In My Church
Like last year, if my 2019 had a defining category, it would probably be Church. I continued to be active with my Sunday School class, small group, and Presbyterian Women. I continued serving as an Elder, on the Worship Committee, and coordinating communion servers. In December I enjoyed guest teaching one of the other Sunday School classes.
In January I spent a week in Orlando in Stephen Ministry Leadership Training (photo below left), then helped to train a new group of Stephen Ministers in our church. This training is intense, initially 50 hours (meeting for 2 1/2 hours once a week), then with on-going continuing training twice monthly. Definitely a highlight of my year, as we have spent many hours bonding and training together.
And possibly the most fun highlight of my entire year was also church related. In March I led the annual Presbyterian Women's retreat at St. Francis Springs Retreat Center. A beautiful weekend of worship, Bible study, walking, dining, playing, laughing, and bonding. (photo below right)
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Other Volunteer Work
Lee St. Theatre: greeter and usher
Literacy Council and Communities in Schools: literacy tutor for three 3rd graders at Hanford-Dole Elementary School; also particpated in Literacy Council fundraisers - the Scrabble Scramble and an on-line Words With Friends tournament
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More Fun Memories
Queen City Mischief & Magic: weekend Harry Potter festival (photo below left)
Raleigh get-away, featuring the Capitol, the NC Museum of History, a fabulous Lebanese meal at Sitti, and the Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera exhibit at the NC Museum of Art (photo below center)
Surprise overnight stay in The Blackburn Inn, recently renovated to upscale hotel, part of state asylum in 1800s. Features include Thomas Jefferson architectural history, an amazing winding staircase to the roof, and the best (and complimentary!) breakfast I've ever had in any hotel!
Speaking at JMU
A Daddy-and-Me day, featuring the NC Transportation Museum
A very special Christmas with my family
New car
New car
A Buttigieg town hall in SC, and campaigning for local city council candidates
Multiple Tea Times with friend Cathy
Seeing Tony Campolo in Harrisonburg VA (photo below right)
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Entertainment / Hobbies
The amazing Overdrive app I discovered last year, for free audiobook access (through the public library) has remained a constant and steadfast friend, as has the library itself for both books and movies. I listen to books while I drive, while I clean, and sometimes while I work puzzles. This year's inventory:
Books: 50 (17 read, 33 audio)
Movies: 37
Live Stage Productions: 10
My favorite books this year were: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (1976) and Nototious RBG (2015). My favorite movies were Philomena (2013) and On the Basis of Sex (2018).
My favorite books this year were: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (1976) and Nototious RBG (2015). My favorite movies were Philomena (2013) and On the Basis of Sex (2018).
I discovered two game apps that have entertained me: Words With Friends and Puzzle Page; and my last year's renewed passion for jigsaw puzzles continues. I held myself to only 11 this year. Also, I continue to sell used books, videos, etc. on Amazon, definitely at a hobby only level. Writing continues to be a passion, with a concentration this year primarily on personal journaling.
Books Read: 50 (listed in order of publication year)
Robinson Crusoe (Daniel Defoe, 1719, audio) adventure novel of sea, deserted island, faith
Silas Marner (George Eliot, 1861, audio) classic novel of injustice, disillusionment, redemption
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Mark Twain, 1876, audio, repeat) boyhood antics, fiction
10 Days in a Mad-House (Nellie Bly, 1887, audio) journalist undercover in asylum
The Picture of Dorian Gray (Oscar Wilde, 1890, audio) novel of art & darkness of the soul
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button &. . . Jazz Age Tales (F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1922, audio)
Stuart Little (E.B. White, 1945) children’s novel by Charlotte’s Web author
The Crucible (Arthur Miller, 1953, audio, repeat) novel of Salem Witch Trials and McCarthyism
Go Tell It on the Mountain (James Baldwin, 1953, audio) autobiog novel, 1930s Harlem
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Mildred Taylor, 1976, audio) child’s view of race; autobio fiction
The Quest for Quality Care (Kenneth Haugk, 1990) light-hearted guide to caring for others
