Dear Family and Friends,
Life has become so full and beautiful that I've had trouble finding time to sit down and write to you guys. Please don't be concerned. My cat Abbakadabra popped out of my house one day last week and disappeared. She never came back. I guess she must be dead. Quickly I've realized how relieved I feel that I don't have to worry about her peeing on my carpets anymore. When I came back from Dallas last weekend, she wasn't here, and I really didn't miss her a bit. It's so nice to have on black pants today and know she won't be crawling into my lap and ruining them and that when I sit down on the toilet, she won't be accosting me to get in my lap. She had really become somewhat of a nuisance.
My trip to Dallas was amazing. I met little Anna Zhulan Corry, a little Chinese six-year-old girl from somewhere. Barbara, her mother, is doing such a fine job of orienting her to our American ways. Anna speaks English as well as my niece Hannah. It's unbelievable really. She must be related to God.
My students finished their semester projects on Friday. Everyone of them had a tale to tell about how their computers or printers screwed up. They all ended up burning the midnight oil even though I paced them through this project so they shouldn't have had to. I guess God wanted to test them this way. Their projects are like little dissertations. I'm planning to savor each one. I have the advantage of being able to evaluate and read them one at a time over this holiday. One day at a time. Wonderful. So different than other years. You can see they were proud of their work.
Hopefully by next week, things will have settled down on this starship so that I can write a true detailed letter to all of you. Life here is exciting, and I'm going places like Lafayette and to Mistle Toe and Moss, and I really have this premonition that there's a prince charming looking me up. A box just seemed to fall from heaven on my car. He seems to be saying he likes this independent woman.
Thank you, all of you guys....
With love, Linda
"Whatever you do may seem insignificant,
but it is most important that you do it."
--Gandhi
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Monday, November 5, 2007
Monday Afternoon Reflections - November 5, 2007
Dear Family and Friends,
Lots of things went on last week in my life, as well as in yours, I'm sure. Let me tell you about mine.
The Light Weigh group met in my house for the second time last Monday, and the numbers diminished greatly. I'm wondering if people decided on the first night that the program was not for them or whether some people just couldn't make it last week. I guess tonight we'll see what happens. A smaller, more intimate group would be my preference anyway, so if that's what happens, it will be good, I think. I continue to keep my eating in check by waiting for hunger signals, and it's working very well for me. Praying for someone instead of reaching for some kind of snack is also becoming commonplace for me. This is an interesting turn of events. Now if I can just get myself back to Curves regularly again with this week's schedule. I need the exercise, too.
Tuesday Ted Baker called me with the exciting news that Flavin Realtors had let him know that someone is interested in the Cleveland House property that he's getting ready for sale for me. I hope this comes to fruition. This is such an excellent time for someone to get involved so that they can pick out paint colors and cabinet counter tops, etc. We'll see what happens. Besides that, I didn't need the services of Ted in the last week, and that's got to be a first. With rents coming in over the past several days, though, a few requests have come in--nothing that's an emergency. Ted will be doing some handyman work for me in coming days. I have plans, once another Mesothelioma settlement comes in, to continue the process of repairing rotten wood and painting houses, but for now, I'm in a holding pattern with the rental business.
My job as a teacher is also very fulfilling and going well. My eight young women are proving to be exceptional in all aspects of my course. Last Tuesday, we discussed "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien, a story set in Vietnam about a young lieutenant who blames himself for the death of one of his command because he was obsessing over a love interest back home. The story is written in a style that includes sections of things that the men carried over in Vietnam--literal things with weights and also less tangible things like the secrets they carried. We discussed this story through motifs. The girls were broken into pairs to create a poster tracing one motif or several parallel ones through words and symbol. (See Photos #1, #2, #3) They did presentations, explaining their thinking about the physical and emotional things the soldiers in this story carried, and I put the posters up in the hallway, in preparation for Open House next week. With the addition of creative thinking strategies in my teaching, I've got lots of things to display on the wall. This is a big change in my course this year. I'm so excited, and I was able to share this excitement with Glenda Williams, our new Academic Vice Principal one day last week. She suggested that this year I come up with posters advertising AP English for next year, and I plan to get the girls to help me with this after Christmas. I'm sure they can come up with something good.
Other activities in my classes this past week included introducing the syntax paragraph for the style analysis unit. Syntax scares people for some reason, and I'm hoping this year I've done a better job of alleviating those fears and overcoming the negative fall-out from thinking that syntax is too obscure or scary for anyone to understand and write about. We'll see this week if the essays the girls write about a story called "Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros show signs of true understanding of this aspect of style. The girls also completed drafts of their Literary Analyses for their semester project, which will be due on November 16. I've been moving them through the individual pieces of that project, and we're just about there. Tomorrow they have to show me their creative cover sheet and biographical timelines. There are just a few more pieces of the project to complete, and there's plenty of time to polish everything up. I'm so excited that I only have eight of these 30-page projects to evaluate over Thanksgiving break this year. It will give me a longer holiday, which I'm looking forward to.
My students also completed the war section of our short story unit by comparing what they learned about war from the four stories we read and shared and analyzed. They did this in class on Friday, and we will move into the end of the short story unit in the next two weeks. I've chosen two stories that are about mother-daughter relationships. With a group of girls, these stories should really pop into life.
Wednesday was Halloween, and for me, that mainly meant that I dressed in orange and black and dropped by my church to photograph the Trunk or Treat outreach that is done each year to invite our surrounding community into our church. I know Ray would have loved to have been a part of this endeavor. He so loved dressing up in costume, and he would have really loved the whole idea of it. But I don't have the heart to decorate my trunk all by myself. I'm doing well to just get myself over there to see how much fun everybody's having. I especially loved Joe and Barbara White's costumes this year. Aren't they hilarious? (See Photo #4)
From this party, I drove over to Central School for the Arts and Humanities and attended a live radio Louisiana Crossroads concert. Doyle Bramhall, C.C. Adcock & Friends were performing. It was soooo good! I only stayed for one set, but it's the kind of music I love to kick back and listen to, and I wished that my brother Scott could have been there with me. I'm wondering if he is familiar with these artists. I can't believe how fortunate we are here in Lake Charles to have this kind of entertainment just a few blocks away from my house. There's no traffic; it's easy to park; the entertainment is topnotch. I feel like I've gone to heaven in a sense.
Thursday was a different story when I drove over to Reeves Uptown to attend the monthly Profit and Loss luncheon. Ashley Smith, the hostage hero of Atlanta, was the speaker, and because she is famous, I guess, the place was a mob scene. I opted not to attend and turned around as soon as I saw that my usual parking spot was unavailable and that I would have to walk a couple of blocks to get to the door. I figured the tables inside would be overwhelmed, too, and I just wasn't interested enough to go through the experience. Hopefully, next month things will be more usual.
Friday the students got out of school by noon, and the teachers had in-service in the afternoon. There were two sessions--one on the computer to learn some shortcut methods on GradeQuick, our gradebook on the computer, and another on security plans that should be in place in our building for intruders on campus and other possible crises. They were both good, but I'm sorry that my being tied up on this particular Friday meant that I missed getting to see my son Will on his way to Mississippi. I just missed his call when I left the building that afternoon. He wasn't able to stop evidently on his way back to Texas yesterday. Hopefully, I'll see him soon in another capacity.
Saturday night I had the treat of attending a dance at the VFW hall with two friends from choir. Ruth Lucius invited Ellen Smith and me to go listen to our choir director's band. (See Photo #5) Chris Miller's Bayou Roots plays all kind of Cajun waltzes and other dances, and there were actually some single men in the crowd who asked us ladies to dance. I also got out and tried this version of line dancing and was successful. The evening was a lot of fun.
Chris reminded us that because we didn't have choir practice on Thursday night, we needed to meet in the sanctuary at 10:00 Sunday morning to practice our song for an hour before service. I was running a little late, but I got there in plenty of time to enjoy experiencing "The Morning Trumpet" with a live trumpet player from McNeese State University. The congregation actually clapped for this performance later during the service. It was just beautiful and so appropriate for All Saints' Sunday and communion.
Later after lunch, I had made an appointment with Liz Mueller from my school to have a photo shoot again this year for my Christmas card photo. She picked me up before two, and we went over to my church grounds for some photo opportunities. I wore the tuxedo white shirt and black slacks that I'd found the night before at Talbot's, and the photos came out very well. I especially love the ones that were taken in the church sanctuary. By chance, Lois Ferguson was dropping off a friend when Liz and I were trying to see if the doors to the church were open, and she was able to let us in for some beautiful photos. The light was coming in the stained glass and shining down upon me. They came out great. Liz also ran me over to St. Louis and took some shots of me with the line of oak trees that line the bayou. I had tried to get the perfect photo the week before in Nacogdoches but wasn't really satisfied. One of Liz's shots will be the one for my cards this year.
The Women's Circles joined forces on Sunday afternoon to get bags of candy ready for the upcoming Christmas parade. (See Photo #6) Schedules with the Advent and Christmas celebrations at our church were stapled to the decorated bags, and people of all ages helped with the preparations of these. I wished I'd brought my own stapler. I could have gotten more accomplished if I had, but at least I was able to take pictures, as usual. And I enjoyed the personal visiting that went on during this activity.
I met John and Diane Pelzer at Logan's at 6:00 p.m. (See Photo #7) They just got back from a two-week cruise through the Panama Canal, and they had many stories to share. It sounds like they had a fabulous time traveling with John's brother and wife. In Costa Rica, they found a necklace, bracelet, and earring set made out of nut ivory for my birthday gift. (See Photo #8) I just love it and can't wait for the opportunity to wear it.
I've heard from both my friends in Dallas about my upcoming trip later this week. Little Anna Zhulan is looking forward to an "all day good morning" when I come visiting. I so look forward to seeing things through this little Chinese girl's eyes. I will be spending time with both Barbara Corry and Cindy Wood. The only thing that I wish I could also do during this time away is pet my cat. (See Photo #8) I have Carole Chavanne coming to see her each day while I'm away, but this little cat has become such a loving little baby. I just wonder if she cries when I'm not here for those special times she curls into my lap each day. I'm hoping she spends lots of time in this special spot on the camel saddle, curled up with Ray's chemo quilt.
Life, the universe, and everything seems to be in good order on a day like today. The weather's beautiful. I have no emergencies in my life going on. Teaching and the rental business are fulfilling and going very well. I hope your life is also in a good place. God bless you...
With love, Linda
"Whatever you do may seem insignificant,
but it is most important that you do it."
--Gandhi
Lots of things went on last week in my life, as well as in yours, I'm sure. Let me tell you about mine.
The Light Weigh group met in my house for the second time last Monday, and the numbers diminished greatly. I'm wondering if people decided on the first night that the program was not for them or whether some people just couldn't make it last week. I guess tonight we'll see what happens. A smaller, more intimate group would be my preference anyway, so if that's what happens, it will be good, I think. I continue to keep my eating in check by waiting for hunger signals, and it's working very well for me. Praying for someone instead of reaching for some kind of snack is also becoming commonplace for me. This is an interesting turn of events. Now if I can just get myself back to Curves regularly again with this week's schedule. I need the exercise, too.
Tuesday Ted Baker called me with the exciting news that Flavin Realtors had let him know that someone is interested in the Cleveland House property that he's getting ready for sale for me. I hope this comes to fruition. This is such an excellent time for someone to get involved so that they can pick out paint colors and cabinet counter tops, etc. We'll see what happens. Besides that, I didn't need the services of Ted in the last week, and that's got to be a first. With rents coming in over the past several days, though, a few requests have come in--nothing that's an emergency. Ted will be doing some handyman work for me in coming days. I have plans, once another Mesothelioma settlement comes in, to continue the process of repairing rotten wood and painting houses, but for now, I'm in a holding pattern with the rental business.
My job as a teacher is also very fulfilling and going well. My eight young women are proving to be exceptional in all aspects of my course. Last Tuesday, we discussed "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien, a story set in Vietnam about a young lieutenant who blames himself for the death of one of his command because he was obsessing over a love interest back home. The story is written in a style that includes sections of things that the men carried over in Vietnam--literal things with weights and also less tangible things like the secrets they carried. We discussed this story through motifs. The girls were broken into pairs to create a poster tracing one motif or several parallel ones through words and symbol. (See Photos #1, #2, #3) They did presentations, explaining their thinking about the physical and emotional things the soldiers in this story carried, and I put the posters up in the hallway, in preparation for Open House next week. With the addition of creative thinking strategies in my teaching, I've got lots of things to display on the wall. This is a big change in my course this year. I'm so excited, and I was able to share this excitement with Glenda Williams, our new Academic Vice Principal one day last week. She suggested that this year I come up with posters advertising AP English for next year, and I plan to get the girls to help me with this after Christmas. I'm sure they can come up with something good.
Other activities in my classes this past week included introducing the syntax paragraph for the style analysis unit. Syntax scares people for some reason, and I'm hoping this year I've done a better job of alleviating those fears and overcoming the negative fall-out from thinking that syntax is too obscure or scary for anyone to understand and write about. We'll see this week if the essays the girls write about a story called "Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros show signs of true understanding of this aspect of style. The girls also completed drafts of their Literary Analyses for their semester project, which will be due on November 16. I've been moving them through the individual pieces of that project, and we're just about there. Tomorrow they have to show me their creative cover sheet and biographical timelines. There are just a few more pieces of the project to complete, and there's plenty of time to polish everything up. I'm so excited that I only have eight of these 30-page projects to evaluate over Thanksgiving break this year. It will give me a longer holiday, which I'm looking forward to.
My students also completed the war section of our short story unit by comparing what they learned about war from the four stories we read and shared and analyzed. They did this in class on Friday, and we will move into the end of the short story unit in the next two weeks. I've chosen two stories that are about mother-daughter relationships. With a group of girls, these stories should really pop into life.
Wednesday was Halloween, and for me, that mainly meant that I dressed in orange and black and dropped by my church to photograph the Trunk or Treat outreach that is done each year to invite our surrounding community into our church. I know Ray would have loved to have been a part of this endeavor. He so loved dressing up in costume, and he would have really loved the whole idea of it. But I don't have the heart to decorate my trunk all by myself. I'm doing well to just get myself over there to see how much fun everybody's having. I especially loved Joe and Barbara White's costumes this year. Aren't they hilarious? (See Photo #4)
From this party, I drove over to Central School for the Arts and Humanities and attended a live radio Louisiana Crossroads concert. Doyle Bramhall, C.C. Adcock & Friends were performing. It was soooo good! I only stayed for one set, but it's the kind of music I love to kick back and listen to, and I wished that my brother Scott could have been there with me. I'm wondering if he is familiar with these artists. I can't believe how fortunate we are here in Lake Charles to have this kind of entertainment just a few blocks away from my house. There's no traffic; it's easy to park; the entertainment is topnotch. I feel like I've gone to heaven in a sense.
Thursday was a different story when I drove over to Reeves Uptown to attend the monthly Profit and Loss luncheon. Ashley Smith, the hostage hero of Atlanta, was the speaker, and because she is famous, I guess, the place was a mob scene. I opted not to attend and turned around as soon as I saw that my usual parking spot was unavailable and that I would have to walk a couple of blocks to get to the door. I figured the tables inside would be overwhelmed, too, and I just wasn't interested enough to go through the experience. Hopefully, next month things will be more usual.
Friday the students got out of school by noon, and the teachers had in-service in the afternoon. There were two sessions--one on the computer to learn some shortcut methods on GradeQuick, our gradebook on the computer, and another on security plans that should be in place in our building for intruders on campus and other possible crises. They were both good, but I'm sorry that my being tied up on this particular Friday meant that I missed getting to see my son Will on his way to Mississippi. I just missed his call when I left the building that afternoon. He wasn't able to stop evidently on his way back to Texas yesterday. Hopefully, I'll see him soon in another capacity.
Saturday night I had the treat of attending a dance at the VFW hall with two friends from choir. Ruth Lucius invited Ellen Smith and me to go listen to our choir director's band. (See Photo #5) Chris Miller's Bayou Roots plays all kind of Cajun waltzes and other dances, and there were actually some single men in the crowd who asked us ladies to dance. I also got out and tried this version of line dancing and was successful. The evening was a lot of fun.
Chris reminded us that because we didn't have choir practice on Thursday night, we needed to meet in the sanctuary at 10:00 Sunday morning to practice our song for an hour before service. I was running a little late, but I got there in plenty of time to enjoy experiencing "The Morning Trumpet" with a live trumpet player from McNeese State University. The congregation actually clapped for this performance later during the service. It was just beautiful and so appropriate for All Saints' Sunday and communion.
Later after lunch, I had made an appointment with Liz Mueller from my school to have a photo shoot again this year for my Christmas card photo. She picked me up before two, and we went over to my church grounds for some photo opportunities. I wore the tuxedo white shirt and black slacks that I'd found the night before at Talbot's, and the photos came out very well. I especially love the ones that were taken in the church sanctuary. By chance, Lois Ferguson was dropping off a friend when Liz and I were trying to see if the doors to the church were open, and she was able to let us in for some beautiful photos. The light was coming in the stained glass and shining down upon me. They came out great. Liz also ran me over to St. Louis and took some shots of me with the line of oak trees that line the bayou. I had tried to get the perfect photo the week before in Nacogdoches but wasn't really satisfied. One of Liz's shots will be the one for my cards this year.
The Women's Circles joined forces on Sunday afternoon to get bags of candy ready for the upcoming Christmas parade. (See Photo #6) Schedules with the Advent and Christmas celebrations at our church were stapled to the decorated bags, and people of all ages helped with the preparations of these. I wished I'd brought my own stapler. I could have gotten more accomplished if I had, but at least I was able to take pictures, as usual. And I enjoyed the personal visiting that went on during this activity.
I met John and Diane Pelzer at Logan's at 6:00 p.m. (See Photo #7) They just got back from a two-week cruise through the Panama Canal, and they had many stories to share. It sounds like they had a fabulous time traveling with John's brother and wife. In Costa Rica, they found a necklace, bracelet, and earring set made out of nut ivory for my birthday gift. (See Photo #8) I just love it and can't wait for the opportunity to wear it.
I've heard from both my friends in Dallas about my upcoming trip later this week. Little Anna Zhulan is looking forward to an "all day good morning" when I come visiting. I so look forward to seeing things through this little Chinese girl's eyes. I will be spending time with both Barbara Corry and Cindy Wood. The only thing that I wish I could also do during this time away is pet my cat. (See Photo #8) I have Carole Chavanne coming to see her each day while I'm away, but this little cat has become such a loving little baby. I just wonder if she cries when I'm not here for those special times she curls into my lap each day. I'm hoping she spends lots of time in this special spot on the camel saddle, curled up with Ray's chemo quilt.
Life, the universe, and everything seems to be in good order on a day like today. The weather's beautiful. I have no emergencies in my life going on. Teaching and the rental business are fulfilling and going very well. I hope your life is also in a good place. God bless you...
With love, Linda
"Whatever you do may seem insignificant,
but it is most important that you do it."
--Gandhi
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Monday Afternoon Reflections - October 29, 2007
Dear Family and Friends,
Today is a gloriously sunny autumn day with just the hint of a chill in the air. I often associate this kind of weather with San Diego, but after the horrible firestorms they've been having there over the past week, they probably would wish for some of the rainy weather we're accustomed to. I heard from all of my friends and family in San Diego over this past week with relieving news from each. Some evacuated last week, but all came home to their homes intact. May we continue to hold the people of this California region in our prayers as the Santa Ana winds continue to blow. May the ones devastated find strength and courage and may the ones spared help those in need.
I just got home from an unexpected lunch with my son Will Pylate. (See Photo #1) He and his coworker had time to break for lunch after a job over in Orange, and I met them at the Cajun Eatery, a thirty-minute drive for me. What a nice thing this is, getting to enjoy a catch-up visit unexpectedly on a week day. My family missed Will and his family at our family gathering this weekend, and I was glad to have this opportunity to at least see Will.
