Sep2
Visiting in Archbold, OH
Author Archives: Kathleen
Aug24
Reconnection
Kathleen and Jon were married about five years ago. It was my honor and privilege to officiate. We had an immediate connection through their names and my husband’s and mine. “My” Jon was included in the wedding festivities and we were invited to the rehearsal dinner at ZTejas Grill, hosted by Kathleen’s father Richard Moore.
Fast forward a few years. Jon and Kathleen have two children. Serena is 4 1/2 by now and Jacob is almost 2. Beautiful children; happily ever after and all that. Then in June I was contacted through this very blog. When Jon “found” me I was traveling in North Carolina, but that was old news. By the time he sent the message, I was in Phoenix for a church conference. Jon wrote:
I just read on your blog here that you are/were out of town, are you still out of the area? The reason I ask is that Kathleen’s father has passed away, and we would like to have you officiate the memorial. From what I understand, he liked you when you talked to him at our rehearsal dinner; you made a strong impact on him, and we know that he would have liked to have you for this.
A sweet reconnection with a family I had met as a group during one special event. They lived close enough for visits with Grandpa–Pflugerville, Austin, Cedar Park, San Marcos, and Leander. A little over a year ago Dick and his third wife Marsha moved back to Texas and spent much more time with the kids and four young grandkids.
Kathleen, Lori, and Jason remembered wild rides with Dad on a golf cart; the Bradley Kit car he worked to assemble (and never quite finished); and his invention of the touch tone phone. Too bad he never applied for a patent before someone else followed through and manufactured it! The family enjoyed entertaining dinners together every month and brought in the extended family on holidays. The greatest memory after Dad died was the laughter and hilarity of these times together.
I’m glad Dick and Marsha, who had been his childhood sweetheart in San Marcos, moved back to Texas. He had been absent for most of 25 years in Albuquerque or Florida after he and their mother divorced. When family members separate, the children–in this case, teenagers–feel a real void. In the midst of pain they all did the best they knew how.
How do YOU keep love alive? It’s so easy to lose touch with friends and family members whom we don’t see on a regular basis. It’s not so easy to break ties when we would much rather stay connected. Perhaps Dick and his children needed that time apart to go on with their independent lives without undue drama. I’ll never know the whole story. The ending of Dick’s story is that he was indeed back in touch. This Henry Van Dyke poem was included in the memorial service:
For Katrina’s Sun-Dial
Time is
Too slow for those who wait,
Too swift for those who fear,
Too long for those who grieve,
Too short for those who rejoice;
But for those who love,
Time is Eternity.Hours fly,
Flowers die
New days,
New ways
Pass by.
Love stays.–Henry, Van Dyke
Aug21
Defriending
“Ouch!”
“Was it something I posted? Doesn’t she like me any more? Why would she cut me off?” Maybe it’s just my imagination, but these thoughts might have crossed the minds of some of my Facebook friends.
It was not easy to do and required a lot of reflection. Several days ago a ministerial colleague of mine posted that she had de-friended all her former congregants. “It feels crappy,” she said. But she woke me up to what I must do. Every now and then I had heard that this was the “best practice” but had resisted. After all, if it’s posted on Facebook it can’t be harmful to read without comment, can it?
With every posting, though, I remembered that relationship and it was keeping me a little bit stuck. I had known many of them for nine years, some longer than that. Weddings, child blessings, coming of age ceremonies, memorial services, yes but mostly the week by week and daily connections as we did the work of ministry. I still want to know about the big events. Births and deaths are the biggest events upon which I would love to heap blessings. I just have to do it from a distance.
As I went through the list of friends I reviewed their latest postings and sent love and prayers to each of them. After all, we were in relationship for a long time. Maybe someday in some other way we will be again and we can be Facebook friends again. But it’s time for me to move out of that world for my sake and for theirs.
I do hope and pray for blessings to grace those lives as beloved individuals and as a congregation. May life smile upon you and bless you. May you know that you are loved.
Aug15
Musical Symposium
Texas Choral Consort has an August concert in Austin after a short but intense six-week rehearsal schedule. This year we’re singing opera choruses—a rather daunting summer symposium. These are some of the more famous and popular choruses from 18th century Handel to 20th century Bernstein). It has been educational as well as challenging. Instead of one entire opera, a narrative arc has been added to introduce these works and link them together.
Artistic Director Brent Baldwin will conduct four wonderful soloists, an orchestra (including an anvil for the percussionist!) and a chorus of 80+ voices on Saturday, Aug. 18, at 7:30; and Sunday, Aug. 19, at 3; both at Northwest Hills United Methodist Church, 7050 Village Center Dr (off Far West).
Come see what we can do in thirteen 3-hour rehearsals! (I’ll add a shout out to Old Koenig Lane Christian Church for providing rehearsal space.)
Here are the titles for you opera buffs!
