We went to the Sheboygan Symphony at the Stephanie Wiell Center tonight. It was a wonderful concert. It was "Mediterranean Night" but was led off by a fanfare to Sheboygan that was written and arranged by Char Zwifel who works at the library in the Children's Room. It was quite good and I would imagine we will be hearing it again.

Nice evening. I am glad we decided to get season tickets this year.

Mary

I don't remember if I told you that Bobbie, Jim and I shoot pistol every Friday at the Rhine/Plymouth Field and Stream Club that Bobbie and I belong to. Bobbie and I are in a league. I had been shooting with my Colt Trooper revolver that I got as a present in my previous life. It is a heavy gun, almost an antique. I really like it but it is a revolver with double action and it has been misfiring quite a lot. Jim took it to a gunsmith to get it checked out - so last week I used Jim's Buck Mark and did pretty well. I actually shot in the 50s for one. I have been lucky to get thirty or so with the Trooper.

Dick and I went to Gander Mountain last Sunday and bought a Buck Mark Target 22 which we BOTH intend to use, if I can get Dick to the club.

Tonight, I shot it for the first time. I got 4 targets for tonight, two to test out with and two for league. The first was a bit low, the second a bit high. Then, fortunately for league, I got a 62. 5 in the black and the second was in the 50s somewhere. So I am a HAPPY camper.

I'll keep you informed.

Mary

It froze in many area of the county last night. We seemed OK. At least nothing I looked at seemed damaged. I am bringing in my hanging pots and cutting off the geraniums and vines. We will see if I can keep them through the winter. Last year some of my vines did survive the winter. Next year, I want more color anyway. It didn't get much over 50 degrees, but Chelsea and I went out and did some trimming on the hedge in the front yard. I want everything nice for the winter.

I've been thinking of my brother Matt lately. He was a poet, you know. He died when he was only 17 but he left us his poetry and some paintings too. After he died his friends did a concert so that his poems could be published and we have that book. I will share one of his poems with you. He never used captial letters.

THE DAY BEFORE I TOOK MY LEAVE

the day before i took my leave
the breath howled heavy in the tubes
and walls were thick and thin and red
and i kicked and moaned like life
the day before i took my leave
life had struck me in the face
i saw the seas of existance run
through the tunnels to my spark
my spark shined brightly in the darkness
darkness giving birth to dreams
i think i dreamed of what i'd be
where i'd go and what i'd see
what i'd do and who i'd love
i've loved many loved them true
ever since i left the room
i've seen I've felt i've cried i've heard
i've felt sadness joy and pain
i wonder...
would i be willing to go through it all again.

by Matt Deeley (my brother)


Mary

We had a very interesting Bible Study this morning. The group has been stuck on the first half of Mark 10 regarding marriage and divorce. Jesus seems so blunt there as to there being no divorce allowed, but I cannot imagine him being so unwavering that he would expect people in untenable situations to continue living together and I cannot accept that he would expect people to live alone all their lives if such a situation arises. He made us people who need people and people who love people. Loneliness is an awful thing.

Anyway we got some answers and will be moving on to the second half next week.

We are going to see MASH tonight. Dinner at Ninos.

Have a great evening

Mary

Selkies or Silkies or Seal People exist in many Celtic Legends. Mermaids are also part of the seal people legend. I imagine that seals on the rocks often gave the look of a woman. The fact that Ireland is an island means that the people were closely tied to the sea so sea creatures became a natural source of myth.

Scotland was actually the source of the Silkie or Selkie. These were creatures, gentle in nature who became men or women by night but seals by day. There is a beautiful haunting song called the Great Silkie about a soul carrier, who has a child by a mortal woman. Anyway, I am learning more as I go on and will share interesting bits as I find them.


Love

Mary

What a crazy world this is.

Yesterday, we at Blessed Trinity Church had such a wonderful celebration of Celtic Spirituality. We had a Mass that involved bagpipes, Irish Dancers, a Celtic Band and our own choir, (which I belong to) who really outdid ourselves. Fr. Mike Moran, our previous pastor, came to celebrate with us and it was so so good to see his loving self again. Such a warm wonderful sevice and I saw so many good Irish friends.

Then I come home and while checking the news, discover that Pope John Paul II has appointed 31 new cardinals. Wow, sound good. Ya Sure. Only ONE, count em is from the U.S. Isn't that a slap in the face.

Perhaps the world needs a good Irish Blessing.


If a fairy, or a man, or a woman
Hath overlooked thee,
There are three greater in heaven
Who will cast all evil from thee
Into the great and terrible sea.
Pray to them and to the seven anges of God,
And they will watch over thee.

Let the Trinity watch over thee from me.

Mary