Where Have I Been?

In Mexico!  

I just got off a flight from Cancun, via Atlanta.  We had a nice vacation, but I need to go to bed and get some sleep.  I will post more of my photos later.

One Last Little Bit of Color

In my yard, it's beginning to look like winter now.  Most of the trees have lost their leaves.  No snow has fallen yet, but it's just a matter of days.  This tree is stubbornly hanging on to a last little bit of color.  In the spring, it's like a waterfall of white blossoms.  Now, it's a little drizzle of gold.

There is color on my deck, though; the little family of feral cats who make their home there.

Veterans' Day

This made me cry; I remember Vietnam.

My Election Day Essay

I voted this morning.  I guess you can tell from the photo how I voted.  It reflects a lot of my values.  I believe in giving all of our kids the best education we can.  I believe in quality public schools, well-paid teachers and small classes.  I also believe in Head Start for kids born into less fortunate circumstances.  I believe in public television and public radio.  I believe in the arts.  I believe in a clean environment and conservation of wild places.

It isn't always easy for me to express myself about politics and values.  I grew up in a strictly Republican family. Once my grandfather insulted his sister by saying "My God, Ruth, you look like a Democrat".  Then the Vietnam war happened.  I was a student at Kent State when the National Guard shot and killed four students.  My Republican father was shaken to the core; he said "It could have been my own daughter they killed".  He lost faith in the Republican governor who had called in the guard.  He became disillusioned with Nixon.  I heard people blaming the students for protesting the war in the first place.  I heard a lot of people saying, "America, love it or leave it".

Well, the first time I voted, I voted for George McGovern.  My father was confused, conflicted.  He was shocked that his oldest daughter would vote for a Democrat.  He was beginning to have doubts of his own, though he never talked about it.  My mother is a devout Christian, who told me when I got divorced I would go to hell.  I had a dream of being in a Cathedral, looking up at the stained glass window.  Suddenly a bolt of lightning struck, shattering the window and shaking me awake with the crash.  I was guilty and afraid.

After I graduated from college and got married, I moved away from my midwestern roots.  I was exposed to many people with many beliefs.  My childhood beliefs were being challenged.  I had been taught by Catholic nuns as a child.  I got into trouble with a priest when Vatican II announced new rules, and I asked "does that mean all the people who went to hell for eating meat on Friday get out now?".  As many young people do, I questioned my faith throughout my college years.  I responded by reading a lot of books about all the religions of the world.  My ideas expanded to include many different possibilities.

Now I live in an area where my political leanings are in the minority... I live in a "Red State".  After living in a "Blue State" for a number of years, it hasn't been easy.  I am hesitant to share my ideas and my beliefs.  I am afraid people will "shun" me.  My own niece, when I told them who I voted for four years ago said, "you can't be in our family any more".  When my extended family came to my house for a holiday I put up a "NO POLITICS" sign because it makes me uncomfortable to have to defend myself.  I guess I am too sensitive, but I don't like conflict.  This election year has been full of conflict and hard feelings, and it breaks my heart.

So, what are the answers?  I don't know.  I just vote the way I believe and don't try to change the minds who believe differently from me.  For example, I don't say anything when my mother quotes Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh.  I still love her, whatever she believes.  I wish more people could love each other no matter what they believe.  I wish I could be more sure that people will still accept me when they know what I believe.

The "Touchdown Jesus" That Was

I am posting this for Pam, who commented that she was intrigued by the "Touchdown Jesus" I mentioned in my prior post.

Before June 14, 2010 if you were driving near Monroe, Ohio on I-75 you would see this statue in front of a church. It portrays the top half of Jesus, rising out of a pool, making a "touchdown" gesture with his outstretched arms. Thus, the nickname "Touchdown Jesus".  Some people called it "Big Butter Jesus" because of its resemblance to a butter sculpture.

On June 14, 2010, during a thunderstorm, the statue was struck by lightning and burned (photo below). There was much speculation in the area about why lightning happened to strike here.

Leaving a skeleton that stood for two years:

The church promised to replace the statue.  The new one was completed in September.  Here it is:

They say this one is fireproof and fitted with lightning rods.

A New Month and A New Day

Well, I got through the week.  Yesterday I traveled up to my mom's house.  We met with the nice young man from the cemetery.  I helped Mom arrange for David's military headstone.  Then we went to three different banks where she has accounts.  She had to arrange to take David's name off the accounts.  She also had to check what accounts she has where and what the correct balances are.  She does get a bit confused by all the financial matters.  I'm afraid I wore her out.  By the time we finished running around to all the banks she was exhausted and hungry.  So, we went home and had lunch and she took a nap.

Last weekend, we took her out to dinner at one of our old favorites, The Grand Finale in Cincinnati.

They serve all of their fresh fish with a lobster sauce that is the BEST thing I have ever tasted.  It comes with mushroom crepes and salads with sliced avocados and a huge selection of wonderful homemade salad dressings.

Plus it has a nice atmosphere and very good service.  So, that was enjoyable.

On the way to Mom's house, on I-75, we pass a church that has a giant statue of Jesus in the front.  I think it's about 50 feet tall.  It replaced another statue that was nicknamed "Touchdown Jesus" because it showed him just from the waist up, rising out of a pond with his arms up in the air.  That one was struck by lightning and burned down.  I didn't get a very good picture because it was stormy and we were rushing by in the car.

This is the view in my sister's back yard.  I love the red and green leaves on the tree...

... a last bit of color before winter sets in.

Trick or Treat