Viva L’Opera! Famous Opera Choruses
Narration
Chorus of Enchanted Islanders (Alcina, by G.F. Handel)
Voyager’s Chorus (Idomeneo, by Mozart)
Narration
Villagers’ Chorus (Guillame Tell, by Rossini)
Narration
Mira, O Norma (Norma, by Bellini)
Narration
Habanera (Carmen, by Bizet)
Te Deum (Tosca, by Puccini)
Narration
Waltz Scene (Eugene Onegin, by Tchaikovsky)
Wedding Guests’ Chorus (Lucia di Lammermoor, by Donizetti)
Bridal Chorus (Lohengrin, by Wagner)
Narration
Polovtsian Dances (Prince Igor, by Borodin)
Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves (Nabucco, by Verdi)
Narration
Rataplan (La Forza del Destino, by Verdi)
Narration
Matadors’ Chorus (La Traviata, by Verdi)
Brindisi (La Traviata, by Verdi)
Anvil Chorus (Il Trovatore, by Verdi)
Narration
Make Our Garden Grow (Candide, by Leonard Berstein)
Aug7
They are Other
I awakened from a dream about the Wisconsin shooting of a Sikh temple–a gurdwara (“Gateway to the Guru”). It was not a narrative dream but the disconnected images seemed to ask a single question: Why?
At the time of the dream I knew nothing about the shooter–background, motivation, history of violence, mental state, family life, upbringing–except that he was male, 40 years old, a former Army soldier. I’ll not use his name. All of the unknowns of his life factored into a context. He had guns and knew how to use them. There was a recent high-profile shooting in Colorado. There was a target: people who undoubtedly are not like this man.
They are so different, in fact, that their clothing and hair are distinctive; the turbans set them apart. They have a separate community within a suburb near Milwaukee. There was a significantly large assembly at the same place and time. Perhaps worst of all, their religious life, race, culture, language, and country of origin are unfamiliar and somehow “strange.” Sikhs are often confused with Muslims; violence against both distinctive groups has gone up significantly since 2001. Since the Milwaukee shooting, a mosque in Joplin, Missouri, was burned to the ground.
They are Other.
Perhaps that explains the curious lack of media coverage. Yes, it was reported. Yes, one can find info on the web. We were pretty saturated with coverage in Aurora, CO, just a couple of weeks, when there was television coverage for hours on end. More of us relate to going out to a movie than with Sikhism or face it, even going to a worship service of any kind.
What do we have in common with Sikhs? Best I can figure out, they believe in one God, in human equality, and in service to the community. Here’s what Amanda Yaira Robinson has to say, with links to further information.
Jul29
Armchair Games
Ah! the Games are here–with road racers, runners, swimmers, jumpers, riders, shooters, and more–all over NBC and its affiliates plus news outlets and the web. Fanfare, fantastic dreams, dreadful falls, and we get to watch some of the best athletes in the world.
Aggravations: Television coverage is terribly U.S.-centric. For many years I have also been annoyed by the “medal count” as a competition of its own. Yes of course athletes play for nations, but in most cases the comparative wealth of those nations tends to predict overall wins. And some sports require more money for equipment and training, plus a larger pool of competitors. I expect that national pride gives some of these athletes extra incentive to perform their personal best. Yet even the tiniest countries sponsor outstanding competitors. Let’s hear a little more about them!
The Obvious: Life informs sport informs life. We get to hear stories of individuals and how they have overcome devastating life events, injuries, and illnesses. Winners four years ago can be nudged aside by the up and coming. Most never make it to this level and we may not know about them at all. Competition brings its own challenges in turn–wins, losses, near misses, and terrible accidents. Just like life.
Armchair Angling: How much to watch? Which sports? I like to learn something about many of these sports and what constitutes excellence. Gymnastics and diving are so fast and exacting, for example, that I’m often astonished when the commentators and judges see errors.
The first Olympics I remember featured winning diver Greg Louganis. My older cousins were divers and I had seen them in action, so it’s no surprise that a world-class diver would attract our attention. Am I imagining this or did I really see him at a regional competition? It was part of the team’s training. Watching in person is far better than from a recliner.
Watching a neighborhood school’s field day is just as much fun as world class competition. (Reminds me of my 3rd grade 3rd place ribbon in long jump–the peak of my athleticism!)
Better yet, get up and get active! Kids in particular tend to stay inside more than when I was young. They often have less opportunity even for active play at school. If you’re in my league of fitness, there’s a lot we can do to get even a little stronger.
Stay tuned for the Paralympics a month from now (Aug. 29-Sept. 9) for extra inspiration!
Jul27
Music performance at its best
On the musical theme, here are some good reasons to hire an experienced professional accompanist for auditions, etc. My friend Sheryl is such a professional and I have seen her help students do their very best performances.
I’ve had wonderful opportunities this summer to indulge in music and other artistic endeavors:
First, a SHAMELESS PLUG: Tomorrow July 28! a fundraising pancake breakfast for Tapestry Singers. All you can eat for $6 at Applebee’s, I-35 @ St. John’s, from 8-10am. Eggs, eggs benedict, sausage, hash browns, fruit, juice, coffee, tea, and pancakes galore. We’ll probably sing something for you around 9 or so.
