Eclipse

On July 11, 1991 my husband and I stood among people on a on the steps surrounding the central plaza in the ruins of Monte Alban near Oaxaca, Mexico. We were part of a group trip sponsored by the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Hundreds of people in addition to our group lined the plaza.  Near us was a group with painted faces.  As the sky began to darken, the sound of drums added to the anticipation of what was to come.  We had donned special solar glasses so we could watch the moon move across the face of the sun until only the corona was visible.  The temperature dropped and the crowds quieted as darkness fell.  Only the sound of drums continued.  For two minutes we experienced our spiritual connection to the natural world...and then it was over.  The moon gradually moved away and the sun shone again.  That was one of the peak experiences of my life, one I will never forget.

On Monday during this year's eclipse my life was very different.  I could no longer share the partial eclipse we could view in Houston with my husband, who died nearly 12 years ago.  If he had been alive, we would have traveled again with the Museum of Natural Science and seen totality in Wyoming.  
So this time I saw a partial eclipse, but I was surrounded by friends, the fellow residents of my apartment and my dear friend Lynn who came to our eclipse party.  We sat on the patio, wearing our special glasses and gazing in wonder at the sky.  The clouds parted just in time. We watched the moon covering 2/3 of the sun and watched again as it moved away.  In between we feasted on an "eclipse cake." The sight was awe-inspiring and the cake was delicious.  

And by the way, a note from yesterday's Houston Chronicle eclipse article.  A woman whose children attend school in or near Dallas called the school district to complain about the eclipse.  "Monday's the first day of school.  Couldn't they have scheduled the eclipse on the weekend?"  Fake news, or did it really happen?  You decide.

Books of July

I have read all of Daniel's Silva's books and I look forwards to his latest, which usually comes out in July.  Then I devour it.  Gabriel Allon, art restorer, spy, assassin, is now the head of the Israeli secret service and I wondered what he could do from his office, but not to worry.  He is called (or calls himself) back into action to set up and elaborate plot to catch a bad guy who got away.

Curtis Dawkins, who has an MFA, is now serving a life sentence without parole for a murder committed when he was on drugs.  His stories about prison life are fictional but he knows the life well and bases them on his observations and experiences.  I give this book an A.  It introduces the reader to a world s/he has undoubtedly never known and never will.

I read this for my book club.  A child, of course wearing a red coat, goes missing.  We follow her life and that of her frantic mother.  Far-fetched but a quick read.

Happy Reading!

Quotes for the Week: The Past

One faces the future with one's past.
                        Pearl Buck

You can live in the past, but there's no future in it.
                        Kalman Packouz

The past is really almost as much a work of the imagination as the future.
                         Jessamyn West

Each had his past shut in him like the leaves of a book known to him by heart; and his friends could only read the title.
                        Virginia Woolf

Fun For Seniors: Part 2

Well, at last the pool has re-opened much to everyone's delight.  But of course nothing is simple here in Seniorland.  There has been quite a debate over the temperature of the water.  Some complain it is too hot, others say it's too cold.  So a survey was sent out in which people could vote on their preferred temperature so we could have it "just right."  No decision yet.  Perhaps they'll average the suggestions and no one will be satisfied.

The Lettuce Dilemma 

At the last Dining Forum someone remarked that the lettuce in our salad is cut into too small pieces.  "No," countered another resident, "the pieces are too large."  Will there be a change in the cutting routine so the lettuce is "just right."  Who are we--the Three Senior Bears?  

The Ice Cream Shortage

Last Monday at dinner someone at my table ordered vanilla ice cream.  Alas, the kitchen was out.  We were dumbfounded.  No vanilla?  How could that be?

But...

On Wednesday at Candlelight Dinner, our monthly special meal, there was a delicious dessert, so everyone was happy and all is well (for now) at Brazos Towers.

Must Watch Video! 5 Minute Crafts

If you want to know how to separate egg yolks from whites, how to keep your bra straps from showing when you're wearing a sleeveless shell, how to get extra hanger space in your closet, how to refresh smelly shoes or even smelly jeans, how to preserve the color of apples once they are cut, how to fasten a bracelet you just can't get to hook together, how to button jeans that are a bit tight, or how to clean almost anything, take the time to click on the link below and watch 5 Minute Crafts.  You'll be sure to find a tip you never thought of using.

www.facebook.com/5min.crafts/