Lost in Chicago

Gosh, I love Chicago.  You know, that sudden curve in the road where all the skyscrapers pop into view.  I love the maze those tall buildings make for walking.  I even like losing my way for a little while, just long enough to see or hear something that I wasn't expecting.  Snatches of conversation, a flowerbed, a river, a bridge, a sign, a note of music, a window washer, a stained glass window, a gargoyle...

Today I wandered into Holy Name Cathedral where high school students in Vincent DePaul lime t-shirts were poking around the sanctuary.  I am always amazed how a cathedral can feel bigger, more spacious on the inside than it does outside. I closed my eyes for a moment and when I opened them again, the lime t-shirts were gone and the lights inside were dimmed and the stunning stained glass was blazing.  It was well worth getting lost for.

I hope to get lost again tomorrow.

Phantom - One More Time

We (Cal and I) went to see Phantom of the Opera tonight at the Civic Center.

I tried not to let the fact that there is a sequel to Phantom called "Love Never Dies" ruin the the experience for me. It resumes the story 10 years later and Christine goes to America, Raoul is a drunk, and the Phantom returns, wins Christine's heart AND if I remember correctly, she dies.  It's just all wrong. Even the title sounds like a B grade vampire movie.

Oh well, the music tonight was as lavish as always and the chandelier exploded nicely.

The Sisterhood

Long wonderful social weekend with the sisters.

It is a complicated group.  Two of the sisters are also sister-in-laws to each other.  Two of the sisters have the same name.  Two of the sisters married men with the same name.

Individual,  unique, taking on the mantel of sisterhood  under the name of family.

Picked up this painting this weekend.  Picture does't show the wonderful textures of material, paper, paint, ink that are this mixed media piece entitled "My Sisters."  It caught my eye high up on the wall and when I discovered the title I felt it represented this weekend of women. Looks great in my powder room wall.

13 Reasons Why I Like Mammograms.

Today Is Mammogram day. 

These are my shower thoughts this morning about why I like mammograms better than other doctor and dentist appointments.

1. You don’t get weighed.
2. You only have to take off ½ of your clothes.
3. You don’t get lectures.
4. They have Better Homes and Gardens in their waiting rooms.
5. You can spell it.
6. You don’t have you to wear makeup or jewelry or dress nice, wear deodorant or powder or even brush your teeth if you don’t want to.
7. It doesn’t take mental energy, They don’t ask a lot of questions that you don’t know the answers to… like when was your last…and they tell you exactly where to stand and where to put your arm and not to breathe.
8. They apologize if they hurt you.
9. They apologize if it’s cold.
10. They apologize for everything which makes you feel gracious and rack up goodness points that day for being forgiving.
11. The radiology techs are usually women who are very good at what they do, because it’s what they do, and I appreciate their “we are all in this together” attitude.
12. They try to make the machines look feminine which makes me laugh as if the color pink is the magic key to make us happy about having our breasts squeezed. I hate pink - but I give them credit for trying. One hospital (which shall remain unnamed) tried to make their radiology room look like a suite in a grand hotel. I swear they even had lighted candles. A bit over the top, I thought, as if I’d be more likely to have a mammogram at the Ritz Carlton.
13. You get to wear a cape. I like capes. Capes are classic and never go out of style. (Except they are always pink) Hospital gowns, well, you know....

I heard I am scheduled for a colonoscopy next month.

 Can’t spell it.

 Don’t want it. 

Let’s see what I think of that!

Until then, I remain faithfully,

 Your Mary

Woodchuck on Hickman

 

Picture it.

A busy street in Des Moines.

Hickman to be exact.

A woodchuck sitting on his haunches on the sidewalk,

calmly nibbling on something in his paws

(Let's make it an ear of sweetcorn.  Because it's Iowa.)

watching the cars go past.

Makes quite a picture doesn't it.

 

Almost poetic.

But it's true.

Cal saw it

and Cal

never

lies.

Smile for the Day

I opened a door at the store for a bearded old man with a cigar hanging out of his mouth.  He bowed grandly and said,
 "You, madam, are a scholar and a gentleman, and there are so damn few of us left."

Made my day.

Retreat and Sherlock

Hello my dears,

My Morning Glories are so late this year!  And the vines are so thick.   It will be spectacular WHEN it happens and IF it happens before the frost.  They will cover the fence with glory.  Fingers crossed.

Back from an eight day silent retreat at Creighton's Retreat Center in Griswold which fed my Catholic-Lutheran Heart immensely.  Cal and I had a lot to tell each other when I got back and we ran to Costco where I experienced, behold, a GREAT Mass (no pun intended) of Humanity and oh my goodness-  they were ALL talking!! It amazed me.  I guess I was still coming up to the surface of the water after my deep dive into silence. (except for the shrill whine of mosquitoes.)

My Cloister Walk

For the last eight days, I have been attending a Catholic mass. It was good to be back in my home church were I could partake of communion.  I couldn't help but compare the two...so alike and so different.  Fr. Paddy Gilger does a beautiful mass and I miss the quiet expectancy at the retreat center.  This morning was more joyous expectancy.  Both are wonderful.  I am lucky to be able to
have experienced both.




Creighton Retreat Chapel



 

Can't wait for new episodes of Sherlock on PBS.  My favorite show!  I read the book on retreat (when I needed to rest from all that silence) and was surprised that the rather autistic Holmes played by Benedict Cumberbatch  is not a far departure from the book!  Can't wait for more.

 

My 96 year old father is going on an Honor Flight to Washington DC next month.  Thrilled for him.

 

Wishing you all a bit of silence in your life,

Mary