Likes and Dislikes

The current edition of Our State magazine, a wonderful publication that celebrates North Carolina, has essays on "Why We Love North Carolina". The editor-in-chief had posed that question to a lot of folks prior to the publication of the February issue. A lot of the responses were exactly my reasons for loving the Old North State. Here a few I can totally agree with:

I love ripples of blue mountain ridges.

A sky of pure cerulean.

Folks who wave to me as they're driving by.

The sounds of words said in a gentle Southern drawl.

The smoky flavor of chopped barbecue, hush puppies warm and golden.

Potluck dinners in a fellowship hall.

Children learning to say "yes, ma'am" or "no, sir."

The sound of lawn mowers on a Saturday afternoon.

Neighbors that bake brownies, stop and chat and give you a hug.

A smiling face of a sales associate, even though they're having a bad day.
Watching hummingbirds feed whilst sitting in a rocker on my front porch.

All very true in my experience. However, the other side of the coin are my dislikes. Few, to be sure, but nevertheless true. Driving habits mainly and to be fair these are probably universal, especially:

Drivers who drive with no lights in rain or overcast conditions (despite State Law which compels lights if you are using windshield wipers).
Public libraries who send repeated notices of unreturned items when you can prove that you have done so, especially when they refuse to apologize for their error.
The many potholes in local roads.
The appalling quality of repairs to such potholes (usually making them worse within a few weeks).
Drivers who inconsiderately share their "music" with everyone else within a quarter mile.

Having got that off my chest, I'm so grateful for the pros, that the cons are really small fry, and I cannot think of anywhere that I would rather live.

Yes, I too, love North Carolina.

All are welcome

"All Are Welcome". This was the theme of the 193rd Annual Convention of the Episcopal Church of North Carolina. I admit that when first asked to represent my church at this two-day event I wasn't too keen. Okay, let's be honest, I didn't relish the idea at all. However after much thought and prayer I decided to step up to the mantel. I'm glad I did.

Yes, there was the business of debating, agreeing or disagreeing various changes to Canon law, election of diocesan officers, etc., but that was fine, if a tad confusing at times. Our Bishop delivered a amazing pastoral address, explaining that he has a hope, a dream, "that when we mark the 200th anniversary in the year 2017, that the face of the Episcopal Church here will reflect the face of the peoples of North Carolina in all of our variety and God-given diversity. And that it will be known of us far and wide that, "All are welcome in this place." "

As important as the resolutions discussed were, two especially caught my attention. The first was a resolution to add to Lesser Feasts and Fasts, the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray (1910-1985), American civil rights advocate, feminist, Lawyer, writer and poet and the first African-American woman priest in the US. At age 3, following the death of her mother she lived with her aunt and maternal grandparents in Durham, NC. I'm pleased to say that resolution was passed.

The second was to recognize the very first baptisms in the "Lost Colony", founded by Sir Walter Raleigh on Roanoke Island, North Carolina. Manteo, a Native American of the Algonquian nation, became a liaison between the English and the Native Americans. On August 13, 1587, Manteo was baptized, and by command of "Sir Walt", created Load of Roanoke. Manteo's was both the first recorded baptism of the Church of England on the American shores and the first recorded baptism of a Native American person in the Church of England. On August 18, Governor John White's daughter Eleanor and her husband Ananias Dare celebrated the birth of their first child, Virginia Dare. Virginia was baptized on August 20. She was the first child born to English settlers on the North American continent and only the second recorded baptism in North America in the Church of England. Another resolution passed.

Manteo and Virginia Dare

Inauguration day

The scene through our front door this morning. Not the 4-6 inches forecast, but enough to paint a wonderful picture of nature's beauty on this, an historic day in the history of the United States.

Like millions nationwide, we are watching the inauguration of the 44th President. A feeling of hope is so evident throughout the nation, indeed throughout the world.

We feel so privileged to be residents of this great nation.

God Bless the United States of America.

In the bleak mid winter

It's been a busy week - how I ever found time for work I'll never know.

With the temperatures here in The Triangle dropping this week, a major project was to get the heating system repaired at our parish house. Thanks are due to Gary, our wonderful HVAC man, who never gives up on our monster unit. I must explain that the system is quite old, far too big for the job and of a unique design, which the ordinary HVAC guy would have trouble in keeping it running. "Never-say-die" Gary had our system up and running just in time for the monthly lunch of Ninth Street Neighbors. Mind you, we ate that outside anyway!

The bad news is that the temperatures is currently 11F (that's -11.6C to European readers), but with the wind chill, it feels like 8F (-13.3C). The good news is that it is dry, bright and sunny with wonderful blue skies which really makes it bearable. I say this in the comfort of my study - how it can be bearable for our homeless neighbors beggars belief.

Church activities have been a big part of my week, with a wonderful Epiphany Bible Class on Tuesday, studying Psalms. This is being lead by our good friend Father Chris Tessone, with whom I share a passion for catholic liturgy, food, soccer and beer! Wednesday we were at our monthly Healing Eucharist. I love this informal Eucharist which we follow by a simple soup supper - thanks Fred, your soup was delicious!

The superb skill of the US Airways pilot to land his disabled plane on the Hudson River with no loss of life was a truly inspiring event. How wonderful, during a week of tragic views of the bombing and loss of life in Gaza, to see a happy ending to what could have been a tragedy. Let us hope and pray that a permanent cessation of the killing and maiming can occur in Gaza, Israel and the entire region.

