skipping church

This first Sunday of the month once would have had several special goings on.

First, there would have been communion... but that will not be until the Christmas Eve service.

Second, there would have been the BIG Coffee Hour, with all lunching and visiting in Holliday Hall... but, with the pandemic stepping up and its latest variant heading for the USA, that social gathering won't be convening any time soon.

Now, I'm not saying we didn't have special events today...

I made the choice to stay home, though, and view them stream-style.

I'm glad I did.

I would have enjoyed being there in person for the reinstatement of Children's Church.

I like that little break in the proceedings between initial prayers and Billy's sermon, plus I enjoy seeing all the cheerful faces of the youngsters.

In honor of this event, Reverend Hester began with a variation of the invitation tv's Mister Rogers would give to children to visit his neighborhood.

When the children approached the front of the church, each was given a commemorative Christmas ornament to honor the occasion, with each being unique, like each child.

That was very nice!

Today, we also sang one of my favorite hymns: "Cuando El Pobre".

I promise, one day I'm going to ask if I can sing it in Spanish!

(smile!)

So, those are the two events I would have liked to attend in person.

This next one I'm glad I had the option to turn off and leave.

A nationally renowned speaker, Shane Claiborne, had been invited by those in charge to take the podium.

I had already looked him up, finding that he was a Red Letter Christian and quite a political activist, neither of which I am.

I had been a bit concerned about the publicity surrounding his visit to Asbury Memorial Church, concerned about what reaction might be forthcoming from those who had supported the former President, concerned about the size of the crowd that might be attracted.

Still, I had tuned in to the YouTube channel for the stream, so I was definitely interested in what he would say and his message.

However, I stayed for only the first ten minutes.

He preaches in an evangelical style that I do not like.

Billy doesn't yell at us; this guy did.

This was a change I could not support.

Off will go the computer while I find something more positive to pursue!

I'm glad I had reserved the option to do so.

counting, committed, communing

This was the absolute high point of the service today: Reverend Hester breaking into a beloved song not scheduled for this morning, but entirely appropriate to his talk right before he sang.

Even better, he invited us to all sing along with him in the chorus, saying he hoped the church health committee would not take umbrage at his addition of this extra song.

As for me, I had begun singing with him as he first began the first verse, as it's a long-time favorite for me, too, even though it's no longer in the hymnal.

 

Here's the refrain:

"Count your blessings,

name them one by one,

count your blessings,

see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, 

name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, 

see what God hath done. "
 

He then sang the fourth (last) verse and had us all sing the refrain again.

I was so glad I was there!

Right place, right time, after all.

 

I'd had my doubts when I'd pulled into the full parking lot... but I stayed.

Candace and Claudette were in the courtyard and greeted me enthusiastically... so I stayed.

Then I'd walked into the narthex and been greeted with a program as I stood to survey the sanctuary, scanning for a safe seat for a solo attendee and finding none... yet I continued to stay, standing in the doorway.

Eventually, I took a seat there in the lobby, with the statue made by Colleen's daughter keeping me company... 

plus, the brilliance of the day and its beaming love.

I was late, but I'd arrived in time to hear the thanks from the youth group, Asbury Angells, and from the youth director, for the funds and resources they had received during this continuing pandemic, so they could continue to hold weekly support meetings.

Right place, right time.

I'd made myself a promise to attend on this particular Sunday.

First, it was the third, and final, Commitment Sunday, where we, as a congregation, pledged to continue "our vow to support Asbury Memorial with our prayers, our presence, our gifts, and our service" so that "people will be renewed, fulfilled, and challenged".

That required a pledge of financial support (gifts) and I have renewed the pledge made last year to this church where I am a member.

Second, this was the final Sunday of the liturgical year in the liturgical calendar.

This day was the last Sunday of Ordinary Time; next Sunday, as the first Sunday of the church's New Year, will begin the four weeks of Advent. Christmastide (aka Twelvetide or The Twelve Days of Christmas) will follow for two weeks, then we're back to Ordinary Time until Easter approaches.

This marked the first time I've been here for a last Sunday.

Third, today was Communion Sunday. Usually that is the first Sunday of the month, but it was postponed to this one for reasons I forget. 

This was to be my first in-person Communion at AMC and I was curious about how it was to be done, what precautions would be taken to make it safe for those partaking of the elements.

With necessity being the mother of invention, I should have known that someone would have developed a solution... and here it is.

The hourglass-like container is sealed on both ends, with a tiny unleavened cracker in one half and a thimbleful of juice in the other half.

Sanitary, safe, and very easy to use, with no danger of a mess being made.

What I most enjoyed about it was how it made me feel: I was quite satisfied by the experience and truly felt I'd had a proper Communion, rather the makeshift ones I've done at home during Zoom church.

Right place, right time.

The only part of the service I did not feel satisfied with was the hymn selection for the congregation to sing between the Commitment and Communion portions.

It was "Spirit Song", one which creeps me out in much the same way as the Savannah Bananas' chant "We will, we will PEEL you!"

In this hymn, Jesus is repeatedly implored to "come and fill your lambs".

It just doesn't sound like a proper request to make.

The implication is that the person singing is not able to sustain their own belief and demand that God is responsible for their spirituality.

