Blog Your Blessings Sunday

“Mom, we were in an accident”">“Mom, we were in an accident”

January 13, 2008

Those are the words that every parent fears. And for a split-second after MattieBoo uttered them in my ear this past Thursday evening, the world went dark.

He continued, “We got rear-ended on the way to the game.”

I snapped back to reality when I realized that, since he was calling me from his cell phone, he was obviously conscious and coherent.

“Are you hurt? Where are you? How are the other guys? How did it happen? How long ago?” I’m a litigator so I’m an expert at asking questions. I was rapid-firing them at the poor kid as I sought to understand what had happened, how it occurred and, most importantly, whether he was all right.

“Well, at first I told Mr. Williams I was o.k., but now my back and stomach hurt, so he canceled the game.”

That was all I needed to hear. “Put Mr. Williams on the phone.”

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A Walk Along a New Path

December 2, 2007

I took a walk this past week: Out of the office I have occupied for the past two-and-a-half years, out of the position I have held for the past three years, and out of the organization where I have worked for the past seven years. On Monday morning, I will walk into a new workplace, be assigned to a new office and areas of responsibility, and begin getting acquainted with new colleagues.

On Monday, I will begin to walk along a different professional path.

I make it my practice not to write here about my professional pursuits and coworkers, other than to reveal that I am an attorney. That will not change, but I do feel it is appropriate to note this milestone and the new direction my life path is taking.

I was blessed to have spent the past seven year performing work that was meaningful and, I believe, important. But for many reasons, it was time to move on. Fortunately, once I made up my mind, a completely unexpected new opportunity presented itself and I jumped at the chance to make this change.

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The Generous Spirit of the Blogging Community

October 7, 2007

You can’t pinpoint its exact location on a map, so you can’t get in your car and drive to it. You can’t take your dog for a walk in it. And you can’t describe it by establishing borders and confining it within those markers.

Nonetheless, be assured that the blogging community is just that. A neighborhood.

And just as in our traditional, physical neighborhoods, our blogging neighbors are frequently willing to lend a helping hand, offering support and assistance when we need it.

Today, I want to draw your attention to two of my blogosphere “good neighbors” who went out of their way to help improve the value of my property, Colloquium.

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Practice Tolerance (Part One)

August 19, 2007

My mother-in-law died suddenly in May 2002 at the age of 82. The sheriff showed up at the front door holding her wallet and keys, and notified BigBob that the neighbors had called 911 earlier in the day when she did not answer the phone, doorbell or open the shades.

To say that we were shocked is an understatement. The day before she had driven #1Son to school after he spent the night at her house with her.

We need some of her wishes, but not all. She had indicated a preference for cremation and no viewing, plus she had made clear that she did not want a schmaltzy organ-with-loads-of-vibrato sort of funeral service. Past that, we had to figure out how best to say our good-byes and celebrate her life. To be perfectly accurately, BigBob, as her only child, had that responsibility. Our role was to support him.

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When Jesus Twiddles His Thumbs

August 12, 2007

Note: The first part of this story about the social function is totally true and happened a few years ago. The Flash Forward section is an addendum and reflection. I really don’t talk to pictures on the wall. Ahem …

He was drunk.

In the Presbyterian Church no less. You know the one. Swanky, elegant, rich old-money-in-the-middle-of-town-prestigious-kinda-church. And in the sacred basement that night?

Speed-dating. Round tables. Too much perfume. And a perky little woman with an annoying bell. I was game. After all, what could go wrong in a church?

Here are the rules: There are twelve white linened tables with burning candles and refreshments. You choose one and sit down. Male across from female. When the bell rings, you’re off! Introductions and more sweaty palms. I so hate that. The bell rings again and you rotate to the next waiting gentleman caller.

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Phenomenon (Part 2)

July 28, 2007

As I mentioned previously, on July 15, 2007, I was honored to spend the day with Sir James and Lady Jeanne Galway at the Master Class in Napa. The way such a class works is this: The first portion of the class is a general lecture and group warm-up. Those desiring to be “participants” submit a professional-quality recording in advance and Sir James selects four players to whom he will give instruction while the audience members — “auditors” — watch and learn.

JHSEsq attended the Master Class in Napa with Sir James Galway

Based upon the various videotapes of other classes that I have watched, as well as interviews, information posted on his website and the e-mails that Sir James sends to our discussion group, I knew that the opportunity to attend the class represented a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn from a world-class flutist who has no equal.

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Blog Your Blessings Sunday

July 22, 2007

“I get around.”

JHSEsq visits San FranciscoRemember that old Beach Boys song? I’ve been singing it this week.

Last Sunday, I spent the day in Napa with my musical hero, Sir James Galway, and his gracious and talented wife, Lady Jeanne.

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Celebrate Your Accomplishments!

July 22, 2007

I have neglected this little blog. It has been left like the proverbial orphan on the doorstep of the orphanage for a few weeks.

Why?

Life.

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A Dream Fulfilled

July 15, 2007

I spent the day with Sir James and Lady Jeanne Galway at the Master Class in Napa. What an amazing day! (I will write about it in more detail soon.)

