Eclipse

 Saw the eclipse on April 8th. Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Amazing. No clouds. Clear sky. Totality for 4+ minutes. 

The advice on viewing was constant. 'Don't look at it or you'll go blind". This is true but something in me wanted to look at it, just to be sure. And so did my four year old grandson, Ben. Like his granddad, he did sneak a peek, but just a quick one and survived, as did I. 

Something about the way that advice is given. You are only told not to stare at the sun when an eclipse is upcoming. I guess that means that we assume people are smart enough on normal days, but somehow turn stupid under the power of the eclipse. 

On a bright sunny day, Moms of the current age might call out to their kids, "put on sunscreen", "don't stay out too long", "drink plenty of water", (in the 60s they said none of these) but she will never cry "Don't Stare at the Sun!!!"

A Gift from a two year old

 Johanna - This week you let me put you to bed. I wanted to and you did not object. What I really expected was for you to point to your Grandmother. Almost always this is what your brother and cousins would do. But you just went to my arms as if this was the most normal thing. We read both nights, The Lady with the Aligator Purse and Fox in Sox. Each three times. 

The most wonderful part was when it came time to rock you and sing to you. You nestled in my arms as I sang Jesus Loves Me, over and over. I thought of all the times I had held my own children in this wondrous routine. I felt your love and trust and comfort in my arms. I don't have good words for this. To be at your home, to be surrounded by one you trust and have the beginnings of this feeling we call love. To know the comfort that comes when fully cradled in the arms of a grandfather. 

Perhaps it will not happen in this life, but there will come a time when I will once again know this peace. I have long forgotten what this is like, but if there is any good in me, the seeds were planted at times like this. When my Dad, or my Grandad, or my mother held me. When my whole world loved me. It will come again. 

The things I do when my wife is out for the week

 1. Put dishes in the dishwasher without washing them first

2. Set the thermostat where I want it

3. Keep the TV on hoops all day

4. Leave house with the TV on

5. Watch Sharknado 2

6. Turn the living room into a banjo studio/sports center

7. Refreeze meat I've thawed to cook and then changed my mind

8. Eat her snacks

9. Drink too much coffee

10. Shave on the couch while watching hoops

11. Miss her

Retail Revisited

Fourteen years ago I wrote a post about places I liked to shop. It's interesting how things, tastes and places changed. 

The 2010 list

Gander Mountain         Costco

Macy's                          Dunn Brothers Coffee

Amazon.com                QT

Bachman's                    Fleet Farm

Tim Horton's                Cracker Barrel 

Valley Park Hardware  Ted Drewe's Frozen Custard

The 2024 List

Costco                         Amazon.com

Nordstrom                   Filson

Aldi                             Cracker Barrel    

Ace Hardware             Ted Drewe's Frozen Custard

QT

Right at the start

I don't always know right from wrong. Or perhaps better said, I don't always know grey from right or grey from wrong. There are some things I did in my early life, particularly in business, that I had to learn were wrong. I thought they seemed neutral. Some matters that I thought were grey areas I later learned were not. They were not big things, but more technical matters related to my profession. 

There are other human behaviours, that from the time I first heard of them, seemed wrong. They still hold. Almost everthing I thought was wrong when the child me first heard of them, was indeed wrong and twisted. That first impression, that gut sense, stuck with me - even when I was an adult and tried to rationalize them away. When I ponder whether a particular act is morally right or wrong, I find I often revert to a very simple question, "When you first heard of this act, what did you think?"

Before I was old enough to know the difference between political parties and philosophies, my first impressions ruled. That gut reaction. As I look back its remarkable how the instinct of me the child was nearly always the one I still hold, or have returned to, in my later years. I believe that is a grace of God poured out on his youngest children who are raised in homes that believe in Him. This is a personal belief, not necessarily a theological truth. 

Cities 2023

Not much in the way of travel this past year. The places where I spent the night were mostly in my home country.  Victoria, MN, MIami, Fl, Belize City, Belize, Webster Groves, MO, Minneapolis, MN, Coralville, IA, Steubenville, OH, Hickory, NC, Roan Mountain, TN, Duluth, MN. 

Books read in 2023

Below is the list of books I read in 2023. I think the best indicator of whether I found them of value is if I kept them. This doesn't mean I liked them, though that is usually the case. There were a couple I didn't like but think I may read again, or want to keep as a reference. There were some books that I really liked but do not think I will ever read again. Basically, it's all over the map. The ones marked with an asterisk are still in my possession. The others are at Goodwill. At the bottom of this list is a couple of best and worst thoughts. 

