“Light One Candle” if Politics in America is Depressing You!

18 Jan 2025 6 Comments

by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Hello America, well I’m your native son.  Born to a Southern Woman and a Northern man.  I grew up listening to hillbilly music and classical opera.  I grew up with a decorated WW II veteran for a dad who was mean as hell and a mom whom my friends all loved and called her an angel.  My dad saw the bad in everyone while my mom saw only the good.  My father disowned me when I joined the military without telling him, while my mom wept for days when she found out I was gone.

Today we are here to witness the dawn of a new era of greed and empire.  Some of you are no doubt mourning the demise of the old era of greed and empire.  Many Americans including the rich, super-rich and mega-rich are out learning how to do the “Musk Frolic and Prance” as they await their expected epoch of profits and returns.  Even the poor who voted for Trump expect that in making America great again, Trump will give everyone a turkey for Christmas along with a free bottle of Jim Beam Bourbon.

For those of us who share less than kindly sentiments towards Trump, American Exceptionalism and Corporate Profits, it can be said that one person’s heaven is another person’s hell.  I know many of my friends woke up sick and petrified by the election results.  Years of trying to figure out how anyone could vote for such a character, were demolished in one horrific nightmare of populism which saw Trump actually win by a majority of the votes cast.

Some are now saying that it is time to regroup and rethink our strategies.  Many more have decided that the stress and frustrations are not worth it and have turned off the news and tried to shut Trump and his minions out of their minds.  It is hard to do this when everywhere you turn you see people jumping up and down celebrating Trump’s victory.  I want to share with you a very famous song (Light One Candle) which I think provides some inspirational thoughts.

This song goes back to the days of the Civil Rights movement but in terms of its subject matter dates back more than two thousand years.  I would like to interpret some of the stanzas and describe what they mean to me.  I recently heard this song again while listening to some old tapes.  I could not help but think how relevant it still is.  I hope it moves you the way it moved me.

First, here is some background information about the song from Wikipedia:

“Light One Candle” is a song by the folk group Peter, Paul and Mary.  It is a popular Hanukkah song.  Peter, Paul, and Mary performed the song in concerts starting in 1982, before recording it for their 1986 studio album No Easy Walk to Freedom.

The lyrics commemorate the war of national liberation fought by the Maccabees against the Seleucid Greek empire from 167 to 141 BCE, a war described in the Books of the Maccabees and commemorated by the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.  After Judah Maccabee and his army defeated the Syrian-Greek forces, the Jewish people according to custom cleansed and rededicated the Temple by lighting a Menorah, or a candelabra with nine branches.  There are eight branches surrounding a central branch which holds a special candle called a Shamash.  The Shamash is used to light each of the other candles one at a time.  According to the Talmud—an extensive collection of rabbinic law and biblical commentary written between 200 and 500 CE—the Maccabees found only a small amount of oil to light the candelabra.  It miraculously lasted 8 nights, resulting in Hanukkah’s nickname, “The festival of lights.”

Light One Candle by Peter, Paul and Mary

  1. Light one candle for the Maccabee children with thanks that their light didn’t die:

I want to give thanks for my life, my wife’s life, the lives of my friends and the lives of the many people who are still willing to fight the good fight for freedom and justice.  I give thanks for the people who will not give up and for whom the light of hope has not gone out.

  1. Light one candle for the pain they endured, when their right to exist was denied:

I want to light a candle so my eyes can see the hardship and sacrifice that so many people who have gone before me have endured.  I want to see with my heart and feel with my soul the pain that the heroes and heroines have endured who gave their last breath for my freedom and rights.

  1. Light one candle for the terrible sacrifice justice and freedom demand:

Let the sacrifices made by other always be illuminated in my eyes by this candle.  Never let the realization dim for me that you gain what you strive for in this world and that as Frederic Douglas so famously said: “Those who profess to favor freedom and yet depreciate agitation, are people who want crops without ploughing the ground”.

  1. But light one candle for the wisdom to know when the peacemaker’s time is at hand:

I light a candle that shows two wars being waged as I sit here at my computer.  I suspect many more wars are going on that I do not see.  The two wars the candle shows are killing innocent men, women and children each day while cries for peace and ceasefires are ritualistically ignored.  Day after day goes by while those with the power to stop the killings refuse to see the light shone by the candle.  Where are the leaders with the wisdom to know when the time for peacemaking is at hand?

maxresdefaultChorus:

Don’t let the light go out!

It’s lasted for so many years!

Don’t let the light go out!

Let it shine through our hope and our tears.

  1. Light one candle for the strength that we need to never become our own foe:

Pogo said that “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”  I light a candle so that I can see the truth and avoid the path of vengeance and retribution that guides so much of war.  It is easy to lose sight of the path that we want to be on and to go blindly down a trail that makes us “one of them.”  We become the “wolf that we feed.”

  1. And light one candle for those who are suffering, pain we learned so long ago:

I light one candle to see the grief and suffering that are afflicting humanity.  To see the many people who are in the shadows and cannot be seen.  The light from the candle shines on those who are deeply in distress but are being ignored.

  1. Light one candle for all we believe in, that anger not tear us apart:

I will light a candle to shine into my heart, to keep it from becoming dark.  A light to show me that all people who walk this earth deserve more than my scorn or wrath.  Under the light from this candle, we can all work together to made a better world for ourselves and our children.

  1. And light one candle to find us together, with peace as the song in our hearts:

Let the light from this candle shine like a million suns until we can all see the glow of peace that burns in every heart.  Humans from the beginning of time have sought peace wherever they have settled.  Let this light remind us of the common bond  that unites all of us in every part of the globe regardless of race, religion, gender or ideology.

Chorus:

Don’t let the light go out!

It’s lasted for so many years!

Don’t let the light go out!

