Our Promise

 1976. I remember our bi-centenial year as a festive one.  Len and I spent a few days in Boston which was all geared up for a great celebration.  On the Fourth, Kathy, Gerry and I hosted a glorious party in their spacious yard. The theme was:  Do Something You Would Only Do Once Every 200 Years.

Gertrude gave a rousing political speech.  Phyllis played the kazoo.  Annette, who had ESP, served as a fortune teller. 

There's a sad memory attached to that day too.  Very upset, Annette approached me in the kitchen.  "I "saw" that Mitzi's husband is going to die soon," she whispered.  She was right.

Now, as we approach our 250 birthday, I think of joy and sadness.  Would Annette whisper of the death of our democracy?  Or will a new generation of leaders keep America's promise alive?

The Most Pope-ular Team

 

The White Sox scored 22 runs last night.  Let that sink in for a minute.  22!  The last time it happened was in 1970 and those are the only two times.  The White Sox are in first place in the American League Central.  Yes.  This is the team that lost more games than any in all of baseball history just a few seasons ago.

It is a miracle.  Which makes me think of our Chicago (suburb) Pope.  He is following and cheering for his team!  There has to be a connection.  Or, it’s fun to write about there being a connection.

My favorite Christian, John Fugelsang, admires our White Sox Pope. He sees him as a symbol of progressive religions values in contrast to Christian Nationalism.  He highlights the Pope’s message of charity and empathy over greed.

So, we won’t get greedy about wishing for more runs, will we.  Just enough to keep winning,

My Father's Day

 The sun woke me up.  It was a school day.  Why weren't we all getting ready?

Why was everything so quiet?  I found my mother sitting up in her bed.  Aunt Doris was there. Why?

Very softly, mother said: “I have something sad to tell you Joanie.  Your father died in the hospital last night,”  I was eight years old.  None of this made any sense.

 I’m old now and, looking back, I see that moment as a preview of a life in which things are not expected to make much sense. And, I suspect we all live with one moment or another that keeps tapping us on the shoulder. Grabbing our attention. 

I’ve missed him every day. 

A Cross Appears

 

This cross is important to me.  It showed up on the front seat of my car shortly after I left the hospital after having a heart attack.  I never questioned how it got there as I preferred to    and accept it as a sign from the universe of recovery and hope. I kept it in the car.

Now that I have let go of the car, I’ve been thinking of what place I should make for the cross, or even, should I pass it on.  I haven’t decided yet.

The cross story is my personal way of feeling comfortable with the ideas about consciousness discussed and explained in the book “A World Appears” by Michael Pollen. The cross signalled that the material and non material world are united despite never being able to  "observe"  consciousness.  There is no "outside" spot.

Consciousness is what makes us human.  It binds us together in the ultimate community.  In me, its mystery evokes the beautiful feelings I had when I discovered the cross.

Secrets

 

Secrets.  Can you keep one?  Is there something you're itching to tell? ? Do you have some that remain, and will remain just with you?  I just finished reading "The Things We Never Say" by Elizabeth Strout.  (She is the creator of my favorite character in literature: Olive Kitteridge. ) Strout writes in a conversational tone.  Like the two of us are having lunch and she has a friend with an interesting story.  Is part of the joy of being a writer being able to tell as many secrets as you want about your characters.  Hmmm.

I've been deeply affected by what has gone unnoticed by me, or deliberately kept away.  And, I have a few stories I won't put down on paper and one I'll make room for in my grave.

I'll leave it at that.

Message to the Universe

 

Greetings from the planet Earth.

We have human beings here who are smart enough to have invented a

device which has just now broken free of our solar system. But, even though

we possess so much intelligence, we are in deep trouble. We have not been

able to figure out how to live peacefully with each other. Our existence

has been one of including killing and destruction.

We also have not been wise enough to respect our natural habitat. Our

lifestyle is destroying our planet to the point where we can actually envision

our own extinction. Yet, no one has the will to turn things around. 

If you are more advanced, we could surely use your help.

Sincerely,

All of us.

This is from my book, Joan Chandler Today. I thought it was a good message to repeat on Memorial Day.

Remembering

 

My Uncle was stationed in the Pacific when Pearl Harbor was attacked.  He survived years in a Japanese prison camp.  The post war years were a struggle and he died "too soon."  As a child, he was my handsome soldier.  As an adult, I continue to salute him.

My thoughts are also with my friend Julia's brother.  The closest I ever came to him was seeing his name on the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington.  He lived to 19.

Because there is no draft, the armed forces are like some exotic population.  Interesting, but apart,  We are happy to say, "Thank you for your service." and be on our way.

I will never accept why any of this has to be true.