The Light

St. John’s Gospel, in the first chapter, tells us that “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” The days leading to Christmas and the time after are days to treasure as each day begins to be a little longer and night a little shorter. One of the special happenings this year is the

“Christmas Star.” Astronomically it is the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn which creates a bright light in the sky. It doesn’t happen very often. I believe I read it last occurred in the Middle Ages. I was able to see it from my bedroom deck through the bare branches of a tree. I wanted to see it more clearly so I climbed in the car and intended to drive out of town away from the light pollution. As I came around the corner just three blocks from my home there it was in the sky shining brightly. I didn’t need to go any further. As a symbol of that light about which St. John speaks, we use candles in church. I wrote last week about being an Advent purist. I am also a candle junkie. My home is filled

with candles. There is a Swedish wrought iron and glass chandelier above the dining room table. I remember buying it Uppsala and then hauling it home. I learned to think twice about listening to the salesperson’s story about it being an easy thing to carry. It wasn’t but I made it. I don’t think it would have passed security clearance in this day and age. There is another Swedish chandelier in the living room. I had this one shipped along with the wall sconces. I did learn my lesson. There are a half dozen Swedish glass candle holders on the mantle. Three are shaped like snow balls and three are squares. They are heavy. I accidentally knocked one off the mantel one time and it fell to the floor. I thought surely the thing would shatter into a million pieces. Instead it took a chunk out of the ceramic tile upon which it fell. Nary a scratch is seen on the glass object. I call that durable. Tonight I will light three seven day candles in the living room window so the Magi can find their way

to the manger. I also light other candles because I enjoy their glow. I’ve never really stopped to assess the candle budget for this household. The candles are a source of pleasure, a symbol of hope, a reminder of the light shining in the darkness. I’ve practiced quite a bit this week. I think the Christmas Eve service went well. Tomorrow there will be a service of Lessons and Carols. Well, not really. It will be a Eucharist with a lot of carols interjected. The Cathedral’s version of the same will be live-streamed only. It is entirely prerecorded. I recorded my solo last Sunday. There will be an interesting “conjunction” tomorrow as I play for one Church service and am singing a solo in another church service at the same time! How many of us even knew what “live-stream” was at this time last year? One of the mottos of the state of

South Dakota is “The Land of Infinite Variety.” It refers to the vast differences between the mountains in the west, the plains, the badlands, the lake country, the farm country. We often use it to refer to the weather. On Tuesday we had a high of 55º. On Wednesday we had a blizzard and a low of -2º. If you don’t like the weather, wait a few minutes and something different is apt to show up. The last two days have been nice enough to take my usual walks. If I put on enough clothing the walk is pleasant and the sunshine recharges my batteries. Whatever Google has done to Blogger it hasn’t been an improvement in my thought. It used to be easy to insert a picture and add a caption. I can insert a picture but adding a caption one cannot do. The thing also destroys all indications of a new paragraph. No matter the software I use to compose the blog, when it is inserted into Blogger it becomes one long run-on paragraph. I’ve even typed directly into Blogger and the same thing happens. I don’t know what caused it to become “anti-paragraph.” I guess it’s something that require acceptance by us. I had my scans on Thursday morning. I haven’t seen a report yet, but I will see the oncologist on Monday and he will reveal all. So, I’ll

let you know about those items next week. Happy Boxing Day! Stay well and safe and warm. Thanks for your prayers and thoughts and greetings. A good friend brought me a lovely Yuletide arrangement which brightens my table and reminds me of all my kind friends. It used to be a thrill to have lots of presents to open. Now, acts of kindness are more important than any gift. Be kind to all you meet. After church yesterday, a venerable aged lady of the congregation visited with me. She said that her life had not been easy. She has been amazed of late at the kindness of persons she doesn’t even know. She had stopped for fuel for her car on a bitterly cold day. A gentleman approached her and told her to stay in her car and he would handle the refill operation. When completed he told her he had paid for her gasoline. She continued, “I went to the grocery store and when I was ready to check out the person ahead of me paid for my groceries. I can’t believe how kind people are.” Random acts of kindness are truly blessings. Remember that the “light that has come into the world” did so in a borrowed place.

That’s What I Am

I admit it. I’m not ashamed. I will freely confess that I am an Advent purist, advocate, passionate promotor, whatever you want to call me. I find it such a beautiful season liturgically. It perfectly mirrors what is happening in nature. As the days continue to grow shorter the readings, the lighting of the candles, the preparations for the big feast are taking place. The keeping of Advent helps so much to make the Christmas celebration more special. When I had a Christmas tree I used to put that up and decorate it on Christmas Eve in the morning while listening to the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s College in Cambridge, England. It would already be late afternoon there. The lone boy soprano singing the first verse of “Once in Royal David’s City” always sent chills up and down my back. I think it may have been that service that made me passionate to help found a boys’ choir here in the city. Even after the choir was founded and established we did not “do” a Christmas concert. All of the directors were busy with other Christmas events and we assumed the boys were as well. After several years and as many discussions we settled upon a Christmas Tea. The boys sang a rather short concert and then the parents hosted a tea for all those who came. It grew into a tradition. For the first time in over 20 years that is not happening this year. I will miss it. I will miss seeing a choirboy from many years ago who continues to come with his mother every year. It’s a part of that family’s tradition. He’s all grown up and married now but mom and son still come every year. Some of those traditions are very hard to give up mainly because they define the people we are. They form the memories that we hold dear. I will freely admit that the Christmas tree in my house went by the wayside many years ago. Cats and Christmas trees are simply not compatible. I still have boxes of ornaments that mean very much to me, but they stay in boxes in the basement storage room. Who would want them? I have no idea. To others they are just ornaments. To me they are memories of where they were acquired or from whom they were received. This week the figures for the crèche will appear on their way to the stable. The tableau has its residence on the mantel above the living room fireplace. The feline of the household has to admire it from afar since there is no access (by design) for Sophia to examine it more closely. The crèche was gift from a dear friend who was laid to rest several years ago. I’m still grateful. The closest IKEA to us is in the Twin Cities area. I think it was on my second visit that I spied these illuminated wreathes of which I am fond.

