"Priestdaddy" by Patricia Lockwood

     

   I know some authors who write memoirs. In my opinion, it's a tricky genre unless the author is gifted, because unless the reader has some connection to the author's experience, the reader may not get too far into the text.

   That is not the problem here. I explain a little about that in my Amazon review, which follows my remarks. I wonder what my son would write about growing up in a Lutheran parsonage/family home.

   The concept of simul iustus et peccator- being both saint and sinner- permeates the memoir even if Lockwood does not use the term herself. Her father by all appearances is a dedicated priest but spends money on things like electric guitars instead of his daughters' college educations. Her mother obsesses and rants about all sorts of things yet will move heaven and earth to help her children no matter what.

    At times Lockwood's writing made me laugh out loud, and at times I shook my head in sadness. Several sections, especially about the charismatic teenagers' group she attended, were riveting. Her character descriptions made me feel that I knew them.

 Full disclosure from the outset:  I am a Lutheran pastor who was in the same denomination as Fr. Lockwood. He swam the Tiber; I swam the Mississippi (i.e. he converted to Roman Catholicism, I went to another branch of Lutheranism.) I know St. Louis well, so the author's descriptions of life in and around that city resonated with me. In addition, I know and know of colleagues who have swum the Tiber. Most of them did not have families.

Lockwood paints a realistic picture of her upbringing, especially of family life. She does not hesitate to depict the negative sides, which in time led to her abandoning religion. However, her love for her family is quite evident, even when they disagree and lack understanding of their actions, especially her life decisions.

Those looking for a scandal within the family will be disappointed. Lockwood mentioned scandals involving others. Her writing is sharp, often funny, and pulls no punches. Most of all, it is honest and engages the reader.

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Lately, I notice more hits than usual on the blog. That's wonderful! some are bots, but not everyone. How about leaving a comment? some do, and I welcome others to do so! Thanks.

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My books:

https://www.amazon.com/Books-Arthur-Turfa/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AArthur+Turfa

https://www.blurb.com/b/10799783-the-botleys-of-beaumont-county

Why I Will Never Be South Carolina's Poet Laureate- But It's Fine

https://www.facebook.com/aturfa/videos/2271188909920055 

     South Carolina has not had a Poet Laureate since 2017, when Governor Henry McMaster took office. Marjory Wentworth was the Poet Laureate under Governor Mikki Haley. 

     My friend and fellow poet, Dr. Len Lawson of Newberry College, organized yesterday's SC Read-A-Thon for SC Poet Laureate. A good number of fellow peers and friends read for half an hour, making sure that we explained why we were reading.

     I likely was not the only reader to say that our participation took us out of the running for the office, if indeed there was a running in the first place. That is perfectly fine. More important is that a Poet Laureate be selected; there are many fine poets here. The triumphs and tragedies, the joys and sorrows of the Palmetto State need to be expressed in poetic form.

    This is not a partisan appointment. In my opinion (I will speak here only for myself) the Poet Laureate should create poetry to describe, reflect, and while pointing out an issue, should not advocate a particular policy.

     For example, if a poem laments the under-funded schools in the infamous Corridor of Shame, there should be no bashing of people or specific proposals on how to rectify the situation. I believe that a poet can highlight a certain issue, and I also believe that no one in their right mind would want a child to attend a school that was in poor condition and using inadequate materials. Exactly how that situation is improved is up to the politicians and the community as a whole.

     We had a successful event yesterday, and the feeling is that it will not be the last one. Previously there was a petition and a public gathering. There is some momentum, and all I can say is stay tuned!

     That's me reading at an earlier event.

     My books:

     https://www.amazon.com/Books-Arthur-Turfa/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AArthur+Turfa

     https://www.blurb.com/b/10799783-the-botleys-of-beaumont-county

"Point Counter Point" and other Thoughts About Aldous Huxley

 

     In earlier posts, I mentioned how my 12th-grade English teacher gave me free rein in the library. That was a life-changing time, but here I want to talk about one of the novels I read. It is Huxley's longest one and not his best-known. There was a BBC adaptation, which I believe I saw on PBS.

     What stood out to me was the interweaving of various storylines. That of course was not unique to Huxley or anything else that I had read previously. How the characters reacted to each other, and that most of them were based on people I had some idea about caught my attention.

     The focus here is on Everard Webley, a British Fascist based on Oswald Mosley. Webley is wealthy, intelligent, pompous, and a bully. His movement has thousands of recruits who hang on his every word when he holds forth either in print or public speeches.

     When I read this novel over 50 years ago, Fascism as a political movement was discredited. The term "fascist" was thrown around, I did so myself, rather loosely and without reason. 

     That has changed, sadly. Unsettled times cause people to seek comfort from an imagined past where things were better and to find companionship with those of their own kind. The term is used proudly by some, and more than one nation has officially succumbed to right-wing extremism (which is equally as bad as left-wing extremism). 

     Huxley does not offer a way out; he depicts a confused world. One of his characters, an artist based on D.H. Lawrence, comes the closest to suggesting something. For that, you will have to read the book.

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Links to my books!  In time for holiday shopping!

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Arthur-Turfa/author/B00YJ9LNOA?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

https://www.blurb.com/b/10799783-the-botleys-of-beaumont-county

    

In Memoriam: the Rt. Rev. Bishop Paul Marshall

https://livingchurch.org/news/news-episcopal-church/bishop-paul-marshall-1947-2024/ 

  

     In my life, I have few regrets and do not dwell much on them. From time to time I admit to reflecting on what might have been when reminded of something.,

     Last week I learned about the passing of the first bishop of the Episcopal Church (REC) who licensed this Luthern pastor to serve as a priest in a diocese. 

