Comments for Barbara Falconer Newhall http://barbarafalconernewhall.com Veteran journalist Barbara Falconer Newhall reports from the scene -- on religion and spirituality, books, the art and craft of writing . . . life. Posting every Saturday, and more. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 10:14:58 +0000 hourly 1 Comment on A Case of the Human Condition: Build a Wind Farm — Wreck Lake Michigan by admin http://barbarafalconernewhall.com/2010/01/23/a-case-of-the-human-condition-windmills-how-to-ruin-a-perfectly-beautiful-lake-michigan/comment-page-1/#comment-3103 admin Sun, 23 May 2010 02:12:13 +0000 http://barbarafalconernewhall.com/?p=4209#comment-3103 Boars? In Michigan? Omigosh. Are you allowed to hunt them? How big do they get? Do they have those fearsome tusks? Boars? In Michigan? Omigosh. Are you allowed to hunt them? How big do they get? Do they have those fearsome tusks?

]]> Comment on A Case of the Human Condition: Build a Wind Farm — Wreck Lake Michigan by David Justian http://barbarafalconernewhall.com/2010/01/23/a-case-of-the-human-condition-windmills-how-to-ruin-a-perfectly-beautiful-lake-michigan/comment-page-1/#comment-3008 David Justian Mon, 10 May 2010 02:18:09 +0000 http://barbarafalconernewhall.com/?p=4209#comment-3008 Barbara, the environmental changes in my life since 1944 are a mixed bag with the air in Muskegon no longer changing my white shirts a rust collar after spending a day downtown, and with the water in Muskegon Lake and Mona Lake pristine compared to when I would swim as a kid in the areas where sewage was dumped directly into the water. It's better now for those things. As I got older the lamprey eels came and the stinking alewives washing up on the beach, as invasive species, and now we've got to be careful walking when walking in the forest because we can be attacked by wild boars imported from somewhere else. The point (finally) is that my world is changing and as much as I don't like my scenery to change I know it will, and the decisions are made by necessity. We've got to trade one change for another, a la oil washing up on what US Today called the cleanest beach on the Great Lakes, Muskegon's Pere Marquette Beach. Barbara, the environmental changes in my life since 1944 are a mixed bag with the air in Muskegon no longer changing my white shirts a rust collar after spending a day downtown, and with the water in Muskegon Lake and Mona Lake pristine compared to when I would swim as a kid in the areas where sewage was dumped directly into the water. It’s better now for those things. As I got older the lamprey eels came and the stinking alewives washing up on the beach, as invasive species, and now we’ve got to be careful walking when walking in the forest because we can be attacked by wild boars imported from somewhere else. The point (finally) is that my world is changing and as much as I don’t like my scenery to change I know it will, and the decisions are made by necessity. We’ve got to trade one change for another, a la oil washing up on what US Today called the cleanest beach on the Great Lakes, Muskegon’s Pere Marquette Beach.

]]> Comment on The Writing Room: And My (Serious) Case of the Human Condition by Emily Nystrom http://barbarafalconernewhall.com/2010/05/04/the-writing-room-and-my-serious-case-of-the-human-condition/comment-page-1/#comment-2989 Emily Nystrom Tue, 04 May 2010 20:45:57 +0000 http://barbarafalconernewhall.com/?p=4906#comment-2989 Sorry to hear this news, Barbara. You're being a great daughter during this very stressful situation. You're allowed to think of happy things sometimes for sure. Here is the recipe. http://www.veggiemealplans.com/archive/1-recipes/1074-taco-salad-with-tempeh-creamy-chipotle-dressing-and-citrus-salsa Sorry to hear this news, Barbara. You’re being a great daughter during this very stressful situation.

You’re allowed to think of happy things sometimes for sure. Here is the recipe.
http://www.veggiemealplans.com/archive/1-recipes/1074-taco-salad-with-tempeh-creamy-chipotle-dressing-and-citrus-salsa

]]> Comment on The Writing Room: And My (Serious) Case of the Human Condition by admin http://barbarafalconernewhall.com/2010/05/04/the-writing-room-and-my-serious-case-of-the-human-condition/comment-page-1/#comment-2988 admin Tue, 04 May 2010 19:55:26 +0000 http://barbarafalconernewhall.com/?p=4906#comment-2988 Thanks, Cindy. It's really hard to see my mother so weak and dependent -- and scared. As you know, my mother-in-law had a lot of memory loss at the end of her life, and the sad thing is, when I think of Ruth, that's how I remember her, as very childlike -- when actually she was a strong-willed, smart, supportive person for most of the time I knew her. Barbara Thanks, Cindy. It’s really hard to see my mother so weak and dependent — and scared. As you know, my mother-in-law had a lot of memory loss at the end of her life, and the sad thing is, when I think of Ruth, that’s how I remember her, as very childlike — when actually she was a strong-willed, smart, supportive person for most of the time I knew her. Barbara

]]> Comment on The Writing Room: And My (Serious) Case of the Human Condition by Cindy http://barbarafalconernewhall.com/2010/05/04/the-writing-room-and-my-serious-case-of-the-human-condition/comment-page-1/#comment-2986 Cindy Tue, 04 May 2010 19:45:51 +0000 http://barbarafalconernewhall.com/?p=4906#comment-2986 Hi Barb, I think it's difficult to think of our parents as feeble and in need of our care. We always look to our parents, and our mothers in particular, as OUR caregivers. Also, I believe that it makes our own mortality seem more certain. Just remember that you are doing a wonderful service for your mother, and you will appreciate all the effort and time you are putting in to making her older years comfortable. Love, Cindy Hi Barb,

I think it’s difficult to think of our parents as feeble and in need of our care. We always look to our parents, and our mothers in particular, as OUR caregivers. Also, I believe that it makes our own mortality seem more certain.

