Sunday, July 31, 2016

A Weird Week



Last week was a weird week for me.

Perhaps it was due to the heat wave or the Democratic Party convention in Philadelphia.

Thursday morning at 2 A.M. (i.e,, the middle of the night), my phone rang. My son, whom I have only talked with once in 10 months was calling. A bat had gotten in their apartment and he had shut himself off in a room to keep the bat out but he didn't want to stay (guess he was afraid the bat would get in his room). So he arrive at my place at 2:30 A.M. (i.e., the middle of the night), in tears, accompanied by a policeman who had spotted him walking. It was the first time in 10 months I have seen him (my son).

On Friday evening, I retrieved a voice message from my sister Carol in Clevo. She had a bat in her house Thursday night. Wow! Talk about coincidence. What are the odds?

Then there was a batty neighbor. Friday night/Saturday morning (at 1:30 A.M. (i.e., the middle of the night) I heard light knocking on my door and my neighbor from down the hall softly call. I ignored it and she went away but I was unable to get back to sleep because I was wondering if something was wrong-like the building on fire or something.

I ran into her again Saturday afternoon at the grocery store and she wouldn't leave me alone. I told her husband wouldn't approve. I took a different way home to avoid her. Now if you saw her, it would be obvious that she is not altogether. But today, she was way more out of it. Between 10 and 11 pm (i.e., nighttime), she was banging on my door calling for me like a dog in heat. Except I don't like her except as a neighbor (and barely at that). Even when I told her that if she didn't stop I would have to call the cops, she returned a couple more times. I was scared. What a weirdo.

I usually do my laundry Sunday afternoon and Peggy makes an appearance because she has to do a load of laundry every day or else..... And she is not content with one wash cycle-it has to be two in order to rinse out the soap. If only she was that particular about her facial hair. So, I was anxious today for fear of another possible encounter. So I kept out of the laundry room as much as possible. Didn't see her at all. Perhaps her husband realized her meds weren't working or all the booze was missing or both.

Monday, a long time internet acquaintance, the mother of six children under the age of 10, announced she divorced her husband. Thank God she lives in another state. Very sad. I could see it coming when she abandoned Catholicism and took up activist atheism.

I also visited the cemetery twice this week. Look for posts coming on my Cedar Hill Cemetery tours/walks.

Despite the lack of sleep, Wednesday night, Thursday proved to be an interesting day. I got to visit the unfinished minor league baseball stadium in town. The most astonishing thing on Thursday was passing a quiz to get continuing education credits for a webinar that I pretty much slept through. In order to get credit, a score of 8 correct answers of 10 questions  (i.e., 80%) was required. Somehow I did that, first try. I was astonished.

On Tuesday, I received a note from another sister (KAT) who responded to an article about pain management at hospice that I had sent her. She announced that "pro-life is a hot button topic that I have simply agree to disagree, as it is, to me, too charged." She does not want to narrow choices for others. Well, how nice. On the other hand, I live to keep things narrowly focused, like I want to LIVE. Please don't pull the plug on me or pull the feeding tube and let me starve to death over a week or two. I'm not that broad minded. Oh, and stay away from Mom, I kinda want her around a bit longer.

Strange days are these. Most peculiar,

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Written Sunday 31 July 2016.




Sunday, July 17, 2016

Fahrenheit 451-Supplement

Cover of 60th Anniversary Edition of
the book, Fahrenheit 451.

As you know (from my recent post), when I recently finished reading the book, Fahrenheit 451, I was so impressed that I signed out the 60th Anniversary Edition from the library.

After having the book about two months, I reluctantly returned it to the library yesterday. I probably should be a copy for myself (but do I really NEED another book I've already read?). Originally, I intended to read it a second time and noting key ideas and phrases. However, since it is a rather "dark" story, I shied away from returning to it. I was not in the mood for more "deep" reading.

One reason I was interested in the 60th Anniversary Edition was the supplemental material (nearly 100 pages) that was not in the edition I read. The key difference between the 50th and 60th Anniversary Editions is the supplemental material:
  1. The Story of Fahrenheit 451
  2. Other Voices
"The Story of F451" consists of:
  • A 1953 essay by Bradbury: "The Day After Tomorrow: Why Science Fiction"
  • The 1976 Listening Library Audio Introduction (by Ray Bradbury)
  • The Ray Bradbury Introduction to the 1982 & 1989 editions: "Investing Dimes: Fahrenheit 451";
  • "Coda" (1979) by Ray Bradbury.
"Other Voices" consists of short essays from other writers along with an essay and extracts from the journal of director Francois Truffaut about his thoughts during the production of the movie version.

