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Showing posts from June, 2024

Grief

Sometimes the news comes quick. Sometimes the news comes slow. No matter how or when it comes, grief travels in the wake of the news. Grief is heavy, weighty, a burden, especially when it involves someone deeply loved. Grief is not meant to be carried alone. It’s too heavy and may last a while—and that’s ok. That’s what family and friends are for, to share the load. Jesus stood outside the tomb of his friend and wept but He did not weep alone. It was a deep, human moment. “ Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted ” (Matt 5:4). If anyone knows how we feel in grief, it’s Him. But His grief did not linger long, as at the mention of his name, Lazarus came forth. We are not meant to dwell in grief, but should leave room enough for it. Let it run its course. Like the song says, “ Every Storm Runs Out Of Rain .” Another song says, “ The storm We will dance as it breaks The storm It will give as it takes And all of our pain is washed away Don't cry or be afraid Some things...

Vincent and Family

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Sunflower, Nightflower

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 Playing with my camera settings. Taken around 11:15 pm

Big Hard Sun

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Why I Never Get Asked

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Rays from the Backyard Sunflower patch

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My Name

I  don’t know when I became aware of my name, but “Jamie” just never sat well with me. It just didn’t sound right though my mother, my Memaw and two aunts persisted. To this day, one of my aunts “slip,” but with a wink and a giggle as I shoot the side eye, letting her get away with calling me Jamie one more time. Scottish in spirit, but skittish to me. “ Jim” never connected with me either, until I worked with a professor from South Africa whose pronunciation made the name sound elegant. He’s the only one who never received a word of correction as I waited for him to say it again. There’s a aire of nobility when addressing Conrad’s young British sailor Jim or a Starfleet Captain Jim, but it does not sound as pleasant if I must answer to it. My paternal grandparents tried, but my recollection is they did not approve of “Jim” or “Jamie” either, and so called me by my given name, “James.” Perhaps they were the affectionate source of my awareness.  I am named after my father to th...

Welcome, June

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  There’s a song that starts, “June came upon us much too soon . . . “. I’ve posted it below. One of my favorites.  Time waits for no one. Once again, the month took off without me, ready or not. I’m not excited about doing a rush job on my calendar, but it’s done.  Had an interesting moment last week. During a routine doctor visit, my doctor did not like some things I was describing so he stopped what he was doing and sent me to the ER to check for heart attack. Long story short, nothing was found. I’m just overworked and tired. I hate I had to hire a guy to help me with yard work, but I gotta take care of myself.  Not getting much reading or writing done but doing what I can when I am able.  On we go.