Let it shine through our hope and our tears.

What is the memory that’s valued so highly

That we keep it alive in that flame?

What’s the commitment to those who have died

That we cry out they’ve not died in vain?

We have come this far always believing

That justice would somehow prevail

This is the burden, this is the promise

This is why we will not fail!

There are those who say keep the faith.  Those who say do not give up hope.  Those who say when you get knocked down, you only succeed by getting back up.  We cannot fail if we keep trying.  We can only fail when we stop trying.  The days ahead may see and probably will see many of our dreams destroyed.  We may see a world tilting towards injustice and cruelty.  It may become a landscape full of the wreckage of many of our hopes and desires.  But it is only our own despair which will defeat us.  Each of our voices are needed.  Each of us must carry a candle to illuminate the visions of what could and should be.

Chorus:

Don’t let the light go out!

Don’t let the light go out!

Don’t let the light go out!

I Want to be More Like Jesus!

22 Dec 2024 7 Comments

by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Every year, I try to post our “Annual Holiday Letter” and then follow up with some holiday or Christmas missives.  Today, I was struck by what a friend of mine wrote on his blog: 

“I want to be more like Jesus.”

Now just to be perfectly clear.  I believe that Jesus was a great prophet and humanist.  I do not believe that he was the “Son of God” or that, “He rose from the dead on the third day and ascended into heaven.”  Nevertheless, many people would disagree with me and millions of people the world over celebrate his birthday on December 25th.  Jesus has inspired people to live a better life, and it would be no mean feat for anyone to follow in his footsteps.  I admire my friend for his goal.  I decided to see what or how ChatGPT would respond to his request.  I typed in his goal into my ChatGPT program:  “I want to be more like Jesus.”  The following is the ChatGPT reply that I received word for word: 

ChatGPT:

That’s such a meaningful and beautiful goal!  Striving to live more like Jesus involves focusing on qualities and actions that reflect His teachings and character.  Here are some practical ways to guide you:

1. Cultivate Love and Compassion

Jesus emphasized love above all: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31).  Practice kindness, empathy, and care for others, especially those in need or who may be marginalized.

Look for ways to serve and help, whether through volunteering or simply being a good listener.

2. Practice Forgiveness

Jesus taught forgiveness, even for those who wrong us: “Forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).  Let go of grudges and seek reconciliation where possible.

3. Live Humbly

Humility was a cornerstone of Jesus’ character.  Avoid arrogance and practice gratitude for your blessings, knowing that everything is a gift from God.

4. Spend Time in Prayer

Jesus often withdrew to pray and strengthen His connection with God (Luke 5:16).  Take time daily to pray, reflect, and seek guidance.

5. Follow the Golden Rule

Treat others the way you want to be treated (Matthew 7:12).  This simple principle can help guide your decisions and interactions.

6. Embrace Patience and Peace

Jesus remained calm and patient even in challenging situations.  Practice patience with others and seek peace rather than conflict.

7. Live Faithfully

Make God the center of your life by reading Scripture, attending church or fellowship, and applying biblical teachings in your daily actions.

8. Show Generosity

Jesus cared deeply for the poor and was generous with His time and resources.  Share what you have, whether it’s time, money, or talents.

9. Stand for Truth and Justice

Jesus was unafraid to stand up for what was right.  Be honest and stand firm in your values, even when it’s difficult.

10. Be Servant-Hearted

Jesus said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matthew 20:28).  Serve others without expecting anything in return.

Becoming more like Jesus is a lifelong journey.  It’s about progress, not perfection, so give yourself grace along the way.  ❤️

___________________________________________________________________________________________

I think these are all beautiful goals.  The only one I might partially modify would be number seven.  “To make God the center of my life.”  Being an atheist, making God the center of my life would be hard to do.  Nevertheless, the way I see it is that I should not make the mistake of making “Myself” the center of the universe.  I remind myself regularly that the world does not revolve around me.  Neither do I make science or even rationality the center of my universe.  I try to read other books of wisdom like, The Tanakh: The sacred text of Judaism; The Quran: The sacred text of Islam; The Analects of Confucius: The sacred text of Confucianism; The Rig Veda: The sacred text of Hinduism and The Kitáb-i-Aqdas: The sacred text of the  Baháʼí Faith. 

There is much wisdom in the world and the more I read, the more humble I have become.  The more difficult it becomes to take myself too seriously.  Reading and reflection are good antidotes to prevent oneself from being another god.  So, this year if you want to embrace my friend’s goals “To be more like Jesus,” you will get no argument from me.  I will salute you and wish you success on your journey.  That to me is the true meaning of Christmas.  What Jesus would have us all do this wonderful holiday season. Did he not say, “No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Happy Holidays: John and Karen Holiday Letter for 2024

19 Dec 2024 18 Comments

by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized Tags: , , , ,

Greetings and Good Tidings to those of you who are fortunate enough to still be on our mailing list. 

Over the years, we have had to knock off several people who included both friends and relatives.  What we have left now, we like to believe, is the “cream of the crop.”  Yes, we are including you in the basket of friends and relatives who still talk and sometimes even walk with us. 

On the more serious side, the sad truth is that over the past few years, we have had all too many wonderful friends and relatives pass from this earth.  Those good friends and relatives were the people we “knocked” off of our mailing list.  We only wish they were still on it.  The topic of mortality seems to surround us these days.  A friend recently told me at church that he knew that he was going to be leaving for a better place.  I told him that I was not ready to go but if there is a better place, I will keep my fingers crossed. 

The last few years have brought much unhappiness to the world in terms of economics, politics and climate.  It is easy for me to be pessimistic.  Fortunately, my spouse is the eternal optimist.  She helps to remind me that we live a good life with many blessings.  We are not rich, and we certainly are not famous.  People may forget me at most parties I go to, but Karen always greets me when I come home and walk in the door. 