Like I said, it creeps me out, so I don't sing it.

I'm so glad Billy gave us "Count Your Blessings" post-sermon.

That was definitely the right note - pun intended! - to end on.

Now, off I go to Olive Garden...

I have a lunch date with my first niece and her darlin' daughters!

i thank You, God!

La storia d'amore di Puccini tra Rodolfo e Mimi

Once more, I was sitting in a cherry seat at Asbury Memorial Church, this time C-1.

Once more, I was attending an event for this year's SVF-9, the final live event for me.

Once more, I was treated to an opera by Puccini, one of my favorites of all such writers.

This time, "La bohème" had been chosen, presented in an abridged form that kept it to one act, with four scenes.

I'm glad I chose my unicorn mask for this outing; a fanciful and romantic face covering, for this fanciful and romantic tale of love!

I've never seen the story in its full version, but of course I was familiar with it.

Peter Lake was here, as he had been last year, reprising his role as the Rodolfo, the in-love and lovesick writer and sweetheart of Mimi, pairing him again with Liz Lang, allowing her to show off her theatrical talents.

The role of his roommate, Marcello the painter, featured Jean Carlos Rodriguez, a new artist last year, who has certainly blossomed quite nicely!

That one's on-again, off-again lady love, the flirtatious Musetta, with Angela De Venuto proving to all, once again, that she has serious comedic chops!
Leo Radosavljevic and Marciano Gladić rounded out the sextet, as Colline (played by the other last year) and Schaunard, respectively, friends of Rodolfo and Marcello.

I had remembered to bring my glasses this time, but I was seated close enough to the screens that I didn't need them - yeah!

Thanks to more than half a lifetime of watching foreign films, I was able to bounce quickly over to the translations and then back to the action on the stage, so I missed none of the evolution of the love story...

and the struggle of staying together with money problems all the time...

and the struggle of staying together when one is very ill and the other helpless to aid...

and the eventual return of the two to each other's arms...

for one last embrace.

Oh, yes, my eyes were tearing up as Musetta had barged in, announcing that Mimi was down in the street, struggling to get up the stairs to see Rodolfo...

and, still, when vain Musetta rushes off to sell her jewelry for medicine and a doctor...

and, again, when she returns with Marcello, the pair having procured not only those items but also a muff to warm Mimi's cold hands...

and beyond, as Schaunard notices Mimi is not sleeping, but dead.

Wow.

As I was wiping the tears from my eyes, I saw Marijan doing the same.

Nice to know I had such good company for this final evening.

Bravo, my dears, bravo!

ceviche! chalk! church!

"Oh, lookie! It's your darling first niece!"

Yes, it is! At long last, too! Feels like forever since we've been together in person!

"I thought y'all were meeting for margaritas on Tuesdays?"

I wish! The last of those was on 13 July, which I had called our penultimate luncheon before she returned to teaching. Then there came the spate of thunderstorms that curtailed our outing the next week... and one thing after another ever since.

"Oh, that's right. Then the breast cancer scare for you and the 'kids might have COVID' scare for her after school started, and Bananas' games and now the opera festival taking up weekends and evenings. "

Exactly. But we were together today! Me and her and the girls, munching Mexican food!

"Just they way y'all like it!"

That's right!

"Was this at the Jalapenos here? I don't recall any of them having outdoor seating."

We were at the one in Richmond Hill, which is kinda sorta (joke for the bfrb, as it's nearly his 39th birthday!) halfway for both of us. As you can tell, this is post-meal, as there is no shrimp ceviche in sight. It's gone, gone, gone, baby!

"So these were at the catching-up-with-life and breathing-the-same-air portion?"

You got it! Miyah had a green crayon, but Chloe had none. But Miyah had spotted a red one under a table... so she fetched it out, then gave her green one to her little sister. How super sweet, right?

"Oh, that really was! Good for her!"

Yes, it was. She had a real meltdown earlier during the meal, just before the food came out. She'd had her tablet turned up LOUD, so I'd turned the volume down while she was in the bathroom with Christina. Upon her return, she'd cranked it up again, so I'd asked her to turn it down. That's when she started losing her cool, stomping, putting on her 'mad' face, mumbling her words, repeating herself again and again. I took the tablet, to keep her from turning it up, and she carried on for probably another twenty minutes, stomping around on that outdoor patio. We didn't talk to her, just made sure she was safe, as we ate our food and talked. Then, she returned to the table and started eating, not even looking at the tablet, as if nothing had happened.

"I guess ODD is like epilepsy in that way. There are no physical signs that someone has the malady. That's why it can be disconcerting when, all of a sudden, the electrical storm hits their brain and causes a radical shift in their behavior or personality."

So true. A doctor is to determine this week if she has the disorder. I wonder if they'll be running an EEG to look at brain activity? Christina said she hoped the doctor would be able to see Miyah in full-tilt tantrum mode; I suggested she might want to provoke an attack, to help them make a diagnosis.

"Good idea. As you well know, it's very hard to diagnosis anything that is ischemic in nature, be it a gremlin in a piece of electronics or more like your breast leakage deciding to stop three weeks before you finally have a surgical consult."