The lights had to be replaced but they still bring brightness to the living room with their sparkle dispelling the darkness. One frames a snowflake which was purchased at the gift shop of the art center in Brookings. The supposition is that we really have enough snow in South Dakota. Who needs one more flake hanging in the house? When it refracts the sunlight the room is full of rainbows. In spite of its shape, it’s lovely. The great good news of the week was the arrival of the first vaccine. Some have received their first dose and many more will do so in the next weeks. And then there are those who will refuse to be vaccinated. Probably many of the same persons who refuse to wear a mask. One cannot be thankful enough for the hope that the vaccine brings. Our lives may return to “normal” if we can remember what that is. In the meantime one cannot be overly careful. A very good friend who has been extremely careful is in the hospital with Covid-19. She has refused to go into stores, has everything delivered or curbside pick-up. She has avoided all social gatherings. I don’t know of anyone who has been more careful. Yet she is afflicted with the virus.

Many days this week we were blessed with tolerable temperatures and sunlight. It has been a joy to go for a couple of short strolls each day. I can tell that these walks are good for my endurance. Given all that is going on it is so easy to sit around in one’s cocoon. Sometimes it’s a struggle to get out but I’m usually happy I’ve done it. I’ve felt very well the past week. Christmas Eve morning I will have a CT scan and an MRI. These reveal what is really going on unseen and inside. Because of the way I feel I am not worried about bad news. Thanks for your prayers, your cards, your calls and all that you’ve done to keep in touch. I’m grateful for you. May your Christmas celebration bring you happiness, peace, and hope. I’ll get back to you on the Second Day of Christmas.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the day! Well, let’s say it used to be the day when the winter solstice occurred. That was before the whole calendar changed back in 1582. Julius Caesar, in 45 BC instituted a calendar for the Roman Empire which became used in most of the world. That’s not odd considering the Roman Empire consisted of most of the world until in all fell apart. Pope Gregory replaced the Julian calendar, as it was called, in order to correct what had happened over the years. That correction he deemed necessary because the Julian calendar was not accurately taking into account the time the earth was taking in making its appointed trip around the sun. The solstice now occurs on or about December 21. But in Scandinavia, particularly Sweden, the former solstice date is still celebrated on December 13. It is Lucia Day, the Feast of Saint Lucia, a Sicilian saint who somehow became popular in the cold and frozen north. Her name means “light” and her feast marked the end of the shortening days and the return of longer daylight hours little by little. Since it is very dark in the Scandinavian countries in winter the people long for even a little more sunlight, even minutes more day by day. The tradition calls for a daughter of the family

to dress in a long white garment, place a crown of candles on her head and go from bed to bed waking the household. She also offers Lussikattor, saffron buns and coffee. The buns are twisted to resemble “cat eyes” with raisins inserted for the pupils. A charming custom but not without danger to the one who wears the crown! I think battery powered candles are most prevalent now. The Swedish Lutheran Church includes a St. Lucia liturgy in the High Mass on the Sunday nearest St. Lucy’s Day. One finds remnants of the celebration even in 2020. Churches whose roots are found in Swedish immigrant culture sometimes have a Lucia festival on or near December 13. St. Mark’s Lutheran, here in Sioux Falls, is of that ilk and yearly enjoys the feast and shares it with others. As I write this the gloom of night has descended upon us as of 5 PM. Those of us with SADs will begin rejoicing when the daylight increases begin. It doesn’t help that the whole day was gloomy. We had beautiful autumn weather at the beginning of the week with temps in the mid 50s. The sun shone brightly. ’Tis the case no longer. I think the high today was 27º. I will look forward to a roaring fireplace this evening having just returned from my afternoon walk. All has gone well this week. I’ve felt really well. I’ve read through a lot of music and chosen what I will work on to play this Yuletide. I used to cringe at the sight of those daily pill containers that seemed to indicate some kind of religious devotion to the taking of medication. I don’t have that much medication but I am finding that using one of those daily dispensers helps keep track of what I’m supposed to do. I say “helps” because in refilling the thing this afternoon I discovered I had forgotten to take the requisite pills on two days this past week. This could be a sign of senility, or that I was feeling so well that medication was but a distant thought. I don’t know which. I do know that my watch has an alarm set so I will remember to medicate. It’s interesting that the alarm goes off and I just ignore it and don’t take the pills! I wonder what that means? Have a good week. I am grateful for all of you who share my thoughts, who hold me up in prayer and are such an important part of my life.

A Beautiful Day

Today, as was yesterday and several days this week, a beautiful day. The sunshine was bright, the temperature pleasant (for December in South Dakota, that is) and the wind nearly non-existent. I believe that each day saw me completing my “steps” as counted by my watch. A little walk in the morning and evening sort of “bookends” my day, or rather the part of day that is light. After three weeks off I returned for chemotherapy. This is not something that most people look forward to. God has blessed me greatly in that the pre-medication for nausea works very well and I don’t have any awful side effects. The staff at the Prairie Center is so kind and helpful and welcoming, I might add. The week begins with a visit to the lab for a blood draw. Those results are sent electronically to the doctor with whom I meet about an hour later. The results determine whether I can go ahead with the treatments, I assume. For a while it was sodium that was the concern. It kept jumping up and down from high to low. That hasn’t been the case lately. When the doctor looks at the results and says “There’s nothing here to talk about,” that I believe is a good sign! 
After five infusions the week ends with a shot to improve my white cell count which is affected by the chemo. Then I’m finished. The staff all wish me a “good by” as I leave. By this time everyone knows my name. Now, on Christmas Eve I will have a CT scan and an MRI and we will see what is really happening on the inside. All has gone well so far so I have no fears. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have now become obvious in the hospital. The Prairie Center used to be open weekdays from 7 to 5, Monday through Friday. If patients needed infusions outside of those hours they went to the main hospital for such. Now the hospital is too crowded so the staff at the cancer center is now working evenings and weekends. The latest reports on the pandemic here show that 10% of the population has been infected, and probably more than that who haven’t been tested. Also the number we have sent out of the state through the motorcycle rally and other super-spreader events is an unknown but probably huge. I wonder if our do-nothing governor is proud of the number. The major hospital system from which the CEO took “early retirement” a short time ago was due to merge with another giant system from Utah. Today it was announced that the merger was cancelled. Seems there is a bit of turmoil. It had been planned that the administration would move to Utah. That would have left a number of buildings here vacant, some of them recently constructed. I continue to enjoy re-reading parts of Gertrud Mueller Nelson’s book that I mentioned last week. Tomorrow is St. Nicholas Day and she relates the many activities that her family did to celebrate that day. It was fun to note that as her children went on to college they continued to celebrate as many of the customs as they could with their new communities. She writes of her daughter baking cookies and hanging one on the bedroom doors of her college dormitory as a little surprise. I recall my mother saying to me, “I don’t understand why you could choose two such low paying occupations!” She was referring to a musician and a priest. There are musicians and priests who do very well, but generally not in South Dakota. If she were present now she would probably say, “I don’t understand why you could choose two occupations from which you will never retire!” One of the local churches needed an organist for Christmas and the week following. I’d better get busy practicing, again. Sophia continues to improve her word processing skills!

