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I can not do another blog about the Virus. I can publish another entry in my on going blog series sharing book titles to fill the time and allay some of the cabin fever that so many have admitted to feeling. For me,  Sheltering in place has offered a chance to do the “to do’s” I have been bypassing for years. A good book fills the time and expands our knowledge base of  the world, history in this case. The book is entitled The Catalogue of Shipwrecked Books, Young Columbus and the Quest for a Universal Library by Edward Wilson-Lee.

He has published many history books and I intend research more titles.   It is a long title, and a great read. Doing so requires concentration on so many details about the Columbus family, searching words, names and events on the Web from an eBook that usually ends in 2 hours of following links, not a bad education and plunge into history that we did not learn in school. It is listed as a top 10 book I have read.

This book nurtures the category of lovers of history and those among us severely addicted to books, to books about books, addicted to libraries or books about libraries. This is a vividly portrayed account following Hernando Colon, Christopher Columbus’s illegitament son, a man severely mistreated by his mother, step brother Juan and life. The synopsis in the about this book on line gives a broad overview of the book and is too long to share here in under a minute. 

Bonus:  Quick Recommendations

Jean Grainger’s 2 book series; The Star and the Shamrock and The Emerald Horizon. Jean (Irish) is a prolific writer of many genres and series. The first book I read by this author is entitled The Tour, It could only be told by a tour guide like Jean.  More books: the Lost Girls in Paris by Pam Jenot and I am about to re read Utopia by Sir Saint Thomas More (post the Columbus books discussion of same) and American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. Extra bonus, 2 movies, The Good Liar and Lost in Paris, two very different genres. Check them out. 

I sincerely hope this finds EVERYONE in good health. Share your books to read with me please, I note them and pass the titles on. Stay busy. 

The headline reads, “you can be arrested for coughing.” and “you can be arrested for spitting.” OK, I understand, but I picture people perhaps doing so without  fully directing their cough or sneeze directly into their sleeve or hanky. NOT SO.  People are coughing on purpose into the face of health workers, deliberately spitting into the face of a policeman, health workers and food delivery personal. Reportedly, a 8 year old child spat into the face of an elderly woman, a prisoner spat into the face of a policeman, a person in a shop spat into the face of a woman clerk when told a product was not in stock; and more horrendous behaviors in the same vain.

Another appalling report; A plea from a trauma physician in Philadelphia reads, “Please Stop Shooting. We need the Beds.” She is referring to the ICU beds sorely in great demand by the Corona Virus victims, numbers rising faster than a rocket launch, well maybe a hot air balloon. In face of this crisis, people are still shooting people and the numbers are accelerating. Yes, this is a time of togetherness, families at home, stuck inside, children ansy and not in school, parents laid off work and so stressed. “Firearm injuries are calamitous for the more than 120,000 people shot each year in the US.”  The victims, and attempted suicide victims stress the already impossible demand for ventilators, gloves, masks, meds, blood supplies, staff and more. She goes on to point out that “crime is reportedly down in the US, but shootings have not slowed and even may be increasing. Gun sales are increasing putting children in jeopardy of playing policeman and killing a loved one. 

What goes? Again I say, mankind is not “kind,” nor manly/womanly nor capable of coming together in such a crisis. My dream of global cooperation and unity has vanished into the vast deep, dark ocean of toilet paper, wipes and cleaners hoarded world wide. I am desperately trying to maintain my optimistic self and believe in people. It is harder and harder every moment. The adage holds, as citizens trying to live each day, reaching out to one person at a time is feasible, reaching out with love and kindness, caring and controlling tempers is essential. It is possible with some self discipline, understanding and learning to love. Throw away hatred. I can dream can’t I? Be Well all.

 

The news today reports huge reductions in pollution levels this last week with roads and highways void of traffic and pollution producing machines, those that  we have become terribly addicted to and those of which we cannot let go. 

Images, map March 1-19, 2019 and map March 1-19, 2020

Will we learn, can we learn and do everything possible to keep these levels at bay once we get back on the road? If we can not let go of our 4 wheeled autos and everyone wanting to be in the same place at the same time then we will return to the same high pollution levels. Instead, it is imperative that we do learn and stop destroying our earth with our selfish ways.

