But those 10 years can’t have been all bad. Quick! Name two good things that happened to you in the ‘Aughts.
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Ayden and cooking chili. ‘Nuf said.
Perfect.
I retired, partially unretired, and retired again.
Were the masses calling you back? Why did you partially unretire, if you don’t mind my asking (and even if you do…what are you going to do, take away my birthday for asking?).
Another church asked for me. That church is 175 miles away, in Mobile.
Then at about the same time, the church ran out of money to pay me, and I ran out of energy to make that all-day trip.
When you used the word “masses,” do you mean the liturgical rite, or the people?
People. I’m a fundamentalist. We don’t use “masses” that way.
Sorry, DJ. You’re an ex-fundamentalist. A Former Fundie.
You were disenfranchised the moment you walked through the doors of Hartford Seminary.
Nope. I’m still one because I still believe in the fundamental truth of the Bible.
Apple Computers and Dating Jesus.
Hallelujah. Amen.
I got an apartment and car.
WaHOO!!!
Both are good, Neu. Congratulations.
I didn’t get a car or a license until I was 27. I was married before that time, and my new wife drove us all the way from southeastern Pennsylvania into Vermont in her parents’ very ancient VW Bug.
(No, the parents definitely did not come with us!)
Did it bother her that you didn’t have a license? Or was she willing to overlook that character flaw?
She loved me for what I am, not for a drivers’ license. She had one since her 16th birthday.
In high school I could walk to school (7-tenths of a mile) and to church. Occasionally I would take the bus from Bloomfield into Hartford, and have a grand day at the Wadsworth Athaneum.
I went to a small town college in Iowa, and the town square was about six blocks away. The college didn’t let students have cars, anyway, unless they were commuters.
Seminary in NYC–a car is a liability, not an asset. Finally, when I was ordained in 1969 and had my first church job, I needed a car to visit parishioners living in the suburbs.
My neighborhood was very different. You really needed a car because everyone was so spread out. I didn’t actually own a car until I got into college, which was five miles away with no public transit. But I had my driver’s license the nanosecond I could. It was freedom, to me.
I have a friend who did not get his license until he was 21. Lou would always claim the passenger seat every time he was driven. So instead of claiming the passenger seat by saying “shotgun!” like many teens did then, we would say, “I’m Lou!” to stake our claim! Growing up in NY, we survived with sarcasm and fists!
That’s very funny: I’m Lou! Think that’ll work with my friends?
They might look at you a little strange, but don’t they do that already?
They do that. I figured that was because I’m gorgeous.
Marriage and three children. First black president. iPhones.
In no particular order: Sons grew up. Music got more accessible.
Second son born. The second one is a poser. My father, uncle and two friends died, we had a house fire, husband lost job, I had to go back to work, I’ve had several illness and one year I had 4 surgeries. Youngest had surgery…
I guess that we are still here and reasonably content!
Oooh, I thought we were doing the good stuff. Here’s my shit list.
We called 911 no less than 5 times. I was arrested, booked and in jail for about 7 hours. I was held at knifepoint in my apartment. My grandfather died. My 16 yr old cousin died. I had to put to sleep the dog who may very well have saved my life. My second born started having violent seizures at age two, one that went longer than 12 minutes while we sat in the back of an ambulance. At age three she had an eight hour surgery that required two neurosurgeons plus a team from Philly Childrens to monitor her. Post-surgery she spent another month in the hospital with non-stop seizures. My sister was drugged and raped. I spun into a major depression and was also diagnosed bipolar 2 for a while. I’ve also packed on an extra 75#.
;)
Phew. Glad the good outweighs the bad!
And you’re still here. And standing, from all indications. Man, my decade was dull, compared to yours. I’m rather glad about that.
Two beautiful grandsons!
Excellent! Good use of a decade.
Election day, Nov. 2008 and the ‘Net.*
*How did we ever live without it?
Either one. No, I get it. In my day job, I used to spend a lot of time at the library, researching. That seems so hopeless quaint now.
Some good, some bad…
The bad:
9/11.
My two sons growing up too fast.
Saying good bye to my 12 year old Volvo wagon that made me feel very safe in while driving my sons to games and school.
The media falling in love with a junior senator from Illinois who clearly is not up to the task of being president…not a Hillary fan-but I think she’d be much better than what we have now.
The good:
I went from being a renter to an owner.
The Patriots three Super Bowl wins.
Discovering that I really like to read Wally Lamb, Susan Cambell, J.D. Landis, and Richard Russo.
The Red Sox beating the Yankees after being down 0-3, and winning both the 2004 and 2007 World Series.
My oldest son making the honor roll his freshman semester in college after being on vacation in high school his freshman year-senior year.
Trying sushi, Tabasco, dirty martinis, and anchovy pizza all for the first time…and liking them all.
One- party control of our country.