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. Your support is very precious to me.

Advent Begins

Today is the eve of the First Sunday of Advent. It is already Sunday because the sun has set and the new day begins, according to the Bible, when the sun sets.

It is the beginning of the new Church Year. The Church does not keep time as the world does. Two months ago the stores were decorated for Christmas. The Church will not decorate until the 24th of December. Yes, it is old fashioned and the Church could just give in and go with the times, but I pray that it will not. There is such beauty in these waiting days of Advent. The hymns and readings tug at the soul, revealing each day a bit more until finally the great feast arrives. There are books that move us, books that etch themselves into our minds. For me, one of those books is by Gertrude Mueller Nelson. It's a little paper back entitled "To Dance with God." I read it years ago and still remember much of it. In the book Nelson tells about the various family celebrations that fit into the Church Year. It is a how-to manual of the celebration of the Church Year, the mystery of salvation. She simply tells what her family does/did to celebrate each season. From it I learned for myself how to celebrate each of the seasons. We can learn a lot by looking at the appointed readings and meditating on them. There are a lot of other things we can do to emphasize the seasons. One of the popular things for this season is the Advent wreath. Another is an Advent calendar. I like to use seven day candles instead of the wreath. That way the candle can burn night and day throughout the week. Two candles burn during week two, etc. It's a little pricy to do it this way. The living room becomes increasingly brighter throughout the days until just before Christmas when four candles burn through the day and night. One can tell that the Light is near. Nelson tells us about wonderful things to do during the whole year. This time I had three weeks off from chemo because of Thanksgiving. I must be feeling really well right now because I accomplished so much today. I went for two walks because the day was so lovely and it was nice to be out in the sunshine. I put out the "Advent" decorations in the house. I hung the garland on the deck after putting on the little clear lights. Greens got placed in the one remaining pot on the deck. The evergreen wreath is hung. Three loads of laundry are complete. The Oratory is ready for Advent. I even had time for a little nap and a perusal of the daily paper. Next week I'll return to the wonderful staff at the Prairie Center and they will pump in more medicine. I'll have scans again soon to find out how things are, but I'm not concerned that they will show anything but good news. Sophia appears to have found and claimed a place which she is not about the share. Love the attitude displayed.

COVID continues its ravaging of the state of South Dakota. I actually think a few more people are trying to be careful. The local supermarket finally put signs on the door requesting that patrons wear masks. Lo, when I went in a couple of days ago everyone was wearing a mask. Amazing! As one of the "hot spots" as far as infections, we have a long way to go, however. It only takes one person saying something stupid that people can pick up on to avoid being careful and following protocol. The CEO of one of the two major health systems announced this week that he has had COVID and recovered so he doesn't need to wear a mask because he is now immune. I'm happy he recovered. I know he had the best care. But, really, for a person in his position to make that statement is totally insane. The health system was quick to say he spoke only for himself. The system was also quick to announce his "retirement" the next day. Thanks for reading. Thanks for thoughts and prayers. Thanks for being near in spirit.

November passes quickly

I can not believe that tomorrow begins the last whole week of November. It seems like it just started! As one ages time does fly. There was a lot of sunshine this week which improved my outlook on life considerabely. It surely does seem like there is not much daylight. That little bit will fade even more because the solstice is still a month off.

Those who know me and have visited me at home know the frustration I have with my neighbor. There have been some improvements in the yard, I'm happy to report. The dumpster which filled half of the driveway for at least a month has disappeared and with it some of the detritus that festooned the front garden. The car door which resposed against a tree has somehow vanished. There is still a classic formica table adorning the yard and a few bags of something, but I must admit it is vastly improved. Or was. As I took my late afternoon stroll two mattresses and box springs have been added curbside. These too will disappear one hopes. Residents of the city have devloped a habit of putting "stuff" they no longer want or need out by the curb. Sooner or later it disappears. We have, evidently, a group of scroungers that specialize in cruising the neighborhoods and picking up "valuable" items left out to be taken. The handling of the pandemic continues to baffle me. I vented about the governor last week. One might give her a bit of leeway because she is severely lacking in knowledge of anything medical, it seems. This week sort of put the frosting on the cake! The CEO of one of our two large medical systems announced that he had a bout of COVID, had recovered, and therefore is was not necessary for him to wear a mask, much. He stated with some certainty that he would be impervious to a return of the virus for a few months, at least. He did not state specifically but inferred that there was still room in his hospitals for patients, so bring them on. There are days when one wonders upon which planet one lives. The executive vice-president (who is a former chorister in the Singing Boys, which undoubtedly has a lot to do with his good sense!) immediately announced the CEO was speaking only for himself and not for the whole system. At last the city council revisited and passed a resolution this week on the wearing of masks. They did not impose a penalty for not wearing a mask. I guess one can see this as progress, or something. The mayor approved since there was an elimination of the penalty this time around. I've felt well all week. Now I have another week off because of Thanksgiving Day upon which no infusions shall be commenced. I'll need to be careful on Monday that I don't automatically go to the Prairie Center for my usual. Last week our Omaha trip was cancelled again due to COVID precautions. This week we will try on Monday. I give thanks for all of you, for your prayers and constant support. In this thanksgiving season I have so much for which to be thankful, my heart overflows. Please stay safe and healthy. If you celebrate the national turkey day so with good sense, please.

