Happy Anniversary, Grammy and Granddaddy!

On this day some years ago, my sweet grandparents were married in the little church just opposite of their current home.  I love to think of their beautiful love story.  My room in their house... (yes, I said "my room." It's purple which was my favorite color when they moved into their house.)... overlooks the churchyard.  And I love imagining what their wedding day was like.  I feel certain my grandmother looked absolutely beautiful and I'm sure my granddad was very handsome.  Their life was so full of promise and has proved to be very blessed not because of the location of the wedding, but because of their commitment to loving each other.  Still, I sometimes think that I would like someday to be married in that same little church.  

With love to Grammy and Granddaddy on their special day.  Just, Margaret

Waiting

I've been reading Rumi.  Some of you out their may already know that if you pay attention to what's "in my carryon." [smile] My parents gave me the book along with some candy hearts for Valentine's Day.  And the night that it arrived (which was actually several days after Valentine's Day) I just so excited to flip it open to a random page and just began reading.  Everything I had heard of Rumi up to this point was kinda shrouded in mystery.  The people I knew who really enjoyed reading his words, often said I should read him, but never really why.  I'm coming toward an understanding of what they meant.  I always find it remarkable when I connect with an author's words, especially words that were written thousands of years before.  There is something that feels so personally relevant in every passage I've read out of the book so far.  I find myself continually feeling like the words written on the page are ones that I have always intuitively felt, but never able to express.  A real union of souls... 

In the midst of reading Rumi on Sunday during some Sabbath time, I began to think about the coming of Lent.  (Let me illuminate the whole picture:  I was also listening to some music through my faithful Macbook- a mix tape with a little of this and that.  Anyway Matthew Sweet's song I've Been Waiting came on and I thought of Lent.)  And without beginning to sound so preachy (I can't deny that it is in the genes, but I can choose not to indulge [smile])... I thought about how Lent is about waiting, anticipation of something, i.e. Easter, to come.  Its also associated with a time of self-denial, but thats really the part of Lent I can never quite master.  I don't mean being committed to giving up sweets or some TV show, ect.  I mean that I can't master the feeling of self-denial, which I usually think of as being quite negative. 

I've had a lot of experience with waiting.  There are some things in my life that I feel like I've been waiting for for 25 years.  And I guess I could, after all this time, fall easily into doubt... believing that because it (falling in love or figuring out what I'd like to do with the rest of my life or finally finding a place to live for longer than just a few years at a time) hasn't happened yet it never will.   I just can't wait, even in Lent, without looking toward what is to come, Easter, with hope.  Some may consider this optimism to be naive, but I feel blessed to be able to look at life this way.  Hoping and trusting God to guide me through all these experiences is very exciting and it helps me to live more fully into the present.  That brings me back to Rumi, who I feel must have also felt this way waiting for those moments of epiphany, fulfillment of hope, for little Easters.  He writes, "The Most Alive Moment":

The most living moment comes when 

those who love each other meet each

other's eyes and in what flows

between them then.  To see your face

in a crowd of others, or alone on a

frightening street I weep for that.

Our tears improve the earth.  The

time you scolded me, your gratitude, 

your laughing, always your qualities 

increase the soul.  Seeing you is a 

wine that does not muddle or numb, 

We sit inside the cypress shadow

where amazement and clear thought

twine their slow growth into us.    

Just waiting, Margaret

1:6.5 billion or 1:2500

The subject of this post is slightly out of date I guess, but as I just listened to the This American Life Valentine's Day episode it fits what I was thinking about today on my walk to campus this morning.  Anyway the show was all about "finding love" in some capacity "somewhere out there", including a story about children finding friendship in the midst of a really difficult situation, a love story across language barriers, and a really funny selection from one of Mike Birbiglia's comedy acts.  My favorite bit was the very first story about a bunch of Harvard mathematicians who work out the formula for the possibility of finding girlfriends.  I, a romantic at heart, felt such a serge of contradiction while listening to their highly rational process and seeing the reason in their approach.  And my heart went out to the poor woman who with all her added qualifications for her possible mate was reduced to 1:0.  It made me think of this article I read in some newspaper supplement here that advised the reader to write out all the qualities she might expect in a mate and all the qualities that really would turn her off.  Then it said look at each list and set out with the goal in mind of finding someone that will most likely possess at least one of the annoying bits and lack at least one of the crucial bits.  It does seem like a pretty realistic plan and would probably open up the woman's possibilities who was mentioned in the piece.  Maybe she could then at least hope for 1:50.  [smile]  This American Life is always thought-provoking and this episode was great.  If you missed listening to the show, make sure to follow the above link or download it from iTunes. 

