31 January 2014: Friday ...

First group fitness class on the bike and it was challenging and sweating experience that took a lot out of me but was well worth it. Need to bring a towel and water the next time I do the class and set my seat forward a little bit, but overall, a good experience. 

 World Cafe Live at The Queen: A small ensemble, the same instruments used by Igor Stravinsky
in his piece, "A Soldier's Tale", played the first piece for the concert
by instrumentalists of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra directed by
David Amado. In "Dead Elvis", composed by Michael Daugherty, the principal bassoonist of the
DSO, 55-year-old Jon Gaarder, took on the mantle of "The King"
and played exuberantly, one tune in particular, the "Dies Irae" of the
Latin Mass, an allusion to the Hell and Heaven battle that occurs with
some individuals, particularly Faust and in this case, Elvis Presley. 

30 January 2014: Thursday ... chill, sunlit shadows of moi-meme et mon chien a Facebook ... sand vacuuming in waiting room ... oil burner off ... onto yoga with mat ... mom has ski hat on for chill

A new approach to the blog ... 5 events listed, at least, during the day as a way of remembering what went on, much like listing 5 things that you are thankful for, an idea proposed at a Church service some weeks ago and done on a "few" occasions:

1. We ran out of fuel oil this morning and the burner quit. I tried the restart button, which you should press only once, and it started only to quit a few moments later. Called Shellhorn and Hill and they arrived posthaste that morning (had planned on yoga but never made it) and discovered the paucity of the black stuff, which is in short supply. They only gave us 100 gallons last fill-up and wrote on the slip ("not full" or something to that effect). Well, within hours and we had about 5 as the technician put 5 gallons into the tank (they keep a supply of 70 gallons on their truck for just such occasions) and you get about an hour for each gallon, he said, the filling truck arrived and gave us the oil we needed and we are back to 70 degrees. We were down to about 60 degrees and I had a ski hat on mom, which pushed her hair in all contorted directions when she removed it later (amusing).
   
2. Traci, a Delaware Hospice RN, called on her way back from Dover to say that she'd be by to get blood from mom. She did and mom enjoyed, as she does all who visit her to care for her (and the DH people do care and enjoy talking with mom), the visit. The blood will go to LabCorp but I guess the days of seeing Lisa, mostly, are over. Also, she'll get her blood drawn every two weeks and not every week. Traci had a couple of years under her belt at DH but worked as an ER nurse at Christiana Hospital for 11 years where she saw patients die from a gunshot would to the leg. Cannot imagine what she encountered in that venue of medical trauma.
   
3.  

30 July 2013: Tuesday ... the day of Thunder's death and his burial the next morning in Arthur's field ...

July 30, 2013 is the 211^st day of the year 2013 in the Gregorian calendar. There are 154 days remaining until the end of this year. The day of the week is Tuesday.
Thunder died tonight under my roof in the living room lying on my green quilt. Nick and Lexi had visited not one hour before and I, when Nick left for work, watched Monk on tv while our family pet, loyal and devoted and never demanding, breathed his last. Earlier i had stroked his beautiful brindle-colored fur while he inspired deeply. I should have known the death pattern and that he was close. Thank goodness Nick saw to coming over after work. We'd planned to meet in the morning and help one another to get him to the Hammond Hills Vet Hospital. Instead, we took shovels and Thunder's body, which we placed in the back of the Dodge Neon and transported it into the tall brush, near the abandoned turkey stand, to a portion of Arthur's field on this mid-Saturday morning and buried him in the moist soil, each taking turns to reach the desired depth of about 4 feet. It was hot and it took about an hour and we were caked in sweat and clay filled the soles of our shoes. We said a few words for our beloved Thunder and then covered the wrapped body.

29 January 2014: Wednesday (Woensdag) ... Mom gave me the days of the week in Dutch during Beth's visit this late morning, a brilliant, brisk day with a dusting of snow last night ...

Mom needs the attention and Beth Kincaid, R.N., her case manager, is a good listener and tolerant, make that loving toward Dancer, who can be so annoying with her pleas for attention. Today, this late morning, Beth heard about her pains, he shortness of breath and offered experienced, tried and true suggestions about her care. She is truly a professional and gives good demonstration of why she's been with Delaware Hospice for going on 20 years. 

