Go to David's blog and weigh in on a caption for his frog!
solderinthebay.blogspot.com
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Then and Now
This has been a week of remembrances in the media: Ed McMahon, Farah Fawcett, Michael Jackson. Our society is nutty over celebrities....especially when they mess up somehow or have the audacity to die. The Chicago Tribune had seven - count them - seven full pages about Michael Jackon, more than they had when our "home town boy" was elected president last November! In spite of our nation's fascination with remembrances of anyone famous, I believe it's the little remembrances that frame our lives. This weekend is a good example.
Saturday 9:00 a.m.: We have the park district pool to ourselves for water aerobics. It's warm and sunny. Heaven! 9:45: In come all the moms, dads, babies, and toddlers for their 10:00 swim classes. It didn't change from heaven to hell at 9:45. Rather it transported me back 26 or so years when pregnant me took 20 month old David to mom and tot swimming. Let's just say that I believe David is a decent swimmer today, but it's NOT from a wonderful mom-tot water experience!
Saturday, 12:00, I'm in the grocery store dodging all the monster fire trucks, cars, and school buses holding toddlers and groceries. What a coup for today's parents! There was something rather quaint, however, about having infant Kevin sitting restraintless in the filthy seat in the grocery cart while David sat cross legged in the cart itself while I piled groceries all around and on top of him. He became a problem solver in those carts---if some grocery item is annoying you, throw it out of the cart. It was a little hard, however, to explain the smashed wine bottle to the management!
Saturday, 8:00 p.m. We are at the Glenview Theatre Guild's production of South Pacific. For an amateur group, they did a bang up job of taking me back fifty years to the big theater in downtown Chicago where I saw the movie. After seeing the movie, my family brought the RECORD and I played it a million times on my RECORD PLAYER until I had memorized every lyric. So I sang along with the entire musical last night. More astounding was the extremely controversial plot line --- Caucasian woman falls in love with a caucasian man who previously was married to a, gasp!, Polynesian woman. It was an incredibly daring concept back in the 50's. We have made progress in 50 years...but it didn't come easily. (Incidentally I write this as Chicago's Gay Pride parade is moving down Halsted St. with people of every race, ethnicity, and orientation hanging out legally and joyfully together.)
Sunday, 9:30 a.m. In the middle of the readings this morning, "Builder Bob", a retired physician who has become our Habitat for Humanity leader, sat down and was obviously feeling ill. Church went on with much fluttering by the people sitting near Bob. Eventually the paramedics came and, in spite of protests by the doctor who didn't want to be treated, took Bob to the hospital. We don't think this is anything very serious, but it was a surprise. This wasn't supposed to happen to a friend or contemporary. This sort of thing only happens to old people! Yuck - then and now!
Sunday, 1:30 p.m. Ken and I are pushing my mother in her wheelchair around the Botanic Gardens. 27 years ago we were also pushing someone around the Botanic Gardens - infant David in his stroller. Twenty-seven years ago the Botanic Gardens were pretty, but small. They, like David, have grown up magnificently, but 27 years ago could I have imagined I'd be pushing my mother around them?
Sunday, 3:30. We stop for ice cream. At the next table is a young family. Until I see the face, I'm sure I'm seeing eight month old Kevin. This baby had the exact white blond hair, exact little curl on the ends of the exactly same length hair that Kevin had his first summer. Sweet!
Then and now. Do I want to turn back the clock? No. A lot of learning and growing has taken place since "then", but it's certainly nice when "then" occasionally creeps into "now".
Saturday 9:00 a.m.: We have the park district pool to ourselves for water aerobics. It's warm and sunny. Heaven! 9:45: In come all the moms, dads, babies, and toddlers for their 10:00 swim classes. It didn't change from heaven to hell at 9:45. Rather it transported me back 26 or so years when pregnant me took 20 month old David to mom and tot swimming. Let's just say that I believe David is a decent swimmer today, but it's NOT from a wonderful mom-tot water experience!
Saturday, 12:00, I'm in the grocery store dodging all the monster fire trucks, cars, and school buses holding toddlers and groceries. What a coup for today's parents! There was something rather quaint, however, about having infant Kevin sitting restraintless in the filthy seat in the grocery cart while David sat cross legged in the cart itself while I piled groceries all around and on top of him. He became a problem solver in those carts---if some grocery item is annoying you, throw it out of the cart. It was a little hard, however, to explain the smashed wine bottle to the management!
Saturday, 8:00 p.m. We are at the Glenview Theatre Guild's production of South Pacific. For an amateur group, they did a bang up job of taking me back fifty years to the big theater in downtown Chicago where I saw the movie. After seeing the movie, my family brought the RECORD and I played it a million times on my RECORD PLAYER until I had memorized every lyric. So I sang along with the entire musical last night. More astounding was the extremely controversial plot line --- Caucasian woman falls in love with a caucasian man who previously was married to a, gasp!, Polynesian woman. It was an incredibly daring concept back in the 50's. We have made progress in 50 years...but it didn't come easily. (Incidentally I write this as Chicago's Gay Pride parade is moving down Halsted St. with people of every race, ethnicity, and orientation hanging out legally and joyfully together.)
Sunday, 9:30 a.m. In the middle of the readings this morning, "Builder Bob", a retired physician who has become our Habitat for Humanity leader, sat down and was obviously feeling ill. Church went on with much fluttering by the people sitting near Bob. Eventually the paramedics came and, in spite of protests by the doctor who didn't want to be treated, took Bob to the hospital. We don't think this is anything very serious, but it was a surprise. This wasn't supposed to happen to a friend or contemporary. This sort of thing only happens to old people! Yuck - then and now!
Sunday, 1:30 p.m. Ken and I are pushing my mother in her wheelchair around the Botanic Gardens. 27 years ago we were also pushing someone around the Botanic Gardens - infant David in his stroller. Twenty-seven years ago the Botanic Gardens were pretty, but small. They, like David, have grown up magnificently, but 27 years ago could I have imagined I'd be pushing my mother around them?
Sunday, 3:30. We stop for ice cream. At the next table is a young family. Until I see the face, I'm sure I'm seeing eight month old Kevin. This baby had the exact white blond hair, exact little curl on the ends of the exactly same length hair that Kevin had his first summer. Sweet!
Then and now. Do I want to turn back the clock? No. A lot of learning and growing has taken place since "then", but it's certainly nice when "then" occasionally creeps into "now".
Friday, June 26, 2009
Is Facebook....church?
In my niece Nancy's blog on Wednesday (http://npoj.blogspot.com/) she responds to an article in "The Lutheran" (www.thelutheran.org) entitled "Is Facebook....church?" Nancy and the article both talk about how it is sometimes easier to be totally honest on Facebook than in face-to-face communication. It's hard to make real connections with people at church when you only have five minutes together at coffee hour. It's easy to use Facebook or blogs or, I suppose, Twitter, to get the word out when there is a prayer concern. It's not always easy to get that word out to a congregation. Since my cousins' wife had her horrible car accident almost three weeks ago, her husband's website has received more than 3,000 "hits" and prayers and physical help have come from all over the country. It's powerful!
Coincidentally I am reading a book called "Girl Meets God". It is a memoir of a young woman who was born to a Southern Baptist mother and Jewish father. After being raised with not much religion, she sought out her Jewish heritage while at Columbia University. Not only did she embrace Judaism, she embraced Orthodox Judaism which required her to officially convert - a difficult process in the Orthodox world - since her mother's Christian background made her officially not Jewish. After wearing the conservative clothing and embracing all the Orthodox customs, the author was increasingly drawn to Christianity which she embraced with as much fervor as she had Judaism.
This young convert has more powerful things to say about Christianity than I've heard in a lifetime in the church. In light of the article in "The Lutheran" I am drawn to her comments about not necessarily liking all the people in her congregation.
"The words 'taking communion' remind us that we are not only drawing near to God, but that we are doing that most basic and social thing, we are eating together. This has been a long, slow lesson for me. I am just starting to learn that the people I take Communion with are the people who count. I didn't like most of the people at Clare College chapel. I loved.....but other than those few, the people at chapel weren't people I would have chosen to socialize with. They weren't up to my standards.....in fact, some of the chapel people repelled me." Her pastor didn't "point out the obvious fact that I was, indeed, having a dinner party with them every Sunday morning."