On the Joyous side,  Karen and I are joining with you to celebrate another amazing constellation of holidays including, Ramadin, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Bodhi Day, Feast Day of Our Lady Guadalupe, Boxing Day, Yule, Zarathosht Diso, and New Year’s Eve.  All over the world, be it summer or winter, many people are celebrating ancient traditions that bring joy and happiness to their lives.  Studying some of these traditions one finds many common denominators.  Mostly that living a virtuous moral life is the pathway to happiness and respect.  

Today, more than ever, Karen and I enjoy our health, children, friends and relatives whom we would not trade for all the money or fame in the world.  Thus, as our chosen celebrations of Christmas bear down on us, we want to give you our gratitude for all the kindness, thoughtfulness and camaraderie that each of you has shown us over the years.  To paraphrase the famous Beatle song “We get by with a little help from our friends and relatives.”  Bless all of you this holiday season and may you all have peace, good health and happiness. 

Karen: 

Now that John has focused on the macro world, I’ll fill in the micro happenings for us this year.  I made my annual trip to MN and WI to visit my children and old friends in January.  The previous year had record breaking snow.  This year there was almost none.  But was it ever cold!!  There must be a little of the hardy Minnesotan in me yet as I was out and about daily with the -20 or greater temps. 

I came back to AZ and went back to work on my quilt of John’s ties.  I was totally amazed when it (my first quilt) won the “Viewer’s Choice” award at our club’s annual quilt show.  I continue to be obsessed with my new craft.  I also tried my hand at gourd painting for the first time.  If you happen to know our friends Dar and Denny, please don’t mention the picture of the gourd on our card.  We have had a gourd which is decorated by us or Dar and Denny and given at Christmas for 10+ years.  It is kept for a year, then redecorated and given back next Christmas.  Needless to say, Dar and Denny will not be getting our Christmas card this year until after they’ve unwrapped the gourd. 

In mid-June we packed the car, or rather, stuffed the car full (including a sewing machine, of course) and embarked on a cross-country journey.  A visit with my cousin Jane and her husband Bill in Albert Lea, MN.  Six weeks in a cottage in the Wisconsin Northwoods.  Visits with friends Nancy in PA and Susan in NY.  Two weeks in Rhode Island visiting with John’s sister Jeanine and several of John’s friends.  John stayed with Pastor Kwame Rice for three days while we were in RI.  On to Montgomery, AL to visit the Rosa Parks Library & Museum and the Civil Rights Memorial Center.  A brief stay in Biloxi MS at John’s first duty assignment after basic training in the USAF.  Followed by Four sightseeing days in New Orleans  and a visit to an historic slave plantation.  John bought a book on Voodoo at a local Voodoo parlor so he could cast spells on Trump. 

More visiting with John’s cousin Elena and her husband Greg in Houston, TX and at their ranch in the Texas Hill Country.  We finally returned home in mid-September with 10,700 more miles on the car and wonderful memories.  Two of the highlights were my 80th birthday party in July which John hosted.  We had about 40 friends and relatives attend.  John’s 60th high school reunion in September was the second highlight. 

The numbers of friends and places we visited, and the miles traveled are hard to believe.  Luckily, I don’t feel 80, except climbing up or down stairs when my knees remind me or feeling the need for a nap after an exercise class. 

Although we always miss friends and family members in other parts of the country, we enjoy the Arizona weather and the many things to do that keep us busy here.  I have the Tucson Dulcimer Ensemble, the Tuesday Uke and Dulcimer group, my church choir, Coolidge Cotton Patchers Quilters and 2-3 exercise classes per week while John keeps busy with his Ageing Capriciously Blog, mentoring, running, subbing at the high schools and Veteran’s events.  We also enjoy attending concerts in the Tucson and Phoenix areas and the proximity to Mexico for trips to Puerto Penasco for seafood and beaches. 

Wishing you all health and happiness,

 John and Karen

Here are some pictures that we took along our journeys.  

It’s the most Stressful time of the year

07 Dec 2024 6 Comments

by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

I decided to do a little take off on the classic Andy Williams song “The Happiest Time of the Year.”  Did you know there are more suicides in December than any other month in the year?  Actually, that is not true. Suicides peak in the Spring.  It is a myth held by many people that suicides peak at Christmas time.

( https://www.asc.upenn.edu/news-events/news/suicides-dont-spike-around-holiday-season-americans-think-they-do)

One major study of suicides done Internationally found that suicide risk was highest on Mondays and increased on New Year’s day in most countries. However, the risk of suicide on weekends and Christmas varied by country and territory.  This study stated that:

“Public holidays seem to provide a protective association with suicidal events, however, several studies have reported an increase in risk in the immediately following days.812 However, a few other studies reported no strong linkage between suicide and general holidays.”1314

“The broken-promise effect theory has been widely adapted to explain short term temporal variations in suicide. It states that individuals may postpone committing suicide due to the hope of a “new beginning” when the cycle ends (e.g., weekends and the end of the year),810 while people may be prone to suicidal reactions when they encounter a sense of hopelessness from a new cycle” (eg, Monday and New Year). —- Association of Holidays and the Day of the Week with Suicide Risk.  A Multicountry Study.  BMJ 2024; 387 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2024-077262 (Published 23 October 2024)

This is probably much more technical than you wanted to think about today.  Perhaps my song will cheer you up.  Grab a cup of eggnog, dump some rum in it, put on your favorite Christmas carols and be lulled to sleep while humming my song.

IT’s the Most Stressful Time of the Year. 

