Tuesday, August 6th, 2024. 8:48 AM.
Today is the 219th day of this year; and it is my niece’s birthday. And this blog began on this date in 2018 — 6 years ago. The first post was made on August 16th, the day after my mom departed this life. She was 88 years old. And it was in August of 1974 that my “Summer of ’74” romance came to an end. And August is the 8th month. 8 is my number. And my dad was born in August.
And this month, I met someone new. Her first name is Lucia. My paternal grandmother’s first name is Lucia. The name Lucia means Lustrous. “adj. 1. Having a sheen or glow; gleaming; lustrous pearls. See Syns at bright. 2. Well-known or distinguished; illustrious.” The American Heritage College Dictionary -Fourth Edition. 2002. The Lucia I met online told me her birthday is 9/11. She also told me that her stepmother hated her; and when she was 9 years old her stepmother took out her right eye. She said she has a prosthesis now. She is beautiful. Her prosthetic eye looks perfectly normal. In 1978, I sustained a very painful eye infection to my left eye. Nevertheless, my left eye is the one that sees better than my right eye. Both of my eyes are near-sighted; and my right eye also has astigmatism; however, I no longer wear my eyeglasses for more than a year now. And my vision is slowly improving. It is a wonderful thing to me at 72 to be seeing better than I have since childhood.
A Wonderful Co-Incidence While Walking in Woonsocket
A few evenings ago, I went walking by the neighborhood where I grew up – Sweet Avenue. Just after crossing Sweet Avenue – where I lived the first 18 years of my life — I stopped once again in front of the three-door building that was occupied by Johnny the Cobbler and Richer’s Radio & TV and Farland’s Grocery Store on Elm Street – right across the street from what had been several decades ago, The House of Brides. I looked at the door of what had been my Dad’s Radio & TV business which he opened about 1957. It is the same door! Then I looked at where the key went into the lock to unlock the door where I had worked in the mid-1960s – it looked the same. I often unlocked that door myself – especially on Saturday mornings. It was my very first job when I was about 14 and worked there for my dad for about 3 years. A pretty young woman came walking by and she had two small white dogs on their leashes. I told her I had worked there many years ago; and about the two other businesses. She stopped to listen. I understand it’s out of the ordinary to just start talking to someone walking by who I didn’t know. It’s something that just happens to me whenever I walk into the neighborhood where I grew up. I wasn’t always like this. It’s a heart thing, I guess. I’m getting emotional now in my elder years; maybe especially about my childhood years and about Sweet Avenue – because that’s where my life began. Another heart thing with me, lately is a beautiful young woman. And I imagine if I ever kiss a beautiful young woman again for the first time in many years, my heart and soul might just break open like a reservoir that’s been dammed up for a thousand years.
GLEE – Full Performance of ”The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” from “Yes/No”
GLEE – Full Performance of ”The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” from “Yes/No” – YouTube
She said she often walks by there and wonders what had been in that building. At first, her white dogs were barking excitedly; but she calmed them down easily with a few spoken words. Her two dogs must love her very much. Their hearts suddenly became peaceful at her word. And I told her about The House of Brides that had been directly across the street – which is now a pizza place; and about becoming friends with Mr. Farland’s son Jimmy. He was about 3 years older than me and was always like a very good older brother to me. Sometimes I imagine him and me as being like Wally and his younger brother Beaver Cleaver. Then I told her my name and she told me her name – her first name. I couldn’t quite understand her pronunciation of her name. Her name had about three syllables and she said it very fast. She repeated it for me; but still, I could not understand it. So, she told me another name – that one I easily understood. Nina. Later on, while continuing that evening walk, we met again. I said, “Hi Nina.” She replied, “Oh, hi.” We were on Cass Avenue when we met the second time. It was near where The Rendezvous Restaurant had been – almost across the street from what had been Woonsocket Hospital where I was born; but I can’t recall exactly the location because as I saw her approaching me, I forgot everything else. There is something very special about a beautiful young woman.
Today, about 4 days later, I was drinking my cold cup of tea at home in the early morning of another warm summer day; and was recalling that encounter with that beautiful young woman. And other thoughts were coming to mind. I recalled “the bride of Christ” — the new Jerusalem — in chapter 21 of The Book of Revelation. And about true Christians becoming “the sons of God.” And Jesus said those who are accounted worthy and live in heaven neither marry nor are given in marriage because they are like the angels. “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.” -Matthew 22: 30. ESV Study Bible. And there is a Scripture in one of the Epistles of Paul about Christians — that they are neither male nor female; and in The Book of Revelation — about the river of life that flows down the golden street of the city of God. And I wondered: If there are to be sons of God, are there also to be brides of Christ? And I wondered if there is a pizza place up in heaven where the sons of God take the brides of Christ out on a date. Maybe it’s called: The House of Brides Pizza Place. May God forgive me for having a sense of humor sometimes amid all the suffering in our human lives on earth.
