BOOK - SIDDHARTHA by HERMANN HESSE - (NO SPOILERS)

One of my favorite books of all time!! 

HERMANN HESSE (1877 - 1962) wrote SIDDHARTHA in German and it was published in 1922. It was subsequently translated into English and published in 1951. WIKI states that it became popular in the 1960's.

In late high school (1969) SIDDHARTHA was introduced to me, but I just can't remember by whom, darn it. The first time I read it I highlighted meaningful passages in YELLOW. I re-read it the following year in college and highlighted additional passages in PINK. The following year I used GREEN...... etc. I enjoyed looking back on what stood out to me at each age.

This month I recommended SIDDHARTHA to one of my 4 BOOK CLUBS for our "ANNUAL CLASSIC". When I started to read I didn't see any "highlighting", but instead passages were underlined - some in black ink and some in brown ink. I seem to remember now that my original copy disappeared (most likely it fell apart from overuse), so apparently I bought a replacement.

In my second year of college I had to leave before the end of the last semester, because I had contracted MONONUCLEOSIS (for the second time). I spent weeks in bed recuperating and reading 13 more books by HERMAN HESSE. They are all still on my bookshelf - apparently surviving several moves.

Only 122 pages, SIDDHARTHA is about a young man's JOURNEY, a sort of SPIRITUAL JOURNEY, yet even more so, a JOURNEY to KNOW HIMSELF. The story is pleasant, but the INSIGHTS are what have ALWAYS grabbed me. Ahhhhhh....... the WISDOM.

It's NOT a book about RELIGION. It's more a book on HOW TO LIVE A HAPPY, CONTENTED LIFE - how to KNOW yourself, FALL IN LOVE with yourself, have COMPLETE CONFIDENCE in yourself. The influence of this book in my late teens helped to shape my THOUGHTS and ATTITUDES at an early and formative age. Oh, but there's still SO much to PONDER - SO much to LEARN!!

The following are a few excerpts that stood out to me in the past, with some new ones this time around. I encourage you to read each of them SLOWLY, followed by a moment of reflection, before charging on to the next........

Page 54

     "He, who was still a boy as regards love and was inclined to plunge to the depths of it blindly and insatiably, was taught by her that one cannot have pleasure without giving it, and that every gesture, every caress, every touch, every glance, every single part of the body has its secret which can give pleasure to one who can understand. She taught him that lovers should not separate from each other, without being conquered as well as conquering, so that no feeling of satiation or desolation arises nor the horrid feeling of misusing or having been misused."

Page 58

     "Most people, Kamala, are like a falling leaf that drifts and turns in the air, flutters, and falls to the ground. But a few others are like stars which travel one defined path: no wind reaches them, they have within themselves their guide and path."

Page 61

     "However, many things which he had learned from the Samanas, which he had learned from Gotama, from his father, from the Bahmins, he still retained for a long time: a moderate life, pleasure in thinking, hours of meditation, secret knowledge of the Self, of the eternal Self, that was neither body nor consciousness. Many of these he had retained; others were submerged and covered with dust."

Page 81

     "Now he understood it and realized that the inward voice had been right, that no teacher could have brought him salvation. That was why he had to go into the world, to lose himself in power, women and money; that was why he had to be a merchant, a dice player, a drinker and a man of property, until the priest and Samana in him were dead. That was why he had to undergo those horrible years, suffer nausea, learn the lesson of the madness of an empty, futile life till the end, till he reached bitter despair, so that Siddhartha the pleasure-monger and Siddhartha the man of property could die. He had died and a new Siddhartha had awakened from his sleep. "

Page 93

     "In this hour he felt more acutely the indestructibleness of every life, the eternity of every moment."

Page 106

     "Within Siddhartha there slowly grew and ripened the knowledge of what wisdom really was and the goal of his long seeking. It was nothing but a preparation of the soul, a capacity, a secret art of thinking, feeling and breathing thoughts of unity at every moment of life."

Page 117

     "Words do not express thoughts very well. They always become a little different immediately they are expressed, a little distorted, a little foolish. And yet it also pleases me and seems right that what is of value and wisdom to one man seems nonsense to another."

