Month End Musings ~ January 2009 . . .

I came up with the idea of "Month End Musings" so that at the end of every month I could post snippets of things (ideas, observations, questions, thoughts, updates) which were not meaty enough for full-blown postings.
January turned out to be a bittersweet month. It began very nicely with a lunch in my honor to celebrate my having received (in December) the outstanding staff award at the University. At the lunch (attended by all but one of the faculty members who nominated me and two friends), I was given a beautiful hardbound book which included the criteria for the award, the letters of nomination submitted on my behalf, and many photos. I was touched beyond words and will treasure it always.

Continuing with the sweet was the reserved parking space I received as part of the award. And how sweet it is!

The inauguration of President Obama - How sweet it was!

The dismantling of Christmas continued throughout the month and is almost complete. In the meantime, I was able to keep the holiday alive by finally uploading ALL the Christmas decoration photos fit to print. The complete album (best viewed as a slide show or in the grid format) may be found at:

http://s431.photobucket.com/albums/qq37/Sandy4663/Holidays/Christmas%20Decorations/Holiday%20Decorations%202008/

It turns out the Green Statue of Liberty I mentioned in an earlier post is promoting Liberty Income Tax Service and not hawking pizza after all!

While January started out very nicely, it ended on a sad note for our family. My beloved Cousin Mike died somewhat suddenly and unexpectedly on January 28. Rest in peace, Mikey.

Here's hoping for a better February.

Hail to the Chief . . .

No doubt my regular followers (and you three know who you are) are wondering why I've not posted anything about the inauguration of President Barack Obama. Work, Christmas de-decorating, and stopping four or five times a day/evening to watch whenever the strains of "At Last" signaled another replay of Barack and Michelle taking to the dance floor at one of the inaugural balls all conspired to keep me from putting pen to paper or--in this case--fingers to keyboard.

Work has become temporarily manageable, most of the decorations are safely stored away, and the Obama's are dancing no more--at least not on television replays. It's time to look back at that historic day.

I arrived on campus at about 7:30--early for me. At about 8:30 faculty and staff began drifting into the conference room where CNN was streaming. CNN wasn't the only thing streaming. Try as I might, I couldn't stop the tears, which started streaming simultaneously with CNN some 20 minutes or so before the inauguration. Tears ebbed and flowed and reached maximum saturation twice--when I saw the President-elect walking down the hall toward the West Front of the Capitol and again after the oath was administered and "Hail to the Chief" proclaimed President Obama. It was heartening to see I was not the only weepy one--there stood Denise in the back of the room with glistening cheeks. An emotional kindred soul is she.

I found the day perfect. From beginning to end--the fumbled oath, the speech, the poem, the music, the parade (one of my favorite moments is when the President and First Lady make the obligatory exit from the limo and march down the avenue), the balls (and the crowd goes wild over a simple twirl).
I found the Obama family perfect. I see them and I see the epitome of the all-American family.

I found Barack Obama perfect. Presidential--in appearance. bearing, manner, and speech. Charismatic and charming. I'm proud that he is our President, and I am more hopeful for our country and for our world than I have been lo these many years.

Good Sabbath . . .

"Good Sabbath" was something uttered by characters on "The Andy Griffith Show" in one episode when they were leaving church. I loved the phrase. Good Sabbath. It sounded a little Amish or Quakerish (Note to Self: Check to see if Quakerish is a word), but I thought I'd try it out after Mass to see if it could be Catholicish (Note to Self: Check to see if Catholicish is a word). As it turned out, I just couldn't do it. Perhaps if I attend Mass in Mayberry one day, I'll give it a try.

Is it just Catholics who have an affinity for standing in the back of the Church during the service even though there are seats aplenty? Today Father Mike told the reluctant sitters to take a seat. I think he made the request three times. I don't know how many eventually sat down because I didn't turn around, but an usher showed a trio to the first pew. They didn't seem the worse for wear--or the walk down the center aisle.

Mass ended on a happy note. Father Mike announced that a special guest was in the congregation. She was celebrating a birthday--her 99th! She is the oldest member of our Parish. Father suggested we stop by and touch her in the hope that some of that longevity would rub off on us. Happy Birthday, Vy!

I Clap and I Wave Now . . .

I used to be one of those people who could not clap along when prompted to do so by someone with the authority to tell people to clap along. Who might these authoritative figures be and under what circumstances might they want us to join in? Well, Paul McCartney at a Paul McCartney concert or John Bon Jovi at a Bon Jovi concert would be two examples. You know the maneuver--proceed to the front of the stage, raise arms above head, thrust hands forward, and begin clapping AT the audience. I believe this is the universal symbol for CLAP. How I overcame my embarrassment I do not know. My Sister is constitutionally unable to join in the clapping frenzy. Sometimes when we are alone in the car and come to a stoplight and a song is playing which lends itself to clapping, I start clapping and entreat her to join in. She turns her head in embarrassment and looks out the window. She just can't do it.

Waving to strangers is something else she is hesitant to do, although she has admitted it is easier to do than join the clapping brigade. Just when might we wave at a stranger? Driving to work earlier this week, there was a woman dressed like the Statue of Liberty, but in green and not nearly as tall, standing on a corner and waving at people. (She was no doubt promoting something. For some reason I think it was pizza. Possibly New York Pizza, which would make some sense.) I waved back. On the Mark Twain or on the Disney steam train at Disneyland, I always wave to the folks who wave at those of us sailing or steaming along, and I repay the courtesy when I am on terra firma and they go by. And Santa Claus. I always wave at Santa Claus. Sometimes I even initiate the wave. But I don't ever initiate the clapping. It would be unseemly.

Goodbye Christmas . . .

I began the arduous task of taking down the Christmas decorations last Saturday. Normally I would wait until after Epiphany (January 6), but family pressure prevailed. "How arduous a task can it be?" you ask. Let me count the trees: (1) The white tree adorned with a plethora of pastel ornaments, (2) the travel tree (with tree skirt made from a map) adorned with souvenir ornaments purchased on trips, (3) the small metal tree made of coat hangers with vintage Shiny Brite ornaments; (4) the Peace tree, (5) the beach tree, (6) the gingerbread tree, (7) the kitchen tree, (8) the Disney tree, (9) three (3) count 'em 3 trees decorated with apple ornaments (in the Apple Room, of course), (10) the patriotic tree, (11) the Millennium/New Year's Eve tree, and (12) three (3) count 'em 3 bird/birdhouse bedecked trees.



An idea for a new tree occurred to me after I was too tired to put up another tree. A Christmas tree with Christmas tree ornaments--that is, ornaments shaped like Christmas trees! I like it. I like it!