Anna Mae Long lost her parents while still in her teens. Because of this, she married her one true love earlier than planned. She wanted children right away but God in His wisdom let her mature a couple of more years before the babies started coming: three during the Great Depression, two during pre-World War II unrest and a baby boomer after the war was over.

As a homemaker — full-time-stay-at-home-mom, she exhibited her skills for organizing, managing money, for making do and for making everything stretch a little farther. Later,when there were no longer children at home, she used these skills as President of the Woman’s Society of Christian Service of the North Texas Conference, leading women in the missionary efforts of the Methodist Church.

My mother loved the finer things: poetry, literature and music. She had excellent grammar and taught her children to use it correctly. I’m sure we learned mostly by hearing it spoken.

I’m sorry she didn’t have time to write more. I’m sorry she didn’t keep a journal. We had long conversations over the years but I still think of questions I wish I had asked her.

She loved her family. Sometime in the late 1940s she wrote the following poem.

Those are MY Children

Those are my children pictured there … Four precious girls with ribboned hair,

Two darling boys in starched shirts and ties, Six dear angels in disguise.

Six million dollars they represent! Each one to me the Lord has lent

To keep awhile. And I must take care  To train them well while I have them here.

A mother’s pride in the things they do, Knows each day a joy anew.

The joys so far the cares out weigh, With added blessings to each day.

Yes, those are my children — blessings real, That fill our home with love and zeal;

A scattered sock, a book amiss, A tattered, a juicy kiss.

As Mom to six I have so much A loving smile, a caressing touch

I’d not trade places with a queen And have to miss one little thing!

Sometimes I scold, I will confess, But that does not mean I love them less;

Or that I’d want to be without The memory of one joyous shout.

I thank Thee, Lord, to have the right To bid them each a fond goodnight.

Guide me that my light may shine To link each of their lives with Thine.

Anna Long Alderson

In addition to mentioning all these gizmos, they also briefly told why or how they changed the world. Some were easy to see — like duct tape. How would we live without that? Or the match, personal computer, zipper? The transistor radio was credited with the popularity of rock and roll. I’m not sure why. Maybe because it made the teens and their music mobile, got them out of the reach of their parents?

The Smart Phone was deemed the number 1 gadget that has changed the world. And while the Smart Phone hasn’t changed my life yet, I can see how others might think it number one.

The item that really caught my attention and brought back memories was the ball point pen. Eversharp, maker of mechanical pencils, introduced the ballpoint pen to the United States in 1945.  It cost about $10., which is comparable to $100 today.  Nowadays they are given away free as promotions.

These pens must have become more affordable in the 50’s because I remember seeing them in the stationery stores with the school supplies. They cost about the same as any fountain pen.  The big sales pitch was that the ballpoint pens wouldn’t leak (supposedly) or smear.

However, my teachers at Denison High School made it clear that they would not accept work in ballpoint pen. It had to be written in real ink.

An example of people resisting change, even when it might be for the better.

I also worked for a company in the middle 80s that refused to follow the electronics fads. They said they would never computerize. Guess what? They did.

“It was a bad week for Joe Thompson. The state surgeon general was arrested at his Little Rock home Saturday, and was later charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, use of force and attempting to influence a public official following what police say was a drunken altercation with a security guard and Little Rock police officers.”

“It was a bad week for Bobby Petrino. The University of Arkansas head football coach was injured in a motorcycle accident Sunday in Newton County. He’s expected to make a full recovery.”

Arkansans hearing the Joe Thompson story rolled their collective eyes at a public official showing his bad side.  To the Bobby Petrino story the response was, “Bless his heart.”

Now, less than a month later, more details of both stories are available (thanks to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act) and our perspective has changed.

Bobby Petrino, bless his heart, had a female passenger on his cycle. Can open — worms come out, and now he’s out of a job.

And Joe Thompson may have grounds for false arrest. I won’t try to detail that story but if you want to hear the tape of the encounter, search YouTube for “Arkansas Surgeon General.”

