"He is not here"

Mt 28, 6; Mk 16, 6; Lk 24, 5

Easter has long been a challenge for me. Perhaps it goes back to my discovery about the truth of the Easter Bunny.  For whatever reason, Easter just doesn't reach the heights of joy that Christmas has. Must be an overdose of chocolate. So I have long struggled to understand the meaning of Easter. Oh, I know the story. But what exactly does it mean for us today, and how do we live our lives differently because of it?

To complicate matters, my father died on a Holy Saturday (i.e., the day before Easter). Therefore, from that point onwards, I always associate Easter weekend (Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday) with my father's passing.

 

He died a few months after Richard was born. On Holy Thursday we drove from Connecticut to Cleveland. I thought that seeing the baby might perk him up and revive him. And when we arrived, he did brighten when he saw baby Richard. Friday morning he sat at the breakfast table with us.

I spent a lot of Good Friday sitting next to him as he was in in bed. The radio was on and I heard the Good Friday service. It was very powerful for me to contemplate the suffering of Jesus on the cross while sitting next to my father as he took a similar journey towards the mystery of holy eternity.

Dad died early in the afternoon on Holy Saturday surrounded by most of his family. I always will regret that we left a few hours before in order to return to Connecticut so we could celebrate Easter with Lynn's family. But how could we have known the hour....

This year, as in the past, I used a vacation day to take off on Good Friday (remember when it was one of the regular holidays?). We met Lynn's aunt, Sister Pat, for a fish supper (she wanted fish 'n chips but we couldn't find an eat-in place and ended up at Burger King having a Big Fish sandwich and fries).

Holy Saturday we were together (see separate post).  In the past, one of the activities of Holy Saturday was the preparation of the food for Easter dinner. This usually included going to church to have the food blessed. We didn't do that yesterday but we did go to Stop & Shop to get Richard ham for a sandwich on Easter. And I received a box in the mail from my mom. It contained some nut and poppyseed rolls, chocolates, and easter eggs. THANKS Mom!!!

And here it is Easter. I am reflecting on its meaning and the blessings I have been graced with. Somehow that seems right.

Holy Saturday

As you may know, my Saturdays are usually quite packed. Typically, I drive to the Hartford area to watch Richard's roller hockey game, stop at the bank, pick up Richard and get some lunch. Not unusual to go to some event or go exploring or watch a game on TV.  This Saturday kept up that pattern.

Richard's roller hockey team finally won after suffering a few losses. Richard has been getting better with his skating: picking up speed and getting more aggressive.

Richard has been in heaven this past week because during his spring break, he has been able to watch major leagure baseball AND the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. Yesterday was a perfect day to be inside because it was gray and misty and rather cool.

We walked up/down the street a couple blocks to a local Chinese restaurant, "Black Bamboo".  The owner, Sonny, is a young guy who is friendly; the food is tasty and moderately priced.  Richard likes the brocoli & shrimp. I had sweet & sour pork (with pork fried rice) in honor of Easter weekend.


We brought the food back to Lynn's apartment and ate while watching the Clevo Indians get pounded by the Minnosota Twins 10-3. It was so bad, that we switched the channel to watch hocky. We saw the NY Rangers lose the game 3-1 and the series to the Washington Capitals (Richard was rooting for the Caps for now). Then we saw the Tampa Bay Lightning wipe the Penguins 8-2.

We took a break from the tube, and drove to the local Stop & Shop in West Hartford. We got some Boars Head ham, white American cheese, and bread so that Richard could have a ham & cheese sandwich tomorrow (Easter).

  

When you're at Lynn's place, there are usually several kitties who love to keep you company. During the game, Richard realized that "Double" was not around. We searched everywhere but to no avail. So I went outside and walked around the building calling out for "Double." Fortunately, Richard found him inside. He had accidently got shut in a closet.



Double

Spot

And there is "Spot." He tends to be on the nervous side and often jumps at the slightest noise. He's always been that way. But since being neutered, he is a lot calmer. He is mostly white but has some black spots.

Easter weekend can be a challenge for me (see separate post) but it is always good to spend time with family, especially my son.

Lord of the Flies

  

Richard's 10th grade English class is going to start reading/studying the famous novel, Lord of the Flies by William Golding (see book cover above at left). In order to support that study, I have been doing some research and collecting materials (articles); I found the DVD for the 1963 movie version at the library (movie poster is above in center; DVD cover is above at right) and watched it; Richard and I watched part of it last Saturday and finished it yesterday.

Although Richard is not particularly looking forward to HAVING to read the book and analyze it, there are parts of the movie that definitely got his attention. He is starting to memorize the hunting chant as well as humming the "kyrie eleison" (Lord have mercy) hymn that is the theme of Jack's choristers.

I don't remember having to read FLIES in school. I think my first exposure to the book was seeing the 1963 movie at a friend's house during college. I think that prompted me to read the book. When a new movie version came out in 1990, I remember going to see it. Later, I purchased the Cliff notes, intending to do a more serious study later (but never did). I'll have to dig out it and my paperback copy to reread. Meanwhile, I am reading several articles and a book that is a collection of critical essays.

If you have some thoughts about Lord of the Flies, please share them with me via a comment or send an email or ....

Extracted!!

