Sassistas! Our dish on the social soup.

Thanks

I would like to thank (besides my family, you,
my teachers, friends, and readers) hydrogen
for fueling the stars without which poetry
would not exist. The sun has been the star
most crucial to my work, but distant stars
have been there for me, too, and planets, meteors,
the moon. About the moon, I'm grateful
that our boys left flags up there, and brought back
rocks and dust. I'd like to thank the dust.
The oceans may or may not have put
molecules together that first time
to form a living cell, but I would like
to thank the oceans for that dreamy look
they give us when the cameras turn toward Earth
from outer space. . . .
. . . God I want to thank
especially, if He exists, which I believe
He does. He may not. Probably not.
But I would like to thank Him. Thanks.

-- "If I May" by Brooks Haxton, read by barista as grace before Thanksgiving dinner.

The image is of Isaac sleeping atop his sofa nest yesterday morning.
He's on Flannista's lap as she writes this.

November 2008 Open Mic

The Sassistas!^TM are listening.  Please share what you've heard.

The First Duty of Love

A BLESSED THANKSGIVING TO ALL! 

Thanks for stopping by the sassosphere for a moment today.  We know that many of you will be spending the day with family and/or friends.  There'll be lots of eating . . . and talking.  Last week, PEACEsista suggested that we use our time with family and friends as preparation for the National Day of Listening tomorrow.  Click here to learn more about it.

As the home page tells us, the National Day of Listening sees the holiday season as our opportunity to "ask the people around you about their lives — it could be your grandmother, a teacher, or someone from the neighborhood. By listening to their stories, you will be telling them that they matter and they won’t ever be forgotten. It may be the most meaningful time you spend this year."

It could also be a stranger!  The stories of everyday people are the heart and soul of America's story.  If we take the time to listen, we'll find wisdom, wonder, and poetry in the lives and stories of the people all around us.  Who knows?  Listening to someone else just might help you to hear yourself better.  To tell your own story.  But first, listen to someone else.

The voice message on Flannista's home phone includes a quote from Paul Tillich who once said, "The first duty of love is to listen."  Today, err on the side of listening.  To prepare, share why listening is hard for you.  Then tomorrow, check into our monthly, "Open Mic" and share the story you discovered when you listened.

We'll be listening.

All the Right Stuff

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day which means many of you will be spending a good portion of the morning preparing and roasting your turkey!  Speaking of roasting, sass-lute to all the sistas and mistas who take a moment today to post their favorite Thanksgiving dinner recipes! 

To get the recipe stream flowing, Flannista will share her exclusass recipe for roasting a turkey.  It took years for her to perfect it as she had to learn the hard way.  The first time was a disaster because she first had to kill the bird.  Who knew?  This post features a photo of Flann looking for the critter.  The second time, it took three weeks to stuff the bird because Flannista -- undoubtedly like millions of others -- thought you stuffed a turkey through its beak (after it was dead, by the way).  Here's Flann's recipe:

Clean the bird.  Don't use Pine-Sol.  Take out all the stuff in those weird, hermeneutically-sealed packages in the bird's two orifices.  Stuff the now-empty main orifice with pieces of Granny Smith apples and onions.  Stuff slabs of real butter EVERYWHERE underneath the bird's skin (particularly the breasts).  Then rub butter all over the outside of the thing. Sprinkle fancy-schmancy spices (over the bird) that you only get at Whole Foods that cost way too much but make the bird taste like a million bucks.  Stick the bird in the oven after you take out all the stuff you store in there during the year (including the Christmas tree stand). Turn on the oven which is easy to forget.

Roast that thing uncovered for 30 minutes at whatever temperature the packaging says -- Flann thinks it's over 25 degrees (at least). Then cover the bird with the cut-out back of a clean, old white t-shirt and pour half a bottle of red wine over the t-shirt covering the bird.  Stick the bird back into the oven and then baste it every 30 minutes or so with the juices comin' out of the skin and wine and whatever.  Turn the bird around in the oven every time you baste it so each side gets equal attention or some such thing.  Pour more red wine over the t-shirt each time.  Also into a wine glass.  Enjoy.  After about five hours or so (depending on the size of your bird), that popper-thingy should pop out or your meat thermometer should explode (Flann can't remember which), and the bird is cooked.  You can double-check by ripping off one of the legs.  Does it come off easily or do you have to gnaw at it?  If you have to gnaw at it, you probably have to stick the bird back into the oven for another two to six hours.

