A Treasure From Dad

I don't often post about personal things, but every once in a while something special happens that affects you deeply and you just have to tell someone. So I'm telling you.

I received a treasure in the mail today. My cousin (in England) sent me a small bible. It was found after his dear mother passed away recently. My dad's younger brother (her husband) must have held on to it for some reason.

The bible is small (about the size of my hand) and I practically need a magnifying glass to read it. As an adult, my dad had beautiful copperplate handwriting, but in several places, in pencil, is "S Bridge" in a childish hand - obviously practicing. There is no date in the book, but I'm going to assume he could have been no more than ten or so. That makes the book from the very early part of the 1900s. The cover is black, engraved, and a very soft leather. I can't begin to say what it means to me.

The timing, as such things often are, is exquisite to me. I was thinking of my dad this morning. I was also thinking of my spiritual history - a rather odd one as neither of my parents were religious at all.

There is a bookmark. A simple slip of aged blank paper. On the same page is another attempt at signature. The book it's in? Joshua.

Joshua is my son's name, and they were extremely close until my dad's death almost 20 years ago. So close that my son named his son's middle name for my dad - Stanley.

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Reviews for The Glister Journals: Bronze
More Glister Journals info at the book's website here: theglisterjournals.com
The Glister Journals: Bronze can be purchased through any bookseller, or purchase now at Amazon.com New edition coming!
Note: All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2015 to B B Shepherd.

Retro Thursday: 2/83

I usually concentrate on new music, but I thought it would be fun to look back to a specific time and see what was going on. So once a month I'm going to do a short retrospective: movies, books, odds and ends, just about anything I can find. And of course, music. I'm choosing the first one but would love to get requests.

February 1983 was an important time for me but I wasn't very aware of what was going on in the world, so I thought it would be a good place to start....

In February 1983:

Toto - Africa #1 US February 1-5. I loved this song, but can't for the life of me think of another song by them. Can you?

Ronald Reagan was president of the United States

Margaret Thatcher was prime minister of the United Kingdom

Pierre Trudeau was prime minister of Canada

Malcom Fraser was prime minister of Australia

Elizabeth II was queen . . . of course

Men At Work - Down Under #1 US February 5-12. LOL. Definitely one of my favorite songs. Let's not get into an argument of Vegemite vs. Marmite though.

Gas per gallon cost an average of:

.88 in California

.95 in Texas

.93 in Illinois

.96 in Florida

.99 in New York

£1.76 England

Kajagoogoo - Too Shy #1 UK February 13

Musical Youth - Pass the Dutchie #1 Canada, January 22-February 5. (I'd never heard of this one...interesting.)

NEW YORK TIMES Sunday Book review (February 20) (Look how much Sci-Fi there is!)

“Mistral’s Daughter,” by Judith Krantz.

“Master of the Game,” by Sidney Sheldon.

“Space,” by James A. Michener.

“2010: Odyssey Two,” by Arthur C. Clarke.

“The Valley of Horses,” by Jean M. Auel.

“Foundation’s Edge,” by Isaac Asimov.

“Floating Dragon,” by Peter Straub.

“Life, the Universe and Everything,” by Douglas Adams.

“E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Storybook,” by William Kotzwinkle.

“Ellis Island,” by Fred Mustard Stewart.

Laura Branigan - Gloria #1 Australia, February 7-March 21

Michael Jackson - Billie Jean #1 US (seven weeks) & UK.

February 26 – Michael Jackson's Thriller album hits #1 on the US charts, the first of thirty-seven (non-consecutive) weeks it would spend there on its way to becoming the biggest-selling album of all time.

I couldn't find any movies worth referencing except The Pirates of Penzance which my whole family absolutely loves. Yes, we're very weird. It is a fairly faithful production of the Gilbert and Sullivan light opera (Premier in 1879). It stars Kevin Kline as the Pirate King and he's just amazing. Linda Ronstadt is Mabel. Such a fun but completely goofy movie. "With Catlike Tread" is my favorite part of the movie.

Do you remember February 1983? What is one of your favorite months and years? Leave me a message somewhere. Let me retro it!

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This is like the extra at the end of the credits: I just found this and it's awesome. :)

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The Glister Journals: Bronze can be purchased through any bookseller, or purchase now at Amazon.com

Reviews for The Glister Journals: Bronze

The Bronze Soundtrack and Contest

More Glister info and excerpts at the book's website here: theglisterjournals.com

All original text and materials by or commissioned by B. B. Shepherd are copyright 2012-2013 to China Blue Publishing.

Twas a few days before Christmas . . .

. . . and I should have been cleaning and putting things away. I don't even have the tree up yet; if I don't do it soon it won't be worth doing! This will be a quiet Christmas--just two of my close family--but I look forward to seeing two of my very best friends and my aunt too, later this month.


Back to what I should have been doing . . . .
In repacking boxes for storage (the ones that I have to get out of the way in order to make room for afore-mentioned tree), I came across some old videos. Some very old videos. Videos of family gatherings, musical performances, dance recitals. Videos so old they're on video tape.


These videos include the most precious people on earth to me; some are just older now, but some are gone. How amazing to be able to watch them again, to feel their presence and hear their voices, especially their laughter. And look how young and skinny we all are!

Yes, I should be working right now, but I'm not going to feel guilty. I'm feeding my soul.

I hope to post once more before Sunday, but in case I don't: Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!

Here's a couple of videos from members of the best steam punk band ever, Abney Park :)



More Glister info and chapters at the book's website here: theglisterjournals.com

The chapters can also be read here at the top of my Wordpress blog.