I finally did a Google on the words for dad's request at his funeral visitation, Jascha Heifetz playing Claude Debussy's Beau Soir. They are gorgeous and sung so expressively in this YouTube clip by the artistic genius of Renee Fleming. Here are the words and their translation:

Lorsque au soleil couchant les rivières sont roses

Et qu'un tiède frisson court sur les champs de blé,

Un conseil d'être heureux semble sortir des choses

Et monter vers le coeur troublé.

Un conseil de goûter le charme d'être au monde

Cependant qu'on est jeune et que le soir est beau,

Car nous nous en allons, comme s'en va cette onde:

Elle à la mer, nous au tombeau.

Translation of Lyrics

When the rivulets are rosy in the setting sun,

And a mild tremor runs over the wheat fields,

An exhortation to be happy seems to emanate from things

And rises towards the troubled heart.

An exhortation to enjoy the charm of being alive

While one is young and the evening is beautiful,

For we are going on, as this stream goes on:

The stream to the sea, we to the grave.

And here is the link to that musical presentation of the melody and song:
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzNASDPXbMw

28 January 2014: Tuesday ... yoga serendipity (forget your gym bag) ... friends and family calls awaken joy ... Pete Seeger is dead at 94 (thinking of Bob Linsenmayer) ... mom suggest hot dogs & beans (I improvise w/Bachetti's help) ... it's cold today (snowed down South)

Find the good and the beneficial in all. Make lemonade out of lemons. Turn back from the Western "Y", having forgotten your gym bag, return to buy a yoga mat and have one of the best sessions taught by a gifted teacher, Christine, who has her own studio and has one class a week at the "Y". So glad I got to experience it. Brought out the sweat and the extension and the breathing. Superb balance bookended by meditation readings.

I sent an e-mail to Bob Linsenmayer recalling his service honoring his mentor and guide for his musical career of reaching out to others, Pete Seeger. He told me that he'd received a personal letter from the folk music icon when he sent a letter to him. Apparently, he did that to all who wrote him. Amazing. Well, he died yesterday, not six days after he was chopping wood at his home, at the age of 94.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/29/arts/music/pete-seeger-songwriter-and-champion-of-folk-music-dies-at-94.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0

At the end of the day, we watched the State of the Union speech, Barack Obama's 5th, and he concluded it with mention of the amazing recovery and ongoing rehabilitation (for his lifetime) of this sergeant, grievously injured in a roadside bombing. He received a standing ovation as he stood next to the First Lady for a full two minutes by all the assembled. Extraordinary. And Obama's point?: Never give up and nothing that is worthwhile is easy, you have to work for it. 

Sgt. First Class Cory Remsburg's story of courage, struggle and survival had the entire room in a standing ovation near the end of the State of the Union address Tuesday — as President Obama recognized one of the nation's wounded heroes as a symbol for the country's own resilience.

This is trivial but essential, I believe, for I thought of this moving event as I shoveled the driveway this morning in a chill wind and thought, I'm not going to give up until the work is complete. Sure, it's not comfortable but anything that is worthwhile is never easy, you just have to keep working at it. So many times in my life, I have given up because it was the easy thing to do. Maybe, no more. This is "baby step" start but it can be built upon. It must be to become like that young man in the picture above and his father next to him, battlers each day to get better and always, always believe in one another. Like Ron's phone call yesterday, "I was thinking about you and wanted to talk." It is so precious to know that something like lifelong friendship cannot be taken for granted, for life is fickle and fleet and you just never know. So, that phone call meant a lot, just as the hours of therapy has brought Sgt. Remsburg back and will continue offer progress. 

26 January 2014: Sunday ... UUSMC choir sings the service ... hitting Cathy's coffee not once but twice with my foot ... she still loves me ... Jane Frelick and daughter ... candle for artistry ...

25 January 2014: Saturday ... Dickinson Theatre Organ Society, a 1st for me at my alma mater ...

Organist Steven Ball had to battle the vagaries of
technology during his splendid, totally-by-heart two-hour plus
concert at John Dickinson's Theatre Organ Society series
this evening. The microphone malfunctioned more than once
and the silent film, Sherlock, Jr., by Buster Keaton, had
to be restarted as the wrong film came up first in the second
half of the program.


