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.

{poetically plagiarized} 1: Frost

The poetry challenge continued, and on Day 31 I was to write a narrative poem dealing with regret and/or self-satisfaction and consisting of four stanzas of iambic tetrameter (though being hypermetric by one beat was allowable). I think I did quite well.

TGB   

The Road Not Taken

               Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
               And sorry I could not travel both
               And be one traveller, long I stood
               And looked down one as far as I could
               To where it bent in the undergrowth;

               Then took the other, as just as fair,
               And having perhaps the better claim,
               Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
               Though as for that the passing there
               Had worn them really about the same,

               And both that morning equally lay
               In leaves no step had trodden black.
               Oh, I kept the first for another day!
               Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
               I doubted if I should ever come back.

               I shall be telling this with a sigh
               Somewhere ages and ages hence:
               Two roads diverged in a wood, and I --
               I took the one less traveled by,
               And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost, 1916       

{this memory} 44

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

You're on the east coast of Florida - Jupiter, to be precise. You're looking at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse. It was first lit in 1860 and automated in 1926. The tower is 108 feet tall but 146 feet above sea level. The light is fixed white and varies with a white flash every 90 seconds and should be visible about 25 nautical miles out to sea.

But that's not the memory - although I do love lighthouses (see: The Birth of Salvation).

The first time I saw this light was a magical evening in 1995. Actually it was the last evening of 1995 - New Year's Eve. I had taken my family to Florida to reune with another branch of the family that had moved there years earlier. About a dozen of us from this area connected with almost two dozen who were there. Three dozen crazy Italians and me!

We chartered a large boat and arranged for a caterer to give us dinner and snacks. We had a deejay and, of course, a bartender. I broke out my tuxedo and fanciest tie and cummerbund. My family dressed in their finest - although not everyone did. As I recall though, everyone did dance and revel and gambol until that particular night was tomorrow.

We set sail and began cruising the intercoastal waterway - getting almost as far south as Palm Beach. Big houses with lots of holiday lights! The evening was perfect - warm with a very gentle breeze and filled with love. It was, in a word, magical.

As we left the dock and navigated toward the intercoastal, Jupiter Light was the first thing I saw as we rounded the first bend. Captivating - and I've been back many times, but I 've never recaptured the magic of that evening.

So many wonderful memories - I am a fortunate man.

TGB

The Sun Also Hides

In yesterday's post I wrote about about the nighttime sky. It reminded me of the fourth or fifth post I wrote for this blog back when I began - this time about the daytime sky. I think it's still worth a read.

___________________________________________________

I’m thinking about eclipses, but I’m not really sure why. I am certain, however, it has nothing to do with Twilight. It could be because I'm heavens-oriented after hearing Age of Aquarius on the radio this morning - very early as I drove my wife and daughter in the dark to the Syracuse airport for a 6:00 am flight. Or it could be because I have always been an astronomy buff and read that one was occurring in southern South America today, and I love the histories of our enchantment with these celestial events. Or it could be because I’m waxing nostalgic with all the women I love out of town.

Solar eclipses, of course, are not all alike; they can be partial or annular or total. You can Google the differences. If you’re expecting totality … well, at any given point on this planet that's a rare occurrence. So if experiencing totality is your goal, be patient. Or be ready to travel.

On March 7, 1970, I observed a total solar eclipse knowing I would not be able to do that again for 47 years – at least not in the continental United States. I gathered with dear friends on the edge of the Atlantic in the most southern part of Virginia Beach, an area that has now been developed although it was not then. We were excited. How could you not be excited?! We were also, however, prepared to view safely - knowing how easily eyes can be damaged by staring directly at the sun. Although all Americans in the lower 48 would experience a partial eclipse, we were among the minority who would be favored with totality.

It all began around 12:40 EST with First Contact as the moon began to move between the earth and the sun, and it would take about an hour to reach totality. Totality had made landfall at about that time in southern Mexico and would quickly move into the Gulf before again making landfall in northern Florida and skirting up the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina. After getting to us it would move back out to sea and finally touch Nantucket before disappearing from the U.S. until 2017. I’d like to say I saw the moon’s shadow rush up the beach toward us, but at about a half/mile per second, I’m sure it seemed instantaneous.

It was a remarkable viewing; we saw everything. Second Contact, when it’s almost total and Baily’s Beads appear, was incredible. Then, about 1:40, we experienced totality – a most eerie midday darkness - for about three minutes, and during that totality we were able to see the elusive Shadow Bands – wavy lines of alternating light and dark – that moved and undulated across the sands. Many professional observers don’t get to see those, but we did. I was humbled. And we saw the corona. Then it was over - Third Contact when the first sunlight emerges from behind the moon and Fourth Contact when the sun is again at full intensity.

