We were in Washington DC at the weekend for the peace rally.

We went up on Friday and were trained by United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) (who organised the march and rally) as security marshalls. We bundled up Sat morning in umpteen layers of clothes and were out on the Mall by 9. The rally went from 11-1 - we stood at the front, at the press risers, checking that only press people went on to the risers. And we could just see the stage. Many spiritual leaders started the rally with prayers of all traditions. And then some great speakers - an Iraqi; a Brit who assured us that the Brits are not behind Tony Blair and Bush; Jesse jackson; Jane Fonda, Sean Penn, various senators - the crowd was 4-500,000 strong (by the estimates of organizers who have been at many of these kinds of things) and completely peaceful. Angry, but peaceful. Not one arrest was made all day.

And then, for the march, Paul and I were on the front line, in front of the celebrities carrying the banner, and holding off the press. Susie roared with laughter when I told her - "you two little people holding off all those?" - well, yeah. We worked as a team, had been trained how to link arms and stand firm, and we sure did! And the Capitol was completely surrounded by the people in the march!

And then, that night, Paul read at Washington's poetry club, Busboys and Poets, along with about 20 other poets - he was great - they all were.

We pray that we, the people, will prevail in the end. And we are committed to doing what we can. Paul especially has been doing a lot of work for Move-On.org

On another note. Daffodils are blooming. And surviving the freezing nights somehow. They are lovely to behold.

I'm settling into this new class - and love the students. 4 of the 7 are 23+, two with children - and all seven are eager, enthusiastic, thrilled to be in this college! Wow! Oh, and bright too! I couldn't ask for more.

We had snow. Of course, schools were cancelled and everything ground to a halt. Well, after all, we hadn't seen snow for 2 years! The guineas were hilarious. They all came to the doorway of the chook house and craned their necks forward to see what this strange thing was. And finally pushed one out to go and investigate. He literally bounced off the ground and catapulted up into a tree. In the end, the desire to go outside overcame the desire to stay clear of this new phenomenon, and they all emerged, albeit timidly.

We went off to opening night of a play last night at the UNC Playmakers Rep Company Theatre - a professional theatre that puts on some 6-8 plays each year. The play is "Stones in his pockets" by Marie Jones - we knew nothing about the play or the playwright, but had not been disappointed before. Nor were we. A stunning production of a stunningly aching play - about an American movie company that is on location in a village in Ireland, and the disruption it causes and the chasm between the locals and the outsiders.

I continue to make great bread for Paul - and made a loaf for a friend of ours today who does not eat gluten - she was thrilled.

Pete was a guest local celebrity at the Improv Theatre last weekend - and nearly stole the show! He is missing his calling I think.

I'm still on a roll with weight watchers - 11.5 pounds in the last 8 weeks. And only 5 away from goal. At which time I'm hoping to get work again as a Leader - they seem pretty keen to have me do that - I love the work and I can sure use the income!

I taught my first class at Meredith on Thursday and had a lovely time with them - 7 women, at least 3 of whom are in their "23 Plus" program for women returning or starting late in school. They seem eager, interested, and keen to learn. What a gift! An eighth student signed up the day after - word of mouth?

The weather here is up and down all the time. This weekend it's at 70 - lovely for working in the garden, already preparing it for the spring planting, which will be here before we know it.

We have nice new neighbors - a young couple with two boys - 8 and 4 - who came for dinner on Friday. The boys were SO well-behaved and quite delightful. We're going to plant extra vegies for them this year and, in turn, they'll plant some extra stuff for us - maybe grains. In addition they have cows and have given us some of their butter - yum!

I can't tell you what a relief it is not to be worrying about UNC - I feel like an enormous weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Literally - I went for a massage yesterday and my shoulders feel two inches lower than they had been.

We went out Thursday evening (freezing) to attend a rally in Chapel Hill protesting any escalation in the war. There were enough people to warrant a police presence, but it was peaceful and well ordered. We read the next day that tens of thousands had turned out across the country. With less of a commitment at school now I can do more politically and I'm glad for that.

Happy New Year 2007

Our week back at home has been busy - the trip to Grand Rapids was lovely - good family, good friends, good weather, good rest.

I finished my paper on Weds (2 days ahead of schedule). I actually enjoyed the research and the writing of what could be my last ever paper! I hope the prof likes it as well as I do.

But then I discovered that there is an "Incomplete" on the 6 credit hours of thesis I was signed up for this term. I called the Director of Grad Studies in my department and asked her to sign off on it. She said she can't because, since I'm only allowed 6 credits of thesis, then I have to have it finished and approved before she can sign off on it. This would be hilarious if it wasn't happening to me. Besides, she said, Who was your advisor? Say I, You tell me.

That is not resolved yet. I may not get my leave of absence after all.