Conspirare Symphonic Choir with the Austin Symphony, Peter Bay, conductor, and Craig Hella Johnson, guest conductor
Hilde Girls & Drumsistas, with Susan Lincoln, director and founder
Journey: Tradition to Innovation — a performance by Bharata Natyam of classical and contemporary Indian dance, with live music and poetry by Chandra Washington
“House” at the Museum of Ephemerata. Homeowners Scott & Jen Webel inherited a museum housed in the front of their east Austin home; the “House” exhibit was mostly in the back yard. Open on Saturday afternoons, though maybe not every Saturday!
“Sisters Under the Skin,” a Civil War spy drama by Paullette MacDougal. Three women–a slave-holding abolitionist, her slave (who became a spy in the home of the Confederate president), and the First Lady–truly had a profound impact on U.S. history. The brand new Madeline McCauley Heritage Chorale of 14 singers, debuted during this production.
Balcones Community Orchestra, Dr. Robert Radmer, musical director.
The Studebakers, who sing mostly 30s and 40s songs. Jill, my sister-in-law, is one of the Studebakers.
Coming soon: Texas Choral Consort will sing about 15 opera choruses by a variety of composers from Bernstein and Bizet to Verdi and Wagner. Soloists and orchestra will make this a treat on Sat. evening Aug. 18 and Sunday afternoon Aug. 19. Info at http://www.txchoralconsort.org
Contemporary music, blues, country, classical; music, dance, theater . . . love that variety!
Jul24
Bending a life
For those of you who have wondered from my previous blog, I have no plans at present to move. (It could happen some day but not for a long while.) There have been opportunities presented to me and some that I have pursued on my own. Although each of them had positive attributes they ultimately did not fit well enough with my priorities–the things I value more.
Instinct, conscience, and family carry a lot of weight. The story of my life … still unfolding, outcome uncertain. For now I am content and very fortunate to enjoy the unfolding. Life is good.
How about you?
Theodore Parker said (and has often been quoted): “The arc of the moral universe is long, and it bends toward justice.”
Shrink that down a great deal and you might also consider: The arc of my/your life is long and it bends toward _________________.
Something positive, I hope!
Your past may well be full of hard knocks, understanding, or humility. (Better those than hanging on to emotions like anger, resentment, or remorse.) But look ahead, especially when faced with one of those crucial decisions. What has been the arc of your life, where is it going, and why? Most importantly, how does it serve your higher purpose?
Blessings to all!
Jul23
Open and Shut Case
Opportunities come and go. My first impulse is to imagine how I might fit into that scheme or place or plan.
Take house hunting. Of course you have some basic things in mind: how much bedroom or office space do you need? Is the yard suitable for children and/or pets? Is there a view from the kitchen window? How do you like the floor plan? What’s the neighborhood like in the evenings or during the day?
Underneath these questions is the bottom line: What would it be like to live here?
Again, my first impulse is to imagine what it might be like to live in that house in that neighborhood.
But before making a big decision like that it’s important to ask yourself why. Keep up with your friends and colleagues; move into a better school district; downsize or expand to fit your family; start building some equity.
Every decision has similar questions to ask. Moving, starting a family, choosing a job–these are not just one-time options but they will become part of your story for years to come. Are your answers the whole truth? Can you look in the mirror and tell yourself the real reason to do this?
I always have to take a giant step back to consider the drawbacks as well as the appeal. It’s seldom easy to reverse a major turn. I have to ask myself: “Is this consistent with my values and how I want to live my life?”
Since it will become part of my story, I want to know the truth about why, and I want to be able to tell the truth of my story in a couple of sentences. No matter how momentous the decision, some years down the road it will be told in one short paragraph.
What is my story and how do I want to carry it forward?
More to come . . .
Jul14
From a Sad to a Solo Symphony
Last week I wrote about Cristian Mihai’s short story “A Sad, Sad Symphony.”
Thursday night I attended the opening performance of Solo Symphony. It features Peter Bay, the conductor since 1998 of the Austin Symphony Orchestra. This time, instead of conducting with his back to the audience, he faced us, and his movements and directions became a dance.
Has anyone heard of Trash Dance? Choreographer Allison Orr worked with trash collectors and their trucks to create a large scale “dance” on a huge parking lot at night. The workers and their movements; the trucks and their own long arms; turns and pivots. Extraordinary! Allison has also choreographed Venetian gondoliers, firefighters, and Elvis impersonators and highlighting their ordinary jobs as contemporary dance.
So it was no surprise when she watched Peter Bay conduct and saw his movements as dance. The idea stirred within her: would he work with her to turn his craft into dance? Yes, indeed! In a collaboration with Graham Reynolds, musician, and Peter Bay, conductor, they transformed Bach, Stravinsky, Beethoven and Reynolds, with video by Stephen Pruitt, plus a 13-piece orchestra, we watched Peter Bay conduct. The small Rollins Theater made for a truly personal experience.
Loved it! Last performances today at 3 and 8pm at the Long Center, though it’s probably sold out. Perhaps a video someday?
KaleidoscopE 