It’s the most Stressful time of the year

With the kids out of school

Everyone expecting you to be of good cheer

It’s the most stressful time of the year

It’s the worst season of all

With fake holiday greetings

So called friends come to call

Relatives you can’t stand

It’s the worst season of all

There’ll be Christmas parties for finding gifts

Artery clogging Junk foods for getting obese on

Than slogging out to shovel the snow

There’ll be old family stories

And boring tales of the glories of

Christmases long, long ago

It’s the most stressful time of the year

There’ll be much flues and colds

And phones will be chiming

When loved ones get sick

Just to tell you they’re not coming

It’s the most stressful time of the year

There’ll be parties for pay for

Crowds to fight through

Numerous debts will be accrued

With bank accounts depleted

There’ll be worries about spending

Endless pleas for donations

And advertising never ending

It’s the most stressful time of the year

There’ll be much grousing and moaning

For who to buy presents

And how much to spend

For gifts to throw in their garbage bin

It’s the most stressful time

Yes the most stressful l time

Oh the most stressful time

Of the whole fucking year

My Apologies to those of you who love Christmas

What Are You Up To These Days?

18 Nov 2024 7 Comments

by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , ,

Have you ever run into an old friend, and they ask you “Well, what are you up to these days?”  I find this a very difficult question to answer for several reasons.  One is that I am not sure if they are just being polite or if they really  want to spend an hour or so listening to what I have been up to.  I generally presume that they won’t want to spend the time.  Another reason is that it does not seem polite to regale them with what some might construe as bragging.  For instance, I would like to say the following:

“I am building a new wall in China to rival the old one.  However, the China wall project is just a side hobby that keeps me busy until I get to play my new symphony with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.  I have to couple my symphony debut with my visit to the King of England.  I am being awarded an OBE for my contributions to English literature.  After that, Karen and I will leave on another round the world cruise.”  “Oh, do you know what an OBE is?”

“Kids and grandkids are all above average and Karen is happier than ever.” 

“And what are you doing these days?”  “Oops, times out, I have to run.  Call me for lunch the next time you are in town.”

More likely I will answer the above query with a very different response.  As a matter of fact, after our church breakfast this morning, one of the friends at our table asked me what I was going to do today.  My reply was honest, “I have no plans to do a darn thing today and I have nothing that I want to do.”  I actually cannot think of anything I would rather do than nothing.  Well, I may take a nap or help Karen eat some unbaked cookie dough.

As it gets nearer to Thanksgiving and Christmas, Karen’s baking genes kick in.  She  will bake enough lefse and Christmas cookies to last at least until Easter.   Most of Karen’s baking  goes to our stomachs, the stomachs of friends and neighbors and Karen’s children.   I keep wondering each year as the cost of sugar, butter, chocolate chips, pecans, walnuts, oil, flour and other cooking supplies go through the roof,  how long our IRA will last.

I suggested to Karen last year that we ask for a good-will donation from anyone she gives cookies to.  She thought I was being rather mercenary.  I tried to tell her about the “Prosperity Gospel” but being a good Lutheran from birth she would have none of it.  If you are not familiar with the “Prosperity Gospel”, it goes something like this:

Jesus was really very depressed because he was poor and did not have a limousine or private jet.  Jesus died because he wanted us all to be happy.  He knew the secret to happiness was to be wealthy.  He said, “It is very easy to thread a needle when you are rich, but poor skinny camels can never get through the eye of a needle.  Rich people will have many servants who are good at threading needles.”

The New Testament in some versions have Jesus saying the following: Luke 12:15

ESV:  And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one ‘s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

 NIV:  Then he said to them, “Watch out!  Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

As we get closer to Black Friday and Cyber Monday and Christmas and Boxing Day, we will again be able to watch all the good Christians trying to decide what Jesus really said or perhaps what he really meant about prosperity and wealth.  Did he really mean it when he said,  “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me.” — Matthew 19:21

Or did he mean that you should plan your shopping spree very carefully, so you will be able to beat the other shoppers to the bargains and sales.  Get up early in the morning with a great shopping list and carefully measure the distance between the stores you want to go to.  Remember some stores will open earlier and some will have better bargains, so you need to plan your shopping very astutely.

Time, prices, sales, bargains, money and crowds are all factors to consider in developing your strategic shopping plan.  For those of you who are planning challenged, you can find online help in navigating the hoards of other shoppers who are just waiting to get the best bargains before you do.  Go to Godshopsmart.com  for a list of bargains and strategic shopping plans. Strategic shopping plans can be purchased for as little as $19.99, and they will be worth every penny.

If you want to have some great lefse (Do you know what lefse is?) or wonderful chocolate chip pecan bourbon cookies to keep you from starving while you wait in line, I will give you a good deal on a batch of either.  Your choice.  You pay shipping and handling costs.  A good friend of mine bakes many churros this time of the year.  They call her the Churro Lady.  Another acquaintance makes great tamales.  You can choose either pork or beef tamales or mixed.  I prefer the mixed.  I can get you a good deal on these as well.  Nothing like a hot tamale or warm churro while you stand in line at the cashier on Black Friday.

So, this holiday season, forget the elections.  Forget politics.  Jesus would want you to shop.  Get out there and do your best to get the best bargains.  The US economy depends on shoppers like you.  However, this Holiday season, please be mindful not to purchase any products from China, North Korea, Russia or Iran.  Anyone caught doing so might be in trouble with the new Office of Strategic Buying.  I hear from highly placed sources that either Lauren Bobert or Marjorie Taylor Greene might be named Director.  Big Brother Will Be Watching You!

1200px-Shop_till_you_drop

 PS:

Here is a great poem for those of you who want to start celebrating a “Do Nothing Day.”

I’m Sitting Doing Nothing

by Jack Prelutsky

I’m sitting doing nothing,

which I do extremely well.

Exactly how I do it

is impossible to tell.

I scarcely move a muscle,

but serenely stay in place,

not even slightly changing

the expression on my face.