    In 2002 I was bi-vocational and rostered in the Slovak Zion Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We had elected Pastor Wilma Kucharek as bishop, and Bishop Paul participated in her installation, thanks to our ecumenical partnership. 

     I had known Bishop Wilma before her election and had heard of Bishop Paul. We had all been in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, they far longer than me. After the service ended I introduced myself to Bishop Paul and said I would like to pay him a visit; he readily agreed. 

    At that meeting, he told me I would be licensed to serve as a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem  (PA). My family lived about 75 miles away from Bethlehem and since there was not anything for me to do right then I was encouraged to check with the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania; Bishop Paul's name opened some doors there due to the high regard people had for him. I was about to sign a contract to be an interim rector when the Arm,y deployed me to Germany in early 2004.

     Bishop Paul asked me to read the galleys of his biography of Samuel Seabury, the first American Episcopal bishop. I was pleased to do so.

     As things turned out, Bishop Paul and I did not have much contact afterward. My family and I moved to South Carolina (they first, then I came when my deployment ended. I followed what he was doing, and was thankful for how he helped me. I have been licensed in the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina and have enjoyed the extension to my ministry. 

     In the fullness of time, we shall meet again and I will thank him in person.

    

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Links to my books:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Arthur-Turfa/author/B00YJ9LNOA?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

https://www.blurb.com/b/10799783-the-botleys-of-beaumont-county

Artocalypse Hat Challenge- Autumn Leaves from Michael Scott long

 Here it is!  

Where I Can't Physically Go- Artocalypse Challenge

      Heather Houston gave me the challenge. Here is my response. I thank her and everyone else in the group for the opportunity.

https://heatherandbone.com/blog/

     I cannot physically go to see the Titanic. Maybe I could go in a submarine for a short ride. My cousin Sam spent his 22-year naval career in the Silent Service, and I knew a few other people who served there as well. I salute them; my preference was for the Army. I figured I could find my way back to safety on land, or at the very least stay put until I was found.

    The Titan submersible implosion of June 2023 did not surprise me at all. I am sorry for the loss of life, especially for the teenager. One could say the entire project was doomed from the start. But all that is beside the point here.

    I simply would not like being underwater in such cramped conditions. No amount of money would change my mind. All I would think about is what would happen if something went wrong. I would be a nervous wreck before, during, and afterward.

    I do have some family connection to the Titanic itself. My great-grandfather immigrated to the US from Austria-Hungary (he was Hungarian) with his family in 1902, and made several trips back for business reasons. It is said he missed the Titanic and threw a multi-lingual fit. 

    If someone tried to pressure me to go look at the wreck, I also would throw a multi-lingual fit. Great-grandfather would be proud.

     

    Links to my books: poetry, a novel, and short story collection:

https://www.amazon.com/Books-Arthur-Turfa/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AArthur+Turfa

     

https://www.blurb.com/b/10799783-the-botleys-of-beaumont-county

The Humanities Under Siege at Some Universities

     The recent elimination or drastically reducing of majors, minors, and courses in the Humanities is not only distressing. In an attempt to save money or to offer only what is deemed useful, much is lost. Not everything in life is cut-and-dried or black-and-white. Studying the Humanities leads to critical thinking,l the ability to see gray areas, and can actually lead to new ways of thinking and new solutions.

     Full Disclosure: My doctorate is in Humanities from Drew University. (emphasis on History and Religion). I have Master's in German, Divinity, and History (From UC-Irvine, the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, and Binghamton University), and a Bachelor's in German (from Penn State). Since I was bi-vocational, I needed degrees; they have paid for themselves many times over. 

     A neighbor of mine near Philadelphia taught Business at a major university in the city. His house was next to a path to the woods where I often walked, and I saw him often during my high school and undergraduate years. He and his family were nice people.

     Before I graduated from high school he would ask what I wanted to study. At that time I thought I would go into law school, so I imagined something like Political Science or History. When an undergraduate I was a German major. Each time he politely told me to study Business. We had polite and friendly discussions, but he was insistent.

     I tried everything could to convince him Business was not for me. My math skills were not good, I had no interest, and doubted I could do well.  He was having none of it.

     My adviser at Penn State once said to us that we did not have to justify studying beautiful things. That stuck with me. I did well in what I studied and sought to pass on an appreciation for beautiful things, whatever they might be.

     Certainly, academic departments and catalogs have to be adjusted, even changed. I wish there had been a German Business track, or one for governmental studies when I was at Penn State. I would even have cut my hair somewhat! 

     But to drastically cut or even eliminate things? If I were a high school graduate now, I would likely have to settle for a teacher certification curriculum. But even those are being cut at UConn! And some of my veteran teacher friends agree with me that the content component of teacher training programs is not what it used to be.

    Anyway, I am glad I went through the system when I did, and only hope that things sort themselves out. In the next decade or two there will be a cry of "We need to train people to think critically!"  May it happen soon!

   Below are links to two situations that illustrate the concern addressed here:

         

https://www.ctinsider.com/news/education/article/uconn-major-cuts-low-enrollment-evaluation-process-19845973.php

https://westvirginiawatch.com/2023/12/15/flagship-public-universities-likely-to-cut-more-humanities-staff-especially-in-rural-states/