Alison Hodgson

Expert on the etiquette of perilous times.

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I had too much to say this week and so I didn’t say anything.

Last Sunday was Father’s Day and Monday was the sixth anniversary of my father’s death. The week before Paul and I attended the funeral of a nineteen year old boy from church who was killed in a car accident. It was the most beautiful and holy funeral I have ever attended and I have been to many in my relatively short life.

I recently picked up a book of essays called The Undertaking – Life Studies From a Dismal Trade by Thomas Lynch, an undertaker and poet who lives in Milford, Michigan. He is such a good writer and writes so wisely and well about death, the dead and those who survive them. This book would have been good company any time, but especially this week.

“In even the best of caskets, it never all fits-all that we’d like to bury in them: the hurt and forgiveness, the anger and pain, the praise and thanksgiving, the emptiness and exaltations, the untidy feelings when someone dies. So I conduct this business carefully…”
(from the essay Jessica, the Hound and the Casket Trade, page 191)

https://alisonhodgson.com/2009/06/284/

Paul don’t read this until Sunday!

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“Mom, I’m writing a book and I’m stuck; I don’t know what to write.”  Eden said.

Oh baby I understand.
“It’s about my life and it’s for Dad for Father’s Day.”
“How about something about Kindergarten?” I suggested.
“First day of Kindergarten?  I got it.”
“Mmmmm…what’s something that you and Daddy have done together?”  I asked.
“MOM, this is a book about ME for Dad, not a book about things me and Dad do together!”
I wasn’t able to help her.
Dang writer’s block.

A Wee Favor

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I forgot to tell you the story about Jackie’s trip to the emergency vet.  It’s been almost two years now since I promised and I note that no one has been clamoring for me to come through?
“Why could that be?”  She wonders.
I will give you an excerpt:
“Is there such a thing as Munchausen by Proxy with a canine?”  I asked the vet’s assistant.
“What!”
“You know, that syndrome where parents pretend their kids are sick to get attention themselves – Munchausen by Proxy, is it possible to have it with a dog?”
“I don’t know,” she said, “but if it is, you don’t have it, because every time you call Jack really has a problem…he’s special.”
I thought she might mean special ed, but I wasn’t in a position to quibble.
……………………………………………
So if someone would be so kind as to pretend to be interested in this story I would really appreciate it and I’ll tell you why I need your assistance (clamoring – feigned is fine.  I might be needy but I’m not picky.) soon.
Thank you ever so much.

Taste of Heaven

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It has been raining off and on all day and I have been writing for a couple of hours.

Typing this, I am sitting on my bed, which was made, but I have tucked myself under the covers and am propped against some pillows.  Books, 3×5 cards for taking notes, papers and pencils are scattered across the comforter.  Jack is sleeping on the floor beside me.  The taste of peppermint lingers from a cup of tea I just drank.  The children are happily, quietly and appropriately occupied.  The house is neat and cozy and Paul should be home soon.
If there was something for dinner I might mistake this for heaven, instead of just a taste of it here on earth.
I wish that filled the stomach.

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I have been meaning to say thank you to everyone who takes the time to read this.  Most of my entries are on the fly and unedited.  I think better when I write things down.  Talking and writing help me clarify my beliefs and to process my experiences.  And yet too often I elevate writing to a place where I get stuck in my perfectionism, but blogging’s another story.

I started Older Than Jesus to get into the habit of writing every day and to stay in touch with old friends.  Along the way I have made some new ones.
This is me very gratefully thanking you all.

https://alisonhodgson.com/2008/04/477/