28 February, 2012

Poetically Meteorological

Day 14 of my poetry challenge asked me to write a poem that included a change in the weather. As always, I exercised some license with the topic. Around here if you don't like the weather, we suggest waiting a few minutes. It'll change - especially this year.

When freezing cold descends on us,
we say we should prepare
with cashmere scarves and toasty gloves
before we go out there.

And if the winds blow in our face,
we quickly to turn around,
or if it snows, we always think
thank God, we’re not snowbound.

We complain if it should rain
until it goes away,
but if the sun shines warm and bright,
we pray that it will stay.

Each of us complains a lot,
but rarely do we do
about the weather anything
at all so it improves.

TGB   

27 February, 2012

{this moment} 40

A Monday ritual. A single image - no words - capturing a moment from the past - sometimes a place with many moments - but somewhere along my life's Journey over which I wish to linger and savor each treasured aspect of the memories it evokes. If you are moved or intrigued by my {this moment}, please leave a comment. On Thursday in a companion ritual called {this memory}, I'll share the story of this moment.
{this moment}

{this moment} is a ritual copied and adapted from cath's wonderful blog ~just my thoughts. She, in turn, borrowed it from Pamanner's Blog. Check out their blogs, and if you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your {this moment} in the comments for each of us to find and see.
TGB   

26 February, 2012

Lunch

An old nun who was living in a convent next to a construction site noticed the coarse language of the workers and decided to spend some time with them to correct their ways. She thought she would take her lunch, sit with the workers, and talk with them.

So she put her sandwich in a brown bag and walked over to the spot where the men were eating. Sporting a big smile, she walked up to the group and asked, "Do you men know Jesus Christ?"

They shook their heads and looked at each other very confused.

One of the workers looked up into the steelworks and yelled out, "Anybody up there know Jesus Christ?"

One of the steelworkers yelled down, "Why?"

The worker yelled back, "'Cause his wife's here with his lunch."
Author Unknown   

25 February, 2012

Tree

Almost every day I photograph this tree near my office window - always from the same angle, the same zoom, and about the same time of day. This is my favorite image from the past week.
TGB   

Copyright © 2012 Thomas G. Brown

To view a video set to music that contains 135 images taken over 12 months, click here.

For the 2010 collection of images, click here.
For the 2011 collection of images, click here.
For the 2012 collection of images, click here.

24 February, 2012

The Age Of Intelligence

This week I posted a photo of one of the gardens designed by Mr. Jefferson at the University of Virginia, and although I should be grading papers, I find myself thinking about Mr. Jefferson and his wonderful intellect. He has had such a profound influence on my life and, in fact, the lives of all Americans.

The exact quote seems to be in some doubt, but this is the way it's noted at the JFK Library. They ought to know. At a White House dinner honoring a variety of Nobel Laureates, President Kennedy remarked, "I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered together at the White House, with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."

High praise, indeed, and Mr. Jefferson deserves it.

I studied at the University of Virginia which he founded and have long ago lost track of the number of visits I have made to his Memorial in Washington or to his beloved home, Montecello, on the southeast edge of Charlottesville. My personal library has numerous biographies and products of his "masterly pen."

I know his life - the good and the not so good, but it's hard not to appreciate most that glorious product of divine inspiration, the Declaration of Independence. John Adams spoke of Jefferson's "peculiar felicity of expression." It's why he was chosen to write the Declaration. Yet there was much in the Declaration that had other inspiration. For example, significant elements of it are owed to John Locke, the great English philosopher. I don't recall ever reading an annotated Declaration that ascribes appropriate credit to others, but The Declaration of Independence: A Study on the History of Political Ideas by C. L. Becker should be good. It is clear that Jefferson was well educated and that his lessons on Locke were well learned. These were two very intelligent men.

It's actually Locke that today's post is about - really just a happy memory and reminder of how helpful our fellow humans can be. Over several trips to England, I had visited his birthplace and where he went to college. On this trip with my younger daughter, I was in search of his grave.