The family gathering over this past weekend was so much fun for those who could make it. Friday we all headed to Nacogdoches, Texas, to be there in time for the evening Nacogdoches High School football game against Marshall, Texas. I checked into my hotel as soon as I got into town and then went to Scott and Marcia's house to meet up with the others. Lee's family couldn't get away until Eva got finished with teaching her first grade class, so they were the last to arrive, just after kick-off. We made a good cheering section. (See Photo #2) It was hard seeing where Emma was amid the crowd of her marching band, but we think we snapped at least a couple pictures that had her in. The band didn't actually do any complicated formations on this particular night because of the middle school bands joining their show. We got to see Emma the next morning, though, marching in the Stephen F. Austin University's homecoming parade. (See Photos #3 & #4)
Saturday afternoon, the adults took off in Scott's all-wheel drive vehicle for a tour of all of their properties, leaving the children home to fend for themselves. The boys played video games all afternoon, and the girls did girlie things like straightening their hair. We adults went out to the country to visit Miss Marcielle, Marcia's mother, in her little cedar cabin out on their property. (See Photo #5) Scott drove us up steep hills and around rocks and trees down into dales to see the details of nature that are so beautiful this time of year. (See Photos #6 - #9) The purpose of this weekend together was fall birthdays. I supplied the cake from Cypi's with all of the names upon it. (See Photo #10) Scott, Debbie, and I blew out the candle right before I left to return home. The rest stayed into Sunday and enjoyed more time outdoors together. (See Photo #11)
My weekend wasn't over after this rich and fulfilling time with family. On Sunday morning, even though I missed choir practice on Thursday due to a hot water tank problem, I sang pretty on-key the song, "Instruments of Praise." I sat listening to Fred preach and thought how fortunate we are to have such a good storyteller from Mississippi in the pulpit. He seems to have anecdotes from all parts of his life to share in bringing God's Word to life for us. I appreciate it every week.
Right after the service and a quick lunch, I was back on the road again--this time over to Port Arthur for the Texas Bamboo Festival held at the Buu Mon Buddhist Temple there. I arrived just as the ordination service in the temple was ending. Little girls were just finishing a dance, and I oh so wished I'd left home thirty minutes sooner. (See Photo #12) I ran into friends from the American Bamboo Society who had organized this event--Jimmie and Judith Bussey (See Photo #13) Judith walked me through the beautiful gardens of many kinds of bamboo and water lilies, and soon I was on my way to Dillard's. I've been on a mission to replace my underwear again, this time with what seems like a really sturdy and pretty kind called Body Suede by Wacoal. I like the XL sized panties, and most stores just buy one pair in each color, so Judith's news that there was another Dillard's in Port Arthur made this shopping trip even more fruitful. I also stopped at the Dillard's in Beaumont, and now I have what I want and need. It was a successful trip all ways around.
The whole weekend followed a work week of accomplishments--in the classroom, in my rental business, and in other areas of my life. My classes continue to astound me with their creativity and sensitivity about what we're reading in literature. I am getting pure pleasure from working with these eight girls this year.
In my rental business, because the weather changed to 70's in the daytime and 40's at night, suddenly there were heating issues to deal with. Tuesday Ted had to go get a heater up and running for me, and on Thursday, he got a hot water tank back on line after hours. I had a floor replaced in the bathroom of another house by another contractor, and he also did a very nice job. He works in conjunction with Lanier Plumbing, and I'm glad to have another back-up in case Ted's ever not available. I had Lanier Plumbing also come unclog my bathtub drain. It was long overdue, and it is so nice to again have that drain working right. I did some handiwork myself this past week. When the air turned chill and it was time to turn off the ceiling fans, it became apparent that they were indeed very much in need of a good cleaning. I went out to Bed Bath & Beyond and got one of those long-handled tools to wrap around the blades and get all of the cat fur and dust off. I'm so glad to have that done, and it's so nice to not have heat or AC going. Maybe my utility bill this month will be nice and low.
I walked the Labyrinth at Good Shepherd on Tuesday night before I went to the last Grief Workshop session at my church. Every time I walk the labyrinth, something new and different comes from it. This time I felt like God was telling me that like the labyrinth, I'm on a pathway right now and out there somewhere there's someone else on a pathway that will someday cross paths with mine. I was thinking as I walked that night about how I happened to meet my first husband Craig through a channel of unexpected occurrences, and the same thing happened with Ray Gardner. Ray happened to be perusing the Yahoo personal ads for women in Galveston, and we met through that unexpected means. Through my walk through the labyrinth on this particular night, I got the message that there's another chapter to my life on the horizon. I just don't know when it will engage and happen. At least the Grief Workshop has gotten me thinking in these kind of new possibilities in my life. I'm grateful to Dr. Danny Miller and his wife and the Viegas for helping me to move along in my grief process about Ray and about so many chapters of my life.
In addition to the work on my weight that I've been doing through Curves, this past week I offered up my home for a program called The Light Weigh. It's another approach to coming to terms with the reasons why we eat and learning about the proper ways to eat in order to release pounds and come to a natural resting place. Leslie Fain is the facilitator of this group, and I have volunteered my home for our meeting place for 12 weeks. The first session went very well, once we found a place to show the DVD. It wouldn't work on my TV player, so we ended up in my bedroom using my computer. But this was the only glitch. I'm anxious to hear more about this plan of eating. On this first night, I found affirmation for something that I've gravitated to already, just living on my own and not needing to plan meals for anyone else. I'm waiting until my stomach growls before I feed it anything, and this is one of the keys this program teaches. We've got to get in touch with our natural hunger cycles. I look forward to finding out what's being taught tonight when we meet here again.
Everybody's looking forward to Halloween coming up this week. May the goblins and witches not scare any of you...
With love, Linda
"Whatever you do may seem insignificant,
but it is most important that you do it."
--Gandhi
Today is a gloriously sunny autumn day with just the hint of a chill in the air. I often associate this kind of weather with San Diego, but after the horrible firestorms they've been having there over the past week, they probably would wish for some of the rainy weather we're accustomed to. I heard from all of my friends and family in San Diego over this past week with relieving news from each. Some evacuated last week, but all came home to their homes intact. May we continue to hold the people of this California region in our prayers as the Santa Ana winds continue to blow. May the ones devastated find strength and courage and may the ones spared help those in need.
I just got home from an unexpected lunch with my son Will Pylate. (See Photo #1) He and his coworker had time to break for lunch after a job over in Orange, and I met them at the Cajun Eatery, a thirty-minute drive for me. What a nice thing this is, getting to enjoy a catch-up visit unexpectedly on a week day. My family missed Will and his family at our family gathering this weekend, and I was glad to have this opportunity to at least see Will.
The family gathering over this past weekend was so much fun for those who could make it. Friday we all headed to Nacogdoches, Texas, to be there in time for the evening Nacogdoches High School football game against Marshall, Texas. I checked into my hotel as soon as I got into town and then went to Scott and Marcia's house to meet up with the others. Lee's family couldn't get away until Eva got finished with teaching her first grade class, so they were the last to arrive, just after kick-off. We made a good cheering section. (See Photo #2) It was hard seeing where Emma was amid the crowd of her marching band, but we think we snapped at least a couple pictures that had her in. The band didn't actually do any complicated formations on this particular night because of the middle school bands joining their show. We got to see Emma the next morning, though, marching in the Stephen F. Austin University's homecoming parade. (See Photos #3 & #4)
Saturday afternoon, the adults took off in Scott's all-wheel drive vehicle for a tour of all of their properties, leaving the children home to fend for themselves. The boys played video games all afternoon, and the girls did girlie things like straightening their hair. We adults went out to the country to visit Miss Marcielle, Marcia's mother, in her little cedar cabin out on their property. (See Photo #5) Scott drove us up steep hills and around rocks and trees down into dales to see the details of nature that are so beautiful this time of year. (See Photos #6 - #9) The purpose of this weekend together was fall birthdays. I supplied the cake from Cypi's with all of the names upon it. (See Photo #10) Scott, Debbie, and I blew out the candle right before I left to return home. The rest stayed into Sunday and enjoyed more time outdoors together. (See Photo #11)
My weekend wasn't over after this rich and fulfilling time with family. On Sunday morning, even though I missed choir practice on Thursday due to a hot water tank problem, I sang pretty on-key the song, "Instruments of Praise." I sat listening to Fred preach and thought how fortunate we are to have such a good storyteller from Mississippi in the pulpit. He seems to have anecdotes from all parts of his life to share in bringing God's Word to life for us. I appreciate it every week.
Right after the service and a quick lunch, I was back on the road again--this time over to Port Arthur for the Texas Bamboo Festival held at the Buu Mon Buddhist Temple there. I arrived just as the ordination service in the temple was ending. Little girls were just finishing a dance, and I oh so wished I'd left home thirty minutes sooner. (See Photo #12) I ran into friends from the American Bamboo Society who had organized this event--Jimmie and Judith Bussey (See Photo #13) Judith walked me through the beautiful gardens of many kinds of bamboo and water lilies, and soon I was on my way to Dillard's. I've been on a mission to replace my underwear again, this time with what seems like a really sturdy and pretty kind called Body Suede by Wacoal. I like the XL sized panties, and most stores just buy one pair in each color, so Judith's news that there was another Dillard's in Port Arthur made this shopping trip even more fruitful. I also stopped at the Dillard's in Beaumont, and now I have what I want and need. It was a successful trip all ways around.
The whole weekend followed a work week of accomplishments--in the classroom, in my rental business, and in other areas of my life. My classes continue to astound me with their creativity and sensitivity about what we're reading in literature. I am getting pure pleasure from working with these eight girls this year.
In my rental business, because the weather changed to 70's in the daytime and 40's at night, suddenly there were heating issues to deal with. Tuesday Ted had to go get a heater up and running for me, and on Thursday, he got a hot water tank back on line after hours. I had a floor replaced in the bathroom of another house by another contractor, and he also did a very nice job. He works in conjunction with Lanier Plumbing, and I'm glad to have another back-up in case Ted's ever not available. I had Lanier Plumbing also come unclog my bathtub drain. It was long overdue, and it is so nice to again have that drain working right. I did some handiwork myself this past week. When the air turned chill and it was time to turn off the ceiling fans, it became apparent that they were indeed very much in need of a good cleaning. I went out to Bed Bath & Beyond and got one of those long-handled tools to wrap around the blades and get all of the cat fur and dust off. I'm so glad to have that done, and it's so nice to not have heat or AC going. Maybe my utility bill this month will be nice and low.
I walked the Labyrinth at Good Shepherd on Tuesday night before I went to the last Grief Workshop session at my church. Every time I walk the labyrinth, something new and different comes from it. This time I felt like God was telling me that like the labyrinth, I'm on a pathway right now and out there somewhere there's someone else on a pathway that will someday cross paths with mine. I was thinking as I walked that night about how I happened to meet my first husband Craig through a channel of unexpected occurrences, and the same thing happened with Ray Gardner. Ray happened to be perusing the Yahoo personal ads for women in Galveston, and we met through that unexpected means. Through my walk through the labyrinth on this particular night, I got the message that there's another chapter to my life on the horizon. I just don't know when it will engage and happen. At least the Grief Workshop has gotten me thinking in these kind of new possibilities in my life. I'm grateful to Dr. Danny Miller and his wife and the Viegas for helping me to move along in my grief process about Ray and about so many chapters of my life.
In addition to the work on my weight that I've been doing through Curves, this past week I offered up my home for a program called The Light Weigh. It's another approach to coming to terms with the reasons why we eat and learning about the proper ways to eat in order to release pounds and come to a natural resting place. Leslie Fain is the facilitator of this group, and I have volunteered my home for our meeting place for 12 weeks. The first session went very well, once we found a place to show the DVD. It wouldn't work on my TV player, so we ended up in my bedroom using my computer. But this was the only glitch. I'm anxious to hear more about this plan of eating. On this first night, I found affirmation for something that I've gravitated to already, just living on my own and not needing to plan meals for anyone else. I'm waiting until my stomach growls before I feed it anything, and this is one of the keys this program teaches. We've got to get in touch with our natural hunger cycles. I look forward to finding out what's being taught tonight when we meet here again.
Everybody's looking forward to Halloween coming up this week. May the goblins and witches not scare any of you...
With love, Linda
"Whatever you do may seem insignificant,
but it is most important that you do it."
--Gandhi
Monday, October 22, 2007
Monday Afternoon Reflections - October 22, 2007
Dear Family and Friends,
I have felt better this past week, although I have still needed plenty of sleep. I really think that the Grief Workshop and all that it has stirred in me, not only about losing Ray, but about all of the major losses in my life, has moved me through the deep fatigue that requires so much sleep. I was blessed this weekend with having the time for that kind of sleep. With my current teaching schedule, I even could sleep in this morning, and I did. I feel rested and ready to reflect on my life and to share those reflections with all of you this afternoon.
I've continued with the Curves Challenge. I'm into the fifth week of really cutting back on my calories again, and I'm pleased to report that it's going well. I've lost eight pounds. Finally, those five pounds that I put on in France have come off again, and I'm hoping that once I come to a resting place, I can just maintain my weight. I made it over to Curves for workouts several times this past week. That aspect is also so very important. Because of this regimen I'm on, I've not tried to have many meals out, but even on a week like this, I ate out three times.
One time was when I rode over to Lafayette on Tuesday night with JoLynn Marcantel for a Theresians District meeting. She and I had dinner at Zea's before the meeting, and the salad was so pretty, I just had to photograph it. (See Photos #1 & #2) The meeting following moved along nicely. I'm loving the room we're now meeting in with couches in one big circle. I feel like it's opening up the group for me. Maybe it's the second year into this kind of position when friendships begin to blossom. I'm enjoying it. Plans for the Lenten Retreat are underway, and I just hate that the Bamboo Weekend conflicts with this each year. Last year I thought about straddling things and going to both, but I have decided that my retreat for Lent will always take place in the bamboo groves of Avery Island, where I have special people who gather just once a year. I just can't miss it.
Another meal out this past week was for PrimeTimers at my church. (See Photo #3) That was quite a day for me. I didn't know whether I was going to make it. I was asked to help administer the PSAT test at my school that morning, and while that test was going on, all hell broke loose in my rental business. After two weeks of no one calling for repairs or other problems, suddenly on this particular morning, I got three calls. I ended up having to leave the test. Thankfully, I was only a proctor, and this didn't really pose a problem. I had to get Lanier Plumbing and Ted Baker involved with the three things that happened, and by the grace of God, I still managed to get to the PrimeTimers luncheon and the faculty meeting at 2:00 p.m. and to my spiritual director's office by 3:00. The speaker for the PrimeTimers luncheon didn't show up for some reason, so that was a disappointment, but it probably worked out best for me anyway.
My third meal out this past week happened yesterday spontaneously. On a whim, I called Barry and Lynn Rhodes to see if they'd like to attend the Lake Charles Symphony performance yesterday (See Photo #4) They agreed, and before we knew it, we were surrounded by other friends who also came. I spotted Phyllis Morgan and Celena Perry, and we sat right next to them, and then a little later Lynn spotted two of her Quilting Guild compatriots, and Carol Thompson and Suzanne Lee also joined our party. In fact, they joined us for dinner at O'Charley's after the performance, and Barry was an awfully good sport to listen to so much "girly" talk over our meals. When we snapped the shot leaving the restaurant, we laughingly called ourselves "Barry's Harem." (See Photo #5) It was a good time for all.
By the way, the symphony performance was really good, too. All three pieces conducted by visiting Conductor from Alexandria, Louisiana, Joshua Zona, were compositions by Schumann. During the first half of the performance, the Overture to Manfred and "Spring" lulled us into a restful place. We all talked about how relaxed we felt and how sleepy. But in the second half, when David Friend on piano stirred us all into musical frenzies and crescendos, we were in rapt attention, awaiting the next movement of the Piano Concerto in A Minor. We left the Rosa Hart Theater awake and ready for that fun meal at O'Charley's. On the way out, many patrons were enjoying a piece of the cake that was given in honor of the Lake Charles Symphony's 50th anniversary year. I was surprised to find out that the Junior League fifty years ago was responsible for this wonderful addition to our cultural life in Lake Charles. They were the ones who offered up this cake, and the whole auditorium sang "Happy Birthday" before the afternoon's performance.
I was supposed to partake of another meal on Thursday at the 2007 Women's Commission Fall Conference, but it was such a mob scene at meal time that I opted not to go listen to the Keynote Speaker of this Conference, Dixie Carter. I also didn't get to hear Eleisha Eagle play and sing. But I did spend some time going through all of the booths on the ground floor of the Civic Center. (See Photo #6) I was happy to meet up with women in the community to add to women's health and other occupations. Christus St. Patrick Hospital was passing out royal blue tote bags that I know I will use on my trip to China in June.
I called my sister Debbie numerous times again this past week to check up on little Woody. Every day the reports kept getting better, so we thank all of you who put this little companion in your prayers. His back seems to be healing well, and hopefully he won't have any further problems.
At choir practice on Thursday night, Bob Emanuel asked me if I'd be willing to be Worship Leader for Sunday's Dedication service, and I agreed. This time, finally, I feel like I've got the routine basically down. By that I mean, I think I'm remembering properly to tell the congregation when to stand and sit, and I made sure this time that I had all of my prayers prepared. There are several. This was the Sunday when the congregation met afterwards to nominate new elders for the Class of 2010. I'm one of those, and I look forward to sharing the gifts God has given me with my church family. I'm hoping I don't end up in the kitchen much, but otherwise I'm really quite open to trying some new things.
Unfortunately, travel plans are going to prevent me from going to the planned orientation for new elders on November 11th. I've got a number of weekend trips on my calendar over the next six weeks. This coming weekend, my family is gathering in Nacogdoches, Texas, for fall birthdays. We'll be going Friday in time to see Emma march playing her French horn at her high school football game that night. The birthday party will be on Saturday. Then the weekend of November 9th, I'm flying to Dallas to meet my friend Barbara Corry's new little Chinese daughter. Five-year-old Anna Zhulan sounds precious and so vivacious on the phone. I'm sure it will be quite an experience. I will also connect up with my old friend Cindy Wood on this trip. Then the weekend of November 30, I'm flying to Harlingen, Texas, to join an old kindergarten friend of mine, who will be enjoying two weeks on South Padre Island with her family. The DeGroffs live in Burwell, Nebraska, and their sons and families will come from wherever they live. Patty Taylor DeGroff and I correspond and stay in touch through phonecalls and birthday cards, but I think it's been maybe 28 years or so since I've seen her in person. On a whim, when she told me this past week she was going to be in Padre Island, I suggested I join her and her family for a few days. I also look forward to this getaway weekend. God is leading me some very interesting places...
My class of eight girls continues to bring me joy and much intellectual stimulation. This past week we discussed Luigi Pirandello's short story called "War" using another creative thinking strategy. We were looking at the both the physical and psychological indicators that author gave us in determining the personalities of his characters. (See Photo #7) This is a story about war that is unusual in that it's about a conversation among parents of soldiers having their own battle of who might suffer the greatest loss. None of the characters have been given names, and it was interesting to put them into the focus of the hero's journey paradigm, for each one of them really represents Everyman. It was a class period that gave me a real sense of teaching being an art.
Homecoming was over a week ago, but there were still signs in the Commons this past week of the Cinderella theme. Liz Mueller was walking by when I was photographing some of the decorations, and she had me pose again this week as a Cinderella. (See Photo #8)
Signs that I'm moving in some manner in myself and in my soul continue to happen in my house and in my wardrobe. I replaced my garbage can and my clothes hamper recently, and as you can see, Abbakadabra likes the new hamper very much. (See Photo #9) I've made more trips to the Women's Shelter with items and clothes I no longer need. And I've also added to my cobalt blue fowl collection recently. Here is a Murano Dove of Peace in blue.
I hope in my own little ways I'm working like this dove for peace in the world. May my letter reach out to you and give you some connection and some contentment somehow. Many blessings on each and every one of you...
With love, Linda
"Whatever you do may seem insignificant,
but it is most important that you do it."
