An Ounce of Mothers

It was a standard hot and humid August day in Rome in 1903, when Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto rose from his throne, near the end of the ceremony in which he was being installed as Pope Pius X. Pius X made his way from his seat and walked toward the crowd in the massive basilica. Attendees, wondered what he was up to. He stopped by an elderly woman in the front row, it was his mother. She was one of the few mothers still alive to see her son selected as supreme pontiff. As he approached his mother he held out his hand and he gradually leaned over her. He leaned not to give her an embrace or kiss her cheek, or thank her. No he whispered to her: "I would like you to be the first to kiss the ring of the fisherman." She kissed it, and then held out her wrinkled hand with her simple worn wedding ring and said: "Now, Giuseppe, you kiss this one. For if it wasn't for my ring, you would not have yours." The Spanish have a saying that an ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy and perhaps no example fits this saying than this exchange. A haughty, full of himself son getting a taste of humility from his mother. This exchange is pertinent during Christmas.

Church of the Visitation, Ein Karem

Christmas is celebrated on December 25, with a coopting of some of the pagan Roman Satunalia and winter solstice festivals.  The Gospel accounts give no exact date of Christ's birth, but they do give hints. Recently, daily Gospel readings have focused on Mary. After all, it is the woman who does all the hard work, while the man stands waiting for the baby to arrive. Born in less than sanitary environment, the conditions of the birth of Jesus presaged his ministry to the poor and outcastes. Rightfully so, moms take center stage this time of year, one example being the Gospel for the fourth Sunday Advent.

The Gospel reading for the fourth Sunday of Advent focused on Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth. This required Mary to journey, likely on foot, over 100 miles from Nazareth to Ein Karem, which is near Bethlehem. Mary, had just become pregnant by the Holy Spirit. To avoid thieves, and for protection, a lone woman traveler would have likely joined a group or caravan. No companion is listed for teenage Mary, so I have to give her a great deal of courage to make the long journey, on foot, alone but for those in the caravan she joined. The reading is rather interesting as it focuses on a private conversation between Elizabeth and Mary. As one monk, Eric Hollis, OSB noted, it may well be the only scene in the New Testament where no men are standing around. He further wrote "...this is a moment of beautiful intimacy in which Mary and Elizabeth profess their astonishment at what the Lord has done for them."  

Church of the Visitation, Ein Karem

We all know that mother's have an extra set of eyes in the back of their heads. A mom lives in the real world, and see the conditions their children are exposed to, the hardships and the joys. Everyday she is surrounded by reality and its affects on her children. Mother's watch their children grow and I am sure the mom's get wisdom passed down to them from their children, as children obtain wisdom from their moms. Females have historically been the main caregiver for their children so their relationship with their children is more intense and greater depth. A mom obtains significant real world experience. They see, know and understand. They have a great knowledge of the human condition. 

Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem

A child is precious in the mother's eyes, just as a mother is precious in the child's eyes. This reality of the mother and child relationship is important. When a professional athlete gives thanks, the first person mentioned is the mother. This relationship has a great power and capability to better form the world. Mother's are nurturing and a psychologist, commenting on the recent school shooting in Madison, WI, noted that female shooters are rare, in part, she said, because girls are taught from an early age to be nurturing. Killing goes against the nurture. Part of me wonders if it is also the tribal make up from our early ancestors of hunters and gatherers where it is has become part of our inherited DNA? Women cared for the children and gathered, while the man hunted. 

Tradition holds this marks the birthplace of Christ.
Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem

I think all of this points to the reason why the Spanish have that saying, as apparently do some other ethic groups. This saying may well be true and shows what the church loses due to its male dominance, where one mother is equal to 16 clergy. Think how much more depth the church would have if women were more involved. Priests live in their own cocoons, and with the now young radical-traditional priest mindset taking over, they are becoming less and less of the world. They shut themselves off more and more from reality, creating an alternate universe in which they thrive with like minded persons. The cocooning leads to lack understanding of relationships and how people navigate the world. Clericalism sets them on a pedestal, but at great expense to the operation and ability of the church to minister. They are brought in after the tragedy to perhaps comfort the afflicted, but they do not have the same relationship and experiences of a mother. 