Margaret Thatcher Vol 1: Not for Turning - Moore*
Margaret Thatcher Vol 2: At Her Zenith - Moore*
Margaret Thatcher Vol 3: Herself Alone - Moore*
Red Rubber, King Leopold II's Regime: The Belgian Slave Trade in the Congo 1890-1910 - Morel
Spark of Life: A Novel of Resistance - Remarque
The Congo Free State: The History and Legacy of the Colony - River
Light of Assisi: The Story of Saint Clare - Carney
Patrice Lumumba: The Life and Legacy of Congo's First Prime Minister - River
True Compass: A Memoir - Kennedy*
Fear: Trump in the White House - Woodward
Rage - Woodward
The Holy Bible (12th or so reading): NRSVCE*
The Room Where It Happened - Bolton
By What Authority? An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition (3rd reading)- Shea*
Will you miss me when I'm gone? The Carter Family and their Legacy in American Music - Zwonitzer
The Broker - Grisham
Countdown 1945: The Extraordinary Story of the Atomic Bomb and the 116 Days That Changed the World - Wallace
My Grandfather's Son: A Memoir - Thomas
The Dark Side of Camelot - Hersh
No Silent Night: The Christmas Battle for Bastogne - Barron and Cygan*
700 Sundays - Crystal
M Train - Smith
The Civil War, Vol 1:Fort Sumter to Perryville - Foote (3rd reading)*
White Fragility - Diangelo*
The Laws of Brainjo: The Art and Science of molding a musical mind - Turknett*

The Civil War, Vol 2: Fredericksburg to Meridian - Foote (3rd Reading)*
The Practice of the Presence of God (5th reading) - Lawrence*
The Saint Monica Club: How to Wait, Hope and Pray for Your Fallen Away Loved Ones - Green (4th Reading)*
The Civil War, Vol 3 (Red River to Appomattox) - Foote (3rd Reading)*
Catholicism: A Global History from the French Revolution to Pope Francis - McGreevy
The Power Broker - Caro
A Reporter's Life - Cronkite
White Fragility (Second Reading) - Diangelo*
The Return of George Washington: Uniting the States, 1783-1789 - Larson
The John Lennon Letters - Davies
Father Augustus Tolton - Burke-Sivers
The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet - Cameron*
This is my Body : A call to Eucharistic Revival - Barron*
The Man who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales - Sacks
Africa and the Early Church, The Almost Forgotten Roots of Catholic Christianity - Aquilina
Holy Is His Name - Hahn
Love Unveiled: The Catholic Faith Explained - Sri*

Books I gave away and now regret. 

Will you miss me when I'm gone. 

Countdown 1945. 

Spark of Life. 

Just didn't like em

Father Augustus Tolton 

700 Sundays 

The John Lennon Letters

Will likely read again

White Fragility. Very poorly written but for well or ill the book has given me some things to chew on. Still mentally digesting it.  

M Train. Patti Smith just bowled me over. I picked this up on a cruise ship in the Caribbean. What a gifted woman. 

The Civil War. Had I not just finished it I would pick it up now. 

The Holy Bible. Almost every day. 

Magoo Christmas

When I was small Christmas meant many things, one of them was the TV showing of the Mr. Magoo version of The Christmas Carol. It's still my favorite Christmas cartoon and when I think of that story I always hear the voice of Jim Backus as Scrooge. Christmas is almost here. I have this on DVD somewhere. This was the very first Christmas cartoon.

 See this blog for a lot of great info on a wonderful show 

https://mrmagooschristmascarol.blogspot.com/

I miss apathy

 When I was much younger, in the 70's, those of us who were politically minded would often lament the apathy of the masses. "Why is it no one cares about the problem of (fill in the blank)?"

I could not really understand how people could go about their lives without having an opinion on the latest major bill before Congress, our next Governor, our next President, the latest foreign crisis. 

I think I miss those days. 

Today it seems too many of folks have too strongly held opinions on too many things. Perhaps it is because so many of the issues of today have a moral aspect, that those who traditionally kept silent, now feel the need to speak. 

In many cases the opening of mouths reflects an inner emptiness. It reflects an inate human desire to be part of something much bigger than yourself, to matter, to be engaged with big things. Technology has given my friends, and me, a global microphone, and some demand to be heard. 

But wait a minute. Is it really this way, or am I falling into an American myth? I have been told that the country is torn apart and that our relationships with our family and neighbors is burdened by the ripping of the American weave that binds us together. Yet, I do not know one soul who spouts their political views via social media. If I do, I am not aware that they do so. I conduct a relationship with them completely oblivious to their views on any issue. I may suspect how they vote, but I don't know, for it is something I never discuss with them. 