Although I’ve tried, there are no adequate words for that experience. I understand why those who can afford it travel the world over to catch these moments of totality. Never have I felt so small and so inspired at the same time. I am a fortunate man.

TGB   

Something Wonderful

Last night was an interesting and emotional evening.

I drove to Albany to pick up my daughter and new grandson, Finn, at the airport. It was my first opportunity to see him. We'll start with 'Wow!'

The drive back was incredible. Having Finn there contributed, of course, but he did sleep the whole way - which he did as well on both of his flights, much to the pleasure of the other passengers, I'm sure.

It was incredible because of the heavens. If you've paid attention, you've read the the skies have been remarkable of late. Our drive was westerly, in general, for about 90 minutes. Looking that direction gave us the most beautiful view of a waxing crescent moon in a cloudless sky. Just to the moon's right was a brilliant Venus, and dangling below that was Jupiter. Another 'Wow!'

We drove straight toward this remarkable vision. It never moved beyond 10 o'clock to our left or 2 o'clock to our right. Most of the time it was dead ahead. If you drew a line from Venus to Jupiter to Earth, it would have stuck in the road in front of us.

Of course, Orion and his belt with its stellar nursery were hanging close by but very low, including Betelgeuse, Rigel, and Bellatrix. And to our north both Big and Little Dippers danced their cosmic circle dance.

Such an amazing view. Auspicious, I believe. I shall long remember the heavens on the night I met my grandson. My horizon was filled with the Moon and Venus and Jupiter and all manner of stars but mostly with young Finn, and my heart was filled with love. Some day I shall tell him about it - about the night he outshone the best the heavens could offer.

TGB   

{this moment} 44

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   

Finding Jesus

A drunk stumbled across a baptismal service on Sunday afternoon down by the river, and he proceeded to walk down into the water where he stood next to the Preacher.

As the minister turned and noticed the old drunk, he said, "Mister, Are you ready to find Jesus?"

The drunk looked back and said, "Yessh, Preacher ... I sure am."

The minister then dunked the fellow under the water and pulled him right back up. "Have you found Jesus?" the preacher asked.

"Nooo, I haven't!" said the drunk.

The preacher then dunked him under for quite a bit longer, brought him up and said, "Now, brother, have you found Jesus?"

"Noooo, I have not, Reverend."

The preacher, in disgust, held the man under for at least 30 seconds this time, brought him out of the water, and said in a harsh tone, "My God, man, have you found Jesus yet?"

The old drunk wiped his eyes and said to the preacher ... "Nooooo!!! I don't see him, but are you sure this is where he fell in?"

Author Unknown   

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.

Mr. Pogo Goes To Washington

It has now been over 50 years since that memorable inaugural address of President John F. Kennedy. I posted some of it a while back in Camelot. I've been thinking again about his words though, and below are a few excerpts that I find particularly striking.

"So let us begin anew - remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate. Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us. Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious ... proposals for the ... control of arms ... . Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce. ... And if a beach-head of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a ... new world ... where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved."

I wanted to re-post it because although Kennedy was speaking about our nation's conflicts with other nations, the words work just as well for what is happening within our country today. I fear Pogo - Walt Kelly's immortal cartoon character - was right. "We have met the enemy, and he is us." The phrase perfectly encapsulates the nature of today's political landscape and the foibles of the American politician - especially those who have sought to lead.

I fear they just don't get it.     Yet.

One can only hope they figure out what the average American already knows - before it is too late.

TGB

{this memory} 43

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

You're in Massachusetts - Cape Cod, to be precise. East Barnstable. You're looking at me on the left, unfortunately weighing the most I've ever weighed. To my left is Dr. T. Berry Brazelton.

Dr. Brazelton is a noted American pediatrician. Wikipedia: "Major hospitals throughout the world use the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS). Many parents know him as the host of a cable television program What Every Baby Knows and as author of a syndicated newspaper column. He has written more than two hundred scholarly papers and twenty four books and has been described him as 'America's most celebrated and influential baby doctor since Benjamin Spock.'"

In 2007, my wife had been invited to his home on the Cape so she could do a videotaped and extended interview for the Archives of the Child Life Council. He was influential in the creation of that profession. I was there as chauffeur and curious onlooker.