--Gandhi
I have felt better this past week, although I have still needed plenty of sleep. I really think that the Grief Workshop and all that it has stirred in me, not only about losing Ray, but about all of the major losses in my life, has moved me through the deep fatigue that requires so much sleep. I was blessed this weekend with having the time for that kind of sleep. With my current teaching schedule, I even could sleep in this morning, and I did. I feel rested and ready to reflect on my life and to share those reflections with all of you this afternoon.
I've continued with the Curves Challenge. I'm into the fifth week of really cutting back on my calories again, and I'm pleased to report that it's going well. I've lost eight pounds. Finally, those five pounds that I put on in France have come off again, and I'm hoping that once I come to a resting place, I can just maintain my weight. I made it over to Curves for workouts several times this past week. That aspect is also so very important. Because of this regimen I'm on, I've not tried to have many meals out, but even on a week like this, I ate out three times.
One time was when I rode over to Lafayette on Tuesday night with JoLynn Marcantel for a Theresians District meeting. She and I had dinner at Zea's before the meeting, and the salad was so pretty, I just had to photograph it. (See Photos #1 & #2) The meeting following moved along nicely. I'm loving the room we're now meeting in with couches in one big circle. I feel like it's opening up the group for me. Maybe it's the second year into this kind of position when friendships begin to blossom. I'm enjoying it. Plans for the Lenten Retreat are underway, and I just hate that the Bamboo Weekend conflicts with this each year. Last year I thought about straddling things and going to both, but I have decided that my retreat for Lent will always take place in the bamboo groves of Avery Island, where I have special people who gather just once a year. I just can't miss it.
Another meal out this past week was for PrimeTimers at my church. (See Photo #3) That was quite a day for me. I didn't know whether I was going to make it. I was asked to help administer the PSAT test at my school that morning, and while that test was going on, all hell broke loose in my rental business. After two weeks of no one calling for repairs or other problems, suddenly on this particular morning, I got three calls. I ended up having to leave the test. Thankfully, I was only a proctor, and this didn't really pose a problem. I had to get Lanier Plumbing and Ted Baker involved with the three things that happened, and by the grace of God, I still managed to get to the PrimeTimers luncheon and the faculty meeting at 2:00 p.m. and to my spiritual director's office by 3:00. The speaker for the PrimeTimers luncheon didn't show up for some reason, so that was a disappointment, but it probably worked out best for me anyway.
My third meal out this past week happened yesterday spontaneously. On a whim, I called Barry and Lynn Rhodes to see if they'd like to attend the Lake Charles Symphony performance yesterday (See Photo #4) They agreed, and before we knew it, we were surrounded by other friends who also came. I spotted Phyllis Morgan and Celena Perry, and we sat right next to them, and then a little later Lynn spotted two of her Quilting Guild compatriots, and Carol Thompson and Suzanne Lee also joined our party. In fact, they joined us for dinner at O'Charley's after the performance, and Barry was an awfully good sport to listen to so much "girly" talk over our meals. When we snapped the shot leaving the restaurant, we laughingly called ourselves "Barry's Harem." (See Photo #5) It was a good time for all.
By the way, the symphony performance was really good, too. All three pieces conducted by visiting Conductor from Alexandria, Louisiana, Joshua Zona, were compositions by Schumann. During the first half of the performance, the Overture to Manfred and "Spring" lulled us into a restful place. We all talked about how relaxed we felt and how sleepy. But in the second half, when David Friend on piano stirred us all into musical frenzies and crescendos, we were in rapt attention, awaiting the next movement of the Piano Concerto in A Minor. We left the Rosa Hart Theater awake and ready for that fun meal at O'Charley's. On the way out, many patrons were enjoying a piece of the cake that was given in honor of the Lake Charles Symphony's 50th anniversary year. I was surprised to find out that the Junior League fifty years ago was responsible for this wonderful addition to our cultural life in Lake Charles. They were the ones who offered up this cake, and the whole auditorium sang "Happy Birthday" before the afternoon's performance.
I was supposed to partake of another meal on Thursday at the 2007 Women's Commission Fall Conference, but it was such a mob scene at meal time that I opted not to go listen to the Keynote Speaker of this Conference, Dixie Carter. I also didn't get to hear Eleisha Eagle play and sing. But I did spend some time going through all of the booths on the ground floor of the Civic Center. (See Photo #6) I was happy to meet up with women in the community to add to women's health and other occupations. Christus St. Patrick Hospital was passing out royal blue tote bags that I know I will use on my trip to China in June.
I called my sister Debbie numerous times again this past week to check up on little Woody. Every day the reports kept getting better, so we thank all of you who put this little companion in your prayers. His back seems to be healing well, and hopefully he won't have any further problems.
At choir practice on Thursday night, Bob Emanuel asked me if I'd be willing to be Worship Leader for Sunday's Dedication service, and I agreed. This time, finally, I feel like I've got the routine basically down. By that I mean, I think I'm remembering properly to tell the congregation when to stand and sit, and I made sure this time that I had all of my prayers prepared. There are several. This was the Sunday when the congregation met afterwards to nominate new elders for the Class of 2010. I'm one of those, and I look forward to sharing the gifts God has given me with my church family. I'm hoping I don't end up in the kitchen much, but otherwise I'm really quite open to trying some new things.
Unfortunately, travel plans are going to prevent me from going to the planned orientation for new elders on November 11th. I've got a number of weekend trips on my calendar over the next six weeks. This coming weekend, my family is gathering in Nacogdoches, Texas, for fall birthdays. We'll be going Friday in time to see Emma march playing her French horn at her high school football game that night. The birthday party will be on Saturday. Then the weekend of November 9th, I'm flying to Dallas to meet my friend Barbara Corry's new little Chinese daughter. Five-year-old Anna Zhulan sounds precious and so vivacious on the phone. I'm sure it will be quite an experience. I will also connect up with my old friend Cindy Wood on this trip. Then the weekend of November 30, I'm flying to Harlingen, Texas, to join an old kindergarten friend of mine, who will be enjoying two weeks on South Padre Island with her family. The DeGroffs live in Burwell, Nebraska, and their sons and families will come from wherever they live. Patty Taylor DeGroff and I correspond and stay in touch through phonecalls and birthday cards, but I think it's been maybe 28 years or so since I've seen her in person. On a whim, when she told me this past week she was going to be in Padre Island, I suggested I join her and her family for a few days. I also look forward to this getaway weekend. God is leading me some very interesting places...
My class of eight girls continues to bring me joy and much intellectual stimulation. This past week we discussed Luigi Pirandello's short story called "War" using another creative thinking strategy. We were looking at the both the physical and psychological indicators that author gave us in determining the personalities of his characters. (See Photo #7) This is a story about war that is unusual in that it's about a conversation among parents of soldiers having their own battle of who might suffer the greatest loss. None of the characters have been given names, and it was interesting to put them into the focus of the hero's journey paradigm, for each one of them really represents Everyman. It was a class period that gave me a real sense of teaching being an art.
Homecoming was over a week ago, but there were still signs in the Commons this past week of the Cinderella theme. Liz Mueller was walking by when I was photographing some of the decorations, and she had me pose again this week as a Cinderella. (See Photo #8)
Signs that I'm moving in some manner in myself and in my soul continue to happen in my house and in my wardrobe. I replaced my garbage can and my clothes hamper recently, and as you can see, Abbakadabra likes the new hamper very much. (See Photo #9) I've made more trips to the Women's Shelter with items and clothes I no longer need. And I've also added to my cobalt blue fowl collection recently. Here is a Murano Dove of Peace in blue.
I hope in my own little ways I'm working like this dove for peace in the world. May my letter reach out to you and give you some connection and some contentment somehow. Many blessings on each and every one of you...
With love, Linda
"Whatever you do may seem insignificant,
but it is most important that you do it."
--Gandhi
Monday, October 15, 2007
Monday Evening Reflections - October 15, 2007
Dear Family and Friends,
Last week I was under the weather for most of my days, but I managed to keep the things that are essential to my life going--like teaching and choir and spending time with my cat. I'm feeling better today and had a nice quiet weekend, but I still am sleeping a lot and seem tired. I hope this passes soon. Heaven seems on its way...
My family has been in crisis this past week because little Woody, Buddy and Debbie's Schnoodle, has had back problems that have terrorized them and us in conjunction. I've been in contact daily to check on things, and Debbie's been writing updates. Thankfully, prayers seem to be moving God's healing into place. Woody has done better every day with the treatment the vet has offered, and surgery may not be necessary. Woody has become so much a part of our family in the last five years. He's so human in his ways, and Debbie and Buddy just adore him. Having something wrong with him is equivalent to a sick child for them. My heart goes out to them, and as it turns out, my congregation's heart goes out, too. On Sunday, I asked the church to pray for Woody, and there were people who had suggestions that may very well help.
I managed to teach my classes last week, but more and more, I am finding ways so that my students do the bulk of the analyses and talking in my classes. I'm pulling out teaching methods from back in the mid-90's when I did a Creative Thinking Strategies practicum through Texas A & M in my classroom in Galveston, now applying them in new ways to the material I teach in AP English. Since our Academic Vice Principal is also encouraging the use of technology in our teaching, I've also incorporated this. The first two photos are of products that students made and presented on two short stories we've just read. Not only are they digging into tone, diction, detail, and now point of view, but they are also thinking out of the box about characters like Miss Emily in "A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner. (See Photo #1) They charted Emily's sun side and shadow side, bringing out observations and astute understandings of this character who might very well represent the Old South. They did this; I didn't have to do much more than make the assignment and facilitate the presentations. I feel myself rising in my teaching again this year.
The second set of graphics are plotlines of "Guests of the Nation" by Frank O'Connor. (See Photo #2) Through this activity, I got a sense of how much my students know about human psychology and the way a story is plotted. They are just excellent. I feel like this might be the greatest year in my life as far as teaching to a high level. I feel very grateful that God has graced me with this class. In fact, you might say I feel like Cinderella (See Photo #3) in a sense. The grief workshop has had great effects on me in the last several weeks, with my crying and grieving a lot again and really just pushing through to the other side. Signs that I'm moving are the cleaning out of closets and changes in my handwriting and just new ways of reaching out. I feel blessed with Earth as my home and the United States as my country. Rather than focusing so much on my losses, I'm looking forward and upward toward better days ahead.
My rental business has been very quiet for a couple of weeks now. I'm so grateful for this hiatus. It's been long in coming. Ted called a little while ago and said he'd hung a new double front door on one of my houses. This is still a storm repair from Hurricane Rita. This door blew open during the storm, and we are finally getting a new one in place. This house has burglar bars on all windows and doors, so it's more complicated than it would seem.
We had a combined contemporary service and traditional service at my church on Sunday with a bagpipe band from Lyons College in Arkansas treating us to songs like "Amazing Grace." (See Photo #4) We celebrated with banners harking back to the Presbyterian’s ties with Scotland. It was a fun challenge to sing some contemporary songs with the guitars and piano. I felt like Paul McCartney or someone was leading us. Chris Miller added his accordion to some of the songs, and we made quite a joyful noise with our "I'll Fly Away." It was a morning I was happy to be a part of. I asked Joe White if he would take photos for me with my camera, and both he and Barbara were obliging. I'm very grateful. We had a visiting singer with us from Loyola University. Caressa Miller, our choir director's daughter who sang with the Chancel Choir all through high school, was back home to sing with us. What a family the choir has become. When Caressa and Camryn brought up what it's like to come home when your bedroom's been taken over by your younger sibling, we were able to add input as a group to soften their feelings. (See Photo #5) I'm very grateful to be offering my gifts in my church through this vehicle. God has placed me in a good and useful place. There was a luncheon served in the Fellowship Hall after the service, and I went up to see what they were having and to take a few photos. (See Photo #6) However, my diet has been going along so well in the past couple of weeks, I didn't want to sabotage it with a barbeque dinner. I went home to eat a salad and then got out to Sam's and Kroger to get stocked up with groceries for the week. Even this kind of activity has been a strain and effort for me this week. I'm so glad that I'm finally feeling better today.
I went to Beaumont for a few hours on Saturday to browse my favorite stores. God seems to be telling me, let go of the old and bring in some new. I found a compact Bible to take with me to China if Charlotte McCallum and I do end up going. She and I are in the getting-to-know-each-other stages and not moving very fast on that. I'm at a place where I'm going to let go and let God and just see what happens. If I'm meant to go to China this coming summer, it will happen. If not, it will happen at another time. I've gotten good at living this way, and it works for me.
My Delta Kappa Gamma teacher organization met this afternoon on the McNeese University campus, (See Photo #7) and the topic was Advanced Placement courses being offered in the Calcasieu Parish schools. I'm glad to have a full understanding about what is offered in the public sector, realizing that what I offer my students is also very valuable in the Catholic Schools sector of Lake Charles. The school district is setting different goals and different expectations than I currently have, and it was interesting to reflect on my teaching methods and achievements by comparison. I felt enriched by the presentation.
This is another shorter letter this week, but it's at least longer than last week's. I'm getting up and running again, and the world looks different. We all have places to go and things to do to make things better. May God guide us down achievable and better pathways...
With love and blessings, Linda
"Whatever you do may seem insignificant,
but it is most important that you do it."
--Gandhi
Last week I was under the weather for most of my days, but I managed to keep the things that are essential to my life going--like teaching and choir and spending time with my cat. I'm feeling better today and had a nice quiet weekend, but I still am sleeping a lot and seem tired. I hope this passes soon. Heaven seems on its way...
My family has been in crisis this past week because little Woody, Buddy and Debbie's Schnoodle, has had back problems that have terrorized them and us in conjunction. I've been in contact daily to check on things, and Debbie's been writing updates. Thankfully, prayers seem to be moving God's healing into place. Woody has done better every day with the treatment the vet has offered, and surgery may not be necessary. Woody has become so much a part of our family in the last five years. He's so human in his ways, and Debbie and Buddy just adore him. Having something wrong with him is equivalent to a sick child for them. My heart goes out to them, and as it turns out, my congregation's heart goes out, too. On Sunday, I asked the church to pray for Woody, and there were people who had suggestions that may very well help.
I managed to teach my classes last week, but more and more, I am finding ways so that my students do the bulk of the analyses and talking in my classes. I'm pulling out teaching methods from back in the mid-90's when I did a Creative Thinking Strategies practicum through Texas A & M in my classroom in Galveston, now applying them in new ways to the material I teach in AP English. Since our Academic Vice Principal is also encouraging the use of technology in our teaching, I've also incorporated this. The first two photos are of products that students made and presented on two short stories we've just read. Not only are they digging into tone, diction, detail, and now point of view, but they are also thinking out of the box about characters like Miss Emily in "A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner. (See Photo #1) They charted Emily's sun side and shadow side, bringing out observations and astute understandings of this character who might very well represent the Old South. They did this; I didn't have to do much more than make the assignment and facilitate the presentations. I feel myself rising in my teaching again this year.
The second set of graphics are plotlines of "Guests of the Nation" by Frank O'Connor. (See Photo #2) Through this activity, I got a sense of how much my students know about human psychology and the way a story is plotted. They are just excellent. I feel like this might be the greatest year in my life as far as teaching to a high level. I feel very grateful that God has graced me with this class. In fact, you might say I feel like Cinderella (See Photo #3) in a sense. The grief workshop has had great effects on me in the last several weeks, with my crying and grieving a lot again and really just pushing through to the other side. Signs that I'm moving are the cleaning out of closets and changes in my handwriting and just new ways of reaching out. I feel blessed with Earth as my home and the United States as my country. Rather than focusing so much on my losses, I'm looking forward and upward toward better days ahead.
My rental business has been very quiet for a couple of weeks now. I'm so grateful for this hiatus. It's been long in coming. Ted called a little while ago and said he'd hung a new double front door on one of my houses. This is still a storm repair from Hurricane Rita. This door blew open during the storm, and we are finally getting a new one in place. This house has burglar bars on all windows and doors, so it's more complicated than it would seem.
We had a combined contemporary service and traditional service at my church on Sunday with a bagpipe band from Lyons College in Arkansas treating us to songs like "Amazing Grace." (See Photo #4) We celebrated with banners harking back to the Presbyterian’s ties with Scotland. It was a fun challenge to sing some contemporary songs with the guitars and piano. I felt like Paul McCartney or someone was leading us. Chris Miller added his accordion to some of the songs, and we made quite a joyful noise with our "I'll Fly Away." It was a morning I was happy to be a part of. I asked Joe White if he would take photos for me with my camera, and both he and Barbara were obliging. I'm very grateful. We had a visiting singer with us from Loyola University. Caressa Miller, our choir director's daughter who sang with the Chancel Choir all through high school, was back home to sing with us. What a family the choir has become. When Caressa and Camryn brought up what it's like to come home when your bedroom's been taken over by your younger sibling, we were able to add input as a group to soften their feelings. (See Photo #5) I'm very grateful to be offering my gifts in my church through this vehicle. God has placed me in a good and useful place. There was a luncheon served in the Fellowship Hall after the service, and I went up to see what they were having and to take a few photos. (See Photo #6) However, my diet has been going along so well in the past couple of weeks, I didn't want to sabotage it with a barbeque dinner. I went home to eat a salad and then got out to Sam's and Kroger to get stocked up with groceries for the week. Even this kind of activity has been a strain and effort for me this week. I'm so glad that I'm finally feeling better today.
I went to Beaumont for a few hours on Saturday to browse my favorite stores. God seems to be telling me, let go of the old and bring in some new. I found a compact Bible to take with me to China if Charlotte McCallum and I do end up going. She and I are in the getting-to-know-each-other stages and not moving very fast on that. I'm at a place where I'm going to let go and let God and just see what happens. If I'm meant to go to China this coming summer, it will happen. If not, it will happen at another time. I've gotten good at living this way, and it works for me.
My Delta Kappa Gamma teacher organization met this afternoon on the McNeese University campus, (See Photo #7) and the topic was Advanced Placement courses being offered in the Calcasieu Parish schools. I'm glad to have a full understanding about what is offered in the public sector, realizing that what I offer my students is also very valuable in the Catholic Schools sector of Lake Charles. The school district is setting different goals and different expectations than I currently have, and it was interesting to reflect on my teaching methods and achievements by comparison. I felt enriched by the presentation.
This is another shorter letter this week, but it's at least longer than last week's. I'm getting up and running again, and the world looks different. We all have places to go and things to do to make things better. May God guide us down achievable and better pathways...
With love and blessings, Linda
"Whatever you do may seem insignificant,
but it is most important that you do it."
--Gandhi
Monday, October 8, 2007
Monday Afternoon Reflections - October 8, 2007
Dear Family and Friends,
I'm not going to be able to find time to write about my life everlasting today, but I do want to send pictures. I had lunch with Susan Hoover one day. A kitchen witch arrived from Australia from my friend Chrystia Kucher last week. I worked out at Curves for the Breast Cancer Awareness Day, thus the pink top. Light shines in every afternoon on Ray's portrait. I thought you'd like to see it. The cat caught a lizard, and I went out with the Pelzers to Logan's on Sunday.
It was a different kind of week with teaching being my main focus. I'm loving this class of girls... They had articles for their project all sorted and ready for me to check off on Friday. There were signs that some of them were a lot like me in searching a topic to the hilt. I am so excited about seeing where these several pieces of writing about a non-American novel go.
I hope your week ahead looks like a rainbow of promises...
With love, Linda
"Whatever you do may seem insignificant,
but it is most important that you do it."
--Gandhi
I'm not going to be able to find time to write about my life everlasting today, but I do want to send pictures. I had lunch with Susan Hoover one day. A kitchen witch arrived from Australia from my friend Chrystia Kucher last week. I worked out at Curves for the Breast Cancer Awareness Day, thus the pink top. Light shines in every afternoon on Ray's portrait. I thought you'd like to see it. The cat caught a lizard, and I went out with the Pelzers to Logan's on Sunday.
It was a different kind of week with teaching being my main focus. I'm loving this class of girls... They had articles for their project all sorted and ready for me to check off on Friday. There were signs that some of them were a lot like me in searching a topic to the hilt. I am so excited about seeing where these several pieces of writing about a non-American novel go.
I hope your week ahead looks like a rainbow of promises...
