You know, it’s almost
like paging through
a photo album. Every
New Year’s I pull out the
last year’s file and rifle back
through them, recalling the
columns and enjoying again
the pleasure I had writing
them for you. OK, let me be
honest: I wrote them for me,
too. It was fun, even if steadily
harder work.
Let me share a couple of
great memories raised by last
year’s columns, and then add
a final 2009 note, not from
any column but from Christmas
just past. It hasn’t been
in print, but it will stay in my
heart, surely.
A year ago this time
brought a great new feature
to Fly Creek and a new
distinction to our household.
Fly Creek got back a barbershop
of its very own when
Reid Nagelschmitt opened for
business at the Four Corners.
Ried, at six foot eight is a
towering figure among the
world’s barbers, runs a grand
old-fashioned shop, complete
with
back-issue
magazines
and wilted
potted
plants. It’s
just like the
old days;
and when
you drive
by, many of
the gents
you see sitting
inside,
purportedly
waiting for
haircuts, are
really just
enjoying the
ambiance
and busting one another’s
chops. Reid, bless him, has
given Fly Creek a small-scale
Mohican Club.
The big event at our
house last winter was Blue’s
receiving his official papers
as a therapy dog. He’s now
welcome at hospitals, nursing
and retirement homes, and
schools. Last month I tagged
along at Bassett while Blue
did his rounds.
Anne walked him
into the surgical
waiting room
full of silent,
frightened relatives.
She quietly
introduced Blue
as a therapy dog
and said that, as
she walked him
around the room,
anyone was
welcome to pet
him and scratch
his ears. Everyone
did, relieved at
a chance to take
their minds off
their fears.
With Blue’s head resting on
their knees, they told Anne
why they were there, waiting
for a loved one who, in several
cases, had hours more left
in surgery. Anne visited, and
Blue communed, his mismatched
eyes fixed on the
person’s. I have no question
that he was reading their
pain.
I watched in awe, proud
as can be of my wife and
our dog. And when the two
headed off to another waiting
room, I was touched to see
that many who had been
sitting in silent fear were now
talking to one another. Dogs
are instruments of grace.
Another instrument of
grace, begun early in 2009,
is our Parkinson’s support
group. Eight men, who to that
time had been dealing with
their illness largely with the
sole support of their wives,
suddenly had one another.
The result was amazing,
moving; and not just for the
men. For the care partners,
often housebound by their
loved ones’ illness, suddenly
had company that knew
exactly what they were going
through. Everyone has been
strengthened.
I’ll write more about my
own 2009 experiences with
Parkinson’s in a few weeks.
For now, let me again express
Anne’s and my thanks to
the support group men and
women who are now sharing
our pilgrimage with us.
They feel like family.
The added treasured
memory, the one that
hasn’t been in print, follows
on Anne’’s and my annual
custom: With our fellow Fly
Creekers, we join in the
candlelight service at our
hamlet’s United Methodist
Church. For as long as I’ve
known it, this handsome
little church has never been
limited to its own congregation.
It's Fly Creek’s metropolitan
cathedral.
The Christmas Eve service
there always involves
candlelight and wonderful
music, and this past year it
did so in aces. Pastor Tom
Pullyblank had banked the
communion table with
dozens of unlit candles,
seemingly of random colors
and sizes. But they weren’t
random at all. As the short
scripture readings followed
one another, candles were lit
to represent the Christmas
story’s principals. First a pair
of candles was lit to symbolize
Mary and Joseph, heading
for Bethlehem. Then a
short, stolid-looking candle
took flame to stand for the
innkeeper who first refused
and then relented and let
them camp in his stable.
A clutch of homely
candles, lighted in turn,
stood for those poor hillside
shepherds who were
dazzled by heavenly light.
And behind them, a couple
dozen ivory tapers, tall
and graceful, stood for the
angels who raised such a
heavenly ruckus.
Then, of course, three
more candles appeared
toward the front, these
for Casper, Melchior, and
Balthazar.