We spent a wonderful few hours with the good doctor and his wife. They were gracious hosts and regaled us with some of her family history, which goes way back on the Cape and in Boston. The doctor is from Texas. They were both a delight to get to know for a bit.

So many wonderful memories, and they truly are. I am a fortunate man.

TGB

Poetically Yummy

The challenge continued. On Day 27 I was to write a poem that included food. Such silliness!

Yum

     Antipasto is sublime.
          I hope you'll think that’s sweet.
     A little piece of cheese,
          a little piece of meat.
     Don't forget the olives,
          an extra-special treat.
     I don't want anchovies
          though; those I never eat.
     Don’t forget the peppers,
          exquisite with their heat.
     Artichokes, then some bread,
          my plate's almost complete.

TGB   

Sweet Smell Of Excess

Well maybe it's not so sweet, but it's been a month since Mardi Gras. Fat Tuesday. Carneval. Carne vale meaning goodbye meat! Shrove Tuesday. I let it pass without comment this year (so unlike me), but now we are 28 days into Lent. With fewer than two weeks until Easter, I need to share again this story.

I have gone to New Orleans only once for Mardi Gras. Actually it was the weekend before, and I was there by accident. I was attending a conference on major gift fund raising for senior college executives but hadn't realized the significance of the date until after my plans were made. Once I found out, I decided to bring my wife and younger daughter along with me, and Friday night a couple of cousins joined us.

Oh, my. We were staying at a hotel on St Louis Street between Royal and Chartres in the heart of the French Quarter, and the conference had built lots of free time into the schedule. We were determined to enjoy as much as we could. And we did.

We had some wonderful meals, of course, and had a delicious lunch under the watchful eyes of Paul Prudhomme himself. We walked the streets moving in and out of stores, listened to great music, and had a drink or two. Or three. We people watched and viewed one of the parades although I don't remember which one or which krewes. We bought masks and tons of beads to wear and to bring home. I needed extra just in case I wanted to throw a few to the ladies. Tsk.

I actually think the most memorable night was Saturday night as we walked down Bourbon Street. It was its usual crowded pedestrian mall. I was leading with the husband of my wife's cousin. The cousin, my wife, and my daughter were walking about 10 feet behind us. Zoom. All of the sudden my daughter popped in between Mike and I.

The walk along Bourbon Street had been her idea as a curious almost-16-year-old. She had unsurprisingly attracted the attention of any number of men, most of whom asked her if she needed a drink or wanted to party. Some just whistled. When that fellow pinched her on her rear end though, she decided maybe walking with dad might be safer. Let's call that a growing up experience, a thankfully mild teachable moment.

There was much not to remember fondly too. For example, we saw more than a few people passed out in the street. Occasionally the rescue squad would scoop them up. It disturbed me most when they were young women. It's hard to imagine that they got through the night without other things happening to them as well.

It's a great party and even better if you can enjoy it sober. Just imagine actually being able to remember what a great time you had when you wake up the next morning. Even Epicurus thought we should strive for a happy, tranquil life, a life free of fear and pain. He taught that by living a life of moderation surrounded by friends we could attain that and would not have approved of these excesses since they are sure to bring pain.

Moderation. It's a good thing.

Happy Mardi Gras.

TGB   

{this moment} 43

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   

Long Lost Chapter

A number of new inscribed tablets were found in Iraq following the invasion, and recently some of these have been translated and found to be missing sections from the creation story in the Book of Genesis. This is one excerpt from the new chapters.

Adam was walking around the garden of Eden feeling very lonely, so God asked him, "What is wrong with you?" Adam replied that he didn't have anyone to talk to. God thought for a moment and then said that He was going to make Adam a companion and that it would be a woman.

He said, "This person will gather food for you, cook for you, and when you discover clothing she'll wash it for you. She will always agree with every decision you make. She will bear your children and never ask you to get up in the middle of the night to take care of them. She will not nag you and will always be the first to admit she was wrong when you've had a disagreement. She will never have a headache and will freely give you love and passion whenever you need it."

When Adam wondered what such a woman cost, God replied, "An arm and a leg."

Then Adam asked, "What can I get for a rib?"

And the rest is history.

Author Unknown

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.

{this memory} 42

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

You're in Virginia - Virginia Beach, to be precise. 25th Street and Oceanfront, between Atlantic Avenue and the Boardwalk to be even more precise. You're looking at the Norwegian Lady.