With love, Linda
"Whatever you do may seem insignificant,
but it is most important that you do it."
--Gandhi
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Monday Evening Reflections - October 1, 2007
Dear Family and Friends,
Charlotte McCallum, the woman I told you about last week in my saga about China, just left my house after an hour and a half of intense and excited discussion about the prospects of going to China together. I am so excited!!! (See Photo #1) I showed Charlotte around my unusual home, and then we sat down on the couch to learn about each other. Charlotte shared photos of some of her former time in China and told me about living there and being an English teacher at Jilin University in Changchun in the Jilin Province west of and not too far across the border from North Korea. I, in turn, peppered her with questions about the kind of luggage and purse to take and all those kind of practical things I would like to know. This will be a trip where we will travel light, me with a rolling duffel bag, it's looking like, and bringing mainly clothes that we could leave behind if we wanted to and clothes that can be washed out and hung to dry overnight without too many wrinkles. I brought up the possibility of my sister Debbie's coming along, and Charlotte was open to the possibility. I called Debbie as soon as Charlotte left, and Debbie is definitely interested in this kind of trip, too. We'll all be looking for a fourth person who might be up for a trip across China on a very personal and informal level. Charlotte and I talked about the sights we might like to see in China, and already we are in agreement about the famous terracotta soldiers. I would also like to see the Forbidden City that I saw in the movie, THE LAST EMPEROR, and the Great Wall, of course. Otherwise, I'm pretty open to anything. Just walking down streets and seeing the sights will be such a pleasure. Who knows what adventures God has in store for us. I plan to just simply watch it all unfold. Charlotte gifted me with a paper cutout (See Photo #2), which says something like Good Luck and a handmade pin she got in Thailand. I was touched by meeting her and feel God's hand in the whole experience with our being connected through Jackson Schrumpf, who went to some effort to find and reconnect with Charlotte at W. W. Lewis Middle School after I mentioned the People to People program in that recent letter. He definitely thought I should talk to her about a trip to China, and definitely he is right!! May God be with us in planning and executing this trip in June, leaving sometime after the 8th of the month, after all of my rents have been secured and deposited, and staying at least two weeks and maybe a bit more.
Right after I hung up from talking to Debbie, I got a call from someone who knew Ray on-line through one of the Lancair groups who chat on-line. Their connection was that they both owned and had built Lancair airplanes. Bill Rumburg was one of the people who was looking for Ray after he died. I still keep Ray's Tubamanflies address open, just in case there's still someone out there who doesn't know Ray's gone. Bill has read my book and had some questions to ask me. I'm glad he caught me home tonight.
I was on 1200 calories per day this past week, and it really didn't faze me a bit. I was able to carry on my normal life without too many hunger pains. I also got over to Curves four times last week. Surely when I weigh in tomorrow, things will be looking up with my weight. Those five pounds I put on in France in June have just been stubborn about coming back off. I'm hoping this jumpstart is what I needed. Today I switched to 1600 in order not to go into starvation mode with my metabolism. I plan to continue dieting until this trip to China so that I can just enjoy whatever there is to experience foodwise while over there. Charlotte was telling me about eating silkworms in various sauces, and I'm sure there are other delicacies or just common foods to the Chinese that we will encounter. I'm ready for the culinary adventure, too.
Teaching school for me last week was fairly light and easy. The librarians, who are without a whole library to work with since our new one is under construction, were nonetheless wonderful in doing an orientation for my students, customized to the kind of semester project they're facing. Melanie LeJeune had prepared an extensive PowerPoint presentation that the girls were able to see up close with the portable laptops that Melanie had brought with her. (See Photo #3) They were shown the kinds of databases that are readily accessible from home through various sources, and she gave them ideas for finding the kinds of articles they need, including literary criticism, historical background articles, and psychology articles to help the students understand the motivations of their main character. It was just excellent. I thank both Diane Guillory and Melanie for putting such a fine thing together for my students.
I taught only one other class myself last week on Thursday. We were discussing James Joyce's "Araby," and this is the first year that I personally made the connection that this story is similar to "A & P" by John Updike in the sense that the narrator in each story is a male who becomes infatuated with a female. The times and places and ages of the boys are different, but it was interesting, through these girls' perspectives to see how tone and diction and detail came into play with each boy's attitude toward girls. The "A & P" character was jaded and really rather demeaning in his ideas about the girls who wander into his grocery store in bathing suits, and the "Araby" character comes off as being really sweet in his observations about the older sister of his friend. Having a group of all female students this year is changing what comes out in these discussions, I feel. I find the girls are more willing to go out on a limb in their own observations and analyses than I've seen before. I think I'm in for a very interesting ride this year in teaching this group. I tutored one of my students Thursday afternoon right after school, coaching her to write an even better admissions essay for Rice University that she had already written. Living four blocks from school, I can easily pop back over to campus for these kinds of sessions. I hope more of my students take me up on it.
Friday there were no classes because of a Diocesan In-Service. It took place at St. Louis, and it was so very good. We had two keynote speakers. One was Dr. Carol Eipers, Vice President and Executive Director of Catechetics for William H. Sadlier. She came to us from New York City, and we wondered how she got on a plane to come with so many props to bring her presentation to life. She started out dressed like a miner and ended up dressed like a salt shaker with a halo. Her message, through her numerous gimmicks to get our attention, was that "[w]e will 'mine' our Catholic beliefs by digging into Scripture, Tradition and our experiences of faith," which we can share with those we serve--our students. The other keynote speaker was Mr. Leo Trahan, Diocesan Director of Religious Education from the Diocese of Biloxi, Mississippi, and he shared even more practical things, some of which touched me to tears. There were three times that I teared up and could have gone off somewhere and cried. His telling us that sharing our personal story is key to communicating the Good News about Christ with our students touched me very deeply. During his break, I ran out to my car and got one of my books and wrote him a note about how much he had stirred me and gave it to him. I just felt called to do that thing. He introduced us teachers and administrators to the Nooma film series. These are 11-minute films that are narrated and connect true life experiences to God's movement and purpose in our lives. I have to tell you that I have ordered all 17 of these on-line today, and I know that some place and sometime I will be using these little films to spur meaningful discussions with somebody--maybe my granddaughter or my nieces and nephews or maybe a group of adults. Who knows? Anyway, this was something practical that came out of Mr. Trahan's talk for me. He also did a Photo Story from the Photo Story 3 Free Download at Microsoft.com on Hurricane Rita. I could have bawled with how beautifully he moved me with his music and his photos. Coming from Biloxi, I know he knows what coming through a hurricane means, and it showed in the depth of his understanding in film and music. There were other things he used in his presentation that also touched me, and I just had to let him know with an autographed copy of my own book, my own story. I thanked him for affirming me in my approach to opening every one of my classes with a devotional and a sharing and then a creative-writing warm-up and a sharing. So often in doing this kind of activity in my class, my own personal stories of faith surface and are shared. I felt God was working some personal therapy on me in this day of in-service.
God has been working on me from all kinds of angles in the past week again. I attended the Grief Workshop at my church again last Tuesday, and this time I didn't cry so much, but this time I shared so much that I've never told anybody. There are experiences that I've had as a widow that have seemed questionable and unusual, and Dr. Danny Miller assured me that I'm really in the category of normal in all that I've experienced. I have felt very blessed that this man has been willing to hear so much that I have to say about all my losses in life. He's got quite a personal way of listening, and so does his wife Jeannie. I feel myself coming to terms with so many things that have lain buried within for so much time.
Adam Puckett's death also stirred me greatly last week. I went to the visitation at Johnson Funeral Home on Wednesday afternoon, and although I don't know Gisele, his mother, very well yet, I was able to hold her in my arms for a brief moment and say the things I needed to say to her. I also was able to talk at length with her sister, my spiritual director, Denise Donahoe. I decided that I wouldn't go to the funeral the next day, just because I thought it could very well be a big crowd, and I wanted to leave my space for someone who knew Adam personally. I was feeling agitated and needing some outlet all day Thursday, though. I knew I needed to do something with my hands, and I ended up going through the big basket I have sitting on my counter with all of my accumulated cards and newsletters and such from the past year. I needed to clean it out anyway before the new Christmas cards come in this year, and I did it that day. I also decided to clean closets again. This time I got rid of all my handbags that I've accumulated since moving to Lake Charles. All of them were black leather, full of pockets and zippers, and all of them I know I'll never use again. I don't think I've ever gone back to using an old purse again. Why I always keep them, I don't know. Anyway, I took quite a haul of them, along with three bags of clothing, to the Women's Shelter that afternoon. I also had lunch with Phyllis Morgan that day. (See Photo #4) She was kind enough to meet me at Chez Cafee so that I could unload this burden of loss on her. Hopefully I wasn't too bad of company for her.
Gisele Puckett wrote to all of us at St. Louis about how amazing the coincidences were the day that Adam died. By chance, she and her husband were trying to call Adam, just at the moment that the accident occurred. Adam's brothers were both easily diverted back to Baton Rouge to be of help, and there were other things that happened that day like a rainbow in the sky that show that God was present and helping. I'm so glad to know that Gisele feels called to fulfill her position as our new counselor, despite the heartbreak she's had happen. We at St. Louis are very fortunate to have her in our midst. I hope to know her better.
Friday, after the in-service, I came home and ate a salad for lunch and then another adventure was in store. I traveled with my friend, Joan Vallee-Rettke, to Baton Rouge for her grandson Drew's third birthday party the next day. We made good time and got there just as Corey and Drew were coming home. Susan, Joan's daughter, was soon to follow. Joan and I had stopped at Winn Dixie to get a Thomas the Train birthday balloon blown up with helium and picked up salads from DeAngelo's for supper. That way, we were able to babysit for Drew so that Susan and Corey could go out for dinner and gather things for the upcoming birthday party. They are both attorneys and work long weeks. I was glad that Joan and I were able to give them some time off on their own both nights we were there.
Saturday morning I slept in, having gotten a nice long sleep, and things were really happening around the house. Food was being delivered and workmen were putting up a train-shaped bouncing spacewalk construction in the yard. (See Photo #5) The children at the party, including Drew in the striped shirt, had a wonderful time jumping in that thing. (See Photo #6) I took on the role of being photographer for the party since I didn't really know many people and Joan and Susan and Corey were busy with lots of other things. It worked out well, and I have been able to give a CD full of many pictures to both Drew's grammie and his parents to remember this special day. (Oh, how I wish there were this much documentation of me and my life when I was three years old, especially right now with my writing my book about those years. By the way, I did write again this past Wednesday and got another segment done.) I took lots of pictures, but I'll only subject you to a few more. (See Photos #7-#11)
Drew is an amazing three-year-old. He can count past 50, and he goes back and forth from hand to hand by fives. I've never seen anything like it in one so young. He's also totally engrossed with Thomas the Train. The party was based on that theme, and he got many presents related to Thomas, but what was so amazing to me was to see Drew's focus in playing with his trains on the coffee table and with putting together puzzles and with everything he did. He's got a long attention span for just a little boy. Obviously, he's very smart like his grandmother and his parents.
Joan and I got back to Lake Charles Saturday night after 11:00, but I was able to get up Sunday morning to sing with my choir and attend church. I loved the song we sang, "O God Beyond All Praising" and the whole church service. I was glad I'd made the effort to be back. Rev. Fred's sermon about making a solid investment, even when it might be a longshot in the future, spoke to me in things that I know I must do. I didn't stick around very long after the service, for my house badly needed dusting before the Rhodes paid me a visit later that afternoon. Lynn's son, Father Sean, who became a priest in Minnesota last year, is here visiting, and I was glad to have the opportunity to get to know him a bit. Barry, Lynn, Father Sean, and Barry's sister, Donna, who's here from Hawaii, came over about 4:00, bearing gifts. Donna had baked me a persimmon cake from a tree on her property in DeRidder, which was delicious this morning for breakfast, and Lynn gave me a momento from her recently deceased father's home--a lovely cobalt blue vase. I've found a place for it in my kitchen. We drank a bottle of red Zinfandel from Ray's collection before heading for DeAngelo's for a delicious dinner that always pleases. (See Photo #12) Conversation is always so varied and interesting around these special friends who have become my family in Louisiana. I was especially happy to share with Father Sean experiences I've had teaching at St. Louis. I accidentally dropped my camera right after one of my students working at DeAngelo's snapped a group shot for us, and thank you, God, it didn't break this time. The shutter was closed, and it landed on its back, and it still works. Thank you, God!!
I'll need it for my trip to China in June. I'm hoping writing this letter has calmed me down enough to go to sleep now. I think I'm getting sleepy. I waited to write today, though, until I'd met Charlotte. I'm so glad I did. I wanted to share with you the good news about China.
I hope your life is also unfolding in unusual and interesting ways--good ways... I'd love to hear about them.
With love and blessings, Linda
"Whatever you do may seem insignificant,
but it is most important that you do it."
--Gandhi
Charlotte McCallum, the woman I told you about last week in my saga about China, just left my house after an hour and a half of intense and excited discussion about the prospects of going to China together. I am so excited!!! (See Photo #1) I showed Charlotte around my unusual home, and then we sat down on the couch to learn about each other. Charlotte shared photos of some of her former time in China and told me about living there and being an English teacher at Jilin University in Changchun in the Jilin Province west of and not too far across the border from North Korea. I, in turn, peppered her with questions about the kind of luggage and purse to take and all those kind of practical things I would like to know. This will be a trip where we will travel light, me with a rolling duffel bag, it's looking like, and bringing mainly clothes that we could leave behind if we wanted to and clothes that can be washed out and hung to dry overnight without too many wrinkles. I brought up the possibility of my sister Debbie's coming along, and Charlotte was open to the possibility. I called Debbie as soon as Charlotte left, and Debbie is definitely interested in this kind of trip, too. We'll all be looking for a fourth person who might be up for a trip across China on a very personal and informal level. Charlotte and I talked about the sights we might like to see in China, and already we are in agreement about the famous terracotta soldiers. I would also like to see the Forbidden City that I saw in the movie, THE LAST EMPEROR, and the Great Wall, of course. Otherwise, I'm pretty open to anything. Just walking down streets and seeing the sights will be such a pleasure. Who knows what adventures God has in store for us. I plan to just simply watch it all unfold. Charlotte gifted me with a paper cutout (See Photo #2), which says something like Good Luck and a handmade pin she got in Thailand. I was touched by meeting her and feel God's hand in the whole experience with our being connected through Jackson Schrumpf, who went to some effort to find and reconnect with Charlotte at W. W. Lewis Middle School after I mentioned the People to People program in that recent letter. He definitely thought I should talk to her about a trip to China, and definitely he is right!! May God be with us in planning and executing this trip in June, leaving sometime after the 8th of the month, after all of my rents have been secured and deposited, and staying at least two weeks and maybe a bit more.
Right after I hung up from talking to Debbie, I got a call from someone who knew Ray on-line through one of the Lancair groups who chat on-line. Their connection was that they both owned and had built Lancair airplanes. Bill Rumburg was one of the people who was looking for Ray after he died. I still keep Ray's Tubamanflies address open, just in case there's still someone out there who doesn't know Ray's gone. Bill has read my book and had some questions to ask me. I'm glad he caught me home tonight.
I was on 1200 calories per day this past week, and it really didn't faze me a bit. I was able to carry on my normal life without too many hunger pains. I also got over to Curves four times last week. Surely when I weigh in tomorrow, things will be looking up with my weight. Those five pounds I put on in France in June have just been stubborn about coming back off. I'm hoping this jumpstart is what I needed. Today I switched to 1600 in order not to go into starvation mode with my metabolism. I plan to continue dieting until this trip to China so that I can just enjoy whatever there is to experience foodwise while over there. Charlotte was telling me about eating silkworms in various sauces, and I'm sure there are other delicacies or just common foods to the Chinese that we will encounter. I'm ready for the culinary adventure, too.
Teaching school for me last week was fairly light and easy. The librarians, who are without a whole library to work with since our new one is under construction, were nonetheless wonderful in doing an orientation for my students, customized to the kind of semester project they're facing. Melanie LeJeune had prepared an extensive PowerPoint presentation that the girls were able to see up close with the portable laptops that Melanie had brought with her. (See Photo #3) They were shown the kinds of databases that are readily accessible from home through various sources, and she gave them ideas for finding the kinds of articles they need, including literary criticism, historical background articles, and psychology articles to help the students understand the motivations of their main character. It was just excellent. I thank both Diane Guillory and Melanie for putting such a fine thing together for my students.
I taught only one other class myself last week on Thursday. We were discussing James Joyce's "Araby," and this is the first year that I personally made the connection that this story is similar to "A & P" by John Updike in the sense that the narrator in each story is a male who becomes infatuated with a female. The times and places and ages of the boys are different, but it was interesting, through these girls' perspectives to see how tone and diction and detail came into play with each boy's attitude toward girls. The "A & P" character was jaded and really rather demeaning in his ideas about the girls who wander into his grocery store in bathing suits, and the "Araby" character comes off as being really sweet in his observations about the older sister of his friend. Having a group of all female students this year is changing what comes out in these discussions, I feel. I find the girls are more willing to go out on a limb in their own observations and analyses than I've seen before. I think I'm in for a very interesting ride this year in teaching this group. I tutored one of my students Thursday afternoon right after school, coaching her to write an even better admissions essay for Rice University that she had already written. Living four blocks from school, I can easily pop back over to campus for these kinds of sessions. I hope more of my students take me up on it.
Friday there were no classes because of a Diocesan In-Service. It took place at St. Louis, and it was so very good. We had two keynote speakers. One was Dr. Carol Eipers, Vice President and Executive Director of Catechetics for William H. Sadlier. She came to us from New York City, and we wondered how she got on a plane to come with so many props to bring her presentation to life. She started out dressed like a miner and ended up dressed like a salt shaker with a halo. Her message, through her numerous gimmicks to get our attention, was that "[w]e will 'mine' our Catholic beliefs by digging into Scripture, Tradition and our experiences of faith," which we can share with those we serve--our students. The other keynote speaker was Mr. Leo Trahan, Diocesan Director of Religious Education from the Diocese of Biloxi, Mississippi, and he shared even more practical things, some of which touched me to tears. There were three times that I teared up and could have gone off somewhere and cried. His telling us that sharing our personal story is key to communicating the Good News about Christ with our students touched me very deeply. During his break, I ran out to my car and got one of my books and wrote him a note about how much he had stirred me and gave it to him. I just felt called to do that thing. He introduced us teachers and administrators to the Nooma film series. These are 11-minute films that are narrated and connect true life experiences to God's movement and purpose in our lives. I have to tell you that I have ordered all 17 of these on-line today, and I know that some place and sometime I will be using these little films to spur meaningful discussions with somebody--maybe my granddaughter or my nieces and nephews or maybe a group of adults. Who knows? Anyway, this was something practical that came out of Mr. Trahan's talk for me. He also did a Photo Story from the Photo Story 3 Free Download at Microsoft.com on Hurricane Rita. I could have bawled with how beautifully he moved me with his music and his photos. Coming from Biloxi, I know he knows what coming through a hurricane means, and it showed in the depth of his understanding in film and music. There were other things he used in his presentation that also touched me, and I just had to let him know with an autographed copy of my own book, my own story. I thanked him for affirming me in my approach to opening every one of my classes with a devotional and a sharing and then a creative-writing warm-up and a sharing. So often in doing this kind of activity in my class, my own personal stories of faith surface and are shared. I felt God was working some personal therapy on me in this day of in-service.
God has been working on me from all kinds of angles in the past week again. I attended the Grief Workshop at my church again last Tuesday, and this time I didn't cry so much, but this time I shared so much that I've never told anybody. There are experiences that I've had as a widow that have seemed questionable and unusual, and Dr. Danny Miller assured me that I'm really in the category of normal in all that I've experienced. I have felt very blessed that this man has been willing to hear so much that I have to say about all my losses in life. He's got quite a personal way of listening, and so does his wife Jeannie. I feel myself coming to terms with so many things that have lain buried within for so much time.
