Royal Wedding Musical Moments

Posted on May 27, 2018 by Brad

I watched the Royal Wedding a few days later. I wasn’t going to get up at 3:30 to watch it. However, I am fascinated by British history and this was history in the making. I had seen Megan Markle before. She plays Rachel Zane on the USA network TV series Suits. Suits is a binge–worthy series available on Amazon prime

One of the most memorable moments of the ceremony was the address delivered by Rev. Michael Bruce Curry from Chicago. Curry, the head of the Episcopal Church, spoke passionately about the power of love.  At one point he quoted
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we do that, we will make of this old world a new world,” he said. “Love is the only way. There’s power in love. Don’t underestimate it. Don’t even over-sentimentalize it. There’s power, power in love.”

Royal Wedding Music

The music chosen by the Royal couple was a mix of classical as well as modern music. Megan walked down the aisle to “Eternal source of light divine” by George Frideric Handel.

“If Ye Love Me” is a four-part motet or anthem by the English composer Thomas Tallis, a setting of a passage from the Gospel of John. First published in 1565, it is an example of Tudor music and is part of the repertoire of Anglican church music.

“The Lord bless you and keep you“ is a blessing and benediction. A new setting for choir and organ was published in 1981 by John Rutter, setting the blessing with an extended “Amen”

“Stand by Me” is a song, originally performed by American singer-songwriter Ben E. King, and written by King, Jerry Leiber, and Mike Stoller. According to King, the title is derived from, and was inspired by, a spiritual written by Sam Cooke and J. W. Alexander called “Stand by Me Father,” recorded by the Soul Stirrers with Johnnie Taylor singing lead. The third line of the second verse of the former work derives from Psalm 46:2c/3c.

Sheku Kanneh-Mason (born 1999) is a British cellist who won the 2016 BBC Young Musician of the Year award. He was the first black musician to win the award since its launch 38 years earlier.

Posted in Current Events | 6 Comments

Holy Grail # 7–Part Time Jobs

Posted on May 20, 2018 by Brad

“Welcome to putt putt. Would you like to play all of our courses today? We have three 18-hole courses, and you can play all three for just $1.50. That is three for the price of two.” I pitched this line to our miniature golf customers. Jim Loudermilk hired me for this part time job at Putt-Putt golf on S. Campbell. It was the summer before  my high school junior year.

“Attention putt-putt golfers. The next person to make a hole-in-one with a red, yellow, blue, or green ball will win a $.50 discount coupon. You can use this coupon toward the purchase of your next game.” Jim was a master at marketing his course. We had “Super Saturday”, from 9:00 to noon ($.75). In addition, Mondays were “Dollar Days” from 9:00 to 5:00. Both gave you unlimited play plus other fun and games.

One month I took a few of our younger regular customers and we hung free game placards on doorknobs. Jim paid these youngsters $0.03 / card, which was great money for someone in Junior high. Once, after a particularly successful day distributing 500 free game passes we celebrated with a trip to Dairy Queen. They later confided they threw away one package of 100 cards in a dumpster.

Daily Putt-Putt Jobs

I completed several jobs each day in addition to selling tickets to new customers. These included:

– Blowing leaves and debris off carpets
– Cleaning rest rooms
– Washing and waxing golf balls
– Stocking soda and candy machines
– Updating the marquee

Kmart Sporting Goods

“Attention Kmart shoppers. Your flashing blue light is now in the sporting goods department. For the next 10 minutes pick up a Rabble-Rouser fishing lure for just twenty-five cents.” Announcing “Blue Light Specials.” was just one of my Jobs at Kmart sporting goods.

I was an avid sportsman during my college years. I camped, hunted, and fished. Therefore, I could not ask for a better job. I always knew when essential gear was going on sale.

Interestingly, Kmart paid it’s employees in cash. I remember traipsing to the office, punching my time card and collecting my cash envelope. Subsequently I would return to the sporting goods  department to buy that week’s specials.