The pastor said, "I realized a while back that if I built a church filled with my friends, it would be a rather small and homogeneous church. Dull really." The author ends this section by talking about the people she works and plays with, saying, "They aren't my brothers and sisters in Christ. They are merely my friends."
I am very blessed that the majority of my friends are also brothers and sisters in Christ--but not necessarily members of my or any church. There are, nonetheless, people at church that I'm not very fond of. I've learned, however, a very powerful lesson from being a communion assistant. I try to use names when people approach. When I say, "The body of Christ given for you, Fred" it's mind-blowing. I may still not like Fred, but it hits me between the eyes that God loves both of us, and though I still may not invite Fred to my home, I find I do look at Fred a bit differently.
So how this fits into Facebook I'm not sure. I guess I'm saying that both the internet and face-to-face are powerful connections. God spoke to the Israelists with fire and manna and stone tablets---things of that time and culture. In our time and culture, why wouldn't he use the Internet?
Coincidentally I am reading a book called "Girl Meets God". It is a memoir of a young woman who was born to a Southern Baptist mother and Jewish father. After being raised with not much religion, she sought out her Jewish heritage while at Columbia University. Not only did she embrace Judaism, she embraced Orthodox Judaism which required her to officially convert - a difficult process in the Orthodox world - since her mother's Christian background made her officially not Jewish. After wearing the conservative clothing and embracing all the Orthodox customs, the author was increasingly drawn to Christianity which she embraced with as much fervor as she had Judaism.
This young convert has more powerful things to say about Christianity than I've heard in a lifetime in the church. In light of the article in "The Lutheran" I am drawn to her comments about not necessarily liking all the people in her congregation.
"The words 'taking communion' remind us that we are not only drawing near to God, but that we are doing that most basic and social thing, we are eating together. This has been a long, slow lesson for me. I am just starting to learn that the people I take Communion with are the people who count. I didn't like most of the people at Clare College chapel. I loved.....but other than those few, the people at chapel weren't people I would have chosen to socialize with. They weren't up to my standards.....in fact, some of the chapel people repelled me." Her pastor didn't "point out the obvious fact that I was, indeed, having a dinner party with them every Sunday morning."
The pastor said, "I realized a while back that if I built a church filled with my friends, it would be a rather small and homogeneous church. Dull really." The author ends this section by talking about the people she works and plays with, saying, "They aren't my brothers and sisters in Christ. They are merely my friends."
I am very blessed that the majority of my friends are also brothers and sisters in Christ--but not necessarily members of my or any church. There are, nonetheless, people at church that I'm not very fond of. I've learned, however, a very powerful lesson from being a communion assistant. I try to use names when people approach. When I say, "The body of Christ given for you, Fred" it's mind-blowing. I may still not like Fred, but it hits me between the eyes that God loves both of us, and though I still may not invite Fred to my home, I find I do look at Fred a bit differently.
So how this fits into Facebook I'm not sure. I guess I'm saying that both the internet and face-to-face are powerful connections. God spoke to the Israelists with fire and manna and stone tablets---things of that time and culture. In our time and culture, why wouldn't he use the Internet?
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
A Mother's Dream
Every mom - especially mom's of first or only children - thinks that their child is brilliant....and hopes that the rest of the world comes to agree with her. I was no exception.
Because I highly value education (duh!), I was thrilled when I met Ken and found out that among his other stellar traits---such as NOT being interested in professional sports--- he has a PhD. He's not one of those self-important non-academic PhDs who insists on being referred to by the initials after his name, but I know that he had the perseverance and stamina to reach that academic goal and think that's mighty cool.
Along came our first child and I began to think of "my son the PhD". Talking in sentences at 18 months, check! He's on his way. Sixteen years of school later David had A JOB THAT HE LIKES! He had already stuck his toes in the presentation and publication pools. He was making great contributions professionally and in his volunteer activities. He also was sick of school and wanted no part of graduate work. Fine. I was proud and excited about all of the above.
Several years later however, the mom's dream of having the rest of the world recognize her child's brilliance occurred. His employers at Northwestern encouraged him and made it possible for him to begin his master's degree program while continuing to work full time. By next year, his master's will be a reality.
Recently his professors have been strongly encouraging David to go on for the PhD. Today his petition to be enrolled in the PhD program at Northwestern was accepted.
I'd be proud of my son if he dedicated his career to designing new Lego contraptions or experimenting with the bounce-ability of Spam (two of David's childhood talents), but it is truly exciting when "experts" in his field of Civil Engineering recognize that he has the ability and perseverance to pursue this new goal.
My son the PhD to be! .
Because I highly value education (duh!), I was thrilled when I met Ken and found out that among his other stellar traits---such as NOT being interested in professional sports--- he has a PhD. He's not one of those self-important non-academic PhDs who insists on being referred to by the initials after his name, but I know that he had the perseverance and stamina to reach that academic goal and think that's mighty cool.
Along came our first child and I began to think of "my son the PhD". Talking in sentences at 18 months, check! He's on his way. Sixteen years of school later David had A JOB THAT HE LIKES! He had already stuck his toes in the presentation and publication pools. He was making great contributions professionally and in his volunteer activities. He also was sick of school and wanted no part of graduate work. Fine. I was proud and excited about all of the above.
Several years later however, the mom's dream of having the rest of the world recognize her child's brilliance occurred. His employers at Northwestern encouraged him and made it possible for him to begin his master's degree program while continuing to work full time. By next year, his master's will be a reality.
Recently his professors have been strongly encouraging David to go on for the PhD. Today his petition to be enrolled in the PhD program at Northwestern was accepted.
I'd be proud of my son if he dedicated his career to designing new Lego contraptions or experimenting with the bounce-ability of Spam (two of David's childhood talents), but it is truly exciting when "experts" in his field of Civil Engineering recognize that he has the ability and perseverance to pursue this new goal.
My son the PhD to be! .
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Rationaliztions
The state of Illinois is in the midst of huge budget crisis. In May the General Assembly slashed state spending for most human care services by 50% to 75%. Obviously, with a mother on Medicaid who relies on the state for almost every need, we are very concerned. Of course, it's not all about Medicaid - it's also funding for hundreds of vital programs from substance abuse treatments, to foster care, to education, to social services etc.
So I sat in my nice air-conditioned house and shot off e-mails to my representatives.
And felt guilty.
Because this morning, almost five months after a bunch of my mother's clothes were lost at the nursing home, I finally got the reimbursement. We got about half of what it cost to replace the lost items and they handled it slowly but nicely.
Somehow "taking" that money from Rosewood on the day that state agencies are not able to buy milk for a WIC program seems immoral.
Just as I sometimes think it is immoral for us to let Mom be on Medicaid and have her needs taken care of by the state. Usually those thoughts come up when I've heard someone talk about "lovingly taking mom into their home when they can't live on their own because they couldn't ever, ever put their parent in a horrible nursing home."
So I feel guilty for a while, then sanity takes over. Mom's physical needs are way too big to be handled by one person, we don't have the money for health aides, our house is impossible for a person in a wheel chair, she could never get the medical care she's now getting in a private home, there would be no stimulation, and I couldn't work or be of any use to any other family member or aspect of society.
The biggest issue, however, is that if I had to handle all of Mom's physical, medical, and emotional needs there would soon be TWO of us needing to be institutionalized.
So I guess I'm saving the state money?????????????
So I sat in my nice air-conditioned house and shot off e-mails to my representatives.
And felt guilty.
Because this morning, almost five months after a bunch of my mother's clothes were lost at the nursing home, I finally got the reimbursement. We got about half of what it cost to replace the lost items and they handled it slowly but nicely.
Somehow "taking" that money from Rosewood on the day that state agencies are not able to buy milk for a WIC program seems immoral.
Just as I sometimes think it is immoral for us to let Mom be on Medicaid and have her needs taken care of by the state. Usually those thoughts come up when I've heard someone talk about "lovingly taking mom into their home when they can't live on their own because they couldn't ever, ever put their parent in a horrible nursing home."