When the readings were
done, the communion table
was an island of light in the
darkened church. It was
then that a final candle was
lit, representing the Child
new born. And from it, light
spread down the aisles and
along the pews as each of us
touched that candle’s flame
to our own tapers. ``Silent
Night,’’ sung softly just then,
moved us all deeply.
That turned out not to
be service’s closing hymn.
Instead, we stood and sang
carol after carol, accompanied
by the church’s organ
now handsomely restored.
That service was a feast of
music and light.
Thanks, Pastor Tom, for a
wondrous Christmas gift.
What a blessed end to the
year.
READ ABOUT Jim Atwell’s book, From
Fly Creek--Celebrating Life in
Leatherstocking Country, at JimAtwell.
com
Columns
Jim Atwell: Light shining in the darkness
- Columns
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From Fly Creek: Cheers for the Blue Rabbit!
My handwriting’s always been an embarrassment. Way back in elementary school, while most of the others were developing a clear, sometimes graceful hand (especially the girls), my penmanship showed no improvement.
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In These Otsego Hills: This and that ...
We have found the weather so far this year to be on the unusual side. And while we have no problem with the fact that we have received very little snow, we are of the opinion that what we have had instead is not particularly to our liking either. In fact, we are very hesitant to venture out much as we live in fear that the rain will turn to mixed precipitation which will freeze into a sheet of ice. And we are definitely opposed to encountering a sheet of ice underfoot. In fact, we are so hesitant that we now have taken to canceling our participation in events based on what just might be a dubious forecast.
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Book Notes: Feinstein’s latest is sheer enjoyment
Most people who follow sports have probably heard of John Feinstein. As a nationally known author, sportswriter, pundit and broadcaster, he has brought a unique angle to sports journalism. His groundbreaking book on Bobby Knight’s 1986-87 Indiana University basketball team, “A Season on the Brink,” still resonates today as an all-time classic.
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Book Notes: No Trekkie should miss Shatner’s books
It would be hard to find a television phenomenon as popular as “Star Trek.” Even though it was only on television for three seasons and 79 episodes (1966-69) it attracted viewers and devotees that still follow it passionately 45 years later. The fanatical supportspawned several movies and television spinoffs. Star Trek conventions continue to this day. There has never been anything like it.
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Up on Hawthorn Hill: Making sense of things
A book I have been reading investigates the various ways over time that we have made sense of the world. It carries the reader through to the present via several seminal classical texts and ultimately aims to suggest a strategy for “ finding meaning in a secular age.”
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In These Otsego Hills: ‘Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist.’ − John Adams
Last week we were asked if we would be interested in previewing a documentary, “The Empire State Divide,”produced by the Foundation for Land & Liberty. And we were more than happy to do so as we understood the documentary dealt with the problems that continue to face family farms.
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From Fly Creek: Now wait a minute!
On the ninth day of Christmas, driving down Cooperstown’s Eagle Street, I saw something astounding! No, not “nineladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans” etc. I saw one jogger jogging. And puffing on a cigarette.
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In These Otsego Hills: Goals of the past and goals of the future
We have long subscribed to the concept that we are always more successful if we, number one, set a goal and then, number two, meet it. And this was our thinking when we decided before Christmas to watch at least part of every college football bowl game. It was perhaps an odd, if not completely nonsensical, goal.
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In These Otsego Hills: Not to our liking ...
It is with sadness that we note the recent death of Steve Nagel. The son-inlaw of our late husband’s cousins, Alice and Harvey Eckler of Fly Creek, Steve was married to the Ecklers’ oldest daughter, Gail. We had the pleasure of spending Christmas Eve with the Nagels and the Ecklers in Fly Creek, greatly enjoying the delicious food and delightful conversation.
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Up on Hawthorn Hill: Of birds and faith
I watch birds quite a bit. Every five days or so I send in a report to Cornell as partof its annual Project Feeder Watch program. The data, collected from volunteers from all over the country, enables scientists to track population trends. I would spend quite a bit of time checking out the visitors to our feeders anyway. Participating in the feeder program makes a personal pleasure that much more meaningful. It is rare that aesthetical and scientific endeavors work in tandem.
