Despite this blog’s tagline, “Following Catholic beliefs and practices in America: one man’s experience,” I haven’t written much about what I do.
How I see national holidays, space exploration, ancient history and paleontology — yes.
What it’s like, being a Catholic in 21st century America — maybe not so much.
So I’m trying something new: writing about what’s happening today.
Some of what’s happening, at any rate. Much of it’s routine: necessary, but hardly interesting. I’m nowhere hear the sort of media superstar whose “flossed my teeth” post would get attention.
About that photo. It’s a view across our back yard and several others.
Changing Plans
I’d planned on spending part of the afternoon at the other parish’s Eucharistic adoration chapel. (October 15, 2017)
That didn’t happen. My son is using the family van. He’s working today and his pickup is still out of commission. And it will be until a part comes in.
The good news is that it can be fixed, and we have a ‘spare’ vehicle.
More good news. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying listening to the youngest guest we’ve had in a long time.
Our young guest took his first nearly-solo step recently, which makes him a young toddler. Or maybe an old infant.
Either way, he’s been chatting with someone. And enjoying the process.
One of my wife’s sisters is here for at least part of the afternoon. So is one of my nieces and her kids. This niece is my wife’s sister’s daughter, which makes the youngster my great nephew. And me his great uncle.
Kinship terminology in our culture is — interesting.
Kinship Terminology: a Geeky Digression
Depending on who’s talking, I’m a great uncle, uncle, brother-in-law, father, grandfather and husband. More, as you travel out through the extended family.
It’s complicated, and doesn’t take long before someone’s a “great-uncle of my great-great-grandfather’s third cousin.”
Small wonder most of us limit our working vocabulary to “uncle,” “aunt,” “niece,” “nephew,” “cousin” — and skip the fine points.
It’s also the system used by pretty much everyone in English-speaking cultures. Some kinship systems work like the Anglo-European one. Others don’t.1
I grew up with this system, so it feels natural — if overly complex — to have so many different titles for one person. And that’s another topic.
Enough. Back to what’s happening. Or, more accurately, isn’t.
Another family would have been coming, too, but one of the kids has a bug they’d rather not share. A decision which the adults appreciate.
Rejoicing
It’s a couple hours later now. I’ve had a cup of coffee, shared a few words with my wife, and checked my blood sugar level.
I’ve said ‘hi’ to my sister-in-law, but otherwise kept out of the way.
Except for when my son dropped by during a break, the other adults here are women. I figured they’d have a better time without a man underfoot.
There’s more to say, like what I’d have done at the chapel. That’ll wait until after the next time I’ve been there.
One more thing, and I’m done for today.
Several years back, my father wrote this:
Autumn Yard Work
Life passing
Leaves falling
Birds flying
Clouds floating
I’m watching
Rejoicing
(Bernard I. Gill)
Not-entirely-unrelated posts:
- “Estate Sale”
(March 12, 2019) - “Death in the Family”
(September 14, 2018) - “Navel-Gazing in August”
(August 6, 2017) - “The Speckled Axe”
(April 9, 2017) - “Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Hope”
(October 9, 2016)
1 How we say who’s who in families:
- Wikipedia
- Glossary
Kinship and Social Organization tutorial, University of Manitoba - Kinship Terminology Explained (or How to Know What to Call Distant Relatives)
findmypast.com - Representing Anthropological Knowledge: Calculating Kinship
Michael D. Fischer, Analyzing and Understanding Cultural Codes; Centre for Social Anthropology and Computing; (CSAC) – University of Kent at Canterbury
