Ah, my...

Not too many years ago, it seems, I would never have imagined that this time would come. I'm going to be 60 this year, and somehow I just never gave survival to this age a consideration. Mind you, I only really wanted to die during the worst of my depressions, but this age was somehow 'way out there' and didn't bear thinking about. Today, Canada Day, is a special day for me and my family, and so thoughts of mortality whisper in and out of my mind, unbidden, all day.

It was 28 years ago that my brother, Garth, died. Suddenly, unexpectedly, you might almost say explosively. An unknown aneurism lurked in his body, and it chose this day of celebrations to make itself known. The medical people say that he died quickly, in just a couple of minutes, but leaving two young daughters and a wife, a budding administrative career in the civilian branch of the Armed Forces, and a family that loved him and admired him for his talents and abilities, means that the quickness of his death is little consolation for the huge loss.

He would be proud of his daughters if he were here. He would be retired too, and we could visit more often perhaps. Still, I take consolation in the fact that he did have faith, he was kind, generous and gave freely of his time and talents, so, as a believer, my consolation is my belief that he is enjoying the peace and comfort of Heaven at this moment.

Now, here's one of those things that makes you go 'Hmmmmmmmm...':

Quite some years ago we were in another parish. The parish had a program to raise funds for new hymnals, so you could donate the cost of a hymnal and dedicate it to whoever you liked and they would put a label to that effect in it. I paid for one in my brother's name and that was that. The parish purchased something like 300 hymnals as a result of this fundraiser. A little over a year or so later I was at church on the anniversary of his death. As an usher, one of my jobs was to tidy up the church before people started coming in for Mass. While doing so I was saying a prayer for my brother, hoping and trusting in our Lord's mercy that my brother would be sharing his blessings in Heaven. While I was doing this I picked up a new hymnal from a holder in a pew and turned to look at the dedication. It was the one I had made for my brother! I'm not going to state that it was a miracle or anything, but it certainly went a long way in reassuring me of God's love for us.

Hmmmmmmmm...


Oh, and Happy Canada Day, everyone!

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Splitting the difference

Various website have different dates, so I'm splitting the difference to suggest that today might be the anniversary of the birth of

Huddie William Ledbetter,

better known as

Lead Belly,

one of the more important figures in the history of Blues and Folk music...

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Today

is the anniversary of the death of

Lisa McPherson

who "died needlessly at the hands of Scientology".

May she truly rest in peace.

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Today's lesson...

is the story of

Karen Silkwood

whose death anniversary it is today.

There's much to be learned from her story, I think, and I admire her courage...

Karen Silkwood From Whistleblower Blues

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Requiescat in Pacem

Today is the anniversary of my brother's death, 26 years ago. Unexpected, sudden, tragic. I'm still not sure that I've dealt with it completely. But I miss him, and I love him. Rest in God's peace, Garth. You really are missed.

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Mind you,

even more important than Donald Duck's birthday is the birthday, today in 1915, of

Les Paul

who, unlike Mr. Duck, is no longer with us, having died just two years ago. A brilliant musician and inventor without whom many of us would be stuck using Leo Fender's Strats and Telecasters exclusively...

Happy Birthday, Mr. Paul, wherever you are...

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Today is

the anniversary of the birth of

Rosa Luxemburg,

Marxist theorist, Marxist economist, activist, philosopher, and the person SWMBO named one of our gone, but not forgotten or unloved, cats after. I don't think there's a message of any kind there...

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Yes, this centennial makes me squirm a bit...

Ronald Reagan, Of Thee We Sing

Why do so many things that are American in nature affect the whole world so much?

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This date,

since 1959, has become known as

The Day the Music Died

Those of us who love music, particularly the various types of rock music, lost musical genius that day. God rest them.

(It is also, and more importantly to me, the anniversary of the death of a great friend, Dan Campbell, who died in 2008. I think of him often and miss him a lot. Rest in the peace of the creator, Dan, and know that people here remember you fondly...)

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On this day, in 1709,

Alexander Selkirk, the real-life inspiration for Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, was rescued from his 4-year exile.

This next site discusses the archaeological evidence for Alexander Selkirk's stay on the island: Mystery of Alexander Selkirk, the real Robinson Crusoe, solved

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Well...

...at least it's a retired warship. I mean, she was a peaceful sort, but she was all about relieving suffering, so it kind of fits...

Mother Teresa To Be Honored On Warship

Can't get the Empire State Building? Get an aircraft carrier!

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So, whose birthday

do you want to celebrate the most today?

Born in 1898 on this date, one of the founders of the state of Israel, Golda Meir,

the crooner, born on this date in 1903, Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby,

a living folk legend, born May 3, 1919, Pete Seeger,

an R&B master of showmanship born in 1933 on this date, James Brown,

and finally, some Canadian content,

the famous magician, illusionist, escape artist and transcendental meditation practitioner, Doug Henning, born on this date in 1947.

A broad range of celebrities whose birthdays you can celebrate today. Pick one, or pick them all!

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Today

is the anniversary of the birth, in 1930, of


Marion Walter Jacobs (Little Walter),

a wonderful blues musician who died far too early due to violence. His blues harmonica playing was fantastic...

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Today is the anniversary

of one of the Vietnam war's most horrific events, the My Lai Massacre that took place on this day in 1968, and the three brave individuals who did what they could to stop it:

Hugh Thompson, Jr., who died in 2006,

Glenn Andreotta, who died in Vietnam shortly after this tragedy, and

Lawrence Colburn.

God bless them all...

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Happy Birthday!


Things That Go Pop!

Next to duct tape, this is the most popular packing item for most people...

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Today

is the anniversary of the death of

Hugh Thompson, Jr.

His story may be somewhat familiar to you, but the story of the massacre will be the most familiar part. Songs have been written about him. The massacre is one of the biggest blots on the tarnished image of the U.S. during the Vietnam War. It's often difficult to stand up for what's right, but how much more so to stand up against your own countrymen and risk your life doing so. A very courageous individual, and one it is fitting to remember...

Rest in peace, Mr. Thompson.

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10 years ago today

another good friend of mine passed away.

Daniel, I'm sure you're with God, singing with the angels in that wonderful tenor voice. Be at peace...

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A great Christian apologist

Today is the anniversary of the death of C. S. Lewis, a Christian apologist loved by people from every Christian denomination. A brilliant man who spoke to people at every level...

Into the Wardrobe — a C. S. Lewis web site

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Instead of celebrating,

the right-wing extremists in the U.S. are angry about a skit. What a dark, dreary and grey world they live in. It must always be raining in their lives.

Conservatives Grouch-y over PBS's 'Sesame Street' Fox News jibe

Happy anniversary, Sesame Street, and may you have many, many more years of educating and entertaining...

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Today

is the 40th anniversary of the first televised episode of 'Monty Python's Flying Circus'! 


Pythonline

(Here's the Wikipedia entry for anyone who doesn't remember the 60's and 70's, for whatever reason.)

So, go on out and do a silly walk in honour of one of the funniest programs and comedy groups to ever grace the airwaves!

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