So I feel guilty for a while, then sanity takes over. Mom's physical needs are way too big to be handled by one person, we don't have the money for health aides, our house is impossible for a person in a wheel chair, she could never get the medical care she's now getting in a private home, there would be no stimulation, and I couldn't work or be of any use to any other family member or aspect of society.
The biggest issue, however, is that if I had to handle all of Mom's physical, medical, and emotional needs there would soon be TWO of us needing to be institutionalized.
So I guess I'm saving the state money?????????????
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Miracles....
....do happen.
On Saturday Allyn was taken off life support and is breathing on her own. Today she said "Hi" and "Please" to a nurse and squeezed Steve's hand upon request. What a wonderful Father's Day present for Steve and Scott!
She has a long, long way to go, but this is a wonderful start!
We are very thankful for our unremarkable Father's Day. David and Lisa came over after church. We spent a leisurely time looking at Paris pictures and generally catching up. David and Lisa later went for a bike ride to the Botanical Gardens while I visited my mother and Ken had a well deserved nap. Then we barbequed burgers and brats, talked some more and David helped me with some computer issues. Great to spend some extended time together! In view of our extended family's drama in Seattle, the pure ordinariness of our celebration is definitely something to celebrate!
On Saturday Allyn was taken off life support and is breathing on her own. Today she said "Hi" and "Please" to a nurse and squeezed Steve's hand upon request. What a wonderful Father's Day present for Steve and Scott!
She has a long, long way to go, but this is a wonderful start!
We are very thankful for our unremarkable Father's Day. David and Lisa came over after church. We spent a leisurely time looking at Paris pictures and generally catching up. David and Lisa later went for a bike ride to the Botanical Gardens while I visited my mother and Ken had a well deserved nap. Then we barbequed burgers and brats, talked some more and David helped me with some computer issues. Great to spend some extended time together! In view of our extended family's drama in Seattle, the pure ordinariness of our celebration is definitely something to celebrate!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
This and That
No, I haven't fallen off the end of the earth. It has been an ordinary, yet strange week. Some random thoughts in no particular order, except for the first.
My thoughts and prayers all week have been with my cousin Steve's wife, Allyn, who remains in intensive care. Steve has faithfully been writing updates and sharing his thoughts on a daily basis. His son Scott has also been keeping up a blog. There have been "ups" as Allyn has come through myriad surgeries on her limbs and physical healing is occurring. The horrible "down" has been that her brain injury is much more severe than they originally thought - three strokes and huge trauma during the accident - and it is possible that she will not recover from those. There is still room for a miracle but it looks bad.
Steve and Scott seem to share my need to write to process. They write poignant and extraordinarily complete reports on each day's events as well as their emotions as they deal with those events. Through technology I feel like I'm in Washington, feel like I'm crying with them, but can't do a darn thing but pray. They do have a large circle of friends who are visiting Allyn and preparing food for Scott and Steve.
All the ERs, Grey's Anatomys, St. Elsewheres, Private Practices, Robin Cook books, and Patricia Cornwall books don't come close to preparing one for a REAL family experiencing such trauma.
On to the more ordinary end of things......
Summer finally arrived in Chicago yesterday afternoon when it got very hot and muggy, stormed like crazy last night, and returned to a little less muggy heat today. I don't understand my body. The first touch of humidity and I crash. Trying to prepare some food for Father's Day and clean up the kitchen were beyond me physically....so I actually put on the air conditioning! What a wimp!
I'm tutoring a 14 year old girl who WANTS TO LEARN!!!! I was asked to tutor Devin to "give her a leg up" for high school. I figured she would be polite at best, resistant at worst. She ended up being delightful. She actually KNOWS what she was taught this past year and is actually EAGER to do some homework and to push ahead. To think they will actually pay me to have fun!
Kevin had his big adventure of driving himself to California. After filling the entire first floor of the house with his stuff, he got it all in the car and took off mid-afternoon on Tuesday. He stayed with a friend's parents in Des Moines, then had a great short visit with Ed and Judy (got to do a long bike ride with Ed) and then stopped somewhere in Utah Thursday night before arriving in Santa Barbara at the necessary time on Friday. His excitement is palpable.
I am so pleased that Kevin was able to spend some time with Ed and Judy and that he and Ed could engage in their common favorite activity. Just as I've so thoroughly enjoyed times to visit my adult niece and nephew independent of family events, now Ed and Judy are having those opportunities to get to also know their nephews as adults. I think when families live in close proximity, the "kids" just sort of ooze into adults but, when families are far from each other, it can be a delightful surprise when this adult with adult opinions, skills, and experiences shows up on your doorstep!
The Paris pictures are all organized on both computers and I've even labeled them! Now I hope someone will want to see them :-) Could that have only been a week ago???
My thoughts and prayers all week have been with my cousin Steve's wife, Allyn, who remains in intensive care. Steve has faithfully been writing updates and sharing his thoughts on a daily basis. His son Scott has also been keeping up a blog. There have been "ups" as Allyn has come through myriad surgeries on her limbs and physical healing is occurring. The horrible "down" has been that her brain injury is much more severe than they originally thought - three strokes and huge trauma during the accident - and it is possible that she will not recover from those. There is still room for a miracle but it looks bad.
Steve and Scott seem to share my need to write to process. They write poignant and extraordinarily complete reports on each day's events as well as their emotions as they deal with those events. Through technology I feel like I'm in Washington, feel like I'm crying with them, but can't do a darn thing but pray. They do have a large circle of friends who are visiting Allyn and preparing food for Scott and Steve.
All the ERs, Grey's Anatomys, St. Elsewheres, Private Practices, Robin Cook books, and Patricia Cornwall books don't come close to preparing one for a REAL family experiencing such trauma.
On to the more ordinary end of things......
Summer finally arrived in Chicago yesterday afternoon when it got very hot and muggy, stormed like crazy last night, and returned to a little less muggy heat today. I don't understand my body. The first touch of humidity and I crash. Trying to prepare some food for Father's Day and clean up the kitchen were beyond me physically....so I actually put on the air conditioning! What a wimp!
I'm tutoring a 14 year old girl who WANTS TO LEARN!!!! I was asked to tutor Devin to "give her a leg up" for high school. I figured she would be polite at best, resistant at worst. She ended up being delightful. She actually KNOWS what she was taught this past year and is actually EAGER to do some homework and to push ahead. To think they will actually pay me to have fun!
Kevin had his big adventure of driving himself to California. After filling the entire first floor of the house with his stuff, he got it all in the car and took off mid-afternoon on Tuesday. He stayed with a friend's parents in Des Moines, then had a great short visit with Ed and Judy (got to do a long bike ride with Ed) and then stopped somewhere in Utah Thursday night before arriving in Santa Barbara at the necessary time on Friday. His excitement is palpable.
I am so pleased that Kevin was able to spend some time with Ed and Judy and that he and Ed could engage in their common favorite activity. Just as I've so thoroughly enjoyed times to visit my adult niece and nephew independent of family events, now Ed and Judy are having those opportunities to get to also know their nephews as adults. I think when families live in close proximity, the "kids" just sort of ooze into adults but, when families are far from each other, it can be a delightful surprise when this adult with adult opinions, skills, and experiences shows up on your doorstep!
The Paris pictures are all organized on both computers and I've even labeled them! Now I hope someone will want to see them :-) Could that have only been a week ago???
Monday, June 15, 2009
The Best Laid Plans.....
At the reunion the other night I was talking with my old friend Donna about a mutual acquaintance in Des Plaines. Back in the early 70's this acquaintance had it all together and I could find myself jealous of her - great husband, beautiful large home, excellent teacher. She even planned her pregnancy so that she delivered (the beautiful girl she wanted) within hours after the beginning of Spring break (so that her maternity leave would end just as school ended). The daughter was perfect in every way. Her life was charmed.
Then boom! A number of years later I heard that the husband had cheated and the marriage ended. The beautiful house was sold.
I believe there is a Hebrew saying, "Man plans. God laughs." I absolutely believe that God doesn't cause misfortune. I certainly don't believe that God laughs at misfortunes. I do believe in planning....but recognize that sometimes God has better plans in mind and sometimes awful things happen that God is crying over with us.