St John the Baptist Church, near Ein Karem

Let me take a few examples. First, one of the newly formed pastorates in the Madison diocese, although not alone in this, prohibits females from being altar servers and Eucharistic Ministers. It is reported that at one mass, shortly after the pastorate was created and priests assigned, there was a need of an additional Eucharistic Minister at a mass. A long-tenured female Eucharistic minister got up to perform the duty, but the rad-trad priest told her to sit down. He said, he will allow only men to distribute communion. This is the thinking of the young rad-trads, not just humiliating a person in front of the congregation, but brazenly being authoritative, without regard for the culture of the parish. Just jam it down the throats of the parishioners. People need no wonder why so many leave the church.

Of the three priests that serve that pastorate, they rotate funerals, and so a parish member cannot choose who says the funeral mass of a family member that passed away. A few months ago a man in McFarland passed away, and he has a son that is a priest. Rather than the funeral mass being at the McFarland Catholic Church (which is one of three parishes in the pastorate which rotates funeral masses) his mass of Christian burial was held several miles south at the church were the deceased's son is stationed. This, even though his father was a founder of the McFarland parish. Rad-trads often make it about themselves. You see this in the sermon excerpt the pastor this pastorate wrote for the WI State Journal and published Dec 24. Perhaps showing how insignificant the Catholic Church has become, he was the only Catholic priest to write, although of the other dominations there were two Lutheran and three Methodist ministers who were asked. 

Third, a young trad priest at a different pastorate was recently granted a sabbatical for several months and he will not return to that pastorate. Besides making one wonder what is going on, I am not sure why the guy is getting such a long sabbatical, when many senior clergy members have never had one. They have to be coddled, I guess. 

The clergy today set themselves above the parish members, they like their own little world running around in their birettas and soutanes as members of their own subculture. Their self-importance certainly conflicts with the message of Pope Francis who desires a clergy that has the smell of their sheep. Instead the young clergy are about as opposite as one can get from this desire. This is the whole problem, they lack understanding of the real human condition and they purposefully try to set themselves out and above the world. In other words, they are the opposite of a mom. I wonder how many young priests do this to compensate for an inferiority complex? Making the matters worse, this subculture is promoted by the Bishop. Clericalism is the root of evil in the Church and, rather than waning, it is being reinforced in much of the US and other countries.

Manger Square

In the time of Jesus, childbearing was important. Elizabeth met with much scorn from not having produced an offspring for so long, and Mary was viewed in contempt as having conceived out of wedlock. Another commentator quotes Nancy Rockwell who has written that "Hiding within the wonders of Christmas area  thousand years of doctrinal female subjugation, doctrines, which like tinsel, are dripped all over the season of Christmas." Elizabeth would not live to see her son beheaded, but Mary would be at the foot of the cross. Mary stayed by her son through his humiliation and horrendous death while his male apostles, cowered in a room. And, the apostles, so it is said, being male, means that only males can be priests.

With the new radical traditional priests and their heightened misogyny, perhaps the ratio of mothers to clergy goes from 1:16 to 1:32.  People desire more than a misogynistic priest. One ounce of mother is worth more two or three pounds of clergy in the Madison diocese. The church needs more woman like Pius' mother who was not afraid to put her elevated son in his place. 

May all have a Blessed Christmas!

Images by author, April 2013.

Drummer Boy

My mom really loved Christmas. She would decorate the house, making sure to place a mini-creche set in each bedroom. She would lay out the ornaments on the dining room table to get ready for all of us kids to help decorate the tree. There were a few ornaments, such as her peach that only she would put on the tree. She also liked the holiday specials, and in particular some of the kid ones, which she enjoyed watching with us. One of her favorite television specials was "The Little Drummer Boy." 