Adam Puckett's death also stirred me greatly last week. I went to the visitation at Johnson Funeral Home on Wednesday afternoon, and although I don't know Gisele, his mother, very well yet, I was able to hold her in my arms for a brief moment and say the things I needed to say to her. I also was able to talk at length with her sister, my spiritual director, Denise Donahoe. I decided that I wouldn't go to the funeral the next day, just because I thought it could very well be a big crowd, and I wanted to leave my space for someone who knew Adam personally. I was feeling agitated and needing some outlet all day Thursday, though. I knew I needed to do something with my hands, and I ended up going through the big basket I have sitting on my counter with all of my accumulated cards and newsletters and such from the past year. I needed to clean it out anyway before the new Christmas cards come in this year, and I did it that day. I also decided to clean closets again. This time I got rid of all my handbags that I've accumulated since moving to Lake Charles. All of them were black leather, full of pockets and zippers, and all of them I know I'll never use again. I don't think I've ever gone back to using an old purse again. Why I always keep them, I don't know. Anyway, I took quite a haul of them, along with three bags of clothing, to the Women's Shelter that afternoon. I also had lunch with Phyllis Morgan that day. (See Photo #4) She was kind enough to meet me at Chez Cafee so that I could unload this burden of loss on her. Hopefully I wasn't too bad of company for her.
Gisele Puckett wrote to all of us at St. Louis about how amazing the coincidences were the day that Adam died. By chance, she and her husband were trying to call Adam, just at the moment that the accident occurred. Adam's brothers were both easily diverted back to Baton Rouge to be of help, and there were other things that happened that day like a rainbow in the sky that show that God was present and helping. I'm so glad to know that Gisele feels called to fulfill her position as our new counselor, despite the heartbreak she's had happen. We at St. Louis are very fortunate to have her in our midst. I hope to know her better.
Friday, after the in-service, I came home and ate a salad for lunch and then another adventure was in store. I traveled with my friend, Joan Vallee-Rettke, to Baton Rouge for her grandson Drew's third birthday party the next day. We made good time and got there just as Corey and Drew were coming home. Susan, Joan's daughter, was soon to follow. Joan and I had stopped at Winn Dixie to get a Thomas the Train birthday balloon blown up with helium and picked up salads from DeAngelo's for supper. That way, we were able to babysit for Drew so that Susan and Corey could go out for dinner and gather things for the upcoming birthday party. They are both attorneys and work long weeks. I was glad that Joan and I were able to give them some time off on their own both nights we were there.
Saturday morning I slept in, having gotten a nice long sleep, and things were really happening around the house. Food was being delivered and workmen were putting up a train-shaped bouncing spacewalk construction in the yard. (See Photo #5) The children at the party, including Drew in the striped shirt, had a wonderful time jumping in that thing. (See Photo #6) I took on the role of being photographer for the party since I didn't really know many people and Joan and Susan and Corey were busy with lots of other things. It worked out well, and I have been able to give a CD full of many pictures to both Drew's grammie and his parents to remember this special day. (Oh, how I wish there were this much documentation of me and my life when I was three years old, especially right now with my writing my book about those years. By the way, I did write again this past Wednesday and got another segment done.) I took lots of pictures, but I'll only subject you to a few more. (See Photos #7-#11)
Drew is an amazing three-year-old. He can count past 50, and he goes back and forth from hand to hand by fives. I've never seen anything like it in one so young. He's also totally engrossed with Thomas the Train. The party was based on that theme, and he got many presents related to Thomas, but what was so amazing to me was to see Drew's focus in playing with his trains on the coffee table and with putting together puzzles and with everything he did. He's got a long attention span for just a little boy. Obviously, he's very smart like his grandmother and his parents.
Joan and I got back to Lake Charles Saturday night after 11:00, but I was able to get up Sunday morning to sing with my choir and attend church. I loved the song we sang, "O God Beyond All Praising" and the whole church service. I was glad I'd made the effort to be back. Rev. Fred's sermon about making a solid investment, even when it might be a longshot in the future, spoke to me in things that I know I must do. I didn't stick around very long after the service, for my house badly needed dusting before the Rhodes paid me a visit later that afternoon. Lynn's son, Father Sean, who became a priest in Minnesota last year, is here visiting, and I was glad to have the opportunity to get to know him a bit. Barry, Lynn, Father Sean, and Barry's sister, Donna, who's here from Hawaii, came over about 4:00, bearing gifts. Donna had baked me a persimmon cake from a tree on her property in DeRidder, which was delicious this morning for breakfast, and Lynn gave me a momento from her recently deceased father's home--a lovely cobalt blue vase. I've found a place for it in my kitchen. We drank a bottle of red Zinfandel from Ray's collection before heading for DeAngelo's for a delicious dinner that always pleases. (See Photo #12) Conversation is always so varied and interesting around these special friends who have become my family in Louisiana. I was especially happy to share with Father Sean experiences I've had teaching at St. Louis. I accidentally dropped my camera right after one of my students working at DeAngelo's snapped a group shot for us, and thank you, God, it didn't break this time. The shutter was closed, and it landed on its back, and it still works. Thank you, God!!
I'll need it for my trip to China in June. I'm hoping writing this letter has calmed me down enough to go to sleep now. I think I'm getting sleepy. I waited to write today, though, until I'd met Charlotte. I'm so glad I did. I wanted to share with you the good news about China.
I hope your life is also unfolding in unusual and interesting ways--good ways... I'd love to hear about them.
With love and blessings, Linda
"Whatever you do may seem insignificant,
but it is most important that you do it."
--Gandhi
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Monday Afternoon Reflections - September 24, 2007
Dear Family and Friends,
My overview of this past week has been affected in the past couple of days by great sadness and concern for the family of Rodney J. Guilbeaux, Jr., the father of my spiritual director, Denise Donahoe, and the father of our new counselor at St. Louis, Gisele Puckett. Mr. Guilbeaux lived a full and rich life and died at 80 this past week. The funeral was on Saturday morning, and I was able to attend with my friend Joan Vallee-Rettke. That funeral was one of celebration of a man well-loved and a life well-lived, and I was touched by the entourage of his grandchildren who accompanied his casket into the sanctuary for the service. The shock in this is that the very next day, something very tragic happened to one of those grandchildren. Adam Puckett, Gisele's middle son who was married and in his twenties, died in a ski accident on a river in Baton Rouge yesterday afternoon. I can only imagine the shock to his parents and to the entire family based on my own shock at hearing about it. Please hold this family in your heart and in your prayers. Their sorrow must be overwhelming.
I also just had a conversation with my friends Jean-Jacques and Daniele Sicre in France. I spoke with Jean-Jacques first to offer him my condolences at the lost of his brother, a cardiologist, who died at age 52 in his sleep while he was on holiday in the south of France in August. I then called Daniele, who is spending a month in the French Alps recuperating and enjoying the view of Mont Blanc every morning, and she spoke of how strong her sister-in-law is in facing this loss. She, too, is a doctor, and they have five children, ranging in age from 25 to 16. Daniele's mother is also having difficulty. She's in the hospital right now having stints placed in her arteries. Please also hold this family in your prayers.
My trip to China has had many twists and turns and has receded into the background with all of this, but let me tell you how it's looking to me now. Three conversations have changed the course of my plans, and turning to the Bible for direction has cinched my decision. The first person I spoke with last Tuesday was Charlotte McCallum, an LaTaaps mentor teacher at a local middle school. Jackson Schrumpf, one of Ray's best friends, hooked me up with Charlotte. He'd mentioned her to me the first time I mentioned China because Charlotte was a missionary in China for two years--2000-2002--teaching English at a university over there. In actually speaking to her last week, I was instantly taken with her candor and her generosity. I felt, in this first conversation, like I was talking to an old friend. I'm seriously considering taking her up on her invitation to accompany her to China in June after school's out. She has been on a People to People Ambassador trip herself with students, and she gave me feedback that caused me reconsider--about things that didn't happen that were scheduled and about the price. She feels the price is steep, knowing the cost of things from a personal standpoint.
The second person I spoke with was a representative of the People to People program. She returned my call on Wednesday, and I was able to ask her my long list of questions that I'd written down. In that conversation, I found out that I had been recommended for this delegation as an executive--not as an educator. That concerned me, and the more I thought about going on a trip in which I'd have to wear business clothes the whole time bothered me, especially after my conversation with Charlotte in which she told me that most Chinese people have only two changes of clothes. I also tried to look up the airlines this woman said I would be flying over to China on, and I can find no record of it. I don't know what that means. Surely she was mistaken or something, but anyway, I'm rethinking going to China for the first time under these auspices. This is especially after I spoke to the third person who could answer some questions. Freddie Ann Reagan has just returned from one of these People to People Ambassador trips this past week. She went to Russia for a meeting of physical therapists. I haven't spoken to her at length yet, but she indicated to me that her trip was completely a professional trip with little or no sightseeing. She was in meetings and visiting physical therapy establishments the whole trip. Again, this information has swayed my decision against going to China in a professional delegation on Women in Society. I just think I would end up frustrated and disappointed that I didn't get to see much of the sights of China after going all the way over there.
Turning to the Bible, as I said earlier, cinched this point of view. When I asked God to help me clarify my thoughts, the passage that I was turned to was the story of David and Goliath. I read it and the accompanying commentary thoroughly the other night before I went to bed, not at that time really understanding what God was trying to tell me. But the next morning, in a flash of understanding, I got it... In that story, David is advised to put on heavy armor to go into battle against this major opponent, Goliath, but he opts to take it back off. It is heavy and very uncomfortable. He decides to go into battle against Goliath trusting in God and taking only a slingshot and a few smooth stones as ammunition. As I'm sure you know, he successfully knocked Goliath face down on the ground with a stone to his forehead. My flash of understanding was that I should not go to China this time dressed in armor (business dress), but I should go much more simply (in Berkenstocks and capris) and slay Goliath (China, I guess) on a personal level, trusting in God. I take this advice to heart, and I'm hoping this week to actually meet Charlotte face-to-face and determine whether a trip with her would be feasible. What she described over the phone sounds even more up-my-alley than the People to People trip, and I'm very excited at this prospect. I'm hoping that maybe Charlotte will also be open to my sister Debbie's going with us. Debbie's expressed that interest.
My bathroom project got accomplished this past week. Ted told me that it would take about two days, and it did. They started first thing Wednesday morning, which thankfully was a day off for me, but I had several things on my agenda that still got done. Ted helped his helper, Danny, replace the faucet on my sink first thing. Thank God they didn't have to turn the water off at the curb this time. The new one was in place very quickly. Ted's other helper, Tracy, was put in charge of taping everything, removing shelving, etc., and then painting. He's not the most detailed person nor nearly as meticulous as I would have liked, but I figure, at least it wasn't me doing this work. I'm just pleased to have the ceiling lime green and the walls and cabinets a bright white. I've asked Ted for some touch-up paint, and the next time my brother Lee comes over, his project will be to get the cabinet knobs done right. (He always wants projects when he comes over, and now I've got a new one for him.) Abbakadabra has been very interested in the new things in my bathroom. (See Photos #1 & #2) She likes the way the new rug slides when she comes running in there, and the ribbon shower curtain is very entertaining. I like that these new things match better with the old tile on the wall in there. I didn't want to totally redo this room. I wanted to keep the retro-fifties-looking sink and just recaulk the tub basically. I'm overall pleased with the results.
I had a full week of teaching last week, which meant my class met three times for 70 minutes each. In recent weeks, this schedule hasn't happened due to holidays and hurricanes, so I really appreciated getting as caught up and I could be with my curriculum. Just a little while ago, I finished evaluating college admissions essays that my students turned in on Friday. What a pleasure it was to read them and to know these girls better. They turned in two essays each, and each one of them painted a new picture of who these young women are and where they've already been, what they've already experienced and seen. This is a new addition to my formal assignments in AP English this year, at the request of Gisele Puckett, and I'm so glad to have done it. In the past, I've given out an EssayEdge packet to give the students some guidelines about writing these admissions essays, and I've offered support if they wanted it from me, but it was never a formal, graded assignment before. It will always be from now on--just because it gives me such insight into these students' lives and because I think I can make a difference in the quality of editing they really need to be competitive.
Our discussion of John Updike's "A & P" was the most productive and deep of any I've had in the past seven years. There's something unusual happening in my class of all girls this year. There's a bond that's forming that's producing more candid and open discussions, and I'm finding it very gratifying as a teacher. This story narrated by a nineteen-year-old store clerk who ogles three girls who wonder into the store in bathing suits became clearer to me through the eyes of this batch of students. They put themselves in the girls' place and delivered insights, as a result, that could be written up in a journal. I'll be very interested to see what they've done with their composition assignment to analyze tone and relationships in this story. I will get those papers tomorrow.
I went to the District Theresians meeting in Lafayette last Tuesday. All four of us from Lake Charles were able to go together. That's part of the draw for me in being a representative--getting to know these women both coming and going for that 75-mile trip and breaking bread with them before the meeting. (See Photo #3) Wanda Benoit is our new leader in this organization, and she led the meeting well. We were done in less than an hour with a very detailed agenda. I loved the new room where we met with couches lining the walls. It gave the feel that we were all in an intimate circle together. I hope we continue to use that room. I had the idea for article for the district newsletter to get everybody's input on the retreat that we attended in July at Antique Rose Ville. I'm glad I got some input that night because nobody else has emailed me with theirs. I plan to sit down and write that piece later this week.
Wednesday while the renovation on my bathroom was underway, I had many places to go and many things to do. I am so grateful to Denise, my spiritual director, for making time for me with all that was going on with her dad that morning. She also helped me clarify my feelings about this trip to China, and it was very helpful. From her office, I popped back home to see how things were progressing, and then I headed over to my church for the PrimeTimer's luncheon. I'm so glad I went. I enjoyed the company (See Photo #4), but I really enjoyed the spiel that Ron LeLeux, the mayor of Sulphur, gave to us about how God has moved in his life. He's a poet and a very funny man. I loved the way he told stories on himself from the past and shared so much from his heart. I saw him again on Saturday at Denise's dad's funeral. Both he and Lake Charles' mayor, Randy Roach, were there to honor Rodney Guilbeaux.
After Ron LeLeux's talk, I popped home again and then went to a jewelry-making lesson at Cassie Ames' home. I had made a necklace out of rhodonite semiprecious stone beads back in July, and due to circumstances, Cassie wasn't able to have a class to teach us to make earrings until this past week. I ended up with a very dainty pair with just a few beads, but I like the way they came out. (See Photo #5)
I had my quarterly meeting with Ann Knapp, my Merrill Lynch adviser, on Friday. Since our last meeting, I have paid off the loan that was pledged against part of my CMA account so that it's now possible for me to buy and sell within that part of my portfolio. With that ability, Ann is helping me to get a more balanced and diversified portfolio. I feel that I am in good hands. As Clerk of Session at my church, she was also the one who called me to see if I would accept nomination to be an elder for my church in the coming year. I had already thought about that possibility and considered what it would entail, and I told her I would accept. We'll see where God is leading me in that.
I had been weighed and measured at Curves on my way to Merrill Lynch. My weight is creeping up on me again. It's scary to even think about growing out of my beautiful wardrobe. So I'm taking the Curves Challenge again and going on a diet. It began today, and so far, so good. I'll be cutting back on carbs big-time again, and I pray that this does the trick. I also intend to get over to Curves to exercise more regularly than has been happening in recent weeks. When Judy Guidry weighed and measured me, actually I was only one pound heavier than two years ago, but my measurements were all up. Exercise will definitely help with that. I hope to be toned back up in no time. As soon as I get this letter off this afternoon, I'll head over there.
Before Mr. Guilbeaux's funeral on Saturday, I attended my MITE investment club meeting at the Pitt Grill in Sulphur. (See Photo #6) I didn't eat the breakfast, but I did enjoy the meeting. We looked at Florida Light and Power and Travelers Insurance as possible buys and decided to turn them down. We, too, are trying to get a balanced and diversified portfolio, and it's a learning experience for me to research a stock. I'm glad Ann Knapp helps me so readily and well with that.
Sunday the choir was lively and bright with our uplifting "Sing a New Song." As Rev. Fred went about defining the word "shrewd" in his sermon, I was thinking about how I'm asking my own students to look deeply into the connotations and denotations of the examples of diction that we encounter in the stories we're reading. There is so much to know about a word that's not apparent at first hearing or first glance. To be "shrewd" can be a good thing or it can be a bad thing, but to be a "shrewd saint" is probably a good thing.
In the afternoon, I went to help put together health kits for victims of Hurricane Felix in Central America. The Friend Ships is getting ready to make a trip of mercy down there to help the people affected. My role yesterday was also to take pictures, of course! (See Photo #7 & #8) This is where I was when Barbara Dupont called me to tell me about Adam Puckett's accident.
Again, please hold all of these people in your hearts and prayers. That includes my friend Cissie McLeod, who has also just been in the hospital after a scare with her heart. There's not a day goes by since I lost Ray that I don't think about the fact that we never know what's around the next bend.
I hope we all have a better week ahead...
With love and blessings, Linda
"Whatever you do may seem insignificant,
but it is most important that you do it."
--Gandhi
My overview of this past week has been affected in the past couple of days by great sadness and concern for the family of Rodney J. Guilbeaux, Jr., the father of my spiritual director, Denise Donahoe, and the father of our new counselor at St. Louis, Gisele Puckett. Mr. Guilbeaux lived a full and rich life and died at 80 this past week. The funeral was on Saturday morning, and I was able to attend with my friend Joan Vallee-Rettke. That funeral was one of celebration of a man well-loved and a life well-lived, and I was touched by the entourage of his grandchildren who accompanied his casket into the sanctuary for the service. The shock in this is that the very next day, something very tragic happened to one of those grandchildren. Adam Puckett, Gisele's middle son who was married and in his twenties, died in a ski accident on a river in Baton Rouge yesterday afternoon. I can only imagine the shock to his parents and to the entire family based on my own shock at hearing about it. Please hold this family in your heart and in your prayers. Their sorrow must be overwhelming.
I also just had a conversation with my friends Jean-Jacques and Daniele Sicre in France. I spoke with Jean-Jacques first to offer him my condolences at the lost of his brother, a cardiologist, who died at age 52 in his sleep while he was on holiday in the south of France in August. I then called Daniele, who is spending a month in the French Alps recuperating and enjoying the view of Mont Blanc every morning, and she spoke of how strong her sister-in-law is in facing this loss. She, too, is a doctor, and they have five children, ranging in age from 25 to 16. Daniele's mother is also having difficulty. She's in the hospital right now having stints placed in her arteries. Please also hold this family in your prayers.
My trip to China has had many twists and turns and has receded into the background with all of this, but let me tell you how it's looking to me now. Three conversations have changed the course of my plans, and turning to the Bible for direction has cinched my decision. The first person I spoke with last Tuesday was Charlotte McCallum, an LaTaaps mentor teacher at a local middle school. Jackson Schrumpf, one of Ray's best friends, hooked me up with Charlotte. He'd mentioned her to me the first time I mentioned China because Charlotte was a missionary in China for two years--2000-2002--teaching English at a university over there. In actually speaking to her last week, I was instantly taken with her candor and her generosity. I felt, in this first conversation, like I was talking to an old friend. I'm seriously considering taking her up on her invitation to accompany her to China in June after school's out. She has been on a People to People Ambassador trip herself with students, and she gave me feedback that caused me reconsider--about things that didn't happen that were scheduled and about the price. She feels the price is steep, knowing the cost of things from a personal standpoint.
The second person I spoke with was a representative of the People to People program. She returned my call on Wednesday, and I was able to ask her my long list of questions that I'd written down. In that conversation, I found out that I had been recommended for this delegation as an executive--not as an educator. That concerned me, and the more I thought about going on a trip in which I'd have to wear business clothes the whole time bothered me, especially after my conversation with Charlotte in which she told me that most Chinese people have only two changes of clothes. I also tried to look up the airlines this woman said I would be flying over to China on, and I can find no record of it. I don't know what that means. Surely she was mistaken or something, but anyway, I'm rethinking going to China for the first time under these auspices. This is especially after I spoke to the third person who could answer some questions. Freddie Ann Reagan has just returned from one of these People to People Ambassador trips this past week. She went to Russia for a meeting of physical therapists. I haven't spoken to her at length yet, but she indicated to me that her trip was completely a professional trip with little or no sightseeing. She was in meetings and visiting physical therapy establishments the whole trip. Again, this information has swayed my decision against going to China in a professional delegation on Women in Society. I just think I would end up frustrated and disappointed that I didn't get to see much of the sights of China after going all the way over there.