Last week God cried over my cousin's wife in Seattle but also immediately began working miracles. Allyn was hit by a drunk driver while returning home alone after their son's high school graduation. She had to be pried from the car by the Jaws of Life and her injuries are massive. She has already had multiple surgeries and evaluations and is still critical, but the family's worst fears have not materialized and, barring infection or other complications, they are hopeful for recovery. I'm sure Allyn planned to spend the summer outfitting her son's dorm room. Instead she will be working hard at therapy. God sure didn't want this to happen...but He is surely with them as they go through this time.
On a happy note, I believe God has had better plans for Kevin than we ever could have planned throughout his college and post college experiences. He leaves tomorrow for the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara. He has been packing all day and the living room is virtually full of all his stuff since he has to have all the same things a college student has PLUS all his percussion stuff. He is mighty excited however! Excited about the independence of driving alone to California and doubly excited about the music (and bicycling) experiences ahead because they didn't come to him easily.
I planned to go to the first outdoor aerobics class today, but instead am fighting a nasty cold caught in Paris or on the airplane. Six months ago I'd NEVER have thought I would have the opportunity to catch a cold in a foreign country!
So, we live our lives using our God given intelligence to plan, but know that sometimes bad or good surprises happen and we'll move with those surprises knowing that we are never moving alone.
Then boom! A number of years later I heard that the husband had cheated and the marriage ended. The beautiful house was sold.
I believe there is a Hebrew saying, "Man plans. God laughs." I absolutely believe that God doesn't cause misfortune. I certainly don't believe that God laughs at misfortunes. I do believe in planning....but recognize that sometimes God has better plans in mind and sometimes awful things happen that God is crying over with us.
Last week God cried over my cousin's wife in Seattle but also immediately began working miracles. Allyn was hit by a drunk driver while returning home alone after their son's high school graduation. She had to be pried from the car by the Jaws of Life and her injuries are massive. She has already had multiple surgeries and evaluations and is still critical, but the family's worst fears have not materialized and, barring infection or other complications, they are hopeful for recovery. I'm sure Allyn planned to spend the summer outfitting her son's dorm room. Instead she will be working hard at therapy. God sure didn't want this to happen...but He is surely with them as they go through this time.
On a happy note, I believe God has had better plans for Kevin than we ever could have planned throughout his college and post college experiences. He leaves tomorrow for the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara. He has been packing all day and the living room is virtually full of all his stuff since he has to have all the same things a college student has PLUS all his percussion stuff. He is mighty excited however! Excited about the independence of driving alone to California and doubly excited about the music (and bicycling) experiences ahead because they didn't come to him easily.
I planned to go to the first outdoor aerobics class today, but instead am fighting a nasty cold caught in Paris or on the airplane. Six months ago I'd NEVER have thought I would have the opportunity to catch a cold in a foreign country!
So, we live our lives using our God given intelligence to plan, but know that sometimes bad or good surprises happen and we'll move with those surprises knowing that we are never moving alone.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Who Are These Old People?
This was the weekend of the 50th reunion of my 8th grade class! It started with a tour of the school on Friday afternoon. As I walked up to the building I saw a group of OLD people standing near the door, walked up and saw a bunch of strangers, then started to recognize many of these former classmates, and soon was talking as though it was---gasp---50 years ago! The hallways and exterior of the school look exactly the same, though the nailed down desks have been removed, our "8B" room is now a science lab and our "8A" room is now a computer lab.
Last night was the official party. In some respects it was like Friday night "social center" back in eighth grade. Some people were seated at tables and weren't about to move. The more social folks were going from group to group laughing and starting conversations. Fifty years ago at our Friday night "Social Center" dances, the boys sat on one side of the gym and the girls on the other. Back then girls could NEVER initiate a dance, so we waited patiently until....Oh, please, let him ask me....a brave boy would walk across the room to ask the lucky girl.
Our eighth grade, like every eighth grade I've ever taught, had its cliques. I hung out mostly with Diane, Marge and Donna. Diane has been a life-long friend, we were in each other's weddings and are god-parents to each other's children. I see Marge about once a year and, in spite of both working in Des Plaines, haven't seen Donna since high school. We picked up right where we left off 46 years ago.
Some of the others were in the "cool kids" clique who went on to be the cheer-leaders and class officers in high school. I was always totally intimidated by them. Funny thing is that they were among the people I've had the most fun reconnecting with this weekend. The junior high barriers were down and they are fun, warm people.
Then there were the people I really didn't remember. That was embarrassing. Part of the reason is that I arrived at this school at the end of 6th grade and our June '59 class of 46 kids and the much smaller January '59 class made up two classrooms. I wasn't ever in the same class as some of the kids. There was one woman who looked extremely familiar to me, who talked my ear off both on Friday and Saturday....who I really can't remember! What was even more embarrassing was when her husband (who is a few years older and not from our school) came up to me last night, remembering my name and recalling our "good times" working together in the language lab at college. I have NO, NONE, ZIP memory of him. I hope I faked it well enough with both of them.
Adolescence is so hard. I know I put a bubble around myself, having a good time with trusted friends, but being scared to death of going beyond the comfort zone. I was so naive and so oblivious to a lot that was going on around me. In fact, I was probably the last person in our 7th grade class to find out our teacher was pregnant. I just thought she liked wearing long jackets. :-)
I hope I'm past adolescence...but still feel like I'm at Social Center when I walk into a large party. When will that feeling go away?
Last night was the official party. In some respects it was like Friday night "social center" back in eighth grade. Some people were seated at tables and weren't about to move. The more social folks were going from group to group laughing and starting conversations. Fifty years ago at our Friday night "Social Center" dances, the boys sat on one side of the gym and the girls on the other. Back then girls could NEVER initiate a dance, so we waited patiently until....Oh, please, let him ask me....a brave boy would walk across the room to ask the lucky girl.
Our eighth grade, like every eighth grade I've ever taught, had its cliques. I hung out mostly with Diane, Marge and Donna. Diane has been a life-long friend, we were in each other's weddings and are god-parents to each other's children. I see Marge about once a year and, in spite of both working in Des Plaines, haven't seen Donna since high school. We picked up right where we left off 46 years ago.
Some of the others were in the "cool kids" clique who went on to be the cheer-leaders and class officers in high school. I was always totally intimidated by them. Funny thing is that they were among the people I've had the most fun reconnecting with this weekend. The junior high barriers were down and they are fun, warm people.
Then there were the people I really didn't remember. That was embarrassing. Part of the reason is that I arrived at this school at the end of 6th grade and our June '59 class of 46 kids and the much smaller January '59 class made up two classrooms. I wasn't ever in the same class as some of the kids. There was one woman who looked extremely familiar to me, who talked my ear off both on Friday and Saturday....who I really can't remember! What was even more embarrassing was when her husband (who is a few years older and not from our school) came up to me last night, remembering my name and recalling our "good times" working together in the language lab at college. I have NO, NONE, ZIP memory of him. I hope I faked it well enough with both of them.
Adolescence is so hard. I know I put a bubble around myself, having a good time with trusted friends, but being scared to death of going beyond the comfort zone. I was so naive and so oblivious to a lot that was going on around me. In fact, I was probably the last person in our 7th grade class to find out our teacher was pregnant. I just thought she liked wearing long jackets. :-)
I hope I'm past adolescence...but still feel like I'm at Social Center when I walk into a large party. When will that feeling go away?
Friday, June 12, 2009
Le fin du voyage
Wednesday morning found the Bilodeaus and us waking to an alarm at 5:15 a.m. to be ready for a cab scheduled for 6:15. It was a splurge to "cab it" but was nice to avoid the extra time needed for the metro at that hour. Upon arriving at the travel agency we were immediately immersed in the typical tourist routine - all Americans on the bus, everything in English, and too little time to do the things we wanted.....but it was certainly the only way to see the Normany coast in one day.
Our first stop was the "Peace Center" in Caen. This museum presented a history of WWI as a prelude to WWII, then went through WWII. We could have spent twice as long there, but the movie was next. It was phenomenal. It had a split screen - on the left was footage from Allied photo journalists, on the right was the same event from the point of view of the German photographers. Later computer generated graphics explained the timing and events---all without words. Very moving and effective.
