Epiphany 2019

Every year, in January, we celebrate Epiphany instead of Christmas. We started this years ago when our kids started getting married and having their own traditions--in their own homes or with in-laws or with friends. So, instead of trying to compete, we set up our own tradition and invited all family members to come for brunch on Epiphany to celebrate the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus. This celebration has taken different forms over the years, but the core of it remains constant. The question is not what do you want to get, but what do you want to give. Jesus said that whatever we do to "the least of these my brethren" (the poorest people) you have done it to him. So, like the Magi, we give gifts to Jesus instead of to each other. For this, we use the World Vision catalogue.
The day usually goes something like this: family members begin to arrive about 11a.m. The coffee is put on, and we chat for a while. I have plates of cookies, Japanese oranges, nuts, chocolates, etc. for nibbles. Then one of my sons (Steve does it now) goes into the kitchen to make the brunch. I have about three dozen eggs, 6 cans of asparagus, 3 dozen English muffins, and a couple of hams all set out to be made into Eggs Benedict without the sauce. On the dining table there are two big punch bowls of juice and pop. No alcohol since the year one of my grandsons got drunk drinking the "adult" punch instead of the kids' punch. He was only four years old. In the fridge, there are a couple of trifles to be set out when the eggs and ham are done. Again, no more alcohol in the trifles--just Jello, pudding, cake and fruit.
We used to play a circle game, like musical chairs, for those who brought gifts to pass around. That died out a few years ago. But we still play the bucket game. I have a bucket filled with wrapped gifts--some of them are pretty good like chocolates or wine or a gift card to a restaurant. Other gifts are cheap and silly, like a set of kids' blocks or a pair of pantyhose or a deck of cards. People take turns choosing a gift. They open it up and show everyone and the next person has the choice of stealing a gift that is already open, or choosing a wrapped one from the bucket.
This year we added "chalking the door"--an ancient religious ceremony where a member of the family, or a priest if one is handy, take some chalk (which is supposed to have been blessed, but we didn't have any blessed chalk this year) and writes on the lintel of the main entrance:
 "20 C + M + B 19". This is 2019, broken up so it begins with 20, then we add C, M, B, and close it up with 19.>2019. C stands for Caspar, M is for Melchior, and B is for Balthazar, the supposed names of the three kings who followed the star to visit Jesus, the Magi. The other interpretation of the letters is Christus Mansionem Benedicat, or May Christ bless this house. The crosses between the letters represent the cross of Jesus, his death and resurrection.
Best of all is the gathering of family members. This year we had all three of our surviving children, a couple of grandchildren and two great grandchildren (one a teenager the other a babe-in-arms).
I've been writing my autobiography, If Anyone Should Ask. I've been writing it in decades rather than chapters. Last September, on my 80th birthday, I distributed Decade One. At the Epiphany Brunch this year, I distributed Decade Two. We expect that the great-grandson who visited us this Epiphany will be baptized at Easter (hopefully) and we'll have a family gathering for that. At that time, I hope to be able to distribute Decade Three--but first I have to write it.

the new year, 2019

I really blew it with my Epiphany Letter this year! I hate to think my memory is going--I cherish it so much. But somehow I totally forgot what happened last New Year's Eve and wrote about the year before. Really! I still don't remember what we did New Year's Eve 2017/18. But it was the previous year that Frank had his stroke at midnight and then had to have the pacemaker put in. And that's what I announced in my annual newsletter. Our friends and relatives who knew better must have thought I'd really lost it, or maybe Frank had another attack. No, he's fine. But as for last year? I have no idea.
This year's New Year's Eve was peaceful. We had a light supper of leftover turkey soup, then I set out a platter for the two of us, of just crackers and Kerrywood Dubliner Cheese and some green olives. I opened a bottle of sparkling rose wine, and we started our nibbling and sipping about 6 pm. By midnight, the bottle was almost done, as were the nibbles. We toasted the new year, banged some kettles and things outside on the patio to announce the arrival of 2019. Then Frank went to bed and I watched tv for a while.
So, here's to a new year filled with happy memories--some of which I hope I'll be able to recall this time next year!

"It's a Wonderful Life"

Yes, it is a wonderful life, even with all its ups and downs. Last post, I was especially despondent, and have still not come to grips with that set-back. However, that has to wait for another time.

It's December and everyone is busy. Fortunately, I don't have the usual baking and shopping stresses that I once had, when my children were little and we had to play Satan Claus and do all that crazy stuff. Now that I've cast off Satan and things that promote greed and unachievable goals, I feel much better. I pity people who still do all that.

For me, Christmas won't come until December 24/25th, and then it will be over as fast as it arrives. Before that, we have Advent--a time of waiting and anticipation of the birth of Jesus. I love the lights and some of the music, and the general feeling of people at least feigning happiness while they grumble about the stress. At least they're trying to find happiness. The smiles are contagious, and the intentions are to appear joyous. For me, it's no more joyous than Lent. In fact, I find Lent more joyous because even though that leads to the crucifixion of Jesus, it ultimately blossoms with the Resurrection at Easter.

Both Christmas and Easter bring better weather, sort of. Christmas is around the winter equinox and so with it the days begin to grow longer and brighter, leading to Lent, which brings Easter springtime and then summer. Both are harbingers of more light in the world. Sort of.

At Advent, I set aside the busy-ness of tasks I've taken on during the year. Maybe I shouldn't, but I do. For example, I've taken on a couple of jobs for Franciscans, and those are on hold for now. At the moment, I have the excuse of the Canadian postal strike--can't trust anything to go through right now, so may as well wait until that settles. That's as good an excuse as any for my procrastination.

