Nieman -Marcus

Hope you all got my cookie recipe email sent earlier this evening. How nice for an abused consumer to find some creative revenge! I am certainly going to try it. Hope you are, too!

An Exchange

Go to the Gospels. Choose a short passage. Study it. Think about it. Imagine it - the sights, the sounds, the colors, the confusion....Sure, I will do that. Anybody who loves a good story does that anyway. That is inevitable, part of the fun...Now put yourself inside the story. You are in that crowd...Well, for the sake of enhancing the perspective of a spectator I will do that. Again, in a good story, as you live it with the author, you do that anyway...Now, see what Jesus has to say to you....What?...He will turn to you. See what He has to say to you?...What?....No, that is illegitimate. Jesus doesn't have anything to say to me he hasn't already said in the Bible. ...You are so cut and dried with your western, Greek-based rationalism. Don't you know the Jewish mind was much more fluid and indefinite than ours?. Is there no room for the mystery of God in your understanding of Him?...It depends what you mean by mysterious. Of course, we don't know God exhaustively. Every attribute He has, He has in a greater measure than we can plumb. It is certainly "mysterious" as to how the Holy Spirit takes Biblical truth and works it into our hearts so personally and appropriately - first in regeneration, then in sanctification. His providence can certainly be baffling. I will go further and say a couple of times in a lifetime God may give you "supernatural" experiences when you are not expecting them. On the other hand, there is nothing mysterious about the character of God, the way he has reconciled Himself to men, or His expectations of men. That is clearly laid out, once and for all, in Scripture. ...You are a rigid TR, a danger to this church. (unsaid) If you want to talk with me about anything doctrinal, it must be with elders present. (said). You are the kind of person who will cause theological divisions. (unsaid)...Oh. Commitment to the Reformational understanding of the absolute truth of inerrant, completed Scripture -forever objectively true, sufficient for life and doctrine - is undermining? In this church? Well! Blow me down!

Rain

Yesterday afternoon it .....began to rain!!! And lo and behold, it is still raining thirty hours later. Such a strange but wonderful sound in this drought-stricken area. I do love the mellowness of rainy days...The muffled sounds, the muted light...In my mind, it helps me transition into fall, reminds me of one of my favorite poems from childhood:Keats:To Autumn: beginning "Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness" - have never forgotten it.

I spent the day at Tom and Jeannette's again. The children love some Victorian storybooks about a little girl named Elsie. They ask me to help act them out again and again. I am always the hypocritical person plotting against the virtuous Elsie and her father - today, in the person of Miss Daniels, trying to break up Mr. Dinsmore's (Elsie's father's) engagement to Miss Rose -so I can steal him for myself. This afternoon,I must say, I surpassed myself - handing in my best performance ever. "My dear Mr. Dinsmore, I must prevail upon you to believe that my criticisms of Miss Rose are based soley on my fondest desire for your happiness, and that of Miss Rose." etc. etc...Little Abby looked at me and said, "Mrs, Challies, you are such a good actress!" What a hoot! And I get paid for it!

We received the unfortunate news yesterday that our new renters, who have proved so faithful, are moving to Florida on Sunday as "there is no work around here."...They will be the first people who have left honorably and will have their deposit returned to them. He is Hispanic, doubtless illegal, but certainly a good father, provider, and renter! Phooey...We have asked them if they know of others who might take their place.

Poor Maryanne has felt terrible - dizzy, nauseated, etc for several days now. We are wondering if she couldn't be suffering from the same sort of thing that put Marg in bed for awhile. She has spent much time in the pool and complained of vague ear ache since last week. Time to find a doctor!

Tomorrow, Dad will head north to apply for a job he saw advertised online. It is a humble job, but a lot better than nothing - Hobson's Choice, at this point....Will let you know how it goes...Off to bed with Rockefeller in hand before too long....And so, good night.