Perspective.

Just last week, two young girls were assaulted as they walked through a quiet neighborhood in Beebe, my Dream Home Town. Four days later, the story ran on the local Fox channel’s 9:00 pm newscast. Almost immediately, questions appeared on Facebook. Residents of Beebe were concerned. By 10:00, most were searching the other three Little Rock channels for more information.  Nothing. The CBS, NBC and ABC affiliates in this area picked up the story two days later.

You see, it’s all a matter of perspective. An assault on teen girls in a small, quiet town — probably the safest town in Arkansas — just isn’t very newsworthy when compared to … say … the University of Arkansas hiring a new football coach.

Please don’t suggest I ‘get rid’ (cruel expression) of some of these books unless you yourself are willing to give one a good home. Then I’ll decide if it’s something I can part with.

Okay. I know it would help if I would stop buying used books. But I have a good reason for each one I buy: I haven’t read this book and I like the author’s work; this book is a classic and/or old; I read this book before and liked it but I don’t think I own it. As you can see, these are all valid excuses for adding to my collection.

Recently I went Goodwill shopping with my BFF, Pat. (Cabot, AR has the best Goodwill store ever!) As we entered, I said to Pat, “Don’t let me buy any books.”

Well, not only did she not prevent me from buying, she was an enabler! “Look, this is by Lynne Truss who wrote Eats Shoots and Leaves. You’ll want this.” Of course I did. That was in the I-like-the-author’s-work category so I bought Talk to the Hand. And before I left the store I chose three more.

I found Mister God This is Anna by Fynn. In 1974 this was the Christian book to read, but I never did. It is a small paper back, rather yellow and brittle and I fully intend to read it one day.

I also bought a 1924 edition of The Methodist Hymnal with shaped notes. The topical index in the back is in 3 point type. (I have 1939 and 1966 editions of TMH, plus newer copies of the The United Methodist Hymnal.)

The last book I purchased that day is a 1954 Summer Edition of Readers Digest Condensed Books. I subscribed to this series when I was a young stay-at-home mom without much time to read. I particularly remember this one that contains The Desperate Hours by Joseph Hayes (later to be made into a movie with Humphrey Bogart) and Tomorrow by Philip Wylie, a tale of what could happen if the Russians launched an atomic attack on the United States. (This was 1954, remember.)  I enjoyed these stories the first time around and plan to read them again.

Someday.

As a child, I heard, “Step on a crack, it’ll break your mother’s back.” And, conversely, I figured if splits in the sidewalk could be avoided, my mother would be okay. (Later in life my mother had many back problems, so it would seem some of my siblings were not as careful as I.)

In the early Fifties, it was my belief that, in case of nuclear attack, school children would be safe if hidden under their desks.

During the Sixties, I saw a poster with a picture of a pretty green leaf and the words, “Miss Mary Jane.” Logic told me this must be promoting a new folk singer, though the significance of the leaf was unclear.

Later, in the Seventies, when a personal ad appeared seeking swingers, I assumed someone was organizing a square dance club.

I thought Hooters was a gathering place for owl fanciers … kind of like the Audubon Society with fries.

In the Nineties, I colored my gray hair auburn. Many, many people told me I looked ten years younger. And I believed them. Why would they say something like that if it weren’t true? I fully expected to get carded when I asked for a Senior Citizen’s discount. But to my surprise that didn’t happen.

Now we have entered the 21st Century. I deal with the mysteries of iPods, iPads, iPhones and iPhorget-what-all. I am faced with Facebook (or in-your-face-book, as a friend calls it). It sees all, knows all and tells all using acronyms I’m afraid to use because I don’t know what they mean.

So as an aging Pollyanna, I’ve decided it’s okay if sometimes it seems I don’t have both oars in the water. I do pretty well on the activities of daily living. I don’t have enough money to buy the Brooklyn Bridge.  And God loves me just the way I am.

