What Would Jimmy Do?

I think I mentioned a few days ago that I was invited to brunch at some friends house recently. There was a lot of talk about food and it got around to the topic of what’s the strangest food you’ve ever eaten. I had been more places than most of the people there, so I’d probably experienced some of the stranger dishes during the conversation. 

But after I got home I remembered a dish that I should have mentioned — something that my grandad talked about often and my grandmother actually prepared a few times. My grandad always wanted to serve “Possum and Sweet Taters” (I don’t think I ever heard my granddad say the word potato — it was always tater) when people came to their house. To the best of my knowledge, my grandmother always refused to make the dish for “company.”

My grandmother actually had a recipe that she used — and of course Claire had to have the recipe, even though she never used it. I encouraged her to put it in the St. Agnes cookbook she put together a number of years ago, but she didn’t think that was such a great idea.

Anyhow, after a bit of searching, I found the recipe she had gotten not long after we were married. In case some of you would like to try it, here it is…. this is not a joke, it’s the actual recipe, just as it was written by by grandmother — my granddad thought it was delicious.

Ingredients:
1 possum, cut up
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
5 or 6 sweet potatoes, scrubbed and cut up in chunks
½ cup white sugar
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup oleo
1 gallon water as needed

Directions:
Heat oven to 375
Skin and shuck all innards and wash possum
Put possum in a big sauce pot and cover with water
Add salt and pepper
Cover pot and cook until possum is tender
Put possum in center of big baking pan and put sweet taters around it
Sprinkle white and brown sugar and oleo over taters
Pour 2 cups juice from cooked possum over everything
Put in a hot oven and bake until taters are fork tender and light brown and juices from possum has cooked away.

(I always thought the correct spelling was opossum, not possum, but I looked it up and possum is the usual term used — opossum is preferred in technical or scientific writings. Opossum can be pronounced with its first syllable either voiced or silent.)
So there you have it — if you decide to make possum and sweet taters, invite me over.
— 30 —

I know this may be getting old, but I’ve been doing a lot of reading about happiness lately and the Dalai Lama boils it down pretty simply…
• The purpose of life is happiness
• Happiness is determined more by the state of one’s mind than by one’s external conditions, circumstances or events — at least once one’s basic survival needs are met.
• Happiness can be achieved through the systematic training of our hearts and minds, through reshaping our attitudes and outlook
• The key to happiness is in our own hands

That all sounds good, but today I thought we might talk about the guy that came up with all that good advice — the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and the former political leader of Tibet. The title “Dalai Lama” means “Ocean of Wisdom” in Mongolian and is given to the highest-ranking lama in Tibetan Buddhism. 

The current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was born in Tibet and is the 14th person to hold the title. He was recognized as the 14th Dalai Lama at the age of two, after the previous Dalai Lama passed away. He was formerly enthroned in 1950, at a time when Tibet was being increasingly pressured by the Chinese government. After the Chinese invaded Tibet in 1959, he fled to India, where he established the Tibetan Government-in-Exile in Dharamsala. 

His teachings on compassion, inter religious dialogue, and nonviolence have had a profound influence not only on Buddhists but on people of various faiths and backgrounds. He’s spoken with world leaders, scholars, and public figures about the importance of cultivating inner peace and fostering social harmony.

The Dalai Lama is a symbol of peace, compassion, and resilience, as well as an important figure in the global dialogue on human rights, spirituality, and the preservation of Tibetan culture. His efforts to promote a compassionate, ethical approach to modern challenges continue to have a wide-reaching impact. 
Sounds like the kind of guy that I might take advice from…..
—30 —

We lived in the Far East for a number of years and, as I’ve mentioned a number of times, Hong Kong is just about my favorite city. No matter where we were living, my job job always required quite of bit of travel. When we were in that part of the world, if it was possible I always scheduled the trip through Hong Kong and if time permitted, stayed a few days. 