Returning to my Catholic faith after taking a three year break.
Oh yes, I forgot one good, moved from the right to the left!
Well, that was poorly written. Apologies.
I think I understood it. I speak Vegas.
Uh, Todd? We just came out of one-party control for quite some time. Her’s just a sampling: http://www.kcci.com/politics/3870400/detail.html
I agree that we need more than one party (hell,more than two-party) control, but this is not new.
But I like your good news.
DJ,
We may have a Republican controlled Congress soon, for better or worse. We will also still have big Government spending too much of our tax dollars, caving to the will of their corporate masters, while robbing States and individual Americans of their rights and freedoms granted by the Constitution and the creator.
Again, We win! And we lose!
Whee!
That was quite an accomplishment, coming back from three down then going on and winning the series and then again in 2007! Although a Yankee fan, I have many friends who suffered with losing Sox teams. I was glad for them. What I am concerned about is that an adult Italian male never had anchovies until now. Now, that’s scary!
It’s funny Mario,
I love seafood…I just never could get past the way anchovies looked…so one night I closed my eyes took a big bite, and chased it with a big chug of Miller Lite. It’s not my favorite pizza, but it’s a nice change of pace from sausage.
We moved to CT in 1973, I picked up all of the Boston teams…had we moved to the southern part of CT I am certain that I would have been a Yankee fan. I am not ashamed to tell you that in 2004 my eyes welled up as the Sox completed the sweep of the Cardinals. After 2003, I thought I was going to die before the would ever win the Series. What also made 2004 special for me was that I was lucky enough to at game six in Bronx, the Schilling bloody sock game…what a year!
I hate to agree with Todd — or anything, really — but anchovies are na-a-a-a-a-a-a-a–asty looking. They don’t take good, either. I have spoken.
Not true Susan,
We both love coffee, we both really love books, we both think that Mario rocks, and we are both passionate about politics…and anchovies do look like a trainwreck.
O.K. One more thing on that list and I’m going to submit my own name to the All-Girl 24-Hour Prayer Circle — the members of which are still waiting that photo of your finished IKEA project.
Susan,
I have to wait until the weekend when my 14 year old can show me how to send a photo through my phone…two left hands and a techo-challenged man.
Not a problem. Your 14-year-old will be able to show you. Man, but I miss having one around.
My 14 year old, Robbie, can text on his cell phone faster than I can type on a standard keyboard…and I know he can out eat that Man vs. Food guy anyday!
Susan when your sons were 14-16 years old did they wait until all the dishes were done…then sweetly ask “what else is there to eat?” I swear Robbie hears me shut off the sink with the last dish…then he strikes! I hope these next four years go by slowly…I am going to be a basketcase the day I drive my youngest son to his freshman dorm.
I hope they go by slowly, too, but I promise you that if your boy’s like other boys, there will be times when you may wish for them to move fast. And then they’ll be gone and you’ll be driving him off to college and crying. It’s a gut-punch and it’s precisely what’s supposed to happen, but yeah. Our youngest would order two entrees at restaurants and finish them both and then want to order dessert. I remember our food bill being about three times what it is now and I remember never having enough snacks around. Robbie’s a regular guy, sounds like.
Thanks Susan.
I try not to eat out too often with him…it’s way too expensive+ I can cook a big pile of homemade stuff and if I am lucky there will be a little left over for me to take to lunch the next day.
Yesterday I took him to a pizza place for grinders I thought…no Mr. Moneybags orders clams for an app, and a dinner sized meal…for lunch! I sipped my Diet Coke and enjoyed my small eggplant grinder, and watched the eating machine do what he does so, so, well. When I spend over fifty bucks for lunch there better be a bottle of wine on the table and Anna sitting across from me…not a 14 year old with a hollow leg.
Gee, I was pretty lucky! My son was a very picky eater as a teen. I could barely get him to finish a meal, let alone eat that much. Today, at 22, he eats light (he runs) but often. He likes to cook, so I got him a crock pot so he can go to class, come home and eat a good meal. His roommates are fast food junkies. They think he is a bit odd, but they like his fried rice!
The crock pot is a wonderful gift. My son plays on a travel basketball team and two travel soccer teams…so I like to fill up my crock at 6 or 7 in the morning, then 6-8 hours later when the games are over…we have a hot meal already.
I make soup and even a killer beef and sausage sauce with my much used crock pot. My reward is climbing the stairs after the game and Robbie telling me…”Smells great dad!”
Sounds like the way he eats you could be cooking an old shoe in the pot and he would say the same!
Mario,
And the little shit (hie’s only 14 and already taller than me) and not an ounce of fat, I bumped into him this last weekend and I felt like I bumped into a tree.
We used to mention that, my sons’ hollow legs. And I also accused one of having a tape worm (in a restaurant, no less) and when he asked what that was, I launched into an explanation that disgusted Mr. DJ and probably the other diners, as well. I saw it as a teachable moment.
