By David Fortier
Come Sunday morning, Christmas will be three days away–Chanukah, too. I hope the holiday season is going well. For us three of the candles on the Advent wreath have been lit. On Sunday, the fourth will be. Part of tradition leading up to Christmas has included the lighting of the wreath and prayers before dinners.
We have been using the same prayers since our kids were babies–for future reference, the prayers can be found in “Dear God: Prayers for Families with Children,” by Kathleen Finley. Our copy is tattered and some pages covered in food stains. The Advent prayers are listed under “Seasonal Prayers.”
There are categories for “Daily Prayers” with “Before Reading Together” and “Waking Up”: and “Special Occasion Prayers” with ones for birthdays and anniversaries, but also blessing of a pet, moving into a new house, after losing a fight, feeling lonely and being bored.
A quick search tells that the book is out of print but copies, new and used, are available online.
Around here, with me recovering from the hip replacement, Mary has taken on loads of tasks–yesterday she checked in with over 20,000 steps. The magic doesn’t just happen.
And she is ringing bells for the Salvation Army. As a volunteer bell ringer, this ensures all the donations go to the Salvation Army.
As for my recovery, on Christmas, according to my doctor I will have reached about 50 percent. This week I drove my car for several short trips to the grocery store.
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For reading this week, I am onto this year’s National Book Award for Fiction, the novel “James” by Percival Everett. It is a retelling of the Mark Twain’s, “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Huck’s companion, the enslaved Jim.
There’s no “telling” about it. It is a must read, a book that you have to experience. However, if you want more background, click here for Goodreads.
For listening, try the “The Prof G Pod with Seth Galloway.” The episode, “How Regret Motivates Us–with Daniel Pink” just might be one of those must “reads” for the end of the year. Pink, who is the bestselling New York Times author of five books and Washington Post columnist, just might spark some mental activity for the new year and new beginnings.
Among his books is “Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us.” Click here.
And while I am not an economist, I encourage listening to “Heterodox Economists, Part 2: Joan Robinson” from Foreign Policy’s “Ones and Tooze” podcast. As the show notes states, heterodox economists are “people who embrace completely different approaches than the standard thinkers.”
Robinson worked with John Maynard Keynes on his “The General Theory of Employment,” which is credited with pulling United States and much of the world out of the Great Depression. Robinson came to “regard Keynesianism as a failed revolution,” the notes state.
The question is, of course, why?
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City meetings this week include the following:
On Monday, Dec. 23
- Historic District Commission–canceled.
- Planning Commission, 6 p.m. Council chambers, city hall. For virtual meeting, click here.
On Tuesday, Dec. 24
- No meetings posted.
On Wednesday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day)
- Fire Station 3 Building Committee–canceled
On Thursday, Dec. 26
- No meetings posted.
On Friday, Dec. 27
- No meetings posted.
TBE will do our best to update meeting times and locations, but it’s a good idea to check the agendas ahead of time for cancellations. Click here for specific meetings and times.
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Have some life experience in a particular business or field of study. You might be a journalist in the making. Contact editor@bristoledition.org.
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Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah.
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