Mary and Child (Photo credit: windygig)
Or at least as close as a family of tumbleweeds can manage.
I mentioned yesterday that I’ll be gone over Christmas, and that Jessica will be taking over for a week or so here. I also said that I’d tell you a bit more about it. So I will.
When you reach a certain age, you will find that your family starts to shrink a bit. My parents, both of my sisters, and one of my brothers in law are gone now. One is still here and I have some nieces and their families, but we are getting a little thin on the ground. So when we have a chance to get together, it’s important to do so. Like you all, we talk about the things we did back in the day, in truth, my nieces are of an age that they’re more like cousins really, ours was one of those families that nearly had two generations of siblings. No complaints, mind, we’ve pretty much all reached an age when we have lived full and rich lives, and wouldn’t have any real complaints, no matter what. Not that any of us are going to volunteer, or anything.
But anyway
And yes, I picked that version for you for a reason. Jess and I are both rather fond of Dolly. She’s one of the few celebrities that I’ve met in my life, more years ago than either Dolly or I would care to admit, when I was maintenance foreman for a Holiday Inn that was connected with a dinner theatre. And yes, she is just as sweet and nice as she appears.
And that brings us to Jess, ordinarily I wouldn’t talk much about her but, her career and good works (not to mention running her exceptional blog) have been keeping her insanely busy, so we haven’t seen all that much of her here lately.
Most of you probably know that she is British, although she pays a good bit of attention to our politics, in fact, our reading lists aren’t that different. But her take is often subtly different from mine, and I think it valuable.
By the way, the other day Buzzfeed had an article for you to find out how British you are. I now have to walk my Corgi outside the Palace according to them. I wasn’t overly surprised, there are very few places in the world that I’d like to visit, and Britain leads the list. The two of us are a good indication of why our countries get along as well as we do.
Over the time we have been friends, she has become as good a friend as I’ve ever dreamed of having, when I have problems in my life, either personal or even business, I always ask her advice and nearly always take it. She’s a very wise young woman, and I do love her and admire her greatly. I hope she likes me half as much.
I’ll probably pop in occasionally but doubt that I’ll be writing any posts, so I’m going to jump the gun a bit here.
My mom’s favorite carol and one of my favorite choirs :-)
I’ve given Jess no direction, so she’ll write about anything she pleases, she’s told me she has some ideas, and I’d bet money I don’t have they’ll be good ones. My only fear is that you’ll be sorry to have me back!
From the first Chapter of the Gospel according to Luke:
39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 40 and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 and she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
46 And Mary said,
My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47 and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden:
for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things;
and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is on them that fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He hath shewed strength with his arm;
he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats,
and exalted them of low degree.
53 He hath filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich he hath sent empty away.
54 He hath holpen his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy;
55 as he spake to our fathers,
to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
And one from my favorite choir, not least because a few of my cousins have sung in it.
Merry Christmas to you all
Have fun Jess, my dearest friend! :-)