I’m fond of doing nothing,

so I do it all day long.

Whenever I do nothing,

I don’t ever do it wrong.

When I am doing nothing,

there is nothing that I do,

for if I started something,

it would mean that I was through.

When I am doing nothing,

I’m immobile as a wall.

When I am doing nothing

I don’t do a thing at all.

It’s easy doing nothing

and I find it lots of fun,

though when I’m finally finished

I’m uncertain that I’m done.

April 15th:  A Day to be Remembered

15 Apr 2024 6 Comments

by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

april addd

I will bet that you do not know what today is known for?  Looking it up on Google I found the following significant events that April 15 honors.

  • National Laundry Day
  • Purple Up! Day
  • National Glazed Spiral Ham Day
  • National Titanic Remembrance Day
  • National Take a Wild Guess Day
  • National Tax Day

I realize that it is also the day that Trump starts a trial that might just end up in his being charged with a felony.  However, I do not want to say another word or even hear another word about Chump.  If there is hell, I am sure that it will be a place where you get to listen to or read about Chump all day long.  My greatest fear these days (since I do not know how much longer I will be in this world) is that if I get to heaven, I will find Chump there.  Can you imagine a worse image of heaven than a place where Chump gets to go?  Of course, since I don’t believe in heaven, why should I worry about it?  I guess it bugs me that just maybe Chump could even get into heaven.  I mean what if St. Peter is a Republican?  But let’s get back to what April 15th is all about.  I would like to say a few words about each of these significant events.

NTL-LD-LMax

National Laundry Day:

For years, I did the laundry in our family.  Every Sunday, I would take our dirty clothes to the local laundry mat.  I would take a book to read.  I would sort the clothes.  Put them in the appropriate washing machines and then the dryers.  Finishing up, I would fold all the fresh clean clothes and put them into piles before putting them back into the laundry baskets.  I did more than ten years of trips to the laundry mat before finally being able to afford a washer and dryer.  I looked forward to the laundry mat as a place to relax, read and sometimes meet other people who had interesting stories to tell.  For me the laundry mat was the great democratic washing machine of America.  A place where the hoi polloi met on equal terms.  A place where politics did not matter, and you could ask someone for change for a dollar without being thought of as a greedy capitalist.

purple-up-day--april-15

Purple Up!  Day:

Truth be told, I had not a clue today was Purple Up day.  In fact, I had never heard of this “significant event”.  AI on Google gives the following description:

Purple Up! Day is a day to recognize military children and their families and is celebrated on April 15th.  The day encourages people to wear purple to represent all branches of the military and show unity with each other.  Purple Up! Day is part of the Month of the Military Child, which is celebrated throughout April.

Sorry, I joked about it being a significant event.  It is rather a significant event.  Military children (My first daughter was one for a year or so) do not always have it easy.  I particularly like the idea of wearing purple to show unity and represent all branches.  As a military veteran, I think it is important to respect the families of soldiers as well as the soldiers.  Life is not always easy for these families or the children of soldiers.  Never knowing if their father or mother is coming back and often not seeing them for long periods of time.  I need to go out and get a purple t-shirt.

national-glazed-spiral-ham-day--april-15

National Glazed Spiral Ham Day:

I don’t much care for ham.  However, I do like Costco’s spiral ham.  When I was growing up, we always had ham and lasagna on Easter.  I seldom eat ham anymore and I rather have fish on Easter than ham.  Fish seems more appropriate anyway.  If you realize that Christs “last supper” was actually a Passover Seder meal, it seems unlikely that he was eating ham.  More likely he was eating some of the following:

Gefilte fish: Poached fish dumplings

Matzo ball soup: Fluffy matzo balls in broth

Brisket or roast chicken: A popular choice

Potato kugel: Casserole-like dish

Tzimmes: Stew of carrots, prunes, potatoes, or sweet potato

Both Judaism and Islam have prohibited eating pork and its products for thousands of years.  Scholars have proposed several reasons for the ban to which both religions almost totally adhere.  Thus, it seems rather strange that we now see so many families albeit probably Christians eating pork on Easter Sunday.  But don’t worry about it.  Today April 15th you can eat all the ham or pork that you desire.

website-feature---national-titanic-remembrance-day---april-15

National Titanic Remembrance Day:

“At 2:20 a.m. on April 15, 1912, the Titanic hit an iceberg and sunk to the bottom of the North Atlantic as members of the ship’s band played “Nearer My God to Thee.”  There were not enough lifeboats on the ship as she embarked on her maiden voyage just days before, and 1,514 people lost their lives when the ship hit an iceberg and sank.” — Google

The ship carried some of the richest people in the world on that day.  The ship was also billed as “Unsinkable.”  Perhaps these two facts tell us much about the hubris of life.  “Man plans and God laughs.”   No amount of money can save you from death.  Over and over the folly of human beings is portrayed in episodes of arrogance and ego that are difficult to imagine.  We think humans rule the world, but we are simply fools strutting our stuff like Shakespeare said in Macbeth:

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,

Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,

To the last syllable of recorded time;

And all our yesterdays have lighted fools

The way to dusty death.  Out, out, brief candle!

Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player,

That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,

And then is heard no more. It is a tale

Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,

Signifying nothing.

national-tax-day--april-15

National Tax Day:

In the USA, today is technically the last day to file your taxes.  Just for the record, I filed mine back in February.  I now use Turbo Tax and the package works very well.  (I am not getting paid for that plug)  I am not sure how anyone can figure out the written tax forms that the IRS provides.  I think they were written with the idea of forcing people to either go to an accountant or buy a Turbo Tax program.  Any effort to simplify tax forms has been bypassed in favor or making the forms unimaginably complex.

website-feature---national-take-a-wild-guess-day--april-15

National Take A Wild Guess Day:

Who do you think dreamed this beauty up?  Go ahead and take a wild guess?  Don’t ask me.  I haven’t a clue.  I guess I will look this one up later.  I swear I did not make it up.

national-rubber-eraser-day---april-15

National Rubber Eraser Day:

Centuries before Cancel Policy, we had erasers to cancel things.  I never really liked erasers because I think they always left smudges and made the paper look dirty.  Erasers do not work at all with type or ink.  Pencils to me are an anachronism.  I do not understand why people still use them.  The lead breaks.  You have to sharpen them.  You can never find a sharpener when you need one.  Dull pencils suck.  You can’t just put them in your pocket, or you will poke a hole in your pocket and stab yourself with your lead pencil.  Why would anyone want to use a pencil?  If you don’t use a pencil, you won’t need a rubber eraser.  I would guess that the same people who thought up National Rubber Eraser Day own stock in a pencil company.  Take my word for it, buy a nice pen or even better, use a word processer.

That’s It Folks:  Have a Happy April 15th. 

My apologies for any significant other April 15th events that I have left out. 

Our Tree of Memories

12 Dec 2023 15 Comments

by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , ,

IMG_20231210_214616709Every year since Karen and I were married we have put up a Christmas Tree.  Putting up a tree was once something I hated almost as much as I hated the entire Christmas event.  I would be more than happy to forget that Christmas ever existed.  I made my first wife miserable with my incessant complaints about Christmas and made a promise to myself not to let my hatred of Christmas get in the way of Karen’s love for the holiday.  So very dutifully I unload the tree and boxes of ornaments, put on some Christmas songs, and help Karen decorate our tree. 

Yesterday, we went to a friends open house to view her decorations.  She has absolutely the most gorgeous holiday decorations I have ever seen.  It takes her months to decorate most of the rooms in her home and I truly marvel at her energy and the organizational skills it would take to put all her decorations up, take them down, store them and then find them again the following year.  In one room, she had a very large beautifully decorated Christmas tree.  You would not find a lovelier tree in either Macy’s or Gimbels 😊.

After returning home, I sat down in our living room a few feet from our own tree.  I asked Karen what she thought of our friends tree, and she remarked how gorgeous it was.  In comparison, I thought our tree looked a little more puny and nowhere near as stylish.  I replied to Karen, “Yes, her tree was prettier than ours, but I like ours better.”  Karen agreed.  I then thought, if her tree was more beautiful, then why would I prefer ours?  I wondered if I was just being defensive.  I asked myself this question and I realized it was not defensiveness.  Our tree would not turn any designers heads but for me the beauty was in all the memories that were on our tree.  Almost every ornament has some memory attached.  I told Karen, “Think of all the memories we have on our tree.  I am going to write a blog about it.”

My blog strategy was to pick out several ornaments from among the hundreds on our tree and to share with you some of our memories in terms of what they mean to us.  Since the memories are both Karen’s and mine, I asked Karen to help pick some decorations that were special to her and to share her memories of them.  Karen inherited a few of the decorations from her parents and some she acquired before we were married.  Several of the decorations actually go back to before either Karen or I were born.  I will include pictures of our tree and each ornament as we both take turns describing our memories.  The ornaments selected are simply in random order.  

IMG_20231210_214625538

I bought this ornament after my first wife and I were divorced.  It is the first ornament I ever remember buying.  Not sure what drew me to it, but I really loved it.  Maybe it was the woman that I wanted to marry.  After Karen and I were married, we hung it on the tree that we put up on our first Christmas living together. 

IMG_20231210_214631727_HDR

I have an adopted Korean daughter, Susan.  I bought this at a summer Korean camp.  Susan went to Korean day camp as a child, but later began teaching at Korean day camp while her sons attended camp. The little bear is wearing the traditional Korean female dress called called the Hanbok.  It is a distinctive clothing item that is unique to Korea.  I wanted Susan to have knowledge of her birth country, and eventually she found her birth mom, visits Korea and keeps in regular contact with her.  

IMG_20231210_214637380

I spent my high school years in Johnston, RI.  If you have ever been to Rhode Island, you will know the significance of this cup.  Dunkin Donuts permitted generations of young Italians like me to start “dunkin” their donuts.  My sister lives in Rhode Island and a highlight of our visits there used to be a trip to a Dunkin Donuts store.  From a small local chain, they are now a national chain.  I never really thought their coffee was that good.  Karen likes expresso coffee and Dunkin Donuts was not known for their expresso.  

IMG_20231210_214700369_HDR

In 2020, after our Russia trip was cancelled due to Covid restrictions, we replanned a trip to Spain.  We went to Spain in 2021 and stayed just outside Barcelona in a town called Cervello.  Barcelona is one of the most beautiful cities we have ever visited.  Perhaps the most extraordinary building in the city is the La Sagrada Familia.  It was designed and built by the architect Antoni Gaudí.  This ornament is a design by Gaudi that shall always remind us of the La Sagrada Familia. 
 
IMG_20231210_214739206

Joy to the World

19 Dec 2016 Leave a comment

by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

joy-to-the-world

Tis the season to be jolly, but for many people there might seem little to be jolly about.  In one of the most famous holiday stories of all time, the central character Ebenezer Scrooge gave what has become an iconic line about the holiday season.  Scrooge said:

“What’s Christmas but a time for finding yourself a year older and not a day richer?  There’s nothing merry in that.  If I could work my will, nephew, every idiot who goes about with “Merry Christmas” on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding and buried with a stake of holly through his heart.” — A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Not exactly a fan of Christmas, Scrooge may have echoed sentiments that lie dormant in many of us.  Over the years, it seems the holiday season starts earlier and earlier.  There is more pressure than ever to buy the right gifts and to spend increased amounts of hard earned money on presents for friends and loved ones.  The airwaves and pulpits bemoan the crass commercialism that accompanies so much of the holiday season while at the same time making sure that all commercial breaks are properly inserted between the “holiday messages.”

