Dear Diary

[Loveslife]

For Tina and R.,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_hEbu92HYY

Sentimentally,

J.
XOXO

[tina martin]

What can I say, J? What is wrong with me that I usually cannot relate to the kind of songs and lyrics that send crowds Into swooning or tears, etc.

Now in opera there is plenty of heartache and despair. But we don't understand them which can make it better. Smiling.

[Loveslife]

Tina,
This song is for you. I know that you are not religious, but it is my favorite "opera" sonata. Is Sonata the correct word?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQVz6vuNq7s

Love,
J.

[tina martin]

Sonata is probably not right, it's a song, I think, maybe an ode. Anyway, I adore Ave Maria, don't recognize the soprano. Have many renditions of it, all tenors. In fact, have a number of x-mas CD's with Pavarotti, Domingo, Carreras, Il Divo, even Josh Groban. Play them any time all year.

If I'm correct a March baby boy is on its way. Guess what? Also had one many years ago, was so traumatized. He was the most adorable little bundle and Julie's will be too. You are so brave to go flying there. Know all will go well, xo, xo....t

[Loveslife]

Thanks, Tina. A may boy, whom they are naming James, is arriving mid May. I am flying there to give them a baby shower
on 3/22-shower on 3/23 and flying home on 3/24.

I'm working 6 hours a week straight, no breaks, no lunches, nothing, but I love it. Sometimes I leave the shop to stare at the vast atlantic ocean, but only for a few minutes.

Take care Always, and I'll bring you all up to date when I have more time.

PS,
I love the Ava Maria when it is sung in all it's glory, in church, usually by a lovely soprano.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

[Loveslife]

The Ave Maria is one of the oldest and most popular Catholic prayers, and is perhaps the most popular of all the Marian prayers, that is, prayers to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Also called the Ave, the Hail Mary, and the Angelic Salutation, the prayer is often used in private as well as in public devotions, e.g., in the rosary. The Ave Maria (Hail Mary) is of unknown origin; it was not officially incorporated into the liturgy (as part of the Rosary) until the 15th Century. It is composed of two distinct parts, a Scriptural part and an intercessory part.

The first part, the Scriptural part, is taken from the Gospel of St. Luke and joins together the words of the Angel Gabriel at the Annunciation (Luke 1:28) together with Elizabeth's greeting to Mary at the Visitation (Luke 1:42). The joining of these two passages can be found as early as the fifth, and perhaps even the fourth, century in the eastern liturgies of St. James of Antioch and St. Mark of Alexandria. It is also recorded in the ritual of St. Severus (538 AD). In the west it was in use in Rome by the 7th century for it is prescribed as an offertory antiphon for the feast of the Annunciation. The great popularity of the phrase by the 11th century is attested to in the writings of St. Peter Damian (1007-1072) and Hermann of Tournai (d.c. 1147). Later, probably by Pope Urban IV around the year 1262, Jesus' name was inserted at the end of the two passages.

The second half of the prayer (Holy Mary...) can be traced back to the 15th century where two endings are found. One ending, Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, is found in the writings of St. Bernardine of Siena (1380-1444 AD) and the Carthusians. A second ending, Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis nunc et in hora mortis nostrae, can be found in the writings of the Servites, in a Roman Breviary, and in some German Dioceses. The current form of the prayer became the standard form sometime in the 16th century and was included in the reformed Breviary promulgated by Pope St. Pius V in 1568.

It has many musical settings; the compositions by Franz Schubert and Charles Gounod are among the most popular.

The Latin:

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus,
et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc,
et in hora mortis nostrae.
Amen.
The English translation:

"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee;
blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now
and at the hour of our death.
Amen.


* The English version, The Hail Mary, is the only prayer I pray, over and over and over again. Sometimes I determine my own penance and The Hail Mary is the prayer for me, And yes, sometimes I sing it.

[Loveslife]

The English Translation of Ave Maria...

"... Ave Maria! Maiden mild!
Listen to a maiden's pleading
from these rocks, stark and wild,
my prayer shall be wafted to thee.
we shall sleep safely till morning,
though men be ever so cruel.
o Maiden, see a maiden's distress,
O Mother, hear a suppliant child.

Ave Maria, undefiled!
When we upon this rock lie down
to slumber, and thy protection covers us,
The hard stone will seem soft to us.
If Though smilest, the scent of roses will float
Through this murky cavern,
O Mother, hear a child's petition,
O maiden, 'tis a maid that calls!

Ave Maria, Maiden pure,
the demons of the earth and air,
dry in forth by thy gracious glance
cannot stay here with us.
we will calmly bow to fate
Since they holy comfort hovers over us;
Mayest though be favorably inclined to the maiden,
To the child that pleads for her father!..."

[tina martin]

What an education you provide, J. So it's a prayer, an appeal for forgiveness for our sins. Apparently the Day of Atonement was never enough for me. I actually have a CD titled Ave Maria and other sacred arias and choruses which I've heard countless times. It even has the Gounod version.

I must have gotten the shower date confused with the due date. But guess what again? I also had a May baby, a perfect time for a bundle of joy as Julie will have.

Thank you for all this, J. It is my hope that this beautiful prayer and others bring you strength, comfort, and hope, Love.....t

[SoWhatif]

Thanks for the valentines girls. Do hope that you felt the thoughts of yours.
J. staying active and in the flow, that is great for us. Keeps the our minds learning and clear thinking.

Spring is getting here. Their was a Robin playing in the yard least week. I kinda wonder if it has a broken compass!

Am making plans for cataracts removal before spring. With lens implants I hope to be able to get back most of my sight back.
Very frustrationg, the glasses and lack of focas.

Mom is doing well, at times I deeply wonder if doing well is a good thing. I picture it like being in a whirlpool, around and around till ya go down. Freaks me when I think of myself being caught in it. Have been able to see her laughing and interacting and enjoying the past few weeks. It is a forgetting of the lonliness for awile even though an hour from now she will not remember it. May even demand it didn't happen at all. Mind boggling it is for me and to guide her to stay positive. I need the practice at being diplomatic.......and am reinforcing my advanced learning of patience.

Them prayers are way to many words for me. My exsperiance see,s it is more like chanting and going threw the motions.

My belief is our soul is online with our maker and he wants our hearts to comunicate. I just keep it simple and try to keep love and a open mind when praying and in my life. The door is allways open theory, it has worked well so far.

As Spock would say live long and prosper.

Jamie and some prayer for you and your daughter as the grandbaby approaches. Dh and B are they holding their own?
Be safe Lady's.

[tina martin]

Miss robbies who seem to have been driven away by crows (I think). Will be thrilled to see one.

Oh mercy, that disease. Don't need to get tested, know it's starting up already. A curse. I will not linger with it. Make plans every day that go nowhere. It is good that she is not bitter or angry and can laugh. Personality can change too. Had cataracts out. Nothing to take lightly but is over fast. Then come those drops and drops. The fine vision is the reward.

J is some trooper, an example to anyone. I sure like the idea of forgiveness which I don't remember where I came from. Forgiveness and Love come from elsewhere. Am trying to assimilate them. Hope all is well.........t