One of the things I am aware of now is how our married children (5) deal with giving responsibilities to our grandchildren (9). It varies from family to family; It's just interesting to observe the differences.
One are the things my first wife did with our children was that she had each of them doing their own laundry by age eleven. When we separated and she moved out of our family house, I was left at home with responsibility for three children, ages 11 to 17, for the immediate future. One of the things that made it easier for me was that, by that point in time, each child was doing his or her own laundry.
This got me thinking about my laundry situation when I went away to Dartmouth. I had never done any laundry in my life. My mother brought me to Hanover, and left me with a shipping container, made out of sturdy fiberboard, with two web straps around the outside. About once a week, I would put my dirty underwear and socks into this, go down to the post office, and mail it home (Buffalo, NY). My mother would do the laundry, put it back into the container, and send it back to me. Then the cycle would repeat. Talk about being tied to your mother’s apron strings!
It’s hard to imagine this process being used today, I’m wondering if any classmates used this system when they came to Dartmouth, or was I the only one?
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Sunday, January 8, 2017
Abortion and Personhood
Just finished reading "Our Only World", ten essays by Wendell Berry, given to me by Elliott and Nadia for my recent birthday. Very much enjoyed it.
In essay number six, he discusses his thoughts re (1)abortion, and (2)gay marriage. While Berry is personally opposed to abortion, he comes down to this position: the government should not be involved. The decision should be left to the woman, her family and her doctor.
One of the arguments against abortion is that it takes away the rights of the fetus, which may regarded as a person. Berry says: "The legal definition of a person evaporated when the Supreme Court defined a corporation as a person. If a corporation is a person… then personhood can be conferred upon virtually anything merely by decree." For me, Berry nails the idiocy of that court decision
In essay number six, he discusses his thoughts re (1)abortion, and (2)gay marriage. While Berry is personally opposed to abortion, he comes down to this position: the government should not be involved. The decision should be left to the woman, her family and her doctor.
One of the arguments against abortion is that it takes away the rights of the fetus, which may regarded as a person. Berry says: "The legal definition of a person evaporated when the Supreme Court defined a corporation as a person. If a corporation is a person… then personhood can be conferred upon virtually anything merely by decree." For me, Berry nails the idiocy of that court decision
Friday, January 6, 2017
Book of Job
Yesterday, in Rabbi Wolpe's Torah study class, he began the discussion of the book of Job. We have been urging him to teach Job for at least two years. He seemed reluctant, I'm not sure why.
In the first verse, the narrator describes Job as "blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil". In verse 8, God describes Job in exactly the same words.
The primary issue is: does God allow bad things to happen to good people, and if so, why. I am looking forward to the classes that are to follow.
In the first verse, the narrator describes Job as "blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil". In verse 8, God describes Job in exactly the same words.
The primary issue is: does God allow bad things to happen to good people, and if so, why. I am looking forward to the classes that are to follow.
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
2017 Breakthru
Met with some old (in both senses of the word) male friends today for lunch. Talked for over two hours, and, as far as I can remember, not one of us uttered the word "election" nor the word "Trump". This is a 2017 breakthrough moment.
Enjoy while it lasts....probably not too long.
Enjoy while it lasts....probably not too long.
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Movies and my Bladder
I never imagined that there would be such a strong connection between my bladder and my movie viewing experiences. But they are now very linked.
I wait until just minutes before the movie is to start, then visit the men's room for a final emptying.
If the movie is less than 2 hours long, there is a good chance I will make it always thru without a pit stop. If it's over 2 hours long, the chances are slim to none. Last movie we say, "Paterson", I just made it to the end, then rushed out of the theatre. Paterson is 1 hour and 58 minutes long; over 2 hours including trailers.
About 3 years ago, I talked Nadine into going to the Lone Ranger movie, with Army Archer and Johnny Depp. It was a farce; the Lone Ranger riding Silver on top of a moving freight train, etc. But I did it mostly to see the iconic final scene on the radio: The townswoman says "Pa, who was the masked man", and her husband says "Why, Ma, don't you know, that was the Lone Ranger". The Lone Ranger shouts "Hi Ho Silver", we hear the hoof beats, and the orchestra breaks into the William Tell overture.
The movie was more than 2 hours. Pressure was mounting, but I wanted to see the final scene. Finally, I rushed out to the men's room, did my business, and rushed back to my seat. The movie was still playing; I had made it. They never did that final scene; the movie ended without it. I should have asked for my money back!!
I wait until just minutes before the movie is to start, then visit the men's room for a final emptying.
If the movie is less than 2 hours long, there is a good chance I will make it always thru without a pit stop. If it's over 2 hours long, the chances are slim to none. Last movie we say, "Paterson", I just made it to the end, then rushed out of the theatre. Paterson is 1 hour and 58 minutes long; over 2 hours including trailers.
About 3 years ago, I talked Nadine into going to the Lone Ranger movie, with Army Archer and Johnny Depp. It was a farce; the Lone Ranger riding Silver on top of a moving freight train, etc. But I did it mostly to see the iconic final scene on the radio: The townswoman says "Pa, who was the masked man", and her husband says "Why, Ma, don't you know, that was the Lone Ranger". The Lone Ranger shouts "Hi Ho Silver", we hear the hoof beats, and the orchestra breaks into the William Tell overture.
The movie was more than 2 hours. Pressure was mounting, but I wanted to see the final scene. Finally, I rushed out to the men's room, did my business, and rushed back to my seat. The movie was still playing; I had made it. They never did that final scene; the movie ended without it. I should have asked for my money back!!
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