Dinner Is in the Oven

It’s that time of year when the “root” vegetables are in abundance. In the box of goodies I share with my friend where baby turnips, squash of various manifestations, potatoes, carrots and a pumpkin. This is the product of our CSA (Consumer Supported Agriculture). We pay ahead and receive a box of vegetables every week. We don’t choose. We receive what is freshest and best. It’s a great program. In the oven are some potatoes, some carrots, some turnips and a squash. All of it will be delicious, roasted in olive oil and seasoning with that certain taste that only roasting can bring. The week has been good. Mostly I’ve been at home. A couple of Benedictines had visions of going to Omaha on Wednesday. That vision was clouded by a snow storm on Tuesday. We will try again this coming Monday and hope for better weather. It is supposed to be 60º in Omaha come Monday. These quick trips are always fun. We have no Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods in Sioux Falls as yet. Hopefully, one of these days. Those are two stops on our route usually. There is generally something to be purchased at the church goods store. We have a couple of shops in Sioux Falls but not of the caliber of the one there. There’s always an interesting place to stop for lunch. Generally we spend six hours on the road and four hours or less shopping. There’s lots of visiting going to and fro. We also had plans to stream our Tuesday services from our Oratory but by noon the weather seemed untoward enough that I made the executive decision to do Evening Prayer by Zoom. We’ve not had a lot of sunshine this week which affects my SADS. But every now and then the sun will peak out and I instantly feel uplifted. It’s truly amazing how that bright light affects me. The continued tension of the election has not calmed my soul. The rising infection rates in South Dakota do not bring one peace of mind. The governor who refuses to do anything to stop the rate of infection is beyond belief. She claims we all know what to do and will do what is best. If we all know what to do why do we have one of the highest rates of infection in nation? It is pretty obvious that there are a whole lot of people who do not know what to do and they are getting sick. This state is not heavily populated except for the SE and SW corners. We have a lot more people (roughly ⅓ of the state’s population) so we have more infections. We have excellent health care facilities but they are being taxed to the max. The staff caring for patients is exhausted. The mayor recently broke a tie vote on the city council at the second reading of an ordinance to require masks. He voted no. It’s too hard to enforce says he. Costco doesn’t feel a mask mandate is too difficult to enforce. The sign at the door simply says that if you are entering you must wear a mask. If your health prevents wearing a mask you must wear a face shield. Everyone does wear protection. Seems simple to me. We have choices every day. We can choose how we react. I must admit that there are many times I react with anger or dismay. This quote from Henri Nouwen this week spoke to me. Perhaps it will speak to you. “I am convinced we can choose joy. Every moment we decide to respond to an event or a person with joy instead of sadness. When we truly believe that God is life and only life, then nothing need have the power to draw us into the sad realm of death. To choose joy does not mean to choose happy feelings or an artificial atmosphere of hilarity. But it does mean the determination to let whatever takes place bring us one step closer to the God of life. Maybe this is what is so important about quiet moments of meditation and prayer. They allow me to take a critical look at my moods and to move from victimization to free choice.” Thank you for all your prayers and support. I hope you are all staying well.

It Becomes Dark So Early!

Early last Sunday morning daylight savings time ended (should that be capitalized? Language Arts teachers obsess about such things!). Almost all of us got an extra hour of sleep so we awakened so refreshed and revitalized. At least that’s the way it is supposed to work. I suspect many people handle the situation the same way as I. Simply staying up an hour later negates the “too much sleep” syndrome. I know not what my body would do with too much sleep. Six hours is about my max. Then there is the tossing and turning and gazing at the clock with anger and the thoughts rampant in the brain that there is no way I am going to get up and do anything at the hour of 4 AM! Perhaps I should try it. I might be very productive at that hour, who knows? I’ll let you know if I ever attempt that experiment. Things went peachy keen at church on Sunday. Aside from one registration change which I did not make until halfway through the designated measure there were no gross faux pas. It was good to be back at the console. I do love playing the organ. I especially love playing and interpreting hymns. Of course, right now there are no hymns because singing will help to spread the virus. Speaking of spreading, the 3M plant in Aberdeen SD just enlarged their production line so more masks could be produced.

All of the expected politicians were present for the opening/ground breaking, I was a little confused. They were all masked with eyes on the speaker except for our governor who was obvious for being unmasked. Is is any wonder why COVID cases keep rising in South Dakota. The local paper also had an article on the number of people far and wide which may have been exposed to the virus because of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally which the aforementioned governor was happy to sanction and promote. I guess she hasn’t yet figured out that killing off the voters will not help her reëlection in two years. Thankfully the election is over. I’ve been around a long time and seen a lot of politics but these past years have certainly won some kind of prize for divisiveness, lack of respect for the viewpoints of others, downright hatred of those with which you do not agree, etcetera ad infinitum. The only way forward is to relearn how to work with each other for the common good. No country can survive for long unless we have common goals that benefit the community, neighborhood, city, state and nation. In case you were wondering about the shortage of photos in last week blog, something has happened with Blogger. It used to be very easy to insert pictures and captions. Then it was revised and it was a little more difficult to deal with photos. Now, all of a sudden, it’s a near impossibility to insert a photo. Along with that, all formatting is destroyed when one’s text is uploaded. The whole thing is one “run on” paragraph and the font is changed at the whim of the program. Anyone reading last week’s blog do not fault me for the lack of paragraphs. I tried. We’ll see how it behaves this week. This past week was chemotherapy week. All went well. The staff at the Prairie Center is marvelous and very concerned about one’s health and well-being. They could not be more accommodating. My blood work was good. The usual counts were down because of chemo, but the important things, like the sodium level, were good. As the oncologist says, I’m tolerating it well. Now I have three weeks off because of Thanksgiving!

This is the time of year when we are especially thankful for all we have. Sophpia is thankful for the grass she received today. It is the time of year when we are thankful for those who surround us with love. An example of that was presented today when my Benedictine brothers and sister came over and dealt with all my leaves. It is a task which would take me a long time to accomplish. With the group gathered the leaves were bagged and ready to go to the leaf drop-off site. That will be accomplished Monday when another kindly person will come with his truck and haul off the detritus. God has been very good to me. I have been given many gifts. You are one of those gifts. I am grateful for you.

