jansong's Journal

Username:	Password:
Forgot your password?	Remember Me

Picking Cotton
http://www.pickingcottonbook.com/home.html

Every so often a book comes along that is intensely moving and filled with lessons. Picking Cotton seems to me to be this generation's To Kill A Mockingbird, only Picking Cotton is not a novel. It is the real story of a young woman who experienced an attempted rape and the man who went to jail for that crime even though he was innocent. More amazingly, they become good friends. In the very first chapter you are given that information. Nevertheless, the first half of the book is painful to read. We are reading details of the horror of being a rape victim, the flaws in our judicial system, and the brutality of prison life. It's not a pleasant read. But then we are treated to the most amazing story of redemption and forgiveness. You can imagine how bitter a man imprisoned for eleven years for a crime he didn't commit might be. Can you even imagine that he isn't? Can you imagine that he forgives, and he helps the woman to forgive herself for wrongly accusing him? For those of us who grew up with a Christian heritage, there is no better example. Also, we are reminded of the flaws in our judicial system even by those people who conscientiously try to enforce justice. What better reason to abolish the death penalty. Too often innocent people are killed. Picking Cotton is a book filled with life lessons. My words only touch the surface. I urge you to seek it out.

The role of music in life...
I hope it is okay to post this speech. It's a thoughtful read.

Well worth taking the time to read this:

Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without."
Confucius (c.551-479 BC)

Welcome address to freshman class at Boston Conservatory given by Karl
Paulnack, pianist and director of music division at Boston
Conservatory.

( Read more... )

Birthday reflections, part 2
We had a lovely time on the evening of my birthday, meeting good friends for dinner at a Mexican restaurant with pastries at their home afterwards. Good visit time. I loved the food. And then the weekend continued. Daughter, Melinda brought Lucy dog over to walk on Saturday morning. Good mom and daughter talk time, even though it was cold. Tea time after with Bob joining us was fun, too. Melinda and I ate the leftovers from the night before. Bob joined us for left over donuts and pastries. Then on Sunday, Bob suggested moving a little furniture around in the study. Moving furniture is one of my favorite things to do! Bob usually hates it. And to get the changes in the study meant a few living room and hallway and upstairs changes. I had a grand time. I only like house cleaning if I get to move furniture. We had Sunday night popcorn (nearly all of our Michigan popcorn is gone, I sadly report) and other treats while we watched the Oscar ceremony. Even I stayed up to the end! More good wishes continue to come by snail mail. I've dragged this celebration out about as long as I can.

Written early in the day February 20th on Facebook
No doubt I'll have to add to this as the day goes on, but I must make a few notes now so I don't forget. I'm quite overwhelmed by all the wishes here. Makes me feel most cared for. Also, it calls to mind birthdays of years past in Michigan, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. So many of you have been a part of my life for some years.

We expected to have a meeting here at the house this morning and I had planned to bake something sort of healthy. Meeting was cancelled. I began to crave a coconut doughnut. (This craving goes back to my years as a church choir director in Michigan.) However, nowadays I think I ought to walk to Dunkin' Donuts if I am going to eat such a treat. Thus I did, even though it was bitter cold with a fierce wind. (Reminded me of NYC in the winter.) Arrived there in time to get the last coconut donut and to get something Bob would like, too.

Just before I left, I had a phone call from someone (I didn't catch what she said her role was) at the South Hadley town offices wishing me a happy birthday. What a lovely town gesture.

Later this afternoon I will teach one lesson and then we will go to Northampton to have dinner with friends at a Mexican Restaurant. Bob doesn't like Mexican food, but he will share with me this treat once a year. :)

Yesterday we shopped for my presents. I got some new slippers that I am cozy and warm wearing as I type. My mother often would buy me slippers for my birthday as they would be on sale after Christmas. So it is a nostalgia gift besides feeling good.

And then, because I have this dark sense of humor, Bob bought me, AS REQUESTED by me, a new snow shovel. I don't think my old shovel is going to last the season. They have to be lightweight for me, but the plastic ones do break down. I find some delight (hopefully not at my husband's expense) in saying I got a snow shovel for my birthday.