Turning to the Bible, as I said earlier, cinched this point of view. When I asked God to help me clarify my thoughts, the passage that I was turned to was the story of David and Goliath. I read it and the accompanying commentary thoroughly the other night before I went to bed, not at that time really understanding what God was trying to tell me. But the next morning, in a flash of understanding, I got it... In that story, David is advised to put on heavy armor to go into battle against this major opponent, Goliath, but he opts to take it back off. It is heavy and very uncomfortable. He decides to go into battle against Goliath trusting in God and taking only a slingshot and a few smooth stones as ammunition. As I'm sure you know, he successfully knocked Goliath face down on the ground with a stone to his forehead. My flash of understanding was that I should not go to China this time dressed in armor (business dress), but I should go much more simply (in Berkenstocks and capris) and slay Goliath (China, I guess) on a personal level, trusting in God. I take this advice to heart, and I'm hoping this week to actually meet Charlotte face-to-face and determine whether a trip with her would be feasible. What she described over the phone sounds even more up-my-alley than the People to People trip, and I'm very excited at this prospect. I'm hoping that maybe Charlotte will also be open to my sister Debbie's going with us. Debbie's expressed that interest.
My bathroom project got accomplished this past week. Ted told me that it would take about two days, and it did. They started first thing Wednesday morning, which thankfully was a day off for me, but I had several things on my agenda that still got done. Ted helped his helper, Danny, replace the faucet on my sink first thing. Thank God they didn't have to turn the water off at the curb this time. The new one was in place very quickly. Ted's other helper, Tracy, was put in charge of taping everything, removing shelving, etc., and then painting. He's not the most detailed person nor nearly as meticulous as I would have liked, but I figure, at least it wasn't me doing this work. I'm just pleased to have the ceiling lime green and the walls and cabinets a bright white. I've asked Ted for some touch-up paint, and the next time my brother Lee comes over, his project will be to get the cabinet knobs done right. (He always wants projects when he comes over, and now I've got a new one for him.) Abbakadabra has been very interested in the new things in my bathroom. (See Photos #1 & #2) She likes the way the new rug slides when she comes running in there, and the ribbon shower curtain is very entertaining. I like that these new things match better with the old tile on the wall in there. I didn't want to totally redo this room. I wanted to keep the retro-fifties-looking sink and just recaulk the tub basically. I'm overall pleased with the results.
I had a full week of teaching last week, which meant my class met three times for 70 minutes each. In recent weeks, this schedule hasn't happened due to holidays and hurricanes, so I really appreciated getting as caught up and I could be with my curriculum. Just a little while ago, I finished evaluating college admissions essays that my students turned in on Friday. What a pleasure it was to read them and to know these girls better. They turned in two essays each, and each one of them painted a new picture of who these young women are and where they've already been, what they've already experienced and seen. This is a new addition to my formal assignments in AP English this year, at the request of Gisele Puckett, and I'm so glad to have done it. In the past, I've given out an EssayEdge packet to give the students some guidelines about writing these admissions essays, and I've offered support if they wanted it from me, but it was never a formal, graded assignment before. It will always be from now on--just because it gives me such insight into these students' lives and because I think I can make a difference in the quality of editing they really need to be competitive.
Our discussion of John Updike's "A & P" was the most productive and deep of any I've had in the past seven years. There's something unusual happening in my class of all girls this year. There's a bond that's forming that's producing more candid and open discussions, and I'm finding it very gratifying as a teacher. This story narrated by a nineteen-year-old store clerk who ogles three girls who wonder into the store in bathing suits became clearer to me through the eyes of this batch of students. They put themselves in the girls' place and delivered insights, as a result, that could be written up in a journal. I'll be very interested to see what they've done with their composition assignment to analyze tone and relationships in this story. I will get those papers tomorrow.
I went to the District Theresians meeting in Lafayette last Tuesday. All four of us from Lake Charles were able to go together. That's part of the draw for me in being a representative--getting to know these women both coming and going for that 75-mile trip and breaking bread with them before the meeting. (See Photo #3) Wanda Benoit is our new leader in this organization, and she led the meeting well. We were done in less than an hour with a very detailed agenda. I loved the new room where we met with couches lining the walls. It gave the feel that we were all in an intimate circle together. I hope we continue to use that room. I had the idea for article for the district newsletter to get everybody's input on the retreat that we attended in July at Antique Rose Ville. I'm glad I got some input that night because nobody else has emailed me with theirs. I plan to sit down and write that piece later this week.
Wednesday while the renovation on my bathroom was underway, I had many places to go and many things to do. I am so grateful to Denise, my spiritual director, for making time for me with all that was going on with her dad that morning. She also helped me clarify my feelings about this trip to China, and it was very helpful. From her office, I popped back home to see how things were progressing, and then I headed over to my church for the PrimeTimer's luncheon. I'm so glad I went. I enjoyed the company (See Photo #4), but I really enjoyed the spiel that Ron LeLeux, the mayor of Sulphur, gave to us about how God has moved in his life. He's a poet and a very funny man. I loved the way he told stories on himself from the past and shared so much from his heart. I saw him again on Saturday at Denise's dad's funeral. Both he and Lake Charles' mayor, Randy Roach, were there to honor Rodney Guilbeaux.
After Ron LeLeux's talk, I popped home again and then went to a jewelry-making lesson at Cassie Ames' home. I had made a necklace out of rhodonite semiprecious stone beads back in July, and due to circumstances, Cassie wasn't able to have a class to teach us to make earrings until this past week. I ended up with a very dainty pair with just a few beads, but I like the way they came out. (See Photo #5)
I had my quarterly meeting with Ann Knapp, my Merrill Lynch adviser, on Friday. Since our last meeting, I have paid off the loan that was pledged against part of my CMA account so that it's now possible for me to buy and sell within that part of my portfolio. With that ability, Ann is helping me to get a more balanced and diversified portfolio. I feel that I am in good hands. As Clerk of Session at my church, she was also the one who called me to see if I would accept nomination to be an elder for my church in the coming year. I had already thought about that possibility and considered what it would entail, and I told her I would accept. We'll see where God is leading me in that.
I had been weighed and measured at Curves on my way to Merrill Lynch. My weight is creeping up on me again. It's scary to even think about growing out of my beautiful wardrobe. So I'm taking the Curves Challenge again and going on a diet. It began today, and so far, so good. I'll be cutting back on carbs big-time again, and I pray that this does the trick. I also intend to get over to Curves to exercise more regularly than has been happening in recent weeks. When Judy Guidry weighed and measured me, actually I was only one pound heavier than two years ago, but my measurements were all up. Exercise will definitely help with that. I hope to be toned back up in no time. As soon as I get this letter off this afternoon, I'll head over there.
Before Mr. Guilbeaux's funeral on Saturday, I attended my MITE investment club meeting at the Pitt Grill in Sulphur. (See Photo #6) I didn't eat the breakfast, but I did enjoy the meeting. We looked at Florida Light and Power and Travelers Insurance as possible buys and decided to turn them down. We, too, are trying to get a balanced and diversified portfolio, and it's a learning experience for me to research a stock. I'm glad Ann Knapp helps me so readily and well with that.
Sunday the choir was lively and bright with our uplifting "Sing a New Song." As Rev. Fred went about defining the word "shrewd" in his sermon, I was thinking about how I'm asking my own students to look deeply into the connotations and denotations of the examples of diction that we encounter in the stories we're reading. There is so much to know about a word that's not apparent at first hearing or first glance. To be "shrewd" can be a good thing or it can be a bad thing, but to be a "shrewd saint" is probably a good thing.
In the afternoon, I went to help put together health kits for victims of Hurricane Felix in Central America. The Friend Ships is getting ready to make a trip of mercy down there to help the people affected. My role yesterday was also to take pictures, of course! (See Photo #7 & #8) This is where I was when Barbara Dupont called me to tell me about Adam Puckett's accident.
Again, please hold all of these people in your hearts and prayers. That includes my friend Cissie McLeod, who has also just been in the hospital after a scare with her heart. There's not a day goes by since I lost Ray that I don't think about the fact that we never know what's around the next bend.
I hope we all have a better week ahead...
With love and blessings, Linda
"Whatever you do may seem insignificant,
but it is most important that you do it."
--Gandhi
Monday, September 17, 2007
Monday Evening Reflections - September 17, 2007
Dear Family and Friends,
God seemed intent on stirring me up this week. The experiences that have presented themselves have taken me to deep levels of grief, to memories of extreme anger from the past, to elation over the possibility of that trip to China I'd been dreaming about. I feel a bit wrung out, as a result, but I think this is a good thing.
The possible trip to China is highmost in my mind right now. I received a letter Friday from the People to People Ambassador Programs. Someone has nominated me to be a delegate for an international professional and cultural program related to women in society. I'm wondering if one of you reading this letter was the loving soul who has made this inviting experience possible. The conference will run from December 9-21, leaving from L.A. I made an appointment with Glenda Williams, the Academic Assistant Principal, this morning about the possibility of missing my last class before Christmas break and my semester exam. I had already consulted with Barbara Dupont, my department head, about the logistics of missing these two classes. Quickly, and with the hand of God in it, it's all coming together rapidly. I will talk to my Merrill Lynch advisor on Thursday about pulling the funds together to go. Glenda Williams just went on a similar junket two summers ago, and she said the price is good. She also filled me in on a lot details about what this trip will be like. I'm just feeling that it's too good an opportunity to pass up. This trip would combine meeting people from around the world with seeing sights that I've only seen in movies.
President Eisenhower started this Ambassador Program during his administration in the 1950's. He believed that if people from different cultures met face to face and with good will that world peace would ensue. A private organization continues promoting this idea through these various professional programs. If you're interested yourself in pursuing this kind of travel, go to www.ambassadorprograms.org. The itinerary for my trip can be pulled up. I will be traveling to three cities--Beijing, Guiyang, and Shanghai, seeing many of the famous sights, but what most appeals to me about this kind of trip is that I'll also be interfacing with people from China and people from lots of other places, too. I can't help but think that God has some kind of plans for me in this endeavor. I can take a guest with me so if you should have the time and the money for travel in December, please let me know right away. Otherwise, I'll be traveling on my own over to China in December, but I know I won't be alone...
I plan, on this trip, to upgrade my cell phone to one that I can use while in China. Glenda was able to make calls the whole time she was in China, although she said the 15-hour time difference makes timing calls difficult. Knowing that any rental issues could be dealt with in this manner gives me more ease of mind. The dates of this trip are so good for my being away from R & L Leasing. Rents will have come in and been deposited and recorded, and bills will all be paid in advance. I see this trip as God's invitation to go out and meet some people.
Friday, before this exciting letter arrived, I had another fulfilling thing occur. My son Will was over in Orange, Texas, on a job for Trane, and he invited me to meet him for lunch. This is a first, and I hope it won't be the last. I loved getting to run over to Orange, a thirty-minute drive away, and spend an hour with Will and his friend John. (See Photo #1) I've known Will now for almost 13 years, and we're more and more scratching the surface in sharing our lives with one another. I feel so blessed to have him in my life.
The Grief Workshop that I attended at my church last Tuesday night taught me that I still have grieving to do about giving Will up when he was a baby. In recounting my story about the losses in my life, I stirred up tears at many junctures, including this one. I also cried about my later infertility and losing so much when I lost Craig. Revisiting these old wounds was a cleansing thing, I feel. Interestingly, I seem all cried out about Ray. I feel I've mourned Ray in the healthiest way I've ever grieved anyone. He was such a positive chapter to my life. I'm so glad I've come full cycle through the mourning cycle to remembering him with such good thoughts. Losing Craig was even worth it because I found Ray in the end. The people who have volunteered their time to bring this Grief Workshop to First Presbyterian are wonderful people. They opened and closed the session with a man playing a Native American flute. It will be calling me back again soon. I'm so sorry that I have to miss the session tomorrow night. I'll be back the next week.
Another very moving experience that I feel God brought into my life this week was the Women's Spirituality and Anger Retreat that Judy Savoie facilitated yesterday at the home of Eileen Cormie's parents. (See Photo #2) The Women of Spirit gathered for a long afternoon to look deeply into a time when anger came up, a time when anger got resolved and how it got resolved. Again, my infertility and losing Craig over it was what came up for me. I don't think I had ever thought until yesterday about how angry that whole situation made me--angry with Craig for leaving me over infertility and angry with God for seemingly punishing me for my teenage pregnancy. Again, I feel cleansed through this kind of process. Dredging it up and verbalizing it, somehow this takes some of the power away. God obviously knows what He's doing in guiding me to these places.
A broccoli soup supper was served after the closing ritual of blessing each other's hands with dust. We had each brought a soup bowl to exchange with another Theresian. The person who contributed the bowl we each picked became our prayer partner for the year. I picked Brenda Veazey's beautiful cobalt blue painted bowl, and Rachel Rauland picked the heart-shaped cobalt bowl I had brought. I'll be praying for both of these women, and I hope they will hold me in their prayers, too. I drove by The Gardens on my way home, and on a whim, I popped in for a short visit with Elday Latiolais, my dear friend. I caught her at a good time, and she told me all about the 50th Anniversary celebration at Lady of Good Counsel that she'd attended that day. I, of course, was bubbling over about China.
It was interesting, the progression I took in deciding that this China trip was feasible. When the Pelzers saw me Friday night for dinner at Archie's, I was still in the mode of I can only do this if more Mesothelioma money comes in, but after investigating further and talking to more people, I decided that the signs are just too clear that this is the time for me to go. Everything is thankfully falling into place for me to do it now.
In this week of so much soul-searching in me, God also gave me a day to contemplate at home. I couldn't believe it when I awakened on Thursday morning and found out that school was closed. Hurricane Humberto surprised us all with its quickly forming into a hurricane so close to shore and barreling its way through people's homes west of here. When I drove over to Orange on Friday, I saw Interstate signs that were down, and I know it was even worse in Beaumont. Anyway, I stayed home all day Thursday, didn't venture out until choir practice time. The hurricane for us, though was a non-event. It was downpouring when I got up at 5:45 a.m., but by 7:00 a.m. it had stopped, and it never did rain again. They were predicting up to 15 inches of rain, and that's why schools closed, but it never happened. God had to have had a hand in that...
The day before I had spent with Diane Pelzer at The Eye Clinic again. She had her right eye zapped this time, and with that procedure, she's now done with this long ordeal of getting the cataracts out of her eyes. She told me Friday that she can read again--at last!! She and I had lunch that day and did a little shopping as usual. (See Photo #3) There are still some really good 75% off sales going on. There's nothing like a good bargain.
Wednesday night, I attended the Family Night Supper at church. (See Photo #4) I love the feel of this kind of gathering. Everybody brings something, and when it's all laid out, there's something for everyone's tastes. I think we all have happy memories of these dinners from childhood, and we get to continue them as adults. The evening's entertainment was based on apples, an autumn fruit. Carolyn Sharp comes up with really cute ideas to make us all laugh and enjoy ourselves. A questionnaire on little-known apple facts, along with bobbing for apples, was on the agenda. (See Photos #5 & #6) Lots of people, including Rev. Seay, got into the act. It was hilarious.
Celena Perry, Phyllis Morgan, and I tried everything to find someone to take Cissie McLeod's place when we went to the theater on Saturday night, but nobody turned up. We were a threesome this time. (See Photo #7) The play we went to see was one by Neil Simon's daughter, Ellen, called "Moonlight and Valentino." We came away feeling like she must have been coasting on the laurels of her dad in getting this play published because the lines were really bad. They were often the kind of lines that were so awful that they made you groan. I felt sorry for the actors trying to bring life into this story. Valentino was very cute, though...
The reason my letter this week is an evening letter is because of all my activity toward this China trip and because of Open House at St. Louis tonight. I may have only eight senior girls this year in my class, but I think all their parents showed up. I was sorry we only had seven minutes and I didn't get to talk personally to each of them. (See Photo #8) I gave my spiel, which I never really plan out word for word. I just trust that whatever I'm supposed to say, God will trigger the scripts in my mind. I did get across that I'm very happy to be teaching their children this particular course. It's the favorite of my teaching career.
My rental business has been quiet in recent days. A burned out fluorescent light is the only thing I heard about this week. Ted has bought the paint and caulk to get started on my bathroom renovation. He's asked me to go pick out a faucet for my sink, which I'll do tomorrow. He's giving me the gift of his labor for this project for my birthday present. I'm very grateful, but don't really look forward to the temporary upheaval. It's a good time to do it, though. As I said, things have been quiet with my tenants this week. Just please keep Abba in your prayers with this. She loves to climb into the upper echelons often, (See Photo #9) and she'll have to be locked up while Ted and his helper are in the house.
I hope all goes well with each of you. When I gather my thoughts each week to write this letter, I think of all of you who will receive it and possibly have time to read and enjoy it. You're in my heart...
Love, Linda
"Whatever you do may seem insignificant,
but it is most important that you do it."
--Gandhi
God seemed intent on stirring me up this week. The experiences that have presented themselves have taken me to deep levels of grief, to memories of extreme anger from the past, to elation over the possibility of that trip to China I'd been dreaming about. I feel a bit wrung out, as a result, but I think this is a good thing.
The possible trip to China is highmost in my mind right now. I received a letter Friday from the People to People Ambassador Programs. Someone has nominated me to be a delegate for an international professional and cultural program related to women in society. I'm wondering if one of you reading this letter was the loving soul who has made this inviting experience possible. The conference will run from December 9-21, leaving from L.A. I made an appointment with Glenda Williams, the Academic Assistant Principal, this morning about the possibility of missing my last class before Christmas break and my semester exam. I had already consulted with Barbara Dupont, my department head, about the logistics of missing these two classes. Quickly, and with the hand of God in it, it's all coming together rapidly. I will talk to my Merrill Lynch advisor on Thursday about pulling the funds together to go. Glenda Williams just went on a similar junket two summers ago, and she said the price is good. She also filled me in on a lot details about what this trip will be like. I'm just feeling that it's too good an opportunity to pass up. This trip would combine meeting people from around the world with seeing sights that I've only seen in movies.
President Eisenhower started this Ambassador Program during his administration in the 1950's. He believed that if people from different cultures met face to face and with good will that world peace would ensue. A private organization continues promoting this idea through these various professional programs. If you're interested yourself in pursuing this kind of travel, go to www.ambassadorprograms.org. The itinerary for my trip can be pulled up. I will be traveling to three cities--Beijing, Guiyang, and Shanghai, seeing many of the famous sights, but what most appeals to me about this kind of trip is that I'll also be interfacing with people from China and people from lots of other places, too. I can't help but think that God has some kind of plans for me in this endeavor. I can take a guest with me so if you should have the time and the money for travel in December, please let me know right away. Otherwise, I'll be traveling on my own over to China in December, but I know I won't be alone...
I plan, on this trip, to upgrade my cell phone to one that I can use while in China. Glenda was able to make calls the whole time she was in China, although she said the 15-hour time difference makes timing calls difficult. Knowing that any rental issues could be dealt with in this manner gives me more ease of mind. The dates of this trip are so good for my being away from R & L Leasing. Rents will have come in and been deposited and recorded, and bills will all be paid in advance. I see this trip as God's invitation to go out and meet some people.
Friday, before this exciting letter arrived, I had another fulfilling thing occur. My son Will was over in Orange, Texas, on a job for Trane, and he invited me to meet him for lunch. This is a first, and I hope it won't be the last. I loved getting to run over to Orange, a thirty-minute drive away, and spend an hour with Will and his friend John. (See Photo #1) I've known Will now for almost 13 years, and we're more and more scratching the surface in sharing our lives with one another. I feel so blessed to have him in my life.