Peter was over last night though and, great litigator he, recommended I sue at this point. Not for money necessarily but for publicity. I'll think about it. He says it costs very little to actually take it to court. If so, I may do it. I'm certainly mad enough to want to.

Apart from that...

I had a wonderful day over at Meredith College, meeting important people and getting all the forms filled in. The most important person was Kate, the department admin assistant who, fortunately, is a darling. I'm finishing writing the syllabus now and find myself very excited for the start of classes next week.

We had family dinner last night - Paul's 3 children and their significant others and Peter - for Christmas/Hanukkah gift giving. I can't believe I married into this wonderful family. The "kids" are so great.

It's 70 degrees today. Paul and I will cycle into town (about 30 minutes each way) this afternoon to go to the "Really Free Market" - it's held once a month and people bring stuff they don't want, offer free services (hair cutting one time, bike tuneups another) and take away other people's junk. We love going - for the stuff and for the neighborly atmosphere.

I have resolved to write a little something every week to you all. Today is the start. In future, I'll post it on this blog.

Sunny November

Oh it's not where you are? I'm so sorry! The weather has been beautiful here in North Carolina and it is one more reason why I am so happy to be here.

This semester is so different from any I've had before. I think it may have something to do with being in love - and with the wonderful man I'm in love with. I started off the semester in a state of panic, wondering how I was going to juggle school (which has always been a 50-60 hour a week job) with spending time with my fiancé, with taking time to cook and eat real meals, and clean house, and take care of our 10 hilarious guinea fowl, and all the other million things one does as a normal human being (but that I often didn't as a single human being). Well, Paul was understanding, kind, soothing - and practical. "Of course I will come and pick you up from Duke twice a week" (a round trip drive of an hour for him). "Of course the most important thing is to get you through school, if that is what you want to do." Which means that my dear man cooks, and shops, and cleans - all with his not un-busy schedule of writing, meetings, etc etc.

The end result is that I am relaxed (a plus for him I am sure!) and managing to balance things - to the extent of being able even to travel with him this weekend to a writers conference he's attending - we drove up to Asheville yesterday, I worked all evening, and am working today while he is at the conference - but it was nice to have breakfast together and to have the drive together.

I have had to close down the possibility for you people to comment directly on this blog - junk mail was starting to come through and I hate it. So, you will have to just email me (elg at email dot unc dot edu) if you want to comment.

Late

...but better late than never! I've got whole heaps of things to tell about the summer, but that'll have to wait - if I don't get something on this site, it will only get more out of hand!

So. This is the start of my fourth week back at school. I have to say, going back to school was really hard. And if I'm honest, I would say that it's because the summer had been so great. It was so lovely being with Paul so much, relaxing with him, and being so much in love. I'm still in love, but very busy. However, I'm settling back in now and getting in the groove. Somehow though the shine isn't what it was. But at the same time, this may be my last year of classes and so I think I can hang in there and just get through it.

Anyway I'm relaxing a bit now (having had a couple of meltdowns in the first 10 days!) and feeling better. One thing is that we have agreed on a Sabbath routine. I had observed Sabbath for several years - not in a legalistic way, but rather as a day of rest as ordained by God - a day to re-create and to worship. When I work this hard I find it essential to take a day's rest. I had got out of the habit a bit in the first months with Paul - not his fault - it just happened. So we've talked about it now and agreed to have a movable Sabbath. On the weeks we go to synagogue, we'll celebrate the Sabbath (shabbat) on Saturday. On the weeks we go to mass, we'll celebrate on Sunday. It's working well so far.

I'm TA in Introduction to Old Testament/Hebrew Bible this semester - with a new prof whom I like. It turns out that his and my interests (academically speaking) are very much in line with each other - I look forward to more work with him.

Summertime

Oh, my goodness. Here I said I would write every month, and it's now three months since I last wrote! I think I kept saying to myself "I'll write as soon as school's out" - well, yes, but that makes for an awful long time between posts.

So. I finished my first year at UNC successfully. And happily. Mostly. I hated my philosophy class mainly because I had no clue what was going on. We were given obscure readings every week and this brain simply could not wrap itself around whatever it was that it was supposed to wrap itself around. I would get to the end of each reading and think "And your point is ...?" I have a feeling that this was not so much the fault of the subject as of those presenting it, whose intentions were completely obscure to me (and, more or less, to the rest of the class) or, to use their terms, "opaque." Anyway, I passed the exam (mirabile dictu) and thus have jumped through one more hoop on my way through the jungle of academia, and am now judged competent to continue on my chosen path.

My other two classes this last semester were great. I spent a second semester with the delightful and incredibly knowledgeable James Crenshaw at Duke Div. School. The class was Ecclesiastes (also called Qoheleth in Hebrew) and I think it raised as many questions as it answered, but it was fun to think about. And I find my Hebrew has been improving by leaps and bounds. I am really beginning to feel quite at home with it.