This is my favorite movie, and possibly the best movie ever made.  An AFI survey a few years ago listed Citizen Kane as the number one film of all time, but I can’t stand Citizen Kane, so I just might be biased.

Earlier last week I also watched (on Netflix) the documentary, Hey Boo: Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird, made in 2010 for the 50th anniversary of the novel.

The book and the movie can almost be reviewed as one, they are that close in plot and dialogue. Harper Lee was a consultant on the movie and much of the original writing from the novel made it into the screenplay.  This happens so seldom it is worth mentioning.

I fell in love with the book 52 years ago when I bought it from the Book of the Month club. Not only did I love the book, everyone did. It later won a Pulitzer Prize.

Today, watching the movie, most agree that no one but Gregory Peck could have played Atticus Finch.  That’s certainly my point of view. However, in casting the part both Spencer Tracy (well maybe) and Rock Hudson (shudder) were considered.  The casting director combed the South for the perfect Scout and Jem, locating newcomers Mary Badham and Philip Alford.

Mary Badham received an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress for her portrayal of Scout (She lost to Patty Duke in The Miracle Worker). She never appeared in another major film production, though she has made a decent living with television work. Philip Alford later won a role as one of James Stewart’s sons in Shenandoah, but since then has had small roles in big movies or vice versa.

Some said To Kill a Mockingbird, both book and movie, rode the wave of the Civil Rights movement to achieve the success it did. Actually, the book seems not so much about race relations as it is about human kindness and respect for others. Atticus gathers Scout in his arms and talks to her about ‘climbing into the other person’s skin and walking around.’ Thus to find understanding and empathy for the new trying-too-hard teacher, the poor kid in class with no lunch money, Boo Radley and Tom Robinson.

The book is now required reading in most junior high and high schools, often initiating discussions about the characters and their motivations.

For whatever reason, Harper Lee never published another novel. I’m sure she was encouraged (hounded?) to write a sequel. That’s a compliment; it means your characters are strong and likable. But how could she craft a story that compared in any way to the one she had already told?

She reportedly started another novel and got bogged down in the research. She told a close friend she had ‘nowhere to go but down.’   She tired of the limelight and declined to give any more interviews.  Even Oprah could not lure Nelle Harper Lee to sit on the couch with her.

To Kill a Mockingbird. Read it or watch it. With my recommendation.

But after today, and for the rest of this week, the church should be in a more somber mood. For the next few days we should reflect on the meaning of Jesus’ last days on earth.

On Thursday evening, there will be a service of communion, a remembrance of Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples. We will hear scripture and songs as we ponder our savior’s life and death… the betrayal, the pain he suffered. We will leave the worship service in solemn silence…

To return again on Easter morning. To the promise of the resurrection. To the joyous greeting Christ is risen! and the response, He is risen indeed!

Spring Break usually falls in the middle of Lent, but since my Lenten discipline this year has no dietary restrictions, every day of my spring break I ate something I ’shouldn’t.’ (I put that word in call-out quotes because it is usually ‘they’ who say that I ’shouldn’t.’)

This junk food thing wasn’t my main objective during Spring Break, I’m a little deeper than that. But when the first day I slept late and had an egg sandwich for brunch, and followed it the second day with a bowl of chili for supper I saw a trend developing. I decided to have a week long indulgence of foods I allow myself only rarely. During the rest of my stay-cation (not all the same day) I ate:

Taco Bell’s Five Layer Burrito – this is possibly my favorite fast food meal. Besides tasting good, it only costs $2.00 and fills me up for hours.

A Sonic Blast – I considered this a whole meal the day I had it. Occasionally I get so hungry for ice cream and this does it for me … as well as providing a taste of my favorite candy, Butterfinger.

