Scattershot

1. Natalie has a lovely cartoon "Thinking about Parents, Time, and Mortality" (see entry for June 27).  She did not create it in response to my entry for Father's Day, but the two entries do seem to complement each other. Of special interest is her record of what clothing her parents were buried in. This particular element reminded me of my poem "Death of the Father", which I wrote shortly after my father's death. The last line is "The father was buried wearing his bolo tie." Curious how such details can haunt.



2. I was sad to hear Marlon Brando died. "On the Waterfront" is possibly one of the greatest conflicted movies ever made. And Brando's performance is a revelation, regardless of Elia Kazan's questionable politics. I still remember Dr. Omed and I going to see "Superman" at the drive-in; the good doctor claimed that one could see Brando counting the dollars as he held that infant. More likely, his lines were taped up on a wall somewhere, and that's why he had that expression. In Brando's memory, I watched "Don Juan de Marco" on Sunday. It's a slight movie, but he and Johnny Depp seem to be having fun.



3. Some time back, I reported that I had submitted some poems to the Wallace Stafford Poetry Contest sponsored by Rosebud Magazine.  I regret to report that I did not even place. Not terribly discouraged, as I entered on a lark. Who knows?  Might start sending out more work on a lark - ye olde scattershot method of submission. Or, perhaps, regular readers of this space could recommend on-line or paper journals that my work might be especially suited to.



4. My house is now a home. Have a kitten, named Dame Julian (for Julian of Norwich). Slow blogging is all her fault, as she insists on typing entries in her own special language. I hope to follow-up with a report on my work with the Watonga Vacation Bible School, as soon as the little lady allows it. 
   
   Ummm ... can you say doting daddy & spoiled kitty?