Catch-22 (Joseph Heller, 1961, audio) classic novel of war and power games
Tiger Eyes (Judy Blume, 1981, audio) Young Adult novel - girl coping with father’s death
Raney (Clyde Edgerton, 1985) endearing tale of newlywed’s Southern culture marital clashes
Boundaries (Cloud & Townsend, 1992, audio) taking control of your own life, non-fiction
Orphan Train Rider (Andrea Warren, 1996, audio) bio of an orphan train child; US history
We Were the Mulvaneys (Joyce Carol Oates, 1996, audio) novel of a family changed by a rape
The Intimate Merton: . . .from His Journals (Merton/Hart/Montaldo, 1999) Thomas Merton
Being Presbyterian in the Bible Belt (TV Foote & PA Thornburg, 2000) what Presby believe
Jayber Crow (Wendell Berry, 2000, audio) novel of one man’s Walden-like journey through life
Stories in His Own Hand: The Everyday Wisdom of Ronald Reagan (Skinner et.al., 2001)
The Art of Being a Healing Presence (J. Miller / S. Cutshall, 2001)
The Simple Faith of Mister Rogers (Amy Hollingsworth, 2001, audio)
Our Lives Are Rivers (Mark Smith-Soto, 2003) poetry, autobiographical and powerful
A Mercy (Toni Morrison, 2008, audio) slavery and relationships
The Good and Beautiful Community (James Bryan Smith, 2010) spiritual formation
Home (Toni Morrison, 2012, audio) novel of young black vet’s return from Korean War
Living the Questions: The Wisdom of Progressive Christianity (Felton et.al., 2012)
The Interestings (Meg Wolitzer, 2013, audio) novel: teen summer camp friends into adulthood
Mom & Me & Mom (Maya Angelou, 2013, audio) page-turning autobiography
You Can’t Be That (Susan Wright Beard, 2013) novel about a female Baptist pastor
Walk To Beautiful (Jimmy Wayne, 2014, audio) homeless child turned country singer, bio
Something Rich and Strange: Selected Stories (Ron Rash, 2014, audio) 35 Southern stories
Canoeing the Mountains (Tod Bolsinger, 2015) church leadership for post-Christendom world
Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda (Becky Albertalli, 2015, audio) young adult novel
God Help the Child (Toni Morrison, 2015, audio) captivating story of past pains living on; fiction
Notorious RBG (Carmon & Knizhnik, 2015, audio) Ruth Bader Ginsburg bio
The Secrets of Midwives (Sally Hepworth, 2015, audio) novel of mothers and daughters
Boy Erased: A Memoir (Garrard Conley, 2016, audio) memoir of ex-gay conversion therapy
Rise Up Shepherd (Luke A. Powery, 2017) Advent devotional based on spirituals
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter (Erika Sanchez, 2017, audio) young adult novel
God’s Promise: I Am With You (Amy Poling Sutherlun, 2018) Presby Women Bible Study
Inspired (Rachel Held Evans, 2018, audio) nonfiction; reading the Bible w/o literalism
The Good Neighbor: . . . Fred Rogers (Maxwell King, 2018, audio) well-researched history/bio
The 11-Fingered Jesus (Cathy Cook, 2019) page-turning Southern novel
Owner’s Guide for Quick Reference: 2020 Civic Sedan (2019)
No One Is Too Small To Make a Difference (Greta Thunberg, 2019) her climate speeches
How To Be an Antiracist (Ibram X. Kendi, 2019, audio) challenge to reframe, non-fiction
Furious Hours (Casey Cepp, 2019, audio) a must-read for Harper Lee aficionados
Movies Seen: 37 (listed in order of release year)
The Children’s Hour (1961) teachers falsely accused, Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962, repeat) lawyer in deep south defends a black man
Catch-22 (1970) based on novel, WWII bombardiers
Go Tell It on the Mountain (1984) based on James Baldwin’s autobiographical novel
Mrs. Soffel (1984) prison warden’s wife helps 2 death row inmates escape; based on true story
Mesmerized (1985) based on true story of young bride’s arranged marriage, circa 1900
Mrs. Brown (1997) based on true story of Queen Victoria’s friendship w/ servant John Brown
The Prince of Egypt (1998) animated musical story of MosesThe Matrix (1999) sci-fi, reality as virtual Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001, repeat) based on the first Harry Potter novel
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002, repeat) based on the 2nd Harry Potter novel
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Askaban (2004, repeat) based on the 3rd Harry Potter novel
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005, repeat) based on the 4th Harry Potter novel
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (2009, repeat) based on 6th Harry Potter novel Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 (2010, repeat) based on 7th Harry Potter novel
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011, repeat) based on 7th Harry Potter novel
My Week with Marilyn (2011) brief connection with Marilyn Monroe, based on true story