The main household creche set, placed in the living room, was comprised of Hummel figurines. My mom collected Hummels, and she would pull out one from her shelves, and place it with the creche, that was a figurine of a drummer boy. 

Hummel figurine 
of Drummer Boy
Source: E-bay 

One reason I think she liked the drummer boy is that it featured a little boy; having given birth to eight boys, particularly since the first seven of her ten children were boys, boys were all around her. She was, before the term has become popularized, a "boy mom."  Her favorite "Peanuts" character was not Charlie Brown, Linus or Schroeder, but Pig Pen. Everyone could recognize Pigpen for he has a cloud of dust following him. The Drummer Boy held a special place in her heart, and I think this will explain why.

What we know as the Little Drummer Boy was actually first written as the Carol of the Drum, in 1941 by Katherine Kennicott Davis, and was first recorded by the Von Trapp family singers in 1951, yes, that Von Trapp family. Oddly, inspiration for Davis came when she was trying to take a nap. It was a popular song for several years, At some point the name was changed, and Davis did not care for the retitled song, calling it "cutie cute." The song's main success came with an arrangement by Perry Simeon in 1959. The song was further popularized by the 1968 by the stop motion (animated film technique) movie. This is what I most often recall, but I am sure the song was on one of the Christmas records (vinyl in millennial lingo) she had. 

This story, of course, is not in the bible, and really did not exist until near the mid-20th century with the carol and later with that television special. The story is like much of our traditions, embedded with myth, which help bind us to a common culture. Joseph Campbell has written about myth and how it binds and ties culture and symbols. He wrote (https://www.jcf.org/learn/joseph-campbell-four-functions-of-myth):

The mystical (or metaphysical) function inspires in the individual a sense of awe and gratitude in relation to the mystery dimension of the universe. 

The cosmological function presents an image of the universe that links local knowledge and individual experience to that mystery dimension. 

• The sociological function validates, supports, and imprints on the individual the norms of that society.

• The psychological (or pedagogical) function serves to guide each individual through the stages of life, within the context of that culture.

 Drums, and music at large often play to our myths, as help form a shared culture. No one really knows why Davis chose a drummer, but a Hark broadcast, which you can find (with perhaps a bit of scrolling)

here, suggests it is related to the drummers common in Civil War and other war times, when the instruments were used to guide movements in battle. My wife's 5th great grandfather, Simeon, was a drum major for part of his service in the Revolutionary War. We should recall that in the era of the Revolutionary and Civil wars there was not recorded sound (perhaps a tough idea for the I-generation to recognize), so music heard was from a performance. Music is important to our culture and it plays apart of bonding a group together. One hundred years people still relied on live music, and probably explains why my grandfather (b 1887) learned varied instruments. Drummers, and musicians during the Civil War were viewed as having the values of piety and patriotism, per Hark. However, this is conjecture, but I suspect the use of drummer boy is more related to the fact that drums were and are often used to announce an event. When watching a band in a parade, the drums, while not first, are always playing, while the wind instruments take a break. 

Little Drummer Boy in Television Special
Source: Google Images

The little drummer boy is used to announce the birth of Christ. In the television special the boy is an orphan, with little to offer Christ. He has no frankincense, gold or myrrh. He has only himself and a drum (well a lamb). And here is where his gift to Jesus is offered from the depths of his heart. He asks if he may play his drum for him (Christ), and tin the next verse comes the answer, "Mary nodded."  Then, as Hark says, here is he kicker "He smiled at me" and the Hark guest goes on to say "Isn't that what every Christian soul longs for--to be smiled at by Jesus."  The host of hark then quotes a Jesuit priest who once said, "Behold the one beholding you and smiling." 

The Little Drummer Boy in the television show had a hardened heart due to the death of his parents, his heart became filled with joy, and he smiled, upon playing for the Christ child. Given what happened in Madison this past Monday, we all could do with a more joy. Even in the most difficult of times Christ still smiles on us.