It started ominously. We had spent the night in an old section of Canterbury and in the morning took a cab to the rental car place, leaving our bags at the hotel. I thought we would get the car and drive back for the bags. After taking out every possible kind of insurance on that car (since I was so confident about driving on the left side of the road), we headed back to the hotel. I hadn't, however, counted on the number of one-way and blocked streets in Canterbury. It was like a rabbit warren. We never really got to the hotel, but we did get close enough to walk and get our bags. We were off to the English countryside on a beautiful sunny day.

We managed to get on the road out of town in spite of having no GPS. Lots of traffic - and I was having trouble judging where the left side of the car was since I was driving from the right side of the vehicle. Who said this would be easy? Oops - what was that noise? And why was the left sideview mirror hanging at that odd angle? Evidently I clipped our mirror against the mirror of a car parked on the side of the road. Too much traffic to stop though. Sorry, old chap. Not bad, Thom - on the road 10 minutes and already glad I took out the extra insurance.

Three blocks later I bumped the curbstone coming out of a turn. "Megan, does that sound like a flat tire to you?" Of course. I pulled into a quick-stop-type place and called for road service. My word, I've had quieter rides in bumper cars at an amusement park. An hour or so later were advised we would need a new tire and told where to go. We did manage to get to the tire store which was no small miracle. My extra insurance was now paying for a new tire too. I'm a genius - just like Mr. Locke and Mr. Jefferson. Either that or just prescient.

Another hour or so and we were finally on the motorway and heading northeast - on the hunt for the tiny spot known as High Laver, Essex. Thank goodness.

We arrived at the exit I knew to look for and were now onto a side road off of a side road. So exciting. Forth and back. Back and forth. I couldn't find it. I might not have been lost, but I was sure bewildered.

Just a short distance ahead I saw a couple of utility linemen. I thought if anyone should know their way around these parts, they should. Nope. Never heard of High Laver. They did, however, have some computerized map gear in their truck which they were more than happy to go get. Surely that would reveal the location of the quickly-becoming-mythical High Laver.

Nope, but they were doing all that they could to help a couple of ex-colonists in need. Just about then a jogger came trotting by. They flagged him down and asked him if he could help us.

I said we were looking for High Laver. As soon as he heard my American accent, he said, "Why you must be looking for John Locke. You're close. Turn around, make a left at the first corner, and High Laver will be about a mile down the road on the right." It was, and we arrived at All Saints Church in High Laver and the tomb of John Locke.

IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF
JOHN LOCKE,
1632-1704, WHO LIES BURIED HERE.
HIS PHILOSOPHY GUIDED
THE FOUNDERS OF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

We - and Mr. Jefferson - owe him a great deal. I also owe a debt to all of those Brits who went out of their way to help me out of my self-induced misery. I experienced nothing but generosity and goodwill that day, and I shall continue to remember those gifts and hope that I can honor them by showing similar kindness to others.
TGB   

23 February, 2012

{this memory} 39

This is the story behind last Monday's {this moment}.

You're in Virginia - as was I when I shot this image. More specifically you're at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville where I spent four of the most enjoyable years of my life in the late 1960s.

What is shown is the lower garden behind Pavilion I on the Lawn of the University. Immediately to my right would be what Mr. Jefferson called Hotel A which today houses the offices of The Virginia Quarterly Review. The simple geometric design of the Hotel Garden is typical of Jefferson's period, with border rows of fruit trees and rectilinear beds once used for vegetables and herbs.

To my left would be the University Chapel. Straight ahead through the trees you can just make out the west side of the Rotunda. Behind me is the Alderman Library. Also off to my right was by brother's room when he was a graduate student at the University. His room - 3 West Range - was only as few doors down from the room in which Poe is said to have lived. I often stopped by to see my brother on my way to or from class.

Te serpentine walls were a design of Mr. Jefferson which allowed him to construct sturdy walls that were only one brick thick, thus saving a good deal of money and labor.