I Don’t Know How She Does It (2011) romantic comedy starring Sarah Jessica Parker
Loving (2016) based on true story of interacial couple whose case changed the law
First Girl I Loved (2016) high school drama Coco (2017) Pixar animated feel-good story inside the Dia de los Muertos The Upside (2017) rich quadriplegic & excon caretaker, based on a true story
Disobedience (2018) tense drama: same-sex and religion
Book Club (2018) Book Club reads 50 Shades; romantic comedy
I Can Only Imagine (2018) based on life of Mercy Me’s Bart Millard
Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (2018) documentary about Mr. (Fred) Rogers
On the Basis of Sex (2018) Ruth Bader Ginsburg bio, gender equality
Green Book (2018) black pianist 1962 concert tour through deep South, based on true story
Three Identical Strangers (2018) disturbing and true adoption documentary
Tell It To the Bees (2019) Tale of forbidden same-sex romance, set in 1952 Scotland
Rocketman (2019) Elton John music & bio
Downton Abbey (2019) great feel-good movie for those of us who loved the series
Harriet (2019) based on the life of Harriet Tubman, slave & Underground RR conductor
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019) Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers
TV
When They See Us (2019 Netflix miniseries) true story of 1989 Central Park 5 Orange Is the New Black, Seasons 1-3 (2013-15, Netflix) Grace & Frankie, Seasons 3-4 (2017-18, Netflix) Glee, Season 6 (2014-15)Live Productions (10)
The Cake (Lee St. Theatre, Feb) struggle of baking cake for friend’s daughter and her bride
“Land of the Free” patriotic concert (Piedmont Prime Time Community Band, Mar)
Mamma Mia (Piedmont Players Theatre, Apr) musical featuring Abba music
Blood Done Sign My Name (LST, Apr) based on true 1970 story of racism in Oxford NC
Shiloh Rules (LST, Jun) set in Civil War reenactment camp
Blithe Spirit (LST, Jul) comedy of ghosts, mediums, and a living husband
Crimes of the Heart (LST, Aug) dark comedy of 3 Southern sisters and their secrets
Christmas (Phoenix Readers, Dec)
“The Gift of Music” Christmas concert (PPTCB, Dec)
A Christmas Carol (American Shakespeare Center, Dec)
“Land of the Free” patriotic concert (Piedmont Prime Time Community Band, Mar)
Mamma Mia (Piedmont Players Theatre, Apr) musical featuring Abba music
Blood Done Sign My Name (LST, Apr) based on true 1970 story of racism in Oxford NC
Shiloh Rules (LST, Jun) set in Civil War reenactment camp
Blithe Spirit (LST, Jul) comedy of ghosts, mediums, and a living husband
Crimes of the Heart (LST, Aug) dark comedy of 3 Southern sisters and their secrets
Christmas (Phoenix Readers, Dec)
“The Gift of Music” Christmas concert (PPTCB, Dec)
A Christmas Carol (American Shakespeare Center, Dec)
Note: Bold Print denotes favorites; red must-reads (or must-sees)
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Health
Averaged 30 minutes per day of intentional exercise (gym, walking . . .)
Continued shots for torticollis
Left leg brace for extended walks
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Health
Averaged 30 minutes per day of intentional exercise (gym, walking . . .)
Continued shots for torticollis
Left leg brace for extended walks
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Thinking Ahead to 2020
I imagine much of 2020 will be like 2019. Most of my church commitments continue through 2020 and a few months beyond. I'm already reading 2 books to start my 2020 reading list; and, because today's Little Women showing was sold out and I bought tickets for tomorrow, I know what my first 2020 movie will be!
I'm in the middle of two organizing projects that will continue well into the new year: organizing almost 2 decades of digial photos, and indexing some 50 years of personal journals. I'm sure I'll also continue to do a lot of writing, maybe for publication, maybe just for me. And I look forward to making new memories with friends and family.
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I imagine much of 2020 will be like 2019. Most of my church commitments continue through 2020 and a few months beyond. I'm already reading 2 books to start my 2020 reading list; and, because today's Little Women showing was sold out and I bought tickets for tomorrow, I know what my first 2020 movie will be!
I'm in the middle of two organizing projects that will continue well into the new year: organizing almost 2 decades of digial photos, and indexing some 50 years of personal journals. I'm sure I'll also continue to do a lot of writing, maybe for publication, maybe just for me. And I look forward to making new memories with friends and family.
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