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Book Notes: Biography captures the real Stephen Colbert
It would be hard to find a comedian as unique as Stephen Colbert. As the host of “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central he hasmanaged to leave his mark on the nation’s consciousness in both a serious and humorous sort of way. His unusual wit has allowed him to become American icon. It would be difficult to find another entertainer quite like him.
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From Fly Creek: Christmas and varied blessings
I’m still astounded! The last farmers’ market before Christmas, I was sitting up front, directly under the ceiling heater, shmoozing with the hoi-polloi. (That’s an awkward linguistic mix,but let’s let it go.) As I sipped my hot coffee, a gloved hand came to rest on my shoulder and a warm voice said, “Merry Christmas, Jim.” I looked to my left—it was Santa Claus!
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In These Otsego Hills: Always a learning experience ...
We must admit that we thoroughly enjoyed our 2011 Christmas celebration. We partook of Christmas Eve dinner at the home of Alice and Harvey Eckler of Fly Creek and Christmas Day dinner at the home of Sandy and Al Bullard of Milford. We had our usual Christmas Day brunch at home on Pioneer Street, although we must admit it was a tad bit later than usual as, what we enjoyed most about Christmas, namely our granddaughter Abby, took a great deal of time opening her Christmas presents.
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In These Otsego Hills: Coming up ... 2012
Difficult as it seems, 2011 is fast coming to an end. And it is always our hope that as a year draws to a close, the issues which have been in the forefront during the year will be resolved. Unfortunately, we suspect that will not be the case this year. Instead, we are fairly certain that many of the issues that plagued this year, will continue to plague next year. Thus we will find ourselves still musing about the same issues we have spent time with already. And while we have not come toany conclusions about many of the issues, we do think they would all likely benefit from both sides thinking critically about perspective, risk assessment and possible solutions.
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Up on Hawthorn Hill: Circularity
When she was a puppy my dog Gabby would run in what I described then as “circles of joy.” She celebrated her15th birthday a few weeks ago and despite the inevitable frailties that old age imposes upon all of us, she is doing pretty well.
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Book Notes: Grisham doesn’t disappoint
John Grisham is one of this country’s most popular authors. Every time he publishes a book it’s an instant best-seller. He appeared on the scene about 20 years ago with his tense legal thrillers, “A Time to Kill” and “The Firm,”and hasn’t stopped producing top-notch novels since.
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From Fly Creek: Still singing, beyond our hearing
This column from Christmas 2001 still speaks deeply to me, and perhaps will to you, too. Take it, please, as my Christmas gift.
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In These Otsego Hills: The 2011 Cooperstown Carol
Since 1984, with the exception of one year, 1999, we have looked forward at the end of the year to going through all the issues of the paper in order to glean those news items which have been worthy of note throughout the year and which should make their way into our annual Cooperstown Carol.
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In These Otsego Hills: Dear Santa ...
Although we tend to think Christmas is for children and thus rarely think about what we might like to have, this year we have decided to let Santa know what might be left under the tree with our name on it. Of course, we fully understand if our list is a bit long, a bit expensive and a bitlate. However, we have just finished reading our November issue of Health and so have just realized what we need that we do not currently have.
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Up on Hawthorn Hill: Irony abounds
These are querulous times. Dissent and disagreement, as uncomfortable as they sometimes are, are essential components of a viable democracy. Democracies are always messy because everyone has a right to speak his mind and because whenever a majority is able to gain the numerical upper hand it pretty much runs the show. Several political philosophers have written quite persuasively of what they characterize as the “tyranny of the majority.” Get enough people on your side and you have the opportunity to get your way so long as you are able to maintain power. I suspect that most thoughtful people would agree that wisdom is hard to come by.
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From Fly Creek: Cheers for the Blue Rabbit!
