Monday, April 19, 2010

Scope, weeding out and majesty

- It is difficult to capture the scope of National Cemetery in Marietta, Georgia, with graves of veterans and war dead dating back to the Civil War. I just watched a fascinating television program in which actor Matthew Broderick traced his great-great-grandfather to an unmarked grave here. This photo was taken on a misty morning last December as I passed the cemetery on the way to an appointment.

- The satisfying feeling of placing cookbooks back on shelves after the kitchen refurbishing and weeding out the ones that are never looked at or used. And only taking two back out of the Goodwill box.

- Attending a performance of Handel's Messiah Parts 2 and 3, in which the majesty of the final Amen struck the crowd silent for a moment, until the harpsichordist started the applause.

18 comments:

LL Cool Joe said...

What an amazing photo. I can imagine the scene in real life is even more dramatic.

Cooking? What's that? :D

Lynn said...

Joe -

The white headstones seem to go on forever. A busy street runs by it and it is beautiful and somber at the same time. (I didn't post this in December because I took the photo the week my father died. He is buried in a new veterans' cemetery in my adopted hometown of Milledgeville, Georgia. The memory of the this series of photos returned when I watched the dvr'd program last night.)

I love cookbooks and tend to pick them up on travels - those are the ones that are being sent away. Why did I think I needed a cookbook from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina? :)

sweetsue said...

So many brave ones lost-so sad!

Lynn said...

Sweetsue -

Welcome! His great-great-grandfather survived the Battle of Gettysburg and then died in the Battle of Peachtree Creek in Atlanta. He was with a regiment from Connecticut. Peachtree Creek is only a couple of miles from my office. There is a beautiful park surrounding it.

TALON said...

I laughed out loud at you only taking 2 cookbooks out of the donate pile. Some books become like old friends and we might not seem them often, but we still want them in our life :)

An seemingly unending cemetary breaks your heart.

Jannie Funster said...

Ahhh, your new kitchen re-do must be so refreshing!

Doesn't EVERYBODY need a cookbook from Myrtle Beach?

The photo a sober reminder that our freedom exists because many paid the ultimate price.

Thinking of you today, as always with a smile in my heart.

xo

Meredith said...

I haven't experienced the one at Marietta, but I was 12 when I first saw the one at Arlington -- and broke down sobbing. I wonder if our leaders could choose to make war so easily if they were forced to confront such vistas daily...

You've made me realize I probably need to cull my cookbook collection. I loved the detail of your taking two back from the Goodwill box. ;) I bet you are an incredible cook!

Lynn said...

Talon -

There are still a couple in there that I am still mulling over whether to keep or not. But let's face it - I'll probably never make vegetarian Chinese food. :)

Jannie -

It is so refreshing. And a good feeling to get rid of some stuff - I have too much stuff, I think.

Meredith -

600,000 men lost their lives in the Civil War. It makes me wonder how this country went on after that.

I don't know about incredible, but I do love to cook when I have time to really put into it. Most of the time during the week, it's just salad for dinner. But creative salad. :)

Brian Miller said...

wow. the performance sounds wonderful...and the cemetary always fills me with silent contemplation...

Riot Kitty said...

Agreed - fantastic photo.

Lynn said...

Brian -

The concert was wonderful - many of my friends were singing, too.

I love cemeteries - especially the old ones. We have Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta - full of monuments and famous people who have passed away.

Riot Kitty -

It was the best of the bunch - I think.

Kim said...

Ahhh, I have the hardest time weeding out my organizing & cooking magazines. (lot of good the organizing ones are doing, apparently!) :)
The cemetery photo is haunting and beautiful at the same time...

Ileana said...

That's a great photo, my friend!

I have over 20 cookbooks I've opened MAYBE once. I need to get rid of the kitchen clutter so I can enjoy cooking again.

Lynn said...

Kim -

Thank you and it is indeed difficult to get rid of recipes. Somehow I feel as if I might be tossing out the Oscar winning recipe of them all. :)

Ily -

Can you see the people in the distance? They are putting out Christmas wreaths on each grave - a monumental undertaking.

I vacillate between genres of cooking and have ended up with so many different kinds of cookbooks. I love healthy cooking with a twist and that is always what I am looking for...

Evalinn said...

Nice thoughts!

Lynn said...

Evalinn -

Thank you - it is good to see you!

Snaggle Tooth said...

Sounds like a good program to watch. Great pic- with an endless feeling to it-
I for one can never part with my mom's magical recipes! Or Fannie Farmer which is most often consulted.
Sounds like a perfect concert. My daughter's symphony performed that piece at Xmas years ago.

Lynn said...

Snaggle -

Oh my! Fannie Farmer is one of the books that went in the box. I still have it in the foyer. Hmmm.