+     +     +     +     +     +     +     +     +

Orville Prescott, in his 1953 New York Times Book Review, said:
"We fear the unholy powers unleashed by science. We fear the absolute power of states more tyrannical than the tyrannies of the past because they strive to rule men's minds as well as their bodies."
"[His] basic message is a plea for direct, personal experience rather than perpetual synthetic entertainment: for individual thought, action, and responsibility."
Historian, critic, and writer Gilbert Highet wrote in his 1954 review:
"...we may reach the stage of hating literature because it is an effort to assimilate, despising books because they are beyond us, changing schools into 'activity centers,' and abandoning the search for happiness because we prefer soothing or exciting pleasures"
Author Margaret Atwood (The Handmaid's Tale) said:
"The very act of reading is considered detrimental to social order because it causes people to think, and then to distrust the authorities. Instead of books, the public offered conformity via four-wall TV with the sound piped directly into their head...."
Poet Sir John Betjeman wrote:
"[Ray Bradbury] foresees an America living in cities and at war with the rest of the world."
"Interior walls are huge televisions screens. Conversation is just mutual back-slapping...No opinions, no philosophy or sociology are allowed." 
Writer Sir Kingsley Amis observed:
The lesson to be drawn from the more imaginative science fiction hells, such as Bradbury's, is not only that a society could be devised that would frustrate the active virtues, nor even that these could eventually be suppressed, but that there is in all sorts of people something that longs for that to happen."
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Links:
http://ricketwrite.blogspot.com/2016/05/fahrenheit-451.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fahrenheit_451
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Gaiman
http://bradbury.iupui.edu/staff/jonathan-r-eller
http://bradbury.iupui.edu/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_Truffaut
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orville_Prescott
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_Highet
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Handmaid%27s_Tale
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Betjeman
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingsley_Amis
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Written: Sunday 17 July 2016.

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Fully Alive & Kicking

Letter dated June 18, 2016
Received via mail on Thursday July 7, 2016

This is an interesting letter because it is almost virtually identical to Fr. Hattie's letter to me dated June 11, 2016. In addition, another letter was on the reverse side from "John" to Fr. Hattie reporting on a donation from a family in East Amherst, NY. It references a card that reads (in part): "Our love and prayers will be with you as you continue your wonderful work in Uganda. I'm sue you are anxious to get back and I'm sure that all there are anxiously waiting your arrival. Safe travel and good health so you can continue the work that you love."

As usual, when I scanned the letter, I added a little aqua tint to recall the days of old when his letters arrived via Aerogram. Below is my transcription of the letter for those who have a difficult time reading the type written page. I have corrected some apparent errors (original spelling in [brackets]) but if you disagree with my interpretation, please let me know. Feedback is welcome.

If you want to brave reading the actual typed copy, click on the image of the letter above. Then right click on that image, select <Open image in a new tab>. When you go to the new tab, click on the image and it will open into a larger view that facilitates easy reading.

My Fr. Hattie page contains a list of Father's letters that I have received and transcribed. It also contains contact information for Fr. Hattie plus how to donate to help support "his orphans" in Nsumba, Uganda.

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June 18, 2016        

My dear Rick:      Peace of Christ!

      Please, be believing, not unbelieving. Neither am I lying supine on the bottom of some sea or other; nor am I pierced on some mountain [moun-ting] jagged tops; nor [now] am I buried under bucketfuls of African mud, for I am fully alive & kicking and [a] deliriously happy to be BACK [BACH] HOME once again & for good.  I arrive late on the night of March 25 & have resettled [resettling]. BUT, it is COLD here throughout [thruout] the year and there is no way to keep warm since there is NO heat in the house. I was welcomed by 3 carloads of SJs and that was great.

     Since I am not allowed to travel alone (I'm edging 94), 1 of the nurses accompanied me from Detroit-Boston & handed me over to the young African SJ priest who was to convey me to Nairobi. And, a prince he was, treating me like a little Mother Hen. We arrived here about 10 PM & was welcomed by 3 carloads of SJs and that made me feel quite welcome. And, then to bed under 3 blankets.

     Many years ago, an Englishwoman & her daughter wanted to relocate to England so they gave us their extensive acres and 2 furnished homes. Since then many other buildings have gone up and now we have a huge Retreat. Just now 6 Retreats are ongoing, 1 of 30 days for men and women.

     Our Community is a real League of Nations; 2 Yanks & a Canadian as retirees; Indians, Africans, 2 more Yanks, an SJ Bishop from Ecuador & an SJ from Bolivia.  And, I cannot forget the sweetheart of an elderly Bavarian who spoils us rotten, so I call her Mother. Come on over & join the crowd...but with a coat.