This particular photo I took last spring when I attended a fraternity reunion. I never miss an opportunity to return to Charlottesville

So many wonderful memories. I am truly a fortunate man.
TGB  



22 February, 2012

18 Days Later ...

Although I've accepted that I'm still uncertain about the existence of angels, I am pretty sure they believe in me - evidently - when I consider that a few days ago was another big anniversary for me. It was the third anniversary of the day on which the Keepers brought me back to consciousness after nearly three weeks on life support.

It is funny how thoughts bump into each other and then combine into new insights. In reaction to a post about the anniversary of being placed on that artificial life support (see: Amen and Resurrection and Talisman, Talisman), a Reader's comment last year raised the issue of whether writing about the "really big" events in my life had helped me become a different person and then, perhaps by extension, a better person.

That has led me to think a lot about my own reality and to note that I do, in fact, believe I was a better person after that illness a three years ago than I was before and also that I am today a better person than I was just a year ago. So yes, I do think positive change can be the fruit born of such expression - unless, of course, it was those angels again. Hmmm, maybe it's a bit of both.

This anniversary has, of course, been much on my mind, and I have on occasion referred to this commemoration as a remembrance of the day the Sleeper awakened – paraphrasing the lines from Frank Herbert’s Dune novels.

Yes, the Sleeper has awakened – not in just the medical sense though, but in many other ways as well. I am convinced that a portion of what was good in me had fallen fallow - something that those who are closest to me seemed to know intuitively. Such is wisdom. By their caring hands what was uncultivated sprouted anew, and I have come to view writing about these things as one way to plant new seeds.

It is true that this season and those yet to come have a long way to go, and there may still be frost or other unexpected challenges. Those who care for and about me, however, are excellent gardeners, and I am eager to see what together we will harvest.
TGB   

20 February, 2012

{this moment} 39

A Monday ritual. A single image - no words - capturing a moment from the past - sometimes a place with many moments - but somewhere along my life's Journey over which I wish to linger and savor each treasured aspect of the memories it evokes. If you are moved or intrigued by my {this moment}, please leave a comment. On Thursday in a companion ritual called {this memory}, I'll share the story of this moment.
{this moment}
Copyright © 2012 Thomas G. Brown

{this moment} is a ritual copied and adapted from cath's wonderful blog ~just my thoughts. She, in turn, borrowed it from Pamanner's Blog. Check out their blogs, and if you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your {this moment} in the comments for each of us to find and see.
TGB   

19 February, 2012

My Wife Is Poisoning Me

A man went to see the Rabbi. "Rabbi, something terrible is happening, and I have to talk to you about it."

The Rabbi asked, "What's wrong?"

"My wife is poisoning me," the man replied.

The Rabbi, very surprised by this, stated, "I'm sure you're wrong."

"I'm telling you, Rabbi. I'm certain she's poisoning me. What should I do?" pleaded the man.

Then the Rabbi offered, "Tell you what, let me talk to her. I'll see what I can find out, and I'll let you know."

A week later the Rabbi called the man and said, "Well, I spoke to your wife. I spoke to her on the phone for three hours. You want my advice?"

"Yes, please," said the man anxiously.

"Take the poison!"
Author Unknown   

18 February, 2012

Tree

Almost every day I photograph this tree near my office window - always from the same angle, the same zoom, and about the same time of day. This is my favorite image from the past week.
TGB   

Copyright © 2012 Thomas G. Brown

To view a video set to music that contains 135 images taken over 12 months, click here.

For the 2010 collection of images, click here.
For the 2011 collection of images, click here.
For the 2012 collection of images, click here.

16 February, 2012

{this memory} 38

This is the story behind last Monday's {this moment}.

You're in Denmark - as was I when I shot this image. My older daughter and I were on a tour of European cities. This particular stop was for a couple of days in København as we made our way northward from Florence, Passau, and Leipzig.

She had spent a couple of months there in the year between being graduated from university and later starting medical school, and she was eager to show me what she knew of Copenhagen. Although we did not have a lot of time, we did manage a boat tour of the canals, some museums, and a delightful visit to the Tivoli Gardens.