These are the topics that my friends and I engage in... the new construction in our towns, stock prices, the Holy Eucharist, the state of professional and amateur football in Minnesota, weather, hospice care, the St. Louis Cardinals, vacation plans, family events, church events. That covers 90% or more of my talking and listening. 

So, back to apathy. I think we could use a little more of it. Don't care about the thing the invisible guy on your phone sez you should care about. Taking care of your family is always more important. And no, they are not the same. Supporting Invisible Guy's favorite issue is not a way to show your family you care. 

Try trusting those in authority. Come on, and not just those you agree with. Most of them are better people than you are led to believe. 

Trust more.   

Walmartian Astrology

 I like Walmart. Great selection at very good prices. Especially their honey cured hams. Amazing. 

In many cases the goods are made in places where the cost of materials and labor is less than in my home state. Good for me, good for my fellow Minnesotans, and most importantly, good for Walmart shareholders. Win Win Win. 

But, every once in a while they get weird. 

Today I was enrolling in WalMart Pharmacy. I didn't want to  but it was the only way to check a price. 

They wanted to confirm my identity. They asked me questions about my life. First, "Which of these cities did you live in?" Second "Which of these companies did you work for?" 

Quiet now children....Third "Which of these is your zodiac sign?" What is going on here? Walmart promoting astrology? Not likely. But weird nonetheless. Most likely the person who came up with the questions is in a cubicle in Rogers, AR just trying to come up with one more unique question before heading over to Captain D's for supper.  

I didn't answer it, but they still let me in. Too late. I found their feedback form and in the 100 characters I was alloted I manage to ask them to stop doing this. I bet they do.  

Thoughts on the banjo quest

 What am I after? What is my goal? 

Funny that it is easier for me to describe what my goals are not. 

I do not want to play in a band. 

I do not want to be on a stage. I do not want to be anyplace where people would ask me to play a particular tune. However, I would like to be good enough that I could do that if I wanted to, the confidence to turn it down because I am good enough to do what I want and have nothing to prove. 

I don't want to "jam" with others. While I did enjoy a recent jam camp, I did not leave with the sense that I had discovered something I wanted to do. Weird. 

I do not want to change the strings regularly, but I do. 

I like playing by myself. I like trying a new tune or lick and getting through it. It's sort of like running. A very solitary activity. I like the challenge, actually I love the challenge. 

I like playing for my grandchildren, who have no expectations and no real sense of what is good or bad about my playing. They just like to see me do it. 

I like talking banjo with other players, I like that a lot. 

Two hours a day, every day. Every day. 

I like the way my fingers move across the strings. I like making music. I like the theory and science behind the music. 

I would say that I love my banjo, but love seems the wrong word to express my feelings for anything non-human. I do love the way I feel when I play the banjo. Capable. Confident. Smart. A learning man. An aging man who does not waste his time in retirement. He does things. 

Independence Days Remembered Part II

In looking back over the years the thing that stands out from my youth is the absence of big fireworks displays. Growing up in Florida I do not recall ever going to a big fireworks event ever. That was something we saw on TV, but never in person. It's not that we didn't go, it just didn't happen. There were plenty of sparklers and firecrackers, cherry bombs and M80s, buzzing things and flying things, things that exploded and things that soared. But none of the really big stuff. 

Thus, I have no big kid memories of the 4th. Except for the time that Bill Leap and I soaked a bunch of cattails in gasoline and lit them as torches. I was about 13 or so. We soaked them for a week and they made a nice display in his back yard. 

Others. As an adult around 1982 I helped fire off the big stuff for the Pine Bluff Arkansas Jaycees event. It was fun launching them and seeing the fear and excitement on the face of my toddler daughter. 

Mid 90s. Richmond Virginia, with friends. One of the kids got sick, I recall. 

Mid 90's St. Louis. Watching at eye level from a conference room in the Boatmen's Bank building with colleagues and our families. 

2005 Approx. Lake Minnetonka. Excelsior Minnesota. Nice display and I remember the traffic and parking being not near as bad as expected. 

2010 I was in Buenos Aires on July 4th. Odd to be somewhere when this is just another day. 

2022 I better be able to remember last year's. Watched a nice display sitting in the back of my now gone Ford F150 with my wife. Parking lot of target store in Waconia, MN. 

Note: As I was writing this I recalled writing a similar post in the past. Here it is. https://midnightdiner.blogspot.com/2011/07/independence-days-remembered.html