My copy of SIDDHARTHA is quite "worn", but still holding up. As you can see, I used "STICKIES" this time instead of highlighters or pens.......

If you pick up this book for the first time, I hope you'll find INSPIRATION, ANSWERS, NOVEL IDEAS and/or QUESTIONS to further EXPLORE. And if you decide to re-visit it, I hope you find NEW INSPIRATION..........

JOAN

PADRE PIO PILGRAMAGE CHURCH IN SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO, ITALY

After sharing my visit to the PADRE PIO SHRINE in PA, I thought perhaps you'd enjoy seeing some photos of the beautiful PADRE PIO PILGRAMAGE CHURCH in SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO, ITALY, where PADRE PIO is laid to rest in the crypt there. It's a very small town in the PUGLIA region, just north of the "heel of the boot", along the southeastern coast.

Inside the CHAPEL.........

We walked down and down and down the stairs to the CRYPT - a magnificent room honoring and housing PADRE PIO. 

GOLD everywhere - on the ceiling and on the mosaic walls. The mosaics were fantastic. We arrived JUST in time - 15 minutes before closing.

PADRE PIO's body is visible in the center here, where photos are allowed.

On our way outside, we encountered the HUGE CROSS again, lit up with targeted lighting, as you saw in my first photo.  A fitting end to our visit.........

JOAN

A VISIT TO THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR PADRE PIO

When my high school friend, LAURIE WHITMAN, suggested a day trip to the NATIONAL CENTRE FOR PADRE PIO in BARTO, PA (north of Pottstown), I immediately agreed. JOYCE and her mom, BETTY also joined us. 

And CLOVER!!! guarded the car.......

I'm not Catholic and only learned about PADRE PIO, his SAINTHOOD, his MIRACLES and his STIGMATA when we visited the PADRE PIO PILGRAMAGE CHURCH in SAN GIOVANNI ROTUNDO, ITALY this past October. 

THAT place was quite impressive. We even saw PADRE PIO himself, laid out in his crypt - a special room with GOLD everything. Someone remarked that he might not be so happy with these surroundings, because he lived such a simple life as a monk.

THE NATIONAL CENTRE OF PADRE PIO here in PA is on a large piece of land that was blessed for this purpose in 1998. The buildings look very impressive as you drive up, but I was a tiny bit disappointed by the inside of the Church. Naturally it wouldn't be adorned like a modern church in Italy, but the walls here are plain, light in color and not much to look at. Because it was built and is sustained by donations and volunteers, perhaps they were limited in what they could do. 

A "gift" of an extensive DIORAMA is displayed in the back corner of the church. 

A beautiful POPE JOHN PAUL II STATUE stands next to it. 

A lovely embroidered dress on THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY ("MARIA" in Italian) is displayed in the opposite corner.

The photos of PADRE PIO that hang on the entry walls are wonderful. I particularly LOVED the STAINED GLASS STORY that started with his STIGMATA that occurred in 1918 (the 5 wounds of CHRIST that PADRE PIO bore for 50 years). He was the first stigmatized priest in the history of the Catholic Church. Remarkably, all signs of the STIGMATA disappeared shortly before his death........ 

The intimate CHAPEL inside this church was fashioned after the original FRIARY CHURCH where PADRE PIO received his STIGMATA. He was only 15 when he joined the CAPUCHIN FRIARS. 

I was impressed with the CONFESSIONAL on display (behind bars) that he had once used (note the photo of it in use on the right).

Leaving the church we passed several statues outside on our way to the MUSEUM and GIFT SHOP. This statue is of PADRE PIO and the CALANDRAS (with their daughter VERA MARIE) who founded the CENTER.  

VERA MARIE, the CALANDRA's 5th daughter, was born with severe urinary tract defects. She was operated on several times at CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL in PHILA and her bladder was eventually removed. The family was told that the girl could not survive in this condition. 

It was 1968 when they telegrammed PADRE PIO asking for a miracle. He suggested they bring the 2-year-old child to him right away. So Mom, VERA MARIE and her 5-month-old baby sister traveled together to ITALY. PADRE PIO blessed both children by laying his hands on their heads. Mom silently vowed that if her baby girl were to live, the whole world would know about PADRE PIO. 

