by jphilo | Feb 14, 2013 | Three Thoughts for Thursday
- A little light remained in the western sky last night at 6:40. The eastern horizon was brightening at 6:45 this morning. Lovely proof that daylight hours are increasing.
- Yesterday husband wrapped a cut on his finger with a Lincoln Band Aid. What a lovely way to honor our 16th president’s birthday month!
- When Valentine’s Day falls during Lent, do florists see an uptick and chocolatiers a down tick in sales? Which lovely gift would you rather receive on Valentine’s Day?
by jphilo | Dec 4, 2012 | Top Ten Tuesday
After hearing one marvelous review after another–one of which was by Mom–of Steven Spielberg’s new movie Lincoln, Hiram and I went to it over the weekend. It was every bit as wonderful as the critics, and Mom, said. Later, my inner movie/history buff created this top ten list:
10. The combination of politics and name-calling is nothing new.
9. Neither is the combination of dirty business and politics.
8. Thankfully, the chambers of Congress and spittoons no longer go together.
7. Lincoln is the poster child of self-education through reading.
6. How interesting that the poor and oppressed thanked God when the amendment abolishing slavery passed, but those in power congratulated themselves and one another.
5. The Civil War was an unspeakable tragedy and a great evil.
4. Slavery was an even greater evil.
3. Sally Fields‘ acting never ceases to amaze.
2. Daniel Day Lewis is a phenomenal actor.
1. If you feel like crying at the end of the movie, go ahead. Lincoln was a simple and complex man who sacrificed and died for our young country. His life and death are worthy of our tears.
Have you seen Lincoln yet? What did you think of it? Leave a comment!
photo credit: stock exchange
by jphilo | Jan 27, 2012 | Current Events, Reflections on the Past
Yesterday morning, my first thought was not, “Today, I’m gonna feel old.” But thanks to the Girl Scouts – yes, those cute little cookie peddlers who sell sugar highs in a box – for the first time ever, I am feeling a wee bit ancient.
Not just old. Ancient.
The realization was gradual, increasing the longer I listened to Talk of Iowa on the radio. The topic was the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts, and the host interviewed some Girl Scout leaders and a couple honest-to-goodness present day Girl Scouts. The girls were about the same age I was during my short career as cookie salesgirl and sash wearer.
And they made me feel not just old. But ancient.
It wasn’t their fault. But, while they talked, I thought about how 1912 was a century ago for the little girls. Just like 1865 was a hundred years ago when I attended Girl Scout meetings after school in 1965. So if and when they watch a show like Downton Abbey, the events portrayed there are as long ago and far away to them as the events chronicled in Gone With the Wind were to me.
And that’s when I started feeling not just old. But ancient.
Not because the Civil War seemed like a long time ago when I was a Girl Scout. And not because 1912 is a long time ago to the girls in the radio interview. And not because 1912 didn’t seem like such a long time ago in my GS days. But because the Civil War probably didn’t seem like such a long time ago to fifty-five-year-old adults in my GS days, but I thought those people were old.
But they didn’t seem just old. They seemed ancient.
Which is how today’s Girl Scouts view everybody old enough to tuck an AARP membership card next to the packet of Metamucil in their wallets, old enough to wear sensible shoes, sport age spots, and wear pants with elastic waistbands.
They view us as not just old. But ancient.
Oh my, the depression is coming on thick and fast. I think there’s only one way to fight this thing. I’m gonna find a Girl Scout, buy a box of Thin Mints, and snarf down the whole box. After all, my mom says old people like me have earned the right to eat whatever they want. And she ought to know.
‘Cause she’s not just old. She’s ancient.