Our churches are full of giving trees, toy drives and Christmas shoes boxes.  Perhaps giving more at Christmas to some mysteriously perceived needy children in dire need of more toys will make us feel better about ourselves for ignoring the poor and needy for the rest of the year.  Even at church, the message that Jesus meant for us gets diluted with the drive to fill the toy box.  Do we even know any more what message Jesus wanted us to hear?

the-gospelJesus talked about the three classes of good people.  The first class hears his message but has little time to do anything about it.  The second class hears the message and when convenient they try to help others and spread the message of Jesus.  The third class commits their body and soul to sharing Jesus’s message.  The third class of men/women make a commitment to doing this year round and 24/7.  For the third class, it is not a onetime thing or something to be done when they have time or are not busy.  It is a lifetime commitment to share his message with the world.

“The title, Three Classes of Men, stands for three kinds of persons in any walk of life. They might be three classes of religious or priests, husbands or wives, workers or professional men.  However, classified, they represent three levels of volitional disposition to sacrifice whatever is less than God and stands in the way of His more perfect service and love.  Viewed from another aspect, they are three states of spiritual detachment which in ascending degree dispose a man for the reception of divine grace.  Implicit in the meditation is the belief that no matter how entangled in secular pursuits and impeded in the way of perfection, a person can rise above this condition if he takes the trouble to recognize these impediments and is humble enough to pray for help to overcome them.” — Three Classes of Men by Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.

Most of us will watch at least a few moving holiday stories before December 25th.  From Miracle on 34 Street to the story of the Christmas Truce during the fighting of WWI, we will hear many heartwarming tales of kindness and love.  Most of these stories are similar in theme to the Christmas Carol.  An individual who has utter contempt or callousness for the Christmas message somehow finds redemption through the love and compassion of others.

quote-the-life-of-jesus-christ-is-a-message-of-hope-a-message-of-mercy-a-message-of-life-in-max-lucado-90-79-19The Joy of Christmas is a state of fulfillment, contentment and gratitude.  Through the love of others who give selflessly of themselves, we can all be free to experience a Joy that cannot be bought or traded.  It is one of the reasons that giving and not receiving is said to be the true path to happiness.  During the holidays, we are excited about the chance to give to others.  And nowhere is that feeling of giving more delightful than in watching the face of a young child receive something that we know they really wanted.  However, Joy to the World should mean more than just giving toys to tots.  There are physical gifts which we can give but there are also emotional and spiritual gifts as well.

thank-you-fatherI am frequently critical of all the toy drives that I see going on at Christmastime.  Not just because I think most kids in America have more toys than they know what to do with, but because of the message that this sends.  Why not I ask, have a “books for tots” drive?  Why not give books for a present?  Why is it always about toys?  We become so narrowly focused that we lose sight of the larger picture.

Christmas is about Joy.  But Joy does not just come from toys.  Joy comes from learning.  Joy comes from sharing.  Joy comes from helping others.  Joy comes from being present when needed by others.  Joy is not just a physical phenomenon; it is a spiritual and emotional phenomenon.  The Message of Joy that Jesus wanted to bring into the world was a message about peace and love.

I see a lot of talk these days about putting the Ten Commandments up on scrolls and even billboards.  Here in Arizona City, they have erected a billboard with the Ten Commandments printed on it.  To the best of my knowledge, Jesus said

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.  For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.  Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 5:17-20

acts-kindness-inspiremoreThus, Jesus did not come to replace the commandments but he did come to go beyond the commandments.  God brought the commandments to Moses but the message that Jesus brought to us is in addition to the commandments.  Jesus extended the Ten Commandments with a list that has come to be known as the Eight Beatitudes.   A beatitude is something that gives one both happiness and blessedness.  Jesus gave these Eight during his famous Sermon on the Mount:

THE EIGHT BEATITUDES OF JESUS

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart,
for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Gospel of St. Matthew 5:3-10

message-to-the-worldI am continually surprised by so-called Christians who seem to revel in the Ten Commandments but treat the Eight Beatitudes as though they were bastard children of Satan.  When was the last time you heard anyone wanting to put up a statue or sculpture or sign with the Eight Beatitudes on it?  The Message of Christmas is the Eight Beatitudes.  The Joy that Jesus wanted to bring to the world can only come by following the Eight Beatitudes.  If you call yourself a Christian but you do not practice these in you daily life, then you are not spreading the Gospel of Jesus.

In this present climate of fear, bigotry and uncertainty engendered by the recent US Presidential race and outcome, the message of Jesus needs to be repeated and spread as never before.  If there was no Joy in Muddville when Casey struck out, there certainly will not be any Joy in the World until all of us, Christian, Buddhist, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Mormon, Baha’i  and others start believing in and following the Eight Beatitudes.  I am not saying this to try to convince anyone to be a Christian.  The kindness-quotes1words of the Beatitudes go beyond any one religion.  They speak to a way of being in the world and a way of treating other human beings.  Just as I have found valuable teachings in other religions, I think more Christians should be willing to share the Message of Jesus in the Eight Beatitudes.  Keep in mind though, that sharing this message will never work unless you also live by the message.  You must be the change you want to see in others.  Do you know what the famous Indian Chief Sitting Bull said when asked what he thought of Christianity?  Chief Sitting Bull replied: “I have read your Bible and the religion seems good but I do not see many White people practicing it.”