There was also some shopping (window shopping anyway), and as we walked, we came to the pictured spider sculpture in Nortov Square. Called Maman, the sculpture is by Louise Bourgeois, a French-American artist. At around 10 meters in height and made of metal, the sculpture is very imposing. This was a temporary placement of the sculpture, and today there are at least eight bronze casts of it around the world.

My daughter and I survived the spider and continued on our journey. Oslo was next - then Stockholm, Helsinki, and finally Saint Petersburg. So many wonderful memories. I am truly a fortunate man.
TGB   

15 February, 2012

StoryPeople


I have not used this space to recommend web sites - other than great blogs or Indie Ink, but late in 2009 a good friend introduced me to one that had, in turn, been shared with her by one of her good friends. I have continued to enjoy it, and now it's time to share it with you although many of you probably already know it.

It's called StoryPeople, and Brian Andreas, its chief storyteller/artist, offers us Daily Stories that are always brief and always offer a special way of thinking about life. These are usually wryly humorous and occasionally profoundly wise, but you'll always find something to think and smile about. Andreas says the goal is that we "experience this amazing world we live in as a world of imagination & possibility & healing."

Here's a recent favorite:

This one caught my eye initially because of the lighthouse (see The Birth of Salvation) reference, but if one looks hard enough, there are references to wasted effort, danger, redundancy, naïveté, not listening, magical thinking, parenting, efficiency, etc. That's quite an accomplishment for 25 words. It's not quite as ambiguous as an inkblot, but you can probably find in it whatever you need to see. On the other hand, it could just be a clever twist of words.

Enjoy.
TGB

14 February, 2012

Something Happy This Way Comes





17. Happiness
from Chicago Poems

Carl Sandburg, 1916.






I ASKED the professors who teach the meaning of life
            to tell me what is happiness.
And I went to famous executives
            who boss the work of thousands of men.
They all shook their heads
            and gave me a smile as though I was trying to fool with them
And then one Sunday afternoon
            I wandered out along the Desplaines river
And I saw a crowd of Hungarians under the trees with their
            women and children and a keg of beer and an accordion.


That is the problem, isn't it? What is happiness? And what path in life will procure it for us?

My experience has been that it is very much as Sandburg suggests. Happiness is as difficult to define as it to predict accurately what will make us truly happy. Yet, we always know it when we see it. Perhaps when we feel it would be more appropos. Sandburg saw it in the everyday enjoyment of living, and once seen, he knew it to be real.

Throughout the Greek and Roman eras, the Cynics, the Skeptics, the Stoics, the Epicureans, and any number of other groups all sought to define the lifestyle that would ultimately lead to happiness. I find their answers incomplete, but I admire that they tried to find knowledge that would lead to a life well lived. Is that not what happiness is?

I'm not much better than my predecessors though. I can't do a very good job of describing what that is, but I seem to know it when I see it. Fortunately my intuition regarding my own happiness seems to have been pretty good so far - as long as I keep my head in the present. Of this I am certain of - you will find happiness neither in the past nor in the future. Whatever or wherever it is, it is today. Always look there first and look no further.
TGB   

13 February, 2012

{this moment} 38

A Monday ritual. A single image - no words - capturing a moment from the past - sometimes a place with many moments - but somewhere along my life's Journey over which I wish to linger and savor each treasured aspect of the memories it evokes. If you are moved or intrigued by my {this moment}, please leave a comment. On Thursday in a companion ritual called {this memory}, I'll share the story of this moment.
{this moment}
Copyright © 2012 Thomas G. Brown

{this moment} is a ritual copied and adapted from cath's wonderful blog ~just my thoughts. She, in turn, borrowed it from Pamanner's Blog. Check out their blogs, and if you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your {this moment} in the comments for each of us to find and see.
TGB   

12 February, 2012

Paper Money

A well-worn one dollar bill and a similarly distressed twenty dollar bill arrived at a Federal Reserve Bank to be retired. As they moved along the conveyor belt to be burned, they struck up a conversation.