And now I’m trying to remember beautiful songs . . . I enjoy listening to beautiful music and love songs and hymns. They are like a crying infant’s comforter coming to him when his mother enters his room and takes him up in her arms.
Just yesterday or, maybe, the day before, I found this very lovely and beautiful music video:
Randy Travis – Forever And Ever, Amen (Official Music Video)
Randy Travis – Forever And Ever, Amen (Official Music Video) – YouTube
Randy Travis – 2013 Four Rivers Banquet
Randy Travis – 2013 Four Rivers Banquet (youtube.com)
The second name she spoke – the one I could understand – was Nina. And as time passed, I was recalling that name – and remembered that Christopher Columbus crossed the ocean blue on board “the Nina the Pinta and the Santa Maria” and discovered America that way.
America + Sister Golden Hair + Lyrics/HQ
America + Sister Golden Hair + Lyrics/HQ – YouTube
America The Beautiful (Lyrics)
America The Beautiful (Lyrics) – YouTube
In my booklet of “Names for Boys and Girls” the name Nina means Grace.
I understand that many people don’t like being preached to. I guess, maybe, we’re all like that. We enjoy being entertained and that’s all. But it may be that True God calls a few of those people on earth to serve Him – and speak His Word. And they must do it – or else their life would have no meaning.
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” -Titus 2:11-14.
2/11 . . . my mother was born on 2/11 – February 11th, 1930. And she always liked to say about her birthday: “The day before Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.” [I was born on the 14th of November – the month of Veterans Day and Elections and Thanksgiving and President John F. Kennedy’s assassination] — and for 16 years now living in John F. Kennedy Manor – on Clinton Street. And at the end of President William Jefferson Clinton’s 8 years in Office, there was a remarkable surplus of more than a trillion dollars. And the following incoming administration squandered that great surplus by giving it all away to the very wealthy who had no need of it – ignoring the needs of our Country – its national debt and many other worthy needs for helping the poor and our Country. It was a evidence of who Politics serves.
Jesus said, “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” -Matthew 6: 22-24. ESV Study Bible.
“Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth,
Or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.” -Proverbs 22: 16. ESV Study Bible.
“The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
The plans of his heart to all generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
The people whom he has chosen as his heritage!” -Psalm 33: 11-12. ESV Study Bible.
Psalm 33
Jesus’ life and ministry on earth may have been 33 years.
The Three Crosses
Gospel Tract – The Three Crosses – Moments With The Book (mwtb.org)
Psalm 33 ESV – The Steadfast Love of the LORD – Shout – Bible Gateway
Holy Forever – Bethel Music, Jenn Johnson
Holy Forever – Bethel Music, Jenn Johnson – YouTube
Come Up Here – Bethel Music, Jenn Johnson
Come Up Here – Bethel Music, Jenn Johnson – YouTube
I Am Your Beloved – Bethel Music, Jonathan David Helser, Melissa Helser
I Am Your Beloved – Bethel Music, Jonathan David Helser, Melissa Helser – YouTube
Another thing that’s been on my mind: a few weeks ago – when Karmala Harris became the Democratic nominee to run for President of The United States of America in November — was the song from about the 1960s: Camelot. The names Kamala and Camelot sound similar. And I like Richard Burton’s rendition of Camelot.
Richard Burton sings Camelot 1978
Richard Burton sings Camelot 1978 – YouTube
Neil Diamond – Longfellow Serenade (W/Lyrics)
Neil Diamond – Longfellow Serenade (W/Lyrics) (youtube.com)
Long Long Time – Lyrics – Linda Ronstadt
Long Long Time – Lyrics – Linda Ronstadt (youtube.com)
Christina Perri – A Thousand Years [Official Music Video]
Christina Perri – A Thousand Years [Official Music Video] – YouTube
Second Coming of Jesus Christ – Polar Shift & Global Earthquake (NOT THE ONE ON JULY 29th)
Second Coming of Jesus Christ – Polar Shift & Global Earthquake (NOT THE ONE ON JULY 29th) – YouTube
Babylon the Great & The Caliph Antichrist – Armageddon News
Babylon the Great & The Caliph Antichrist – Armageddon News (youtube.com)
Image of the Beast Islamic Connection – Armageddon News
Image of the Beast Islamic Connection – Armageddon News (youtube.com)
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.” -Colossians 3: 1-6. ESV Study Bible.
Colossians 1-4 ESV.
Colossians 1-4 ESV – Greeting – Paul, an apostle of Christ – Bible Gateway
Mark's Imaginings 