Battles

While I have memories of Nixon, Ford, and Carter, Ronald Reagan is the first presidency I remember with detail. I was in high school when he was first elected, and I voted for his opponent in 1984, the first presidential election in which I was able to vote.

One of the things I remember about the Reagan era was the "war on drugs". Historically, I know that LBJ declared war on poverty and other presidents have led various "wars". What is it with our culture and imagery of violence?

But I understand battles. I realize that my whole life will involve a battle with depression. There will be times that the depression isn't as severe. There will be other days in which I force myself to function. And there will be a lot of days like today, where I'm somewhere in between.

One problem for me, though, is that understanding does not automatically lead to resolution. I know this of myself: often there is a disconnect between the cognitive and the emotional. Maybe the pathway is obstructed with mines. Perhaps it was struck with mortars. After all, we seem to love battles.

A real loss

I just learned that Forrest Church died late yesterday after a long battle with esophageal cancer. He was senior minister at All Souls Unitarian on Lexington Avenue and the author of several books about Unitarian-Universalism. I had the privilege of hearing him preach on a few occasions.

A brilliant person.
A compassionate person.

A real loss.

Rest well, and in peace...

Lunch

I had lunch with Manny today. He's ordained in the American Baptist Church but serves as associate in a United Methodist Church.

Manny's cool. Definitely a progressive both politically and theologically. He met me outside the building where I work, and we sauntered over to 113th Street to Symposium, a very good Greek restaurant. Not fancy. Good. The place has been in business a long time, which is a testament to its quality. A lot of restaurants in NYC fold within a short period. The good thing is that there are lots of good restaurants from which to choose. The bad thing is the competition is so fierce that it's tough for a place to remain open or to keep the really good staff members.

Nothing substantial or insightful about this post. I had a good lunch with Manny. That's all. That's enough.

Theyyyyyyy're baaaaaaack!

The Yankees are back in the playoffs! Last year was hard, as the team failed to make the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. The team hasn't been playing its best ball lately, but they won last night to become the first team in the majors to make the playoffs.

Big game tonight to end the series in LA. Roid Sox are in town for a 3-game series this weekend. Goooooooooooooo Yankees!

Feast of San Gennaro

New York loves a parade and a festival. Maybe it's our version of the small county fair. As the dad of a little girl, it's a cool way to teach her about other cultures - and since my wife is Italian anyway, a trip down to Little Italy for the Feast of San Gennaro is a must.

I took my daughter down there on Saturday and met up with my father-in-law. The weather was perfect, and we got there early enough to miss a lot of the crowd. Yesterday, my wife was off work, so the three of us went. Two days of cannoli and sausages with peppers and onions! Mamma mia!

At one point on Saturday, we looked up and saw the Empire State Building standing above the city. My father-in-law almost got choked up. The man loves his Italian heritage and he loves NYC. He spoils my daughter--like I don't. We stopped off for a cannoli, and of course he had to share the cannoli cream with her. We were just about finished, so I popped into the men's room. By the time I got back, there was a cream puff on the table.

My wife and I are also both fans of The Godfather series of movies. On Mulberry Street, right in the heart of the festival, stands Old St. Patrick's Cathedral. The church served as the scene of the baptism Michael Corleone participated in while he was having his enemies assassinated near the end of The Godfather. Luckily, no one made us an offer we couldn't refuse. (Although, I could go for another one of those sausages.)

Remembering...

Tears fall to water not the lilies,

but the shattered skies

and the broken streets.

A child's call is returned

with the plaintive echo of itself.

Sister

mother

father

brother...

Look not to the east for the sunset,

nor to the west for the sunrise,

but in blue skies on Hudson's shore,

the budding hope breaks forth.

David Webb
September 11, 2009

eeeewwwwwww!!!

Another "first."

This morning, my wife forgot her Employee ID. So, on my way out, I took it to her. While waiting for a connection to the train, an old woman tried to pick me up.

Eeeeeeewwwwww!!!!

I don't know whether to be grossed out, insulted, or flattered.

I should probably cut her some slack. After all, most people would like to think of themselves as attractive. Perhaps, she just wanted to feel attractive this morning.

Still, eeeeeewwwwww!!!!