All Hallows Eve

Today is Hallowe’en, the contraction for All Hallows Eve. All Hallows is the “old fashioned” name for All Saints Day, tomorrow. Why is the first day of November All Saints Day? Generally there is a reason behind the name, any name. It is so called because of Pope Gregory IV. Since the fourth century of the Common Era, various Eastern churches have had a commemoration of all the martyrs. Most likely the date of November 1, comes to us from Ireland and/or Britain. There it was celebrated as a “harvest” feast. In 844, the aforementioned Pope established this date for the western Church. It was on this day in that year that the Pantheon, that magnificent circular temple to all the gods in the midst of Rome was made a Christian Church and dedicated as the Church of St. Mary and All Martyrs.

In this day and age the day is remembered for parties for children and adults. I can remember various costumes from the days of my youth and the sacks full of treasures that we brought home to feast upon for the next many days while our teeth rotted from our mouths. I remember how Hallowe’en was a day to be gotten through when I was a teacher. It was the occasion of the first school party of the year. Each PTA room mother was responsible for planning and executing the party. Funny, I don’t remember there ever being a room father. Perhaps that omission has been rectified of late. Anyway, the children were hyped all day in anticipation of the party during the last hour of school. If music, or art, or physical education class were the last class of the day, the party was held previous to that so children were “all sugared up” by the time they came to us. I don’t recall much actual learning taking place in such a class on that day. In my middle school teaching days things were even worse. The students were allowed to wear costumes all day. There was no party as such. The entire day was the party. I was amazed at the number of “cross dressers” that appeared on that day, particularly on the male side of the equation. In my final year the principal announced that there would be no costumes. The students were bummed. The teachers were ecstatic. For most of us the whole celebration of All Saints and All Souls has to do with death and dying. For those of us with terminal illnesses it is a time to pause and think and pray about what our future is. For all persons it should be a time to think about mortality and about how we handle death. Most people of our culture do not handle death well. As a priest I came to the conclusion that people acquired strange notions of death when the churchyard basically ceased to be. When the faithful walked through the cemetery to get to church there was a constant reminder that the departed, though no longer seen, are still very much with us. It is that doctrine of the Church Militant (the church members here), the Church Expectant (those who have died and await the final resurrection which we proclaim every time we say the creed), and the Church Triumphant (the saints and angels in heaven) that is brought home to us. Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote: “Once people used to go to our cemeteries on Sundays and walk between the graves singing beautiful hymns and spreading sweet-smelling incense. It set your heart at rest; it allayed the painful fears of inevitable death. It was almost as though the dead were smiling from under their grey mounds: ‘It’s all right…Don’t be afraid.’” Now our beloved departed friends and relatives are buried in lovely parks far away from our churches. Instead of each family lovingly tending for the gravesite, the maintenance is left to a crew who never knew the people over whom they are trodding. Perhaps once a year a visit may be made, usually around Memorial Day. Flowers are brought forth, mainly because “everyone else does it.” The spent blooms are removed by the maintenance crew. Death has become such a large part of our life during this pandemic. At present count over 220,000 persons in our country have gone to the Church Expectant since it began. This is an unimaginable number. Yet people of faith still sing songs like William Irons magnificent hymn: “Sing with all the saints in glory, Sing the resurrection song! Death and sorrow, earth’s dark story, To the former days belong. All around the clouds are breaking, Soon the storms of time shall cease; In God’s likeness, we awaken, Knowing everlasting peace.” The week has gone very well with bright sunshine every day. Mother Nature has almost redeemed herself from the previous week of gloom. Our snow has disappeared. I’ve felt very well. Blood work on Monday, followed by the visit with the doctor and then the first infusion of the week are on my schedule. I hope you are well. Enjoy these final days of autumn. Keep praying and thinking about all those you care for and love. Peace.

…and sanctified a day of rest for all…

 

The title phrase is from the evening Collect for Saturdays from the Book of Common Prayer. The entire prayer reads: “Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all your works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven.”

I just said that prayer at the conclusion of the evening office. On my way to the office it struck me that I did not rest today. After oversleeping a bit this morning I read a text from a friend who is currently on the east coast where the weather is much nicer (70º vs. 20º here). In reply I checked on the weather report to learn that we have a winter weather advisory in effect until Monday morning.

All of the pots were still on the deck and the deck furniture as well. That all needed to go somewhere. The somewhere for the ceramic pots is the garage.  Normally I love having a basement garage except for one day in the spring and one in the fall. How does one get those huge pots to the garage? Well, if one is big and strong one can carry the pot down the hill. Unfortunately I am not big (in that sense) and strong. The year + of chemo has not added to my physical strength. The

Remember how the deck looked.
This is it today.

lack of workouts at the fitness center due to COVID-19 has not helped. Enough with the excuses. The upshot is that I cannot carry the heavy pots down the hill in the side yard.  The other option is to use my “wagon,” a handy device that was gifted to me which can be a hand truck or turned into a wagon. That option requires going down the sidewalk and through the culdesac and up the driveway into the garage. This is a trip of nearly a city block. Push having come to shove there was no other option so I began heaving pots on the wagon (two per trip) and making the trek. The furniture also had to go to the basement through the garage.  Hours later I was finished and tired.  The aches and pains will show up tomorrow.

This day of frenetic activity was preceded by a whole week of gloomy weather which did not motivate me to do much of anything that needed to be done. We have, perhaps, had a total of 6 hours of sunlight all week.  For those of us with SADS it was not a happy week. Looking out the window now one can see the snow has begun and will not stop until we accumulate 2 to 5 inches. After all the onsets of winter I’ve experienced, it is never something to which I look forward. If one wants to experience the change of seasons (which is one of the reason given for living here) then winter is an experience. Each year I question my sanity in choosing to “experience the change of seasons.” Once winter has arrived it doesn’t seem all that bad. The arrival and departure thereof seems trying every year. 

Yesterday was another day of busy-ness. I volunteer at the Pavilion of Arts and Science in the morning until 1 PM. I grabbed a sandwich and went on my way to the auto service center for an oil change. Then I went to the cathedral to pick out some music for November 1, so I can play for the service. I don’t think I’ve played for a service for over a year so some heavy duty practicing will have to happen this week. Then it was time to run to the meat market for a couple of items and finally home. Having been away from 9:30 until 5:30 Sophia was wondering if she had been abandoned.

Sophia appears to like having me around.  For most of the day she is satisfied if we share the same room. Regularly she has a period of time in the afternoon when she parks herself on my chest and purrs loudly. This occurs sometimes in the evening as well. Every morning we are expected to have game time. She races up the steps ahead of me when she sees me heading to the bedroom.  After my shower we have to “play the game.”  There is a mangled tinsel thing suspended from a string which she loves to chase. There are times when she becomes quite acrobatic in the pursuit of the “toy,”  leaping and doing twists in the air.