Friday

I was at Tom and Jeannette's all day yesterday. I enjoyed it, as always, but was so tired - literally had to keep shaking myself awake as I read "Stewart Little' to the children - found I had drifted into momentary sleep while my mouth kept going! A new experience!...Dad and I are now sleeping every night on the hide-a-bed to get away from stuffiness of bedroom here, so got Dad to open out the bed and stumbled in about nine, or so...As usual, I awoke around three, so read a couple of chapters of the Rockefeller biography Tim sent me while huddled in the bathroom for a couple of hours - at the same time keeping an eye on the two roaches skittering about my feet....Then back to bed and dozed/slept until eight!...The biography is fascinating. Thanks, Tim. I absolutely love having these wonderful books to read... What an enigmatic man John D. was...In ways, cutthroat in business, in other ways not...Exemplary in personal life yet somewhat of a dirty old man as he got older, after his wife had died...His purpose in life was to make money - by means fair or sometimes foul (,difference not clearly spelled out in American law at that time) - in order to give it away...A very devout Baptist...An odd conglomeration of characteristics...Will we see him in Heaven?

Today I pulled myself out of bed, read the Bible, groomed minimally, and set out for Cartersville to visit with Maryanne after her doctor's appointment with Tom...Got great Christmas presents for P&M, T&A - already have things for R&S, J&G...Home again and internet plus Rockerfeller until we go to Tom and Jeannette's tonight for dinner. (They have a group of people meeting there who want more fellowship than their (geographically) distant churches can offer them.

Something to pray about: Dad phoned Chris White today about trying to find a job in Chattanooga and he gave him a contact in the McLellan Foundation. (Insurance people, originally)...Both he and Johan are friendly with them)...Dad will phone them on Monday. Please keep this in prayer. the chances of a fifty-none year old, without directly relevant experience, finding any kind of a job with dignity are slim, but God can do it, of course! WIll keep you posted!

Another tidbit: Justin has a cousin whose wife is very close to Grace. She has air miles she has given to Susanna so she can come and visit us in the next few weeks! Isn't that marvellous?

Maryanne

I am pregnant again and this time I switch obstetricians. There is another pro-life female doctor delivering babies in Toronto so I go to her. Her name is Dr. Jubb. She is a faithful Catholic, friends with my previous doctor, Dr. Morris. Apparently, Dr. Morris had considered becoming Catholic - switching from her Jewish faith - but Dr. Jubb had discouraged her...You'd never make it with that nose, Heather....Now it is time for a late-pregnancy appointment. I walk into the office and - oh no!- it is Dr. Morris, filling in for Dr. Jubb. She looks at me and says, you can't get rid of me, can you? I chuckle nervously. In any case, all is well. The baby is fine.

The big day arrives but I am in no hurry to go to the hospital. Someone comes to care for the children and I go upstairs to the boys' room where I lie down on their beds and use my breathing exercises. I am much more comfortable here at home - the environment is warm, with gentle light, and comfortable. Finally I know I can't wait any longer. Dad gets me into his big, red truck and we drive down Yonge Street to Women's College Hospital. Things progress quickly, and in no time I have a tiny baby girl in my arms...Mom, we have had the baby and this time its a girl...Oh, Barbara, how lovely. That is quite an anniversary present to give us....And it was. We name her Maryanne Ruth. Maryanne is, loosely, after Dad's favorite old cousin, Mary Coghlin. Ruth is, of course, after Mom...The first time we see Mary after Maryanne's birth, she has moved to an old folks' home. She takes the baby in her arms and displays her to everyone she possibly can...Look, she's named after me! What a gift we have given her, as well...

A few days after we get home from the hospital, it is time for the boys to begin school. Andrew is entering Grade One at Toronto Central Christian School and Tim will go to Junior Kindergarten at our neighbourhood school. This means that, most of the day, I have just Maryanne at home with me. I make good use of the Snugli someone has lent me and, everywhere I go, she goes. We are a pair. I can't drive so I do all my shopping locally. When all the children are home, Maryanne goes into our big carriage, Tim sits at the foot, and Andrew trots along beside me. In the grocery store, I can't handle a cart, so I pile groceries up all around the two little ones, and on the bottom rack. I get them bagged and somehow we always manage to get home without incident. One day when I am waiting in line to pay for my food, an older woman looks at me....Do you know these are the best years of your life? Nothing will ever be as delightful as this time. Make sure to enjoy it. One day it will be gone - so quickly - and you will miss it...Yes and yes...