So far, Chloe doesn't seem to have those issues. Then again, her birth mother wasn't taking drugs during that second pregnancy, so perhaps Miss Chlo will be okay.

"That's definitely something to hope for."

Both girls are sweet as can be, most of the time. Take Miyah - even though I had taken her tablet, as her real self, she drew a picture for me, of me with her and her sister. With no prompting, apropos of nothing. How about that?! I have it up on my refrigerator, like the proud G'Aunt I am!

"I know you are!"

You bet I am!

"So, when does the chalk come into the story?"

Right about now, funk soul brother!

"Hahahaha! I love that song!"

Me, too!

"And you were saying..."

Right about now - oh, you mean to carry on with the tale. Gotcha! We four went to the park, just down the street, where, the girls had their birthday party last year. When it started raining, we forsook the swings and slides for the covered area, where Christina broke out this new artist box of chalk. That was all that was needed for fun!

"And are those your scribble flowers that you always draw?"

Two of them are, but the other two are not. Miyah had asked that I draw one for her, so I did (upper purple), doing it in slow motion and talking of how I was doing it all the while. Chloe, naturally, wanted me to draw one for her, too, which I did (lower pink), again giving the full demonstration of how to do it.

"And they had copied your actions and drawn their own flowers???"

Yes, they did!!! See why I said I was a proud G'Aunt??? They listen so well!

"Wow, they really do. Miyah's looks really good!"

I know! They even put on the stem and little 'leaves', just like I do.

"What's with the sign?"

None of us saw that until after we'd been drawing a while. Then, the supplier of the chalk - that would be Christina - who was relaxing with Mousse, not creating artistic endeavors or her own - spotted that solitary warning. Ack!

"So, that's when y'all stopped drawing?"

Heck to the no! In for a penny, in for a pound, right?

"I see. So, I take it that Christina is the one who spotted the water hose, too, and set about removing the evidence when y'all were done?"

Absolutely correct! Then Miyah and Chloe had fun stomping in the puddles until it was actually time for us to depart.

"Not all to Hinesville?"

No, just them and their dog, Mousse/Moose. Hey, maybe that's what he should be called! Maybe I'll try that and see how he likes it the next time I see him and them.

"Okay, you do that. Hey, looks like you finally made it to church again."

Hey, looks can be deceiving, kiddo, but I did end up feeling like this was Sunday.

"You're deliberately being disingenuous, aren't you?"

Just a smidge! I truly was at Asbury Memorial, though. Doesn't it look like I'm wearing a very fancy tiara?

"Yes, dear. Was that at Billy's sermon this morning?"

Oh, no, I missed that. In fact, I haven't been back since... well, since before my adventures in Florida and California, actually.

"If you aren't allowed to sing, you don't want to go?"

Yeah, pretty much. Though that wasn't the case today! Sherrill Milnes even led us all in singing "Hallelujah" this afternoon!!!

"Well, hooray for that, and a rousing 'Amen!', too!"

My thoughts exactly! How fabulous to sing, even masked up, alongside those stained glass windows, surrounded by those peach walls and vaulted ceiling! "Inspiration" was the title of this segment of SVF-9, and inspirational it was, with fourteen songs voiced by eight artists - make that nine, as the great star of the Met chimed in!

"Oh, I just know Carolyn would have loved that!"

Yes, she would have. Hopefully, next year we will be out of pandemic mode and the concert of religious works will be free, as it usually is. Then she and I will enjoy it together!

"That would be magnificent, and such a blessing!"

Yes, it would be. Now, I've take the time to smell this warm rose - you know how much that means to me - but then I'm off to catch a movie! The Ryan Reynolds one that I've awaited so long is finally in the cinema... and I've been so very busy that I haven't been able to see it yet. What's up with that???

"Busy, vibrant... right? That's a good thing, a very good thing."

So very true! I feel like I've been holding my breath since last March, waiting, waiting, waiting, and hoping for a cure. You know, not just for this COVID-causing virus, but more in the spirit of R.

"I am well aware. Now, relax, breathe, and see "Free Guy"! And just let it be the movie it is, not the movie you wish it might be. That way, you can be surprised and enjoy it."

Thanks... I'll do that.

"Sweet dreams! You've had a delightful day with those you love!"

i thank You, God.

adorable musical, cenerentola!

It wasn't Rossini's Cinderella, nor was it Disney's version...

but what a sweet, adorable concoction, in another collaboration with youth!

I just wish I had thought to pack my eyeglasses.

Eleven students at Garrison School for the Arts contributed text, including a prologue and song lyrics, to Michael Ching's one-act opera, "A Royal Feast".

Their words were displayed on two large screens while they read them aloud, or sang during the performed work-in-progress this afternoon with the SVF-9, again at Asbury Memorial Church.

At least I wore the right mask!

I had gotten dolled up for the Savannah VOICE Festival event this time, wearing my flowing, dark green, dress, and doing my hair a little differently, mostly down.

Hey, it is a matinee on a Saturday, right?

(smile!)

So, as I'm leaving the house, I remember that I didn't yet pack a mask, and those are mandated to be worn in Savannah by the mayor, as our COVID numbers are up to January levels.

Which to wear?

I'd been talking to Christina earlier and this one that she gave me practically leapt into my hand.

