Sunshine On My Shoulders

Seeing Face-to-Face

 "The Jetsons" Google Image

When The Jetsons animated sitcom made its debut in 1962, I was a little girl, excitedly sitting with my family around our huge black, console "color" televison set... one with only three stations, and a huge knob that you had to actually walk up to the set to change.

Unlike her usual, "TURN THAT IDIOT BOX OFF!"... we actually heard our mom say... "Let's invite the Smiths across the street to come watch "The Jetsons" with us. I'll make a dessert!" (She was known far and wide for her tempting desserts.)

Not only because it was the first "in color" series shown of its kind... but mainly because of the charm and antics of this futuristic 2062 space family (doesn't seem so far away now!)... the Mowdy family was smitten. And add to that... all the technology possibilities which allured my Sci-Fi brothers.

 George Jetson photo from ACE Photos

I so vividly recall my wonderment at the thought of speaking to someone on a phone line, live, face-to-face, like the Jetsons did. That would never happen in my lifetime!

And yet, here I sit, with my new Android phone, a T-Mobile G2, on which I can video chat spontaneously... face-to-face! A while back, from India, I laughed while talking to my little dog over Skype, as she just couldn't figure out where I was.

Amazing... and in my lifetime! What a marvel.

You know... sometimes I wonder... about seeing Jesus face-to-face. In my younger days, it seemed like Heaven was so remote... so futuristic. Now, as I have so many friends and family awaiting me there, as well as the sands of time catching up to me, and with the truths of Scripture blazing in my heart... I realize it will not be so long.

As my mom expressed on her deathbed about seeing face-to-face "the One Who has loved me the most all these years," those of us who are walking by faith, will very soon have that faith become sight.

Now, that... seeing Jesus face-to-face... is a thought to keep me pressing on!

"And I shall see Him face to face, and tell the story—saved by grace." ~Fanny J. Crosby

Link #1: Yo-Yo Ma to Jesuit Priest

Google Image, Salo Angel Falls in South America

You've been told how a woman's brain functions, with its multi-task, jumping around thinking, and spaghetti connections. Well... that is exactly the condition of my little gray cells this morning. I cannot think on just one topic!

For instance... what are the links in my thinking, that would connect Yo-Yo Ma to a South American, Jesuit priest of the mid-1700's, then to my daughter's wedding, and on to American piracy of the 1600's? Do you give up? Bet you do.

For years I have loved the expressive, "luminous meditations" played by famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma, called "Gabriel's Oboe," followed by "The Falls." Although revelling in the beauty, I had never researched the background. Today was my day to do so, as I sat listening to the album, Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone. This music was composed by the legendary (legendary... boy, am I ignorant!) Ennio Morricone, who has composed gifted  scores for numerous films. (I love getting educated! What took me so long?)

The two pieces that have delighted my spirit for so many years, "Gabriel's Oboe" and "The Falls," were written for the movie The Mission. Slave trading adventurers... swashbuckling... missionary fervor... repentance and redemption... all can be found within this 1986 epic movie. I've never watched it, as the violence inferred to is just not something I can stomach, especially when children are involved. (Perhaps I can watch it through Clear Play!) However... I want to understand Morricone's intent as he composed the music I have come to love. "Gabriel's Oboe" was written for the godly Jesuit priest, Father Gabriel, who played a magical oboe. And "The Falls" was written for the second main character, adventurer, Rodrigo Mendoza, who as part of his self-pennance, toted his heavy colonial armor up a vertical South American, jungle mountain pathway next to "The Falls," the only access to The Mission.

Reading about this movie, and sensing the intense human struggles and emotions portrayed in it, gives me more appreciation for my beloved music. (Have you noticed that when a piece of music becomes so personal to us, in a deep and moving way, that we begin to call it "my... music"?)

Now you understand the Yo-Yo Ma - Jesuit priest connection in my mind. In my next two posts, I'll let you in on my daughter's wedding... and the PIRATES connection. And how they all tie together in my spaghetti bowl brain.

See you then!

"The Daughter!" {in-law}

We SO wanted tickets to the FIDDLER ON THE ROOF production, which ran in the Topeka Civic Center this summer! Our daughter-in-law, Lizzi, played the eldest daughter, Tzeitel, receiving excellent reviews, which is no surprise. She has always loved drama, having acted in numerous plays in their city.

It seems that one of the feature players is from Broadway, and the tickets sold out almost immediately. Our son barely got his one ticket to see his wife perform. 

