Homesick, September 1982 - June 1984

“Twilight is stealing over the Sea,
Shadows are falling dark on the lea;
Borne on the night winds, voices of yore,
Come from the far-off shore.

Chorus:
Far away beyond the starlit skies,
Where the love-light never, never dies,
Gleameth a mansion filled with delight,
Sweet happy home so bright!

Voices of loved ones! Songs of the past!
Still linger round me, while life shall last
Sadly I wander, lonely I roam,
Seeking that far-off home.

Come in the Twilight, come, come to me!
Bringing some message, over the sea;
Cheering my pathway, while here I roam,
Seeking that far-off home.
--Aldine S. Kieffer

I heard this sung several times in western Ontario, by the five daughters of the director of the mission I served under. I was three days from home, as a car travels, and still seven hours south of my final destination. The rules of the mission had left me in a hairstyle to which I was unaccustomed and the inability to wear a large part of my wardrobe.

Wildflower: goldenrod

Bringing in the sheaves

Elise at Simply Recipes is hosting a round-up of custard recipes this weekend. I wish had had these several years ago, when our son's chewing skills regressed for three years, as a result of enlarged tonsils.* Custard may sound like an indulgence , but people who cook for those with chewing problems-- the very young, people with oral motor issues, and some elderly people-- may find the recipes particularly useful.

If people with Down syndrome ruled the world:

Check out this article by Dennis McGuire, of the Adult Down Syndrome Center of Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, Illinois. McGuire posits a world ruled by people with Down syndrome:

The purpose of this article is to give back some of what we have learned to the families and people with Down syndrome who have come to the Adult Down Syndrome Center and who have been so giving and open with us. If people understand more of the special talents people with Down syndrome have, they may be more able to help them use and develop these talents to improve their lives. We also wanted to reassure families of younger children with Down syndrome who are concerned about their child’s future that there is much to be optimistic about.

If you have, or have ever had, someone with Down syndrome in your life, you will enjoy this article! And smile. :-) (HT: Chewy Mom, via Between the Rinse and Spin Cycle.)

Saints

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Psalm 116:15

Yesterday on NPR's Fresh Air, Terry Gross interviewed singer/actor Vernel Bagneris who has just sold his apartment, and has been planning to move home to New Orleans. Half his belongings are already there. He had a difficult time speaking, toward the end. His sister is enroute to be with him in New York. His brother-in-law and nephew stayed home to ride out the hurricane, and have not been heard from.

Bagneris wrote the text for Rejoice When You Die, a book of photographs of New Orleans funeral processions.*

Terry asked him for a good example of New Orleans' music to close the program with. He, with tears in his voice, recommended "When the Saints Go Marching In," because "a lot of saints went marching home this week."

WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN

Oh when the saints go marching in,
Oh when the saints go marching in,
Oh Lord I want to be in that number,
Oh when the saints go marching in.

Oh when the sun refuses to shine,
Oh when the sun refuses to shine,
Oh Lord I want to be in that number,
When the sun refuses to shine.

Oh when the dead, in Christ shall rise,
Oh when the dead, in Christ shall rise,
Oh Lord I want to be in that number
When the dead, in Christ shall rise.

I have to say, amid the all the coverage of Hurricane Katrina this week, I had not thought of the deaths in this way: saints marching in.** When food and help finally arrived at the Superdome, I read reports of cries of "Thank you, Jesus," and praising God. Many of these survivors are fellow Christians.

*New Orleans created its own spin on the old tradition of military brass band funerals; traditional New Orleans funerals with music feature sad music (mostly dirges and hymns) on the way to the cemetery and happy music (hot jazz) on the way back. -- from Wikipedia

**I had forgotten the New Orleans' football team are the Saints.