Honestly, it did!

And Sally and Jack, with him in his spidery tux, struck just the right note for a night at the opera!

(Got that little joke? You're welcome!)

 

Why particularly spiders?

Well, the middle-schoolers wanted critters in this show.

The animated one had talking animals, and, as that was the one they knew and loved, this addition, set post-Royal Ball, needed to have them, too!

And so it does!

Mice, of course, three of them, all billed as "wise" mice!

Two hilarious seagulls, singing of eating hotdog buns, but not the hotdogs!

But, most important of all, were the two spiders, each singing of the beautiful web she had woven today and verifying they didn't "hate" their males, they "ate" them!

Hahahaha! Hahaha!

Totally adorable!

(smile!)

 

Here's the thing I like best, though.

This tale explained how it was that Cinderella could understand the animals: she had been bitten by the chimney spiders and their venom gave her the power to literally talk to the animals in two-way conversations.

That just has to be something those kids dreamt up!

Totally adorable!!!

(smile!)

 

Right place, right time for me!

Now, to change clothes and see if I can get the back yard mowed.

The next few days are bringing rain, rain, rain, and the grass is almost tall again.

Wish me luck!

(smile!)

they say the neon lights are bright on...

All together now!

We all know this song -

and ya gotta sing it loud and proud -

"Broadway"!!!
No, those aren't lights of the noble gas shining on the stage at Asbury Memorial Church.

SVF-9 is recording tonight's concert, as this is to be streamed-for-pay later.

Not everyone could be here, especially since the pandemic has ramped back up, as bad, and worse, than it ever was, and hospitals are again full.

Due to limited seats, the 6 PM show was sold out; however, I was so very fortunate to be able to scoop up a Rush ticket for the 8 PM show!

I was even granted a premium seat in the 4th row!

Super fabulous!

Fourteen songs, most from Broadway shows I never heard of ("Bright Star"; "Aspects of Love"; "Six"; "Saturday Night") or will most likely never see ("Hamilton"; "Bandstand"; "Ragtime"), though there were several that I was rather familiar with, either from the movie versions, local theatre productions, or from the God On Broadway series here at AMC ("Hello Dolly"; "Carousel"; "Les Miserables"; "Guys And Dolls"; "Twelfth Night"). 

What's that?

I've only listed twelve musicals?

That's because there were two songs not from that source!

"When You're A Singer", a parody of "When You're An Addams", was first heard by me last fall, when Savannah VOICE gave us a parody of "Hocus Pocus"!!!

Then, it had seven men; tonight's version had 3 of that 7, plus one new; respectively, they were Carlton Moe, Peter Lake, Leo Radosavljevic, and the new 4th was Eric Sebek, with all cavorting and hamming it up, as they should!

Utterly hilarious!

Then there's the song written specifically for Kelli O'Hara, "They Don't Let You In The Opera (If You're A Country Star)" - and, no, I'm not familiar with her at all, nor this song, which could easily have been penned for the charming Kentuckian, Emily Yocum Black, who sang it for us tonight, pantomiming throughout!

Such great fun!

In the order performed, the songs told a story, painting the varied landscape of love, from lovelorn to new love, from unrequited to shouting from rooftops, from the way it was to the way it is, from love lost to love found again; all the many colors from hopeful romantic to hopeless loser.

Truly, it 'twas like a concert and a musical, done with operatic range!

What a fabulous Friday the 13th!!!

So many thanks, y'all!

See you tomorrow afternoon!

gift of stained glass windows

It seems like years since I sat on one of the chairs in the sanctuary and looked up at those beautiful windows, set in that glorious framing of white trim and white ceiling and fresh peach walls.

Those tones, along with the peach and green and white in the panes, really sets the mood for gratefulness, do they not?

Gratefulness for this man-made building...

gratefulness for the people in this congregation...

gratefulness for the man who ministers to us...

gratefulness for being part of this religious family and for playing a part in the 2009 renovations...

gratefulness for the safety inside these walls.

I caught a tickle in the back of my throat early on in Billy's sermon and had to leave to get it under control.

I'm grateful for that coughing spell, as it allowed Candace and Claudette to show care for me.

I'm grateful for that sinus issue, as it allowed me to have this vantage point upon my return to the church for the last part of "Rooted In Christ".

I'm grateful to have this view of Billy Hester on his stage, joyously preaching hope and love to all there and promising changes for the better coming soon.

I'm so very grateful.

i thank You, God.

ten was bit too many

I'm talking about events that required me to be on my gluteus maximus to partake, events that demanded my attention to be focused on an unblinking eye at close proximity.

Yes, I'm talking about Zooms and related platforms.

 

Those began last Tuesday with three such events - all Zooms - on a single day.

The first, at high noon, from the NY Council Navy League, had billed itself as a National Security Briefing.

That it was not.

In truth, "Not Your Father's Naval War College", with James E. Hickey, was a history lesson and sales pitch for the Navy War College.

As a veteran of the US Navy, I found it interesting, but not pertinent, as the talk was aimed at encouraging officers to enroll.

The evening found me at two events that started close together, requiring me to miss part of one in order to fully sit in on the other.

It actually worked in my favor that the Telfair event began first.