This was the first of my two weeks off from chemo. I did get the first of my shingles vaccine shot. Our Benedictine group met in the Oratory again this week.  It is like coming home when we are there. Most of the group joins us for the live-stream. We can only accommodate a few in person in order to maintain physical distancing.

Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers.  Things are going well for me.  Remember to pray for all those who are suffering in various ways from the pandemic. Pray also that the eyes of those who “think” nothing is wrong with the way it is being handled may be opened.

Depends on the Traffic

 When I’m on my way to the Cancer Center for my infusion the timing of my arrival has a great deal to do with the traffic. Traversing the Great Twenty-Sixth Street Construction Project is always a little dicey.  One day they were allowing traffic only one way at a time which made for a monumental snarl.  Another day they allowed no westbound traffic, only eastbound. The reason for this is that they are setting huge beams to hold up the street over the railway tracks. 

Who knew a storm sewer 
retention pond could be
so beautiful?

The point of all this is not to report on the street construction but to say that I sometimes arrive early at the Center.  Several times this week I’ve been able to take a walk around the campus. It is a fairly large operation with the Cancer Center, and Orthopedic Institute, a transplant institute, the main hospital, at least three other buildings for various clinics, doctor’s offices, etc.

I’ve mentioned before that one of the reasons I am pleased with my care there is the holistic approach they have to cancer treatment.  There are not just the usual chemotherapy and radiation treatments but music therapy, beautiful art, TaiChi, yoga, aroma therapy and probably more which does not come to mind right now.

The art is just not in the buildings but at several locations throughout the campus. One of the most stunning is a giant

The Lamphere sculpture

sculpture by Dale Lamphere, the artist laureate of South Dakota. He is the one who created the Arc of Dreams over the river in the heart of the city. He enjoys creating big things, obviously, given that he also created the beautiful Dignity statue which stands overlooking the Missouri River at Chamberlain.  It is 50 feet high! He enjoys working with metal and polishes it in interesting ways which enhance the sculptures. The sculpture incorporates the cross since the hospital system is faith-based. It was founded by the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Benedictine sisters.

While I was walking around there were some spectacular trees and shrubs in their autumn finery.  

All of the infusions went well with no side effects for which I am so grateful.

I've never seen so many colors 
on one tree - spectacular!

One of Henri Nouwen’s meditations for this week was on Gratitude. I’ll share that with you.  It really spoke to me.

“Deciding to be Grateful

Gratitude is the most fruitful way of deepening your consciousness that you are not an “accident,” but a divine choice. It is important to realize how often we have had chances to be grateful and have not used them. When someone is kind to us, when an event turns out well, when a problem is solved, a relationship restored, a wound healed, there are very concrete reasons to offer thanks: be it with words, with flowers, with a letter, a card, a phone call, or just a gesture of affection. . . . Every time we decide to be grateful it will be easier to see new things to be grateful for. Gratitude begets gratitude, just as love begets love.”

This past Monday was Canadian Thanksgiving Day and our National Thanksgiving Day is next month.  We need to learn to be thankful everyday.

Our Benedictine Oratory has a brand new floor! The previous flooring was carpet, about thirty years old, with some indeterminate stains thereon.  Now we have a beautiful porcelain tile floor.  Some of us met today to move “back in” all the stuff that had to be removed to facilitate the floor replacement.  With willing hands and the work the Junior Warden had done before we finished the job in just over an hour. 

I continue to do well.  I continue to thank God for your prayers and thoughts and good wishes, and I thank you. Have a wonderful week.

Sophia has found a cozy corner.

It Was a Lovely Week

I do love these October days when the sun shine brightly, the temperature is reasonable, and the trees show their autumn colors.  There are some stunning trees in my neighborhood. It is so pleasant to walk through the leaves as they rustle beneath your feet with the fresh air just waiting to be inhaled.  

This is the tree that had only started to change
last week now see this week.

The hay fever has not struck with its usual force bringing forth the runny nose, the itchy eyes and the multitude of sneezes. Perhaps those two allergy meds I take every night have some effect! I’m sure the “fever” will come so I’ll enjoy autumn while I can.

Last Sunday afternoon I went strolling through one of the cemeteries here in the city.  I like to do that in October and November.  November 2, is the commemoration of All Souls. When I was a parish priest we made it a practice to visit all the cemeteries and pray at the graves of the departed members of the parish.  It is a good thing to remember the dead, to relive the memories, and to pray for and with them. The words of Samuel John Stone set to a tune by Samuel Sebastian Wesley remind us of our relationship with the dead: “Yet she (the church) on earth hath union with God, the Three in One, and mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won.” That is from the hymn “The Church’s One Foundation.” May they rest in peace and rise in glory.

It seems like the week has flown by. The usual round of activities has kept me busy. Friday I was up bright and early for my CT scan. I’m not used to bright and early so this was kind of a shock.  Actually it is early but certainly not bright at 5:30 AM. Nevertheless my appearance was noted at 7:30 waiting in the lab at the Prairie Center.  My port had not been accessed for two weeks so there was a little struggle to get the blood flowing but the nurse succeeded.  Then it was off to the third floor to the imaging center. Within 40 minutes one must drink two bottles of water laced with some substance that tastes faintly of iodine which the “machine” likes so it can take better pictures. The scan itself only takes a few minutes. Then I ran errands all over town until the meeting with the doctor in the afternoon to get the results. 

Sophia in a pensive mood undoubtedly 
pondering the change of seasons

This whole chemotherapy thing is kind of a mystery. One goes through the infusions and from certain side effects, like hair loss, one assumes it is working, and especially one hopes it is working on the cancer. One way they tell in my case is to check my sodium level. Evidently my tumors love sodium. The other way is through CT scans and MRIs. I have CT scans more frequently than MRIs. Those procedures really show what is going on. The report, this time, says: No concerning nodules or masses seen in the lungs. In the liver, one lesion is “stable to smaller over the last 2 exams.” The other lesion is stable. So, in the doctor’s words the lung lesions have basically disappeared. The liver lesions are not growing and one is shrinking a little. And the very good news is that the cancer has not spread elsewhere.  So I’m grateful and ready to go for another round of chemo next week. Scans will happen again in nine weeks.