That is probably also helped by my frequent attendance at synagogue with Paul. I love to hear the scriptures read in Hebrew, as well as all the prayers. And to discuss the finer points of understanding, which we are encouraged to do during the service. I go Mass on weekends when we don't go to synagogue, although Paul doesn't go much with me. I understand that it is much easier for me to go to synagogue than for him to go to Mass, since I am asked to accept nothing new or beyond what I already believe, whereas Jesus puts a whole different spin on things.

I had promised myself in January that I would write my papers this semester as if they were destined for publication. Not that I thought they would be published, but just that I should stop writing mere term papers (which I know I can do now quite comfortably) and raise the bar a bit by looking ahead to publication. It made a huge difference to the topics I chose and to the way I wrote. I think the main thing was that, instead of just doing an exegetical or expository discussion, I made an attempt to really find out what Liz thinks, and guess what - Liz had some good ideas!

One fun thing was that I was able to bounce ideas off of Paul, and to talk through trains of thought. In fact, it was while we were walking in the Botanical Gardens one afternoon that I had one of those aha moments - and followed it through to develop it into the thesis for my Qoheleth paper, proposing an idea that no one else has written! I must say it was with great trepidation that I then presented the paper in the seminar. And with great amazement I found that it was received well!

The other class/seminar I attended this semester was in Eco-theology, or the theology of land and justice in the Old Testament. Did that ever open my eyes! I have learned a whole new dimension of reading the Bible. There were some marvelous classroom discussions, and a ton of really interesting reading. I enjoyed reading the book of Joel from this perspective and writing a paper on that, noticing how the land suffers as well as the people, and how the two are inextricably connected. I'm thinking about pursuing publication for that one, though taking out the Hebrew to make it accessible to a wider audience.

And now I have 16 weeks of summer. I'm working part time for two lovely women plumbers, in their office and doing some gardening. I am very relaxed and laid back and enjoying the break. Much as I love the study, it does get stressful. I always regret that I don't have more time in which to write. I've also undertaken to learn enough German over the summer so that I can take the required exam in November. I don't think it should be too hard (this being my, what, tenth or eleventh language) and am so far reveling in the challenge.

One of my brothers, Peter, arrived for a visit in January and decided to stay!! So he's in my apartment with me, has got a job at the local supermarket to pay the bills while he works on finishing a book that he wants to publish, and is good company. We have not lived in the same town as each other since 87 and it's fun. It's always fun to have family around, and this is no exception.

Our brother Chris was married to his girlfriend of the last year in Texas earlier this month, and five of the six of us siblings were there to celebrate. She is lovely and they seem right together. It was a small, informal wedding at her parents' home, with mostly family, including all their grandchildren! It still seems funny to have a brother who is a grandfather. Surely we are not that old! I took the opportunity of a Texas visit to spend several days in Houston with my darling sister and her family - always a great pleasure. My nieces love having their Aunt Lizzie come to stay.

Paul is wonderful. Simply wonderful. And we consider this a blessed relationship.

Now I will sign off. And hopefully will not leave it so long before I write again. Though the only thing to report on over the summer will probably be on all the novels I will have read - so far, three or four a week! I've read three by a writer of Young Adult novels that are absolutely charming. Gary Schmidt. The first one I read was "Lizzie Bright" or at least it had those words in the title. Recommended by my cousin. It turns out that he teaches at Calvin College. Also read Da Vinci Code - figured it was time to find out what all the hoo hah was about. It's OK. Well-paced thriller. Not frightfully well written I don't think. And I find his line between "fact" and fiction very muddy, and in some cases quite disturbing. Yes, some things are fact (e.g. there is a gospel of Mary Magdalene) but some things are not (e.g. nowhere does Jesus figure in the Dead Sea Scrolls). Hmmm.

We watched the 1953 (I think) Grapes of Wrath last night - and I am inspired to read some Steinbeck again. I read them all in my 20s. I have rarely read a novel twice, since there always seem to be so many more out there to read, but I really do think it would be nice to read Steinbeck again, since it's not just his stories and characters that are so wonderful - and they most certainly are - but his style and his language are glorious.

That really is it now. Blessings to all my friends.

Spring

Oh yes it is! I love being in the south! There are daffodils and croci (oh, all right, crocuses), and forsythia, and some days it is 70 degrees (yup, and some days it's in the 40s, like today) and I am so happy to be here.

