Herman Melville

American author Herman Melville was born on August 1, 1819. He became a literary success while still in his twenties, even publishing a best-seller. Then his popularity declined to the point that he was virtually a forgotten man. He died in near-obscurity in 1891.

During the twentieth century his works gained recognition and great acclaim, Moby Dick considered one of the world's great works. Billy Budd was not published until 1924.

I particularly enjoyed Omoo and Typee. Following is an excerpt from Melville that you probably haven't read.

Love was first begot by Mirth and Peace in Eden, when the world was young. The man oppressed with cares, he cannot love; the man of gloom finds not the god. So, as youth, for the most part, has no cares and knows no gloom, therefore, ever since time did begin, youth belongs to Love. Love may end in grief and age, and pain and need, and all other modes of human mournfulness; but Love begins in joy. Love's first sigh is never breathed till after Love hath laughed. Love laughs first, and then sighs after.

--from Pierre, 1852

Herman Melville 1819 - 1891 RIP

Truth

August Sixth

Welcome home, Euna Lee and Laura Ling!

August 6, 1945 Enola Gay and "Little Boy" paid a visit to Hiroshima. It signalled the end of WW II, but exacted a terrible toll. This will probably be discussed until the end of time. War always exacts a terrible price.


Lucille Ball was born in Jamestown, NY on August 6, 1911. Everybody loved Lucy.







Lucille Desiree Ball 1911 - 1989 RIP

[and Happy Birthday to great granddaughter Alexis]

Summer Reading

For my birthday, my eldest stepson sent me four Elmer Kelton books. I enjoy a good "Western," but have never considered the genre my favorite. BBBH, on the other hand, has read literally tons of them, along with an eclectic mishmash of tons of other things. (Did I ever tell you that she is an avid reader?) It won't surprise you if I tell you that she grabbed my birthday gift and started devouring them. At this point, I have finished two of them, she has read them all.

To the point, Carl has directed me a few times to an author with whom I was not familiar, as is the case with Elmer Kelton. And I cannot recall an instance in which he has given me a 'bum steer,' so to speak. A couple of other writers he has introduced me to are Mark Helprin and Cormac McCarthy. I believe the first McCarthy I read was All the Pretty Horses, the sixth of his ten published novels. It was not the last of his that I read. The Helprin introduction was by way of Winter's Tale, followed by A Soldier of the Great War.

Thanks, Carl, for directing me to some great reading!

Let's Play This Game

Picture meme.
Things you buy that you really like (must have).
Comments limited to six or fewer words.

1. --and choosey grandpas, too.

2. Beverage of choice.

3. Six each morning.

4. To smear jpb on.

5. some in my pocket.

6. costly, but feet love 'em.

7. no substitutes, please.

8. each night before bed.

9. 'nuff said.

Aw, c'mon. Play along, let me know where your gameboard is.

What is it All About, Anyway?

(I had already written this post when I discovered that Silver had bestowed this award on me. Now, there is something that makes this endeavor worthwhile! It was accompanied with this line: For Downright Sweetness. That really is too kind, and I appreciate it.)

I started blogging ten months ago with little idea as to what it was all about or what I was getting into. I guess I thought it would develop into something, that I might find a "theme" or at the least, I might find my "voice."

So as you know if you have looked at a few of my posts, it has developed into a potpourri without theme and often without apparent direction. Perhaps I lack interests, or I have too many interests; or it may be that I am simply not creative enough or disciplined enough to do the kind of thing so many bloggers do. There are some fantastic things going on out there in the blogosphere.

[Pictorial hilarity? try this. Like bridges and roads and the places they'll take you? go here. How about serious spiritual guidance wrapped up in delicious satire? perhaps this is your thing. Like coffee? these folks roast and vend organic coffees, but the site provides interesting info about this best of all beverages.
Crazy funny? Real life is funnier than your imagination. Or check out this post for several other good ones!]

But I am having fun, and that is after all a worthy goal. If I am the only one who derives pleasure from the endeavor, so be it.

Stream-of-consciousness is my style, if indeed I have a style.
At least I chose well when I picked a name for the blog!

What might be accomplished with bits of string just a little longer!

[and Happy Birthday to daughter-in-law Kim]

It's Not Rocket Science

Pastor Keith's message this morning centered around the concept that we sometimes make life more complicated than it is. And we make our walk with God more difficult than He intended it to be.

The scripture lesson was Micah 6:1 - 8.

1. Our walk with God shouldn't be a burden. Sometimes we make it difficult by placing unrealistic expectations on ourselves. "How have I burdened you?" (v.3)

2. Our walk with God should be freeing. (v.4) The Israelites had been freed physically from Egypt, but they were still enslaved mentally. Are we spiritually freed, but still mentally enslaved? Perhaps still wanting the "joy" of the world instead of a freeing walk with God?

3. Our walk with God does have requirements. We cannot earn salvation. It is a gift of God. But our walk with God requires us to "act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with the Lord." (v.8) Salvation is free, but we must put one foot in front of the other and keep moving, even as Israel had to exercise movement to obtain freedom.

A. Acting justly is to be truthful, honest and sincere.
B. To love mercy is to show kindness above expectations of compassion and love. Mercy is compassion in action. It is not about giving of possessions, but about giving of oneself.
C. To walk humbly before God is to recognize the sufficiency of God and the insufficiency of self. Literal meaning: Bow low to walk with God.

Little Girls

Two of my favorite little girls when I was a little boy were Little Lulu and Little Audrey. No, no. Not the cartoon Little Audrey who was a knock-off of Little Lulu, but rather the one who lived in the '30s and found everything to be funny, no matter how disastrous the circumstances.

Little Lulu, a cartoon character, was created by Marjorie H. Buell. Fun times.

Little Audrey just laughed and laughed.

Little Audrey's brother saw a quarter in the road and ran out to get it. Just then a steamroller came along and rolled over him. Little Audrey laughed and laughed, because she knew it was a nickel, not a quarter.....

Little Audrey told her little brother to pull the pin, count to ten, then throw the hand grenade. Then Little Audrey laughed and laughed, because she knew her brother couldn't count to ten....

Little Audrey and her mother went into a chemist's shop, and saw a puddle. Her mother asked what it was, and the chemist said :"That's H20." Little Audrey laughed and laughed, because she knew it was K9P....

Little Audrey and her mother were going down the highway in the car. The door flew open and her mother fell out. Little Audrey just laughed and laughed, because she knew her mother had on her light fall coat....

Little Audrey was standing on the sidewalk crying; a policeman asked her what was the matter. She said, I can't find my Papa. The policeman said, There he is across the street. Little Audrey ran across the street in front of a bus and was squashed flat. The policeman just laughed and laughed, because he knew the man wasn't Little Audrey's Papa....

[and Happy Birthday to one of my favorite little girls, my baby sister, Ilene, who is no longer a little girl... and I just laughed and laughed]