The Grief Workshop that I attended at my church last Tuesday night taught me that I still have grieving to do about giving Will up when he was a baby. In recounting my story about the losses in my life, I stirred up tears at many junctures, including this one. I also cried about my later infertility and losing so much when I lost Craig. Revisiting these old wounds was a cleansing thing, I feel. Interestingly, I seem all cried out about Ray. I feel I've mourned Ray in the healthiest way I've ever grieved anyone. He was such a positive chapter to my life. I'm so glad I've come full cycle through the mourning cycle to remembering him with such good thoughts. Losing Craig was even worth it because I found Ray in the end. The people who have volunteered their time to bring this Grief Workshop to First Presbyterian are wonderful people. They opened and closed the session with a man playing a Native American flute. It will be calling me back again soon. I'm so sorry that I have to miss the session tomorrow night. I'll be back the next week.
Another very moving experience that I feel God brought into my life this week was the Women's Spirituality and Anger Retreat that Judy Savoie facilitated yesterday at the home of Eileen Cormie's parents. (See Photo #2) The Women of Spirit gathered for a long afternoon to look deeply into a time when anger came up, a time when anger got resolved and how it got resolved. Again, my infertility and losing Craig over it was what came up for me. I don't think I had ever thought until yesterday about how angry that whole situation made me--angry with Craig for leaving me over infertility and angry with God for seemingly punishing me for my teenage pregnancy. Again, I feel cleansed through this kind of process. Dredging it up and verbalizing it, somehow this takes some of the power away. God obviously knows what He's doing in guiding me to these places.
A broccoli soup supper was served after the closing ritual of blessing each other's hands with dust. We had each brought a soup bowl to exchange with another Theresian. The person who contributed the bowl we each picked became our prayer partner for the year. I picked Brenda Veazey's beautiful cobalt blue painted bowl, and Rachel Rauland picked the heart-shaped cobalt bowl I had brought. I'll be praying for both of these women, and I hope they will hold me in their prayers, too. I drove by The Gardens on my way home, and on a whim, I popped in for a short visit with Elday Latiolais, my dear friend. I caught her at a good time, and she told me all about the 50th Anniversary celebration at Lady of Good Counsel that she'd attended that day. I, of course, was bubbling over about China.
It was interesting, the progression I took in deciding that this China trip was feasible. When the Pelzers saw me Friday night for dinner at Archie's, I was still in the mode of I can only do this if more Mesothelioma money comes in, but after investigating further and talking to more people, I decided that the signs are just too clear that this is the time for me to go. Everything is thankfully falling into place for me to do it now.
In this week of so much soul-searching in me, God also gave me a day to contemplate at home. I couldn't believe it when I awakened on Thursday morning and found out that school was closed. Hurricane Humberto surprised us all with its quickly forming into a hurricane so close to shore and barreling its way through people's homes west of here. When I drove over to Orange on Friday, I saw Interstate signs that were down, and I know it was even worse in Beaumont. Anyway, I stayed home all day Thursday, didn't venture out until choir practice time. The hurricane for us, though was a non-event. It was downpouring when I got up at 5:45 a.m., but by 7:00 a.m. it had stopped, and it never did rain again. They were predicting up to 15 inches of rain, and that's why schools closed, but it never happened. God had to have had a hand in that...
The day before I had spent with Diane Pelzer at The Eye Clinic again. She had her right eye zapped this time, and with that procedure, she's now done with this long ordeal of getting the cataracts out of her eyes. She told me Friday that she can read again--at last!! She and I had lunch that day and did a little shopping as usual. (See Photo #3) There are still some really good 75% off sales going on. There's nothing like a good bargain.
Wednesday night, I attended the Family Night Supper at church. (See Photo #4) I love the feel of this kind of gathering. Everybody brings something, and when it's all laid out, there's something for everyone's tastes. I think we all have happy memories of these dinners from childhood, and we get to continue them as adults. The evening's entertainment was based on apples, an autumn fruit. Carolyn Sharp comes up with really cute ideas to make us all laugh and enjoy ourselves. A questionnaire on little-known apple facts, along with bobbing for apples, was on the agenda. (See Photos #5 & #6) Lots of people, including Rev. Seay, got into the act. It was hilarious.
Celena Perry, Phyllis Morgan, and I tried everything to find someone to take Cissie McLeod's place when we went to the theater on Saturday night, but nobody turned up. We were a threesome this time. (See Photo #7) The play we went to see was one by Neil Simon's daughter, Ellen, called "Moonlight and Valentino." We came away feeling like she must have been coasting on the laurels of her dad in getting this play published because the lines were really bad. They were often the kind of lines that were so awful that they made you groan. I felt sorry for the actors trying to bring life into this story. Valentino was very cute, though...
The reason my letter this week is an evening letter is because of all my activity toward this China trip and because of Open House at St. Louis tonight. I may have only eight senior girls this year in my class, but I think all their parents showed up. I was sorry we only had seven minutes and I didn't get to talk personally to each of them. (See Photo #8) I gave my spiel, which I never really plan out word for word. I just trust that whatever I'm supposed to say, God will trigger the scripts in my mind. I did get across that I'm very happy to be teaching their children this particular course. It's the favorite of my teaching career.
My rental business has been quiet in recent days. A burned out fluorescent light is the only thing I heard about this week. Ted has bought the paint and caulk to get started on my bathroom renovation. He's asked me to go pick out a faucet for my sink, which I'll do tomorrow. He's giving me the gift of his labor for this project for my birthday present. I'm very grateful, but don't really look forward to the temporary upheaval. It's a good time to do it, though. As I said, things have been quiet with my tenants this week. Just please keep Abba in your prayers with this. She loves to climb into the upper echelons often, (See Photo #9) and she'll have to be locked up while Ted and his helper are in the house.
I hope all goes well with each of you. When I gather my thoughts each week to write this letter, I think of all of you who will receive it and possibly have time to read and enjoy it. You're in my heart...
Love, Linda
"Whatever you do may seem insignificant,
but it is most important that you do it."
--Gandhi
Monday, September 10, 2007
Monday Afternoon Reflections - September 10, 2007
Dear Family and Friends,
I feel like my whole planet Earth is in harmony with the way my friends and family reached out to touch me for my birthday this past week. Thank each of you for the attention and love you've sent out to me through phonecalls, cards, e-cards, presents, and meals together. I feel graced by God that you are a part of my life. My family will be gathering for fall birthdays the weekend of October 26, so the celebrating will be extended until then for me. Each year becomes more precious to me. Knowing that Ray's 56th year was his last year, I go forth to make the most of every day I have left. My life becomes more meaningful in that way.
Last week, I was telling you the woes of my car troubles. This week, let me tell you that I feel like the Lord moved in my favor. Last Tuesday, the day after the Labor Day holiday, I was on the phone at 7:00 a.m., calling Ramon Capeles, my VW mechanic about what happened to my car on Sunday morning. He told me to have it towed over to his shop so that he could investigate. Minutes later, I called AAA, and within an hour, a tow truck appeared, and I was able to get this situation handled before I had to be up at school to teach my class at 9:00. (See Photo #1) Joan Vallee-Rettke was kind enough to give me a ride over to St. Louis so I didn't have to be hot and sweaty walking over there. I felt like an idiot when I discovered that the reason why I couldn't get my car out of Park was because I didn't have my foot on the brake. Thank God that was all that was. The tow driver was easily able to get it on his truck, and away it went.
After my class, Gayla Abshire was kind enough to alter our original plans for lunch and bring Wendy's salads for us both to eat. While we were sitting down to eat this lunch, the phone rang, and I had good news about my car. The computer was not blanked out like I had feared; there was simply a loose wire going to the fuse box. Maybe I didn't even need a new battery the week before. Maybe that was the problem all along. But anyway, I'm glad to have a new battery and to feel secure again about my car starting when I turn the key. I hope I think about my gratitude to God every time I turn the key from now on. I couldn't help but notice the orchestration that made this whole ordeal so easy and non-interrupting-of-my-life for me.
Tuesday night was the last belly dancing class. We had learned all the basic belly dancing shimmies and shakes, and we had learned to apply them in a dance called "Chiribim" and another slower one danced with veils. The whole experience was a good time. On Tuesday night, our instructor, Anne Monlezun, passed out certificates, and we had to shimmy up to her to pick out own personal navel gem. (See Photo #2) I picked cobalt blue, of course! Afterwards, Anne posed us for a final group graduation shot. (See Photo #3) We're almost all open to going another round of this together, but Anne won't be available again until October. We'll see if the belly dancing continues in my life...
I started a new Bible Study at my church on Wednesday at noon. Dr. T. L. Lewis is taking on the project of exploring the Book of Acts with a group that seems to be growing. I didn't make it the first week, but there were a bunch of us this time who were brand new. I'm sorry I'm going to miss this week's session, but I will be going with Diane Pelzer to The Eye Clinic for an appointment. I look forward to seeing everybody in another week.
Wednesday night a spontaneous birthday celebration erupted with Cissie McLeod and Wendy Dees. (See Photo #4) As you can see, Logan's was the spot we picked for this supper. We had a good time sharing our stories over steak salads. Wendy was kind enough to treat both Cissie and me to dinner in honor of our recent birthdays.
Thursday, the actual day of my birthday, I got the gift of not having to teach school that day. Due to the altered schedule for Labor Day, my class didn't meet. I had the day to just kick back and enjoy the cards and phone calls I received all day and night. I had a hair appointment at 10:30, and Sheila Tradewell, my beautician, posed with me for a picture. (See Photo #5) I was dressed up for the Profit and Loss Luncheon that I shared with Debbie Perry and Karen Dore and her son Jonathan. The guest speaker, James Groves, introduced us to a project of Samaritan's Purse called Operation Christmas Child. Debbie and I looked at each other during the presentation and agreed that this is a good possibility for a mission project for our Women of Spirit Theresian group. We'll tell everybody about it at the retreat next Sunday.
I stopped by St. Louis on my way home from this luncheon to talk to the new counselor, Gisele Puckett, about the senior portfolios she's proposing. We came to the agreement that my seniors need to write essays for this project that they can actually use for their applications to colleges. I presented this to them the next morning, and they're going to do two of them in the next two coming weeks, on top of the other assignments I have planned for them. Class has been going well. It's such a pleasure to have lesson plans turn out even better than I had hoped they would. I can truly say that with every year, teaching has become more and more an art form for me. I plan a class, and then I execute it. With the magic that occurs in this orchestration, I can say I feel like I've completed a piece of art when I'm finished. It's a very good feeling.
One of my oldest friends, Barb Klebe Baker, called me on Friday from Daytona Beach, Florida, where she's visiting a friend of her this week. Talking to her always brings home to me how important these connections that I have for the duration of my life are to me. Every week when I send out this letter, I'm reaching out to not just my aunts, uncles, cousins, and siblings, but I also send it out to friends from around the globe that I've met over the years and to four special people that I started kindergarten with in Elkhorn, Nebraska, more than fifty years ago. I live in a town where there are lots of people who have connections like this, too, but I also know that in this day and age, staying connected to our pasts to this degree is not heard of so often. I'm very grateful for all of you in my life.
I had a real urge on Friday to go buy myself some birthday presents. I learned while I was living in Galveston, those years of being divorced, that one of the best things I could do for myself on my birthday or some other special occasion was to go out a treat myself to something I really love. In this case, I felt like God was moving me along, and I found a beautiful brown fall outfit at TiCi's, 75% off Nurture brand sandals at Dillard's, and a green and brown necklace and earring set at Talbot's. My birthday was complete this way. I also found another cobalt blue cross at a Touch of Glass. (See Photo #6) I've symbolically placed it in the spot where this plaque used to be at my table. (See Photo #7) Somehow this represents the changes in my since Ray has passed away. I turn more and more in my daily thinking toward God in my life.
I spent all day Saturday at our First Presbyterian Church Choir Retreat. Chris Miller, our choir director, had put a lot of thought and effort into the music he had us sight read that day. A theme that I noticed in his choice of titles was the idea that music is a ministry, music is our way of serving God in our church and in the world. The anthem that we prepared for yesterday's service was called "Instrument of Grace." We ask God to make us instruments of grace, to help us to bring the message of his love to those around us. Although my voice got tired and strained by the end of the day, I was so happy to have a voice that might be shared with others. We had new people and old who came together to share the day. (See Photo #8) It was a happy place to be.
After the retreat, both Ann Knapp and Sarah Harmon asked me if I had some photos that they might use for a Power Point presentation they're putting together for the Session. It made me feel good to know that my penchant for taking photos everywhere I go is coming into good favor. I have to tell all of you who are reading this that I feel like I'm following in my mother's footsteps in being the unofficial photographer for my church since I joined in 2005. My mother used to do the same thing for her church when she was alive. My brother Lee, who inherited all of the photo albums she left behind, can attest to the many, many pages of photos of people from my mother's Lutheran Church in Pasadena, Texas. My mother captioned all of them and would have made a great historian for her church. When my Circle was discussing the historian position for the Presbyterian Women at my church yesterday, I also thought about my mother and how great she would have been for such a position. I like to take the photos, but unfortunately, I don't really know everybody at my church quite yet. I will continue to take photos, though, and hopefully there will be other occasions when they would become useful to somebody.
Sunday at the 11:00 service, the Chancel Choir was commissioned for our ministry in 2007-2008. The sermon was entitled "We Can't Pick Family," and I had fun thinking over the family I have actually picked in my life. One thing I've learned from moving around the world a bit is that everywhere you go, "family" somehow spontaneously happens among people. When I lived in Cairo, the holidays were celebrated in new ways, and the people who gathered became our surrogate sisters and brothers. Even now living in Lake Charles where I don't actually have any blood relatives, I find myself feeling warm and close feelings to the people in my life. So in a way, God does provide us with ways to pick our family. It's just not the usual way of thinking.
The Sunday Circle met yesterday afternoon to kick off the new year. We're studying Jonah and Ruth, which might seem strange to you, but they both were called by God to do some amazing things. I imagine through this experience of studying them, we will also find ourselves realizing that we are each called by God to do useful things in His world. This group was also a mixture of old and new faces. (See Photo #9) It was good to come together again.
Abbakadabra has been cute again this week. She is such a sweet companion to me. (See Photo #10)
My brother Lee got safely back to Houston Sunday morning. He was exhausted when I talked to him, but he thought he was going to try to stay up all day after staying up all night, just to get back in sync with his family. I hope he was able to take today off from work so that he could truly get rested and caught up from such a strenuous and productive trip to Bolivia. They had much success in doing heart surgeries on children. I know the whole team must have a real sense of doing God's work in the world, going down there.
I feel a real sense of it myself. May we all have a good week ahead...
With love and blessings, Linda
"Whatever you do may seem insignificant,
but it is most important that you do it."
--Gandhi
I feel like my whole planet Earth is in harmony with the way my friends and family reached out to touch me for my birthday this past week. Thank each of you for the attention and love you've sent out to me through phonecalls, cards, e-cards, presents, and meals together. I feel graced by God that you are a part of my life. My family will be gathering for fall birthdays the weekend of October 26, so the celebrating will be extended until then for me. Each year becomes more precious to me. Knowing that Ray's 56th year was his last year, I go forth to make the most of every day I have left. My life becomes more meaningful in that way.
Last week, I was telling you the woes of my car troubles. This week, let me tell you that I feel like the Lord moved in my favor. Last Tuesday, the day after the Labor Day holiday, I was on the phone at 7:00 a.m., calling Ramon Capeles, my VW mechanic about what happened to my car on Sunday morning. He told me to have it towed over to his shop so that he could investigate. Minutes later, I called AAA, and within an hour, a tow truck appeared, and I was able to get this situation handled before I had to be up at school to teach my class at 9:00. (See Photo #1) Joan Vallee-Rettke was kind enough to give me a ride over to St. Louis so I didn't have to be hot and sweaty walking over there. I felt like an idiot when I discovered that the reason why I couldn't get my car out of Park was because I didn't have my foot on the brake. Thank God that was all that was. The tow driver was easily able to get it on his truck, and away it went.
After my class, Gayla Abshire was kind enough to alter our original plans for lunch and bring Wendy's salads for us both to eat. While we were sitting down to eat this lunch, the phone rang, and I had good news about my car. The computer was not blanked out like I had feared; there was simply a loose wire going to the fuse box. Maybe I didn't even need a new battery the week before. Maybe that was the problem all along. But anyway, I'm glad to have a new battery and to feel secure again about my car starting when I turn the key. I hope I think about my gratitude to God every time I turn the key from now on. I couldn't help but notice the orchestration that made this whole ordeal so easy and non-interrupting-of-my-life for me.
Tuesday night was the last belly dancing class. We had learned all the basic belly dancing shimmies and shakes, and we had learned to apply them in a dance called "Chiribim" and another slower one danced with veils. The whole experience was a good time. On Tuesday night, our instructor, Anne Monlezun, passed out certificates, and we had to shimmy up to her to pick out own personal navel gem. (See Photo #2) I picked cobalt blue, of course! Afterwards, Anne posed us for a final group graduation shot. (See Photo #3) We're almost all open to going another round of this together, but Anne won't be available again until October. We'll see if the belly dancing continues in my life...
I started a new Bible Study at my church on Wednesday at noon. Dr. T. L. Lewis is taking on the project of exploring the Book of Acts with a group that seems to be growing. I didn't make it the first week, but there were a bunch of us this time who were brand new. I'm sorry I'm going to miss this week's session, but I will be going with Diane Pelzer to The Eye Clinic for an appointment. I look forward to seeing everybody in another week.
Wednesday night a spontaneous birthday celebration erupted with Cissie McLeod and Wendy Dees. (See Photo #4) As you can see, Logan's was the spot we picked for this supper. We had a good time sharing our stories over steak salads. Wendy was kind enough to treat both Cissie and me to dinner in honor of our recent birthdays.
Thursday, the actual day of my birthday, I got the gift of not having to teach school that day. Due to the altered schedule for Labor Day, my class didn't meet. I had the day to just kick back and enjoy the cards and phone calls I received all day and night. I had a hair appointment at 10:30, and Sheila Tradewell, my beautician, posed with me for a picture. (See Photo #5) I was dressed up for the Profit and Loss Luncheon that I shared with Debbie Perry and Karen Dore and her son Jonathan. The guest speaker, James Groves, introduced us to a project of Samaritan's Purse called Operation Christmas Child. Debbie and I looked at each other during the presentation and agreed that this is a good possibility for a mission project for our Women of Spirit Theresian group. We'll tell everybody about it at the retreat next Sunday.
I stopped by St. Louis on my way home from this luncheon to talk to the new counselor, Gisele Puckett, about the senior portfolios she's proposing. We came to the agreement that my seniors need to write essays for this project that they can actually use for their applications to colleges. I presented this to them the next morning, and they're going to do two of them in the next two coming weeks, on top of the other assignments I have planned for them. Class has been going well. It's such a pleasure to have lesson plans turn out even better than I had hoped they would. I can truly say that with every year, teaching has become more and more an art form for me. I plan a class, and then I execute it. With the magic that occurs in this orchestration, I can say I feel like I've completed a piece of art when I'm finished. It's a very good feeling.
One of my oldest friends, Barb Klebe Baker, called me on Friday from Daytona Beach, Florida, where she's visiting a friend of her this week. Talking to her always brings home to me how important these connections that I have for the duration of my life are to me. Every week when I send out this letter, I'm reaching out to not just my aunts, uncles, cousins, and siblings, but I also send it out to friends from around the globe that I've met over the years and to four special people that I started kindergarten with in Elkhorn, Nebraska, more than fifty years ago. I live in a town where there are lots of people who have connections like this, too, but I also know that in this day and age, staying connected to our pasts to this degree is not heard of so often. I'm very grateful for all of you in my life.
I had a real urge on Friday to go buy myself some birthday presents. I learned while I was living in Galveston, those years of being divorced, that one of the best things I could do for myself on my birthday or some other special occasion was to go out a treat myself to something I really love. In this case, I felt like God was moving me along, and I found a beautiful brown fall outfit at TiCi's, 75% off Nurture brand sandals at Dillard's, and a green and brown necklace and earring set at Talbot's. My birthday was complete this way. I also found another cobalt blue cross at a Touch of Glass. (See Photo #6) I've symbolically placed it in the spot where this plaque used to be at my table. (See Photo #7) Somehow this represents the changes in my since Ray has passed away. I turn more and more in my daily thinking toward God in my life.