As you know, most people like the white meat of the turkey.  "Is it done?" is not as big a question with the white meat as it is with the dark meat.  If you aren't certain it's done, jus' do what Flann does every year.  Transport the bird wherever Thanksgiving dinner is being held because there's bound to be a microwave.

Bon appe-turkey sistas and mistas!

Road Tripped

How many of you are hitting the road for Thanksgiving?  AAA estimates that 37.2 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday, a 3.1 percent increase from last year’s 36.1 million travelers.

The Sassistas!^TM are spending Thanksgiving with barista and won't be traveling far.  In the past, however, each of us has made long Thanksgiving road trips.  Every time we hit an interstate, we were reminded of something Charles Kuralt once said: "Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything."

To compensate for the dull ride, Flannista has devised several methods for making road trips interesting.  The image in this post features one method: Flannista's "road glasses" next to her dashboard Jesus. Whenever Flannista sees a car full of kids or a car with a bumper sticker that says something like, "I'm spending eternity in heaven.  Where the hell will you spend it?" she puts on her "road glasses" and passes the car, making certain the occupants see her.  One time she passed a bunch of sleepy college kids.  Only the driver was awake, but he quickly woke up his friends so they could see the whacked-out broad in the car passing them.  About five minutes later, the same car passed Flannista and every college kid was wearing a Halloween mask.  Picture the occupants of both cars laughing their heads off at 65 mph.

The most effective way to make a road trip memorable is to ask for directions for some place like Altoona, Pennsylvania at an interstate toll booth and instead of pulling out a map, pull out this.  Flannista has done this a couple of times, embellishing her inquiry with comments such as, "I think it's around here," while she points to the North American continent.  Trust me, you won't be forgotten.

One last method: when you pay your interstate and or bridge crossing toll this weekend, give the toll booth person (still flummoxed by the globe) a little extra for the car behind you.  When you drive away, you won't be the only person smiling.

Please share your methods for making road trips -- using the Interstate Highway System -- fun and memorable.  Thanks for giving!

Con Amor, Alejandro Escovedo

Two weeks ago last night, the Sassistas!^TM saw Alejandro Escovedo play in concert at the Birchmere, a dinner/music venue. We were jazzed about hearing him and arrived early so we could get a supremo table close to the stage.  About 15 minutes before the concert started, a couple asked if they could join us at our table that seated four.

The Sassistas!^TM immediately hit it off with Dan and Laura.  For one thing, they laughed at our sassy humor -- and even said they would check out the sassosphere. For another, they had good taste in beer.  Last, they knew more about Alejandro than most folks in the room. 

For those of you who don't know much about him, Alejandro Escovedo is a rock/alternative/country musician who lived with Sid and Nancy and Patti Smith at the Chelsea Hotel in the Seventies; did the drug scene, and nearly died from hepatitis C, cirrhosis of the liver and internal hemorrhaging about five years ago. Miraculously, he pulled himself together and his music has never been better.  Contributing to his musical genius today is the sense of gratitude and sheer love of life resounding from every note.  You can't help but feel grateful when listening to him.  The night of the concert, he and his violinist and guitarist left the stage and actually played in three different places among the audience.  It was thrilling and touching all at once.  Throughout the concert, we noticed how our table-mate, Dan was methodically writing down the set list.  Totally cool.  When the check came for our table, the Sassistas^TM surreptiously paid for Dan and Laura's meal.  When they found out later, they were completely gracious and asked for our address.

Less than a week later, the Sassistas!^TM received a package from Dan and Laura.  The contents are pictured here: a CD of the songs Alejandro played the night we heard him, another CD of Alejandro live with a string quintet, two articles from "No Depression" about Alejandro and a signed copy of Alejandro's CD, "The Boxing Mirror."  Dan and Laura also included a note telling us that they shared with Alejandro "the story of your generosity."  Alejandro wrote our names on the CD and signed it, "Con Amor."