Graduated from college and got the hell out of Arkansas. That’s enough.
Jaxon, Erick, Charlie, Jackson, Lauren, Molly and Ella! Grandsons and great nieces and nephews! Reasonable health, Daughter-in-law I really love, my iPhone and Dating Jesus both book and blog!
Wahoo! I made your end-of-the-decade list! And I wasn’t even trying!
So do I, but you know well that “fundamentalism” is a particular view of the Bible.
Extreme fundamentalism holds that the KJV was the only Bible that Jesus read, or authorized.
Then mine’s not extreme. I balk at any one telling me I’m not a fundamentalist as quickly as I balk at someone telling me I’m not a Christian. I’m redefining both. And I’m not saying I’m right or that any one has to join me.
“I love seafood…I just never could get past the way anchovies looked…”
I like them as a change of pace, almost never on a pizza. Where I do enjoy them is on a Caesar salad. When I eat out at “Uno’s” I have them throw on a few! That was a great game, you lucky pup!
Did I hear that you once lived in Denver?
In 1972 I spent the second grade in Denver. Halloween it snowed, and Christmas Day that year it was 70 degree outside…so after church my brothers and I were outside in shorts playing football with our dad. My mom was so upset about not having a white Christmas…so upset we were back in Michigan the next year. Mario, do you remember Darell Lamonica (the QB of the Raiders) his son was in my second grade class…he brought his dad to show and tell. I always thought it was weird that his dad played in Oakland, CA and my classmate lived in Denver with his mom.
I lived in Denver and around Denver from 1977 ~ 1982.
Darell always killed my Jets back then! He was as cool as the other side of the pillow. In ’77, The Broncos played in their 1st Superbowl and the town went nuts! Cement trucks were painted with the “Orange Crush” soda logo. You could even buy orange commodes! Weather was great. I had a Thanksgiving dinner outside,as it was around 70. I won a contest there to fly to Steamboat with four members of the Broncos, have dinner and then fly back to Denver. I gave it to a lady friend who’s highlight to her life was sitting on Lyle Alzado’s lap!
I really liked that Bronco team…still wish the Cowboys had lost that one…even as a youngster I loved the story of an old QB leading a team…Craig Morton was the Broncos QB that Super Bowl year right?
Alzado-what a sad story about the way his life ended. Your Jets are going to be tough in years to come…I think Sanchez is the real deal…but he’s still got a ton to learn. The Jets coach seems like he’d rather do stand up comedy than coach the Jets.
Not my Jets anymore. I went to the other side. I was a Jets fan since 1965 when Joe Namath was the QB. Last year, I became a Giants fan, the team that I would go see at Yankee Stadium. I’m not a big football fan, but the Jets have made a franchise of losing. I can’t invest my time with a team that will never get it together. Brett Farve was the last straw!
I’m trying to invent a way to get 12-year old kids past the teenage years without stopping. Go to bed a 12 year old and the next morning you’re 20.
I’ll become a trillionaire in very short order.
I love both my daughters, but there were times I’d say silently, “hurry and grow up!”
But I admit that I loved them best on April 15 each year I could take deductions on my taxes for them. And especially when I had to pay estimated taxes and could figure on that bulge in my wife’s tummy being a future deduction.
(The two girls were born three years and eight days apart. Our younger daughter has daughters three years and minus one day apart.)
Jay,
I am divorced and have my son with me on weekends so I would never trade that 12-18 year time span. There are days when I do shake my head, and ask myself…why am I getting the bum’s rush… but at the of day my 14 yr is a kind and nice boy who admits that he’s a daddy’s boy. My oldest son is a freshman in college and he proudly claims to be a momma’s boy…fair’s fair, I guess.
I understand. Tbe teen years are absolutely fascinating.
My wife and I took care of innumerable teenage foster kids and weekend kids, while living in Minnesota and Maryland. It was quite a challenge. We had to take foster parenting classes, and the first thing we learned was: “All foster children have emotional problems.”
And wouldn’t you have problems, if you came from a home that didn’t accept and love you, where the adults perhaps couldn’t even rally to keep you fed and clothed.
For the longest time, we had my youngest son — my stepson — during the week and he’d go to his mother’s on the weekends, so all the down time and goof-off time wasn’t spent at our house (eventually, it was). But then, on the other end, weekends are so very short…
Jay,
We had 4 kids in a 5 year span. All four were teens for two years! 3 girls and a boy! We lived through it, but my marriage did not survive!
It’s a pattern! And I used to say that I’d like to shut my sons in a closet and open it up at 18, and pull them out as fully-formed adults. And they were actually shockingly good kids. Can’t imagine the trauma of dealing with difficult ones. Mr. DJ and I often remark how we got off easy on that.