In Memory of Jack

My uncle Jack M. Koonce died last week.  I understand that in his last few years, he had suffered from Alzheimer’s.  I had not seen him in over a decade since he and my aunt were no longer married, and so we had lost touch.  Like all of us, he was a complex individual and his life left behind a mixture of achievements and failures but in our relationship, he was always a kind soul. Since he had enjoyed flying as a young man, I wrote this in honor of his life and last journey.  I hope he now has the clarity of thought in heaven that Alzheimer’s had taken from him at the end of his life.

Flight into Dawn
by K. Renee Juneau

The last slender rays of winter,
Outline a hanger in the morning mist.
Edges silvered in the frigid cold,
Binding panes of murky glass.

Electric fire in windows blaze,
Painting chevrons as doors fold back,
Dawn crescendoed by engine roar;
The preparation for one last flight.

I watch you leave the earth behind,
Unsteady at first, but then with certain grace,
Rising quickly in the cloudless blue,
Fading fast in a trick of sight.

Aimless rivers now seek the sea.
Briars loosen thorns to weave,
Paths through meadows long neglected
To gardens edged with bittersweet.

The sun has burned the mist away.
The day forms crisp and clear.
Your wing dips in a final turn,
Toward patchwork fully whole at last.

You are gone but I see you still.
I know the ending of the flight,
Safely landing on the golden shore,
Finally freed from the fog of night.

Hot Spiced CIder for Cool Nights

A few years ago, we visited Williamsburg at Christmas and I fell in love with the spiced cider that seemed to be served at every restaurant. There is nothing better than a mug of hot spiced cider and a homemade cookie on a cool night. The only pity is that Mississippi winters are very short so we only have a week or two before it is too warm for hot drinks but I wanted to post this for those of you who are still having cold weather.

After a long search for a really good version of this drink I found one on the Food Network site. This version is by Emeril Lagasse from 2002.  This is very good if you want a good bit of rum in your cider.

 Emeril Lagasse’s Hot Apple Cider with Rum

Since I wanted a version that could be served without rum, I modified this so that it could be enjoyed with or without rum. I also reduced the yield of the recipe since we wanted to enjoy this at home when we are not having guests.

 Hot Spiced Cider

 Ingredients - For the spiced cider

• 1 apple (I used a Honey Crisp- might need an extra if very small)
• 2 teaspoons whole cloves
• 2 small oranges or tangerines (I likeSatsuma, Cuties or Clementines) thinly sliced
• 1.6 quarts apple cider (I used Martinellis Cider but any clear cider would work:)
• 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• ¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg (the ground version does not work well in this; you need to grate a bit of a whole one)  
• Cinnamon sticks (ideally these should be long enough to use as a stir stick - they do add to the taste of the drink)

For the spiced cider with rum, you would need

• Rum (Such as Bacardi Gold- do not use a spiced rum)
• Unsalted butter cut into thin pats

Directions

In the original version, you would stud the apple with the whole cloves. I changed this but if you were serving this for a party, the clove studded apple and orange slices ould be very pretty. This version is bit simpler to make for your own enjoyment.  I also save the glass cider jar so I can funnel any leftover cider into it to store in the refrigerator.  So far this has not been needed but it might come in handy one day.  I also made a few other changes from the original so you might want to try both versions.

Peel and slice the apple and slice. In a medium pot, add the apple, whole cloves and remaining ingredients except the rum and butter.

Slowly bring to a simmer over low heat. Simmer for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to just keep it warm.

 Use a strainer remove the apple slices, oranges and cloves and discard.

 Ladle into mugs. For those who want spiced cider, add a cinnamon stick and serve immediately

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To make buttered cider with rum, add a tablespoon of rum to each mug and add a pat of unsalted butter as well as the cinnamon stick. Serve immediately

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Now all you need are some warm butter or ginger cookies. Hope your have a cozy end to your winter season.

Hot Feet & Ambulances

My feet were so hot. . . I had to keep sliding my toes in and out of my shoes. I could not believe how hot my shoes were. I know that black absorbs heat but this was unreal. Even when I touched my shoe with my hand, it was hot to the touch.

Jon and I were at a ship commissioning for the Navy. We were very excited to be there, not many people have the opportunity, and we love patriotic events.  We had driven to Mobile early and were dressed as the invitation had instructed, “business dress”.  Jon and I both had jackets but women are luckier than men since women’s suits come in lighter weights than men’s suits.