One of many things that was interesting about Hong Kong is that, a lot like Washington, they got a lot of “executive showers.” Many afternoons, they’d get a rain shower — and just like magic these little stands would pop, on almost every street corner, selling umbrellas. They were decent umbrellas and super cheap. I think they cost about a dollar or something like that. Anyhow, over the years I accumulated what seemed like hundreds of umbrellas. Every time I’d bring another one (or more) home, Claire would joke that when we retired we could open an umbrella store. This big box of umbrellas got shipped all around the world with us for years.

But on our last move from overseas — back to the U.S., when our household belongings were delivered to the house we’d just purchased…. only one thing was missing. That huge box of umbrellas. I often wonder if that was intentional or simply an honest mistake. I somehow can’t stop believing that somewhere in this world we set someone up in the umbrella business….
— 30 —

The chapel where Joan of Arc worshiped was the Chapelle de St. Martin de Sayssuel in Chasse, France. The chapel was moved, in 1964, to Marquette University — a Catholic, Jesuit institution in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 
Within the chapel is the Joan of Arc stone, on which Joan is said to have prayed, kissing the stone when she was finished. To this day, that stone feels colder to the touch than the surrounding stones.
— 30 —

I got on the subject of butterflies the past couple of days and actually wandered off the real reason I started to write about them….
One reason that butterflies seem to be associated with death is that they go through a kind of transformation and rebirth.
The cocoon stage is much like a death for the caterpillar as it basically decomposes through enzyme interaction to completely restructure and transform into a beautiful butterfly. It evolves from a land-bound crawling caterpillar to a winged, elegant butterfly that is often very colorful. I don’t know how much better a symbol for life after death there could be.

So this transformation, to many, carries a spiritual meaning. And it turns out that the different colors of butterflies have specific meanings to those in-tune with those meanings, signs and omens. The colors  can represent simple messengers of death or maybe even specific messages of hope.

Black Butterflies
Folklore describes black butterflies as either a negative or positive omen. In some cultures, seeing a black butterfly means death. Whose death it is very often is left up to the person witnessing the butterfly’s flight. It also could be interpreted just to mean the death of a job or a relationship. But the message of rebirth is often associated with a black butterfly.

White Butterflies
A white butterfly is usually viewed as a positive omen of good luck and prosperity. But some cultures believe a white butterfly fluttering around a person means the individual will die soon. Other cultures view a white butterfly as purity and the soul of their loved one or an angel.

Green Butterflies
The green butterfly is a symbol of love and prosperity. Seeing a green butterfly soon after the death of a loved one is a message of not just love, but that the deceased is prospering in Heaven. It delivers a message of great hope and joy.

Brown Butterflies
A brown butterfly is often said to be the actual spirit of the deceased. Some folklore states it is an ancestor spirit that arrives to warn of misfortune, such as death.

Orange Butterflies
If an orange butterfly appears soon after your loved one passes, then you’ve just received a vital message of love. the orange butterfly is believed to carry the message that there is life after death and that death is but a transformation like that of the butterfly.

Yellow Butterflies
Yellow butterflies appear on the scene soon after a loved one has passed with a message of hope. The hope of reuniting in the afterlife is made with each fluttering of this happy sunshine colored butterfly. The promise of new life through rebirth is delivered by the yellow butterfly.

Blue Butterflies
A blue butterfly may be the perfect spiritual message. It’s considered a message from our loved one since you’re no doubt feeling blue and sad in your grief and longing. A blue butterfly is a symbol of life and acceptance. It conveys the transformation from physical to spiritual.

Purple Butterflies
Purple butterflies aren’t very common, and this rarity makes their messages immensely powerful. This highly spiritual color is truly profound when gracing the wings of a butterfly. If you are lucky enough to receive such a messenger from your loved one, you can rest easy knowing they are at peace and happy in the spiritual realm. If you let it, this angelic messenger can give you healing through spiritual love.

Red Butterflies
The arrival of a red butterfly soon after the death of a loved on is often the messenger of someone who was very powerful and passionate in life. The message is one of happiness, love, and that life continues after death. If you’re angry over the loss of your loved one and can open your heart, the red butterfly can offer you release from those emotions. 