Oh, and did I say, I've met the most marvellous man? Not only met, but fallen in love. Which is one of the reasons I haven't written a blog for a while. Partly because I've been way too busy getting to know this man, and partly because I was afraid to say how wonderful he was until I was sure how wonderful he is (and until I was sure he thought I was just as wonderful!). We are talking about planting 50 daffodil bulbs a year for the next 30 years. His name is Paul. He's a writer and poet and activist. Poet mostly. Writes. Performs. Retired chiropractor. He is bright and funny and gentle and a musician (classically trained) and dancer and outdoorsman and traveller and good cook and a reader and a thinker and the one I've been waiting for. Oh, and beautiful, did I mention?

Paul is Jewish. He accompanies me to Mass. I accompany him to synagogue. And discuss things with the rabbi. And with Paul. And he with me. We pray together. We talk about the "Jewish-Christian hurdle" (as one friend calls it). And grapple with it. We are each entirely committed to our faith and our tradition - and both to the same Lord and God.

And school is great too.

Except for philosophy which has me completely mystified. It's taught by two completely opaque professors who can't even imagine what I mean when I say I don't get it. I have now resorted to buying comic books called things like Introduction to Philosophy and Introduction to Derrida in an effort to try and find out what I'm supposed to know. The only thing I know about Nietzsche is that he said "That which does not kill me makes me stronger" and I am taking that little aphorism to heart!

Doing an absolutely amazing seminar on Ecology and Theology of Land and Work in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. Utterly convicting. And eye-opening. Reading the incomparable Wendell Berry and E.F. Schumacher and Barbara Kingsolver and Abraham Heschel. And re-reading scriptures I thought I knew. And coming up with an interesting theory about why God didn't accept Cain's offering.

I must go to class now. This is not complete, but is a start on an update. I am conscious that I have not written for a while. Love to all.

Merry Christmas

...or, as the full page Zondervan ad in the paper said "It's a boy!"

Most years my Christmas letter doesn't get written until well into the following year. Here it is December 27 and I'm sitting at my computer and writing to you-all. And thinking of my family and friends spread all across the world, and thinking myself lucky indeed.

This last year has been one of great change, and not a few dramas. (If you missed those, read back to, I think, my first posting on this blog spot.) And now, at the end of the year, I have survived, nay thrived on, my first semester at the University of North Carolina. In many ways I would say it is the easiest and one of the happiest I've had in the last seven years of grad school. I finally seem to be getting the hang of how to get the most out of my studying without completely stressing out and wearing myself thin. Which is not to say that I was idle, but just that I managed to stay off that treadmill of endless busy-ness.

I enjoyed my classes. I greatly enjoyed researching and writing my three term papers. I would say that the most exciting one for me was working with a mere scrap of leather (well, just a photo at this stage) that was written over 2000 years ago - from the Dead Sea Scrolls. I become more and more focused on working with text, and the more I zoom in on it, the more I love it. Not everyone's cup of tea, but full of possibilities for me and my future contribution to scholarship on ancient texts.

I worked in seven different languages this last semester: Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, Latin, French, German, and, of course, English. The Latin is for a blind grad student whom I work with several times a week. The French and German are for research. I'm looking into a fellowship for next year that would require me to learn a new modern language - aw shucks - and hoping to do either modern Hebrew or Arabic, either of which would be extremely useful in my field.

I finished out my semester of teaching 60 undergrads Introduction to Old Testament/Hebrew Bible and loved them - and they seem to have loved me and my approach (one of enthusiasm and excitement and passion) and learned a lot - I was thrilled with their performance in the final exam - and saw a very high calibre of work.

I returned to my "home" in Grand Rapids for Christmas and spent a relaxed, laid-back five days with the Hrubys - aunt, uncle, and cousins. I'll be here for another week or so, catching up with friends, and then return to Chapel Hill for another fun-filled semester.

I have a wonderful two bedroom apartment in Carrboro (just on the edge of Chapel Hill) and love having visitors. Even at short notice! I continue to contra dance and bike and walk and have hopes of getting on to a masters rowing crew in the spring. I continue to proof read for foreign students. My church is building a Habitat for Humanity house this year and I'm involved in that project. I've met all sorts of interesting and lovely people these last few months. Isn't it amazing how a heart seems to be infinitely expandable, always making room for new friends?

I pray for you a blessed new year, my dear friends, - one full of growth and blossoming and love.

Love to you all.

Thanksgiving

As I was driving to Thanksgiving Mass this morning - one of my favorite services of all the year - I was recalling just what I have to be thankful for today. Since this time last year, I have had two surgeries, unrelated except that they were both debilitating, and am now fit, active, and healthy again. I have written, completed, defended and put away a Masters thesis, and graduated with my second Masters degree - this one, the Master of Theology - at the age of 51. Not bad, I'm thinking. Also I put together applications to PhD programs at four universitites, and in January was offered a place at the second one on my list. Not bad at all. And here I am, nearly at the end of my first semester at UNC. I have nearly all my family in the same country! And wonderful friends. I have an apartment I love, great neighbors (except the one who stole the seat off my bike), food, wine. I dance. I walk. I read. I'm happy, peaceful, reasonably busy, and if I had to find one word to describe my present state, I would say I am content.

