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Family photos revisited
Personal Musings
30 things is a big ask
List 30 things that make you happy.
Today I am grateful for:
A comfortable bed
A good night’s sleep
Hot coffee in the morning
The well-being of my daughter and son
Morning silence (husband at the gym)
Music (singing with friends later today)
Safety (physical)
Security (financial)
Leftovers (Mexican)
The seemingly downward trend of the racist/nationalist/hateful Trump movement in the United States
Recent visits with friends who are happy and planning fun things
The Paris Olympics
My new kitchen window
My husband’s health
My health
Vaccines
Air conditioning
TV
Internet
Books
Raindrops on roses
Whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles
Warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
Cream-colored ponies
Crisp apple strudel
Door bells and sleigh bells
Schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
Musical experiment
I’ve posted many times about my love of music, especially singing. Singing with choirs and choral groups has been bringing me joy since I was a teenager. I’ve done a bit of solo singing as well.
Typically, I don’t sing much in the summer, because my church (and choir) go on hiatus. Yup, that’s right, Unitarian Universalists take the summer off (which is a good thing because our beautiful, historic churches are rarely air conditioned).
This summer I’m trying something new. I’m going to collaborate with a musician who plays the digital bagpipes—of all things. We’re going to get together and work on a few songs. If things go well, we may have some opportunities to perform next church year. One song she really wants to try is Skye Boat Song. I’m going to need to practice this one. I have no idea what it will be like to sing with bagpipes. I’ve sung with piano, guitar, and even organ, but this will be new.
Veepstakes
Along with about a billion other people, I am very curious who Kamala Harris will pick as her vice presidential running mate. I’m confident that whoever she chooses will be embraced by her growing legions of supporters.
I had been thinking she was going to choose Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania or Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, but now I don’t know.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has been killing it on the news shows. He’s approximately the same age as weird JD Vance and is also a military veteran with young children.
Also, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota is really growing on me. He’s another elder GenXer (born in 1964), so I’m predisposed to like him. He gives midwestern high school principal vibes and I think he’d help her out with middle-of-the-road types.
We shall see…
And just for fun while we wait, watch this awesome clip from VEEP.
Related post:
Giving money to a junkie
Remember how ready we were to get those first Covid vaccines the minute they came out? We were so so sick of staying at home!
Well, as someone who worked in an educational setting, I was eligible a bit earlier than some. I could get a vaccine, but I had to go to Boston Medical Center to get it. BMC is located deep in Boston’s South End and is known for serving vulnerable populations, low-income individuals, immigrants, and those without insurance. For many years, there was a massive homeless encampment known as “Mass and Cass” just a block or so from BMC. Hard drugs were openly bought, sold, and used at Mass and Cass.
Photo by Jim Davis/Boston Globe
Anyway, I got my first Covid vax at BMC and then just wanted to get out of that area ASAP. On the way back to my car, a very thin, desperate-looking woman approached me and asked for money. She said she needed it for food. I gave her a $20. That was all I had. She was extremely grateful. She turned the bill over in her hand, like she couldn’t believe it was an actual twenty.
I’m not sure what motivated that. Pity, yes. Selfish desire to be left alone (just let me get back to my car lady) Kindness? I don’t know. Is it kind to give money to a junkie? What if that $20 enabled her to overdose? A better person might’ve tried to walk her back into the hospital and get her some real help.
Moi
I feel like I already covered this on Sunday, but since it’s a good and inclusive thing to practice (describing yourself for the visually impaired), here goes:
Tall
Brown-haired
Middle-aged
Sun-tanned
White
Woman
Wearing a sleeveless, light blue, loose-fitting dress
Ex-Catholic
I left the Catholic Church. I stopped going to Mass the Sunday after my confirmation, which was the deal I made with my parents.
I’m proud to say I never subjected my children to any Catholic guilt trips or other Catholic bullshit.
Sorry not sorry if this offends anyone, but that church has SO much to answer for. And I’m not talking about the Crusades here. I’m talking about modern times.
Catholic Church Insidiously Control’s Women’s Freedom
Sprawling documentation of child abuse in the Catholic Church
Related posts:
Paris Olympics: Venues Win Gold
Was today typical?
Nope. I don’t typically watch split screen sports (or really any sports), but the Paris venues are winning me over. Women’s water polo (USA v Spain) and fencing (USA v Italy) are currently underway.
Oh, the drama of fencing in the Grand Palais!
GenX President
How would you describe yourself to someone?
I walked into a newly-energized gathering of Democratic activists yesterday and a man said, “Mary, I’m so glad you’re here! I’ve been thinking about how much you look like her all week.” Then he called me over to sit near him. He was so excited I was there. It was almost like he transferred his happiness about Kamala onto me for a couple of hours. I was flattered.
The fact is, we don’t look that much alike, but she will most certainly be MY president. (Fingers and toes crossed.) We are both 59. She was born in the fall of 1964 and I was born in the spring of 1965. Like the Obamas, she’s culturally, if not technically, GenX.
I did see a bit of myself in this picture of her from the eighties. It’s not just the slight physical resemblance and the very 80s haircut. It’s the look on her face. We were young women going through the same period of history at exactly the same age. It wasn’t always easy.
She says she’s 5’ 7.5” in heels. I’m 5’ 8” barefoot. So I guess I’ll wear flats (Chuck Taylors), if I dress up as her for Halloween. At least I know one person who will love my costume.
Boy Mom
If you could bring back one dinosaur, which one would it be?
“Girl Dads” get a lot of coverage in the media lately. Giant men having tea parties and whatnot…
Well, my son is grown now, but I was a pretty darn good Boy Mom for many years. (I was a Girl Mom too, but I don’t think that’s a thing…that’s just a regular mom. Don’t ask me why.)
One thing we Boy Moms know about is dinosaurs. I don’t know why most boys love dinosaurs, but they do.
The largest and best dinosaur was obviously the Tyrannosaurus rex. That’s the one I’d bring back if I could because it would make so many little boys happy and that would be worth the occasional unfortunate incident with someone’s German Shepherd.
50 Happens 