We had previously attended ship christenings and at those events the seating area had been covered with a tent and there had been outside air conditioning so we had not really thought much about the heat. This event was different; it was a Navy event, not a shipyard event, so these amenities were not provided.  This makes sense in hindsight but we certainly did not think of at the time.  We had to be at the dock by 9:30 for the ceremony which began at 11:00.  It was very close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

By the beginning of the ceremony, we had been in direct sun for nearly two hours. The water bottles that we had been given when we arrived were empty and the sun was so intense that the color was leached out of the landscape.  The sky was a perfect cloudless blue and what little wind there was warm.  I tried to take some photos but the light was so bright that the focus screen appeared blank so I could not see what I was shooting.  Both of us had long ago shed our jackets.

Even the speakers on the platform referenced the heat and some of them shorten their address out of respect for it. Neither one of us felt very well. I was dizzy and I did not want to faint so for the first time in my life I did not remain standing for the national anthem.

As the ceremony progressed, more and more people began to balance their open programs on their heads as makeshift hats from the sun.  Jackets were draped over chairs and the more experienced souls sheltered under umbrellas.  The ceremony was very impressive but I confess that at some point it became hard to think about anything but the sun. All the energy was gone from the crowd; we began to look like well-dressed zombies as soaked clothes stuck to limbs and women’s makeup melted.  I envied the women who had hats.

I was worried about Jon.  He was drenched with sweat and I knew that his dress shirt and undershirt gave him two layers of clothing to deal with.  At least I was more lightly dressed. I also knew that he had really looked forward to this event and I did not want to let home down by wimping out on him.  Unlike me, he had not had to sit down at any point so I was feeling like the weak link.

The final event was a short tour of the ship.  In all honesty, the idea of moving my very warm toes across a metal deck was not appealing but when would this chance come again? We both fell in line for the slow march up on the ship and into some blessed shade.  I am afraid that the shade is about all I remember of the ship, that shade and a quick drink at a water fountain.

The respite was brief and when we hit the sun again, we decided against walking to the bow of the ship. I told Jon that I could hear my heart racing and he said his was too.  We were fading and we both really, really, wanted to get out of the sun.  When we got off the ship, a golf cart offered us a ride and we accepted, dropping all pretenses that we could handle the walk back.  Jon said later that this was point when he began to feel pretty bad and his vision began to distort.

All I could think about was getting out of the sun and to the reception where there might be something to drink.  The world had taken a yellow cast like over-exposed film.  Jon was behind me a few steps and we were near a medical station. At that moment, Jon said “I feel really, really bad” and then he collapsed.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, focuses your attention as much as watching the person who is most important to you in this life crumble like a paper bag.

I tried to catch him but the Navy and Red Cross personnel appeared out of heaven and got him seated and began working with him.  He was way, way too hot and his color was draining away to grey. They poured water on his head and neck and explained that you cannot drench someone who has heat exhaustion or heat stroke or they will go into hyperthermia. He could not speak and his head dropped to one side.

I honestly thought that I might lose him.

The ambulance came and took us to the emergency room. They gave me water and had me sit in the front of the ambulance in the air conditioning while they transferred Jon.  This was a long time for me, nearly twenty minutes, since he had to be moved from the ambulance in the secure area to the ambulance I was in.  You can imagine a lot of very bad things in twenty minutes.

Many IV bags and hours, later Jon’s blood pressure was close to normal and his heart rate came back down. We left the hospital that evening; Mobile Infirmary is an emergency care center so we were glad to be heading home. They were so overcrowded they were redirecting ambulances.

Jon is fine now.  We are both very wary of the heat and I learned that you are supposed to drink a bottle of water every twenty minutes if you are outside in the high temperatures.  You will dehydrate very quickly in the sun if you do not do this. We were only in the sun for about four hours which really does not sound like such a long time but it was certainly long enough make Jon very ill.

Oh, and remember, my very hot feet? At the hospital, I discovered that the soles of my shoes had melted and the uppers were partly unglued from the soles.  I bought Jon the only shirt from hospital shop in his size so he would not have to put on his soaked shirt when he was released. It was bright orange and had something about Auburn football printed on it. I had to cut the sleeves out since it was long sleeves. He left the hospital wearing a cut up t-shirt, suit slacks, dress shoes and enough hospital bands for a mental patient. I was so sunburned that my jewelry had left “print “marks and my clothes were still wet.  With my “floppy” shoes and the paper bag filled with Jon’s clothes as accessories, we were very grunge. 

I am certain that we made quite an impression on the taxi driver that took us back to our car.  It was a dramatic contrast to how we had begun the day.  I was just very thankful that we ended the day in the most important quality of all; we left home as a couple and we returned home as couple.

 I am very, very thankful.

Seagulls and Storms

Living so close to the ocean allows for random meetings with wildlife. We live literally next door to a national park and so we entertain uninvited visitors ranging from raccoons, bunnies, foxes and turtles. One of the most interesting groups are the seagulls.

