C I V I L    M A R R I A G E    I S    A    C I V I L    R I G H T.

A N D N O W I T ' S T H E L A W O F T H E L A N D.


Sunday, December 31, 2023

Sunday Drive: You'll Never Walk Alone / I Believe

As performed by the Righteous Brothers, 1965:


Well, fellas, another year has come and gone.  Strange to say, it's now more than half a century since I graduated from high school, more than 40 years since I finished college.  I'm sure many of my truckbuddies share my astonishment at the simple fact of having lived so long, sailed so far beyond the golden days of youth we hoped would last forever.  But after crossing seven decades, are we any wiser, any better, any happier here on this little planet?

I had intended to write a post today about changing times, the parlous state of the world, and what an awful mess it is.  But despite my strong objections to the folly, stupidity, and cruelty of left and right alike, this old man just doesn't have the heart to write that essay.  I could point out many things done wrong or going wrong - but what good would it do?  As in every era, the world is running on as it pleases, and no amount of admonition from me will make any difference.  One might as well try to halt the ebb and flow of the tides.

What I can do, however, is to live out my faith here in this little bungalow with M.P., doing my part to keep us going in good health, good cheer, and modest comfort - grateful for all the quiet blessings we have.  So instead of weighting this blog with dreary lamentations, perhaps it is better just to keep silent about the follies and sorrows of this rotten old world, and instead to offer a happy or hopeful thought now and then:  flowers by the wayside, stars in the night.


Simply to brighten the corner where you are is a good thought, and a useful one, especially for an old man who doesn't get out of the house much.  So to all my truckbuddies and drive-by readers, I wish a New Year of peace and happiness and hope for a better future.  

Thanks for riding along with me in the Blue Truck.  God bless you all.


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Friday, December 29, 2023

Waitin' for the Weekend

Baby, it's cold outside . . .

See the rest of him at Clan of Men.
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Monday, December 25, 2023

The King's Christmas Broadcast, 2023



Bonus: The Coronation Year, a documentary by British TV network ITV, which was given behind-the-scenes access to Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey.


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Sunday, December 24, 2023

Christmas Eve 2023

It's a cold, wet, dreary day in Texas, but M.P. and I are snug and warm in our little bungalow, grateful for all the quiet blessings we have been given.  We send our best wishes for Christmas cheer and warmth to all our truckbuddies, along with a prayer for peace on earth, goodwill to men.

My truckbuddy Frank's niece, Andrea De Francesco, has recorded this gorgeous performance of "O Holy Night" that blew me away.  I think you'll like it.


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Sunday Drive: Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming

As performed by the choir of the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul, Montreal, with lyrics:



It so happens we have roses blooming in our garden right now --
a Christmas miracle!

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Friday, December 22, 2023

Waitin' for the Weekend

That happy feeling when all your gift wrapping is done . . . !


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Monday, December 18, 2023

Vatican Allows Same-Sex Blessings

 

An historic development in the Catholic Church - but it's only a small change in practice.  Reuters reports:

The Vatican said on Monday in a landmark ruling approved by Pope Francis that Roman Catholic priests can administer blessings to same-sex couples as long as they are not part of regular Church rituals or liturgies.

A document from the Vatican's doctrinal office, which effectively reversed a declaration the same body had issued in 2021, said such blessings would not legitimise irregular situations but be a sign that God welcomes all. . . .

The document, whose Latin title is Fiducia Supplicans (Supplicating Trust), said the form of the blessing "should not be fixed ritually by ecclesial authorities to avoid producing confusion with the blessing proper to the Sacrament of Marriage". . . .

The document said the blessing should not be linked to or timed with a civil marriage ceremony and be performed with none of the "clothing, gestures, or words that are proper to a wedding".

Places for such blessings, it said, might be "in other contexts, such as a visit to a shrine, a meeting with a priest, a prayer recited in a group, or during a pilgrimage".

The ruling was signed by Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, the head of the head of the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and approved by the pope in a private audience with Fernandez and another doctrinal office official on Monday.

Full text of the declaration from the Vatican press office here.

In-depth analysis by Catholic media project The Pillar here, which notes:

The text was not issued in forma specifica, a particular formula in which a curial document is effectively co-signed by the pope, giving it full papal weight.


In other news, the Church of England yesterday began offering rites of blessing to same-sex couples.

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Sunday, December 17, 2023

Sunday Drive: Schubert, Ave Maria

As performed by Luciano Pavarotti in 1994:


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Friday, December 15, 2023

Waitin' for the Weekend


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Thursday, December 14, 2023

Christmas Windows

Kevin, the proprietor of Cavalcade of Food, shows off his Christmas window displays at his private museum of vintage appliances and kitchenware up in Croswell, Michigan:

 

Bonus: In another recent video, Kevin shows and tells how to make delicious-looking peanut butter chocolate chip muffins:


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Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Christmas Cuteness

Just happened to come across this video on YouTube.  Todd and Rob are husbands with movie-star smiles who love spending time in their North Georgia mountain home, and of course they have it decorated to the hilt for Christmas.  Not all of this glitterfest is to your Head Trucker's liking, but then it doesn't have to be.  I'm just glad I have lived to see a time when two men could have a home together and tell the world about it - something unimaginable in the first part of my life.  

Well, see what you think, fellas.  (But jet black ornaments on a Christmas tree??  Shudder.)


Your questions answered here:


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Sunday, December 10, 2023

Sunday Drive: Handel, Comfort Ye, My People / Every Valley Shall Be Lifted Up

From Ghana comes this rather wonderful rendition by the Gramophone Chorus, featuring Ebenezer Antwi:



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Friday, December 8, 2023

Waitin' for the Weekend


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Friday, December 1, 2023

Waitin' for the Weekend

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