I did not plan to go to the dentist today (or for that matter, the oral surgeon). But after several weeks of battling with Tooth #19, action was needed. A couple of weeks ago, I scheduled a visit to my dentist because the gum around this tooth was feeling raw. Discovered the tooth had an infection. After a week of antibiotics, things seemed to calm down.

The following week, I was back at the dentist for a cleaning and checkup (and more work) and a follow-up on Tooth #19.  The other dentist at the practice agreed that it was inevitable that the tooth was a hopeless cause. So we discussed what to put in its place: implant, bridge, and nothing. We didn't discuss when the tooth had to leave.



Tooth #19 in middle.

But time was catching up with Tooth #19. Several days ago, I noticed that my jawbone was feeling weird around Tooth #19.  This morning I wondered if I was taking an unnecessary chance by ignoring the discomfort. Why, it sort of looked like my jaw and cheek were swollen.

So I crashed the dentist office at 8 a.m. and they agreed to take a look (I've been a regular for 14 years). Tooth #19 was pronounced a goner. So I was directed to an oral surgeon to do the honors. Fortunately, he had an opening and now so do I (where Tooth #19 once was).

I am typing this up as the Novocaine wears off and (hopefully) the extra strength Tylenol kicks in; I've got several layers of gauze in the gap (to stop the bleeding) and am putting a cold pack on every so often to try to keep the swelling down.

Oh, Tooth #19 why did you betray me? What did I do wrong? I tried to take care of you. I brushed twice a day and flossed daily. I visited the dentist religiously twice a year for cleanings and exams. What tooth could ask for more? Oh Why oh why? It just won't be the same without you Tooth #19. No bridge or implant can really take your place (although a bridge will likely be constructed-but that will be another blog posting). Fairwell Tooth #19-may you rest in pieces.

Sound Tigers Win!

Sunday April 10th was the final game for the10th Anniversary season of the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Fortunately it was a home game and fortunately we had FREE tickets that Richard had won at an earlier game this season for the "chuck-a-puck" contest. Our free seats weren't as good as the ticket at the left but we found decent seats in the same section. Nearly every seat at the (Webster Bank) Arena at Harbor Yard is a good seat. And they are cheaper than NHL tickets. Richard, Lynn, and I went.

The arena was filled to near capacity to watch an exciting game to avoid last place. Fortunately, the Sound Tigers won the game (4-3). Lots of action! Always good to beat the Devils. And so the Devils end up in last place (better than the lake of fire and brimstone [Rev 20:10]).

The Sound Tigers did not have a very successful year but we enjoyed going to several games this year and look forward to next year. SOUND TIGERS!

GWTW

Usually, the Music for Youth concerts are held at the Pequot Library in Southport, CT. While we were in the neighborhood, we stopped in because I wanted to see a small exhibit they were showing centered around an original manuscript of the book, Gone With the Wind.

I had read an article in the March 30th (2011) edition of the NY Times about the exhibit. Although I have never read the book or seen the movie (really), it sounded like an opportunity to see something historic and unusual. It was a nice exhibit: lots of posters of various covers of the book from different countries (banned by Nazi Germany) and, of course, select pages from the typewritten manuscript. After seeing the exhibit, I am very curious about the book and its now on my "to read" list.

Gamelan Orchestra & Wayang Kulit

This past Saturday (April 9th), my son, Richard, and I attended a very unusual musical performance as part of the Music for Youth free concerts. They are held monthly during the school year, recommended for ages 5-17, and about 50 minutes in length. We started attending these when Richard was in preschool or so. Now, we usually attend 2-3 a year when there isn't a conflict with Richard's hockey schedule.

 The concert was held in Trinity Church. We sat in the balcony right at the orchestra. A gamelan is aspecific grouping of musical instruments used to play a style of traditional Indonesian music. The Wayang Kulit portion is a JAVAnese shadow puppet play. We saw "The Flower Battle," the story of Arjuno who overcomes a fanged demon, Cakil.

The music was VERY different: it reminded me of possessed wind chimes.

 At the end of the show, they have a drawing for a door prize...and Richard was one of the winners! He is wearing orange in the picture above. So we went home with a CD of gamelan music.

The Garden

The Garden of Eden

"Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden: and there he put the man he had formed. The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground - trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters...."

Oh! Wait a moment...wrong garden.

This past Monday (April 4th), I was fortunate to be able to attend a hockey game at Madison Square Garden between the New York Rangers and the Boston Bruins. I attended as the guest of one of our vendors who was hosting a technical seminar and then invited us to their suite at "The Garden."


View from a suite a MSG: Rangers vs. Bruins.

Because it was a weeknight, we left during the second intermission and missed a thrilling come from behind victory by the Rangers to beat the Bruins 5-3. Still, it was exciting because it was my first visit to the Garden. Hope to get there in the future to see the Islanders play (and win).

Pops 'n Jazz 2011

Program Cover

Last weekend we attended a wonderful performance at Richard's high school: "Pops 'n Jazz." It ran for two weekends. The performances were top notch and very professional (and perhaps a tab bit too grown up for my tastes).

In any case, a lot of work went into this show. Richard attended days of evening rehearsals. This year he was involved with lighting. During the show he was a Spot (light) Operator. According to my eyes he did a great job. I didn't see any flubs.

This was the 53rd annual performance of this event.