Thanksgiving is a great day to say Thank you thank you thank you God. (Well, actually, any day is, but this one especially so.) I am glad to be alive.

Here I am again!

Oh dear! It says my last blog was September 12 - nearly two months, and here I was blithely promising that I would post once a month. Well, time got away from me. But delightfully so...I'm having such a good time here, but am on campus almost every day, all day, and then come home and read (or occasionally go out) in the evenings. And I'm loving it. Actually the teaching even more than the studying.

I have 60 students split into three classes which I teach back to back on Friday mornings. It's more of a guided discussion actually, reflecting and debating and clarifying things they've learned in the two lectures that week. And honestly, I could quite happily skip the studying and cut straight to the teaching at this point although, unfortunately, I need the further education to be able to do the further teaching. I am not required to but did hand out mid term evaluation forms to my students a couple of weeks ago, so that I could get some feedback on where I could tweak the classes into better shape - and was overwhelmed by the positive response! The overall message was "We love coming to your classes - we never liked these things before - everything from the lectures falls into place - you are so enthusiastic and passionate about your subject - when will you be lecturing because we want to come." Wow. It blew me away. I also love the one on one interaction with the students - they come and see me with questions relating to the course, and some with general academic fears (especially the freshmen) (don't I know that one), and they're often stopping me to just chat and tell me about things going on in their lives. I wonder if dyeing my hair magenta pink in September made any difference? No, probably not, but they sure did get a kick out of it! (It's nearly grown out now!)

While I was here in the summer before classes started, and was winding down from the last six months of thesis work, and easing myself into the new surroundings, I spent a lot of time thinking about how I could hang on to that feeling of well-being once classes started. And recognizing that being in a constant state of stress is not the best way to be muddling through from one semester to the next. I think just having that in mind helped me to approach this semester differently and behold (hineh as the Hebrews say) it is so. I have had about 10 weeks of classes and yes, I'm not sitting around twiddling my thumbs, but no, I don't feel like I'm on a treadmill doing a hamster imitation. And I'm even getting enough sleep!

Writing three term papers over the next 4 weeks may change my outlook, but only slightly I think. I am prepared and looking forward to writing.

So that's the major part of what I do. I always have a novel on the go - and that's my winding down time when I snuggle down into bed at night. I read a fantastic one by Louise Erdrich "Four Spirits" I think. Lovely gentle wry humor and good story. Also a slightly wistful one by Anne Tyler (one of my favorite authors) called "Ladder of Years." Right now I've just started one by Simon Winchester (author of "The Professor and the Madman" about the making of the OED) called "The Map that Changed the World" about William Smith who made the first geological map in the 17-somethings. Not exactly a novel, but gripping reading nonetheless.

Now that I've got over all my surgeries and things of the last year or so, I've started back at the gym again three mornings a week, lifting weights. Do I love it? Not really, but it's a great way to start the day - I always feel bursting with energy when I'm done - sort of like banging your head against a brick wall - great when it stops - and my body needs strength training - so it's getting it! I do love walking to and from school and around campus, and probably clock up an hour or more every day - that, or cycling. No roller blading - it's kind of boring to do on your own, and I haven't found a roller blading buddy yet. But I'm looking! And of course, contra dancing nearly every week, with some great bands, fun dancers, and new people to meet.

I think that's about all for today - and thank you all for keeping in touch with me even when I don't post blogs as often as I promised!

Reflections on first weeks at UNC

Yay! The thesis nightmare is over! I had a call from Calvin yesterday and they have accepted my thesis and thus granted my degree. That was a long haul. Now I can get on with my studies here at UNC without that other stuff hanging over me.

Well...

UNC...I'm enrolled in three seminars. Each consists of one three-hour slot per week. The first and most delightful is "Suffering in the Old Testament" taught by James Crenshaw over at Duke University (and whose work I had used in my Psalms thesis for Calvin). It is such a treat. He is approaching 70 and retirement (sadly), although he's been invited to teach at the Pontificum in Rome when he does. He is gentle, funny, widely read, and with only 6 of us in the seminar, gives great attention to each one of us. I find myself disappointed when the 3 hours are up - I could sit with him all night! This is a knotty and interesting subject to be exploring and I'm lapping it up.

The second one is "Diaspora Judaism" - that is, Judaism outside of Jerusalem. About 20 of us in this one, and all the teaching will be done by student presentations - I volunteered to do one of the first, next Monday, on the Septuagint and the Letter of Aristeas - a subject about which I have done some thinking in the past. Thus this will give me a chance to pull the ideas together and present them.

The third is "Dead Sea Scrolls." I'm not wild about the teaching style of the prof, but love the subject, and look forward to discovering more about it. And my two classmates are sympathiques.

