. Twenty five years later, Eleanor and Karen served as co-chairs for the Tea, still the best of friends.

Her point? To help express to those high school senior girls how the connections made in college are often the lasting relationships, whether it is a first love who becomes their husband or a stand-offish girl at a party who becomes their best friend.

Last night, at Anna Lynn's Confirmation, the Bishop was talking about what it means to be confirmed. He began by quoting Luke 10:23, "How blessed are the eyes to see what you see." Then he proceeded to put on 3D glasses! It got their attention, and he went on to say as a confirmed Catholic, you see things clearer, choosing the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and connecting with people of God.

Barry & I first met at the office, and one day our office-chat turned to music. He likes blues music too! We talked festivals and artists, new cd's and old favorites. We talked about bottle trees and good beer. I met his adorable wife, Sally, and his darling mother-in-law, Helen. In one of those Memphis-is-such-a-small-town-things, I discovered that his niece was a friend of Lucy's at SBA. We connected over getting our jobs done and the blues, and now we're building shacks in the Mississippi Delta.

Connectedness helps each of us weave with our Dream Strings - building friendships and shacks that enrich our lives.

The Rooster

Last year on the Longest Yard Sale, I discovered a vendor, Hal Dorris, who had great metal pieces for sale. He had a very large - 4.5-5 feet tall - rooster that would look great in Clarksdale. It was our fourth and final day, and the car was just packed.

My sister, who can truly work magic when it comes to cramming lots of stuff in little places, offered, "We can rearrange the car." Words to live by! But I got a card from Hal and left the rooster. Hal is from Nashville, and so picking up another rooster later on would be possible.

I had several conversations with Hal over these seven months since I got his card; he sent me pictures of roosters so I could have my pick; we even planned to meet, but at the last minute, the plans changed, we did not meet and he promised me my rooster would wait for me.

The best laid plans and promises...sadly, Hal died of a massive heart attack at the Nashville Flea Market while selling roosters, pigs and metal paraphernalia.

Hal's son, Logan, offered to keep his father's promise, and in addition, he would be coming through Memphis with a new load of product, if I could meet him. Such generosity in the midst of dealing with his grief.

Logan has decided to continue the business, and leave his position as a youth minister in St. Louis.

I think he will continue to minister, but the congregants will think they are just there to buy a rooster.

http://www.uniqueimportstn.com/

All is Well

After an emotional week last week, this one is glorious!
Lucy is great, which we all know, but the tests at the doc concurred with this. We went to Panera Bread for lunch after her appointment, and ran into Sandy P. She was there after her chemo appointment. Many prayers for are answered, and many prayers are still needed. God's grace blesses us through it all.
Goldie is at rest in her backyard. We will leave her "secret" stash of milk jugs under the cedar trees, but we will take the pin out of the gate. She would take her snout and always check it to see if we forgot.
This Holy Week is beautiful.
And to borrow a phrase from Theresa, who taught me a lesson through flip flops (see 11/9/08 post) - all is well.

what an offer!

The best thing about being in a group of girlfriends is the sharing in conversation. We share our lives, our day-to-day happenings, our worries and our struggles. As I was sharing my story of the day, and why I had not eaten lunch therefore I was starving at happy hour, I was also blessed by the love of these friends.
They consoled, encouraged and empathized with me. What moved me to tears was the offer of a Xanax or Ambien. "I have both and you can have them." She is a mom, and she worries too, and they all understand.
Who would have thought so much support could come from the offer of a pill?