One of the members of our Benedictine community called this afternoon and told me he has been diagnosed with COVID-19. This whole pandemic thing seems suddenly more real when it comes to those with whom we are close. I’ve not been in the same room with him for almost two weeks and we were masked then so I don’t think I have anything to worry about. Still there is a little germ of fear that lingers in the back of one’s mind.

Hopefully next week will be a good one for you. Thank you for reading and for all of your thoughts and prayers. May God bless you.

Did Anything Happen This Week?

 As I began pondering what would be in this week’s blog, the thought crossed my mind - nothing happened this week. Today it just seemed like any other week which has hurried by without any outstanding events.  Then, when you really stop and think…

Calvary Cathedral held “in person” services this past Sunday and our bishop was present as celebrant and preacher.  It is good to be in church even if there are only a handful of people there.  It is also good to see and hear the bishop. The diocesan office was moved to Pierre a few years ago, and this bishop, ordained just eleven months ago, chose to keep it there. When the office was in Sioux Falls it was not an unusual thing to see the bishop several times each month.  Obviously, the sighting of the bishop is now a rarity.  

"What do you mean, 'You are not 
being helpful?'"

Expecting to spend Sunday afternoon watching other services and critiquing sermons (that’s what retired clergy do!), the plan was up-ended when a call came from a friend who was obviously desperate. He needed to get to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Friends do things for friends so off three of us went eastward.  Wisely I asked another friend to go along because I wasn’t sure how tired I would be on the return trip. We made it there and back by midnight.  My friend is doing better, for which I am grateful.

Monday became a recuperation day. Not being a particularly exciting day, weather-wise it turned out to be a fairly good nap day. I had a few things to do to get ready for Tuesday and spent the rest of the time in a vegetative state.

Tuesday was the feast of St. Michael and All Angels. That feast is my anniversary of ordination both to the diaconate and the priesthood. Our Benedictine group planned to celebrate the Eucharist that evening, pray Evensong and visit with our friends from far and near who join us each week via Zoom.  We had not “broadcast” from our Oratory before so this was a new technical challenge.  It worked out well to all reports. The viewers could see and hear, a minor miracle.  We will try it again this month and perhaps move to doing it every week.  

Lovely flowers from a dear friend
for the anniversary celebration.

The next days were fairly quiet. I do attend the Eucharist at Good Shepherd Church on Thursday afternoon and meet with the postulant of our Benedictine community following.

Friday is my morning volunteer opportunity at the Pavilion of Arts and Science.  It is good to return to working there. It is a “safe” position in which I am not in contact with a lot of people.  Let’s face it, there are not a lot of people.  The Pavilion was closed for several months so now the populace has to be reintroduced to the offerings we have.  If the COVID situation would improve, attendance will pick up, I’m sure.

I am forsaking the opportunity to attend the first SD Symphony concert this evening. I’m a little nervous about being in an auditorium with a lot of other people right now.  Maybe next time.

Friend Lou Buquor loaned me one of the jigsaw puzzles she acquired so she would have something to do whilst recuperating from back surgery.  I love puzzles. They do drive me crazy until I finish them.  This particular puzzle looked fairly easy, and it is not bad.  Nasty puzzle-makers who do evil tricks are not nice.  The picture and box cover both had the title as part of the puzzle, “A Floral Fantasy In An Old English Garden.” The puzzle itself reads, “A Floral Fantasy In An English Garden.” Do you have any idea how much time can be wasted looking for the pieces to spell “Old” when it is not included in the puzzle? Grrrr.  

There are not a lot of plans for next week, just the usual. That’s what I thought last week and it turned out to be fairly busy in a good way. I’ll work on the puzzle. My CT scan is Friday morning and I’ll see the doctor in the afternoon.

Thanks for reading, for thoughts, for prayers, for messages, for all you do. I do depend on all of those things.  Hopefully you are all well.  God bless.

What is on the puzzle.

What is on the box.

There Is a Certain Something

 You can feel it in the air.  As soon as the sun begins its decent the air becomes more cool. The humid heat of summer is gone.  The week’s weather has been superb with warm days and cool evenings. The last two days have been rather hazy. There is no rain forecast although we really need it. The lawns are showing the results of little rain.  I haven’t mowed for three weeks and I could, but I keep thinking I’ll go another week.

The first blush of autumn.

The week of chemotherapy went well.  My blood work is all good.  Most of the infusions were swiftly accomplished.  I felt some nausea on Thursday evening and today. One of those handy, dandy pills seems to take care of that in a short time. My port is doing well. I think the problem has been the alcohol based cleaner the staff has used. The port area has to be thoroughly cleansed each time before the needle is inserted.  Infection has to be avoided at all costs because of the catheter that goes straight to my heart. This week the staff has used betadine for the cleansing and I’ve not had a problem with dry skin and inflammation. CT scans are on order before the next round of chemo.  We shall see what they reveal. I’m optimistic.

There are some things that are beyond my comprehension. South Dakota seems to be the state at the forefront of the COVID-19 invasion.  We have a continual increase in cases and deaths. Yet the governor and our mayor will not mandate the wearing of masks or limit the size of crowds. The deciding factor in all this nonsense seems to be the fact that we have plenty of hospital beds.  As long as we have plenty of beds we don’t need to worry about the number of cases or deaths. One wonders…

The daily paper on this day included a picture to accompany the article on the COVID epidemic and the lack of government action. The picture was of the governor and the mayor observing the damage to a local jewelry store after one of the demonstrations earlier this summer. They are both standing there smiling.  Is there any look of shock or dismay on their faces. No. Just big grins adorning the visage of each.  I, personally, found it disgusting that these two would be surveying damage to a local merchant’s store and stand there grinning like they had just been awarded some awesome prize.  

One of the chapters of the Rule of Saint Benedict that continually disturbs the conscience of a monastic who is faced with reading this three times each year is Chapter 7, Of Humility.  It has to do with overcoming the sin of pride.  Dom Hubert Van Zeller says this: “It is the unwillingness to climb down and be like everyone else in subjection that constitutes pride, whether spiritual or human; so it is the willingness to stay small, and even look small, that gives its value to the performance of ordinary actions.”  The great fault in many politicians, even most, today is that “unwillingness to climb down and be like everyone else.”