The twenty dollar bill reminisced about its travels all over the country.

"I've had a pretty good life," the twenty proclaimed. "Why, I've been to Las Vegas and Atlantic City, the finest restaurants in New York, performances on Broadway, and even a cruise to the Caribbean."

"Wow!" said the one dollar bill. "You've really had an exciting life!"

"So tell me," said the twenty, "where have you been throughout your lifetime?"

The one dollar bill replied, "Oh, I've been to the Methodist Church, the Baptist Church, and the Lutheran Church. Even the Catholic Church"

The twenty-dollar bill interrupted, "What's a church?"
Author Unknown   

11 February, 2012

Tree

Almost every day I photograph this tree near my office window - always from the same angle, the same zoom, and about the same time of day. This is my favorite image from the past week.
TGB   

Copyright © 2012 Thomas G. Brown

To view a video set to music that contains 135 images taken over 12 months, click here.

For the 2010 collection of images, click here.
For the 2011 collection of images, click here.
For the 2012 collection of images, click here.

10 February, 2012

I'm A Curious (Fellow)

I don't have all of the answers. Evidently, however, I have a gift for understatement. I should have said "Wow! - do I NOT have all of the answers," and there is so much I continue to wonder about.

Preface: I have a medical history that is uncommon. When I was in my early twenties, I was given a rather unpleasant diagnosis and told the illness would probably kill me. When I had another illness two decades later, my wife was told that I would not life through the night. Since then, there have been a couple of other diagnoses that most do not survive. Twice electrodes have been inserted into my heart only to be removed later because of infection. And then there is all of the more routine stuff. My file is quite hefty, and of course, I have recently added several more pages, with more to come next month.

Yet, I have never wondered why these things were happening to me. "Why me?" was simply not part of my thought process. Perhaps conversely, I have wondered why I was still alive - to what end, for what purpose, at whose intervention, if any. Those answers I still seek, but that I am here to write at all is clearly a gift of immense proportion. All I hope is that I don't squander my opportunity. That would, indeed, be tragic.

In Angels and Demons, the Cardinal said, “Mr. Langdon, thanks be to God for sending someone to protect this church. ” Landon replied, “I don’t believe He sent me, Father. ” “Oh, my son, of course He did,” was the Cardinals reaction.

One has to wonder if anyone is ever truly sent to help when we are in peril. Or is it just coincidence when someone gives you just what you need at the most propitious time? One has to wonder when you see the power they exercise, when you see the gifts they bear.

One has to wonder.
One just does.
TGB   

09 February, 2012

{this memory} 37

This is the story behind last Monday's {this moment}.

You're in France - as was I when I shot this image. My younger daughter and I were on a whirlwind tour. We had arrived in Paris via early train from Amsterdam. We ditched our bags and jumped aboard another train for Amboise, just east of Tours.

We arrived there easily enough and headed out on foot for Château d'Amboise. It wasn't a long walk, but it was at least 90˚F under a blazing sun. That 3/4 of a mile seemed to go on forever, but we made it.

After climbing the road into the Chateau we reached our goal. Built on a promontory overlooking the Loire River, it was favorite residence of many French kings. Leonardo is buried in the Chapel of Saint-Hubert, built in 1491–96 adjoining the Château. His tomb is inside, and that chapel is the focus of the image. As a guest of the King, Leonardo da Vinci came to Château in December 1515 and lived and worked in the nearby Clos LucĂ©, connected to the château by an underground passage. We came to see Leonardo and to honor his genius.

