Miss D. and I, and many of the usual suspects from our annual Blogorado gatherings, made it safely to southern Colorado yesterday to prepare for Bob’s memorial service this afternoon. It was an uneventful journey, but a strong headwind wrought havoc with our vehicle’s fuel consumption. Only halfway there, I had to stop to… Continue reading A chilly drive to Colorado
Tag: In Memoriam
On the road for Bob’s funeral
I told you about Bob last week. Miss D. and I are on the road today, traveling to attend his memorial service. That means blogging will be lighter than usual. I’ll try to put up something every day, but I can’t guarantee to do that; so please have patience with me, and if you… Continue reading On the road for Bob’s funeral
Remembering Bob
A valued friend died a few days ago. Miss D. and I are still absorbing his loss, remembering his warmth and laughter and fellowship, saddened at the thought that we won’t share them again – at least, not in this life. Nevertheless, I refuse to get downcast or despondent at losing Bob. He was… Continue reading Remembering Bob
Remembering a remarkable man
The passing of Brigadier-General Chuck Yeager a few days ago has been met with an outpouring of recognition, remembrance and praise such as few people receive. He appears to have been one of nature’s genuinely “nice people”, approachable, gentlemanly and filled with the joy of life. I never had the privilege of knowing him,… Continue reading Remembering a remarkable man
Did the Catholic Church try to interfere in the course of justice?
I was angry to read allegations that the Pope interfered in a clergy sex abuse case in Australia. They’re not (yet) independently verified, but given my experience of such shenanigans (of which more later), they ring true. A low-ranking parish priest who agreed to give evidence against an archbishop accused of concealing child sexual abuse was… Continue reading Did the Catholic Church try to interfere in the course of justice?
Sunday morning music
Three days ago, Dame Vera Lynn died at the age of 103. She was a popular icon of the World War II era, beloved of millions of servicemen and civilians alike throughout the British Empire. If anyone could be said to be the people’s voice of Britain during the war, I daresay her claim to… Continue reading Sunday morning music
In Memoriam: Vera Lynn
Vera Lynn, the world-famous British singer of World War II, has died at the age of 103. The New York Times reports: “Churchill didn’t beat the Nazis,” the British comedian Harry Secombe once said. “Vera sang them to death.” Ms. Lynn herself once said: “People used to say that my singing gave them courage and… Continue reading In Memoriam: Vera Lynn
Memorial Day
Let Sergeant McKenzie speak for all veterans, and for all wars. To those who stood their ground beside me, and did not come back . . . I remember you. You are not forgotten. Peter
In Memoriam: Chuck Taylor
Back in the late Southeast Asian unpleasantness, a.k.a. the Vietnam War, Chuck Taylor was a Captain in the US Army’s Rangers. He saw combat, was wounded, and came home with medals for valor in action. In other words, he was the real deal, not an REMF or a “PowerPoint Ranger” (to use a more modern… Continue reading In Memoriam: Chuck Taylor
In Memoriam: Kirk Douglas
One of the giants of the cinema screen has left us. Kirk Douglas died yesterday at the age of 103. If you don’t know much about him, you can read his potted biography on Wikipedia. I highly recommend his first book and autobiography, “The Ragman’s Son“. It’s from the 1980’s, and therefore leaves out the… Continue reading In Memoriam: Kirk Douglas