After lunch the first stop was Point Hoc which gave a view of Utah beach and the cliffs which were scaled on our left and Omaha beach site of the water landing on the right. The ground leading up to the beach was full of German bunkers, pill boxes, artillery batteries, and craters. It really hit us what had happened on that site.
Later we stopped right on Omaha Beach and then went to the American cemetery where something like 20,000 American soldiers are buried---all died on or around June 6, 1944. Again we followed Barack Obama who had spoken there on June 6. It was raining all day and somehow that seemed appropriate for this somber experience.
The requisite stop at a cute little town for souvenirs --- we had chocolate crepes in the rain --- and a brief stop at Juno beach where the Canadians landed rounded out the day. Arrived back in Pantin about 10:00 --- just in time for the fresh cherry torte that Dick Mann had made with fruit harvested that day from the back yard tree.
The next day even our flight home was eventful. We almost didn't make the flight even though we had arrived at the airport two hours early. Seems there had been some scare that morning which brought everything to a stop and American was very inefficient about catching up. But we made it....climbing the last several flights of stairs in France!
Half way home we had a big treat! We flew over Greenland and got some fantastic pictures of the glaciers, mountains and snow fields. Very cool!
Very cool as, indeed, was the entire week! J'adore Paris!
Our first stop was the "Peace Center" in Caen. This museum presented a history of WWI as a prelude to WWII, then went through WWII. We could have spent twice as long there, but the movie was next. It was phenomenal. It had a split screen - on the left was footage from Allied photo journalists, on the right was the same event from the point of view of the German photographers. Later computer generated graphics explained the timing and events---all without words. Very moving and effective.
After lunch the first stop was Point Hoc which gave a view of Utah beach and the cliffs which were scaled on our left and Omaha beach site of the water landing on the right. The ground leading up to the beach was full of German bunkers, pill boxes, artillery batteries, and craters. It really hit us what had happened on that site.
Later we stopped right on Omaha Beach and then went to the American cemetery where something like 20,000 American soldiers are buried---all died on or around June 6, 1944. Again we followed Barack Obama who had spoken there on June 6. It was raining all day and somehow that seemed appropriate for this somber experience.
The requisite stop at a cute little town for souvenirs --- we had chocolate crepes in the rain --- and a brief stop at Juno beach where the Canadians landed rounded out the day. Arrived back in Pantin about 10:00 --- just in time for the fresh cherry torte that Dick Mann had made with fruit harvested that day from the back yard tree.
The next day even our flight home was eventful. We almost didn't make the flight even though we had arrived at the airport two hours early. Seems there had been some scare that morning which brought everything to a stop and American was very inefficient about catching up. But we made it....climbing the last several flights of stairs in France!
Half way home we had a big treat! We flew over Greenland and got some fantastic pictures of the glaciers, mountains and snow fields. Very cool!
Very cool as, indeed, was the entire week! J'adore Paris!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Paris - Day 6
A new means of transportation! This morning all six of us actually made it out of the house by 8:30 to get the metro to our Paris canal boat ride. This was a really interesting new way to see the city traveling by barge from not far from here down to Bastille. This involved going through 4 sets of locks and near the end going through a long tunnel under a Paris park. We also had the pleasure of being on part of the ride with about 50 4th or 5th graders on a field trip. Kids are kids! Fun to watch.
After a leisurly lunch in the Marais area we walked to Ile de la Cite and here Ken aned I left the group as the Biloudous were going to see Notre Dame. We went to the archeological "museum"under the plaza in from on Notre Dame. Saw loads of Roman ruins and ruins from later civilizations etc. Then we went to the Conciergerie and saw the jail cells of the over 2,000 people who were imprisoned there in the late 1700's before going to the guillotine. Even saw a model of Marie Antoinette sitting in her jail cell.
The highlight of the day was Sainte Chappell. It is an extraordinarily beautiful
"chapel" which has walls that are commpletely stained glass. Absolutely gorgeous and unlike anything I've ever seen. We were there as the sun was in the west when it shines most beautifully through the rose window in the back.
A great finale to the Paris sights! Tomorrow we head to Normandy for a totally different type of experience!
After a leisurly lunch in the Marais area we walked to Ile de la Cite and here Ken aned I left the group as the Biloudous were going to see Notre Dame. We went to the archeological "museum"under the plaza in from on Notre Dame. Saw loads of Roman ruins and ruins from later civilizations etc. Then we went to the Conciergerie and saw the jail cells of the over 2,000 people who were imprisoned there in the late 1700's before going to the guillotine. Even saw a model of Marie Antoinette sitting in her jail cell.
The highlight of the day was Sainte Chappell. It is an extraordinarily beautiful
"chapel" which has walls that are commpletely stained glass. Absolutely gorgeous and unlike anything I've ever seen. We were there as the sun was in the west when it shines most beautifully through the rose window in the back.
A great finale to the Paris sights! Tomorrow we head to Normandy for a totally different type of experience!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Paris Day 5
Today we were in the famous Calleboite painting - Rainy Day in Paris. It's a lot more pleasant to look at this huge painting at the Chicago Art Institute than to actually be IN it...but we had a good day anyway.
We went first thing today to the Arch de Triomphe and climbed up 284 winding steps to the top. That was, as the French would say, formidable! A number of years ago I swore I would not again walk up the Statue of Liberty. I will now add the Arch de Triomphe to that "do not repeat" list. It was amazing to see the view from the top, though the pictures will not show much because of the rain.
We then did a REALLY STUPID thing! In a hurry to have some lunch, we actually went into the McDonald's on the Champs Elysee. It was exactly lunch hour and most of Paris and most of the tourists were all in the place and, of course, we were in the line being manned by a trainee. Dumb, Dumb, Dumb!
Then we metroed (is that a verb?) east and found the Picasso museum. I loved it! It follows his artistic life from the blue period through late works. Very cool and I got a couple of cool books in the "librarie" there also that will be neat additions to my Picasso lecture.
From there it was a short walk to the Pompidou center through the Marais area which is one of our "friend" Rick Steeve's favorite areas. It is very pretty. The Pompidou is an unbelievable building - huge with all the normal "inside" stuff such as escalators, pipes, etc. on the outside! All very brightly colored. There were some neat things to see fitting my artistic interests - some Picasso's, a few cool Dalis, a lot of cool Joan Miro's and lots of more modern things that Kevin loves.
By the end of our visit there we were pretty worn out and soggy, talked with Dick who said to come home for dinner which we gratefully did. The Mann's other friends, Kathy and Charlie Bilodou arrived from Chicago this morning, so we are now six in our French maison. We had fun drinking lots of wine and talking over a long dinner. Our contributions to dinner and tomorrow's breakfast were baquettes, a wonderful gateau (raspberry mouse cake) and croissants which I successfuly ordered at the local patisserie. Yeah!
We went first thing today to the Arch de Triomphe and climbed up 284 winding steps to the top. That was, as the French would say, formidable! A number of years ago I swore I would not again walk up the Statue of Liberty. I will now add the Arch de Triomphe to that "do not repeat" list. It was amazing to see the view from the top, though the pictures will not show much because of the rain.
We then did a REALLY STUPID thing! In a hurry to have some lunch, we actually went into the McDonald's on the Champs Elysee. It was exactly lunch hour and most of Paris and most of the tourists were all in the place and, of course, we were in the line being manned by a trainee. Dumb, Dumb, Dumb!
Then we metroed (is that a verb?) east and found the Picasso museum. I loved it! It follows his artistic life from the blue period through late works. Very cool and I got a couple of cool books in the "librarie" there also that will be neat additions to my Picasso lecture.
From there it was a short walk to the Pompidou center through the Marais area which is one of our "friend" Rick Steeve's favorite areas. It is very pretty. The Pompidou is an unbelievable building - huge with all the normal "inside" stuff such as escalators, pipes, etc. on the outside! All very brightly colored. There were some neat things to see fitting my artistic interests - some Picasso's, a few cool Dalis, a lot of cool Joan Miro's and lots of more modern things that Kevin loves.