McDonald’s Sausage Biscuit – On Tuesday I woke early to write and at about 10:00 a.m., I needed to go to the post office. And then I decided I deserved a break! This is a seldom enjoyed treat. I can remember having it only once in 2011 when members of my morning prayer group surprised me with breakfast on my birthday.

Meatball Sub – I am a big fan of the sitcom “Friends.” I have seen every episode and own most of them. The meatball sub is Joey Tribiani’s favorite sandwich, yet I had never tasted one until last December when Subway had their promotion. Now I’m a fan, too. All for less than $3.00

One night my youngest son popped in with a Pizza Hut $10.00 box.  Pepperoni pizza with the thickest crust I have ever seen, bread sticks and cinnamon sticks with icing. Plenty of food for the three of us. (The third being Phillip’s GF,  Zefani.)

One thing I determined on this break-from-food-sanity is — I don’t need to retire. Though I am of retirement age and then some, I realize that if I stayed at home every day, I would be a slug. My cholesterol level would be off the charts, I would weigh 500 pounds and have my own reality show on The Learning Channel.

So, tomorrow it’s back to work at my fun job with great co-workers. My food binge leaving me only a little worse for wear.

The title of the special is “Signs of the Apocalypse.”  Originally the show was to air on December 22, 2011, then for some unknown reason was rescheduled to the March date.  I figured NatGeo had negative reaction to an end-times special showing three days before Christmas, but that’s just my best guess.

On New Years Eve 2011, Beebe residents living near the birds’ roosting place were asked to refrain from shooting fireworks, lest there be a more bird deaths.  Most complied, but ’someone’ (presumed to be not from the neighborhood) did set off a large round of fireworks near the roost. The result was 400 dead birds ‘falling from the sky.’  This would seem to prove, at least it’s strong evidence for me, that fireworks were always the cause.

I will say here that since I wrote about it a year ago I have learned that most blackbirds move somewhere else in the summer, so not many are around to be frightened by Independence Day fireworks. Also, these birds have poor night vision (and they fly crazy) contributing to the flying into things scenario.

I don’t know what all this will do to the NatGeo apocalyptic theory.  If indeed it is a theory. Or is the title of the special a teaser, meant to pique interest?  If that’s the case, it worked. I’ll be watching.

So, last night I chose Room With a View, an English movie adapted from a 1908 novel by E. M. Forster.  Mr. Forster used much irony in his stories about the hypocrisy involved in the class conscious culture of the day.

The movie, made in 1985, stars a young and beautiful Helena Bonham Carter as Lucy Honeychurch and Julian Sands as George Emerson. Daniel Day Lewis gives an excellent performance as the prim and proper Cecil Vyse.  They were ably supported by Maggie Smith and Judi Dench in character roles. The rave review on imdb.com says this film captures the spirit of the book.  All of us who have been disappointed when a favorite book is made into a lousy movie, can understand the satisfaction when the movie actually does indeed capture the spirit of the book.

Room With a View is a love story about a young girl (Lucy) who must decide between two suitors, exuberant, passionate George or steady, predictable Cecil. Should she go with convention or take a chance on love? The limitations and expectations placed on young ladies during the Edwardian Era play a big part in her decision making.

The background music is spectacular — arias by Puccini and selections by Victor Herbert adding to the drama.

I do have to mention one particular scene that surprised me. The vicar comes upon two young men, waist high in water, bathing. They invite him to join them and he promptly drops trou and steps out from behind the bush completely naked. He jumps in the water and he and the young men engage in splashing and horse play, chasing each other in and out of the pool for a few minutes, before the story line moves on.

Today, when I checked the Parents Guide for this movie the concern listed was: “Full frontal nudity in a non-sexual way.”  True.  The rest of the movie everyone stayed fully clothed, skirts down to the floor and collars up to their chins.

I never figured out the point of this scene, which would lift right out of the film without changing the plot a bit.  Unless it was to shock the daylights out of this grandma!

Room With a View is worth your while and I would recommend it. Just keep your finger on the fast forward button.