There are two Norwegian Lady Statues. This one and one located in the sister city of Moss, Norway. They commemorate the lives lost in the 1891 shipwreck of the Norwegian barque Dictator off the coast of Virginia Beach and the lifesaving efforts of the community. She ran aground on a sandbar about 300 yards off of 37th Street. Nine of the 17 souls aboard were lost in the storm. Although the captain survived, his pregnant wide and young son were among those who died.

But that's not the memory. Growing up there, I found the Lady to be my sympathetic ear. Whenever life became frustrating - which is often for a teen, I would drive down to the Strip and visit my Lady. I saw her regularly. When I settled elsewhere - college, graduate school, job - I always returned to her whenever I was in town. Just for a visit.

Tourism has encroached on her a bit today, but she still stands resolute and still bears the inscription: "I am the Norwegian Lady. I stand here, as my sister before me, to wish all men of the sea safe return home."

My returns by sea to this area are few, maybe a half dozen; I am not a man of the sea as my father was. Yet her words strengthen me - even today. I miss her and the solitude I so often sought with her, and I look forward to my next visit to an old friend.

So many wonderful memories, and they truly are. I am a fortunate man.

TGB

To Sleep, Perchance To Dream

I've lectured on them countless times. I know all the science, but I wasn't prepared for the experience I had a few weeks ago.

As many of you know, I was recently hospitalized with pneumonia - my fourth bout of it, but that's another story. No one is sure where this one came from, but it hardly matters. The treatment was fairly standard, not that there weren't some wrinkles. There always are with me. It was the lead up to the hospitalization that has caused me to pick up my pen - specifically what my brain was doing.

I normally have only about 40% lung function, so this kind of illness hits me pretty hard. Between whatever the infection was doing to me and the increased difficulty breathing, I wasn't sleeping well. Wait ... let me rephrase that. I wasn't sleeping. Quite literally, I went for an extended period with zero sleep.

Back to the science. In that eight hours of sleep we are supposed to get, your body seems to require only two parts of it. There is Stage 4 sleep; it's very deep and confined mostly to the first few hours of a normal night's sleep. Then there are the REM periods during which most of your dreaming occurs. They occur about every 90-100 minutes during the sleep and get progressively longer as the sleep rolls on.

If we wake you up every time you enter a REM period, your brain tries to get you into it sooner and sooner. After such REM deprivation, once your allowed to enter REM, your brain even tries to make up some of what it lost. There is a similar but weaker effect with Stage 4 sleep. None of this happens with the other stages of sleep, so these two are clearly the most important. The rest is just filler.

Weird stuff happens if you go a long time without REM sleep. That's what happened when I slept not at all. I actually began to have REM periods while I was awake - waking dreams. In any other circumstance, these would be hallucinations. What's different is I knew they were dreams. I could visualize objects in them, I could pass my hand right through an object if I wanted to, and I would remain in the dream setting until I consciously ended it by squeezing my eyes shut and reopening them.

Most bizarre was that my wife could speak to me while I was in this state, and I could respond appropriately without it ending the dream state. On several occasions, I even told her I was dreaming while I was having one of these events. 'I'm dreaming now.'

'So cool!' - says the scientist in me. 'Please let me sleep!' says the rest of me. I used to tell my students things like this could happen. Guess I was right.

TGB   

{this moment} 42

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   

No Dancing

An angel was feeling rather blue with the uniform sameness of heaven and went to see St. Peter. “All I do,” the angel said, “is play the harp endlessly, and I’m getting bored.”

St. Peter asked, “What would you rather do?”

"Ah," the angel answered, “I really like to dance.”

“We don’t allow dancing here in heaven,” St. Peter said, “but I can see you need a change so I will allow you to take advantage of a once-in-an-eternal-lifetime offer. I will allow you 24 hours leave to return to earth and dance.”

“I’m gone,” the angel said, and in the blink of an eye, the angel was in California. He quickly found a dance hall run by Samuel Frank. Checking the harp and wings at the door, the angel boogied and danced and had a great time until just seconds remained of the leave.

At the last secod, the angel grabbed his wings and was immediately in heaven again. Returning to St. Peter, the angel said, “I’m back, and I am so happy. I’ll never feel bored again.”

St. Peter said, “That’s wonderful, but where is your musical instrument?”

“Oh, no,” the angel said, “I left my harp in Sam Frank’s Disco.”

Author Unknown   

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.

Award Season

Recovering from pneumonia, I didn't need to have my breath taken away, but she did. "Who would do such a thing?!" you ask. Well, blame it on Janine who writes wonderful posts at Reflections from a Red Head.