My friend and co-worker was laid to rest on Tuesday.  It was difficult for her daughter to plan the funeral because music was her mother’s life. I know that an alumni choir of her former students would have come together to sing at the funeral.  That’s not possible given the pandemic.  A small group of excellent voices sang two selections and recordings were played of two others.  When we worked with the Singing Boys, the last number on every spring concert was “An Irish Blessing,” by Katie Moran Bart. That recording of the Boys was played at the end of the service. It was a fitting end. “Until we meet again, my friends, until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.”

Sophia found a bit of sun to enjoy 
this afternoon.

The leaves are beginning to show the beautiful colors of autumn.  It is a beautiful time of year. Give thanks for the beauty that surrounds you. I give thanks always for your constant support and prayers.  You are all part of that beauty. Although I spend a considerable amount of time alone, I can feel your presence holding me up.  

The Last…

 

Tuesday is the autumnal equinox. The first day of fall is very near and the last days of summer are waning.  

My long-time primary physician, who promised that he would not retire, did just that last July. To prevent further shoulder shrugs when asked who my primary physician is I paid a visit to my new one. He would not promise that he would not retire. He just laughed when I asked him to swear on a stack of lab reports. Since he is several decades younger than I there is no need to worry about retirement. A friend and I went to the same dentist we referred to as our “seventh grade dentist.” He seemed so young being fresh out of school. I think my “new” primary physician qualifies as my “second year medical school doctor.” He couldn’t find anything wrong with me except for the obvious malady on my record. Let’s hope he will be my last primary physician.

I made it to the last park on the list. The Elmen Trailhead Park is the starting point, sort of, for the bike trail the encircles the city. One can get on the trail at any point but this appears the be the “official” beginning. This was the last of my park visitations so my summer project is complete. Yeah! That makes 83 parks visited in the last year.

Next week is chemo week once again so I’ll be visiting the Prairie Center daily for my infusions.  It all begins on Monday with blood work, a visit to the doctor and the first
infusion and ends on Friday with the last infusion. I know all will go well.  I might get a little tired but if that’s all that happens, so be it.

This past week was marked by the last days on earth for two great ladies. Glenyta Stalheim Hanson departed this life on Thursday after her struggle with cancer. I know she was comforted to have her daughter at her side. Thinking back on her career I can’t believe all the students she inspired as she taught music to youngsters in elementary school and pre-teens and high school students as her career progressed. She has made an impact on so many lives and was loved by her students and her friends. Those who do not know might easily dismiss the life work of a teacher. They are wrong. Touching young minds and hearts with the gift of music and helping them love it was Glenyta’s gift to thousands. It has been my honor to know her and work beside her since our days in college.  May she now join in singing with all those who have gone before. 

Friday the battle against cancer was ended for Ruth Bader Ginsburg. As a justice on the Supreme Court she was a beacon for those who were neglected and/or despised by the government and society. Throughout her career she argued that this phrase in the Declaration of Independence applies to everyone: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Please understand that the noun “men” as written here is used in the sense of “humanity” referring not to gender but to all people. Citizens of this country who had been considered “less” than others for a variety of reasons have made great strides in being recognized as equal citizens of this country. Ruth Bader Ginsburg helped to make that possible in many ways. She had to stand firm as she faced prejudices and she did so with every fiber of her being and fought for others in like manner. Rest in peace and rise in glory Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. You have fought the good fight.

Most of the sedum in my garden are fall bloomers. When they begin to flower I know that the last days of summer are a reality. They are beautiful. Autumn is beautiful. Nature does her very best to cloak the world with beauty as the last days of warmth and light begin to fade. May you enjoy the coming colors of fall.

"What do you mean this is not my bed!"

Thank you for reading, praying, hoping, and being.

I’m Not Ready

 I’m not ready for summer to be over. It’s still a few days until the autumnal equinox, the “official” end of summer. The two days this week when the high temperature was 45º did portend the arrival of autumn.  The fireplace roaring felt really good on those chilly nights when I just could not get warm.  

The week has sped along with no medical problems. I’ve felt good except mood-wise when the sun is virtually invisible. There were no memorable events occurring. I seem to have been busy nearly all day most days. Sleeping has been good. I’ve done some of that but not nearly as much as Sophia.  

I think she and I both suffer from SADS. On rainy, cloudy days she sleeps and sleeps and sleeps some more. She then releases all the energy she’s built up mostly by running full speed to the basement to the second floor to the basement to the second floor ad infinitum. My friend and I refer to this activity as zooming even though “zooming” has another meaning in this time of physical distancing. Sophia, by the way, makes regular appearances on Zoom meetings. She can be sound asleep in some far corner of the house but somehow intuits the beginning of a meeting at which time she makes herself present.

Sophia's way to spend a cloudy day.

I include prayers for the faithful departed at the conclusion of Morning Prayer. Today as I interceded for the members of the Guild of All Souls the name of my good friend and former college roommate was amongst those listed. He departed this life seven years ago today.  I vividly remember sitting by his bed in the Dougherty Hospice House all day reading the Gospels to him. He left this life in the evening. 

Today I went to the same facility to visit another college friend and next door neighbor who is preparing to enter the church triumphant. We were in the same college class, both taught in the Sioux Falls school system and both worked with the Singing Boys of Sioux Falls for years and years. She has touched so many lives through her work with students at the elementary, middle school and high school levels. Nearly one hundred of her students have put together a virtual tribute for her which I am eager to view.  

I’ve said farewell to so many classmates in the last few years. I still think of myself as fairly young, but I’m not. Being “young at heart” makes a difference. It doesn’t change the fact that we are all mortal and at some point in time, determined not by us, we will return to the earth from whence we came.

I love the words of the Russian Contakion for the Departed which is included in the Burial Office of the Book of

How much longer will the front garden
look like this?

Common Prayer: “Give rest, O Christ to your servant with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more,  neither sighing, but life everlasting. You only are immortal, the creator and maker of all mankind; and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and to earth shall we return. For so did you ordain when you created me, saying, ‘You are dust, and to dust you shall return.’ All of us go down to the dust; yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.”

I’m told that I really can drive to the single park I’ve missed so far, so I will try to accomplish that visit this coming week. Then my summer project will be complete!

Thank you for your prayers, your thoughts, your comments, and your presence.