Modern Life. Here’s what flows around mine.
One son, over in Rome, a newly minted and certified teacher of English as a Foreign Language, waiting on word about a job in Vung Tau, Vietnam. Reading up on the job and the area, I’m sort of tempted to put in an application myself, to tell the truth.
Another son in another major southern city, adapting to a new job and flourishing to the point that we all (Me, Michael, son’s grandparents) sit around contemplating, with satisfaction, the fact that if times get rough, roles have reversed to the point that we could ask him for money, if needed.
(Note: parents of kids on the 5 or 6-year plan for college. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it’s just what’s needed.)
Two little boys, just back from the truck race in Talladega with their daddy, falling asleep in their bunks. One probably dreaming of Star Wars and Legos, the other of taxicabs, trains and buses.
Daughter, just about finished with her run as the Mother Superior in the school production of Lilies of the Field. It was a challenge: in a new school, making adjustments, given the shocking gift of this part, having to do it in a German accent, no less. She acquited herself very well, and I must say, the play was lovely. I wonder how often it is performed these days? Even though this was a public school, it’s certainly a natural for a Catholic school.
All the performers did a wonderful job, the sets were marvelous, the other technical aspects of the production were flawless, and the moment at the end of the first act when Homer Smith and the sisters trade songs – Homer sings Joshua Fit the Battle and Shenandoah and the nuns sang, in lovely a cappela harmony, a chanted Ave Maria, with Homer joining them at the end – was terrifically moving and marvelously done.
People are interesting, more interesting that you could ever anticipate. Make some and find out.