Just remember that you are doing a wonderful service for your mother, and you will appreciate all the effort and time you are putting in to making her older years comfortable.

Love, Cindy

]]> Comment on A Case of the Human Condition: Wait for Me! by admin http://barbarafalconernewhall.com/2010/04/17/a-case-of-the-human-condition-wait-for-me/comment-page-1/#comment-2917 admin Thu, 22 Apr 2010 00:27:09 +0000 http://barbarafalconernewhall.com/?p=4809#comment-2917 Yes. I've been patting myself on the back all week for my splendid effort on Saturday. The trouble with exercise, however, is that you've got to do it again the next day. It's not like paying taxes, which with any luck at all you only have to do once a year. Yes. I’ve been patting myself on the back all week for my splendid effort on Saturday. The trouble with exercise, however, is that you’ve got to do it again the next day. It’s not like paying taxes, which with any luck at all you only have to do once a year.

]]> Comment on A Case of the Human Condition: Wait for Me! by Jessica http://barbarafalconernewhall.com/2010/04/17/a-case-of-the-human-condition-wait-for-me/comment-page-1/#comment-2915 Jessica Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:27:28 +0000 http://barbarafalconernewhall.com/?p=4809#comment-2915 Ah youth. I know what you mean. Always feel as if I'm running to keep up, too. But good for you for being out there! Ah youth. I know what you mean. Always feel as if I’m running to keep up, too. But good for you for being out there!

]]> Comment on A Case of the Human Condition: The Trouble With Daffodils by admin http://barbarafalconernewhall.com/2010/04/11/a-case-of-the-human-condition-the-trouble-with-daffodils/comment-page-1/#comment-2883 admin Fri, 16 Apr 2010 04:20:30 +0000 http://barbarafalconernewhall.com/?p=4783#comment-2883 Thanks, Diane. It's great that we get to have our moms for so many years. Thanks, Diane. It’s great that we get to have our moms for so many years.

]]> Comment on A Case of the Human Condition: The Trouble With Daffodils by Diane (Erwin) http://barbarafalconernewhall.com/2010/04/11/a-case-of-the-human-condition-the-trouble-with-daffodils/comment-page-1/#comment-2881 Diane (Erwin) Fri, 16 Apr 2010 02:04:50 +0000 http://barbarafalconernewhall.com/?p=4783#comment-2881 Great piece! My Mom is 89 and currently taking care of my brother who has a very serious case of emphysema. Drives him to the dr. appts., etc. She is virtually industructable (in my eyes), and she is never going to go through the indignities that await most other older people. Thanks for that article. I enjoyed it very much. Great piece! My Mom is 89 and currently taking care of my brother who has a very serious case of emphysema. Drives him to the dr. appts., etc. She is virtually industructable (in my eyes), and she is never going to go through the indignities that await most other older people. Thanks for that article. I enjoyed it very much.

]]> Comment on A Case of the Human Condition: Peter’s Fast-Track Grandmother by admin http://barbarafalconernewhall.com/2010/04/03/a-case-of-the-human-condition-peters-fast-track-grandmother/comment-page-1/#comment-2826 admin Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:54:46 +0000 http://barbarafalconernewhall.com/?p=4697#comment-2826 I was really lucky to have Ruth. She was a great mother-in-law. I was really lucky to have Ruth. She was a great mother-in-law.

]]> Comment on A Case of the Human Condition: Peter’s Fast-Track Grandmother by Jessica http://barbarafalconernewhall.com/2010/04/03/a-case-of-the-human-condition-peters-fast-track-grandmother/comment-page-1/#comment-2825 Jessica Tue, 06 Apr 2010 23:51:06 +0000 http://barbarafalconernewhall.com/?p=4697#comment-2825 Loved this. Very funny. We all need someone like Ruth in our lives! Loved this. Very funny. We all need someone like Ruth in our lives!

]]> Comment on Guest Post From Jon: Does “Under God” Belong in the Pledge of Allegiance? by admin http://barbarafalconernewhall.com/2010/03/13/guest-blog-from-jon-under-god-and-the-pledge-of-allegiance/comment-page-1/#comment-2642 admin Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:44:37 +0000 http://barbarafalconernewhall.com/?p=4605#comment-2642 Jon and I had another big discussion over breakfast on Saturday. I had a problem with the phrase in his post that lumped "Allah" together with "the Gods" and "Zeus." In our culture, we don't take "Zeus" and "the Gods" seriously. Zeus and the Greek pantheon of gods are an antiquated mythology that few, if any, people take take to heart any more. Allah, on the other hand, is the Arabic word for God that is used by Muslims. I take it seriously. I tried to talk Jon into rewriting the phrase to read "'Krishna,' 'the Buddha' or 'Allah.'" But I couldn't get him to budge. -- Barbara Jon and I had another big discussion over breakfast on Saturday. I had a problem with the phrase in his post that lumped “Allah” together with “the Gods” and “Zeus.” In our culture, we don’t take “Zeus” and “the Gods” seriously. Zeus and the Greek pantheon of gods are an antiquated mythology that few, if any, people take take to heart any more. Allah, on the other hand, is the Arabic word for God that is used by Muslims. I take it seriously. I tried to talk Jon into rewriting the phrase to read “‘Krishna,’ ‘the Buddha’ or ‘Allah.’” But I couldn’t get him to budge. — Barbara

]]>