Hello, November!

[nightdog_barks]

And it's SUNNY, which is just such a relief after yesterday. The temperature is cool, but with the sun it's not too bad.

Finished Rachel Kushner's The Mars Room last night, and ... kittens, just no. No. I realized this morning that I wasn't sure what happened in the end to a secondary character, but it was okay, because I didn't care. I didn't care about any of the characters. Not a single one. I agree completely with this Goodreads review (which is also the most "liked" review of this book). This one is going into my donate box immediately. :-P

Otherwise ... the satsumas on our little tree are starting to turn from green to yellow (on their way to orange), and the holly berries are starting to turn red.

Dreamed last night that Mister Nightdog_barks and I were moving to Buffalo, New York, and that I had a newspaper (actual paper newspaper) open to show him a full-page listing/ad for all the Seventh-day Adventist churches there. Neither of us is a Seventh-day Adventist. Brain, what are you even?

Comments

[silverjackal]

I can not speak to Buffalo New York, but you may have crossed brain waves with me in passing. There is a public event I must attend, which will be held in a Seventh-day Adventist Church, and was looking up the location yesterday. It turns out that I know where the church is (it is in a small town, so it is *the* church, not *a* church, and on the main street), but I did not previously know it was Seventh-day Adventist. That got me thinking about another event I was at in a different place, held in the most beautiful Masonic Temple. The building is fairly old (for here), and circular, and the architect knew what they were about because the acoustics are perfect, the place is so full of light it floats, serenity practically breathes from the floor boards. I'm not about to become a Mason (nor strictly could I, not being a Christian and not being willing to accept Christian belief for membership), but that Temple is something. I'm sure the church will be nice, but it's a standard small rectangle, and like many old churches here I expect the acoustics will be poor (relevant because myself and others are there to give a talk which has nothing to do with religion, we merely end up in such venues because they are the largest available in places which do not have a theatre or sports arena).

[nightdog_barks]

JACKAL I WOULD BE PLEASED TO CROSS BRAIN WAVES ANYTIME :DDD

And your Masonic Temple brought back a memory for me! A few years ago an elderly uncle of mine passed away, and his funeral was the first time I learned he had been some sort of high-ranking Mason. His family had the typical church service, but the graveside service was a Masonic affair -- the leaders were a couple of young men with white aprons over their suits (symbols of spring, they said), and they laid a white apron and some dirt and green ferns on top of the casket. They talked about the brotherhood of all men, addressed a very non-specific God, and didn't mention Jesus at all. (I'm cribbing from an email conversation I had with friends afterwards.) One of the Masons was wearing a black cowboy hat (a nice felt one, like this), and (I am not making this up) every time he mentioned God, he tipped his hat. Every. Time. And they were both dead serious.

It was fascinating and really quite moving. AND THAT'S MY STORY ABOUT MASONS. :D

[silverjackal]

I am fond of Freemasonry in general because I've liked every mason I've ever met. My undergraduate thesis advisor was a Master Mason, and he was a stellar human being, ranking amongst the tiny handful of best people I have ever known. I know the Order gets all manner of bad rap for nepotism, etc. but I've never witnessed any bias personally having sometimes competed against masons for jobs, and I respect the values they espouse of hard work, self-development, humility, fraternity, charity, and doing good works in their community. Different Lodges also differ in how Christian they are -- some European Lodges are atheist in fact, and some will accept anyone of any religion who meets their criteria and accepts the existence of a Supreme Being. Most are at least nominally Christian, though.

Masonic aprons are merely the symbol of an active working (i.e. they are the symbol of a Mason, and there are restrictions -- such as not uttering profanity, not quarreling, etc. -- while wearing it). It symbolises the purity and perfection to which a Mason aspires, and is buried with them. The ferns were likely the symbols of spring you are recalling.

Edited to add: my English is obviously dreadful tonight, thanks to the TN and attendant medication. My apologies, I know there are errors, but I lack the ability to find and fix all of them.