And what did she do? Easy enough. She nominated me for not one, but two awards. After the Academy Awards, you thought the awards were finished for the year. Nope - she had awarded me for the Tell Me About Yourself Award AND nominated me for the 7 Links Challenge. She's such a sweetheart and a great blogging friend. Maybe someday I'll get to Oz so that I can actually meet her.

There are strings, of course. Conditions. Rules. Etiquette. Guidelines. For the Tell Me About Yourself Award, I should share seven random facts about myself and share the award with 15 bloggers. For the 7 Links Challenge. I should provide seven links for the provided categories and nominate 5 bloggers.

I'm going to modify those - a least a little - as have many others. I will follow the first rule of each but nominate only seven bloggers whom I follow closely.

Thom Trivia

1. I have two amazing daughters and one amazing grandson. One daughter is a fellow in pediatric hematology/oncology. The other is just finishing a doctorate in clinical psychology and is currently working as a psychometrician. My grandson is about a month old; he's a genius and handsome.
2. I cry easily, tear up anyway. I'm not as bad as the current Speaker of the House, but it doesn't take much. Rituals and ceremonies revolving around things important to me, human misfortune, triumphs of the human spirit, a horse race, a poignant memory, beauty however represented. Yep - I'm a softie.
3. If I could live on cheese, olives, bread, and wine only, I would. I mean, c'mon, who wouldn't?!
       3a. My favorite wines are beefy but elegant reds - big, bold, and
       chewy with good wood, slow falling legs, and a long strong finish.
       Um ... at least I think we're still talking about wine.
4. I did well in my university ROTC courses in Naval Science - especially celestial navigation. In fact, I still have the text - Dutton's Navigation and Piloting. I'm pretty sure that's why I have never been lost at sea at night.
5. I cannot live without books, and I want to live long enough to see whirled peas. (I guess that's two things - bonus!)
6. Although I have been a professor of psychology for 37 years, I probably should have been an architect or an Egyptologist. Growing up, I always wanted to be an architect, but somehow I'd forgotten that by the time I was old enough to decide on a university and a major.
7. I turn the lights out in empty classrooms as I walk down the hallway.
7. I believe my father was right to teach me that if something is worth doing at all, it is worth doing well. Today I think this applies to people as well.
7. I never allow a day to pass without laughing and being thankful for life.

A Septet of Links

Most Beautiful Post: Window On The World.
This may have been the easiest writing I've ever done. It was just one of those occasions where it all flowed - words, images, organization.

Most Popular Post: There Will Be Bread.
I like this piece too, but it selected itself - or rather you folks did. It's the one with the most views - over 3000.

Most Controversial Post: Bring Them Home.
I'm not sure it's all that controversial - taking a stand for peace. It is, however, unusual for me to offer political commentary in this space.

Most Helpful Post: It's Never Too Late.
Sixty-three years has taught me a little, and this is just good, common sense advice.

Post Whose Success Surprises me: There's Something About Hands.
Wow! 1500 views and it averages about 30 per day - long after it was written.

Post Deserving Greater Attention: The Boobie Ultimatum.
How can we talk too much about breast cancer? We can't, and I wish I had more readers at the time I originally posted this.

Post of Which I Am Most Proud: Undifference.
Civil rights and common decency for those with challenges. It ought to be an easy sell, but it isn't.

Not too difficult, but there are a couple of categories where I had toss-up choices. Beautiful and Proud are the hardest categories for me - proud of the quality of writing or proud of the message offered? Beautiful prose or beautiful sentiments or beautiful images created? At some point, I essentially flipped a coin. I've done this before and have changed only two in the list.

Thom's Seven Blog Recommendations

Okay, I lied. I was entranced by the 7-7-7 Jackpot idea. Sorry. I'm going to mention a lot more than seven because there are twenty or so incredible bloggers who belong to Personal Bloggers Are Us - every one of whom is worth a visit.

And there are a few more authors I read who are not members.
Hotdishing
BLissed-out Grandma
Strained Consciousness
Day to Day with Parkinson's Disease

Please enjoy.

TGB   

{this memory} 41

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

You're in Virginia - Charlottesville, to be precise. Again. 510 Rugby Road, to be even more precise. You're looking at five pledges going through Hell Week in January of 1968. Pi Kappa Phi obviously and at the University of Virginia.

Hell Week was one of those misguided attempts to instill a sense of brotherhood. Folks naturally bond when they undergo stress together - at least that was the justification. It wasn't literally a week, but it sure seemed like it.