My regular visit to the movies with my son Stuart was, for a change, on Friday evening. Clint Eastwood's final acting role (so he says) in Gran Torino was typical Eastwood performance but the ending certainly was not. The movie has it's critics, but I enjoyed it. Unfortunately the evil in me came out when I found myself thinking that every neighborhood could do with a Walt Kowalski. For my money, Christopher Carley, who played Father Janovich, deserves recognition for his superb performance, as does Walt's wonderful dog! Surprisingly, with the exception of one scene, Walt uses non violence to achieve his ends.

This morning, in the extreme cold, we were visited by a family of deer. Although I thought of the already familiar quote from Gran Torino, "Get off of my lawn!", I couldn't wish this on these wonderful creatures. Unfortunately they did run, baby and all, when I went out to feed them some carrots. I hope it's okay to feed deer carrots? The bird feeders need filling on a daily basis and the bird baths need "de-icing" almost half-hourly, but it is really worth the effort to see the array of birds lining up to use the feeders. We even have woodpeckers using the feeders and that's a new one on me.

"Breakfast at Sally's"

I'm currently reading this wonderful story of "One homeless man's inspirational journey". Richard LeMieux was a successful "man who had everything", who saw his fortune change almost overnight.

His dog (and best friend) "Willow" saved his life, he meets some amazing characters, is treated for depression and is able to persevere. It all goes to make a fascinating insight to how this, the richest country on earth, treat extreme poverty, which exists on all our doorsteps.

It's a "must read" book - it may just help you a little to appreciate what you have - I know it has helped me do just that.

A catholic music taste - Conclusion

I think I've gone as far as I can go on this subject (for the time being at least and to, no doubt a sigh of relief by all), so thought I would take this opportunity to summarize.

I'm not keen on putting music (or anything else for that matter) into "pigeon-holes" and only use music genres to help me catalog my music collection. I do not consider myself a music snob, although I probably was when younger. I am of the opinion that "good or indifferent (to others), if I enjoy it, I do, if I don't enjoy it, I don't". That applies to many other things in life - food, beer, wine, theater, movies, etc. I remember well that in the 1960s peer pressure drove me mad. "Mod or rocker?", "trad or modern (jazz)?", "The Beatles or The Stones?", "Dylan or Donovan?" (in the latter case, neither). Today's youngsters almost certainly have even more peer pressure than I ever did.

From the simplest country song to the intricacies of a Mahler symphony, I have a love and indeed a need of it all. A few opening notes of say, Herman's Hermits "I'm into something good" and my mind immediately brings images of a Saturday evening at our local dance hall, the opening bars of "Tales from Vienna Woods" and I'm transformed to the New Years day concert in the wonderful natural auditorium of St. Michael's Caves, Gibraltar in 2003, and I cannot hear the Harvest Festival hymn "Come, ye thankful people come" without remembering my very first processional hymn as a choirboy many years ago.

I watched one of my favorite movies a couple of weeks ago on TCM, Carol Reed's The Third Man. I hadn't seen it for many a year and the minute I heard the amazing zither playing of Anton Karas, who also wrote the score, I recalled literally the smell of the burnt methanol exhaust of motor cycle speedway meetings in Great Yarmouth. That movie theme was extremely popular and played at every (weekly) meeting for a considerable time after the movie's release in 1949. Remarkable in that I was only five years old then!

I've used these examples just to emphasize what music means to me.

New Year Day concert, 2003, in St. Michael's Caves, Gibraltar - a wonderful natural auditorium.

A catholic music taste - part 5

It's time for an update on my love of music.

Although this is about my music tastes I must tell you that Gail always had (and still has) a love of late 1950s and 1960s "pop". Favorites of hers include Billy Fury, Buddy Holly, Helen Shapiro, Brenda Lee, Dusty Springfield, Roy Orbison and "The King" Elvis Presley. I had my own favorites, although not The Beatles I have to say (or at the time of his popularity, Elvis, although this later changed), which I suppose made me an oddball. Listening to these artists did have an effect on me and the "Big O", Dusty and the like, soon became favorites of mine.

Gail also loves Country music. This brushed off onto me, although in England we mostly only heard the "cross-over" country stars on our radios - the likes of Jim Reeves, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers and the like - which did not give us a true taste of the more genuine article. The introduction of satellite television and the inclusion of the CMT channel gave Gail a broader choice of, until then, unfamiliar singers. She would record her favorites and play them to me and I gradually began to appreciate the honest simplicity and what seemed like a "genuineness" of this music. On our first visit to the US, we not only made the almost obligatory pilgrimage to Gracelands and soaked up the atmosphere of Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee, but spent a couple of days in Nashville. A visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame and the the Grand Ole Opry sealed it for me. Thus another music genre was added to my collection and on our return to Spain I was glad of on-line music channels to able me to listen to more.

Since living here we have realized how big Country music is and that, in general, the sincerity is real. Through listening to more and more singers and musicians, new and old, I have also developed interest in Bluegrass, Appalachian hill music and Southern gospel, all integral parts of the "country" genre.

What am I listening to as I write this? "Kickin' Out The Footlights . . . Again" by George Jones and Merle Haggard - great stuff.

Gail and I on our visit to Gracelands in June 2001.

Spelling "bee"

I've just had an email from an English friend of many, many years, who kindly made some comments on this blog. He pointed out that I, like him, having been in the printing trade for forty years, should take more care with my spelling. A good point Fred!

Imagine my horror when I checked my last posting. It was full of spelling errors! I cringed and turned a deep shade of red upon checking the awful state of the post. I humbly, very humbly, apologize.

Well spotted Fred and thanks for your kind comments - although it was an amazing fact you pointed out that we had been friends for over FORTY years. Where does time go?

A Happy New Year and my best wishes for 2009 to everyone.