     Since my 1000 orphans live in Uganda, our adjoining country, I haven't seen them yet. But, as soon as an SJ car goes there, I'll hitch a ride, visit them, and make a report. I also want to find my 'son' whom I adopted some years ago when he was just 5 and without a single living relative. I put him thru 4 yrs of college & built a small house for him. He was fired as Manager of a bank for causing financial loss, but a lawyer friend of mine got him free. But, 2 officials of the bank keep harassing & trying to force him to accuse a man in court whom he doesn't even know. Twice they kidnapped/tortured him & showed him guns. He knows nothing about me. I shall confront them to turn them over to the police.

     Be sure that all of you have a special niche in my daily Mass & in those of the Sisters and kids...When I get a computer, letters shouldn't take 2 weeks to arrive...Please excuse this miserable typing, for both of my hands are half-numb (& the cold doesn't help) & I have to type with only 2 fingers & 1 eye shut...In the meantime, Keep smiling & spreading His & Her love, peace and joy in every nook & corner of W. Hartford. And my love to your dear Mom.

Tons¹⁰⁰ of love & gratitude,     

Fr. Gene, SJ               
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Links:
http://ricketwrite.blogspot.com/2016/07/now-back-home-in-africa.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerogram
http://ricketwrite.blogspot.com/p/letters-from-fr-hattie.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Nations
SJ=Society of Jesus (Jesuits) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_of_Jesus
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Written: Saturday 10 August 2019.

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Now Back Home (In Africa)



Letter from Fr Hattie dated June 11, 2016 received Friday July 1, 2016.

As can be seen from the letter above, Fr. Hattie made it safely back to Africa. Some of the logistics of the trip are described in an earlier post.

As usual, I have transcribed the letter below for those who find it difficult to decipher Father's typewriting. If you think I guessed incorrectly in any place, please let me know.

My Fr. Hattie page contains a list of Father's letters that I have received and transcribed. It also contains contact information for Fr. Hattie plus how to donate to support "his orphans" in Nsumba, Uganda.

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June 11, 2016                        

My dear Rick:      Peace of Christ!

     Please believe me... I am not lying supine on the bottom of any sea, nor pierced on any mountains, neither am I buried under a Bucketful of African dirt... but I now [am] safely back HOME. We arrived late on the night of May 25 & were welcomed by 3 cars of Jesuits. I WAS NOW BACK HOME.  I was accompanied to Boston by 1 of our Nurses & handed over to the young African priest who was to convey me to Kenya. He is also a Jesuit whom I had known since he was a High School boy. And, he treated me like a little mother hen all the way. Africans are very caring people.

     Some years ago, an Englishwoman & her daughter decided to relocate to England & gave the Jesuits her huge property and two magnificent homes. Now many buildings have been added & it is a huge Retreat Center. {Just now 6}  Right now there are 6 Retreats going on, 1 of 30 days for both men & women.

     Our Community is a real League of Nations..Retirees are 2 Yanks & a Canadian, Indians, 2 Americans, Africans, 1 from Bolivia, a Jesuit Bishop from Ecuador & a sweetheart of an elderly Sister/Nurse from Brazil who spoils us rotten. The ONLY difficulty is that [it] is COLD year around & we have no heat in the house. We just have to keep bundled up. I was so looking forward to the warm months of June-Aug.  only to learn, to my dismay, that they are the coldest of the year. But, I asked for it. At least, we have hot water for showering, but it is like showering in a Fridge, if you know what I mean.

     As soon as I can hitch a ride, I'll grab it & go to Uganda to see the orphans. Then I can tell you more about them. While in Uganda, too, I want to search for my 'adopted son' from [whom] I have not heard for 8 months. I suspect foul play because we used to Skype twice a week, but I haven't heard a word from him for 8 months. He was fired from a Bank for having caused a loss of $500,000, but a good lawyer friend of mine got him free. Then for 2 years, 2 Bank officials have been hounding him to accuse a man (he doesn't even know) of the theft & he refused. Twice he was kidnapped, tortured & shown guns. We used Skype 2 times a week, but no word from him for 8 months. I suspect foul play & shall take the matter to the police.

     You'll be pleased to know that I just received an anonymous gift of $78,000 thru Chicago for the orphans. God is GREAT.

     Please give my regards & love to your dear Mom when you talk to her. All of your Clan has a special remembrance in my daily Mass & prayers & in those of the Sisters & orphans. In the meantime, keep smiling & spreading His & Her love, peace & joy in every corner of W. Hartford.

Tons^100 of love & gratitude,                                        

Fr. Gene, SJ                                                
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Links:
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Written Easter Sunday 21 April 2019