It is an orphaned peasant who shows that the best gifts are those that we have within ourselves. I think that is why my mom liked the Little Drummer Boy. My wife most cherishes the ornaments our kids made for her when they were young, as they came from their hands and heart. Christmas is primarily a time to recognize that Christ was born to give us himself. Culturally this is recognized through gift giving to others. My mom, like most moms, give much of themselves to their children, and perhaps this is why she so much liked Christmas. The little drummer boy understood that level of giving, although it took a heart melted by the smile of the incarnate baby to realize it.

Our Lady of Paris

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris, better known as Notre Dame, reopened this past weekend following a remarkably fast five year restoration, during a world-wide pandemic which slowed construction, to bring it back to its glory from a destructive fire that ruined the whole roof and collapsed many of the vaults. A magnificent wonder of medieval architecture its construction was started in1163, and completed in 1345, it was one of the most visited structures in the world. It is considered the geographic center of France from which the road system is numbered. But, it is more, as even highly secular France saw the need for its restoration as it symbolizes the country, and a Christian past, more than any other landmark, including the Eiffel Tower. 

Restored Interior
Source:  BBC

This symbolism goes back to the medieval era, when cities and towns vied with each other for cathedrals or basilicas for the greater glory of God and the church. As French author Bernard-Henry Levi wrote at the time of the fire about the Cathedral-- (Notre Dame is) "the France of the Resistance, of Europe, and literature. It's the Gothic holiness and the softness of the Seine. Faith and beauty. Aragon and Hugo. This morning, in the face of the gigantic fire? Hugo said: 'time is the architect but the people are the mason'." The Eiffel Tower lacks the history of Notre Dame in the events it has held over the years. From its significant destruction during the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution, Napoleon crowning himself, or its bells ringing as it was freed from German occupation, it has seen destruction and restoration over the centuries. While under the control of the French government it is still a religious place of worship, and for its significance, both religious and secular to be recognized in France of today says something of its draw to the population. It is a reminder to us of the power that buildings have in our world.

Front of Notre Dame, Nov 2024
Source: AP

Structures represent ideas and provide a sense of the tangible to concepts that lack physicality, the ability to touch. The attack on the US Capitol on 6 Jan 2021 is not so much about the building being violated by rioters, but rather by the attack on the idea of the three branches of a democratic-republic form of government of the United States set forth in the Constitution. Tangibility is also why people do not wish to see a parish, sometimes in their family for generations, closed. The parish church is representative of the values they hold, or held to their heart. It is a reminder of what were once often key events in a persons life--baptism, confirmation, marriage, and funerals. 

Western Rose Window
Source: AP

Buildings are part of human nature. We make them, we destroy them, we restore some of them. They are part of our being and an expression of our values. Noted geographer Yi-Fu Tuan once wrote that space becomes place when we endow it with value. Buildings become place by the memories they bring forth, by what we treasure from them. As secular as the French, and the west, may be, they still recognize the importance this structure plays as place. Place is embodied in the building, or site, but it is the values that are expressed that create the place. 

Archbishop of Paris Knocking for doors to be opened
Ritual where the Bishop takes hold of the Cathedral

Places do not have to be buildings, but as buildings go, this is a wonder. From its large stain glass windows, made possible at the time by building innovations such as flying buttresses and the rib vault, to the works of art contained within. It original roof was referred to as "The Forest" for each of its over 1,000 beams was from a single oak tree in France (in the 12th century sourced from a then 52 acre woods). Its restoration using oak was remarkable, due to a couple factors. First, an intense study of the roof structure for a university thesis which detailed the structure, followed by laser 3-d imaging. Second, as the forest preservation work of the country of France that allowed straight knot free oak to be once again obtained. Cut down and hued by hand, the forest was restoration followed the same old joinery techniques. Today, the forest was replicated often using similar techniques. One thousand trees for the roof, and another 1,000 for the recreated spire.