On another note, the English spring seems to be emerging over the last few days.  Warmer weather, sun, and lots of flowers beginning to appear through the earth so recently covered in snow.  It almost feels like I'm in Georgia.

Just, Margaret

Happy Valentine's Day!

As promised on Valentine's Day an excerpt from a love letter written by my great-grandfather to my great-grandmother while he was serving in the US Army during the First World War.


I am crazy to see you. You dont know how often I think about you. I love you with all my heart and hope I can soon be with you again. Well I better ring off[,] be good now and Please dont worry I am always yours[.]
                                             Morris
                                             love & kisses
                                             5 oclock

And now for a little fun, check out this silly love song from the Barenaked Ladies and one of my new favorites by The Weepies.  

Just, Margaret

You've got mail!

One of my favorite times each day is when Bettye, our office Business Manager, goes to get the mail. Maybe this sounds kind of silly, but I always hope for a letter. And I guess I'm spoiled because rarely does a week go by without hearing from a UMW group or my grandparents or my mom or a member of my church in Georgia. Today I received a letter from both my mom and the Kelly's, members of my church. I had to smile because for a second it was like being at home. Both were fun to read. Ms. June shared with me about some books she was reading and my mom shared this poem about dancing. She said it reminded her of my adventures in New York City. I won't share the whole poem, but here are my favorite parts. It's called "Cast All Your Votes for Dancing."

Keep squeezing drops of the Sun

From your prayers and work and music

And from your companion's beautiful laughter...

You are with the Friend now.

Learn what actions of yours delight Him,

What actions of yours bring freedom

And love...

Now, sweet one,

Be wise.

Cast all your votes for Dancing!

Just dancing, Margaret

Two happy fools

I've been trying all day to think of an April fool's joke to put on my blog. But I've not figured out one that people who don't necessarily know me would understand and there is definitely no way I could work up one as intricate as Gmail's this morning. Custom time stamping for emails... talk about an ethical dilemma! I will admit that it did take me a few minutes to get what was going on. So, Google, you got me! I thought instead of trying to play tricks I would share with you one of the reasons I love April Fools Day.

Fifty-five years ago today my Grammy and Granddaddy were married. They are still together today and I think they would be proud of the title I've given this post. In many ways they have been fools in love. Whenever I visit, I can tell that their affection for each other has grown with each passing year. Their love has a great story... one that I've always loved to hear. I'm not going to share all of it now, but I do want to share with you one of my favorite anecdotes. This encounter happened not too long before they were engaged. My granddaddy, Elick, paid a visit to my grandmother, Margaret, in her hometown of Broxton. Margaret was engaged to be married... dress purchased, invitations ordered, and announcement already in the local newspaper. Elick knew of the engagement, in fact he was in a pretty steady relationship too, but he decided to visit anyway. Margaret did agree to go out for a drive with him around the county. They stopped on the local college campus to talk. And this is my favorite part-- I can hear my grandmother tell me this part of the story right now. She told Elick, "My mother always said, 'you can't have your cake and eat it too.'" With that she decided to call off her engagement to Ross Lily and Elick decided to end his relationship too, the rest as they say is history.

My grandparents were married on April first in the small church next door to my grandmother's childhood home. And if you were wondering, their were no jokes played at the altar. Margaret wore the dress she had already decided upon and Elick stood next to her as the grateful bridegroom. During those fifty-five years, they started a family of which I was the first grandchild and eventually settled back in Broxton across from my grandmother's home and the special church where they began their lives. I love them... I'm sure you can tell. Happy Anniversary, Grammy and Granddaddy.

Happy to be among a family of fools, Margaret.

Thanks to Benjamin Chia for letting me share your fun photo of old playing cards through Flickr, titled Le Forgotten.