So not only are butterflies a reminder that life is fleeting and beautiful, when they appear, they offer a hope of new beginnings.
— 30 —

I started talking about butterflies yesterday. I think most people like butterflies — I don’t think I’ve ever heard someone say, “Ugh — a butterfly” like they do with bugs or snakes…
Anyhow, they’re an interesting species and like all of God’s creatures, unique in their own way….
They’ve been around for 150 million years
There are over 20,000 types of butterflies
They can be found in nearly every environment (they live on every continent, except Antarctica)
They are considered one of the most successful species on Earth
Butterflies can only see the colors red, green and yellow
Their wings are actually transparent
They use their feet to taste
And — butterflies count not months but moments, and has time enough…..
— 30 —

I was trimming some of the bushes around our house a day or two ago. One of the bushes I cut back was a butterfly bush. Right after our house was finished, it was one of the first things that Claire wanted planted. It’s done well — almost too well, because it has to be trimmed pretty often to keep it from blocking a walkway. And — it does attract quite a number of butterflies…..

Back on November 2, I talked about Dia de los Muertos — the “Day of the Dead” being celebrated in Mexico. It’s a time to welcome the visiting souls of ancestors and family members to honor their memories. The rituals draw from pre-Hispanic beliefs, mixed in with Catholic traditions, especially from All Souls day and All Saints Day. 

On thing that I didn’t mention in my November 2 blog is that the arrival of the monarchs just happens to coincide with these celebrations…. and for some groups, that holds significant meaning. 
From what I can tell, butterflies are a common symbol of death among many cultures and religions. Almost every country in the world recognizes the connection between butterflies and death. The symbolism seems to have started back in Ancient Greece, where a butterfly sighting after the passing of a loved one was seen to represent the soul of the deceased. That symbolism is still respected today. 

Recently, I’ve been told by a number of people that when you see butterflies after someone dies, it may be a sign that your loved one is okay and in a better place. It may also be a sign that you’re on the path to healing. I suppose there isn’t any right or wrong interpretation of this symbol — if it brings comfort and peace during a difficult time, I think it’s great. 
— 30 —

Yesterday my neighbor and I had a discussion about this week’s election(s). I won’t bore you with our conversation of crooked politicians, corruption, dishonesty, stupidity, etc. 
Anyhow, my friend and neighbor said something like, they say money is the root of all evil and he allowed that it seems to be true — it was even written in the Bible. The quote is attributed to the Apostle Paul. 
But I’m pretty sure he never said that. I think what he actually said was, “the love of money is the root of all evil.” There’s a difference. I think Paul was not focusing on the possession of money, but the feelings and/or actions that go along with it.
— 30 —

I’ve written about this before — you can check this blog’s archives — but it was mostly about decoy airfields and other “make-believe” facilities. But I thought this hoax deserved a little more explanation. I’ve always thought it was an interesting story and it bears repeating in a little more detail…..
The bottom line is that behind D-Day’s success was one of the most sophisticated deception schemes ever devised.  Here’s the way it happened….

Hitler knew the Allies were planning an invasion. And he was sure they’d cross the English Channel at thePas de Calais (what the British call the Strait of Dover) to get to France, because it’s the shortest distance between Great Britain and the continent. But such a landing would put the troops smack dab in front of the strongest section of Hitler’s “Atlantic Wall” — a virtual suicide mission. So the allies chose Normandy for the landings instead.

To mislead the Germans, General Dwight D. Eisenhower and his staff created a mythical 1st Army Group and based it in Britain near Dover. Eisenhower assigned George S. Patton, the American general the Germans most respected, to command this army — that didn’t exist.

To convince the Germans that this “army” was preparing for invasion, Eisenhower’s staff positioned inflatable tanks, balsa wood bombers, and canvas landing craft where the Luftwaffe could photograph them during aerial reconnaissance. Radio operators were assigned to generate routine radio traffic, and bogus intelligence reports and documents were “lost” and fell into the hands of the Germans. Local newspapers in the towns where the “army” was stationed even carried false marriage and death notices. 