We finished the birthday shopping with a daffodil plant. This time of year I crave flowers that will remind me that spring will come. I got a hyacinth for Valentine's Day. Just a few more weeks and surely plants will come up in the yard -- and snow will be gone.

That's enough to say for now. Thank you for all the memories, of times spent with each of you, that come to my mind when you are writing to me here. Love and hugs!
Jan

Letter to my grandchildren
Dear Mitchell and Allie,

The inauguration of President Obama on Tuesday will be an exciting and historic day. I'm looking forward to watching the events on TV and I look forward to watching for the float that Proof Productions is building for the parade.

As I was telling Uncle Eric about the float, he told me about the inauguration of President Eisenhower in 1952. I would have said, "reminded me" except that I don't remember the event at all. Uncle Eric remembers much more of our childhood than I do.

In 1952 Eric and I were almost 10 years old, and we lived three blocks from school. All of the children in the neighborhood would go home for lunch each day. Only a few people owned televisions in those days. We were fortunate to have one that had been given to us when someone bought a new one. The screen on our TV was 6".

1952 was the first year that the presidential inauguration was televised. Our mother (who would be your great-grandmother) got permission from our school for Eric and me to stay home an extra hour after lunch on Inauguration Day so that we could watch this event on television. Eric remembers that day very vividly. I don't, but I'm happy that he told me about it this week.

Maybe when you are nearly 67 years old, you will remember vividly the inauguration of President Obama in 2009.

We will be thinking of you on Tuesday, and as always we are sending much love to both of you and to your mom and dad.

Love, Grandma

Passion and Compassion
For days I've been trying to formulate some thoughts going into the new year. I'm having difficulty finding words to express gratitude and at the same time putting words to troubling thoughts that bubble up. 2008 was such a mixed bag. But, I've come out of the morning cleaning frenzy with some thoughts about passion and compassion. I am really grateful for the "passion" each family member has for the things they do in life. We all have different passions, and sometimes we really haven't a whole lot of understanding for each other's directions, but we CAN appreciate that we all love what we do. We all are excited about what we believe and how we understand the universe. And, I believe that we all have compassion for each other and each other's choices. However, I become so excited about my own passion that sometimes I have trouble understanding why everyone isn't as excited about my choices. My resolution for the new year is to work on compassion for other's passions.

Also, as I've once again been listening to the song, "I'm turning into my mother," I realize ever more clearly that you don't understand life's next stage until YOU are in it. Now I realize why my mother and Aunt Pat felt the way they did. Friend, Judi, always hated being told when she was young that she was going through a "stage." Heck! Those stages never stop. Each age is a stage in life. Both a blessing and a curse.

And finally I'm feeling enormous gratitude for the "gift" each person gives us just by being a part of our lives. I've had the intention of sending notes to people telling them ONE thing that has enriched me by knowing them. I may get to this yet, folks......

Merry Christmas! Love to you all!
The crossword puzzle solution can be found at:
http://www.jansong.com/
Let me know if you would like me to attach it in an e-mail. Also, I've recorded both of the tunes to the puzzle songs and can send them to you, if you'd like to hear the tune (tunes.)

The Wise Men from “The Christmas Crib” by Roy Ringwald

From the faroff mountain, over desert sand,
Come the holy wise men from the Eastern land.
On their camels riding, with their gifts in store,
Holy wise men, coming, worship and adore.

Joyful Singing (4 part round) by Adrienne Tindall, 1995

Listen to the angel song;
see the heavens filled with light;
join your voices, sing along:
peace to all the earth this night.

Day 24
Day 24 clue:
____out a song, the day would never end

(To anyone who already has this clue, I wrote "will" and not "would." Odd how memory isn't accurate.)
Seems an appropriate lyric to end our game. The end of this lyric says, "A man ain't got a friend...."

Thank you all for playing. I love this daily contact for 24 days. It has become my favorite holiday tradition. So.... now that you have solved the puzzle, do you know the resulting song? it is pretty obscure, but some of you HAVE sung it under my direction. Melinda doesn't recognize it, but she may have been 4 when she first sang it.

