A sleepy day--and a random thought about higher educatioin

 

Today, close to noon, I found myself dozing off over my computer. I’ve been known to do that in the evening, a signal that I should take a little nap—or else give it up and go to sleep. But in the middle of the day? I figured out what it was. All those loose threads that have haunted me all week have tied themselves off into neat little knots—my worry over arrangements for Christmas Eve guests, the lost check for a co-pay, even my iStock dilemma is nicely solved. And the plumber was here this morning, quickly fixed the leak with the tiniest of new washers, and it didn’t cost nearly as much as I had feared. The gods are smiling on me, and I’m grateful.

I toughed it out until about one-thirty and then slept a solid two hours. It must be all the talk Jordan and I have done about food and menus and grocery lists, but I dreamt I was eating the most sumptuous, huge meal—lamb chops and salads and pate, all the things I love. I woke up full.

So, I’m feeling fairly ready for Christmas. And I’m feeling optimistic about the national scene, ever since the Colorado Supreme Court declared trump ineligible to be on the ballot. But higher education is on my mind tonight. I’ve read several articles that question the value of a college education. Some point out that the importance of having skilled craftsmen—plumbers, electricians, carpenters, etc.—is overlooked, and young people should be encouraged to consider trade schools. I’m all for that. College is not for everyone, and we need those skilled people. Especially today when I’m so grateful for the plumber, who by the by, had an apprentice with him. Made me curious about how plumbers are educated—by apprenticeship, classes, or both?

But an article this morning suggested that employers are dissatisfied with the quality of college graduates these days and perhaps a college degree is not worth the high cost, since it can throw graduates and their families into a long downward spiral of debt. Some of the stories of people still paying in their sixties are horrifying. We’ve seen President Biden try to release families from that burden so that they can be productive members of society, rather than held back by financial distress. But that has met conservative opposition.

It’s a given that Republicans want to dumb down America, because an uneducated populace is easier to manage, to persuade with propaganda and distortion. We see it in Texas particularly in the move to approve school vouchers, and thereby weaken public education, which has failed, so far—praise be! We see it nationally in restrictions on teachers and what they can teach, particularly what they can say about history. They are often required to teach our history as seen through rose-colored glasses. And we see it in book banning.

Now we’re seeing a move to question college education. I wonder if this questioning of higher education is not part of that whole campaign. Granted, some college costs are exorbitant these days, but college is where people learn critical thinking. It’s not so much that college prepares you for a career—really, how many of us have a career related to our college major? But it’s that college classes teach you to think. An educated populace, especially one that knows history, is not as likely to fall for the blandishments of a demagogue.

Just a random thought for Christmas week when my mind should be on the meaning of Christmas, the why and wherefore of how we celebrate, the blessing of families gathering, and the food which binds us in thankfulness and companionship.

It’s not late, but I can feel sleepiness creeping up on me again, so I’ll sign off. Tomorrow, I think ‘ll blog about black-eyed peas, a much more seasonal topic.

 

Hallelujah! A new day has dawned

It is particularly appropriate that this morning my church, University Christian Church, welcomed a new minister and his family. I say appropriate because this is the time of year we think of new beginnings and gifts from God. Dr Russ Peterman, his wife, and four teenage children come to us from northern California, but I understand from church gossip that he has Texas roots, grew up in the Panhandle, and is named Russell after Russell (better known as Red) Steagall. Good recommendations!

I liked him. I liked that when he spoke informally he emphasized that he was not God’s gift to us; we were God’s gift to him. We’ll see how he feels about that in a year or so. I liked that he was up front that his family would always come first with him. I liked that he said any parent knows that the way to make a child be good is not to tell him how bad he is—I took that to apply to us as the children of God as well as to literal parents and children, though I was temped to poke Jordan who was sitting next to me. I liked him because his sermon was clear, interesting to follow, and made a good point. I think I’ll like his theology. And I liked him because he speaks clearly and was easy for me to hear and understand. Jacob liked him, because he was funny and didn’t preach too long.

I think the arrival of the Peterman family, if not a gift from God, is a sign from Him that good things are going to happen in our church. We’ve been without a resident minister for some time now and while we’re all grateful to Rev. Chuck Rolen for his interim service, there is a different feeling in the church now that we have a minister who plans to stay for years—yes, he said so. The congregation turned out in large numbers for both services, and if you listened and waited, you could sense an upbeat in the air, the sense of joy and optimism.

A personal bonus from being in church, besides the lovely greetings and hugs from friends: one woman told me she’d read Pigface and the Perfect Dog and couldn’t put it down; another told me that when she inherited her late mother’s Kindle, she found all my mysteries on it, and she was currently reading the third Blue Plate Mystery. I had enjoyed several “bookish” lunches with her mom and was anticipating another when she died suddenly.

Tis the season to be joyful. We made a good start this morning at UCC. Merry Christmas, everyone, and particularly the Russ Peterman family.

PS: Should I tell him my mother’s maiden name was Peterman? A church friend said to me, “Well, you both fell out of the same tree. But it’s an awful big tree.”

Tis the season when things slow down

I know, I know—everyone thinks things get more hectic as the holidays approach, but for me it’s a season when I turn off other concerns and focus on the holiday. I belong to a small writers’ list online where we report every Friday on our writing brags. Today, I didn’t really have any. I’ve spent my week going to physical therapy and wrapping presents—the latter looms as a great project in my mind, but I guess it’s because there are 15 members of my immediate family.

But to me this is the time of year when the rest of life goes on the back burner, and I enjoy the holidays. My house is decorated—thanks to Jordan—and my gifts are almost all purchased, many wrapped. I’m anticipating a Christmas with all the Alters, all sixteen of us including me. I try hard not to forget the Christ in Christmas and to remember he’s the reason for the season. But I think the Lord is happy to see us celebrate with family and friends the new life he brings us each year.

So, friends, slow down, enjoy the season, remember that whatever doesn’t get done is not the end of the world. And 2016 offers us a whole new adventure. My prayer for the new year is that I can learn to move more slowly. After all, my physical therapist points out you have better control if you walk slowly.

And maybe in that advice is go to bed early. G’night. Sweet dreams.