That was in conjunction with the Savannah VOICE Festival.

"Mozart To Puccini: Opera Costume and Set Production - a Chat with Two Met Legends" was one I'd looked forward to for a while, as it featured the new fashion exhibit as well as noted Verdi baritone Sherrill Milnes and famed designer Fabrizio Melano.

That chat turned out to be more from Maria Zouves than from Sherrill, but that's okay; they're an old married couple!

Overall, it was a very nice glimpse behind the curtains of opera productions, emphasizing all of the work - set design, costume fabrication, lighting, set construction - required to turn words on a page into musical delight.

(Of course, I'd had years behind the scenes when I was with A.C.T.O.R. in Okinawa and the Masquers at Armstrong, so that was a nice trip down memory lane for me!)

When the Q&A began, I stayed briefly, then jetted off before the end.

The next event was already on.

I missed about twenty-five minutes of the Georgia Water Coalition's "Clean 13 Water Heroes Awards Ceremony".

As it turned out, that meant I didn't see the two-minute videos touting the work of the first four awardees.

The good news is that I caught the ones for the other nine recipients.

I am so impressed with the environmentally-friendly work they are all doing!

The one that most amazed me was the WaterHub at Emory University, a device, akin to the system at Armstrong's greenhouse, takes the sewage from the University, treats it, and recycles it into clean water for the on-campus air conditioning system and flushing toilets; that amounts to 40% of the school's water needs!

Emory is the first site in the United States to have this water reclamation system from Europe and have been using it successfully for five years.

Hopefully, others will follow their lead!

Wednesday, I only had one Zoom.

That was the monthly talk, at 9 PM, from the UCBRFA, this time from Lorrie Shepard.

"What Research On Learning Says About Testing And Assessment" mirrored what I'd found true back in 2010, as a full-time teacher.

(As such, participation in faculty reading groups was a requirement and mine focused on a book about methods of teaching.)

What her talk mostly told me was how very slowly change occurs, as many places of education still use a on-functioning system which is a century old.

So, nothing particularly new, but very entertaining in its presentation.

That was good.

Earth Day found me with a stunning number of online events: four.

Two have already appeared here. 

A third, sandwiched between them, was part of the FSU Three Torches series.

Titled "Versatility In Hospitality", it was something I know my nephew Tyler would like.

Brian Ford, Chief Operating Officer of the Super Bowl LV Tampa Bay Buccaneers , graduated from my alma mater in 1989 (that's when I was there!) with a BS in business, parlaying that, as well as experience in contract food and beverage, into this hospitality-centered job that he's had for the last 15 years.

His interest in working in the sports field began while he was a student, spending summers in the construction of an arena.

He impressed upon the audience his view that sports are the entertainment that brings in people to buy the food and drinks - which certainly sounds like the same mantra of Jesse Cole of the Savannah Bananas, right?

Very entertaining talk!

That evening found me back online, this time at the National Geographic website, for "Behind The Curtain: Secrets Of The Whales, A Celebration of Earth Day", with Brian Skerry at the helm.

This was a much more family-friendly event than the earlier one I'd seen in March.

Then again, this special was to promote a new series on Disney+, so that accounts for the emphasis on whale families, whale babies, and whale communication.

My favorite shot, though, was this: him perched on a stool against a brick wall in his office, an alligator away from the camera man with the cue cards, with a second camera capturing the scene.

I guess I was the third camera, eh?

After that surfeit of laptop scenes, the silver screen of AMC was the focus of my gaze on Friday and Saturday, as I watched lead characters fighting evil die near movie's end.

(Those would be: King Kong in "Godzilla Vs. Kong"; Raya in "Raya And The Last Dragon"; Hanzo Hasashi in "Mortal Kombat"; and Rengoku  in "Demon Slayer: Mugen Train".)

Yesterday found me at two Zooms.

The first event was the virtual coffee hour following AMC's "Dancing In The Rain" sermon.

(That would be the church, of course, not the cinema.)

That had a smaller number of fellow zoomers than usual, so no breakout rooms this time.

We also closed up earlier than usual, though not before I shared my car washing story.

The early release was part of the reason I sought out the museum afterward, as I wanted to be around others.

Just as well I was home at 5 PM.

That put me in time for the final Zoom of the week.

It was the first time I've ever been to one intended for the Friends of The Telfair patrons and it was termed a Virtual Garden Party lecture.

Elizabeth Jamieson led us through "Traveling In Style: The Horse And The Country House In England", showing the correlation to the carriage houses in Savannah.

Her talk was quite in-depth on the workings of such places and the care of the buggies and the horses and the many roles of the people who handled such tasks.

I must admit, when I realized the focus of her talk, I wandered off, tidying up my house for Carolyn's visit.

Part of the issue was the tone of her voice, but mostly it was a lack of interest on my part.

I had hoped, really and truly, for a discussion of something more pertinent to garden parties: tea sets, silverware patterns, dish art, serving containers, picnic baskets.

None of that was forthcoming.

Ah, well, you can't have it all, right?

Where would you put it?

(That's a favorite joke of mine.)

So, what is lined up for this week?

Not any Zooms, that's for sure.