Every time the weather looks to turn stormy,  seagulls move into the parking lots. You can see a group beginning to gather in this photo.

 

They always head for an open area of a parking lot.  You can walk pretty close to such a gathering, and if you walk slowly enough,  they will not fly off but will walk quickly away from you.  This little guy was not really sure if he wanted his photo taken but he was very certain that he did not want to be airborne.

The thing that really interests me about this behavior is why they decide to ride out a storm in such an open space. Much of the coast where we live has forests quite close to the water.  Why not move there? Many of these birds are not timid around people; they could have some shelter near a building or next to a roof top sign.  Yet they seem to group in the most open space they can find.

I looked for information about this but nothing had the ring of truth. Many people believe that seagulls like shopping malls lots because these are good places to look for food that people have discarded. Sometimes visitors to the coast feed seagulls French fires, and maybe that is why they like parking lots. This would make sense, except in my area, I never see seagulls in groups in the parking lots unless it  feels as if a storm is coming.

Other people write that the blacktop surface generates heat that provides lift. Great idea, but it was a cold January day when I took these photos. The only birds I saw in the air were coming into land to join the group. They were not flying or begging for food; they were grounded and waiting.

Maybe there is a lesson in this.  A lot of times when people hit a stormy patch in their lives well-meaning friends and family are quick to offer advice on how to best weather the storm.  Frankly, it is easy to give advice when you are not the one looking into the headwinds. Sometimes the best you can do is plant your feet firmly and decide to ride it out.  If this little guy can do it, so can the rest of us.

Christmas 2010

I have not fully made the transition to the digital age; I still send Christmas letters. When I was working through the cards this year, I realized that my address book is hopelessly out of date. This post is for those of you that somehow have drifted out of my life due to my neglect in keeping up with the most important part of life, the people that enrich it. If you are one of the lost threads of my life, please leave a comment and let me know how you are doing.

Christmas, 2010

I have always loved Christmas. Over the years, we have had grand Christmases and modest ones but every one had a sparkle all its own. The holiday reflects where we are in our lives and yet still grants that indefinable quality of grace, grandeur and simplicity blended so that it is simultaneously a great public event and a private celebration.

This Christmas has been an unusual one. At this moment, we both have jobs that we enjoy, our children seem to be happy in their marriages and the dog is finally adjusted to living in a new place. Like any new/old home, things began falling off the house the minute we bought it but since that is a historical pattern for us, it is nothing new. For once, my house is clean, my presents are wrapped, work is under control and it is still four days until Christmas.

I realize as I write this how fortunate we are. Many people have had a pretty rough year. Jobs have been pretty iffy, most of us are old enough that health issues and the loss of love ones is no longer a distant possibility but a present reality. This year it may be a little hard to find the merry in Christmas.

I understand and sympathize with this. Earlier this year, things were not looking too good for my career before things fell into place. We were just fortunate that events worked out by Christmas, something that does not always happen. If the Ghost of Christmas Past were to drop by for an outing there would be holidays dimmed by unemployment, personal loss, near homelessness and just general malaise. I am grateful for all of these experiences.

Christmas did not begin in grand style but in a manger with a family who either forgot to call their travel agent or were too broke to plan ahead. Yet it turned out alright, choirs of angels, some interesting, if not so practical gifts, and the ultimate Christmas decoration. I think Christmas is supposed to be bumpy; there is the Christ of the manger, the Christ of the three kings, and the Christ of the angels. Christmas is simple, humble and cosmically grand. So if you want a blow out Christmas, go for it, complete with choirs and kingly gifts. If the simplicity of the manger speaks to you this year, then enjoy a merry little Christmas, lunch with a friend and some hot cocoa with a good book. There is room in your heart at Christmas for all parts of the experience. This is the mystical part of Christmas; Christ will always meet you where you are, not where you think you should be. I hope your Christmas is sparkling and comforting, frantic and peaceful, and that you enjoy every minute of the gift of your life this season.

Snow in Mississippi??? How silly!!

I did not think it was possible but we had a snow day last week in Mississippi. Snow was even expected on the coast but we missed it. I understand that it did snow for about five minutes but I must have blinked and missed it. Four inches fell about an hour and half north of Ocean Springs in Hattiesburg and it did get cold enough that all the palm trees are now brown. I really felt sorry for all the school kids, everyone was expecting one to two inches. I was also hoping to photograph snow on the beach. (Now that really would be a photo; a whole new meaning to snow white beaches. )

If you want to see what a Mississippi snow looked like the Hattiesburg American posted some local photos.

I am sorry we missed it! It would have been grand!