A camera above gave you a bird's eye view of the console and all the various fingerings and changes that organist Steven Ball had to negotiate in playing the Dickinson Kimball Theatre Organ. Quite a feat.








Buster Keaton in Sherlock Jr.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr6arzv4e2g 

24 January 2014: Friday ... MLK Celebratory service at 1st Unitarian Church of Wilmington ... dinner at Le Shio Japanese Restaurant ... HH accompanied me ... sorrow

As the newly appointed Executive Director of Art Sanctuary, Valerie Gay has a lot to offer. With experience in both artistic and business settings, she has served as the Assistant Dean of Institutional Advancement for the College of Education at Temple University, and her artistic background began with her professional singing career as well as founding The Fortress Arts Academy in West Philadelphia.

http://www.generocity.org/2012/qa-with-valerie-gay-executive-director-of-art-sanctuary/ 

Incredible artistic performance by Valerie Gay this evening at the First Unitarian Church of Wilmington, the YWCA/Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Celebratory Concert. She sang three songs to the accompaniment of Scott Ward, Honorary Minister of Music at the Church, and they made a believer out of me. Her impassioned "Jesus(es)" at the end of her final song were sung with such feeling and connection. She had the whole audience in rapture.

The Copeland String Quartet is comprised of four Delaware Symphony Orchestra players: 

Eliezer Gutman, violin; Thomas Jackson, violin; and Nina Cottman, viola.

Nina Cottman played some charming pieces with piano accompaniment. Nothing too

difficult but the tone was rich, makes me a believer in the sound of the viola. But I can't

think of the name of that female violist from Nigeria. Need to query Carl Purdy, the

other violist I know. 

The Dupont Diversity Choir perform at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.

23 January 2014: Thursday ... the chill continues ... to the Y twice today ... Flyers' losing streak reaches three ...

We got our medications, thankfully, dropped off, as usual, almost clandestinely and furtively on the front doorstep by FedEx and everything was there. Mom has her med for the coming week at least. Calls from Beth were most helpful.

Worked out at the Y this afternoon with weights and did a selection of available ones and had to modify my workout on the computer. Ended with the stair step machine and that kicks your butt. I made it to the top of Big Ben or 37 floors and was spent. It's hard work and of course, great cardio, if you can stand it.

Made it back to the "Y" for a primer by Jennifer Fawzi, a trained instructor in LesMills workouts (which I will take -- her class -- on Monday), in the early evening and it was quite helpful and instructive. Working out consistently has certainly been in her favor as she is fit, attractive and I would say, middle aged. She gave a thorough description of cycling and her own discipline of lifting weights during a workout with songs. The name eludes me at present, have brochures downstairs which I'm too lazy, or what the heck, it's called BODYPUMP and you use weights and lift in traditional poses but do extended reps. Should be interesting.

The walk tonight was another chill one and mom called me as I circumnavigated Mealey's Funeral Home about a need for morphine. Told her it would be about 30 minutes. I crossed the road, tentatively, as the cars come quickly and the snow is a dangerous deterrent, but I made it into Limestone Acres past the homes (probably moved by now) of the Snyders (Rocky and Jay) and the McCauley's (cannot recall his name, my age who always impressed me with doing his homework on the bus before he got home, oh Greg, and who I learned later in life was treated for a mental illness), and took the first street on the left, walked an extended block to Pickwick, turned left, crossed Limestone Road, again, with care back to 4546 for a total of 1.25 miles on the digifit app. A decent walk as I received the sole word -- "Congratulations" -- in a flat, officious tone from the iPhone female-voiced app.

So disappointing to watch the Flyers tonight play the Columbus Blue Jackets in Ohio. They went ahead 2-1 only to give up the next 4 goals and lose 5-2 to their former high-price signer goal, Sergei Bobrovsky, who is on an unbeaten streak as are the BJs this January. Not so with the Flyers.

 

22 January 2014: Wednesday ... the clear, blue sky and bone chilling cold the day after the snowstorm ... shoveled and had to warm hands ... Dancer in back ... found my sock

I posted this silliness on the web this morning after I found it. Felt good to me.

MISSING SOCK FOUND, NEXT STEP GRAVITATIONAL WAVES: 

I found it. I found it. Well, at least one of them. My missing sock hidden in the sleeve of a shirt that I'd folded and placed in the drawer. No cat to blame or mini-black hole in my house, it was there all the time,
within an arm's reach. 