When Maryanne is about two, all the children get chicken pox. At last they are on the mend and there are just a few scabs left on her face. I most carefully pull a t-shirt over her head and -oh no!! - I knock a couple of them off. Now she will have scars on her forehead. It takes me many days to forgive myself for that. But they fade over the years and become almost invisible.

She grows into a feisty and determined little girl. Don't mess with me. And not too many people do...Still, her interests are traditional and feminine in most ways. An interesting mix!

As the years pass, I notice something very interesting. My daughter is, in many ways, a gentle person. And becoming gentler. As she begins to serve Christ in a mature and consistent way, many friends gain solace and wisdom from her...In college this only increases. She not only works hard, but blesses many as counselor and confidante.

Then comes marriage. And children....And parents. And siblings. And neighbors. And who works harder than Maryanne at trying to make it ALL work just the way it should? (And does this not melt God's heart, as it does mine?) With her old determination. And feistiness. But much gentleness. And passion. And sensitivity. And breathtaking integrity. And complete commitment.

Maryanne, you are a faithful and lovely Christian woman. I am proud of you. I love you.

Maryanne

I am pregnant again and this time I switch obstetricians. There is another pro-life female doctor delivering babies in Toronto so I go to her. Her name is Dr. Jubb. She is a faithful Catholic, friends with my previous doctor, Dr. Morris. Apparently, Dr. Morris had considered becoming Catholic - switching from her Jewish faith - but Dr. Jubb had discouraged her...You'd never make it with that nose, Heather....Now it is time for a late-pregnancy appointment. I walk into the office and - oh no!- it is Dr. Morris, filling in for Dr. Jubb. She looks at me and says, you can't get rid of me, can you? I chuckle nervously. In any case, all is well. The baby is fine.

The big day arrives but I am in no hurry to go to the hospital. Someone comes to care for the children and I go upstairs to the boys' room where I lie down on their beds and use my breathing exercises. I am much more comfortable here at home - the environment is warm, with gentle light, and comfortable. Finally I know I can't wait any longer. Dad gets me into his big, red truck and we drive down Yonge Street to Women's College Hospital. Things progress quickly, and in no time I have a tiny baby girl in my arms...Mom, we have had the baby and this time its a girl...Oh, Barbara, how lovely. That is quite an anniversary present to give us....And it was. We name her Maryanne Ruth. Maryanne is, loosely, after Dad's favorite old cousin, Mary Coghlin. Ruth is, of course, after Mom...The first time we see Mary after Maryanne's birth, she has moved to an old folks' home. She takes the baby in her arms and displays her to everyone she possibly can...Look, she's named after me! What a gift we have given her, as well...

A few days after we get home from the hospital, it is time for the boys to begin school. Andrew is entering Grade One at Toronto Central Christian School and Tim will go to Junior Kindergarten at our neighbourhood school. This means that, most of the day, I have just Maryanne at home with me. I make good use of the Snugli someone has lent me and, everywhere I go, she goes. We are a pair. I can't drive so I do all my shopping locally. When all the children are home, Maryanne goes into our big carriage, Tim sits at the foot, and Andrew trots along beside me. In the grocery store, I can't handle a cart, so I pile groceries up all around the two little ones, and on the bottom rack. I get them bagged and somehow we always manage to get home without incident. One day when I am waiting in line to pay for my food, an older woman looks at me....Do you know these are the best years of your life? Nothing will ever be as delightful as this time. Make sure to enjoy it. One day it will be gone - so quickly - and you will miss it...Yes and yes...

When Maryanne is about two, all the children get chicken pox. At last they are on the mend and there are just a few scabs left on her face. I most carefully pull a t-shirt over her head and -oh no!! - I knock a couple of them off. Now she will have scars on her forehead. It takes me many days to forgive myself for that. But they fade over the years and become almost invisible.

She grows into a feisty and determined little girl. Don't mess with me. And not too many people do...Still, her interests are traditional and feminine in most ways. An interesting mix!

As the years pass, I notice something very interesting. My daughter is, in many ways, a gentle person. And becoming gentler. As she begins to serve Christ in a mature and consistent way, many friends gain solace and wisdom from her...In college this only increases. She not only works hard, but blesses many as counselor and confidante.

