9/11 2021

 

Twenty years ago today planes hit the twin towers in NYC and destroyed them, Some 1500 American men and women were killed. The event triggered twenty years of war against Afghanistan and Iraq. Revenge was the motive. Pure revenge. They hurt us, we hurt them.

I was in New York when the buildings were hit and went down. The meeting of the trustees of the The General Theological Seminary had concluded. Reading in my guest room at 175 Ninth Avenue, I heard the police and fire sirens blasting away. I found a TV set and saw replays of the planes hitting the buildings. My stomach lurched and my heart froze. Everything is going to change, I worried. 

I tried to call Ann to tell her I was all right. No connection. I called Leigh and asked her to call Ann in San Francisco to report that I was OK, not hurt.

On the streets I saw hundreds of people, many covered with ash, scurrying up Ninth Avenue fleeing Wall Street and heading home.

Airpot, bridges, tunnels and subways were suddenly shut down. I want to leave the city that day to get to New Haven, CT to spend sometime with Leigh and family.

I remembered a small iron bridge connecting Manhattan and the Bronx. I bet that that bridge would be open. I rented a car and drove to the bridge and got out of Manhattan. I drove north to New Haven and resumed my family visits to Leigh, Sarah and Jessica and their families.

These thoughts dominate my mind and spirit on this anniversary.

NEWSOM DOESN'T LOSE

 

The following letter that I wrote was published in the San Francisco Chronicle last week.

California Governor Gavin Newsom did not get recalled. The Republican effort to oust him failed. “You Can’t Fool All of the People All of the Time.” The governor is imperfect like the rest of us. He has faced issues of virus, fires, education and a myriad of others. He has done well and not to everyone’s satisfaction. He has my satisfaction and admiration. Republicans tried to fool all the Californians into thinking Newsom as incompetent all the time. Most Californians voted not to be fooled all the time by lies, exaggerations and hoaxes.

I think that was a good summary of what happened.

I like the publicity and minor notoriety the letters provide. People have often said, “I like your letter in today’s paper.” I asked them what did I write? They usually replied, “Oh, I forgot.” In the 80s and 90s my letters were signed with Rector of Trinity. That was a bit of publicity for the church.

HONEY MONEY

 Honey Money

Our hard earned money is  sweet. We work, collected pensions, social security, tips, presents, investments and luck. We did not earn our ability to add and subtract. Parents and teachers taught us how to do the numbers. The ability was an unearned gift. We did not earn our eyes, our hands, or our fingers. They too are unearned gifts. Christians know that life itself is a gift. Our response is always thanks for all we have been given.

Some of us are poor, some well off and others wealthy. Jesus taught us to care for the poor, the sick and persecuted. From our money and resources, we share some of that sweet money helping make others eat and heal.

There is a woman in our parish who is an actor. She has not worked or performed since the pandemic hit. She makes some money from Lyft, cooking and cleaning when she find the work. Our Vicar and Deacon have discretionary funds to help people in need. In addition to our annual pledge for the support of St. John’s, we can send a thanksgiving gift to those discretionary funds.

ON BASEBALL

 

Dear Susan,

I know you love baseball. I lost interest in baseball when my beloved Brooklyn Dodgers left for Los Angeles in 1958. Then the hated New York Giants move to SanFrancisco the same year. The Cromeys moved to San Francisco in 1962. I tried the Giants at Candlestick a couple of times. I was a tepid fan for a year or two. But it just didn’t take. There was a players strike when they wanted even more money. Prices for tickets and refreshments skyrocketed. Poorer people could no longer afford to go. The arrogant, slouching, rude Barry Bods sickened me. I was at one game where Bods hit two home runs. I still thought he was a thug. 

At Ebbet’s Field in Brooklyn I had seen Jackie Robinson play his first games in 1946. He was booed and hissed, but his gallantry inspired me.

I am glad you and others love the game and the players. The thrills, excitement and the ominous crack of the bat create an almost religious atmosphere. The joy that being in a crowd of fans is elating. The feeling of camaraderie is exhilarating. So have fun, eat hot dogs and peanuts and crackerjack and I am glad that I never look back.

Love,

Robert

Newsom is still governor

 Gavin Newsom did not get recalled. The Republican effort to oust him failed. “You Can’t Fool All of the People All of the Time.” The governor is imperfect like the rest of us. He has faced issues of virus, fires, education and a myriad of others. He has done well and not to everyone’s satisfaction. He has my satisfaction and admiration. Republicans tried to fool all the Californians into thinking Newsom as incompetent all the time. Most Californians voted not to be fooled all the time by lies, exaggerations and hoaxes.

Labor Day

 

Labor Day

Labor Unions are to help workers have higher wages, better working conditions, on the job safety, health care and pensions. Union representation is at the lowest level since the early 30s. Workers resist unions for the same reason many resist taking anti-virus vaccines. They want independence and freedom. They feel they can do thing better on their own. The result is that  wages have been stuck for decades. Management has astronomical wealth and workers far less. Inequality of wages is still rising. No unions, no increase in wages and benefits.