Thankfully, The Topeka Capital-Journal placed photos on-line so we could have a glimpse of our girl in action. To us... she was definitely the star of the show!

I Love These Chick-Flicks!

For my Valentine gift, my hubby bought the chick-flick I've been wanting! BBC's adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's "Wives and Daughters" is simply the best! Wonderful story, stellar acting and filming, accurate adaptation of the book...the best in period dramas, in my opinion. I have watched it many times, and now I own my own copy. There are very few movies that I want to watch over, but this one calls out to me!

Another BBC chick-flick period drama which ties with "Wives and Daughters" for #1 on my personal favorites list is "North and South," another adaptation of an Elizabeth Gaskell novel, contrasting England's industrial north with the slower paced country living of the south. A splendid production! The characters are unforgettable, kind of Dickens-like. If you have a criticism of this movie, do not tell me, for it has become a good friend!

Finally, BBC released not long ago a third Elizabeth Gaskell adaptation, "Cranford."  All her books are early 19th century English novels, this one about a town, Cranford, in Northwest England. The charm of this movie is hard to describe. You will get caught up with the characters, fall in love with them, and find yourself weeping when they weep and laughing hilariously with them and at them at times. They are the kind of people you would love to have as neighbors or family members. I cannot tell you how good this is!

Three movies...high standard of morality, family friendly, superb productions. In today's world that's hard to come by!

"My Favorite Things"

I never tire of watching or listening to one of my all time favorite musicals, The Sound of Music. When I was a little girl, I would run through the Arkansas hills and pretend to be Maria, singing at the top of my lungs. My daughter did the same...only in Texas, and with no hills.

Have you read The Story of the Trapp Family Singers, written by the actual Baroness Maria von Trapp? She tells in her own words about falling in love with the Baron, escaping from Nazi-occupied Austria, and then moving to America and settling in Vermont. It is definitely a worthwhile read!

Listen to the real-life Trapp Family Singers with Maria in this You-Tube clip.

I had the privilege to hear the real-life daughter of Maria and the Baron speak at a convention. (She was born after the time the musical takes place.) Rosmarie Trapp is now an older lady, but with that same spark in her eyes and spring in her step that I imagine Maria had. She gave a strong Christian testimony to her faith in Christ. One of the songs she led as a sing-along was:

MY FAVORITE THINGS

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

(Be watching, for I am going to begin occasionally listing some of my favorite things in these posts.)

Maria's grandchildren are now carrying on the Von Trapp musical tradition. Read about them and listen to some of their music here. You can order their CD's also. Ah...the beat goes on.

The Sound of Music. A definite choice for my personal list of "a few of my favorite things!"

Who-Dunnit Memories

I love a great who-dunnit mystery! Last night we went with friends Gabe and Jeannie to the Alley Theatre downtown to see Agatha Christie's The Unexpected Guest. We loved it. The acting was superb, our seats were fantastic and the plot kept us all stumped...except for my husband, who now is ready to take me on in a game of Clue even though I'm known to be the champion Clue player in our family.

While in my vehicle, I love listening to audio books. Currently I am enjoying C.K Chesterton's The Innocence of Father Brown. I am now hooked, and will have to follow up with the multitude of other Father Brown stories. Every time I like an author's work, I want to read everything he ever wrote! Chesterton can really turn a phrase, so to speak. Some of his descriptions are so succinct that I am logging them to recall later! His stories make me think. He works through many moral issues, and handles them excellently. I may rate these stories right up there with my friend, Sherlock Holmes!

On the Hallmark channel, my husband and I are enjoying the Murder She Wrote mystery dramas with Angela Lansbury. Recognizing so many former stars with roles in these mysteries is a treat. The last episode we watched had Haley Mills, who looked exceptionally great as an older lady, and was just as charming as when a young girl in Pollyanna. One thing we appreciate is that we do not have to worry about "yuck" coming into our home with this series. These who-dunnits are basically clean.

July 15 was our 36th wedding anniversary. To celebrate, daughter Rebekah and son-in-law Nick took us via limousine to Kemah. (Actually it was a faux limo, set up in their van with a curtain, table, flowers, fine chocolate, fruit, chilled drinks, soft music and beautifully wrapped gifts. WE FELT PAMPERED AND LOVED!) In Kemah we went to the Murder by Chocolate Dinner Theater.

Guests participated, as the script unfolded, by dressing in character, reading various parts and enjoying the hilarity of it all.

                                                                                                                                                         

No one in the theater guessed who-dunnit, but we came away with a wonderful memory!