Time for Questions: 

  • When we denigrate people on welfare and refuse to support the poor and needy what Beatitude are we ignoring?
  • When we want to wage war on other countries to support our lifestyle, what Beatitude are we breaking?
  • When we have no time for immigrants and refuse to shelter those needing respite from tyranny and injustice, what Beatitude speaks to this?
  • When we practice racism and discrimination towards those who are different from us in thoughts, words or deeds, what Beatitude are we not following?
  • When we fail to speak out against bigotry and hatred, what Beatitude would challenge our behavior?
  • When we fail to treat others with honesty and integrity, what Beatitude are we disdaining?
  • When we fail to give compassion and comfort to those in need, what Beatitude should we be thinking more of?
  • When we practice narcissism and think we are better than others, what Beatitude would Jesus tell us to look at more closely?
  • Which “Class” of people do you belong to?

Life is just beginning.

“The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of love and of generosity and of goodness.  It illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world’s busy life and become more interested in people than in things.” — Thomas S. Monson
happyholidaysbanner1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Friends, Family and Loved Ones,

20 Dec 2015 4 Comments

by Dr. John Persico Jr. in Uncategorized Tags: , , ,

Benjii our sheepThe year is 2015.  It is the Year of the Sheep.  Sheep are gentle and calm and we love their wool.  We bought a sheep this year and named him Benjie.  He lives in the living room and keeps us company.  He is very low maintenance.  It is hard to believe that the end of 2015 is only a few days away.   My blog this week will be our annual Holiday letter that Karen and I both write and send out through a variety of media including snail mail, emails, hand delivery and my blog.  Each year, we use this letter to sum up our lives and the events or people that have had an impact on us during the year.  Probably not very exciting but this was 2015 for us.

Karen and John

Karen and John

It is 5 days before Christmas as I write this.  We celebrate the holidays each year rather traditionally.  Karen loves to bake Swedish cookies that she learned from her grandmother and also make a ton of lefse, much of what she gives away to a coterie of fans who swoon over it.  Myself, I would rather have fruitcake which I now buy each year from Costco.  I have many fewer fans for my fruitcake.  Less presents under the tree each year and gift cards now seem to be the order of the day.  We spend evenings watching old Christmas specials on Netflix which help get me in the mood for the holidays.  Christmas was never a really big deal for me like it is for Karen.  One message that seems to keep emerging from most of these movies:  Christmas is really not about presents, travels, accomplishments or awards.  Its real meaning is the love of the people we care about.  In this respect, 2015 was a good year.

Xibo and Dan DanKaren and I made a trip in January to see some very good friends in San Francisco and Karen’s son, Kevin.  Karen juggled her time to be able to spend some good time with Kevin and even get a glimpse of his new job at LinkedIn.  When we came back to Wisconsin, Karen was able to get some time in with her daughters Julie and Susan.  Karen and Susan went out together to visit my sister Jeanine in Rhode Island for the 4th of July and had a grand time.  Alas, the grandkids seem to have mostly flown the nest (Is there an empty next for Grandparents?) and it is hard to tag or catch up with them.  Nevertheless, Logan, Garrick (now engaged to Kat), Sam and Zach all seem to be pursuing the typical life of most young people today.  They are either in school or working and trying to really figure out what they will be when they get old like us.  We see them occasionally like ships passing in the night. I suppose our snow birding between Arizona and Wisconsin also complicates the matter.

megan and karenKaren and Megan now have a good thing going and each year around this time they get together for several days of baking.  It becomes a mother and daughter day to schlep flour and sugar all other each other’s kitchen since they alternate houses to flour.  This year we will finally get to meet Megan’s new friend Dave.  After cookie baking this Saturday, we plan to go to one of his gigs and listen to his band.  Dave is a guitarist and singer with a popular cover band named Furious George in Phoenix.

Curves Group

Karen and her friends at Curves 

If relationship wise, we were doing a balance sheet for 2015, on the whole it would be very positive.  However, it was not without its losses.  Both Karen and I lost some good friends this year.  Death seems to be something that becomes almost omnipresent these days both on a personal level (with more and more loved ones aging) and on a social level with the media constantly showering us with episodes of violence and mayhem.  Perhaps, something I should not bring up at Christmas time, but as Jesus was about bringing love into world, maybe it is something to reflect on.  I have to admit, my blogs (see www.agingcapricously.com) have been more and more about the evils and vices that I believe it is our personal responsibility to confront.  As I age, I wonder how I can do more in this respect or if I am even doing enough.  Am I making a difference or just annoying people?  I try to balance a certain amount of negativity in my blogs with a decent dose of let’s say “positivity” if there is such a word.  One of my most popular blogs was on the subject of gratitude.  I am certainly grateful for the good health that has blessed Karen and me this year.

Tucson Dulcimer Ensemble

Karen and the Tucson Dulcimer Ensemble

Karen and I are both working part-time.  I continue to teach both residentially and on-line.  Karen passed her certification test on the new ICD-10 coding procedures in September as well as doing some home health consulting.  I am envious that at 71 years of age, she has more job prospects than I had when I was 22.  She has so much work in her queue that I have to keep reminding her to have fun and enjoy her retirement.  In actuality both of us would go crazy without some regular work to keep us focused.  I guess neither of us has ever learned how to play well.

On the other hand, after years of practice, music camps and many music jams in Minnesota, Arkansas, Kentucky and now Arizona,  Karen has become an excellent dulcimer player and enjoys playing with dulcimer friends in WI and just south of here with the Tucson Dulcimer Ensemble.   In the last two weeks, she has played at a fund raiser for the local library, a Red Hat women’s group and an Episcopal Church bazaar.  We don’t have to worry about taxes though as these are all free gigs.  I keep encouraging her to keep it up though as someday there might be a talent scout out there and she could be the next Lady Gaga.  Carnegie Hall here we come.  I can pick out her outfits.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all.  My God bless you and keep you with good health and much happiness.

John and Karen