We share this story as a way to begin Thanksgiving week.  Two weeks ago, the Sassistas!^TM didn't know Dan and Laura. Today, we're connected to them in a way we'll never forget.  At some point this week, why not -- out of the blue -- surprise someone with an unexpected gesture of generosity?  And do us a favor, tell that someone, "Con Amor from Alejandro." 

Dan and Laura:  Con Amor from Alejandro.

Your Place in Our Family

This past Dish Towel Wednesday, the Sassistas!^TM surpassed 60,000 views, less than 20 days after achieving 50,000.  We are humbled and grateful.  In researching the significance of the number 60,000, we kept coming across links to a lake in India to which 60,000 birds migrate each year.  It reminded us of our own fascination with migrating water birds who come to Chesapeake Bay refuges about this time of year . . . which reminded of us one of Mary Oliver's most popular poems.  We post that poem today with our wholehearted thanks for your continued loyalty; for over and over again announcing your place in our family.  Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, you are welcome here. Always.

Wild Geese

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting --
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

The Glow from that Fire

In the long history of the world
Only a few generations have been granted
The role of defending freedom.
In the hour of maximum danger
I do not shrink from this responsibility
I welcome it.

The Energy - the Faith - the Devotion
Which we bring to this endeavor
Will light our country
And all who serve it.
And the glow from that fire
Can truly light the world.

And so my fellow Americans,
Ask not what your country can do for you --
Ask what you can do for your country.

-- from the Inaugural Address of John F. Kennedy,
who died 45 years ago today 

Sing After Me

It's been a LOOOOOONG couple of weeks in the sassosphere, no?  Gun control, G20 meetings, struggling to understand empathy and passive resistance, fasting for hunger and . . . accumulating dish towels.  On top of that, the market is getting lower and lower, soup kitchens are preparing for at least three times as many folks on Thanksgiving, and we're grieving for dying and hurting beloveds.  So what can we do?  Where can we go?

About a month ago, babysis emailed Flannista with a clue:

I recently came across an old Sesame Street clip that I may have to watch every day for a while. I cannot keep from smiling, and I hope you'll pull it up on bad days yourself. It makes you ask the question: Whose lap would you most like to sit in and be sung to?  Enjoy.  Love you.

Give yourself the blessing of watching this short video.  Then answer babysis' question: Whose lap would you most like to sit in and be sung to?

Thanks, babysis, for the smiles we all need right now -- and the love.

Fast for Hunger

Remember OxFam America?  The organization to which Jerseysista and the Sassistas^TM donated the proceeds of the Sassistas^TM baby photos auction in July?  Every Thursday before Thanksgiving -- meaning today -- Oxfam America sponsors Fast for a World Harvest.  This Fast first started on the Thursday before Thanksgiving 1974, when 250,000 people nationwide fasted for the day or for a meal, donating their food money to Oxfam -- or to a local food bank.

Fasting for religious or spiritual reasons has been part of human custom since the beginning of history. Many folks wrongly see fasting as a religious practice that involves penitence and beating up on yourself.  The Sassistas^TM prefer Cynthia Bourgeault's perspective in her book, The Wisdom Jesus:

A fast is really training -- exactly like athlete training  -- so that our whole embodied being can be tuned up to support a spiritual aim we wish to achieve.

In addition to its spiritual benefits, fasting of course has physical benefits. Research conducted by University of California, Berkeley suggests the major health benefits include a reduced risk of cancer, the slowing of the aging process and the potential to increase maximum life span.

So what can you lose (other than a couple of pounds) by skipping a meal today or sometime before next Thursday and donating the money you would have spent to someone who needs to eat more than you do?  This Excellent, Extraordinary, Exciting practice will make it Easier for you to enjoy your Thanksgiving fEast!

Sistas and mistas -- please share how the practice of fasting has helped you physically and/or spiritually. Also, please share tips that have helped you prepare for and endure fasting.  Thank you -- and thank you for donating to OxFam America or your local food bank!