Hurricane in the Gulf

Dutch Fishing Boats in a Storm: 1801 by Turner

Ida will be my first hurricane since Katrina and I would be less than honest if the prospect of this surprise storm did not make me a little uneasy. I have been through many hurricanes but Katrina was a life changing event so even the prospect of a baby (category 1) storm tends to catch my attention when it shows up on radar heading for our home.

We live south of Highway 90 and the houses across the street from us back to water. Our house is on higher ground and our house is not in the flood zone but the ones across from us are (we still have flood insurance since the edge seemed a bit too close for comfort). I heard a news story reminding people to keep the garage doors closed since alligators looks for higher ground when the water rises and they like garages and sheds. I cannot imagine anything much worse that going out to your car and meeting an alligator settling in for the duration of the storm. I wonder how often this happens or if this is just something that makes a good story to spook people. We do live right next to a national wildlife area and there are enough alligators in the county to hold a legal hunt once a year but I have never seen one in the wild. Of course I am not looking to meet one either. It may seem childish but I am not fond of animals that can eat me.

I do not think that we will have to leave since the storm is not a strong one. At this time the eye is expected to hit Mobile Bay about 40 miles east of us so we should get a good feel for the wind and good bit of rain. I do not think that schools will close for this one but tomorrow will tell the tale. Time to freeze some water and fill up the car just in case.

Sleepless

I am in one of those periods of time when I cannot sleep again. There is just too much going on at work and I am behind on a project so instead of sleeping I end up staring at this little screen.

So I looked up some articles on this topic and to my surprise, exercise actually keeps people awake if they exercise too close to bedtime. Now since exercise is a rare and novel event in my life, I am certain that this does not apply to me but I do remember that exercise can make you pretty tired so this one is a puzzle to me. The website I found this on is filled with photos of fit people so maybe the rules are different for the slim and trim rather than the round and well padded.

The article is at http://http//www.fitbuff.com/i-cant-sleep-4-common-causes-of-insomnia/ in case you are interested.

Darth Vader Grotesque

A grotesque in masonry is a stone sculpture that acts like a gutter to direct water away form a roof. (A gargoyle serves a similar purpose but the water exits out the mouth of the carving; the water runs over the top of a grotesque). In the great age of cathedral building, these often depicted demons or other representations of evil as well as mythical or fanciful figures.

In the National Cathedral in Washington D.C., there is a grotesque of Darth Vader very high on the northwest tower. You can see a photo of it at this link.

http://www.nationalcathedral.org/about/darthVader.shtml

Pretty neat way to tie modern myth to traditional practice.

Swine Flu

Woke up with muscles so stiff that I could only move like the Tin Man. Since this had gotten progressively more painful over the last two days and I had a fever, I decided to go to the doctor. This was quite a learning experience.

We have not been in the area long enough to have a family doctor so I went to an after hours clinic. While I was waiting, several persons were denied treatment because they did not have insurance or the right kind of insurance. I wondered what these people would do and frankly it was hard to watch those conversations. Some of these people were obviously quite ill.

After about an hour, my name was called and the receptionist requested my insurance information. After glancing at my papers, she quickly informed me that they did not accept Blue Cross/ Blue Shield and told me to call the number on the card to find a local provider. Stunned, I retreated to my car to make some phone calls.

It turns out there is only one network provider who is an internist in my town and who is accepting new patients. The first open appointment would be in the second week of October. The other four phone numbers were either disconnected or no longer accepting patients. At this point, the pain in my muscles was significant and I could not stand without using something to pull myself up. I seriously considered going to the emergency room. Instead I called my physician in my former town (2 hours away) and I was able to get an appointment.

My husband generously left work early to drive me. It turns out that I have swine flu and it has aggravated a problem in my back since the flu affects muscles. I have a bag full of drugs and will have to stay home for a few days.

But what about those other people who did not have any place to go? How many of those people just go home? I know that I did not want to go to the emergency room because of the potential cost and I also know that no matter what I said on the phone, the physician offices I called had no other suggestions. They did not have any place to refer me to other than the emergency room.

Think about this.

This means that if you do not have insurance, you either must ignore the problem or go the emergency room. This is because by law the emergency room must treat you.

Notice that since my insurance was not accepted, my only local options were to go the emergency room or wait weeks to see a doctor.

One of the big arguments against health reform is that we would have to wait weeks for an appointment. How is this different from what we have now?

Another argument is that you would have to travel to receive health care. Travel? You mean drive two hours one way to see a doctor like we did today?

One thing that might be different is that those dejected people who left that clinic this morning might not be spreading whatever illnesses they have to their communities since they would receive treatment.

I find it hard to believe that the current system is best we can do

Moving

All packed and ready to go. . .
Just need to clean house for the last time . . .