Povey Prattle

THURSDAY  Yesterday saw me at the home of my Church friends Jack and Donna for a lovely thanksgiving gathering. We were Jack and Donna,  one of Jack's cousins with his partner, my friend Muriel - with her god-daughter Clare  (who is English but currently lives in Italy), and me. It was one of those fabulously un-hurried and relaxed meals, with lots of good conversation and laughter.  I was happy to have a new audience for some of my old  jokes. My next door neighbour is in the hospital, and has been for many weeks. A friend of hers from Detroit is living in the house and doing a great job in disposing of the large amounts of trash and junk in the house, as well as working wonders in  the car port area (which used to look like a junk yard).  My neighbour is a hoarder. The friend from Detroit is a bit of an odd duck.  She has a good heart, but she easily sees and takes offence when none is intended. I knew this woman would be alone for Tha...

Turkey and the fixings  Un-traditional Coconut Cake for dessert With thanks to my hosts,  Jack and Donna Chrisman

Thanksgiving is a sentimental holiday for America's white/ European population It's a sad day for the noble, wise, and deeply spiritual peoples who lived and loved here afore we Europeans arrived. And it cannot possibly be a super day for those loyal and faithful Americans whose ancestors arrived on these shores courtesy of slave ships. Just saying.       The big questions are  these:    (1) why do these images make we majority whites so uncomfortable?     (2) why do we ignore  African Americans and Native Americans  when we tell the biased and Eurocentric fables of our history, 

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My dog gets wildly excited and impatient when I announce that we will be going out in the car. She did so this morning, so much so that I could hardly fit her into her harness and leash. I said:  "Penne you need to know that you are not the centre of the Universe". She did not believe me.

I count Grace Jones as one of my dearest friends.  We met when I was the Rector at St. Stephen's in Pittsfield, MA  (1984-2000).  She ministered with me as the Junior Warden of that parish. Grace moved away from Pittsfield to work at SUNY  (State University of New York) in Oneonta NY where I was privileged to visit with her. Then she became the President at what is now called USU Eastern ( a State College in Utah). Now she is the President at Three Rivers Community College in Norwich CT.  I have visited with her there two or three times. I respect Grace for her wonderful leadership and service in higher education. But more than that I cherish her as a friend and confidante. We talked on the 'phone for about forty five minutes this evening.  What a blessing! I am also grateful for her daughter Libby, Libby's husband Sam, and their children GiGi and Theo. I officiated at Sam and Libby's wedding, and baptized GiGi and Theo.  This family no...