What to do next after solving this MAJOR conundrum. The Big Bang Theory of course and the "search" for gravitational waves. If I can located one missing sock, what's a few waves or whatever in deep space.
A call to Stephen Hawking is next on the agenda."

Computer model of the gravitational waves coming from the collision of two black holes.
Image: MPI for Gravitational Physics/W.Benger-ZIB

Had a blast from the past as I walked Dancer tonight on the quiet streets of our

neighborhood. It's the chilling feel of air into your nostrils that begins to freeze the

moisture in your nostrils. I felt it most on the stretch leg from Sheridan Square to

Limestone Gardens via Nicholby Drive, which essentially circles the two neighborhoods

barring the section that it becomes Pickwick Drive in LG from Pecksniff to Limestone

Road.

20 January 2014: Monday ... Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday ... Trinity Episcopal celebration, discussion ... professional photographer Paul Pruitt ...

My second visit to Trinity Episcopal Church for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr., speech and discussion on race and the issue of incarceration with
panelists. 

21 January 2014: Tuesday ... listening to Dutch radio as the snowstorm approaches and the cold enwraps ... could get 10 inches ... Y workout this AM ... Bill T. Jones' recollection of father and "Der Leiermann" from "Die Winterreisse" ...

One heckuva snowstorm today. It swirled and buffeted the air and just painted the whole scene white with flakes and wind and cold. We did get close to 10 inches and I didn't shovel till Wednesday mid-morning and then I only did the driveway and one shovel width on the sidewalks to my contiguous neighbors, who did not bother to shovel their walks. It was much more fierce than the beautiful snowfall on the day dad died, a month and 13 days ago. Time is passing swiftly. 

I am in tears after listening to this incredible piece of heart-wrenching journalism and its connection to my father, who loved this work, immeasurably and with his whole being. Thank you Melissa Block for your unerring and inimitable skill at drawing out the marrow from an extraordinary artist like Bill T. Jones and his beautiful recollection. Yes, I believe he told his father many times that he loved him. This work is a profound testament to that connection. Thank you NPR, once again for just being there and telling the stories that need telling and sharing.

Choreographer Bill T. Jones recollection of his father and hisWinter song, "Der Leiermann" from Franz Schubert's song cycle,"Die Winterreise". 

On our walk tonight, in bone chilling weather with a slight wind that cut through you, the streets were bare of people and cars. Utter silence and quiet other than blowing snow. I got a flash photo of Dancer, felt the Carol Taylor pressure to get a pic of her, outside the fence posts along the boundary of Milltown Park. To date, have close to 30 likes for this rather blurry but chilly photograph.

 

and then, along Nicholby Drive, where the light pole shone through the blowing snow and cast a glow on the roadway and my steps and the trees and houses alongside the barely traveled thoroughfare. It was an arresting image.

19 January 2014: Sunday ... listening to Word Puzzle on NPR's Sunday Morning Edition ... "Wanda" Lynn, 51-year-old dynamo nurse visits ...

Why bother with writing down momentary thoughts, connections that seem so relevant, so prescient, so worthwhile if one never reads them again ... what is the purpose of memory if they are not shared and revisited. Today has been momentous ... so many treasures from Jane Frelick's entrance into church, a little late, to her front row seat, directly in front of our other nonagenarian, our Society founder (donated the land on which the church was built), Frank MacArtor.

This morning mom had some chest pain after eating all her hot cereal (a first), which I did not thicken too much, and her tea, and then I called Hospice. Spoke to the angelic Kim, who was getting off at 8 a.m. after working the night shift, and she gave my concern to the on-duty nurse, Lynn Boley, who called me twice. Once on her way from Bear and the second when she was at the door. What an immediate humanitarian who hugged my mother, who she did not know, and then proceed to take care of her needs including getting a prescription for an antibiotic for her chest cold (she'd been bringing things up). She also suggested she change into something with long sleeves. The one item was too long so she said, as a sewer, she could hem the garment and bring it back to her soon. Amazing. I have to do something as I'm single (she's been divorced for 20 years, her second, and has two children, one from the first marriage and one from the other, who adopted the other. The children are close.)

