Noli timere. This was the latin text message that Seamus Heaney sent to his wife from his hospital bed just before he died this past September. Noli timere. Don't be afraid.
Even though he was one of the most important poets in our time, I didn't know very much about Seamus Heaney until I read his obituary. Now it seems that I think of him daily.
Don't be afraid. In a time when some people flame fears it's refreshing for someone to point out that we really don't have to be afraid. We aren't in control of a lot of things but we can be in control of our own fear.
I have loved reading about Heaney's life and thinking about his poetry, but there is just something pure and honest and sweet about a person, dying in a hospital bed, who would think to send such a message.
If anybody knew how to convey a big message with a few words it was Seamus Heaney. I am no scholar but even I can see, hear and feel what his poetry describes. As with many things, I'm sure there is so much more than I am aware about why his poetry resonates like it does, but I love that his poetry is so real. And hopeful. And encouraging. His poetry recognizes the ups and downs of real life but he embraces it all without fear.
He grew up in a small town in Ireland and is described as a fun loving, family oriented guy. He was brilliant and accomplished but kept a quick sense of humor. One story told was that after having a heart issue Seamus liked to go around saying, "Blessed are the Pacemakers."
He wrote about finding your way, and hope, and peace, and he loved to use his poetry to connect the past with the present. One poem, Digging, paints a picture of Seamus watching his father with a shovel digging potatoes in the garden "going down and down for the good turf". His poem ends: "between finger and my thumb, the squat pen rests. I'll dig with it."
Here's one of the times Seamus Heaney's pen dug down for the good turf:
from "The Cure at Troy"
Human beings suffer,
they torture one another,
they get hurt and get hard.
No poem or play or song
can fully right a wrong
inflicted or endured.
The innocent in gaols
The innocent in gaols
beat on their bars together.
A hunger-striker's father
stands in the graveyard dumb.
The police widow in veils
faints at the funeral home.
History says, Don't hope
History says, Don't hope
on this side of the grave.
But then, once in a lifetime
the longed for tidal wave
of justice can rise up,
and hope and history rhyme.
So hope for a great sea-change
So hope for a great sea-change
on the far side of revenge.
Believe that further shore
is reachable from here.
Believe in miracle
And cures and healing wells.
Call the miracle self-healing:
The utter self-revealing
double-take of feeling.
If there's fire on the mountain
Or lightning and storm
And a god speaks from the sky
That means someone is hearing
That means someone is hearing
the outcry and the birth-cry
of new life at its term.
____________________________________________________
And Noli timere. Don't be afraid.
Fall colors have been spectacular this year. I snapped this picture one morning on my way into the Peace Avenue store on South Washington Street. I didn't realize until I uploaded the pic that these gorgeous sun rays were shining through the leaves. I could almost hear the Rascals singing, "It's a beautiful morning!"
Another shot of the South Washington street side of the Royster Building in Uptown Shelby. I love this building, these fall colors and I love the sound of the leaves rustling as we walk down the sidewalk.
Cotton fields between Shelby and Lattimore were full of fluffy white cotton again this year. Cotton is such an interesting plant. It's been loved, hated, songs sung about it, books and movies written about it and it's been used in a wide variety of ways. Long live king cotton.
This old barn and cotton field is on highway 74 between Shelby and Lattimore. I took this picture in November 2013 but it could have been taken in any number of years. Highway 74 is changing as things always do and I thought it was nice to get this shot which made time stand still for a minute.
In late October Dad was honored by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center in Research Triangle Park. Dad has been involved with the creation and development of the Biotech Center since its beginnings in the 1980s. It is an amazing place that strives to use technology and science to bring real solutions to real life problems. Medical inventions, pharmaceuticals, agricultural and energy advancements and the jobs that come with them are among the success stories of the Biotech Center.
These were some of the initial proponents of the NC Biotech Center in the 1980s. These people were from both political parties and from all ranges of thought within their own parties. But they were pragmatic and they put aside their differences to attempt to do something big that would have a long lasting, positive impact on North Carolinians' health and well being.
In short, these men were leaders.
Speaking of leaders. These are two great doctors who share a love for medicine, people, good policy and good pimiento cheese. Dad and Dr. Buse are two of my heroes because they choose to light candles rather than curse the darkness.
David IV came home for a short visit in October and wanted to show Mom and Dad his new Texas cowboy boots. Dad looked them over and said, "looks like you've done some dancin' in em".
We don't miss many opportunities to dance.
Mom has some new boots too. With red accents no less. With the August fire at their house, their clothes weren't destroyed but had to be sent out for a substantial cleaning. Mem (mom's sister) found some boots that she thought she AND mom needed and isn't that what sisters are for?
I think it's great that at age 87 Mom even wanted a cute pair of red and black boots! It's great that she enjoys them and looks so good in them too.
After several months living in the Hunt House post fire, Mom and Dad have moved back onto Peachtree Road just in time for the holidays. We are all so thankful for that.
David IV, Tucker, Jay and Andrew came over for some Shrimp with Garlic, Basil and Pasta (recipe blogged August 6, 2011). I also served the kale and brussel sprouts salad with the light lemony dressing from Epicureous.com. It always surprises me when everyone loves that salad. Both recipes are keepers.
