May 24, 2008

Cissy

(1907-2008)

Smiles and good cheer

make up the memories

she has bequeathed

upon those

who knew her.

A hundred and two

years of gracious life

end with a serene

thought of being

again among those

who have gone

before.

Rostropovich -- Dvorak

This is the third movement of Dvorak's Cello Concerto, with Mstislav Rostropovich, and Carlo Maria Giulini conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra. One of the most beautiful slow movements in the classical repertoire.

Sit back and enjoy, as I have.

Faure's Requiem - In Paradisum

Last night in the office of the lady acupuncturist, where I was being treated for the pain in my right shoulder and arm, a version of this beautiful piece was playing on her small stereo system. It was not the usual chorus-and-orchestra version, as here, but only a background music adaptation.

Nevertheless it soothed.

Steel Tape Measure

It's a small thing, but I did get something accomplished today.

It was an old half-inch by 10 foot steel tape measure that someone had caused to jam, so that the tape would not return into its casing. You can't leave something like that lying around; the edges of the tape are darn sharp. If you aren't careful, they can cause a nasty cut. So you either discard it or fix it.

I decided to do the latter.

Took it apart, tried a number of times to rewind the spring. Not an easy job for someone with large clumsy fingers. Not much to hold on to. Got nicked a bit. Wrist still painful because of the carpal business. Tape got twisted along its ten-foot length, but luckily no kinks or wrinkles. This thing is American-made, Craftsman by Sears. Had it for maybe thirty years. They don't make them like it anymore, I don't believe. Most of these come from China nowadays. Plastic parts for the case nowadays. Flimsy. Nothing like the solid metal of old. This tape is worth repairing.

Long story short -- I did it. Took me some thirty minutes start to finish. Time well spent. The thing is good as new. Might last another thirty years. Be an antique by then. Great-grandkids can then sell it on eBay to a collector of good old American craftsmanship.

If eBay is still around, that is.

The Dreaded Tunnel

Well, folks, it finally happened. My mouse hand has been immobilized. They call this condition 'carpal tunnel syndrome'. Went to an acupuncturist yesterday and got some relief. The upshot is that I will have to give the wrist a rest more often than I have been doing.

Funny how this thing sort of creeps up on you.

So while I can still blog, the intervals between posts may be longer. Check back from time to time. Interesting things can and do happen.

Remembering Mom

Today is my late mother's birthday. She would have been ninety-four years of age.

She had her wits about her till her death at 88. Would that all six of her surviving children have an equally long and graceful life.

Happy birthday, Mom.

Another day, another destination

We go again in a few days. This time to Canada to attend the fiftieth wedding anniversary of old friends who have often been our traveling companions as well.

While there we will see many more old friends (and by old I mean 'of long duration', for their years are kind to them).

So The Occasional Blog will take a vacation for about eleven days.

The Li River

We had been to Guilin before, and the cruise down the Li River to the town of Yangshuo was then and still is spectacular. It helped that the weather was heavily overcast, with a steady drizzle (just keeping my camera lens dry was a challenge.) Those mountains and hills in that part of China have inspired thousands of Chinese landscape painters through the centuries.