18 January 2014: Saturday ... a call from mom at 4:25 this morning and a need for morphine (she has a cold) ... I still have a cough, at times, and a soar throat ... workout at the Y this a.m. ... changed water in humidifier of oxygenator

Listening to Brahms 1st piano concerto and learned that the activist Polish pianist, Krystian Zimerman, who travels with his
own Steinway had it confiscated post 9/11 by TSA who didn't like the smell of a glue that bonded
some sections of the piano and the destroyed it. 

17 January 2014: Friday ... a Facebook thread on life itself and understanding ... Julie, PRN nurse, makes a visit ... Y workout ... 2-mile walk with Dancer ... phone calls to Liz and Joyce on walk

Today has been an incredible day of insight into the human psyche. First of all, mom was visited by the PRN nurse, who saw dad once, Julie, from Delaware Hospice. I remembered her because she is also a care provider for her father, who she said, receives CNA assistance five days a week. She is good at what she does. A quick study, she has to size up her patient and offer guidance with not a lot of time. Today, she assessed mom's difficulty with the nasal cannula and it producing an irritation in the nostrils. Her solution: I brought out the humidifying bottle and she hooked it up and the air got cycled through the water and thus moisturized or humidified. Mom's doing better because of it and her thoughtfulness and problem solving was the key.

Julie caring for dad in her visit to our home well over a month ago. 

I invited the Jehovah's Witness woman, Beverly, who brought her husband, Brian, to the house to discuss a broad range of topics that have puzzled man since he or she first gained a cognitive and aware sense. The result was a FB post that initiated the greatest amount of commentary of any one I have ever done. I was amazed. The following is the current activity on this post. I wrote and the people commented:

"I'm all for dialogue, reasonable and enlightening talk that furthers an issue. And there's not any greater talk than our origin and just why we humans, one species, have a brain that can presumably dispense reason and morality. We're no longer in a "survival of the fittest" mode, at least in the Serengeti-plains version, according to my interlocutor Brian and his wife Beverly, both Jehovah's Witnesses.

Our talk was wide-ranging and enveloped a multi-millennial quest of all thinkers in human society. Just how did we get here, why are we here, and what is our purpose?

Whether Unitarian-Universalist or Jehovah's Witness or whatever faith tradition, it unites us all. Or does it?"

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• Pat Lynch-Hayes, Betsy Rohde, Connie Bernard and 4 others like this.
• 

  Craig O'Manion not really. various 'faiths' do more to divide us than anything else. unitarians like to meet and have coffee. there are no stories that you have to buy into in order to belong (I'm one). ask a jehovahs witness if you can join their organization while refuting their version of truth. you have mentioned two groups that are as wide apart as apples and adverbs

  11 hours ago · Unlike · 3
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  Charla Larrimore no, i don't think that organized religions unite us. the spirit that lives within us--that doesn't recognize "religion"--unites us. most wars have their roots in religion. however, i love jehovah's witnesses--i enjoy tormenting them--what circle of hell will i be sent to for freaking out the faithful?

  10 hours ago · Unlike · 3
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  Rudy Nyhoff Certainly an "alliterative" hell Charla.

  10 hours ago · Like
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  Craig O'Manion agree Charla. how 'welcome' would you feel if I said you could come to my house for dinner but first you have to agree to a list of things I think are true?

  10 hours ago · Unlike · 3
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  Rudy Nyhoff This couple, Craig, never ventured into proselytizing. I was amazed. Brian did get worked up a bit talking about values and how humans have morals, et al., and I sensed a certain animus in his tone. But I confronted him and asked whether he was challenging me and he backed off, immediately. I truly enjoyed this talk with an "apple" as I prefer the label "adverb".

  10 hours ago · Like · 2
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  Craig O'Manion thats good in terms of not being annoying to you personally, but it does not negate the probability that by not steering you to the nearest kingdom hall they are working outside of the bounds of their own identity. this would amaze me too! I doubt that...See More

  10 hours ago · Edited · Unlike · 3
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  Bridgett Ann Story  Just gonna sit back and enjoy this conversation.

  10 hours ago · Unlike · 2
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  Regina DePace I call my religion "tolerance and compassion" and anyone can join, only requirements are a warm heart and an open mind.