When they returned back home to NORRISTOWN, PA, VERA MARIE's bladder had miraculously begun to re-grow. From what I could find, as of 2014, she was still alive and healthy. PADRE PIO died several months after their visit in 1968.

I LOVED the MUSEUM. This is the entrance, but photos were not allowed inside. 

It was small, but beautifully displayed were life-sized replicas of both the house where he lived as a young child and the room where he lived for many years while a monk. The main museum room was lined with photos, sayings and informational panels. It's a very manageable museum and we all learned something we didn't know before.

We were offered the opportunity to write a request for a miracle. I don't think I'd ever ask for a miracle for myself, because I don't believe in messing with what my JOURNEY is supposed to be. But I was encouraged today to ask for a miracle for someone else. So I did. I have a friend battling lung cancer. I asked that if it doesn't mess with GOD'S PLAN FOR HER JOURNEY, I would encourage intervention for the sake of her husband and teenage son....... 

In closing - an impressive sculpture of ARCHANGEL MICHAEL near the entrance to the MUSEUM.  I love realistic sculpture.........

What an interesting visit to BARTO, PA.  Who knew??

JOAN

THE MOVIE "HIDDEN FIGURES" BROUGHT BACK 3 VIVID MEMORIES

Today I saw "HIDDEN FIGURES", based on the TRUE STORY about 3 BRILLIANT BLACK WOMEN who had an impact on successes at NASA in the 1960's. Up for an OSCAR for BEST PICTURE, it is an EXCELLENT movie. The acting was wonderful too, with OCTAVIA SPENCER competing for BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS.

The movie brought back THREE VERY VIVID CHILDHOOD MEMORIES for me - about "COLOREDS", MATH, and THE SPACE PROGRAM.

MEMORY #1

• In 1962, at 10 years old, I traveled with my grandparents from PA to NC with a stop at THE NATURAL BRIDGE in VA. There were 2 drinking fountains there - one had a sign that said "COLOREDS". I asked my grandparents what that meant and they explained it to me - my grandfather actually said "That's for the Niggers." They grew up in the SOUTH and were no strangers to prejudice. I remember being stunned by the concept that "COLOREDS" couldn't drink from the same drinking fountain as us, nor use the same bathroom. I'll never forget that. 

MEMORY #2

• MATH was always a VERY EASY subject for me. I consistently got 100% on my quizzes and tests (or more if there were bonus questions), particularly in ALGEBRA. In my senior year, in 1970, someone came to my ENGLISH LITERATURE class and said there was a NATIONAL MATH EXAM taking place upstairs, in case anyone wanted to participate. Since I couldn't stand ENGLISH LIT, it was a perfect excuse to leave class - taking the TEST would be FUN!! Was I ever surprised to find out on GRADUATION DAY that I got the HIGHEST TEST SCORE in my school. And there were some REALLY SMART BOYS in my class too!

MEMORY #3

• Since MATH was my easiest subject, I decided to MAJOR in it at college. I was thinking it would be interesting and fun to work in the SPACE PROGRAM (just like in this movie) - our solar system, the stars, the Milky Way, MARS and VENUS all fascinated me. My other dream job was to do RESEARCH about DNA (a new field then). My first semester in college I took CALCULUS, with no prior knowledge of what it entailed. Unfortunately, it was like a foreign language to me. I was shocked that I couldn't make heads or tails over it and barely passed with a D!! (Might it have had something to do with my BUSY SOCIAL LIFE?????!!!). Sooooooo, I figured that I had better change majors right then and there. But, I had the darnedest time trying to figure out what else I could do with my life....... so I fumbled around with basic Freshman and Sophomore classes, while "thinking". Then in Junior year, when I transferred, I decided to major in ART EDUCATION and taught HIGH SCHOOL ART for 4 years after I graduated.

Back to the movie....... although it was EXCELLENT, MY pick for BEST PICTURE this year is "LION".  But I have yet to see LA LA LAND, which seems to have all of the BUZZ......