One elaborate scheme included National Geographic magazine. The U.S. Army prepared a color spread depicting a variety of 1st Army Group insignias — shoulder patches and the like. When the magazine was published, they allowed some issues to be distributed, but then halted the printing, removed the bogus insignias, and released a revised version of the magazine. 

The Allies continuously drew attention to the Channel coast in the are of the supposed landing. During the weeks before the invasion, Allied airmen dropped more bombs on that area than anywhere else in France. Naval units conducted longer than expected maneuvers up and down the coast.

On the night of the Normandy invasion, Allied planes dropped silver foil on the “landing site” which German radar picked up as an invasion fleet crossing the channel narrows. At the same time, a radar blackout disguised the real movement toward Normandy. All this was designed to convince Berlin that it needed to prepare for an amphibious assault on Calais. By the time the invasion finally began, Hitler and his generals had been so thoroughly deceived that they believed the Normandy operation was a diversion. Instead of moving their reserve units to stop the Allies from reaching the beachheads, they continued to watch what they thought would be the main attack at, Calais, on the English Channel coast. By the time the Germans realized they’s been deceived, it was too late — the Allied troops had breached the Atlantic Wall and were headed toward Paris. 
So the “Phantom Army” achieved its objective — without ever firing a shot.
— 30 —

A woman met a man on the street who looked destitute. She slipped a dollar into his hand and whispered, “Never despair.” A few days later, the man met the woman and slipped nine dollars into her hand. “Here’s your winnings,” he whispered. “My winnings?” she asked. 
The man was a bookie. The horse “Never Despair” came in first, paying 8 to 1.

I’m not really sure why I thought of this old story, but I think it may have been because a few days ago, I looked up “hope,” when that was the topic for this blog. Several of the references I found also mentioned despair. So guess what — today’s topic is going to be despair.

During my lifetime, I’ve heard “never despair” a number of times, and it wasn’t referring to a horse. 
Never despair — one of those things that’s easier said than done. When I ran across despair when I was looking for hope, I suspect it’s because despair is probably one of the major challenges to hope. In fact, it’s defined as “the complete absence of hope.”

In Dante’s The Devine Comedy, the inscription to the entrance to Hell reads, “Abandon hope, all ye who enter here.” So according to Dante, despair is the essence of Hell.

And in the musical Les Miserables, there’s a song, sung by a dying woman (Fantine) who has been crushed by virtually every unfairness that life can deal a person…
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather
I had a dream my life would be
So much different from this hell I’m living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed
The dream I dreamed.

So what is despair, really? I looked it up and it comes from a Latin word meaning “to be without hope.” 
But I’ve heard it said that God doesn’t give us more than we can handle. The Bible even tells us that those who are broken will enter the Kingdom of Heaven before the rich, the strong, and the powerful.
So…. maybe a crisis is not necessarily a bad thing — but despair seems to be the bottom — someone in despair has not only lost hope, but decided the pain of the current situation is intolerable, and there is no prospect for a better future, or better days. That’s a little different than resignation — if someone resigns himself to the circumstances, he can accept the hand he’s been dealt — maybe grudgingly — but he can go on. But despair creates the sense that the cross of life has become too heavy to bear, and there’s just not enough of a fight left to go on.

I think despair is an especially lonely emotion — it’s a burden too heavy to share with someone else. If you’re able to truly share the burden, you’re likely to stop short of despair. 

Despair is the acceptance of what happens without an active response or resistance along with that loneliness. And of course, despair, like grief, comes uninvited — it’s never chosen. The only thing that can be done is try to end it.

Today, November 6, 2024, I think I’ve arrived at the door of despair — I’ve arrived at the threshold of “the complete absence of hope.” Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t thrown in the towel — I’m just going to have to recalculate and realize that my journey back to normalcy is going to be a long, tough road.
— 30 —