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Thoughts of Christmas or rather the “Holidays” have hijacked my brain cells. The neurons are in a spasm, sort of like my upper back pain as electrochemicals signal the alert from one dendrite to the next. While I practice balance exercises, sit straight, query an agent, (and add rejection to another), or take a walk, I hear Christmas carols along with the forever present ringing in my right ear. Lists on scraps of paper and/or sticky notes remind me of loved ones still in need of an ideal present. (What do I buy a son-in-law who could buy me out?) These reminders topple other lists of food to buy, meds to pick up at the pharmacy, and calls to make but first must float down and away. My fingers have developed a bad attitude. Holding onto a piece of paper is now below them. “Let the fists step up.”

I especially love the glitter and tackiness of decorating our byways. This is the best time of the year to make the drive up the River Road (Route 15 for you newcomers) to Bangor from Bucksport. Every trip you make from now until December 25^th will be brighter and more animated than the last. Dangle gas money in front of a young driver and she will take you through the murkiness, pass the halo of the speed limit and stop signs, while you admire each and every rooftop Santa, front porch of erratically blinking lights, and glowing deer who calming raises and lower her head.

Now, excuse me. I am going up to the attic to drag out my imitation “holiday” tree. Ah, materialism. I love it.

Children in Aquino, Island of Negros, in the Philippines are often denied the right to go to school simply because it costs too much. Yep, education is not free there. For the past eight years, the UU congregation has raised money to send 40+ students to school. On July 28, 2019, a Tea Party raised $530! Here are pictures of winners of the “Bonnet” contest and pictures from my presentation: The Amherst Scandal. The lady who looks like she is “praying” is Johanna Sweet performing a scene from the Belle of Amherst. Emily Dickinson was the Belle of our Tea.

 

Please join me on July 28, 2019, 4:00 p.m. at the Hutchins Educational Center in Castine. I will be giving a short talk on the scandal that rocked the small town of Amherst during Emily Dickinson’s lifetime. Emily and her sister Vinnie were right in the middle! Johanna Sweet will perform a scene from the Belle of Amherst.

And of course, Tea with all the fixings: petite sandwiches, biscuits, and sweets.

Prizes for prettiest bonnet, most original, and funniest and maybe others.

Only $15.00. All the proceeds will go to students in Aquino, Philippines to support their education.

 

“Travel is … about learning, about crossing boundaries and mastering the fear of strangers, about making the effort to understand other cultures and thereby empowering yourself.” Fatima Mernissi, Moroccan feminist writer

When I took a job in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, my goal was to keep my head down, make a lot of money, and scoot back home. My only impression of Arabs at the time was from the movies – men materializing over a sand dune daggers in hand. Women cloaked in black was the second image. None of this  mattered to me. I was desperate to save my land and humble home in Maine and to get my school loans off my back. So I plowed in figuring, I would focus on my work as a nurse. Humans can do anything for a year, right?

The Saudi men I worked beside were not dusty from the surrounding sand dunes but meticulously dressed in white thobes.  Their wives lived in beautiful homes; many had servants. Gradually, a whole new culture unfolded before me. I now understand so much more of Arab life: the food, the religion, social manners etc. Their culture is complex as is ours. Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud does not represent the ideals of all Saudis just as President Donald Trump does not represent the values of all Americans.