The six weeks spent here before classes were just what I needed. I confess to being fairly indolent during this time, but don't regret it. On the contrary, I sat around a lot and thought. And the chief thing that I thought was "How can I carry this sense of ease and non-stressed-out-ness into term time?" And the answer was "Be aware." I am no longer the scared, insecure student I was seven or five years ago, and am happy to report that I am thoroughly enjoying the first weeks in school. Sure, I'm busy, but not frantic. The work load is OK. And I think I will acquit myself quite well.

I just read "Four Souls" by Louise Erdrich. Wonderful. Great characters (especially the old man). Started Ann Tyler's "The Amateur Marriage" (published 2004) last night. I like her and expect to enjoy this one too. Yes, even when I'm studying, I always have a novel on the go, and always look forward to settling down into my bed at night to read for a while.

Ah, children!

I was imbibing with some people at my favorite watering hole (the local co-op) last night where a band - a very good country/rock band - was playing. A small child of about 7 wandered by and started chatting with one of the guys in our group. She asked him what his name was, but quickly said "No, no, don't tell me. You're Mr. Basketball. Because you play basketball." She then turns to another and says, "And you're Mr. Possum because you've got a possum on your shirt of course." Of course. Then she turns to Terry and says, "And you must be, let's see, Mr. Duck." "Why Mr. Duck?" he says. "Because you look like a duck, silly." Out of the mouths of babes...

Well, after that one, I was feeling a bit anxious about what she might choose to call me! She comes and stands in front of me, fixes me with a look that seemed to see right through me and into me, and says "You're Miss Lovely." "Why would that be?" I ask. "Because everything about you is lovely." Dear child.

So you may now call me Miss Lovely.

Bathroom Haiku

I have a magnetic whiteboard in the bathroom for all the magnetic poetry my sister Susie sent me. Here are the latest Haikus:

eternal summer
torpid ennui festoons me
some good ferment soon

love weep hope absond
alleviate a mean cloud
naked she will heal

impecunious
learning individual
inspired to want more

if every kiss were
everlasting music I
happy-est could be

Manna from heaven

Well, work, actually...two jobs have dropped into my lap.

First, I met a guy who is blind, Jason, coming out of the library during my first week here. He's preparing for his Masters comprehensive exams in Classics, and needed a reader for the next month. I'm it. So, on Monday I started with him. We are working through the story of Hero and Leander as told by Ovid (poetry). In Latin of course. He reads it in Braille and I sit with the Latin dictionary and the commentary and look up stuff for him. Sounds boring, huh? Well, it was the first day. But the second day, he was sitting there nutting out a line that just wouldn't make sense and it came to me. I thought, What have I got to lose (except credibility)? So I said, Now this may be completely off the wall, but could it be this... I translated the line and he said, Brilliant! Hah! So now he's said that he's open to whatever suggestions I have. And we're working on it together. And it's fun.

Second job. I joined a local co-op organic food market and, for "volunteering" for 3 hours a week, I get a 20% discount on anything I buy there. I did my first shift yesterday evening - bagging groceries - and met all kinds of interesting people - and the staff were friendly and helpful. And came home with free freshly baked bread and vegies. That was fun too.

So I'm a pretty busy little beaver, what with work, and finishing (again) the blasted thesis. Oh, and still unpacking boxes.

Contra dancing

Must just write a bit this morning about contra dancing. Some of you know what this is. Some don't. A website describes it thus:

Ask a group of contra dancers to describe contra dancing and you will probably get many different answers. Basically, contra dancing is a high-spirited dance that can be elegant, lively and most importantly, FUN! Based upon Old English and New England country dancing with some aspects of American square dancing blended into it, the dances are danced to Irish, Celtic, Old English, Early American and modern 'traditional' tunes that are played by live bands.

Chapel Hill

Yup. I'm here.

My last couple of months in Grand Rapids were fairly miserable after a falling out with my thesis advisor. Advice: don't ever fall out with your thesis advisor. Oh well. I lost sight of why I was coming to North Carolina and so postponed (cancelled) my move planned for the end of May and decided to just sit still and think for a while about why I wanted to come and, indeed, if I wanted to come. It wasn't even so much that I didn't want to do the PhD work, but that I hated to leave Grand Rapids. I have loved living there and have wonderful friends and family there.

I talked about the decision with several trusted people, and was amazed that they all said "You can do whatever you want. If you don't want to go, that's fine." And those in Grand Rapids said "Great - please do stay." Finally, however, my friends Gideon and Angela helped me to remember why I wanted to come - simply because this is my passion and my delight - to study, to learn, to read, to write, to think, to stretch. Oh. Yes. I'd forgotten in the turmoil of the thesis mess. But yes, this is what I want to do.