Perhaps a trip to Tybee is in order, with a trip to the Jepson on the near horizon.

A break from the small screen is definitely due.

rescued by... gilligan

I actually attended church today, for the first time in a few weeks, maybe the first time this month.

The April showers yesterday made the topic, "Dancing In The Rain", seem tailor-made perfect.

Not quite, as it turned out.

Not even Billy's reference to the Clergy Talks and Scott Bakula could quite make it right.

It all started going south on me when Rev. Bob Chvatal stepped up to do the Pastoral Prayer.

He was speaking the words to "Morning Has Broken", one of my favorite hymns, and I found myself singing along, realizing with a jolt: I miss singing in church.

I miss singing in church, with the light streaming into the sanctuary all around me - with other people in the pews singing all around me -

with Billy leading the way, encouraging all to pour their heart and soul into the words.

I miss singing in church.

I stayed for the Coffee Hour Zoom, but there weren't many with me.

I talked about washing my car in the rain yesterday, and how much I'd enjoyed it.

They spoke of new puppies (Candace) and upcoming knee surgeries (Linda) and how good Chuck's cookies were at the river clean-up yesterday morning.

There were so few of us that we didn't even break into chat rooms.

I headed for the Jepson after that, looking forward to having sunshine streaming in as I visited the new exhibits.

No, that didn't happen.

There was absolutely no parking for blocks and blocks and blocks.

Where to next?

I headed to Greenwich, determined to have a walk-about.
After all, it was a lovely, sunny day!

And I no sooner exited my car near the Barry plot than a bee zeroed in, dive-bombing my head!

Realizing it must think the bright pink hair holder promised a flower, I removed the item from my hair and placed it into my pocket.

The bee left... but ants had attacked my left foot.

Taking my cue, I took off, walking over to Jean Marie's place.

A horsefly now dogged my every movement, periodically landing on an arm, determined to get a bite.

Apparently, I was not meant to stay out there.

I hurried back to my car, frantically waving my arms as I walked, with the insect making fleshfall at any slowing of my movements.

I was concerned that it would follow into my car... but it took off instead.

Fine, home again is where I was meant to be.

That turns out to have been correct.

In need of diversion, I switched on the tv -

and there he was, little Gilligan, clad all in white as the Good Guy, gallantly fighting off the marauding pirates (the Professor and the Skipper) who had taken hostage all the womenfolk.

Quite marvelous!

And just what was needed to calm my jangled nerves again.

Now, to finish straightening up the house.

Carolyn is coming for an Oscar-watching Party of Two... and that's good.

(smile)

just another 90-minute sales pitch

"From someone trying to sell you more points at Diamond Resorts?"

 

Surprisingly, no.

This one came from my minister and the church council.

 

"The church is in need of fundraising again?

What is it this time, the roof or the heat? "

Neither of those, nor anything else at Asbury Memorial Church.

No, it was about something else entirely.

 

"Okay, spill the beans."

 

Well, it all came to light last Sunday evening.

We'd been told there was another congregation wanting to do as we'd done and leave the United Methodist Church worldwide organization.

They had taken a vote and agreed on that course of action, but there was a snag.

So they had contacted Reverend Billy Hester for help.

 

"Yeah, with their hand out, I take it?"

 

Exactly.

They didn't have the money to buy their way out, should the UMC allow them to leave, as it had us two years ago.

I suggested that the congregation - which consisted of thirty people - simply give up their membership at the small Thunderbolt church and join AMC.

No, that was not agreeable to them.

 

"I see."

 

Hence, the sales pitch devised by our church council and headed by our minister.

A 90-minute spiel, with charts and photos, to try to convince us that it was in our best interest to pay their departure costs and buy their property back from the UMC for the folks at Wesley Oak UMC - again, should their franchise even be allowed to leave by the mother ship.

That part won't be known until late summer, after the UMC General Convention.

 

"So, everything is in a stage of 'what-if' at this juncture?"

 

Most definitely.

 

"And how much are they asking AMC members to pony up on their behalf?"

 

Well, actually, I had not finished speaking of the fiscals for this transaction.

Oh, no.

Not only do they want us to purchase their property from the UMC, but they also want us to have some major repairs done on it as well as some other fees.

All told, it's about $300,000.

 

"What in the world...?

Seriously, why don't those 30 people over there jump ship and join y'all? "

 

Well, they have a community gardening project for the members and neighbors and are active with the Forsyth Farmers Market.

Those 30 people don't want to stop doing that.

And they have their own minister and she will continue serving them and preaching on Sunday mornings to them, even though we will be footing her salary.

Those 30 people don't want to lose her, of course.

Plus, since they have so few active members, they are behind on paying the pension she would one day receive from retirement, so that needs to be funded and brought into the black, instead of the red, as does the insurance for the property.

Oh, they are also behind on paying their apportionment - essentially their franchise fee - to the worldwide UMC and have two years' worth to bring current. 

As for those repairs (two roofs, three HVAC units, and "a smattering" of smaller repairs) to the church and cottage, that would add another $110,000, minimum.

 

"I can't believe this is under serious consideration."

 

Nor can I.

All told, we would be out of pocket a minimum of $260,000. 

That's if the UMC agrees to allow Wesley Oak to escape its grasp.

