Let Mother Nature Heal us

And carry on with John Williams and Julian Bream with some Telemann to relax and delight

Spent the week end in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley...
We ran into a snow storm on the way out but next day, yesterday, Sunday, was wonderfully bright and not cold. Visited the Shenandoah Caverns and delved into the depths to admire the stalagmites and stalactites formed during centuries and millennial; emptied the mind of needless clutter. The best restaurant in New Market, VA....where the twang is still strong, was Jalisco, a Mexican Restaurant; the rice and beans tasted so good, as well as the fajitas, the tacos, the burrito and the quesadilla...
But the highlight was the drive through the forests of browns, reds, yellows, oranges...against the clear blue sky...
Ya'll want to see that!

Guitar Music, La Vida Breve by Falla

Well, I must admit that I learned to enjoy classical music in the Legion of Christ; maybe it was a "fugue" from the boring routine of "community life"
Of course we heard the Concierto de Aranjuez a lot....
Later, though, on my own I took a real liking for Spanish guitar music, the classical, the popular, and flamenco

Here is my favorite guitarist, Australian John Williams, playing with that British bloke, Julian Bream.

[Video] Vatican Intervention of the Legion of Christ

Interview with Steve Hassan of "Freedom of Mind" fame;
in July 2011, after the International Cultic Studies Association's annual international conference in Barcelona, Spain

What is the Legion?
What are its Problems?
The Founder a Pedophile
How did he found and order?
How did he go undetected for so long?
How does  the the Catholic Leadership work?
What has the Pope done with the Legion?
Can it be reformed?
What is the present status?

Cajun Longevity

 

Swamp Critters

Boudreaux, an 80-year-old South Louisiana Cajun, goes to the doctor for his every year check-up.

The doctor is amazed at what good shape he is in and asks, "How do you stay in such great physical condition, Boudreaux?"

“I stay in the swamp and I hunt and fish every day", said the old Cajun. "Dat's why I'm in such good shape. I'm up well before daylight and out hunting or fishing all day. I have a beer for breakfast and at lunch and wid my supper. And, I have a shot of hooch before bed time. And, I say my prayers every night. And all is well wid me."

Well", says the doctor, "I'm sure the prayers help, but there's got to be more to it. How old was your father when he died?"

"Who said Pop is dead?"

The doctor is amazed. "You mean you are 80 years old and your father is still alive? How old he is?"

"Pop be 100 next month," replied Boudreaux. "In fact, he hunted with me dis mornin', and den we went to a beer joint for a while and had a few beers and dat's why he's still alive. He is a tough Cajun man and he hunts and fishes everyday, too.”

"Well, the doctor says, that's great! But, I'm sure there's more to it than that. How about your father's father? How old was he when he died?"

"Who said my Paw Paw's dead?"

Stunned, the doctor asks, "You mean you are 80 years old, your father is 100 and your grandfather is still living? Incredible! How old he is?"

"We tink 'bout 118." says the old Cajun. He likes his beer, too, but he won't touch the hard stuff."

The doctor is getting frustrated at this point, "So, I guess your grandfather went hunting and fishing with you and your father this morning, too?"

"No, Paw Paw couldn't go dis time. He's gettin' married today."

At this point the doctor is close to losing it. "Getting married! Why would a 118-year-old man want to get married?"

Boudreaux looked down at the floor and mumbled "Who said he wanted to?"

SPAIN, JULY 2011, Barza, Valencia, Granada, Cordoba, Sevilla, Barza, Paris at night is dark

Nightfall in Valencia

                                                                Plaza de Espania, Seville

at the Mosque-Cathedral in Cordoba

I wanted to attended the International Cultic Studies Association Annual Conference in Barcelona, July 5-7;
I also wanted to have a vacation with Aura; so we flew to Barza and took off directly by train to Valencia; we were deligthed by the city which has a lot to offer, climate, culture, city, sea... after 2 night we made for Granada the great, the Alhambra, the Cathedral...
I had a special spot for Cordoba and Aura joined my enthusiasm; he had the best hotel in town, from out window, we looked accross the Guadalquivir and the Roman Bridge to the Mosque Cathedral...pity we had planned only one night... what an enjoyable city;
Sevilla was hot but so was El Arenal, the 'tablao' which a friend had recommended... Beautiftul cathedral, the Golden Tower, the Giralda...the cafes accross the street from the cathedral where we sat until the early hours...
The link

First American Legionaries of Christ gather in Philadelphia

'Plotting against the Legion?"
Just reminiscing and being supportive to each other, normalizing that experience, our past and our present

The "boys" and Keith's Family

Sevilla

[we were there last Monday and Tuesday and caught the Ave fast train to Barcelona on Wed.; behind on my reporting!]

Yes, a marvellous sight; my theory is that the Weather Vane that whirls around with the wind direction [girar, in Spanish] is why it is called La Giralda, the turning woman, and it the three meter bronze statue that looks so small from ground level;
we spend a couple of lovely evening sitting at an outdoor cafe across Constitution Ave from the marvellous cathedral sipping our "Tinto de verano"