And yes, the breathing test says I have asthma. I'll see the doctor in January to discuss what I need to do about it. At this point, it just makes me cough.

Day 24 kids round clue:
Yuletide by the fireside and _____ mem'ries there

This is a pretty contemporary song, I think. i didn't know it. I went searching the web for a lyric to get the word I needed.

Do you know the round that has emerged?
Thank you for playing. It's been a pretty difficult puzzle for young kids. I'll need to plan more carefully next year.

Day 23
Day 23 song clue:
Far ____ the home I love

Off this morning for round two of "Do I have asthma?" breathing tests.
Cold, cold, cold day, but I was out shoveling in cold temperatures yesterday a.m.
Thus, I don't think I have cold induced asthma anyway.

Day 23 kids round clue:
Bells are ringing, Children _______

Day 22
Day 22 clue:
You put your right foot __

Snow. Snow. Snow. I don't even think the expected rain can take away our white Christmas. I'm not sure all e-mail messages reached me over the weekend. Some gremlins out there on the airwaves with the snow, perhaps.

Day 22 kids round clue:
____ calling birds, three French hens

The next two days are all about the title of this song.

Day 21
Day 21 song clue:
O ____ night

Day 21 kids round clue:
Here we go _____ the mulberry bush

Day 20
Day 20 song clue:
All is quiet on the _______ front

Beware - if you don't know the song, you probably will think of the movie title that will be WRONG.

Day 20 kids round song clue:
When Santa's sleigh bells ring, I ______ all around

(A student of mine recorded this song for her family for Christmas)

Day 19
Day 19 song clue:
____ the river and through the wood

(We tend to sing "woods" but it really was written "wood" just like Deck the "hall" really is one hall though we often make that plural.)

It is high school winter concert time, and we have attended a couple of them this week. At Amherst we heard the best high school chorale we've heard in years. It was a holiday treat. Today we expect our first BIG snow of the season. The college kids are home and we have Billy Ray already lined up to shovel.

Day 19 kids round clue:
Come on and ____ together with the band.

I never have heard this song. My kids game is often harder than the other puzzle.

Day 18
Day 18 song clue:
Take me ______ in the car

I've never heard yesterday or today's song. I found the lyrics on google because I needed these words. Extra bonus points if someone actually knows the songs.

Day 18 kids round clue:
This little _____ of mine

Day 17
Day 17 song clue:
I will see you in ___ ___ places

Day 17 kids round:
___ I want for Christmas is my two front teeth

Day 16
Day 16 song clue:
While Shepherds watched _____ flocks by night

We are home from New Jersey and as soon as I'm rested, I should share some details. Good trip and the train was early getting back! House was very warm - furnace repairman found a problem with a wire from the thermostat. Can't believe we've had the window open all evening to COOL the house.

One player, by the way, solved the song puzzle Sunday with the daily clues thus far and the crossword puzzle. She doesn't know the song. I'm wondering how many of you will. Brava to Marj Leas.

Day 16 kids clue:
Git _____ little doggies

Day 15
Day 15 song clue:
Oh ____, all ye faithful

We're on our way home today after a lovely NJ visit.

Day 15 kids round clue:
But the prettiest sight to ___

Day 14
Day 14 song clue:
Gonna build a ________

Day 14 kids round:
Hear them call, how their ______ ring

Day 13
Day 13 song clue:
Give me some ___ who are stouthearted

We are safely at Laura's though we rode in on the train with the Little Engine That Could NOT from New Haven to NYC where we got a new engine. Thus we arrived 2 hours late and missed seeing the theater they are renovating and we missed seeing friends, Paul and Chuck.
Lovely evening while we watched the grandchildren and friends make a gingerbread train. :)

Kids round clue Day13:
He ______ all the stockings, then turned with a jerk

Day 12
Day 12 song clue:
Some humpty-back ______ and some chimpanzees

Day 12 kids round:
Sing, sing a ____

We're off to see the grandchildren. :)