My daughter and I survived and made it back to Paris in time for a pleasant dinner and a good night's sleep before heading off to London the next day. So many wonderful memories. I am truly a fortunate man.
TGB   

06 February, 2012

{this moment} 37

A Monday ritual. A single image - no words - capturing a moment from the past - sometimes a place with many moments - but somewhere along my life's Journey over which I wish to linger and savor each treasured aspect of the memories it evokes. If you are moved or intrigued by my {this moment}, please leave a comment. On Thursday in a companion ritual called {this memory}, I'll share the story of this moment.
{this moment}
Copyright © 2012 Thomas G. Brown

{this moment} is a ritual copied and adapted from cath's wonderful blog ~just my thoughts. She, in turn, borrowed it from Pamanner's Blog. Check out their blogs, and if you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your {this moment} in the comments for each of us to find and see.
TGB   

05 February, 2012

Interstate Driving

A State Trooper saw a vehicle on the interstate doing 24 miles an hour and pulled the car over to make sure everything was all right. When he approached the driver, he discovered that a nun was driving.

"Excuse me, Sister, but are you all right," he asked. She replied, "Oh, yes, Officer. We're just fine. Was I doing something wrong?"

The Officer said, "Well, Sister, you were traveling way under the speed limit, and I was concerned that you might be having car trouble or something."

"But, Officer", the nun interrupted, "I saw a sign there about a mile back that said 24, and I know I wasn't going any faster than that."

Chuckling, the Trooper said, "Sister, that was a state highway route marker. This is State Route 24, not the speed limit. The speed limit signs have a MPH at the bottom."

"Oh, now don't I feel foolish!," replied the nun, turning red.

"That's okay, but please try to be more careful. I would hate to see you get hurt," finished the Officer. Then as he turned to say good-bye to the nuns in the back seat, he noticed for the first time that they were trembling violently and quite pale.

"Sister, what is wrong with your friends? Can I escort you to a hospital?" "Oh, no, they're all right." replied the Sister. "We just turned off of Route 135."
Author Unknown   

04 February, 2012

Tree

Almost every day I photograph this tree near my office window - always from the same angle, the same zoom, and about the same time of day. This is my favorite image from the past week - taken for me by a good friend while I was hospitalized.
TGB   

Copyright © 2012 LinnĂ©a E. Franits
Used with permission.

To view a video set to music that contains 135 images taken over 12 months, click here.

For the 2010 collection of images, click here.
For the 2011 collection of images, click here.
For the 2012 collection of images, click here.

03 February, 2012

Poetically Wooden

The poetry challenge has been running for a while now. Today's offering is the result of Day 7: Write a poem about your relationship with an inanimate object. We could debate that term 'inanimate,' but there is no choice for me here. This is about Tree.

And, I am doubly blessed because good friends have been photographing Tree for me while I've been in the hospital. Yay.

Enjoy my Friday offering.



tree



      My life is full,
      though not complete,
      but quite full nonetheless.
      I have some friends,
      my family’s love.  
      I know that I’ve been blessed.

      There are more things
      I wish I had.
      Among them I confess
      there is one thing
      I’d love to own,
      but know I can’t possess.

      There lives a TREE
      close by my door
      about which I obsess.
      It’s clear TREE can’t
      be mine because
      my friends love TREE no less.

      So I’m content
      to share this TREE
      with those who are impressed,
      as long as they
      accept the truth -
      accept TREE loves me best.

TGB   

02 February, 2012

{this memory} 36

This is the story behind last Monday's {this moment} on January 23.

You're looking at my living room in Oneida, probably in the spring of 1978, where students (mostly psychology but not all) were frequently. It's been another party Saturday at Professor Brown's home with food and drink. Students often made the 25 mile run to my farmhouse where we had a great time usually followed by Saturday Night Live. Many would stay over and drive back to Utica on Sunday.

Also in this shot is my future wife (on the couch) and two students - Kathy Hamlin who passed away recently in North Carolina and Jim Ross who I still hear from with delightful frequency.

I have obviously been prevailed upon to share a tune (unknown), and as long as it wasn't I Gave My Love A Cherry from Animal House, we're probably okay. I occasionally pulled out a guitar - yet they still came back. Nice hair, Thom. Even Jesus would be jealous.

Oh my, I was so busy in those days, but what vivid memories I have. I am truly a fortunate man.
TGB