And so I left GR nearly two weeks ago. But it's not really leaving as such. My friend Mary Beth said "well, I never thought of it as leaving - more like going away to school and coming home on vacations." Now there's a thought. All my life I've left places and arrived in new places, holding on to friends, of course, but, nevertheless, ending one and starting another. This time, though, I can still call GR home, and know that I have a big family and community of people who love me and whom I love there. And I have plans to go "home" at Christmas. Somehow, that made the leaving easier.

I took a week to travel down here. And the stress and depression lifted. I spent a delightful weekend in Indianapolis contra dancing, meeting up with people I'd met before at these things, and meeting some new people. Danced a lot, hung out, slept. Then two days in Lexington with one of the dancers, Charley, who was a perfect host. He took me out in the surrounding country in his little MGB with the top down of course. And went off to work in the mornings, leaving me to explore, read, and generally wind down. Then two more days, camping at night in my new little tent in national forest campgrounds beside lakes. So, by the time I arrived here in Chapel Hill, I was well rested and ready for the many small minor hassles associated with moving.

I am so laid back still that nothing fazes me. Not even having no electricity for nearly a week. Or discovering that the AC didn't work once the power was on. Many things are falling into place beautifully. I have found a church I like - actually, the first one I went to. A Catholic church which is not too big, has friendly people, good preaching (!), and a mission statement that suggests they are involved in the surrounding community and that they take their spirituality seriously. The church bulletin seems to corroborate this.

I have my new laptop, a graduation present from my dear friend Patrick. Because I got it through the university, I have 24 hour help available - a marvellous thing, when one is ironing out the glitches of a new machine - I have made almost daily use of this service! On campus, there is wireless internet everywhere, so I can sit under a tree with my cup of coffee and check my email - and have done so, if only so that I could say I can!

I've met many of my neighbors - before the AC came on, I spent a lot of time sitting out in the relative cool of the breezeway, aptly called. Next door is an extended family of Mexicans, only one of whom speaks English. My Spanish now extends to ola and como stas, but I have hopes of learning more. I keep thinking of the book I read this spring "The Short Sweet Dream of Eduardo Gutierrez" by Jimmy Breslin. The most touching thing of that book was the terrible homesickness suffered by these people who come to the US looking for a better life for their families. It makes me feel very gentle to my neighbors. I ache for them. This family have been lovely to me too - offered me a beer the evening I moved in and, when I accepted, went out to buy some. Hospitality. Then invited me in to watch TV and switched from the Spanish channel to English for me. At least 8 people live in that apartment - the same size as the one I am living in alone. I feel somehow decadent.

Also, downstairs are a young couple with a two year old. They also are fostering a two month old baby whose mother is a crack addict. We've spent a lot time talking - they are working hard to support their children in several part time jobs. And have been sweet to me in many ways, easing my transition here.

I had a letter this week outlining my TA (teaching assistant) duties for the year. I'll be TA to Armin Lange, the guy I met in the spring who may well direct my dissertation work. In the fall I will be TA for his Introduction to Hebrew Scriptures course, and then in the spring, to Introduction to Dead Sea Scrolls. Couldn't be better! I'm excited.

The manager/administrator of the Religious Studies Department, Hope, has been kind and helpful. And yesterday, she gave me the keys to the department! Literally. I feel like I've arrived. It just seemed so significant to me.

I love my apartment. It is large, airy, light. And it takes 15 minutes by bike or bus to the campus. I can walk to the grocery store. Even at night.

And there's lots of contra dancing in this area. I went to one on Friday night (less than a mile's walk from home) and another on Saturday. People were friendly and welcoming and the dancing was fun.

I met a blind guy called Jason shortly after I arrived. He has funds to pay people to read for him. He's doing a Masters in Classics and so was greatly interested in my Latin and Greek - and it's looking like I can do some reading for him straight away - and then probably on a regular basis once classes start. Very fine.

I'm reading "The Active Life" by Parker Palmer. It's been on my bookshelf for some 5 years, and I pulled it down to read it now. Timely. He talks about the balance and connection between action and contemplation. It was no coincidence I am sure, that the sermon on Sunday was about the Mary and Martha story. Hah. So I am listening carefully to God. And thinking about how I can prepare myself for the inevitable flurry and frenzy that will come when school starts. I feel like I'm being given a chance to do things a little differently than in the past, and perhaps to do it with more integrity (according to Websters "the quality or state of being complete or undivided").

I miss my community in Grand Rapids. I miss having someone to call and say "let's go out for a beer". But know I will meet some good people soon. And in the meantime, I unpack a little more each day - literally and figuratively!

Hah! I've just worked out that when I refer to Summer's comment I can create a link! Like this...Summer. Yay!

Christmas letter - 2003 (sent June 2004!)