 

"And Asbury Memorial is solvent enough to take on such an endeavor?"

 

I think not, nor did several present at last week's sales pitch.  

Right now, the church's account has around $600,000 in it.

Part of the reason it has that much cash is that we are currently missing two key leaders in the youth programs.

One died a year or so ago (she dealt with the teens who are now called Angells to honor her); the other resigned her position due to needs of her young family.

Not having Vacation Bible School and several youth functions has contributed to the church's substantial surplus of funds, rather than the deficit we've had. 

 

"So, now it looks like those funds are burning a hole in the church's pocket?"

 

Yeah, I think that's it.

What's that saying about being more careful when poor than when rich?

Oh, I remember: penny wise and pound foolish.

I know that Billy is concerned about the current smaller size of the congregation compared to the grand scale that had built up after Janice Gannt's death, especially now that he is wanting to retire and take some time for him and Cheri, now that the kids are all grown.

He is no doubt worried that AMC will shrink down to the 25 members it had wehn he first crossed its threshold a quarter-century ago.

However, my concern is that this financial obligation that he wants us to take on will drive away more members than will be gained.

 

"What about you?

Will you leave if the vote is positive for the merger? "

 

I don't know.

That word, merger, has such a nasty taste in my mouth.

I've already lost my alma mater because of that word.

I'd hate to lose my church home as well.

However, like I said, we're all just playing a game of 'what-if' at this point.

 

"So, what happens now?"

 

We're to vote on the merger after service today.

It's going to be done by ZOOM, with one vote per electronic device, to help those folks who have multiple members in one household.

I'm not sure how things are to be handled for those without such devices, like Miss Virginia, who doesn't have a computer or tablet or any of that stuff.

 

"Not your monkeys, not your circus, ya know.

I am sure that someone on the church council has handled that. "

True that.

Okay, I'm going to get my second cup of coffee and go to church.

I sure am going to miss that Zoom coffee hour we usually have. 

a zoom too many, maybe

"Okay, what have you done?"

Well, during the Zoom that passes for 'coffee hour' after Billy's service, I may have offended two of the older parishioners. They have already received both shots of whichever anti-COVID vaccine and had been trying to plan a trip back to Margaret's home in England. However, they had been told by friends there to not do so...

"Because it would be very dangerous for them to be in a plane for that cross-Atlantic flight..."

Oh, no, no, no, mon frere. Because it would be such a financial hardship on them! Not only would they be out the money for the airfare, but they would be required to quarantine for two weeks - at their own expense - at a special designated hotel for such purposes.

"Well, of course, they would. Had they not included that in their plans?"

No, it had not even occurred to them. I think they mentioned it because they were hoping for a bit of sympathy from others - Preston, Chuck, Carol K, Karen and son Ben - in that chat room. Well, they didn't get it! Especially not after I flat out told them that they were being selfish to travel there, so the authorities were in the right to protect the residents from their self-centered carelessness.

"Oh, my... did you really say that to them?"

To them, and to everyone else in that 'room'. [The photo is from last week, but I included it here because it had the two women involved in this conversation.] Margaret and Janet left shortly after, to go have a long-awaited lunch with a friend "now that they all had been vaccinated". I cautioned them that even though they'd had the vaccine, they could still spread the virus. They looked at me incredulously, as if they believed having the vaccine awarded them carte blanche to do whatever their little hearts desired.

"Well, as you may recall, your amiga Barbara acted in much the same way when y'all were emailing back and forth. She and Sandy have been vaccinated and are ready to go out into the world again, virus be damned!"

Yeah, I recall that just fine. She as a bit put out with me for 'raining on her parade', so to speak. She had been trying to convince me to host movie-watching parties at my house, but I let her know that would most assuredly not be happening. Heck, if she had her way, the theatre troupes would be back to performing live shows, now that she was vaccinated!

"I know. It's like the neighbor who is up at 8 AM on a Saturday, mowing the yard and using the blower because 'if he's us, everyone else is' mentality. I realize we are each the centers of our individual universes, but surely we recognize that our actions affect others, right?"

You would think so, but, no. I have been dismayed at the lack of real information out there. In the next chat 'room', I tried to clear up misconceptions about the purpose of the vaccine. This time I was with Cheri, Randy, Rhonda with Miss Virginia, and Carol K. again. Cheri was asking questions, so I was in full-tilt boogie 'teacher' mode, explaining that the vaccine was to prevent COVID - the infectious disease caused by the coronavirus - from occurring in the person who was vaccinated. The vaccine does not keep the virus away from the inoculated person - no, no, no. The vaccine does not keep the virus from being spread by the inoculated person - no, no, no. The vaccine's purpose is to keep an inoculated person infected by the virus from developing the life-threatening disease. Randy was the only one who understood me, likening it to the measles vaccine.

"Wow. These are all educated people, like all college graduates, aren't they? You would expect they might be more knowledgeable about the difference between the virus and the disease and what 'COVID' refers to."

Well, they are not. Nor do I suspect many of those reporting the news to be aware of what the acronym refers to and what the vaccine will accomplish. Just me explaining that 70% meant 'that 7 out of 10 people, if infected, would not be able to have the disease'. So for the virus to make more of itself and spread, it would have to infect the 3 out of 10 people who were still able to have the virus progress to the disease state. I was about to go into more when we got pulled out of that 'room' and back to the big 'room', with different conversations already going on.