Baptismal Font, present time design
Source: AP

For its restoration CNN, writing on Dec 5, found similarity of numbers: "After more than 2,000 days’ work – involving 2,000 people, 2,000 oak trees and 2,000 features restored or rebuilt – the world got its first glimpse of “Our Lady of Paris” last week...." The chief architect for the Cathedral has said he first thought the five year time frame could be met when he saw the decent condition of the windows, and the organ. Interestingly, some new stain glass windows will be installed in 2026, representing images of Pentecost. The new windows, opposed by the Historical Commission, were apparently first suggested by the Archbishop as a manner to reflect the restoration, and that suggestion was accepted by the French President. Some sources say it was President Macron who first suggested some new windows, so I am not sure what is authoritative in the instance.

The fire brought to the fore abilities lost in a time where computers now take the duty of where and how to guide a saw to cut wood. The beams were hewed by hand, and cut by hand. Every stone, every piece of tile was inspected and cleaned. Some stone, marble and tile replaced. A great deal of tuck pointing occurred. Man of the famous gargoyles, which actually date from the 18th century, are new. More than 1,000 works of art were cleaned. Matching and comparable Lutetian limestone had to be found to match the original stone quarried in and around Paris during the original construction. The stone for restoration was sourced from France’s Oise region and cut in Gennevilliers. Barges were used to float the stones down the Seine to near the Cathedral. 

Evening of Dec 7, right before Reopening Ceremony
Source: NBC

Back in 1990 when my wife and I visited the Sistine Chapel a major cleaning and restoration had just been completed of what is perhaps the most famous artwork in the world--Michelangelo's frescoes.  Drawing controversy, including our tour guide, who said it went too far with its bright and vibrant colors, the thought was that bright colors were not possible at the time. The same claim has been made about the cleaning of not only Notre Dame's art, but its stone and tiles. Hundreds of years of candle soot and air pollution darkened the works of art (paintings here, frescoes in the Sistine Chapel) the stone and marble. For some reason, perhaps relating to modern negative views of the medieval era, people seem to think that everything was dark and bleak. But, they did have vibrant colors and the masters used it well. I think our tour guide and those who complain about Notre Dame need to take a deep breath and appreciate what was done hundreds of years past. People complain the whole of Notre Dame is now too clean, gone are the dark tones to which they had become familiar, replaced with a majesty that takes its rightful place for the French. It is once again anticipated to be one of the most visited buildings in the world, as they now anticipate 15 million people a year to visit.

Contrast Apr 2019 to Nov 2024
Source: AP

The Cathedral, owned by the government was falling into a state of disrepair, and it has now been transformed, but beyond that there are some positives first, a thousand works of art buried below the floor have been recovered, a task of digging the floor out would not have occurred without the fire.  No one has explained how they got there, perhaps it was during the reign of terror. Second, the fire has allowed, with the restoration new smoke and fire detectors and some suppression systems to be put in place, particularly in its new forest. Third, it has seen a revival of old masonry, woodworking, stain glass and other crafts, yet bonding old with the new.

Ceiling
Source: Notre Dame de Paris

The restoration is not inexpensive, I have seen varied cost estimates from $737 million to near $1 billion. The funds have been privately sourced from people the world over. But, lets put cost into perspective: the football stadium in Los Angles for the Rams and Chargers, completed a few years ago, cost over $5 billion. Granted, this is not as large, and is not a fully new structure, but, on the other hand, it is 860 years old. I doubt So-Fi stadium will last even 75 years. Every stone, every joint had to be cleaned and inspected, and if doubtful replaced. The new religion of the United States is sports, as can be seen by the value to construct new sport stadiums; remember space becomes place due to our values. Then there is the destructiveness of war.  Conflicts go against the beauty and majesty of Notre Dame and what it has represented for most of its 860 years than war. The United States has contributed, depending upon source, over $89 billion to $183 billion to Ukraine for its war with Russia. This does not include money from other countries, mostly in Europe, to Ukraine. As of March 2024, Western Countries have pledged over $380 billion, mainly military aid, to Ukraine. As for Notre Dame, people from over 150 countries have donated 846 million Euros to its restoration.