It’s time for the Christmas letter again. Oh, you say it’s already been? Well, how about the Easter letter?

So, let’s see…Fifty is wonderful. I have had so much fun this year. I love being slim – I have so much more energy and I am very active. I eat better than I ever did before and have high hopes of this body lasting for quite a long time! My Dad sent me a T-shirt for my birthday that said “The first half century was great – now let’s see what God has in mind for the next one.” Indeed.

I have a wonderful room mate this year. Karen is an M Div student preparing for ordained ministry. We enjoy sharing the apartment, we have found we share much in terms of our history and families, and we live comfortably and peacefully together.

This last summer I mastered the fine art of roller blading (inline skating), after a few spectacular tumbles. I went out on the trails around here several times a week with a buddy and we would cover 15 miles at a time – great exercise and a very graceful thing to do. I had always envied people on their blades – it looked like poetry in motion. And now that I can do it, it still delights me.

I continue to love living here in the States near family. My aunt and uncle celebrated their 80th and 85th birthdays and 60th anniversary all in one big bash last summer. Since I live here in the same town, I got to spend time with all the cousins who came in for the do, as well as having three of my siblings staying with me in my seminary apartment. Norb continues to write plays and we went to see one of them produced last week – a timely spoof on politics; and Dolores is retiring this year from her 35-year job as Music Director for a large church. She is worried that she won’t have enough to do but, knowing her, I’m sure she’ll soon find all sorts of things to fill in the gaps. One thing she’s already talking about is learning Spanish. Needless to say, these two are a source of great inspiration to me. When I see what they’re doing, I can quite happily see myself teaching at university well into my eighties.

Which is a good thing, since I’ll be close to retirement age before I finish my PhD. Well, not quite. Many of you have heard that I have been offered a place at the University of North Carolina to study Old Testament under two Dead Sea Scrolls scholars, and I’ll be moving out to Chapel Hill in June in order to start five years of studies in the fall. It still feels like a dream.

I’ve been beavering away at my Masters thesis in a final burst since January and have been loving it – the reading, the writing, the research, the whole package. I come out of the library in the evenings just bubbling over with the delight of it all and finally dared to say “I am doing what I was created to do. This is it.” I finally know what I’m going to be when I grow up! I’m now into the last six weeks of the thesis and am glad to say it’s going well, although I’m looking forward to getting it finished. I graduate in May with a Master of Theology – not bad for the kid who dropped out before finishing her undergraduate studies – two Masters degrees in six years!

I still work for Weight Watchers as a Leader, teaching and learning in equal measures. I love the work and the people whose lives I touch and who touch mine.

I’ve been down to my sister Susie’s in Houston twice in the last six months – once for Thanksgiving week, and once for just a couple of days in February when she and her husband Jim renewed their marriage vows in church at their 10th wedding anniversary. Their girls Zoe and Lillie are 8 and 6, and they love their Aunt Lizzie coming to visit – especially when she and their Mama sing them songs, and when she takes them out skating!

At Thanksgiving I also spent a few days with my brother Jon and his family near Atlanta. And we had a wonderful nostalgic 24 hours with an old childhood friend from Beaconsfield, Charlie Taylor, who was over on business. I lost count of the number of times we said “Do you remember…?”

So, in the last year I have spent time with all my family. A good thing. And, ultimately, the reason I have chosen to stay here in the States these days.

If you are one of the people to whom I have not written personally recently, please know that I think of you – each one of you – and keep you in my prayers. And I will write. Eventually. In the meantime I hope you know that I am writing this because I can't bear to lose touch.

Thanks everyone for your welcome to the blog world.

I love languages.

So, as a linguaphile and as one who has studied biblical and other languages, I would like to respond to Summer's comment about Peter and the word "idiotes" in Acts 4.13. The Greek word "idiotes" is shown in the Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament as "layman, amateur in contrast to an expert or specialist of any kind" and specifically as "an untrained man" as it is used in Acts 4.13. While it is true that our English word idiot comes from the Greek word (and you can see the connection, can't you?), we should be very careful about reading *back* into Peter's use our own understanding of the word. Do you see what I'm saying? We think of an idiot as someone who is a sandwich short of a picnic, or a twit, or a nitwit. At the very least we use it in a pejorative way. Whereas Peter was not ascribing to the word any values, but simply saying that he didn't have the training of the scribes (or whoever).

Here's another example: we have the word dynamite, which comes from the Greek "dunamos" meaning "power, might, strength, force." So you can see how our dynamite got its name. But to say that the Greeks were thinking of something explosive when they used the word would be wrong indeed.

In short, to bring in the thought of "idiot" when talking about Peter in that situation is misleading. (And if you're wondering about being a fool for the gospel, there is no connection whatsoever, lexically at least.)

Gosh, I didn't mean this to be a lecture...