the road to a cause

There are many life experiences that make us take up "the cause." Politics? JFK. Civil rights? MLK. Drunk driving deaths? Candy Lightner, who founded MADD in 1980 in honor of her daughter, Cari, who was killed by a drunk driver. Killer diseases? Michael J. Fox became a spokesman for Parkinson's disease. Spinal cord injuries? Think Superman!

Organ donation? That would be me. I am asking you, reminding you to fill out the form on your driver's license that indicates that you are willing to be an organ donor. My beloved sister was on a kidney transplant list for nine years, NINE YEARS. A transplant might have saved her life. It might have given her a quality of life she had not enjoyed since 2000. Your used organs ~ heart, kidney, liver, corneas ~ might be of life-saving importance to another man or woman. Really, you will be dead. What use can you possibly have for those body parts? But others who receive them may live on. If you have hesitated to check the "Be an organ donor" box on your license, hesitate no longer. You can give someone life. Think about it.

This has been a terrible day. A terrible, terrible day. Weeping, memories, smiles, weeping, photos, letters, weeping, phone calls, emails, and still more weeping. Even though I know she had decided this was her time, and I have no argument with her decision, I will mourn her. We had a wonderful life together as sisters. Here's what I will really miss, though. When she would telephone me or I called her, we would say, in a high, falsetto voice mimicking Walter Matthau's in "Hopscotch" greeting his spy partner, Glenda Jackson, "Helloooo? This is Eleanor Roooosevelt!" No one will ever say that to me again. Now that's what I'll miss.

the saddest news

My beloved sister and only sib, Vicky, died this morning. She was in a convalescent hospital in Chula Vista, apparently doing quite well. I don't know what happened, what the cause of death might have been, but her body was so thoroughly compromised from years of crushing struggle with severe diabetes that it probably just gave out. The fact that she had lived even this long was a miracle for her and a gift for the rest of us.

Let angels speed her flight. May she at last rest in peace.

I will miss you, my funny, clever, smart, impish, loving sister.

the week in review

It's been a slow week, here in the valley. Weather has been very mild until this weekend, when it has climbed to the high 90's and is predicted to stay there or go higher. It's about time. Mr. C. was away for the week, visiting his family in Ohio. As a result, I watched several movies, stayed up later than usual, but mainly puttered around in the garden, and enjoyed my solitude. He returned on Thursday, happy for the visit and happy to be home.

Wednesday I went for my annual check-up with my eye surgeon. She is the one who did the phenomenal vitrectomy on my left eye four years ago and, basically, restored my sight. I had so many years of laser treatments to stem the retinopathy, particularly in my right eye, that the left one really serves as my "seeing" eye. With it out of commission I was sunk, so her handiwork was particularly gratifying.

Movies included: The Namesake, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and the BBC series Blue Murder, a sort of working-class Prime Suspect. Caroline Quentin as hard-driving DCI Janine Lewis is terrific. Only objection: too much cell-phone use here! I had some problems with the Manchester accent, but by the third or fourth episode I got the hang of it. I've seen six episodes so far. More will be coming later.

I finally finished reading (listening to, actually, on CD) "Cutting for Stone". Well worth the effort. Next reading project: "Devil in the White City" while I wait for my name to percolate up to the top of the "Elegance of the Hedgehog" list. I started at 27; I've move up to 17 but now the library is closed until the third week in September so I have to fill in the meanwhile with some of my bedside stack.

I have spent several teary hours watching and listening as the nation bid farewell to the last of the Kennedy brothers. High praise, high criticism. Much focus on works well done. Expected focus on Chappaquiddick. But here's the thing about those three chaps, plus all of their various offspring; have you ever seen so much dazzling dental enamel?

the star-crossed brother

The last of the Kennedy brothers, the only one to reach old age, has gone. His tumultuous life ~ both political and personal ~ has drawn to a close. He was the last male in an amazing line of a family devoted to the social and political life of this nation. I had hoped that the health care debate would have ended in triumph before he moved on to other political climes. It was the cause that moved him over the last thirty years. The President was said to have been ready to pay a visit to the ailing senator. Alas, it was not to be. Teddy would not ever have achieved the Oval Office, due to, among other flaws, hubris. Nonetheless, his devotion to this nation cannot be minimized.

I remember being in a hotel in Santa Barbara when the Senator's plane crashed in 1964. I could not believe that this family could possibly be assaulted by yet another tragedy. But it would not be the last. The Kennedy family, whether you agree with their politics or not, has given of its best to this nation, its sons have died for it, its daughters have worked to make it a better place. Imagine. Three died violently; one in war, two by assassination. One daughter died in a plane crash. Another daughter, after ghastly medical intervention, lived out her life in the shadows. Eunice Shriver Kennedy, only a month ago, died in her time, but had established the Special Olympics, mostly in honor of her sister, Rosemary. It is up to the surviving sister, Jean, to now bury her last sibling.

This Lion of the Senate will be missed. God speed, Teddy.

run, don't walk

This is a brilliant film and I encourage you to see it. Alan Arkin delivers yet again a sharp performances. John Turturro is as creepy as ever. Amy Irving as his wife is so taut that it's almost uncomfortable. The cinematographer and film editor deserve great praise.

The remarkable "Cats"

Tonight's trip to the theater brought to life the astounding gymnastics of "Cats" from the Sacramento Music Circus. Music by Andrew Lloyd Weber, lyrics by T.S. Eliot. This energetic musical is almost 30 years old. Even so, I had never see it or heard the entire libretto. Nor, I confess, have I read "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats." As soon as our library reopens in mid-September I will get it.

The momentous occasion for this outing was a group birthday celebration; mine plus three friends whose milestones occur while I am away. First we went to dinner; I had a divine seafood risotto, with enough left over for tomorrow's supper. Then it was off to be transported to the Jellicle junkyard by an astonishing group of singers and dancers who made all the sundry "Cats" real for a night.

I marveled at the skill and endurance of the dancers. I can remember back in my dancing days ~ I quit completely when I was about 30 ~ coming home after class, hoping I would be hit by a bus so I wouldn't have to go again, although I loved it with a real fire when I was doing it. I can only imagine the exhaustion and aches this wonderful troupe must experience after 2 or 3 weeks of perpetual motion.

when friends gather

Dinner with Babz and Ali tonight at my house. Quiche, salad (from A's garden), watermelon (from A's garden), 2 bottles of wine. But the best part was that we solved all the world's problems. Isn't it wonderful when that can happen, all in one evening? Believe me we didn't always agree but we parted, late, with deeper affection, understanding and respect than we had started with. A splendid evening.