Ukraine War, US contributions
Source: Ukraine Oversight

Is the cost of preserving a United Nations World Heritage site worth it? I would have to say yes. The world would be a different place without Notre Dame, after all it drew 12 million visitors a year before the fire. People are attracted to see that building. France would lose part of its tie to a historical past that helped frame the country, if it were gone. If the US Capitol, or the state capitol were damaged by fire, I like to think they would be restored. If hundreds of billions of dollars can be spent on destruction and mayhem of war, is a billion so bad for a building that represents a nation's soul? France watched as the bells were put back in the north tower. People awed at the use of the largest crane in Europe placing the new spire, reconstructed like the one built in the 1800's, put back in place. The sad emotions expressed at seeing the fire in April 2019 is now replaced with admiration at what masons, woodworkers, architects, artisans, and other contractors have been able to undertake in such a short span of time. The original builders would look in wonder at the new construction methods, cranes over windlasses, computers over rulers and triangles. The original construction was a mark of human achievement, to be undertaken, and rebuild a knowledge base of the original methods is also a marked achievement. I have to think the original workers would be pleased to see Our Lady of Paris smiling once again. The smile of Our Lady produces a light within a world darkened by war. Such glorious structures mark a measure of human achievement and like Our Lady, we all can do with some good news.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)

Nov 15, 2024 Our Lady of Paris Statue being returned 
to the Cathedral, as 1,000's joined and watched.
Spared by the fire, even though surrounded by rubble.
Source: NBC

Turkey Day

We are now almost a week beyond Thanksgiving, that uniquely American day which now involves football more than gathering with family and friends. Even though the NFL has co-opted Thanksgiving and other holidays, does not mean the lack of turkey to eat. I was in charge of cooking the turkey this year, and my wife encouraged me to go out of my comfort zone and cook it the way our neighbors do. For some reason, I found myself out of my comfort zone a few times this past holiday weekend.

Turkey is the main staple of Thanksgiving, and it is a big business, such that almost $1 billion is spent on turkeys for Thanksgiving. That amount makes a great deal of sense when one considers that 88% of the US population will consume turkey on Thanksgiving. My wife's sister and her husband and their family are one of the 12% as they had smoked ribs for the feast. If they are concerned about tryptophan putting them to sleep, turkey gets a bad rap as many other foods have higher levels including some seeds. I have to realize that not everybody likes turkey as much as I do. 

Sleep factor
Source: WI State Journal

Minnesota is the top turkey producing state in the nation, hence when the bird flu strikes it can decimate a population and rapidly spread. What I find interesting is that of the top eight turkey producing states four are in a north-south line generally west of the Mississippi River (the river starts in central MN, but I will consider it west for the most part). These  four states are Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas. I am not sure what factor led to this, but it is not likely climate or geography since climate is more similar by latitude than longitude. It could be the spread of turkey innovation. I am surprised that Illinois is not a greater turkey producing state, since the Bear's organization seems to hire them on a regular basis. 

