Arrivederci!

In the morning we will be flying to Naples to begin our three-week sojourn in Bella Italia! If you are interested, you can follow our itinerary here and here. I don't know when or where I might have internet access, and may not be posting until we return. But I'll be thinking of you, and will blog from la strada if I can.

I have a blessed and full life, and have been having difficulty narrowing down my list of people, places, and things that bring me joy. I just can't limit it to five. But along with my dear Scientist, my sweet dogs (present and past), reading, music, and cooking, travel is right up there near the top of the list.

Ciao for now!

Yesterday was the Scientist's fiftieth birthday, and in the morning I posted a bubbly little blurb about that. I must have been one of the few people in the U.S. who somehow managed not to read or hear any news all day long. When the Scientist came home last night and we were getting ready to go out for his birthday dinner, he mentioned Virginia Tech and I had no idea what he was talking about. I ran and read the news and deleted my perky little post. Big birthday or not, it seemed inappropriate.

Thinking of all the grieving parents last night, I also wondered how many parents had wept with relief after getting a phone call from their child, or even seeing their child interviewed on television. Is there something strange about mid-April, usually such a beautiful, hopeful time of year? Waco, Columbine, now this.

The Scientist did have a good birthday, and having reached the half-century mark, is feeling suitably venerable and august. But from now on, April 16 will be remembered as a day of terror and grief. Please join me in including the families of Virginia Tech in your prayers.

Friday Five: Dental Edition

In honor of Cheesehead and Reverendmother (get well soon, y'all!):

1. Are you a regular patron of dentists' offices? Or, do you go
a) faithfully, as long as you have insurance, or
b) every few years or so, whether you need it or not, or
c) dentist? what is this "dentist" thing you speak of?

a). Every six months. I inherited cavity-prone teeth and have to be conscientious about this. My dentists are a married couple who are friends of ours from church (in fact, the gentleman and I have served on session together), and despite the purpose of the visit I enjoy seeing and chatting with them--when I'm able to chat, that is.

2. Whatever became of your wisdom teeth?

Nothing. I was born with only two, and they have never attempted to make a move or call attention to themselves in any way. As long as they don't bother me, I won't bother them.

3. Favorite thing to eat that's BAAAAAD for your teeth.

Butterfingers. The crunchy part gets embedded into every little cranny.

4. Ever had oral surgery? Commiserate with me.

Getting a crown, or getting pins inserted into a molar, is as close as I've come, and those procedures were tedious but not excruciating. My dentists have all sorts of whiz-bang diversions for patients, and I usually just put on goggles and watch a movie while they work.

5. "I'd rather have a root canal than ____________."

Testify in court, a common occupational hazard in my line of work. So far I have escaped this nightmare.

Bonus: Does your dentist recommend Trident?

No, but they do give away chip clips that read, "Compliments of ______ and ______, DDS." The Scientist was sarcastically curious about what brand of chips my dentist might recommend!

Something good is about to happen!

I got our passports out of the safe deposit box today!

And then I went and got EUROS!

*tempted to start jumping up and down, even though I still have nearly two weeks of work left, and I have three reports to write*

Alleluia!

Today Hades tearfully sighs: "Would that I had not received him who was born of Mary, for he came to me and destroyed my power; he broke my bronze gates, and being God, delivered the souls I had been holding captive." O Lord, glory to your cross and to your holy resurrection!


(From the Orthodox liturgy for Holy Saturday.)

O Heaven, be struck with horror; earth be plunged
in chaos;
Do not dare, Sun, to behold
Your master on the cross, hanging there of his
own will,
Let rock be shattered, for the rock of life is now
wounded by nails...
In fact, let all creation shudder and groan at the passion
of the Creator.

Adam alone exults.



-Romanos
(sixth century)

What wondrous love

What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest Friend,
For this thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever; and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love for Thee.


Bernard of Clairvaux

Two Palm Sunday observations

1. Apparently I am incapable of watching the children walk (or run) in, waving their palm branches, without tearing up. But that's OK.

2. When the PASTOR is among those enthusiastically applauding the children's choir, I reluctantly concede that mine is the minority view.