The URL to the NYT pollution reduction report;

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/22/climate/coronavirus-usa-traffic.html

When we get to the point of recovery opportunity, it will take intense public education jammed full of directives on how to lower pollution individually, family wide, community wide and world wide much like the messages and directives about hygiene methods to beat the COVID-19 Virus. I am not proposing anything beyond what most of us should be  thinking. Convincing the government, the public, all businesses, all of our institutions and all else to comply will be a long road. Work from home for those who can. Repackage goods without all of that plastic and tape and use recyclable boxes and more measures to be taken in that realm. Oh, if packaging could be simple and not necessitate a technical course in physics and mechanics to open a package of pencils or hand wipes or nuts and bolts. 

Furthermore, in the recovery phase we are all responsible to make sure those in special need have food, shelter and jobs. About jobs, hiring those unemployed to do the jobs that will, down a long road, lead to status quo. Health aids, crop pickers and packers, child care, school aids in the classroom whether these are in school buildings or online classrooms and so much more. It is an overwhelming prospect but we have come this far and need to remain centered, optomistic and focused that there is a future to the good. 

No more rambling on my part. Go take a walk, exercise, wash, disinfect, and thank every worker that you see, health services, food services, delivery services and let’s make human beings deserving of the name Human as in Humanity. 

“About face”, this is our new emergency directive. Not news, we are all redirecting our lives to stay healthy and assure the health of those around.  Lately people have been messaging their boredom, their cabin fever and trying to cope with habit changes and life style changes. “Think positive” is my response. We have no choice but to continue to live every day to the fullest.  For us, there are just the two of us in our motorhome to consider.  So it is a bit easier to plan our days. For me, this is the time to do things beyond the “pale” so to speak.  Paul and I are doing some things together, exercising, walking, cooking, and we plan to read books and *poetry to each other, play scrabble, re learn cribbage and Zoom link to friends and family. We will try Zoom group happy hours with friends in the RV park.  I am savoring more books to ingest, more films to watch, hobbies to catch up with and projects to continue or begin. (I intend to write  my blogs featuring books, music and movies I have enjoyed to share and to have you share back. During a crisis like this focusing on favorite things helps us through)

I do not loose sight that we are among the lucky ones, having traveled (Our Panama tour cut short but that is trivial in light of this crisis.)

Images;  Panama Canal traffic                  Embra Village dancing, beautiful people

We do not have any illness in our greater family to date, we can meet our bills, order food and more on line, we have a roof over our heads and too many items of clothing too wear.  So many do not or cannot see their loved ones in a nursing home, hospital or out of town or access adequate medical care. Many have a houseful of youngsters at home without their friends nearby. We can send money to help causes, we can inquire of our neighbors as to any needs or problems they have. Each of us must let go of our former ways of thinking and start new habits. Perhaps start that diet they have intended to follow, call people you have meant to call for so long, catch up on the many things we” intend to do someday.” It is also the time to do things on a whim that you have rejected so many times.  Heck, live it up, have your favorite food for breakfast–pizza, steak, ice cream, chocolate, champagne, wear that old pair of jeans or sweater that you are embarrassed to wear “in public” let down your hair and dance fast and furious in place. 

*Look for Knopf Publishers annual poem a day in April and sign up at

http://knopfdoubleday.com/knopf-poetry-signup/

This favorite poem; “Daffodils” by William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

My Message in a Minute blogs are back I have been so busy that I have not taken time to send my short and hopefully sweet blogs for many weeks.  Here I go again and as always welcome your feedback and comments.

I am addicted to keeping lists and data bases. Several of my blogs have been devoted to sharing some of my favorite reads with you and enjoying your feedback with titles of your favorites as well. Thus another installment.

My lists include (dating back to 2005 or so) books I have read and I choose to  occasionally share my favorites with you in trade for your favorites. I am now starting my books I have read, volume #6.  Each log gets so long that I add new lists favoring the genres of Historical fiction and literature, classics, poetry and non fiction on themes of biography, autobiography, medicine, civilization, history some fantasy and mystery.