Topo turkey producing states
Source: WI State Journal

What was not regular was the way I cooked the turkey. For all of my previous turkey cooking years, which is many, I cook it at 325 degrees (f) and regularly baste the turkey. My plan was to start cooking it in our oven, and later in the morning haul it to Sun Prairie in our Nesco roaster, where dinner was being held, to complete the cooking of the big bird. In place of cooking at 325, the plan changed at the urging of my wife. I first cooked it at 500, for about 25 or 30 minutes, and then turned the heat down to 350. Our neighbors recipe also calls for the use of a turkey triangle, to cover the breast, but leave the legs, thighs and wings exposed. It was not unusual for me at 325 to let the turkey brown and then cover it. Starting the turkey at the time of a 325 oven, was part of the plan since I did not know how long the Nesco roaster, which I pre-heated would hold its heat. I covered it with a towel and blanket to retain the warmth on the half hour dive to Sun Prairie. I think it took less than twenty minutes to get back up to the 350. Not knowing how much it would cool down, or take to get back up, I kept my timing, even with the new recipe at 325. In the end, the turkey completed cooking faster than the time dinner was planned, so I turned it down to warm and it actually stayed it was moist for dinner, which is a good thing. My wife complained about the left overs we ate on Tuesday night as being too dry. Perhaps sitting in the fridge for five days affected its moisture level.

Thanksgiving was the first of two turkeys we had that weekend. We were invited to Golden Valley, MN, the main turkey producing state in the nation, for the weekend. We departed Friday and came home Sunday. Friday, my son had smoked a turkey in the cold 10 degree weather, and then warmed it up in the oven the next day. It was really quite good. I do not recall ever having had smoked turkey before. 

Thanksgiving Day facts
Source: WI State Journal

I have never been to a fancy Thai restaurant before(, but we treated our son and his wife on Friday for his Dec 4 birthday) at a restaurant of his choosing, and he chose Latitude 14 in Golden Valley. It was quite good, and I went out of my comfort zone and ordered food which had ingredients I never heard of, it was a pad Thai. I also, went out of my comfort zone and added fried tofu. Then there was eating cranberry sauce my youngest son had made with some type of home-grown Scotch pepper. I hardly ever eat cranberries and hot food makes trouble with my digestive system, but this was quite good and not too hot. It had just the right spice level for me, which may be too little for other palates. 

The oddest thing was a soft drink my son's boss at Best Buy had given him--a Jones soft drink that was to mimic turkey gravy. Those of us who have had to prep for a colonoscopy, agreed with the first commentor that it was like the colonoscopy prep drink commonly used, and to which you add Crystal light lemon flavor. 

This Thanksgiving was adventurous for me, at least in terms of food. After a pleasant time in Minneapolis, the cold weather put a damper on outdoor activity, which I am limited by bad feet anyway. Coming home was pretty uneventful, except for the 15 mile long backup just beyond the Hwy 12 exit at the Dells. The backup did not show up on our car or my wife's phone GPS before we got stuck in it. It turns out it was caused by an Asian brand vehicle traveling about 45 or 50 with a small young woman leaning forward, both hands tight on the steering wheel at 10 and 2, as if she was scared to death of driving. I have to think she was out of her comfort zone more than I. The backup was long and slow. I kind of get it, a woman that appeared out of her comfort zone in heavy traffic and made the traffic much much worse by going so slow. I do understand that someone may not wish to push their Korean nameplate car too much, especially in cold weather, knowing how little tribulations they can take, but 45 or 50 caused a significant back up, such the person would have been better off taking back roads. Years ago I saw simulations, by WISDOT, of what a slow vehicle can do to cause a traffic back up and this was a fit to that simulation. 

For some reason I do not get as nervous driving in Minneapolis/St Paul as I do down to Chicago. Driving to Chicago reminds me of the line in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, when the Sean Connery character says to his son Indy, "My boy, we are pilgrims in an unholy land." I suppose it is the never ending traffic, or maybe the signs when I was younger of the Mayor's photo plastered all over the place.

Photo of former Chicago Mayor Richard Daily
"The Boss". Obtained for me in 1975 by my deceased 
Aunt and Uncle, Jeannie and Leo Sweeney

Turkey day began with me being out of my comfort zone in cooking and ended with a driver out of her comfort zone in I-90/94. I am still alive to live another day. To top it off, I only watched one half of a football game, preferring being with others than watching the Lions-Bears, or Cowboys game. Who would have thought that I would get out of my comfort realm on turkey day?