I spent all day Saturday at our First Presbyterian Church Choir Retreat. Chris Miller, our choir director, had put a lot of thought and effort into the music he had us sight read that day. A theme that I noticed in his choice of titles was the idea that music is a ministry, music is our way of serving God in our church and in the world. The anthem that we prepared for yesterday's service was called "Instrument of Grace." We ask God to make us instruments of grace, to help us to bring the message of his love to those around us. Although my voice got tired and strained by the end of the day, I was so happy to have a voice that might be shared with others. We had new people and old who came together to share the day. (See Photo #8) It was a happy place to be.
After the retreat, both Ann Knapp and Sarah Harmon asked me if I had some photos that they might use for a Power Point presentation they're putting together for the Session. It made me feel good to know that my penchant for taking photos everywhere I go is coming into good favor. I have to tell all of you who are reading this that I feel like I'm following in my mother's footsteps in being the unofficial photographer for my church since I joined in 2005. My mother used to do the same thing for her church when she was alive. My brother Lee, who inherited all of the photo albums she left behind, can attest to the many, many pages of photos of people from my mother's Lutheran Church in Pasadena, Texas. My mother captioned all of them and would have made a great historian for her church. When my Circle was discussing the historian position for the Presbyterian Women at my church yesterday, I also thought about my mother and how great she would have been for such a position. I like to take the photos, but unfortunately, I don't really know everybody at my church quite yet. I will continue to take photos, though, and hopefully there will be other occasions when they would become useful to somebody.
Sunday at the 11:00 service, the Chancel Choir was commissioned for our ministry in 2007-2008. The sermon was entitled "We Can't Pick Family," and I had fun thinking over the family I have actually picked in my life. One thing I've learned from moving around the world a bit is that everywhere you go, "family" somehow spontaneously happens among people. When I lived in Cairo, the holidays were celebrated in new ways, and the people who gathered became our surrogate sisters and brothers. Even now living in Lake Charles where I don't actually have any blood relatives, I find myself feeling warm and close feelings to the people in my life. So in a way, God does provide us with ways to pick our family. It's just not the usual way of thinking.
The Sunday Circle met yesterday afternoon to kick off the new year. We're studying Jonah and Ruth, which might seem strange to you, but they both were called by God to do some amazing things. I imagine through this experience of studying them, we will also find ourselves realizing that we are each called by God to do useful things in His world. This group was also a mixture of old and new faces. (See Photo #9) It was good to come together again.
Abbakadabra has been cute again this week. She is such a sweet companion to me. (See Photo #10)
My brother Lee got safely back to Houston Sunday morning. He was exhausted when I talked to him, but he thought he was going to try to stay up all day after staying up all night, just to get back in sync with his family. I hope he was able to take today off from work so that he could truly get rested and caught up from such a strenuous and productive trip to Bolivia. They had much success in doing heart surgeries on children. I know the whole team must have a real sense of doing God's work in the world, going down there.
I feel a real sense of it myself. May we all have a good week ahead...
With love and blessings, Linda
"Whatever you do may seem insignificant,
but it is most important that you do it."
--Gandhi
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Labor Day Reflections - September 3, 2007
Dear Family and Friends,
As of this past Thursday, I had no plans for the Labor Day weekend, but things fell into place, and the holiday has been a rich one. Saturday I met Will, Andrea, and McKenzie at Logan's in Beaumont for an early birthday luncheon. (See Photo #1) They treated me to lunch and shared all the things going on in their lives. I can't tell you how much I cherish this opportunity to have my son and his family in my life. They found a cobalt blue beaded cross to give me for this year's birthday. (See Photo #2) I love it, and I love them. I was so happy to spend a few hours with them Saturday.
On the way home, I felt the urge to do something that Ray and I often did together--stop by an antique mall. I hadn't gone antiquing since before Ray died, and going this past Saturday felt like some kind of hurdle was gotten over. I stopped at the Antique Mall near Orange, Texas, and quickly went in to scan for cobalt blue glass pieces, which is all I'm really interested in buying or collecting. I couldn't believe it when I found a new piece for my cobalt blue bird and fowl collection in my kitchen. (See Photo #3) This one is a turkey-shaped toothpick holder. Somehow finding a new piece to my collection marks some kind of moving-on in me. I can walk into antique stores again.
God had other experiences planned for me on Sunday to mark the two-year anniversary of Ray's death. I don't know whether this is possible, but when my new battery that I just had installed in my VW Jetta on Wednesday died on me Sunday morning as I was leaving for church and with it died the computer in my car, I couldn't help but think that there was some kind of understanding I was to gain from this experience pertaining to Ray in my life. Rev. Fred Seay's sermon on Sunday had references to letting God help us in our life, and out in the congregation, I was realizing that my mind was tracking all kinds of worse-case scenarios about what had just happened to my car. I walked over to the church, by the way, and was about five minutes late for the service. As I was sitting there with my mind reeling and Fred talking about God in our lives, I came to the realization that whatever now happens with my car, this situation doesn't compare in any way to the magnitude of what I was feeling and facing two years ago. God did a funny thing in having me face this new crisis in my life on this particular morning. It's helped me put other things in my life into perspective, and I know He is with me and I will overcome this new setback one way or the other.
Phyllis Morgan has been a jewel in helping me with my car this past week. She gave me several rides to and from the Lake Charles Import Service and home from church on Sunday. In fact, she and I went to DeAngelo's after the service and caught up on each other's lives. With my boundaries about what had happened to my car snapping back into place, she played the role of setting my mind at ease about things I might have to do this week to get this problem solved. I love her for that.
I didn't mind spending most of Sunday at home by myself, thinking about the anniversary of Ray's death and remembering him with loving thoughts, especially since I knew I had an outing planned for today. Joan Vallee-Rettke invited me to ride along with her to Lafayette this morning to meet her son-in-law. Drew, Joan's little grandson, had spent the weekend with her, and it's about half-way from Baton Rouge, where he lives, to bring him back to his parents. With that as the catalyst for this trip, Joan also made it into a birthday celebration for me. She asked me to pick a restaurant for lunch, and I picked Prejean's, where I'd been just a little over a week ago. We had our picture taken with the alligator in that Cajun restaurant. (See Photo #4) Then we ordered a light lunch of eggplant, crabmeat, and shrimp. It was delicious. From there, we went to the Acadiana Mall so that Joan could take back some make-up, and we also stopped into Chico's and Cold Water Creek. I swear the clerks in Cold Water Creek are trained to comment on your jewelry. They did it again this time... Friends of mine from Lake Charles spotted me in Chico's, and I had the clerk snap a happy picture of the four of us. (See Photo #5) Cathy King and Rose Viau are both Theresian sisters of mine. The trip to and from Lafayette afforded Joan and me ample opportunity to visit on all kinds of topics. I hadn't really been with her since she flew to Wisconsin for a family wedding, and I heard all about it on this trip. She also sang "Happy Birthday" to me, and I feel so blessed. My family won't be celebrating fall birthdays until probably sometime in October, so this was nice to feel so special for my 56th birthday.
My rental business was quiet this past week. No one called with emergencies, and Ted was just finishing up a few odds and ends for me. Rents started coming in on Saturday. I had to handle a new situation with one of them, for I had a letter ready to give to my oldest tenant. Her floor has warped, and there is no way I'm going to go through what I went through last winter with trying to repair such a thing with so much stuff in a house and a family trying to live through such a thing. I've given her notice that next August I won't be renewing the Section 8 contract. She has almost a full year to find some place to go. I won't fix that floor until she is out. I've encouraged her to move out sooner than a year from now, but with giving her that much notice, my conscience feels good with this move. Ray used to feel just sick when he'd go over there and see how she was treating our house. Now, with this excuse, I'm getting rid of a tenant he wanted out so many times and just didn't have the heart to confront. I can't fix this floor, though, with her there, so I see it as another hurdle of mine, and I feel good about it. This tenant took the news very philosophically, and it went well.
School continues to bring me pure pleasure. I don't know why I never used the Creative Thinking techniques that I learned how to apply in the classroom during a practicum I did in 1995 in my classroom. I guess it's because AP training that I received didn't go in that kind of direction, but now that I'm starting to apply some of them, I can see how enriching this is going to be for my curriculum. Glenda Williams, our new Academic Assistant Principal at St. Louis, is encouraging all of us to use the new Bloom's taxonomy in setting our learning objectives in the classroom. In this new taxonomy, "creating" something is at the top of that pyramid. With these creative thinking techniques that I'm adding to my lesson plans, I'm getting my students up to that level as often as I can now. Friday the eight girls broke into pairs and took the Rite of Passage paradigm they'd learned about and applied it to the Battle Royal chapter of INVISIBLE MAN. We haven't discussed their symbolic renditions of this yet, but I put these large-sized post-in papers on the wall in the classroom, and each one looks unique and very astute about this topic. My course just got richer and probably a lot more fun. Some of the girls were dying laughing in figuring out what to draw and include in their posters. I think this is a good thing.
I got kind of shocked at the faculty meeting Friday afternoon. We've lost two key people at our school rather suddenly. Bill Simon, our principal, is taking a recruiting job at McNeese State University, and we've also lost our counselor. With Glenda Williams being new to her job, Jim Hughes, the other assistant principal, has a lot on his plate, especially since our building is under construction for a new library. Please hold all of us in your prayers about replacing these positions. Already one person has stepped up to the plate. Gisele Pucket, who came out of retirement to teach a couple of math courses for us, has agreed to take on the counseling position. She retired as a counselor, and I'm sure will do a wonderful job. God is asking her to do a big job.
My brother Lee got off on his trip to Bolivia on Friday. It's going well from what he's said in a couple of emails. The team from Texas Children's Hospital in Houston is doing many open-heart surgeries on children and saving lives. I called Lee's house Thursday night to wish him well, and his eight-year-old Hannah answered the phone. What a nice conversation I had with her! She told me all about so many things, including her first week with a new teacher. She and her sister Jessica have swapped bedrooms, and they're in the process of getting settled into their new spaces. Hannah now has the deep lavender room, and Jessica has the yellow one with the antiques. I'm sure this is serving as a nice distraction from missing their dad.
I got together spontaneously with Brenda Leger on Thursday. Without much notice, we met at a new cafe called Renee's in the Capitol One Building. (See Photo #6) From the photo, you can see that there's a view of downtown Lake Charles from the windows. We went searching bowls for our upcoming Theresian retreat, but we didn't find any in that particular gift shop. We bounced around ideas for where else we might look. Our Theresian group is going to exchange soup bowls this year and bring them each meeting for the simple evening meal provided. Whomever's soup bowl you receive will be your prayer partner for the year. I found a nice one later that day at Tuesday Morning, but I also looked some more when I was in the Antique Mall on Saturday.
It's been a few weeks since I've told you about cute things that Abbakadabra has done. She scared me the other day, getting up into one of the top windows in the house with seemingly no where to jump down safely. (See Photo #7) She's a smart cat, though, and she found a ledge that she could maneuver, and I lured her down with the cap to one of my Diet Lipton Green Teas. She loves those things. They're her favorite toy.
Wish me luck with my car tomorrow. I don't know whether I'm going to have to have the car towed to a VW dealership or whether Ramon Capeles, who replaced my battery on Wednesday, can help me with this. I know everything's locked up with the computer down. I don't even know how they can get the car out of Park to tow it. Surely, there's a way to solve this problem... I'll tell you about it next week.
Lots of love, Linda
"Whatever you do may seem insignificant,
but it is most important that you do it."
--Gandhi
As of this past Thursday, I had no plans for the Labor Day weekend, but things fell into place, and the holiday has been a rich one. Saturday I met Will, Andrea, and McKenzie at Logan's in Beaumont for an early birthday luncheon. (See Photo #1) They treated me to lunch and shared all the things going on in their lives. I can't tell you how much I cherish this opportunity to have my son and his family in my life. They found a cobalt blue beaded cross to give me for this year's birthday. (See Photo #2) I love it, and I love them. I was so happy to spend a few hours with them Saturday.
On the way home, I felt the urge to do something that Ray and I often did together--stop by an antique mall. I hadn't gone antiquing since before Ray died, and going this past Saturday felt like some kind of hurdle was gotten over. I stopped at the Antique Mall near Orange, Texas, and quickly went in to scan for cobalt blue glass pieces, which is all I'm really interested in buying or collecting. I couldn't believe it when I found a new piece for my cobalt blue bird and fowl collection in my kitchen. (See Photo #3) This one is a turkey-shaped toothpick holder. Somehow finding a new piece to my collection marks some kind of moving-on in me. I can walk into antique stores again.
God had other experiences planned for me on Sunday to mark the two-year anniversary of Ray's death. I don't know whether this is possible, but when my new battery that I just had installed in my VW Jetta on Wednesday died on me Sunday morning as I was leaving for church and with it died the computer in my car, I couldn't help but think that there was some kind of understanding I was to gain from this experience pertaining to Ray in my life. Rev. Fred Seay's sermon on Sunday had references to letting God help us in our life, and out in the congregation, I was realizing that my mind was tracking all kinds of worse-case scenarios about what had just happened to my car. I walked over to the church, by the way, and was about five minutes late for the service. As I was sitting there with my mind reeling and Fred talking about God in our lives, I came to the realization that whatever now happens with my car, this situation doesn't compare in any way to the magnitude of what I was feeling and facing two years ago. God did a funny thing in having me face this new crisis in my life on this particular morning. It's helped me put other things in my life into perspective, and I know He is with me and I will overcome this new setback one way or the other.
Phyllis Morgan has been a jewel in helping me with my car this past week. She gave me several rides to and from the Lake Charles Import Service and home from church on Sunday. In fact, she and I went to DeAngelo's after the service and caught up on each other's lives. With my boundaries about what had happened to my car snapping back into place, she played the role of setting my mind at ease about things I might have to do this week to get this problem solved. I love her for that.
I didn't mind spending most of Sunday at home by myself, thinking about the anniversary of Ray's death and remembering him with loving thoughts, especially since I knew I had an outing planned for today. Joan Vallee-Rettke invited me to ride along with her to Lafayette this morning to meet her son-in-law. Drew, Joan's little grandson, had spent the weekend with her, and it's about half-way from Baton Rouge, where he lives, to bring him back to his parents. With that as the catalyst for this trip, Joan also made it into a birthday celebration for me. She asked me to pick a restaurant for lunch, and I picked Prejean's, where I'd been just a little over a week ago. We had our picture taken with the alligator in that Cajun restaurant. (See Photo #4) Then we ordered a light lunch of eggplant, crabmeat, and shrimp. It was delicious. From there, we went to the Acadiana Mall so that Joan could take back some make-up, and we also stopped into Chico's and Cold Water Creek. I swear the clerks in Cold Water Creek are trained to comment on your jewelry. They did it again this time... Friends of mine from Lake Charles spotted me in Chico's, and I had the clerk snap a happy picture of the four of us. (See Photo #5) Cathy King and Rose Viau are both Theresian sisters of mine. The trip to and from Lafayette afforded Joan and me ample opportunity to visit on all kinds of topics. I hadn't really been with her since she flew to Wisconsin for a family wedding, and I heard all about it on this trip. She also sang "Happy Birthday" to me, and I feel so blessed. My family won't be celebrating fall birthdays until probably sometime in October, so this was nice to feel so special for my 56th birthday.
My rental business was quiet this past week. No one called with emergencies, and Ted was just finishing up a few odds and ends for me. Rents started coming in on Saturday. I had to handle a new situation with one of them, for I had a letter ready to give to my oldest tenant. Her floor has warped, and there is no way I'm going to go through what I went through last winter with trying to repair such a thing with so much stuff in a house and a family trying to live through such a thing. I've given her notice that next August I won't be renewing the Section 8 contract. She has almost a full year to find some place to go. I won't fix that floor until she is out. I've encouraged her to move out sooner than a year from now, but with giving her that much notice, my conscience feels good with this move. Ray used to feel just sick when he'd go over there and see how she was treating our house. Now, with this excuse, I'm getting rid of a tenant he wanted out so many times and just didn't have the heart to confront. I can't fix this floor, though, with her there, so I see it as another hurdle of mine, and I feel good about it. This tenant took the news very philosophically, and it went well.
School continues to bring me pure pleasure. I don't know why I never used the Creative Thinking techniques that I learned how to apply in the classroom during a practicum I did in 1995 in my classroom. I guess it's because AP training that I received didn't go in that kind of direction, but now that I'm starting to apply some of them, I can see how enriching this is going to be for my curriculum. Glenda Williams, our new Academic Assistant Principal at St. Louis, is encouraging all of us to use the new Bloom's taxonomy in setting our learning objectives in the classroom. In this new taxonomy, "creating" something is at the top of that pyramid. With these creative thinking techniques that I'm adding to my lesson plans, I'm getting my students up to that level as often as I can now. Friday the eight girls broke into pairs and took the Rite of Passage paradigm they'd learned about and applied it to the Battle Royal chapter of INVISIBLE MAN. We haven't discussed their symbolic renditions of this yet, but I put these large-sized post-in papers on the wall in the classroom, and each one looks unique and very astute about this topic. My course just got richer and probably a lot more fun. Some of the girls were dying laughing in figuring out what to draw and include in their posters. I think this is a good thing.
I got kind of shocked at the faculty meeting Friday afternoon. We've lost two key people at our school rather suddenly. Bill Simon, our principal, is taking a recruiting job at McNeese State University, and we've also lost our counselor. With Glenda Williams being new to her job, Jim Hughes, the other assistant principal, has a lot on his plate, especially since our building is under construction for a new library. Please hold all of us in your prayers about replacing these positions. Already one person has stepped up to the plate. Gisele Pucket, who came out of retirement to teach a couple of math courses for us, has agreed to take on the counseling position. She retired as a counselor, and I'm sure will do a wonderful job. God is asking her to do a big job.
My brother Lee got off on his trip to Bolivia on Friday. It's going well from what he's said in a couple of emails. The team from Texas Children's Hospital in Houston is doing many open-heart surgeries on children and saving lives. I called Lee's house Thursday night to wish him well, and his eight-year-old Hannah answered the phone. What a nice conversation I had with her! She told me all about so many things, including her first week with a new teacher. She and her sister Jessica have swapped bedrooms, and they're in the process of getting settled into their new spaces. Hannah now has the deep lavender room, and Jessica has the yellow one with the antiques. I'm sure this is serving as a nice distraction from missing their dad.
I got together spontaneously with Brenda Leger on Thursday. Without much notice, we met at a new cafe called Renee's in the Capitol One Building. (See Photo #6) From the photo, you can see that there's a view of downtown Lake Charles from the windows. We went searching bowls for our upcoming Theresian retreat, but we didn't find any in that particular gift shop. We bounced around ideas for where else we might look. Our Theresian group is going to exchange soup bowls this year and bring them each meeting for the simple evening meal provided. Whomever's soup bowl you receive will be your prayer partner for the year. I found a nice one later that day at Tuesday Morning, but I also looked some more when I was in the Antique Mall on Saturday.
It's been a few weeks since I've told you about cute things that Abbakadabra has done. She scared me the other day, getting up into one of the top windows in the house with seemingly no where to jump down safely. (See Photo #7) She's a smart cat, though, and she found a ledge that she could maneuver, and I lured her down with the cap to one of my Diet Lipton Green Teas. She loves those things. They're her favorite toy.
Wish me luck with my car tomorrow. I don't know whether I'm going to have to have the car towed to a VW dealership or whether Ramon Capeles, who replaced my battery on Wednesday, can help me with this. I know everything's locked up with the computer down. I don't even know how they can get the car out of Park to tow it. Surely, there's a way to solve this problem... I'll tell you about it next week.
Lots of love, Linda
"Whatever you do may seem insignificant,
but it is most important that you do it."
--Gandhi
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