To Begin Now Is When

Let may say, not again, but when

Now is Holy, Holy, Holy--that is,

To begin the now of no

End, when when is When

And when is wind, is

Holy, Holy, Holy, the first 

Ripple to begin in water,

First tick to move the

Pendulum to tock.

Is it now One, or is it

Naught, the first step through

A door, or is it zero and

Stillness at last answering...

When do beginnings

Start?

Today is the fifty year anniversary of my father's death.  This was such a breaking point in my life I feel I must observe it in some way.  For a while, I had planned to take off work on this day, but obligations kept me from observing the day as a personal holiday.  I wonder if my mother, brother, and sister are aware of this significant turning point in our lives.

My grandfather told me that on the morning after my father's death he looked into his yard and saw the rose bush had bloomed outside the window.  It was beautiful, he had noticed.

My father died fifty years ago on June 2, 1965.  The death notice for Laurell A. Gainer, a pharmacist, age 34.

William's soccer team won the championship of a tournament this past weekend!

Shoulder pads

On Friday evening we watched a family movie about an ordinary kid determined to play with Notre Dame football team.  William loved the football playing scenes and he imitated them all during the movie.  

At some point he changed into his football jersey, and after the movie was finished, I noticed that his shoulders had pads of some sort.  I said, "William, what are those pads on your shoulders?"  

"Socks," he said. 

While driving home from work today and I passed the office buildings and shopping mall in Tyson's corner, I suddenly thought of my best college friends and a single thought crossed my mind:  I wouldn't recognize who I've become--traveling as I was in a business suit from work as a government bureaucrat.

These startling words came to me, I suppose, because yesterday I attended a retirement ceremony for someone I've known at work for almost my entire time in my job.  She was retiring after 28 years, and I've been working for 27 years at the same agency....

Kate with Angelina

Yesterday I took Kate to a musical with Angelina ballerina, the mouse who loves ballet.  Kate was enthralled and applauded enthusiastically with the audience after each number.  Afterwards the actors met the children and gave autographs.

Kate pulled from her backpack her book about Angelina, and I asked Angelina to sign the inside cover.  Angelina asked for Kate's name and then wrote, "Kate, Thanks for coming to our show.  Angelina."

As we drove home, Kate asked me in awe,  "How did Angelina know how to spell my name, K-A-T-E."