Hello…
Pass the Black Flag Please
My grandmother, my mother’s mother, was known and addressed by all as Mama Carr. She had a hardscrabble life. She was born in the Ozark Mountains in 1897. She later moved with her family to Indian Territory around Tom Joad country near what is now Sallisaw, Oklahoma. Later she would share crop with my grandfather near Warner, Oklahoma in an area lovingly known as Ignorant Ridge.
Along the way she had 11 children, 9 of whom made it to adulthood. Her only son died in WWII becoming a well publicized war hero with his final actions. All her daughters went on to live respectable lives. Mama Carr was charitable, almost to a fault, but she did not tolerate slackards or drunkards. She was a Pentecostal who for some reason never went to church, but she was a very religious woman. She was kind in any number of ways, but she also had a temper and a bit of a mean streak. Continue reading “Pass the Black Flag Please”
Same Sh**, Different Day
There is absolutely nothing to be said in favour of growing old. There ought to be leglislation against it. ~~ Patrick Moore
Growing old is like being increasingly penalized for a crime you haven’t committed. ~~ Pierre Teilhard De Chardin
The clock never stops, never stops, never waits. We’re growing old. It’s getting late. ~~ Ben Folds quotes
“The older I grow, the more I distrust the familiar doctrine that age brings wisdom.” ~~ H.L. Mencken
“I realized what a ridiculous lie my whole life has been.” ~~ Biff from Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
After all the highways, and the trains, and the appointments, and the years, you end up worth more dead than alive. ~~ Willy from Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
Life may be not only meaningless but absurd.~~ Thomas Nagel
“I had become a perfect fake human, saying the stupid and pointless things that humans say to each other all day long.” ~~ Jeff Lindsay, Dearly Devoted Dexter
“Too much ends in smoke.” ~~ Toba Beta, My Ancestor Was an Ancient Astronaut
Somehow this seems to apply right now…
“Oh yeah, life goes on. Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone. ” ~~ John Cougar Mellencamp
Suggestion Needed: 12 Step Program
I need some advice or a recommendation. I have been looking for a 12 step program or perhaps a way to do an intervention. Wikipedia listed several, none of which seem to fit 
the need. There is a list at the end of this appeal
The group I am looking for probably has initials along the line of SPA or perhaps CPA aka Smart Phone Anonymous or Cell Phone Anonymous. This is not for me, but for my significant other, Robin.
Generally, in relationships with addicts there is a triangle of interactions. There is the addict, there is an enabler and there is a rescuer. Frequently the enabler and rescuer is the same person switching roles. Robin, being somewhat technology challenged, has several enablers in her life. I will confess to being an enabler by programming various functions on her smart phone for her. Her kids fulfill this role also. I would ask Sarah to help rescue her mother, but I believe she should be in SPA also.
Robin’s phone went belly up a while back, and it was like watching an alcoholic going through the DTs. I thought briefly that I was going to have to take her to emergency room Continue reading “Suggestion Needed: 12 Step Program”
Rev. Joe’s Random Thought # 2,363
…yeah I know you did not ask!
If there were truly a loving, compassionate god, he/she/it would allow us humans a graceful, peaceful, and respectful exit from this life. That happens occasionally, but it seems rare.
My Father, Ted Weinhaus
(This is the remembrance speech that Robin gave at her Father’s funeral. I thought it amazing and beautiful)
I begin by starting with the end. Dad died at 8 pm Sunday night. He spent his last day allowing his body to do what it had always done, keep him alive the magical way it could. His breathing was such a struggle and yet breath after breath he persevered. For days, our breath labored along with him, ourselves struggling with each breath. In the end, the pneumonia won and we gentled our breath in gratefulness and surrender.
Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s many years ago. He lived in a world where he could not express himself with his words and thoughts. We will never know what he thought. But we did know that he had joy in his heart. He showed this daily to his caretakers at the nursing home. He showed his joy to most anyone who he could have eye contact with. Just last Wednesday, less than one week ago, he looked into my eyes, opened his mouth and laughed and smiled. He was filled with joy to see me. You could not help but wonder why he laughed and smiled but we all came to the same understanding that there was a shining, golden appreciative man inside.
I am grateful. I am grateful to have been taught by my father to love life and appreciate each and every moment of it. Even when life is tough and it Is not the way you want it to be, there is a lesson and a blessing to be learned. My father has been a great teacher to me. Continue reading “My Father, Ted Weinhaus”
Rev. Joe’s Random Thought # 5,391
…yeah I know you did not ask!
One of the few things I have figured about life is that it is sloppy. Occasionally life is ugly. And thankfully, rarely, life is ugly and sloppy.
That is when you focus on the hummingbirds in the honeysuckle.
Theodore Roosevelt: An Autobiography by Theodore Roosevelt
Teddy Roosevelt has always been one of my favorite presidents. Reading this book has just reinforced and increased that feeling. How wonderful it would be to have such a man minus his 19th century sensibilities in our politics today. Of course, it was probably those 19th century sensibilities that made him the man he was.
This book is first and foremost a politic document, but that does not distract from its value. Mr. Roosevelt spends much time touting his accomplishments. When he praises someone it is with multiple superlatives. When he criticizes an individual it is with faint praise or kid gloves.
Born of wealthy parents Roosevelt could afford to pursue his interests without worrying about providing for the basic needs for his family. He was an avid outdoorsman, spent time as a rancher out west, led the famous group of volunteers, The Rough Riders, in the Spanish-American War, served in multiple capacities of public life ranging from Police Commissioner of New York to President of the United States.
He was first and foremost an advocate of the people, but did not believe in tolerating freeloaders. Continue reading “Theodore Roosevelt: An Autobiography by Theodore Roosevelt”
Rev. Joe’s Random Thought # 1,273
…yeah I know you did not ask!
On NPR this morning they reported that the Scripps National Spelling Bee had a tie for the first time in 52 years. The two eventual winners went through 25 championship words before being declared co-winners. Then NPR gave their names. I thought to myself that I could not pronounce let alone spell their names…
Just for the record the winners were Sriram Hathwar, an eighth-grader from Painted Post, N.Y., and Ansun Sujoe, a seventh-grader from Fort Worth, Texas.