  10 hours ago · Edited · Unlike · 5
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  Craig O'Manion personally I always found the basics of the JW movement to be very strange and almost silly. how likely is it that after centuries of every attempt to redeem mankind via one failed arrangement after another that a distant all powerful deity would send ...See More

  10 hours ago · Unlike · 2
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  Charla Larrimore i'm going back to the 14th century hesychastic practice of contemplating my navel until i see the divine therein--

  9 hours ago · Unlike · 1
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  Craig O'Manion while I will accept your plans as being rather (hopefully) tounge-in-cheek, I still have to refrain myself in these conversations from offering up yet another option even though it would seem to be almost too simple to miss; the goal of simply living ones life doing what makes for subjective happiness surrounded by nice people

  9 hours ago · Unlike · 2
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  Skinner Graham Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are in harmony." Gandhi "

  9 hours ago · Unlike · 3
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  Craig O'Manion I like this statement, but prefer the more open ended subjective idea that, while difficult to quantify, happiness is something that we know when it is in operation and requires no further defining, much like finding someone attractive or why something tastes 'good'

  9 hours ago · Unlike · 2
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  Craig O'Manion and in keeping with this thread, for me personally I have never found that accepting explanations for reality from those who have given themselves the authority to do so has given me that effect and in fact it seems to have worked the other way 'round

  9 hours ago · Unlike · 3
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  Rudy Nyhoff "You know it when you feel it" is a wonderful conception of happiness. I agree and how we get there, well that's the key. It might be through "omphaloskepsis" ... another great Greek word ... meditation at its best toward one's own navel, but I know one thing, this type of FB interchange, facilitated by facile and engaged minds, is a path toward feeling pretty good. It's working for me.

  9 hours ago · Like · 4
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  Charla Larrimore yes, we are engaging ha, and recognizing and respecting it within each other.

  8 hours ago · Unlike · 1
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  Bridgett Ann Story I can only say there is hope for all (including Jw's and those recovered  that one will eventually smell the freedom that exists when you place responsibility on yourself and know that the majority of your life track is in your own hands. To all of...See More

  8 hours ago · Unlike · 2
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  Bridgett Ann Story People have no idea how they can impact a single individual. Sometimes it only takes a comment, a smile, and a genuine interest. Rudy Nyhoff for instance was a breath of fresh air as our former neighbor 

  8 hours ago · Unlike · 5
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  Craig O'Manion actually the navel thing may be a misplaced bit of information. 'behind' the navel area and a little down, is the location of the Tan Tien (sp?) point. mentally focusing on this area is in fact a meditation and if nothing else will enable your posture to immediately improve

  7 hours ago · Like · 2
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  Ray Webber It is puzzling - how so many that can be devout, diverse and tolerant all at the same time. I know many people that are not only religious in a nominal sense but have a high degree of religious acceptance. Upon discussion most would say there's some tr...See More

  6 hours ago · Edited · Like · 1
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  Cindy Aiman Stimeck "You know it when you felt it." Happiness is an inside job!! Allow yourself to feel happiness and you will attract the same. Things, jobs, people, etc don't give or take away your happiness. Your thoughts and how you respond is key! I agree Rudy! Gre...See More

  7 hours ago · Unlike · 4
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  Cindy Aiman Stimeck Oops sorry on the quote. "You know it when you feel it"

  7 hours ago · Unlike · 2
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  Craig O'Manion well Cindy, now you can say you have been to a unitarian-universalist discussion, intended or not lol

  7 hours ago · Unlike · 1
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  Rudy Nyhoff Thanks Cindy ... your perceptions enlighten, as always. And I agree, those with an agenda and a need to proselytize need to get a life. (Oh, and present or past, happiness need not diminish.)

  7 hours ago · Like · 2
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  Cassandra Harris I have no problems with anyone else holding their beliefs as long as they:
  1. Don't attempt to proselytize me into their faith. 
  2. Respect my lack of belief as I respect their belief. ...See More

  7 hours ago · Unlike · 5
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  Rudy Nyhoff Amen Cassandra!

  7 hours ago · Like · 2
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  Cassandra Harris Darwin Rudy!

  6 hours ago · Unlike · 1
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  Charla Larrimore Craig, it's about the Hesychasts. Really, just practicing my Ren and Stimpy devotion to happy, happy, joy, joy! Now, shall we try some cephalonamancy--could be a great Friday night!