Here are a few titles to share;

The History of Rain by Niall Williams, a woman, destined to be bedridden in her father’s home reads through his library of over 3000 books, sharing the titles and stories related them to stories to keep you glued to the page.

The Lost Girls of Paris, by Pam Jenoff; it is a tough read set in the UK and Paris during WWII. It features, bravery, espionage, Nazi torture, relationships, ego, loss, gain, love and hate. 

Two by Nicole Krauss;

Forest Dark: a Novel and The History of Love, a novel

An Autobiography, Dust Tracks on a Road by Nora Neale Hurston written in 1942. What a story, what a life she led. Always a favorite author of mine.

When we Believed in Mermaids by Barbara O’Neal.

A new addition, a discovery and my current read; A Giver of Stars, by Jojo Moyes; Set in Depression in a small Kentucky Town. It follows five woman who take on the challenge of setting up a traveling library under the edict of Eleanor Roosevelt. They travel, by horseback in a town of Misogynists, tough times and rise slowly to the challenge defying the nasty leaders of the town. Disasters and perils are non stop but their will and strength rules in the end. As several of the other stories listed here, many books are mentioned in the book.

Next read for me? Off to my data base list entitled Books I want to read and my wish list on Amazon Kindle. Too many books, too many films and docus, too many countries to cover in a lifetime. Making choices is a challenge. 

Please, let me know what you are about. 

A busy busy life: I have been traveling and filling my days with wonders and not writing Blogs. I am back and hope you enjoy my brief and hopefully to-the-point messages. This one is appropriately named About Time;

1. that I am back to blogging

2. The topic, a film named “About Time.”

The film copyright is 2013 but we just came across the film and enjoyed the 2 hour 3 minute film, a coming of age tale of relationships, time travel and romance. The production is filled with color, characters of all ilks and set in the UK, Ireland and Scotland. Red haired people, dark haired people, blondes, fab sets and costumes to admire,  babies, humor, moms and dads, girl friends and boyfriends, it is a delight. The film comes of age as it rolls forward keeping up with the coming of age of the characters. Check it out and get your popcorn popped, your feet up and enjoy, forgetting all of the cares of our crazy world. 

URL; https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2194499/

Another periodic entry with my take on a book to share. The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates, a wonderful, tough but down to earth writer  (Between the World and Me, an Autobiography and many more.)

In a brief overview, the book is engrossing , tragic, well researched, describing slave labor and treatment; the unwarranted  torture of communities and families being harshly split asunder (still happening today) and enlightening the reader about the philosophy and methodology of conduction, working to set people free via the Underground Railroad. As usual, Coates in his narrative is brilliant, dense and requires great pause to take it all in. Read it with care, the narrative is fully packed, the characters and their treatment stays in my mind even after finishing the book. 

Briefly The “surrealistic” story is set in the pre–Civil War South, “concerning a superhuman protagonist named Hiram Walker who possesses photographic memory, but who cannot remember his mother and is able to transport people over long distances by using a power known as “conduction” which can fold the Earth like fabric.” (Wikipedia; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Water_Dancer).

I remember, as a kid growing up in Rochester, NY there was a house, a large colonial style house with “secrets.”

 

We knew it was haunted, no live person seemed to live there. We crept by it carefully but bravely. As we grew older we heard stories of the Cobb house being a refuge for the underground railroad which we understood to be a road to freedom for freed slaves in the 1800’s. (the process referred to as “conducting” in the book). We took those facts for granted never questioning the tough process of making this a reality. I thought I knew something about their methods until finishing this startling novel. How juvenile I was in my thinking. The process was thoroughly developed, people were trained without their even knowing exactly what some of their sufferings of torture, stress, uprooting and expectations were to mean. Harriet (Tubman) is quietly introduced as she played her huge role in the stories of rescue. 

Reading this book takes concentration, perseverance, a vivid and visual imagination and will “haunt” the reader after its completion. 

Further reading: The Underground Railroad by, Colson White and other titles obythis author.