By the end of our visit there we were pretty worn out and soggy, talked with Dick who said to come home for dinner which we gratefully did. The Mann's other friends, Kathy and Charlie Bilodou arrived from Chicago this morning, so we are now six in our French maison. We had fun drinking lots of wine and talking over a long dinner. Our contributions to dinner and tomorrow's breakfast were baquettes, a wonderful gateau (raspberry mouse cake) and croissants which I successfuly ordered at the local patisserie. Yeah!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Paris - Day 4
Sunday - 6/7 Organ, Astronomy, Crypts, Art, Food!
In spite of another late start (must have something to do with the late nights) we made it over to St. Sulpice church in the left bank area in time for the 11:30 organ recital. What an unbelievable experience! I've never heard such wonderful organ music in my life - the organist would hold some final chords forever, finally lift his hands, and the sound would continue reverberating in the huge church for several more moments. We then found the "secret door" which leads up a steep winding staircase to the organ loft where we were able to meet and chat with the organist and watch him play a bit in the next mass. He is utterly charming and the views from up on high were tremendous also. Once the 12:00 mass ended we were able to walk around the entire church and enjoyed the art and seeing the "rose line" that Dan Brown talks about in the DaVinci code. Of course, Dan Brown's interpretation is not true, but the true story is pretty cool also. Early astronomers asked to put a stone obelisk against one wall with a line on the floor connecting the obelisk stone to a marker in the floor on the other side of the nave. Because of the orientation of the church, the sun shines right on the marker on the summer solstice. Pretty cool!
We followed that astronomy lesson with a visit to the Panteon - former church turned memorial to and crypts for heroes of France. Buried here are Voltaire, Rousseau, Braille, Marie Curie (though we couldn't find her!), Victor Huge and many others. In the center of the building is the original Foucault pendulum which is much cooler than the one hanging in the Museum of Science and Industry since it is hanging from a ceiling that's at least 5-6 stories high.
So, we followed music, astronomy and crypts with a ride to Monmartre. Our goal there was to see the Dali museum, Picasso's studio and Van Gogh's home. Rick Steeves has been our best friend throughout this trip, but today he failed us. He had one of his cute little maps to help us tour around Monmartre,,,but he failed to include street names and we got lost finding Picasso's studio. Finally realized, of course, that we had walked right past it1 The neat thing about trying to find these two artists' "digs" was that it got us out of touristy Montmartre and into areas where real people live. The Dali museum was wonderful. There were at least 8 large sculptures---something I hadn't known he had even done! The other cool thing was seeing the series of twelve paintings on the twelve tribes of Israel. (I had mentioned a couple of weeks ago about a woman in Northbrook who told me she owned these very pictures and had just had them evaluated by Sothebys. Seems she owns one of about 150 signed print sets--one side is here in the museum and she has one. As I suspected she is sitting on a pot of gold!)
Dinner was at a Montmartre restaurant in a non-touristy area. I had onion soup and croque monsieur - two typical dishes that are on my to-eat list. Crepes remain on that list - hopefully tomorrow.
We added a means of transportation to the list today - a funicular ride up to Montmartre. Parisians walk and walk and walk and go up and down and up and down---even metro riding requires a tremendous number of stairs and long hallways. But, as the Spanish say, Vale la pena! (It's sure worth it!)
In spite of another late start (must have something to do with the late nights) we made it over to St. Sulpice church in the left bank area in time for the 11:30 organ recital. What an unbelievable experience! I've never heard such wonderful organ music in my life - the organist would hold some final chords forever, finally lift his hands, and the sound would continue reverberating in the huge church for several more moments. We then found the "secret door" which leads up a steep winding staircase to the organ loft where we were able to meet and chat with the organist and watch him play a bit in the next mass. He is utterly charming and the views from up on high were tremendous also. Once the 12:00 mass ended we were able to walk around the entire church and enjoyed the art and seeing the "rose line" that Dan Brown talks about in the DaVinci code. Of course, Dan Brown's interpretation is not true, but the true story is pretty cool also. Early astronomers asked to put a stone obelisk against one wall with a line on the floor connecting the obelisk stone to a marker in the floor on the other side of the nave. Because of the orientation of the church, the sun shines right on the marker on the summer solstice. Pretty cool!
We followed that astronomy lesson with a visit to the Panteon - former church turned memorial to and crypts for heroes of France. Buried here are Voltaire, Rousseau, Braille, Marie Curie (though we couldn't find her!), Victor Huge and many others. In the center of the building is the original Foucault pendulum which is much cooler than the one hanging in the Museum of Science and Industry since it is hanging from a ceiling that's at least 5-6 stories high.
So, we followed music, astronomy and crypts with a ride to Monmartre. Our goal there was to see the Dali museum, Picasso's studio and Van Gogh's home. Rick Steeves has been our best friend throughout this trip, but today he failed us. He had one of his cute little maps to help us tour around Monmartre,,,but he failed to include street names and we got lost finding Picasso's studio. Finally realized, of course, that we had walked right past it1 The neat thing about trying to find these two artists' "digs" was that it got us out of touristy Montmartre and into areas where real people live. The Dali museum was wonderful. There were at least 8 large sculptures---something I hadn't known he had even done! The other cool thing was seeing the series of twelve paintings on the twelve tribes of Israel. (I had mentioned a couple of weeks ago about a woman in Northbrook who told me she owned these very pictures and had just had them evaluated by Sothebys. Seems she owns one of about 150 signed print sets--one side is here in the museum and she has one. As I suspected she is sitting on a pot of gold!)
Dinner was at a Montmartre restaurant in a non-touristy area. I had onion soup and croque monsieur - two typical dishes that are on my to-eat list. Crepes remain on that list - hopefully tomorrow.
We added a means of transportation to the list today - a funicular ride up to Montmartre. Parisians walk and walk and walk and go up and down and up and down---even metro riding requires a tremendous number of stairs and long hallways. But, as the Spanish say, Vale la pena! (It's sure worth it!)
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Paris - Day 3
Today was transportation day! We took at least 12 different metro trains, a real train to Vernon, a bus from Vernon to Giverny, and a river boat. We also saw Barack Obama's motorcade so that has to count as car transporation and also saw the helicopters in the air guarding the motorcade, so that counts as air travel. No wonder I'm tired!
Giverny was all it is cracked up to be. The day was overcast which we actually think brought out the colors of the flowers. Just as in Monet's paintings, the gardens are a huge jumble of all sorts of flowers which at first glance seem to be just randomly placed. On second look you see the planning he put into the garden with just the right mixture of colors and textures. The Japanese bridge and water lilies are - surprise, surprise - exactly what they look like in his paintings!
When we returned to Paris we went to the Eiffel tower, first getting the great view from Trocadero across the river, then walking to the tower itself. As much as one sees pictures of the tower, it is still astounding to see close up. We opted not to take an elevator up because two of the towers are being repaired so the line for the one remaining elevator was ridiculously long. We ended up, however, with an even better opportunity. We took a 9:00 p.m. Seine cruise from the base of the tower down around Ile St. Louis and back. As we approached the Eiffel tower on the return, the lights came on. That was amazing enough, but then the tower started sparkling. From 10:00-10:05 the sparkling is the gift given to the city.
Today's random observations:
1. How can you tell the difference between a Parisian and non-Parisian woman? The Parisian woman is wearing a scarf. They look very smart but I wonder if this fashion will continue when the August heat hits?
2. French people are so polite and so QUIET! When you see a mom speaking to her young children she is speaking in an exremely pleasant soft voice. The people sitting on either side of me on the train spoke on their cell phones....and I couldn't hear what they were saying. They always greet you with Bonjour before tending to whatever the need is, even the lady collecting the 50 cents to use the bathroom at the train station!
3. It's both reassuring and scary to see the young soldiers walking around busy tourist areas with machine guns at the ready!
4. Segue to #2, it's quiet on the metro EXCEPT when a three musicians get on the train and begin playing New Orlean's style jazz on trumpets and saxophones. It's also quiet EXCEPT after a big soccer match and some cars were full of yelling fans...from both teams. Fortunately we just saw these cars, weren't on one.
5. My French is adequate! I understand most anything written, can pick words out of announcements I hear, and have actually communicated enough to get food and train tickets!
