WITHDRAWN

I've been reading the news of the past weeks here at home and around the planet and getting lost on Face Book for weeks it seems. This week in particular is drear, wet and fluctuating between chill and warmth.

I've also been reading four books alternating between
"Great Escapes from Detroit"
by Joseph O'Malley
Xhttp://josephomalley.com/

(aka Tootight Lautrec)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLAMYDPRw7Y

 .

"Killers of the Flower Moon" 
by David Grann

.

"Darwin"
by Paul Johnson

and

"The Lyrics of Noel Coward"
from the Overlook Press

.

Consequently, I can't seem to wrap my fingers around the tedious process of uploading photographs and completing the third and final 'Birthday Week' blog post begun in January shortly after my return from that week away in 'Wessie' Massachusetts.

.
The death of my brother still weighs on me. Grief comes in waves. His mass card sat on the central alter of my Zendo for the proscribed forty nine days and so twice a week I greeted him when I went for meditation. Now he is back home on the shelf above my computer
 
<<>>
More sometime soon.

PRECIOUS LITTLE BROTHER

Intense Week

 My Brother, William James Slater had been unwell for a quite a while before his announcement at a Mothers day lunch we shared in May about his health issues. Recently his situation became dire. He had a chemo treatment two weeks previous, then suddenly more serious  problems appeared.

 12.10. 2019
He went into hospital and was attached to three life support systems (dialysis, lung function machines and medication to treat low blood pressure) at White Plains hospital. The doctors told my sister in law, Rosa and nephew, Dennis Michael it didn't look good.

12.11.2019
He was administered last rites, but they still held out hope, though the consensus of the Medical team was that there was nothing more they could do for him. Dennis had traveled from Manhattan and moved in with Rosa. Together they spent a second night at the hospital.

12.12.2019
Full Moon
3:15 a.m. my brother died.

*
I woke just before sunrise and 'knew' he was gone. Spent the whole day wandering, forgetting, remembering and processing.
 *

Even what is expected is never truly expected until it arrives.

The funeral home viewing will be 12.19.2019. Funeral mass and burial will be on the Solstice December 20th in the same locations our Father followed when he died in 1953:
https://mscomfortzone.blogspot.com/2015/05/personal-memorial.html

Memories

 *
 
 *

~*~

12.13.2019
This evening at the monthly 'Wisdom" Sangha session, New York Zen Center for Contemplative care, the topic was 'change' and all had something to share about how we manage changes. Sensei Robert Chodo Campbell placed this sweet favorite photograph on the Central Altar, where it will remain for 48 days.

*

~*~

SUNDAY MEMORIAL

 The Little Church Around the Corner

(Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration)

Frank Langella

(keynote speaker)
He spoke of his shyness to speak, of that infamous day when he was unable to perform in "The Father", and instead landed in the hospital, of how it had both frightened and humbled him, of the departed ones he called 'Blue Shadows', naming a few of the many he knew personally and touching on what they had meant to him, of the importance of preparing for the end.  He shared a few amusing anecdotes and was eloquent, ending with what he called 'cheap sentiment' by quoting from 'Portrait of Jenny' when Joseph Cotton said:
 "There is no life my darling until you love and have been loved, and then there is no death."

Annual Memorial Service

Sunday November 13th 2016

For all members of the Entertainment Professions

who departed life this year.

Sacred Songs were sung

and Sacred Words intoned.

All two hundred and fifty eight names were read in alphabetical order by several actors. I'll site the ones I knew of, or encountered, and in a few cases been friends with in my own brief acting career:

Norman Abbott, Edward Albee, Muhammad Ali, Kenny Baker, Chief David Bald Eagle, David Bowie, The Lady Chablis, Michael Cimino, Leonard Cohen, Natalie Cole, Gloria DeHaven, Patty Duke, Zelda Fichandler, Tammy Grimes, Anne Jackson, George Kennedy, Julius La Rosa, Harper Lee, David Marguilles, Bill Nunn, Hugh O'Brian, Nancy Reagan, Alan Rickman, Morley Safer, Sir Peter Shaffer, Frank Sinatra Jr., Elizabeth Swados, Abe Vigoda, Haskell Wexler, Gene Wilder, Holly Woodlawn.

After refreshments and mingling in the chancery, outside the night felt almost quiet for New York City.

(Morpheus)

I accompanied an old friend and former building neighbor back to his place at Gramercy Park East

(Brotherhood Synagogue on 20th Street)

And continued on home

~*~

Post Script

https://youtu.be/QQhILiXjLIs
~*~ 

LINKS

http://daytoninmanhattan.blogspot.com/2010/02/my-little-church-around-corner.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Langella

~*~