JOAN

"60 THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN MY 60'S" - 2017 GOALS

You can look back to my Blog post on March 9, 2016, where I wrote about my "LIST" - "60 THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN MY 60'S". If you remember, I was arguing with myself about turning age 60 and HAD to make a POSITIVE out of it - thus my "WISH LIST".

I turned 65 last week and I'm a bit behind schedule!!  

Last year I accomplished 3 on the list, which brought me up to 21 -

1. Visit PROVENCE, FRANCE when LAVENDER is in full bloom
2. Visit CUCURON, FRANCE in PROVENCE
3. Eat a TRIPLE-DECKER ICE CREAM CONE

Ok, so here is my focus for this year:

1. Visit SAVANNAH, GA
2. Visit the WOLF SANCTUARY in LITITZ, PA
3. Take my nephew and his wife on a trip - their choice of destination
4. Visit the HOLOCAUST MUSEUM in WASHINGTON, DC
5. Tour ALEXANDRIA, VA
6. Tour GETTYSBURG, PA
7. Attend the TEXAS CRAB FESTIVAL in CRYSTAL BEACH, TX

I've already accomplished #1 and #2. 

#3 is planned for MAY. 

#4 and #5 are in the works - to be scheduled after my hip and knee replacements this year - hopefully for this Fall. 

#6 has been "almost accomplished" several years in a row now.

I have to check the date for #7 and plan a visit to my friend LISA'S home in TEXAS!!

Oh darn it, I just checked the date for the CRAB FESTIVAL...... it's MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND in MAY, so I'm going to have to wait until next year.  I can't be gone from CLOVER!!! for THAT many days in MAY!

STAY TUNED...........

JOAN

BOOK - "AMERICA'S FIRST DAUGHTER" (NO SPOILERS!!)

WOW!! What a wonderful book!! I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it - decidedly now one of my all-time favorite books. Thank you to WELLINGTON SQUARE BOOKSHOP for choosing this for our FEBRUARY BOOK CLUB!

In "AMERICA'S FIRST DAUGHTER" by STEPHANIE DRAY and LAURA KAMOIE, each chapter begins with a short excerpt from one of THOMAS JEFFERSON'S letters. The story-line was very well constructed, followed a chronological timeline (thank you!!) and the writing was divine - very easy to read and not too many characters to keep track of. HISTORICAL FICTION seems to "speak to me" because I enjoy learning about things from our past. Every day I looked forward to getting back to the story and simply DIDN'T WANT IT TO END!!

The book is NOT about THOMAS JEFFERSON, but instead it's about his daughter, MARTHA (called "PATSY" as young girl), which made it even more interesting to me. From her perspective, I feel as if I got to know THOMAS JEFFERSON on a personal level not just as a former PRESIDENT. MARTHA shares what he was like as a husband, lover, father and grandfather, as well as his life as a public figure. You truly get a feel for what it might have been like to be "AMERICA'S FIRST DAUGHTER". The story WAS about HER.

There was a whirlwind of activity while PATSY (later called MARTHA) lived as a young teen, with her father, in PARIS. Falling in love for the first time at age 16 with WILLIAM SHORT - I found myself wanting to know more about him (and just might write to the author to request it!). 

Naturally I was also curious to read about JEFFERSON'S relationship with SALLY HEMINGS (his slave and "romantic interest"), because it's been such a scandalous topic throughout history. It's difficult to believe that MARTHA had 11 children (or was it more?) and that she and SALLY each had to endure the loss of so many babies. Life was hard in the early 1800's.

I was intrigued by how similarly the challenges of THOMAS JEFFERSON'S PRESIDENCY and his GOVERNMENT were to that of current day (some as recent as the past year). I was shaking my head, thinking that "things never really change - history repeats itself"........  

While reading, I tagged a number of political references, shared here. See if you agree -

Page 346

     "He's surrounded by virulent men who will do anything to prevent him coming to power."

Page 349

     After the House of Representatives voted thirty-five times in a deadlock, on the thirty-sixth ballot my father was elected, peacefully and democratically, to the presidency of the United States.

Page 376

     "Would the entirety of my father's presidency find him under constant attack? How could they print such a thing?"

Page 410

     He had virulent enemies in Congress......