"No one tried to continue the thread y'all had been pursuing?"

No, there really wasn't an opportunity for that. Everyone was getting to the 'off to lunch' stage of the session. The Zoom ended just a few minutes later.

"Well, you keep preaching, dear, even if it is to the same choir. I know you keep hoping for some new faces at these 'coffee hours', but at least you do get to interact with others and have your voice heard. I'm sure the message will get around to others."

I certainly hope so. It's not that I don't enjoy being in the choir... I just wish we could sing new songs."

celebrations of life, old and new

The last shall be first, I say!

Born yesterday, I welcome dear Henry into the world and into the loving arms of Keith and Blakely Schaal!

The birth of Henry makes my ex an official Great Uncle on his stepdad's side!

Kudos to him and to his step-sister Kathy, who shall henceforth be known as 'Kiki', with Joe preferring the more common moniker 'Pops'!

What shall I use to mark the new one's entrance into my life?

G'Aunt, of course, as all my greats already know!

(smile!)

Speaking of my ex, he sent this photo of him with his dear Auntie, Mother Pat's youngest sister.

Diane Osinski, born in 1953, was killed by a stranger while she was away at college in 1972.

This photo was taken in December 1969, most likely after she had given her nephew the toy shown for his fifth birthday.

He has fond memories of her teaching him Spanish.

(smile)

After the two above in my morning, I had the event for Geoff Harrison today for my third celebration of life.

A fellow sailor in the Navy, a fellow teacher of science, a fellow beach lover, it is his fellow love of dance that I best equate with him.

His choreography for the liturgical art created for "I Can Only Imagine" for a church service some years ago was so very beautiful that it has stayed with me as one of those crystallized memories in time.

I am so thankful that dance was included in this Zoom ceremony from Asbury Memorial Church.

Oh, had I forgotten to mention that he was a fellow member there?

(smile!)

sbhf32: fabulous finish

I would have gladly watched this pair for the entire program on Friday!

Not only do I love Nina Simone's "Feeling Good", I also dearly love couples dancing, whether on the floor, on an ice rink, or underwater.

I want that.  

The SBHF32 had this number at the heart of its "New World, New Life, New Change" show from the SSU Obsidian Dance Repertory, a group I enjoyed at 31SBHF.

The troupe began with another Nina Simone song, "Four Women", performed ingeniously by Kalisha Credle removing an article of clothing for each character - brava!

I also very much liked "Metamorphosis", with two women evolving, as well as "Suite 125", with its cast of six busily going through stages of life and work.

In addition, "This Is America" and its lone male dancer was eloquent far beyond the words of the rap song. 

However, after the program had run its course, this was the segment - near time-stamp 19:20 - I returned to again and again.

Alonzo Boschulte and Toni Renee Johnson reminded me of another couple - Lorenzo and Cree - that I had so enjoyed, years ago.

Such grace, such synchronicity, such pure joy in movement exhibited by this pair - yes, that reminds me of my disco days and dancing close with another, and I definitely want that again, still, always.

Saturday brought two gospel singers, listed as 'the headliners'.

I don't know that I would have referred to them as such, since the programs of each consisted of only three songs.

Koryn Hawthorne is shown here performing "Sunday", which, even though it was religious, reminded me very much of The Cure's "Friday I'm In Love".

How so? The litany of days at the heart of the chorus of both songs!

India Shawn was the other songstress and she was obviously right at home, literally, with her shoes off and her demeanor casual - very nice!

Although her tunes were nice, it was the art on the wall that really held my attention.

What an interesting take on the old maxim, "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil"!

It was too large to have had a space in my house, but I liked its boldness!

I liked the boldness of tonight's program, too - plus the fact that it was on tv!!!

That meant I could watch it on my Element instead of a small screen - hooray!

I made sure before we all left the Asbury Memorial Zoom "coffee hour" that they all knew WSAV would have this treat, just as I'd told my first niece and her family at lunch yesterday.

How wonderful to know folks I love were watching and dancing along with me!

Oh, had I not yet mentioned that this was another dance program?

Yes, yes, it was, with the Hiplet (pronounced HIP-lay) Ballerinas, a troupe that has combined hiphop style and en pointe to create Sugarplum Fairies like no other!
Not that they were performing that December treat - not at all - but that remembrance is what popped into my head while they danced this portion of "The African Suite".

Another bit during that fifteen minutes involved a quartet that may well have been speaking a new type of sign language!

Does it not seem that they are forming letters of hieroglyphs with their movements?

I wonder if that was a subliminal intention of the choreographer or merely my mind's interpretation?

I do know this: littlest girl was digging the groove and dancing along, as was I!

It occurred to me, while I was watching them, enthralled during the oh-too-short, thirty-minute show with its four suites, that some of this felt very familiar to me. 

Then I realized - between "Chain Of Fools" and them dancing on their toes I was harkening back to my disco days again!

I had done this very move, in three-inch heels and a mini-skirt, on a lighted dance floor in so many clubs - ah, good times!

(smile!