Giverny was all it is cracked up to be. The day was overcast which we actually think brought out the colors of the flowers. Just as in Monet's paintings, the gardens are a huge jumble of all sorts of flowers which at first glance seem to be just randomly placed. On second look you see the planning he put into the garden with just the right mixture of colors and textures. The Japanese bridge and water lilies are - surprise, surprise - exactly what they look like in his paintings!
When we returned to Paris we went to the Eiffel tower, first getting the great view from Trocadero across the river, then walking to the tower itself. As much as one sees pictures of the tower, it is still astounding to see close up. We opted not to take an elevator up because two of the towers are being repaired so the line for the one remaining elevator was ridiculously long. We ended up, however, with an even better opportunity. We took a 9:00 p.m. Seine cruise from the base of the tower down around Ile St. Louis and back. As we approached the Eiffel tower on the return, the lights came on. That was amazing enough, but then the tower started sparkling. From 10:00-10:05 the sparkling is the gift given to the city.
Today's random observations:
1. How can you tell the difference between a Parisian and non-Parisian woman? The Parisian woman is wearing a scarf. They look very smart but I wonder if this fashion will continue when the August heat hits?
2. French people are so polite and so QUIET! When you see a mom speaking to her young children she is speaking in an exremely pleasant soft voice. The people sitting on either side of me on the train spoke on their cell phones....and I couldn't hear what they were saying. They always greet you with Bonjour before tending to whatever the need is, even the lady collecting the 50 cents to use the bathroom at the train station!
3. It's both reassuring and scary to see the young soldiers walking around busy tourist areas with machine guns at the ready!
4. Segue to #2, it's quiet on the metro EXCEPT when a three musicians get on the train and begin playing New Orlean's style jazz on trumpets and saxophones. It's also quiet EXCEPT after a big soccer match and some cars were full of yelling fans...from both teams. Fortunately we just saw these cars, weren't on one.
5. My French is adequate! I understand most anything written, can pick words out of announcements I hear, and have actually communicated enough to get food and train tickets!
Friday, June 5, 2009
Paris - Day 2
June 5, 2009
Yesterday's blog just got posted because we just figured out how to connect to the internet at our "house".
Today was great. We slept until 10:00 - which is sort of an embarrassment - but today we both felt great, no jet leg whatsoever. After a leisurely breakfast with the Manns we were off on the metro by ourselves. Our first stop was the Louvre and, before entering, we had our first weird experience--the kind of thing they warn you about.
As we walked toward an entrance, a woman approached us, looked down on the bricks and picked up a "gold" wedding ring and asked me in broken English if it was mine. She was then all pleasant saying, "I'm divorced. I can't use this. You take it.". Of course, she then asked for money for a coffee or a coke and was persistent until Ken gave her a couple of euros. Fortunately, that was it, no pickpocketing. Of course, she had had the ring in her hand and conveniently dropped it on the ground.
I kept the ring for a souvenir of stupid-Americanism.
We did the obligatory visits to the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory and Venus de Milo, had a quick bite to eat and left for museums more to our interests. It was worth it, however, to see the pyramid entry and get a feel for the incredible vastness of the Louvre. We had a lovely walk through the Tuleries gardens to the Orangerie museum which we both really loved. It's small but powerful. Upstairs they are two very large oval rooms, each with four of the huge curved water lily Monet paintings that he painted when he was losing his sight late in his life. Then downstairs is a small but excellent collection of other impressionist artists and some really good examples of Picasso's work that I had never seen before.
We then headed to get the metro at the Place de la Concorde and were blocked by police in front of the hotel where the metro entrance we used yesterday exists. We walked to the other entrance and then found that part of the metro was also closed off. We were able to get to the line that we needed, but suspect that Obama is staying at that hotel tonight. (Maybe not, but that's a fun story.)
By this metro ride I must have been starting to look tired and old as a young woman gave me her seat! That hurt! (Although it felt good to sit, I confess.) We arrived at Notre Dame as a vespers service was starting, so got to hear the organ which was cool, walked around taking pictures inside and out, and getting yelled at (very quietly) for taking a picture in a forbidden area. Oops - I really didn't realize I was in the wrong place even though I was right next to the "no photos" sign. Maybe the woman on the metro was right to give her seat to a dodo!
Susan and Dick met us in front of Notre Dame and we walked to Ile St. Louis for dinner - had white asparagus with hollandaise for the appetizer (entree here). Hope it's not the last chance this trip. We ended the evening with ice cream and a bus ride back to Pantin. A great day--though the feet do hurt!
Tomorrow we'll see the real gardens that Monet painted in Giverny.
Interesting to people watch. Lots of cultural diversity - lots of Muslims as well as Blacks and Asians. People have been remarkably friendly and not at all critical of my poor French. Lots of field trips in evidence at the museums - and those kids look just the same as ours, just looking at different works of art!
Yesterday's blog just got posted because we just figured out how to connect to the internet at our "house".
Today was great. We slept until 10:00 - which is sort of an embarrassment - but today we both felt great, no jet leg whatsoever. After a leisurely breakfast with the Manns we were off on the metro by ourselves. Our first stop was the Louvre and, before entering, we had our first weird experience--the kind of thing they warn you about.
As we walked toward an entrance, a woman approached us, looked down on the bricks and picked up a "gold" wedding ring and asked me in broken English if it was mine. She was then all pleasant saying, "I'm divorced. I can't use this. You take it.". Of course, she then asked for money for a coffee or a coke and was persistent until Ken gave her a couple of euros. Fortunately, that was it, no pickpocketing. Of course, she had had the ring in her hand and conveniently dropped it on the ground.
I kept the ring for a souvenir of stupid-Americanism.
We did the obligatory visits to the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory and Venus de Milo, had a quick bite to eat and left for museums more to our interests. It was worth it, however, to see the pyramid entry and get a feel for the incredible vastness of the Louvre. We had a lovely walk through the Tuleries gardens to the Orangerie museum which we both really loved. It's small but powerful. Upstairs they are two very large oval rooms, each with four of the huge curved water lily Monet paintings that he painted when he was losing his sight late in his life. Then downstairs is a small but excellent collection of other impressionist artists and some really good examples of Picasso's work that I had never seen before.
We then headed to get the metro at the Place de la Concorde and were blocked by police in front of the hotel where the metro entrance we used yesterday exists. We walked to the other entrance and then found that part of the metro was also closed off. We were able to get to the line that we needed, but suspect that Obama is staying at that hotel tonight. (Maybe not, but that's a fun story.)
By this metro ride I must have been starting to look tired and old as a young woman gave me her seat! That hurt! (Although it felt good to sit, I confess.) We arrived at Notre Dame as a vespers service was starting, so got to hear the organ which was cool, walked around taking pictures inside and out, and getting yelled at (very quietly) for taking a picture in a forbidden area. Oops - I really didn't realize I was in the wrong place even though I was right next to the "no photos" sign. Maybe the woman on the metro was right to give her seat to a dodo!
Susan and Dick met us in front of Notre Dame and we walked to Ile St. Louis for dinner - had white asparagus with hollandaise for the appetizer (entree here). Hope it's not the last chance this trip. We ended the evening with ice cream and a bus ride back to Pantin. A great day--though the feet do hurt!
Tomorrow we'll see the real gardens that Monet painted in Giverny.
Interesting to people watch. Lots of cultural diversity - lots of Muslims as well as Blacks and Asians. People have been remarkably friendly and not at all critical of my poor French. Lots of field trips in evidence at the museums - and those kids look just the same as ours, just looking at different works of art!
Paris -Day 1
June 3-4, 2009
Barack Obama and the Kosniks are both traveling in France this week, however we are having rather different experiences…..and ours are better!
Poor Barack has to stay in some extremely fancy suite in some fancy hotel. We are staying in a real Parisian family’s home in a real suburban Paris neighborhood. How cool is that! Of course, European private homes come with the features of European homes. Everything in Europe is so much smaller that in the U.S. There are five people in the family who live in this home and they get by just fine with 1 ½ baths, with two tiny bedrooms for their kids, small winding staircase to the second and third floors, and small living room. They do have a lovely private back yard that right now is lush with flowers and ferns. Of course, private homes come with their quirks. In this house it is the toilet. The owner has installed a super powerful hydraulic something-or-other that works extremely well – so well, in fact, that in the final stage of its flushing it sends a burst of clean water up out of the sink! Hence, a towel is kept draped over the sink! Then there is the European bathtub, a high sided tub that is about 2/3 the length of a typical U.S. tub which necessitates various interesting gyrations to get washed. We are so spoiled in the U.S. with our “need” for everything big and bigger.