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Blog Your Blessings Sunday

July 8, 2007

Welcome to Colloquium, redesigned and powered by WordPress! Today I am thankful that my ordeal with the company from which I originally purchased my domain name is over and this site is not just up and running again, but greatly improved! Do you like the new layout? I think it looks much better, providing more […]

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Rediscovering What I Believe

June 17, 2007

Today, in conjunction with Blog Your Blessings Sunday, it is my extreme honor and delight to present the first of what I hope will be a series of articles by Guest Authors.

And it is my privilege to introduce you to my friend and first Guest Author, Robert W. Mattheis, Bishop Emeritus of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Sierra Pacific Synod.

I first met Pastor Bob, as we knew him then, in 1974 when he was called to serve as pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, the congregation to which I belonged and served on the music staff for many years. In 1994, St. Paul’s loss was the Sierra Pacific Synod’s gain when Pastor Bob was elected to the office of and became Bishop Bob, overseeing 215 ELCA congregations from Porterville, California north to the Oregon border and as far east as Elko, Nevada.He retired in 2002, and continues to reside here in Lodi. He is now active in Way of Christ Community, described as “a unique and evolving community looking to live, believe, worship and learn in a new way,” which is led by his daughter and son-in-law, Pastors Amy Jo and Peter Mattheis-Holmquist.

I asked Bishop Bob to be my first Guest Author for many reasons.

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Blog Your Blessings Sunday

May 20, 2007

My mother’s roses are in full bloom right by the front step of the house. The sun is shining brightly this morning and it is a beautiful 62 degrees right now but will warm into the 80’s as the day progresses. Topics: Blog Your Blessings Sunday

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Sunday Scribblings #58: Ocean and Blog Your Blessings Sunday

May 6, 2007

This Week’s Prompt: Ocean love builds up the broken walland straightens the crooked pathlove keeps the stars in the firmamentand imposes rhythm on the ocean tideseach of us is created of itand i suspecteach of us was created for it ~~ Maya Angelou ~~ There is much to write about the events of this week, but […]

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Sunday Scribblings #57: Wings and Blog Your Blessings Sunday

April 28, 2007

This Week’s Prompt: Wings “God has given you a spirit with wings on which to soar into the spacious firmament of Love and Freedom. Is it not pitiful than that you cut your wings with your own hands and suffer your soul to crawl like an insect upon the earth?” Kahlil Gibran I had a […]

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Rooted in Reality … and Blessings

April 22, 2007

I am rooted in reality. That is a double-edged sword.

There is a certain peace, security and self-confidence that comes with understanding and accepting how, where and why your life is anchored. Becoming rooted in who you are and are not, who you were and were not, what is and is not, what will and will not be, what is and is not possible, is empowering because it is no longer necessary to engage in the soul-searching, questioning and experimenting that characterizes our lives when we are in our 20’s, 30’s and, for some of us, even our 40’s.

By the time most of us achieve the milestone I did this past December, we have survived the traumas and confusion of young adulthood — the struggles of acquisition — and become rooted in a career, home, family, hobbies and all the other things that make us who we are.

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Blog Your Blessings Sunday

April 1, 2007

Well, it was certainly a fun week, but it is also good to be home. I got a wonderful gift when I looked over the week’s pile of mail: Matthew’s report card arrived while I was away. Once again, he got straight A’s! Obviously, the ability to spend a week in New York City is, in […]

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Blog Your Blessings Sunday

March 21, 2007

Blog Your Blessings Sunday Wednesday I am late! However, there are good reasons for my tardiness: First of all, I am blessed with music in my life. Lots of music. Lots of difficult music which I have been practicing like crazy since we are now one week away from our Carnegie Hall performance! Our final […]

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Blog Your Blessings Sunday

March 11, 2007

Today I am thankful for peace and quiet. It is a blessing to hear the silence from time to time. The above cartoon looks like me. Add to the cacophony depicted there the sounds of the washer, dryer, dishwasher, cell and land lines ringing, Blackberry beeping, doorbell chiming, dogs barking, kids yelling, “Mom, did you wash […]

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Blog Your Blessings Sunday

March 4, 2007

This is going to be a short entry because I am exhausted! But it is a good kind of exhaustion. The past couple of Sundays, I have written about my own kids … today I am thankful for my youngest nephew. I am exhausted because this afternoon was a very special day in this young […]

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Blog Your Blessings Sunday

February 18, 2007

It’s Sunday again! Time to “blog your blessings”. Are you playing yet? If not, visit The Blue Panther Experience to get more details, including the code for the blogroll. Last Sunday, I bragged out my youngest, Matthew. This week I am expressing my thankfulness for #1Son. He is going to be 20 next month (I […]

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& The Carnival of Family Life">Blog Your Blessings Sunday & The Carnival of Family Life

February 11, 2007

This entry is a “two-fer” in that it fits both Blog Your Blessings Sunday and the Carnival of Family Life! I am grateful every day for both of my kids, but today I’m focusing on my Mattie-Boo. First of all, it seems that he has a secret admirer. The other day, I was in the […]

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