This year, like last year, I'm in a play. Last year, I had a couple of bit parts in "A Christmas Carol" and this year I'm playing Ma Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life" and enjoying it very much. I think this will likely be my last foray onto the stage--I'm getting too old for all the hustle and bustle backstage. On stage, it's fun--even when I'm struggling to recall my next line.

All this means that writing is on hold--except for my autobiography. I've already distributed Decade One to the family. I hope to have Decade Two done and ready for distribution at our Epiphany brunch.

Third attempt at this post!

I have to wonder what's happening to all my posts! This is the third time I've started this one. Most irritating!

Maybe the fact that I'm using this opportunity for my annual anti-Satan Claus rant, and Satan doesn't like it. Too bad. I'm going to try again.

As I was saying, before this stupid computer rudely dumped every previous attempt, I'm all in favour of Advent.
Dead against Satan Claus. (Not a typo)
The "jolly old elf" is NOT a Christian saint, Nicholas, Bishop of Myra. Nor is he "Old Saint Nick" because he is not a saint--doesn't even claim to be one. So, if he's not a saint, then he is "Old Nick" which is another name for the devil.

So, I'll try again to link these words for you to take a closer look.
I'm trying to link Advent
and Bishop of Myra
and Old Nick.

Pray that it works this time!
It looks like it might have worked this time.

a backward step

A backward step to say the least! On the 8th of this month, less than a week ago, I put my thumb-drive in place and called up the novel I've been working on for ...how many years?... And guess what. It's gone. Wiped out. Nothing but computer language, upside down question marks, etc.. Try to call it up based on most recent date--page doesn't exist. "Maybe moved or deleted," says the message. I have a lot of it printed out, but not all of it. A year ago I paid an editor $1600 for an evaluation--I still have that, at least. Now I'm so discouraged, I don't know what to do.  At my age (80), I am not even sure I care to continue. Is it worth it after all?

While I ponder that question, I'll go back to writing my autobiography. I'll let you know my decision about the trilogy I'm halfway through--backward steps notwithstanding--or maybe I should just quit.

Civic Duty

This morning, Frank and I went to City Hall and voted. Election Day isn't actually until the 20th, but as George Burns once said, at our age you don't go out and buy green bananas. Besides, it's nice to get it done. Today was the first Advance Polling Day, and we were there about noon. First, we had to register because we've been in Penticton for only two and a half years. Then, because Frank can't see well enough to read and mark a ballot, I had to be sworn in as his assistant. The two of us went into the polling booth together. We'd already gone over the list of all the candidates before leaving the house, and I had a written list of our choices.
It was mostly my input because, although he'd been to the School Board and Mayoral candidates' sessions put on at the Lakeside Resort by the Penticton Herald, he had not been able to attend the session for the city councillors. I went to all of the sessions, plus last night (4pm to 9pm), to chat one-on-one with the candidates before the mayoral debate. So I'm feeling pretty familiar with them all and their abilities, experience, and their interests. When Frank and I discussed it, we came to a consensus about our choices and that's how we both voted.
It'll be interesting to see if our choices get in.

Almost October

My own birthday kept me busy in September, but on top of that I had to prepare for a Franciscan Retreat.
My husband, Frank, and I are both third order Franciscans, and as such we are obliged to follow our Rule of Life. Chapter (i.e,. the governing body of the Order) have been working on a fresh way of looking at our Rule. So, Frank and I decided that we should put on a Franciscan Retreat with the focus on reviewing and refreshing our Rule. I called it "Living a Rule of Life" and invited our congregation of St. Saviour's Anglican Church and the Fellowship that we used to belong to in Vancouver, as well as our Brothers and Sisters in neighbouring fellowships in the state of Washington. I guess, not counting the local congregation, I invited by name about thirty people. Guess what? No one showed up. :(
Nevertheless, Frank and I feel that we had a successful retreat.
First of all, we began on Wednesday, October 3rd at 5pm with a beautiful eucharist in Ellis Chapel, adjacent to the church. Father Nick Pang, our new priest, set it up. Candlelight. A little Lady Chapel in the corner. Full vestments. All in white. We sang and prayed. It was lovely. The congregation had been invited, but no one was there except the priest and my husband and me. We were so grateful to Nick for this. His selections of readings and the service itself was 99% from our own Franciscan Devotional Companion. The little bit that was not, came from For All the Saints, a companion book to usual prayer book used in Anglican churches in Canada, known as the BAS.
Thursday morning, Frank and I were admitted into the church for our Quiet Day, to which I'd invited everyone plus the thirty Franciscans. No one came. We weren't surprised. Several had responded saying that if we do the same thing next year, they'll try to come. So of course, I hope we can do that. But, on our own, and because Frank can't see to read and make notes, the two of us worked on revising our Rules. His and mine are based on the same template, of course, but in the past we had not known exactly what the other's Rule required. This time, we have our individuality but I typed his up in large print so he can use his magnifier to amplify it enough to be able to read it for himself. Even though he participated in discussing each aspect of the 9 parts of the Rule, he needs to discuss it with his own spiritual director before we approach our regional chaplain to have it sanctified.
Friday morning, Nick came again for the Eucharist that we'd asked for to conclude our Retreat. This time, we were joined by another couple, so it was not just us. We ended with Centering Prayer in the church with others who usually attend on Friday mornings.
We were not disappointed with the no-shows, in fact we really would have been surprised if anyone had come. After all, Wednesday and Thursday and Friday, the days just before Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, were not the best time for the Retreat. However, we didn't choose the date of St. Francis' Transitus and St. Francis Day. October 3rd is Transitus, and October 4th is St. Francis Day.