Barack is, of course, met at airports by an entourage. We were met by friend Dick, our host this week. He just pulled his daughter Lauren’s car up to the designated ten minute meet and greet area outside the terminal and off we went! Dick, native Chicagoan, is blessed with an incredible visual memory as he tooled easily through the highways to this house.
Barack has to go to official meetings, poor guy! We got to the house, met Susan, got the “tour” and took an orientation tour led by Susan and Dick. We walked to the nearby commercial area for this neighborhood and went to the market. France is about a month ahead of Chicago growing wise, so we enjoyed looking at beautiful white European asparagus and wonderful fruits. Couldn’t resist fresh apricots for breakfast today! (Of course, after years and years of visiting markets in Spanish speaking areas, it was strange to see FRENCH WORDS on all the signage in the market!) We then enjoyed our first Parisian meal – sitting outside in a local neighborhood café with the warm sun on our backs—and returned home for a quick nap.
Then we were off for “real” sightseeing. Susan and Dick joined us as we headed by metro to the Musee d’Orsay. It was just incredible to come up from the metro right at the “Place de la Concorde”. The sun was shining just so on the golden top of the monument and it was gorgeous. A glance to the right and we were looking down the Champs d’Elysees (sorry for my spelling, Jill!) toward the Arc de Triomphe. To the left were the Tuleries and just a short walk ahead and we were at the Seine and glancing to the right at the Eiffel tower. It just all hit at once and was mighty cool! It’s always mind boggling to come into the light after a metro trip and see where you are…..and when you come up to these sights it’s incredible!
The Orsay was also incredible. It’s a former train station that has been made into a museum mostly catering to works painted in the 1800’s – takes off where the Louvre leaves off. We have a big Impressionist collection at the Chicago Art Institute in Chicago and we’ve visited Boston and New York where there are also good collections, but nothing prepares you for the hugeness of the collection here. The building itself is amazing. One would think a train station would be utilitarian, but not this one. It was built with incredible iron work, huge clocks, sky lights. It was also blessedly empty---going late in the day on Thursday when the museum is open until 9:30 was a great idea. When we left the museum at 9:30 it was still light and, by the time we got home an hour later, it was only dusk.
The day ended with a chicken, potato salad and wine repast in our kitchen overlooking the garden enjoying spending time with good friends. A great start to the trip.
It’s now 11:00 on Friday. Guess we were tired – we slept until after 10:00! Of course, that’s only 3:00 a.m. Chicago time! Today will take us to Notre Dame and the old city and to the Louvre. Stay tuned.
I’m sure Barack is not having as much fun! It is interesting seeing glimpses of him on BBC and Aljazeera which they get in English here!
Barack Obama and the Kosniks are both traveling in France this week, however we are having rather different experiences…..and ours are better!
Poor Barack has to stay in some extremely fancy suite in some fancy hotel. We are staying in a real Parisian family’s home in a real suburban Paris neighborhood. How cool is that! Of course, European private homes come with the features of European homes. Everything in Europe is so much smaller that in the U.S. There are five people in the family who live in this home and they get by just fine with 1 ½ baths, with two tiny bedrooms for their kids, small winding staircase to the second and third floors, and small living room. They do have a lovely private back yard that right now is lush with flowers and ferns. Of course, private homes come with their quirks. In this house it is the toilet. The owner has installed a super powerful hydraulic something-or-other that works extremely well – so well, in fact, that in the final stage of its flushing it sends a burst of clean water up out of the sink! Hence, a towel is kept draped over the sink! Then there is the European bathtub, a high sided tub that is about 2/3 the length of a typical U.S. tub which necessitates various interesting gyrations to get washed. We are so spoiled in the U.S. with our “need” for everything big and bigger.
Barack is, of course, met at airports by an entourage. We were met by friend Dick, our host this week. He just pulled his daughter Lauren’s car up to the designated ten minute meet and greet area outside the terminal and off we went! Dick, native Chicagoan, is blessed with an incredible visual memory as he tooled easily through the highways to this house.
Barack has to go to official meetings, poor guy! We got to the house, met Susan, got the “tour” and took an orientation tour led by Susan and Dick. We walked to the nearby commercial area for this neighborhood and went to the market. France is about a month ahead of Chicago growing wise, so we enjoyed looking at beautiful white European asparagus and wonderful fruits. Couldn’t resist fresh apricots for breakfast today! (Of course, after years and years of visiting markets in Spanish speaking areas, it was strange to see FRENCH WORDS on all the signage in the market!) We then enjoyed our first Parisian meal – sitting outside in a local neighborhood café with the warm sun on our backs—and returned home for a quick nap.
Then we were off for “real” sightseeing. Susan and Dick joined us as we headed by metro to the Musee d’Orsay. It was just incredible to come up from the metro right at the “Place de la Concorde”. The sun was shining just so on the golden top of the monument and it was gorgeous. A glance to the right and we were looking down the Champs d’Elysees (sorry for my spelling, Jill!) toward the Arc de Triomphe. To the left were the Tuleries and just a short walk ahead and we were at the Seine and glancing to the right at the Eiffel tower. It just all hit at once and was mighty cool! It’s always mind boggling to come into the light after a metro trip and see where you are…..and when you come up to these sights it’s incredible!
The Orsay was also incredible. It’s a former train station that has been made into a museum mostly catering to works painted in the 1800’s – takes off where the Louvre leaves off. We have a big Impressionist collection at the Chicago Art Institute in Chicago and we’ve visited Boston and New York where there are also good collections, but nothing prepares you for the hugeness of the collection here. The building itself is amazing. One would think a train station would be utilitarian, but not this one. It was built with incredible iron work, huge clocks, sky lights. It was also blessedly empty---going late in the day on Thursday when the museum is open until 9:30 was a great idea. When we left the museum at 9:30 it was still light and, by the time we got home an hour later, it was only dusk.
The day ended with a chicken, potato salad and wine repast in our kitchen overlooking the garden enjoying spending time with good friends. A great start to the trip.
It’s now 11:00 on Friday. Guess we were tired – we slept until after 10:00! Of course, that’s only 3:00 a.m. Chicago time! Today will take us to Notre Dame and the old city and to the Louvre. Stay tuned.
I’m sure Barack is not having as much fun! It is interesting seeing glimpses of him on BBC and Aljazeera which they get in English here!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Do the French Watch Reality TV?
I'm sitting here watching TV with the computer on my lap watching.....true confession here....."I Didn't Know I was Pregnant". This beats watching "John and Kate Plus Eight" which has turned into a troubling soap opera. It also beats watching our former governor's wife on "I'm a Celebrity. Get Me Out of Here!" But it is truly an embarrassment nonetheless.
I wonder if I'll see such silliness on French TV?
I've been reading so much about museums, churches, monuments, and French history that I have this probably untrue feeling that French people are always contemplating art and discussing serious cultural topics.
Maybe they do, maybe they don't.
I do know that tourists in Chicago see the Art Institute, they walk up Michigan Avenue, they stick their feet into the fountains in Millennium Park, and go to the top of Sears Tower. They probably don't know that people like me are watching reality TV or eating ice cream out of the carton (I'm NOT doing that right now).
Is it the same with the French?
I'll start finding out tomorrow!
Stay tuned.
I wonder if I'll see such silliness on French TV?
I've been reading so much about museums, churches, monuments, and French history that I have this probably untrue feeling that French people are always contemplating art and discussing serious cultural topics.
Maybe they do, maybe they don't.
I do know that tourists in Chicago see the Art Institute, they walk up Michigan Avenue, they stick their feet into the fountains in Millennium Park, and go to the top of Sears Tower. They probably don't know that people like me are watching reality TV or eating ice cream out of the carton (I'm NOT doing that right now).
Is it the same with the French?
I'll start finding out tomorrow!
Stay tuned.
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