Then comes marriage. And children....And parents. And siblings. And neighbors. And who works harder than Maryanne at trying to make it ALL work just the way it should? With her old determination. And feistiness. But much gentleness. And passion. And sensitivity. And integrity. And complete commitment.

Maryanne, you are a faithful and lovely Christian woman. I am proud of you. I love you.
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Killer River

At the foot of our street in Otterburn Heights flows the Richelieu River. It is a major river, a mighty river. And it almost killed me twice...A little poetic license, but not much. Across the river is St. Hilaire. And in St. Hilaire there is a Dairy Queen. For us suburban kids, this smacks of something exciting and urban. We don't want to go with our parents, we are not old enough to drive, so- we walk across the train bridge...a single track line across a wide expanse of water. What if a train comes? Well, I try not to think of that possibility, but there are little boxes here and there hanging out from the sides of the bridge. Kids have said those are safe if worse comes to worse and the train can't be outrun. And, of course, one day it happens. It is a busy line and we use it regularly. Here it comes! We certainly can't get across the river in time! Into the box we scramble for an unforgettable two minutes. There are three of us huddled together. the train roars by just a couple of feet away. The box shakes and rattle. I look down and see the river flowing rapidly below us, water far to either side of our perch...This ice-cream sandwich had better be good!

Who am I with? I think I remember. Some of my friends and I have walked over the train bridge to meet some cute French-Canadian boys. It is a warm day, summer holidays. On the river bank, periodically, are signs, Do not swim in the river...But, some do. And eventually, I jump in as well. I swim out rather far, fearful the whole time. How deep is the water beneath me? Where are the currents? Good my parents can't see me now! Even with my short-sighted eyes, I see something floating toward me. It is almost on me, when I recognize it. It is a big wad of toilet paper! I swim to shore at record speed (for me) and now understand the layers of meaning under the words Do not swim in the river...(And not long after this, one of the boys in the group, who lives in a house overlooking the river, sees a body floating on its surface!)

Les Sultans

My closest friends in high school are Sandra and Lydia, though there are others I spend time with. Ann Vickers is outside this orbit. She is in the "other" Grade Ten class, (We are divided alphabetically), and has different interests than I do. She excels in Algebra and Physics. I concentrate on History, French and English. Still, I like her. She is personable and interesting. One day she tells me about a new group she has begun to go and listen to called, "Les Sultans" - a French "garage band" out of Ste Hyacinthe. Will I go with her to see them perform? Apparently, she has been several times already to their venues - gyms, teen-type clubs all over the Montreal south shore area...I rarely do things like this. I go to the odd high school dance, with other girls, spend time visiting in homes, and occasionally walk across the Richelieu River via the train bridge - something none of our parents know of - to get ice cream at Dairy Queen, but this is about the extent of my social life. Much of my time on the weekends is spent babysitting and preparing to teach Sunday School at our local Anglican church...

Mom and Dad have no problem with my going to hear the group. Dad, as always, is willing to drive us...so on Friday evening I am in Beloeil with Ann. Onto the stage comes this group of five young French Canadian men - Ghislain, Denis, Claude, Pierre, and...Bruce? Yes, Bruce...the lead singer is Bruce - funny! Ann is a Ghislain fan. I quickly determine that I vote for Denis. We stand in front of the stage and watch our heroes perform. They sing some original songs and adaptations of current pop music from the US...Their signature song is "La Poupee Qui Fait Non":

C'est une poupee qui fait non, non, non, non
Toute la journee elle fait non,non, non, non
Elle est, elle est vraiment jolie - e-e-e-e-e
Quand je reve la nuit - e-e-e-e-e

And so on...Fun for a fifteen-year old to listen to...

Than comes a break - and - Denis puts his arm around a beautiful long-haired girl waiting for him....Sigh....Oh, well,...I never wanted to marry a French Canadian anyway...The princess dreams are quickly shattered, but I enjoy the rest of the evening and do become a LEs Sultans fan...

Go to You Tube, type in Les Sultans and the first hit you get will be "La Poupee" - see what your mother did with her time many years ago...