  6 hours ago · Like · 1
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  Karen Shields Broccoli

  6 hours ago · Like
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  Rudy Nyhoff Thank goodness ... happy, joy ... it's not the 13th Charla or my paraskevidekatriaphobia could kick in. It's not a pretty sight when that occurs.

  6 hours ago · Like
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  Rudy Nyhoff A sincere apology to all friggatriskaidekaphobics out there, we know you are in the same boat. Hold on and be brave.

  6 hours ago · Like
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  Tina Slendak Well, I'm a Christian, I know nothing about being a Jehovah's Witness or a Unitarian (?), I think this conversation is way over my head! But it's been informative...

  6 hours ago · Unlike · 1
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  Rudy Nyhoff FYI: http://www.uua.org/beliefs/
  

  
  

  Beliefs and Principles in Unitarian Universalism

  www.uua.org
  

  Unitarian Universalism is a theologically diverse religion in which members support one another in our individual searches for truth and meaning.

  6 hours ago · Like · 3 · Remove Preview
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  Tina Slendak So, what do you believe happens when you die?

  6 hours ago · Like
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  Craig O'Manion Tina I believe many people base their lives around hopes for a happy afterlife. Personally I dont know nor do I think I can know. I am also, in my own case, unwilling to behave as if I do know. I will leave it to others however to deal with this great mystery in their own way because they are going to do so anyway

  6 hours ago · Unlike · 1
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  Craig O'Manion and thanks for linking that Rudy. I like our old logo better but thats beside the point - the seven principles remain the same and are very general. Other than those, there is nothing one could call a creed per se

  5 hours ago · Unlike · 1
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  Craig O'Manion http://www.uua.org/beliefs/principles/index.shtml
  

  
  

  Our Unitarian Universalist Principles and Sources

  www.uua.org
  

  Our Seven Unitarian Universalist Principles are drawn from six religious sources and form the backbone of our religious community.

  5 hours ago · Unlike · 1 · Remove Preview
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  Rudy Nyhoff I don't want to echo what Craig said about what happens after death, Tina, but to wax personal for a moment. Recently, I witnessed the death of my father and it was the most natural of actions. His being or soul or whatever made him -- him -- for 85 plus years, was gone. It was just a body there in the bed and my father was no more, never to return. Where he went, I know not, but what I truly believe is that he is now a treasured memory, alive in my mind's eye, and nowhere else.

  5 hours ago · Like · 2
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  Craig O'Manion I can relate to that experience Rudy from '08 when my Mom passed. I hoped to gain some insight from going with her up to the edge of this great mystery. alas, I feel I learned nothing other than that she is gone

  5 hours ago · Unlike · 1
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  Susan Louth My Mom passed in 2011. I feel her presence on occasion. Warmest feeling I've ever felt, always out of nowhere. High awareness levels are key.

  2 hours ago · Unlike · 1
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  Craig O'Manion I think we all carry someone we care about in our hearts/minds for the rest of our lives. But as far as being privy to objective information about the afterlife, for me the experience imparted nothing new

  2 hours ago · Unlike · 2
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  Rudy Nyhoff I carry many, Craig, at least to this point in my life. Hopefully, they'll be there a little bit (make that a lot) longer. I'm a big believer in "four score and seven".

  2 hours ago · Like
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  Ruth Templeton I lost my fiancé in a car crash 30 years ago. when I choose to see his body which was very hard for me to do I knew his spirit was gone I believe I will see him again in heaven he still lives in my heart

  about an hour ago · Like · 1
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  Ruth Templeton Chose*

  about an hour ago · Like
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  Craig O'Manion I am sorry for your loss Ruth. hope is the best element of faith, I think (maybe) the apostle Paul said something to that effect. I wish I had the same ideas but I would never want to diminish these beliefs in someone else - it must be comforting to think this way for instance as one falls into sleep each night

  49 minutes ago · Unlike · 1
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  Rudy Nyhoff What a loss to suffer Ruth as a young, would-be bride. Even three decades later, I hear the loss in your words and what an experience to go through. May the solace of knowing you will see him once again bring you the comfort you so deserve.

  about a minute ago · Like
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