Monday, June 26, 2006

A Good Ache

I spent most of yesterday gardening and I am paying for it today. We did a great deal of walking in Venice and I thought I was getting into pretty good shape. How deluded I was!

I was two or three weeks behind on my gardening when we got home and the weeds had nearly taken over. I also had annuals to plant and some general cleanup to be done. By the end of the day on Sunday my bones were weary and today my muscles are all screaming, “You over did it!”

However, as I stood in the backyard this morning - just as the sun was beginning to come over the trees – I marveled at the creation as a familiar tune came into my head…

“The spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame
Their great Original proclaim.
Th’unwearied sun, from day to day,
Does his Creator’s powers display,
And publishes to every land
The work of an Almighty Hand.

Soon as the evening shades prevail
The moon takes up the wondrous tale,
And nightly to the listening earth
Repeats the story of her birth;
While all the stars that round her burn
And all the planets in their turn,
Confirm the tidings as they roll,
And spread the truth from pole to pole.

What though in solemn silence all
Move round the dark terrestrial ball?
What though no real voice nor sound
Amid the radiant orbs be found?
In reason’s ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice,
Forever singing as they shine,
“The hand that made us is divine.”
- Joseph Addison






Monday, June 19, 2006

This little world we live in...


We just returned from a 10th anniversary trip to Venice. All I can say is that it is such a beautiful, special place.

I love to chat people up. I love finding out where they are from and where they are going. It sometimes drives my wife crazy. We stayed at a small ten room hotel in Venice and I got to know the owners and the other guests very well.

I am amazed at the multiculturalism that exists. Practically everywhere we went - people spoke English…and German, French and Spanish. We are truly citizens of the world and we are naive to operate as if what we do only affects “us”. Maybe there was a time when we might have been able to operate like that but certainly not any more.

We are good at holding the rest of the world accountable for their behaviors but not so good at examining the impact of our actions and behaviors on the rest of the world. Everywhere we went people wanted to talk and they wanted to understand.

It was a needed vacation and wonderful celebration of ten years of marriage. The food in Venice is incredible!