Page 413

     "Your father's plans are ambitious," Dolley explained. "They won't be passed without the support of the congressmen's wives.  We'll have to win them over."

Page 416

     "In your Congress, where your husband serves, everyone has the right to speak?"

     "The members do, yes," I replied.

    He laughed.  "Then it will take years to finish any business! In my country, all matters are decided swiftly and with final resolution. In fact, if I don't succeed in my mission here, they'll behead me."

Page 452

     John Randolph had miscalculated the damage ladies could do. We couldn't fight in the war, but reputations were won or lost on our fields of battle."

Page 481

     "Because of the panic, they're calling in the loan in total. Hamilton is dead, but his banking system is still ruining the country."

Page 504

     But after thirty-four years of marriage, I now saw union between man and woman was the same as union among the states - as a series of debates and compromises that might hold it all together for a few more years, or end in a painful separation.

Page 575

     We live only two blocks from the President's House, which has been rebuilt since the war. It's now inhabited by Andrew Jackson, whose riotous inauguration has scandalized my lady friends. They've all warned of the new administration's vulgarity.

"AMERICA'S FIRST DAUGHTER" didn't share too much about the DAILY LIFE of the slaves, but it did get across THOMAS JEFFERSON'S (and MARTHA'S) desire to abolish it. He was conflicted, because in that time period a farm couldn't be run without the help. However it was clear that HE NOR MARTHA ever got used to the concept.

Page 533

     Lafayette said, "I gave my best services to, and spent my fortune on behalf of Americans because I felt you were fighting for a great and noble principle - the freedom of mankind. But instead of all being free a portion were held in bondage. My old friend surely you must concur that it would be mutually beneficial to masters and slaves if the latter were educated an emancipated."

Page 534

     "But I put this to you.  Whatever be the complexion of the enslaved, it does not, in my opinion, alter the complexion of the crime the enslaver commits. A crime much blacker than any African face. It's a matter of great anxiety and concern to find that this trade is sometimes carried on under the flag of liberty, our dear and noble stripes, to which virtue and glory have been constant standard-bearers."

Page 550

     My father used his life, his talent, and his fotune to secure the rights of men to control their own destinies, and he still intended to command his."

Page 505

     Only men who owned fifty acres could vote or hold political office.

Well, in several ways, we've come a LONG way from this last statement!!

Perhaps I so enjoyed this book, because I recently visited MONTICELLO and also JAMES MADISON'S MONTPELIER. While reading, I could literally visualize their lives there.

I can't imagine anyone NOT liking this book. HISTORICAL FICTION at its finest!!

JOAN

DID MY PHOTOS IN BEAUFORT CAPTURE PARANORMAL ACTIVITY????

AFRAID NOT..........

Since we were visiting two of the MOST HAUNTED CITIES IN AMERICA, and MARIANNE had just captured a "SPIRIT" in one her photos in SAVANNAH (see my 1/22/17 post), I was intrigued with some photos I later took in BEAUFORT.

We weren't in a cemetery. We had just completed a BUGGY TOUR of the town.

I was taking photos of the sunset, etc. - there was a BRIGHT GREEN "FREE-FORM" LIGHT in the trees and then a BRIGHT GREEN PERFECT CIRCLE in later photos, which naturally piqued my curiosity.  

However, it was CONFIRMED by 2 PARANORMAL PROFESSIONALS that I did NOT capture paranormal activity "on film". Instead, it was most likely something on my lens that gave off that GREEN light/reflection.

Oh well...........

If you haven't been to BEAUFORT, SC (yet), you might enjoy these few photos. It's a charming town with many GRAND, OLD, SOUTHERN HOMES. The town has also hosted a few celebrities while filming there and the "stories" about their stays were not all "pretty".

Now, is this the cutest photo, or what??!!
All DRESSED UP, POCKETBOOK on her arm and ready to SHOP!

SPANISH MOSS hangs from the trees everywhere.
WISPY and BEAUTIFUL, yet often EERY.........

Our BUGGY TOUR ended just in time to enjoy the SUNSET.

A PERFECT ending to a PERFECT DAY with my HS GIRLFRIENDS in BEAUFORT.


JOAN