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.