The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier. Underground Railroad by William Still.

A tale of great entertainent:

Dateline; Sun Oct 27; Place, the Gus S. Wortham Theater Center, To hear the Houston Opera Company perform, Saul, an Oratorio by George Frederic Handel (1685-1759). Our arrival was in perfect time to hear the pre talk, giving us an overview of the history of the oratorio, the tasks, problems and solutions faced in the mounting of the Oratorio and some about the singers and dancers and painting a picture of the brilliance of it all.  What a winner this theatre experience was. The Oratorio SAUL by Handel was composed in 1738 and is his telling of the Biblical tale after David  slayed the Giant Goliath.  the performance lasted 3 hours with 1 intermission. We sat in the loges on raised stools perched 4 rows from railing edge. We could see the full orchestra with  continuo instruments, organ, Celeste, and more. The Overture was in 4 parts; Allegro, Largo, Allegro, Minuetto with the curtain going up at end of the 2^nd movement. The scene was glorious, chock full of the 40 chorus members and 7 dancers sitting on a huge banquet table laden with a celebratory feast and silently doing a “ballet” in their places with hand and body movements, each person sustaining many different poses. How colorful, charming, humorous and fetching. The whole performance was filled with dance, movement and action, not a concert performance and not a fully fledged traditional operatic performance. Two large rectangular white clothed tables become stage characters throughout the performance; placed horizontally, vertically, horizontally with space between for action. The final act was done on a bare stage but covered with black sand that is actually an insulation product we found out from the lead playing SAUL, Baritone Christopher Purves in post concert talk.  The stage is not flat but raked at quite a big angle. David portrayed by Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen with an impressive bio including an intensive musical background and Jewish Studies. His Contra Tenor voice is rich and stunning!  The costumes are reminiscent of Handel’s time not Biblical-like garb.They are colorful and then change to all black garb or all white, enhancing the drama.  The 7 wonderful dancers performed innovative, award winning modern dance. The long performance was flawless and beautiful as was the singing, dancing and acting. Saul depicts the story after the slaying of Goliath and a humbled David, an angered King Saul, his son Jonathan and Saul’s daughters and the love, hate and mental anguish suffered by the King and his family and followers. It is hard to summarize properly. Enjoy a synopsis at:  https://www.houstongrandopera.org/saul?gclid=CjwKCAjwo9rtBRAdEiwA_WXcFiL1xuiOZnezwQCa0jPY10EfezmO3t7asrFVrOHWCsFhE1rhIJcyEhoCUEEQAvD_BwE

We had the thrill of a post performance talk by the Baritone Christopher Purves, playing Saul, a brilliant performer as were all of the characters.We will be floating on the memories of this performance for weeks to come and forever more. I can’t share the photos I took, they are secured as I found out and I can understand the reasoning.  However, if you follow this URL hopefully 4 images will appear, 2 of the Paley staircase, one of the curtain call and Christopher Purves speaking. https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO-ACISLIGJOPJmnVMl7fwDqif-hf7pCSXC5Bw44xFe7psOswHOmmjeUuyrVKTPNg?key=ZmNfUXd3OVZiMWZ2eWVhZ3hCVHdWcG1RNzladUhR

We were delighted to see the beautiful staircase enhanced by Albert Paley’s sculptures. He is the Metal artist from Rochester, NY, our home town and done in 1987. What a joyous day. 

Yes, last April 24th I fell on a crumbly cement walk and broke my good hip, the left. It happened in Van Horn, TX and I was hustled to El Paso for surgery and rehab. (not new news just a recap for reference.) Paul and I are domiciled in Texas, therefore, that is where we are registered to vote, licensed to drive and the rest. At April’s end I was discharge from the rehab hospital and we drove directly to the DMV to renew. Paul’s application process was quick and was renewed on the spot. He had prefilled out the form making it ready to go. My form was on the rig, forgotten, so I filled one out anew. 