Lots of physical training, of course. A few things eaten but nothing too bizarre - maybe an onion or sucking a raw egg out of its shell through a pinhole. Minimal sleep because every night there was something to keep you up all night. Perhaps a brother who lost his favorite 50 cent coin in Scott Stadium and which we had to go find. It wasn't there, of course, but you couldn't stop looking. On another night we counted railroad ties as we picked up a stone for each tenth tie. I won't discuss the fake initiation - just when you thought it was over, it wasn't. Road trips that dumped you in the middle of nowhere. Oh my. And that's just the beginning.

Hazing. Today it's a crime in 44 states, but what did we know then. Fortunately no one was injured.

No matter how tired, we were never supposed to miss class. On at least one occasion, however, on the way to class, I stopped off at my real brother's room on the West Range and slept all morning. Please don't tell.

Those five guys? In in the Top Center - moi. Top left - Leo is a lawyer in Portsmouth. Bottom left - Eric is a successful architect with offices in Afton and elsewhere. Right - Nelson is a school teacher in Virginia Beach. Bottom Center - Bob is a lawyer in New York City.

So many wonderful memories, and they truly are. I am a fortunate man - and one who, by the way, could recite the Greek alphabet 13 times on a lit match.

TGB

The Mighty Finn

But when Finn Fortissimo gets here everybody's gonna jump for joy.
Come all without, come all within.
You'll not see nothing like the mighty Finn.

Okay - you're thinking, "What?!" Well, yeah. Those aren't really the lyrics, but they ought to be.

Last month one of my daughters gave me a grandson, my first grandchild. Two ears, one nose, ten fingers, ten toes. His name is Finn. Actually it's Finn Thomas, I say with a measure of pride. Of course, now I have to live up to his expectations, and I'll try my best to do so.

My quandary is that I want to write an amazing post to describe this experience, to describe what I'm feeling, but I just can't find the words. Yet at the same time, I want to commemorate his arrival. I've learned though not to press too hard to write. When the time is right, the words pretty much write themselves, and I suspect this is one of those times. Later when I've had a chance to hold him, the words will surely flow.

I've also learned that I tend to hide my feelings when they are most intense. I'm not sure why - perhaps to guard them from others' intrusions, but I suspect that applies to my written words as well. Let me add though "who knew my battered heart could hold so much love?!"

For now, just know I am thrilled and wonderfully eager to hold my grandson, the mighty Finn.

I am a fortunate man.

TGB   

{this moment} 41

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   

Accident Victim

A man was struck down by a bus on a very busy street. As he was lying near death after being pulled up onto the sidewalk, a crowd of spectators began to gather around him.

"My God, a priest. Somebody get a priest!" the critically injured man gasped. A policeman checked the crowd and yelled out, "Is anyone here a priest?"

Out of the large crowd stepped a little old man of at least 80-years-of-age.

"Mr. Policeman," said the old man, "I'm not a priest or even a preacher. I'm not even a Christian, but for 50-years now, I've been living behind the Catholic Church on First Avenue. Every night I overhear their services. I can recall a lot of it, in fact, most of it. So, maybe I can be of some comfort and assistance to this poor injured man here?"

The policeman agreed and cleared the crowd away so the old man could get through to where the injured man was lying.

The old fellow knelt down beside him, leaned over him, and
said in a solemn voice, "B-4, I-19, N-38, G-54, 0-72"

Author Unknown   

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.

{this memory} 40

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

You're in Georgia - Homer, Georgia to be precise, and you're looking at the parsonage for the Methodist Church there. Homer is just over 50 miles northeast of Atlanta, about 8 miles north of I-85. Current population is about 1000.

I've never been in this home, but my maternal grandfather was born there in 1892. Thomas Oliver Rorie's father - also Thomas Oliver - was the preacher there. My grandfather also became a Methodist minister as did his son Glen, my uncle. I mention these names primarily because they are my namesakes. In a wonderful twist of irony, I am named after three Methodist ministers.

A decade or so ago I was driving back to Virginia from Atlanta where one of my daughters was in medical school, and I felt compelled to take a short side trip off the interstate to visit the old church. My wife and I found it unlocked and were able to explore it a bit, take some photographs, and stand where surely my great grandfather had preached.

We also found a few copies of the church cookbook and left a note describing why I was there with a small donation plus the cost of the cookbook. My mother, of course, was thrilled and began a correspondence with the current minister. He sent this photograph.

It's all about roots and knowing where you came from. It's about family. So many wonderful memories - I am truly a fortunate man.

TGB