High School – My Sweetheart, Jobs & Guitars

She wrapped her arm around my waist while I pulled her shoulders close. In this manner we walked the hallways of Kickapoo high school before our homeroom class. Just days before my dream girl, Kim Herbel accepted my homecoming invitation. I was clearly out of my league. She was a petite 4’10” cheerleader with tiny waist, big boobs, and a spunky personality. I on other hand was a nerdy, skinny senior. My only athletic accomplishment was making the golf team as an alternate. Our romance lasted until shortly before Christmas.

I got along well with her mother. Mrs. Herbel was manager of a store in Battlefield Mall that sold musical instruments. I took advantage of the employee discount to purchase my first guitar. This nylon string classical guitar served me well. I never took lessons and taught myself since YouTube was not available in the 1970s. One of the first songs I learned was Blackbird by the Beatles.

The Beatles, also known as “The White Album“, is the ninth studio album by The Beatles.  It was released on 22 November 1968. A double album, its plain white sleeve has no graphics or text otherThe Beatlesthan the band’s name embossed.  This was a direct contrast to the vivid cover artwork of the band’s earlier Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. No singles were issued from The Beatles in Britain and the United States, In 2003, Rolling Stone ranked The Beatles at number 10 on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

Posted in Holy Grail | 6 Comments

The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully

Posted on May 15, 2018 by Brad

Recently Linda and I attended a class taught by our friend and  retired Methodist minister, Sue Gibson.  The class was based on the book The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully by Joan Chittister.

Although this was a book about growing older I found many of the lessons thought-provoking for those of any age.

“Old age is not when we stop growing. It is exactly the time to grow in new ways. That period in which we set out to make sense of all the growing we have already done. It is the softening season when everything in us is meant to achieve its sweetest, richest, most unique self.”

Lifelong learning

Living life to the fullest means active aging. One thing that can make the difference between healthy and unhealthy aging is lifelong learning. According to the Harvard University Longitudinal Study of Adult Development, continued learning determines “the degree to which life will be satisfying to us.” It also determines the degree to which we will be interesting, valuable, life-giving to others. Learning projects that keep elders’ minds active also expands their horizons. Additional it gives them them opportunities to be in community with others on retreats, study groups, or in online e-courses.

In a series of short, bright, and snappy chapters, Chittister provides a tour of other elements of growing older gracefully. As I listened to the audiobook I found myself thinking of songs that seemed appropriate for the topic at hand. Each week I posted these songs on a new website, Sue’s Classroom. You can click the hyperlink to the left or click on “Sue’s Classroom” from the menu at the top of this page to see these selections.

Growing Older in the United States Today

Growing older in the United States today really means, according to the latest statistics and research findings.

• By 2020, 18 percent of the country will be over 65.

• In 2005, only 7 percent of those between 75 and 84, and only 25 percent of those over 84, need help with personal care.

• Decrepitude and incapacitation that come with age are, on average, only about the last three months of life. Even then, mental clarity is more likely to remain to the end. “Clearly, life does not end till it ends.”

• Only 5 percent of those over 65 are in special-care institutions. And 80 percent of the rest of the older population have no limitations in managing the rigors of daily living.

• Old age is no longer a custodial care proposition. “Grandma does not ‘live in’ anymore. She is far more likely to live alone, in her own home or apartment, drive a car into her eighties, and volunteer at the library.”

• Old brains are no less intellectually competent than young brains. “Scientists have discovered that older people, while not as quick computationally as younger people, do think just as well as the young, but differently — with more depth, with more reflection, with more philosophical awareness.”

Tips For Growing Older Gracefully

Our 60s 70s and 80s can be some of the most satisfying years of our lives. For sure our physical health isn’t what it used to be. However, if we choose to see them there are many blessings. Consider just the following three examples:

Time

We have more time. We can use this time to study, pursue leisure activities, volunteer, deepen our spirituality, etc.

Wisdom

Our lifetime of experiences give us the ability to think differently — with more depth, more reflection, more philosophical awareness.

Productivity

Stay busy. Cultivate relationships both old and new. Find opportunities to volunteer. Check on others who may be shut ins and would enjoy the companionship as well as meals, etc.

 

Posted in From My Library | 4 Comments