My name was called before I could finish so the woman started filling the form out at her desk. Then she looked up and in a mean kind of tone said, “I see you need a walker, your application will state you cannot drive until you have a driver’s test in Texas. As we were heading east for months, I was devastated. I hobbled out of the DMV bemoaning the fact that I will face a driver’s test sans written test at least.  I have been driving for 60 years and drive a truck; 36′ motor home with tow. But bureaucracy was starring me in the face. The woman did not even smile or say anything nice, just; “next.” All summer I have lost sleep worrying about the driving test so far away even though a few years ago I took the test in the motor home with high praise from the tester in Livingston, TX our home state. Here we are back in Livingston 

 

before the renewal deadline of course. Off to the DMV we went, Paul at the Jeep controls. It only took an hour but seemed much longer.

The staff person, Brittanie (who sports an Irish sounding first and last name stated that she “doesn’t know why mom spelled it this way and furthermore, I have no Irish family in my background. My parentage is German and Cajun”) took a look at the situation and at my agile movements and said this is nonsense. She asked how well I could move and I rattled off several of the dances that I do regularly: Salsa, Zumba, modern dance, aerobics, line dance, Jitterbug, The Twist . She insisted that “she can’t dance” and was impressed by my well being. I offered to give her Salsa lessons  after we finished. She giggled and said, not me, no, not me.” Off she went to call Austin (headquarters) and after 15 minutes returned with permission to deep-six the driver test. I now am a pleased and much relieved licensed driver with a temporary license, sporting a terrible photo as license photos are destined to be. I drove with a big smile on my face. 

Both of us have been sharing our stories with you as we traipse southward via Motor home on our beloved Natchez Trace Parkway offering such an enticing history and sites to explore.

Entering from Nashville heading south, passing mile 65 on the Trace, it happened. We were deep into our Audible book (book #14) by Laurie King and her irresistible stories of Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell. This one entitled The Murder of Mary Russell.

Paul was the wheel when he got a message on the dashboard: stop engine, check transmission; So unexpected since we had just been in Red Bay, the home of Tiffin RV, to have simple shade and awning problems fixed.  Pull over we did, but not quite able to get fully off the road. We called Coachnet, our excellent road emergency-response group. After many hours, they summoned up a tow truck on the way from 75 miles south. Meanwhile at least a dozen passers-by stopped to ask if we needed help. Some even stopped again on their way home up the Trace. So kind. A ranger and then a police officer came to help, waiting until the tow truck arrived. The tow could not handle our big rig and reversed his journey after accompanying us along with Hugh, the officer to a safe and lovely rest stop called Hurricane Creek 

(at the slow pace of about 5 MPH.)

We slept in comfort on our motor home and awoke the next morning to await the proper tow truck. Parker Trucks Co. with owner Ricky and John aboard arrived, hooked us up and drove us to Magnolia Diesel service in Columbus, Mississippi.

What a team they were as we arrived after the drive with just some jumble aboard. A free day ahead–a Sunday (breakdowns always occur on a weekend). In our Jeep, we took off to tour Columbus not expecting much. HA. Tennessee Williams was born here and his home serves as the welcome center. There are many other wonderful sights; Blues was born in this town the stars recording and playing in Catfish alley (named after the odor of catfish cooking nearby.) Several late 18th and early 19th century homes are open for touring,

Many churches are found here and a lovely synagogue with an unexpected  history found on this First Methodist Church plaque.

Congregation B’nai Israel in Columbus MS

as well as beautiful old neighborhoods with decades-old homes and buildings still beautifully maintained. The downtown is colorful and wonderful; population about 760,000 people  in 2019. Wow. A discovery and delightful place to find. We even conversed with a woman who had attended The University of Rochester, our home town. Small world it is.

Relic, where is the barber shop?

Statue depicting the Confederate State

 

We eventually returned to our rig, did some cleaning and straightening, had a great dinner and read into the night hoping the Diesel Service staff can get us on the road again as we are anxious to continue westward. What fun we have with good the bad and the people who make it all wonderful.

It is Monday, an addendum the technician had diagnosed the problem, a lack of communication between the Throttle Control Module and the engine. We don’t yet know the cause and await further information. Yesterday was warm and sunny, today it is mid 60’s and wet. But cozy and happy are we in our move-able home.