Post 43/2021 Saturday 23 October . . . Feeling safe or protected. That makes for peace of mind. Conversely, giving someone a piece of one’s mind, even if deserved, can stir up anger and resentment and thwart feelings of safety and protection. This play on words makes me smile. With the second you’ve gotten something off your chest but doesn’t some anger linger? I like what Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind.”

Sadly, many people are waiting for peace of mind. Their quality of life may suffer from severe poverty, displacement, ill health, an adversity-laden life. For others it may be deliberate contrariness, evil intent, uncontrolled anger.

Certainly, there are situations in our political, cultural, social and economic worlds that call for confrontation, negotiation, agreement, agreeing to disagree, resolution. In those matters I’m grateful for the strides we’ve made in promoting attitudes, skills and actions that further feelings of safety and protection. To illustrate, I’ll narrow my thoughts to what this has meant for older people. Two quotes:

“I think it’s nice to age gracefully. OK, you lose the youth, a certain stamina and dewy glow, but what you gain on the inside as a human being is wonderful: the wisdom, the acceptance and the peace of mind. It’s a fair exchange.” Cherie Lunghi, English actress.

“There was a time not long ago when American seniors were too often forced to go without food, medicine, and quality healthcare. but thanks to transformative programs like Social Security, most seniors in this country are provided the opportunity to live with the stability and peace of mind they earned and deserve.” Mike Quigley, congressman for the 5th District of Illinois.

As others have noted, achieving peace of mind means knowing who I am and what I am. For that I thank the Good Lord.

Martha Henry

Martha Henry completed her last performance October 9 in the closing of Three Tall Women at the Stratford Festival of Canada, culminating a six-decade long career. Martha Henry died of cancer, October 21, age 83. We’ve marveled at her command of the stage over the years we’ve had the privilege to travel to Stratford. The Festival posted a video on YouTube of her 2018 role as Prospero in The Tempest. Her closing line in Act 5, Scene 1 was, “Be free, and fare thou well.”

Martha Henry plays on in many minds and hearts.

Homeward bound

We traveled home from Ontario on Saturday, noting time and again our delight in time spent with friends and family, regretting that we didn’t get to see everyone or even get to visit the New Hamburg Thrift Store. Family, friends first. We brought home Rheo Thompson mint smoothies, Balzac’s coffee beans and Oak Grove cheeses. Not much, not too little, just right.

We were the only people in the Duty Free shop, where we were not wont to linger. I did spot a special treat, though, that served us as lunch the next day: smoked salmon.

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Steps through the week

These are scenes of outdoor spaces on the Greencroft Goshen campus.

Mystery solved

It took some plodding and nodding to find my way through Osmon’s novel. Glad I persisted. The main characters are members of The Thursday Murder Club at a retirement community. They’re intent on solving cases in the wider community. Mysteries, of course, wind and weave, give hints of this and that, who and what, twist and turn, then erupt with resolution.

It took me a long time to chuckle out loud. But I did. And I was so glad for the resolution at the end, right down to the concluding sentence. Thank you, television presenter on Pointless (UK) Richard Osman, for a first-rate murder mystery.

Breakfast out

We had an early morning appointment in South Bend, so opted for a walk afterwards for a late breakfast at the Yellow Cat Café. I had eaten there ages ago when I worked at St Joseph Care Foundation. It was the first visit for Marty. Nice breakfast in a neighborhood-like setting, somewhat off the beaten path, popular place with locals it seemed.

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Peace of mind. Accept it. Share it. Love it. Peace!

-John