David wanted to see the Peace Avenue Holiday Showroom and get a pic with Beth and John. Naturally all three are sporting comfy Peace Avenue Tshirts.
We had a chance to have a daughter for a day when John and Beth were out of town and Natalie was being recognized along with other Seniors at an SHS Football game. We enjoyed being parents at Shelby High School again. And we enjoyed having a cute daughter like Natalie.
Natalie has been a dancing Leo the Lioness during this year at SHS. She gets those dance moves from me. Or more likely from Beth.
David and I helped with a fundraiser at Shelby City Park recently and Linda, Mom, Patty, Jay, Dad and a bunch of other people helped out too. Thanks to everyone we hopefully will be moving forward to fix up the tennis courts and golf shop at the Park before too long. They are such assets to the Park and the Park is an asset to the whole community. It will be great to get this project completed.
One lovely day in October David, Jay, Ben and Richard had a father son day playing golf. They are a good looking crew and good golfers too. Later in October Ben and Emily had a beautiful wedding that we loved. It was simple and elegant and joyful in every way.
Jay sported his own Peace Avenue tshirt when we had our first fire of the season. The weather has been crazy with fireplace weather one minute and tshirt weather the next. That's North Carolina for you and I love everything about it.
In early November descendants of Plato Dixon and Vada Spangler Crowder got together at the Cabin for some pizza. Mama Crowder and Granddaddy would have loved this day. Brian brought out his pizza oven and we set everything up right there in the pasture with the cows munching grass and playing in the pond. Betsy, Mem and others brought all kinds of toppings for pizza and everybody did their own thing. It was a good way to get a big group of Crowders together.
Patsy brought pictures and also Mama Crowder's old worn Bible for everyone to see. Mama Crowder had all kinds of things in that Bible - pictures, notes, newspaper clippings. Mama Crowder's life was organized by the Bible and the Farmer's Almanac. She worked sun up to sun down and she loved her garden and her family. Granddaddy was as Mom said the most patient person she had ever known.
This is just a portion of the Crowder's who gathered at the Cabin in Lattimore for pizza and funny stories. We are a big family and it was such fun to hear Mom, Sis, Mem, Patsy and others tell stories of growing up Crowder. There were big belly laughs and a few tears and more big belly laughs. Crowders laugh a lot. And loud. Seamus Heaney would have enjoyed this family.
I had a chance to hear Darin and Brooke Aldridge and friends play gospel music at First Baptist Church in Shelby. Carol introduced me to the Aldridges' music at the Cleveland County Fair a few years ago and they have gotten better and better. It was a joy to hear them singing at church and I look forward to hearing them again soon at the Earl Scruggs Center opening in January.
November brings basketball pre season games and Jay and the GWU team of players and coaches have been preparing for it. With quick coaching changes they have had to pedal fast. Jay is a graduate assistant for the team and will be getting his MBA in mid December.
Jay and Andrew, basketball operations manager for GW, heading into a preseason game last week. The Bulldogs are 2-2 now and are about to take off on a 9 day trip to Missouri, Chicago and Las Vegas. May the odds be ever in their favor!!
While David was home in October we took a really quick trip up to Lake Lure. Simba went along for the ride and we got this 'selfie' of the five of us.
Simba wasn't to be left out of the Peace Avenue clothing so he donned this cute bandana and marched proudly in the Uptown Shelby Music, Mutts and Mush parade. That was a fun day with Rollover pet store's parade and Halloween costume contest. Lily Bean Coffee made it even more fun with a post parade snack of puppichinos. Uptown Shelby has a growing core of young, small business owners who are working together to create a lot of good energy and good times - for two and four legged friends.
Here's another core of good people who, along with a bunch of others, took time out to decorate Holy Angels. Holy Angels is an amazing place committed to provide specialized care for children and adults who are "differently able". It was an inspiring day filled with love.
These are the ingredients for Pork Chop meal with the recipe below. This is quick to put together, simmers for an hour and is all done in one pot.
Mama Crowder always said she loved pig better than cow. I definitely am her granddaughter because I love pig too. I cook the entire meal in this skillet. Dad questioned whether it was actually possible to fix this in anything other than a cast iron pan and I promise it works in this one.
I forgot to get a picture of the finished product but it's a pretty dish that smells and tastes wonderful.
Pork Chop Meal
Pork Chop Meal is a recipe from the first Shelby Jr Charity League cookbook. This book is always described as the one with the rings in the top. Every recipe in this cookbook is good. Mama made it often when we were growing up and I have made it several times recently.
The recipe is delicious, easy and colorful and is made all in one pot so there is very little clean up.
4 Tbsp Wesson oil
salt and pepper
4 Thick sliced onions, 1/4" thick
4 rings green pepper (or red or a mixture)
4 thick pork chops
4 Tbsp Uncooked rice
3 cups canned tomatoes (or 2 15 oz cans)
1 cup diced celery
Brown pork chops in Wesson Oil (I use bone in chops but you can use boneless).
Brown them well on both sides, about 15 minutes.
Salt and pepper the chops
Place a slice of onion and a pepper ring on each chop
Place one Tbsp rice in each pepper ring
Pour tomatoes over, add celery, cover skillet and when steam appears, switch to simmer for 1 hour.
Noli timere!
Noli timere!
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