Christmas Gentleman Caller: The Last Chapter

The annual holiday experience turned out well, as many things do. Fun and funny. A once in a lifetime practical joke that gained momentum and would not stop.

It turns out that the Christmas Gentleman Caller is from my own neighborhood. As we suspected. He is an octogenarian with a keen mind and a subtle sense of humor - one who couldn't quite carry it off last year when I suddenly invited him in for wine and candy.

This year, there was no gift of Godiva Chocolates. Rather, GC came with an invitation to Sunday breakfast and church afterwards. This is his last Sunday in Tallahassee for he is moving to Georgia to live closer to his grandchildren.

I couldn't refuse. Coffee, eggs, grits, and sausage at the Village Inn and worship at Bradfordville First Baptist.  I'm home now and wondering. How many of us are ever the recipients of such a mind-boggling and relentless Christmas mystery?

I'm a lucky lady to have been the one. You know that churches are teeming with silver haired, well dressed, self-reliant, and fun-loving widows. I wonder what GC will do for Christmas fun in Atlanta? I've heard that those ladies swarm over visiting elderly gentleman with pans of banana pudding and calls for help with leaky faucets. An anonymous prankster hardly stands a chance in that environment.

Here I am, finally, home from church. Serene after a southern breakfast and a rather hilarious conversation. Chuckling out loud to myself that I have been one lucky Christmas victim. So many Godiva truffles; very little wine; one really cool conversation. Then, Bradfordville Baptist, which has changed considerably since my last visit. Under new management, so to speak. I loved my morning.

Two Weeks With A "Dusty Old Document."

Magna Carta: The Birth of Liberty by Dan Jones

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I preordered Magna Carta by Dan Jones. Having brushed up on English Medieval History last summer, I thought I had a lot left to learn.

You know my feelings about history books. I would so much rather go to the sources myself than to read a research paper. Not so much here to aggravate me. Jones tells the story of the Magna Carta without seeming to quote and re-quote the same old sources. It's an illusion, of course. Good writing skills.

Although Magna Carta held few surprises for me, I enjoyed having the history of the document laid out at my fingertips, intact.

If you are a student of history, read this book as an auxiliary to and not as one of your original research documents. Don't imply in your papers that Jones is your source unless you use the material in such a way as to highlight his own creative thoughts and ideas and his original opinions. Otherwise, quote third hand, through him.

I know. Honesty and Integrity in research is such a bitch. Use this book as a tool illustrating knowledge well documented.



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Heartaches

I often visit churches. Take photographs of the places where the Holy Spirit resides. 

I'm interested in how people worship. I also take stock in what mixtures of music, scripture, fundamental beliefs, and tradition are meaningful to me.

Every Tallahassee church I love to attend also has a public Facebook outreach page that publishes times of services and emphasizes events. 

Not mine. We have a Group Membership page instead; and it's mostly full of cartoons.

Photo by Caroline Mathews