Katy McKenna Raymond  
Personal blog of christian writer Katy McKenna Raymond in Kansas City, Missouri

Personal blog of christian
writer & fallible mom
Katy McKenna Raymond
in Kansas City, Missouri


Katy is represented by
Greg Johnson at
WordServe Literary

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LateBoomer.net

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Having seven girl cousins who were born and bred in Scotland is a novelty, and would be altogether fun if not for the fact that here I am a middle-aged woman and, "I hardly knew ye.." This past summer, all that began to change. My husband, Doug, and I, new and ardent converts to traditional Irish music, decided to go to the old country and absorb the culture. Absorb it we did, and got to know a whole slew of relatives into the bargain. We stayed only a couple of days with my cousin Mary in Denny, Scotland. But, as a result, she and her sister Josephine and their husbands came to the U.S. for the first time ever, and stayed with us in October. They met, finally, all of their American cousins, and were the guests of honor at parties and reunions and sightseeing excursions galore. In a way, they are still the guests of honor. A family get-together doesn't pass without bringing up the crisp memories of those fleeting autumn days. I'd thought I'd include some excerpts of my New Year's letter to Mary and Jo. In it, I mention both religion and politics, so read no further if you were hoping rather for sex and money. Dear Mary and Jo, I hope you had enjoyable and memorable holidays, but you, not being Americans, missed the simultaneous thrill of an unresolved election and the embarassment of an entire election "machine" run by people who can't count! Yesterday, though, made up for it in the minds of us Republicans, as the Bushes moved in and the Clintons moved out. Sometime yesterday morning, Bill and Hillary were seen dancing "their last dance" in the foyer of the White House. If true, it's the most innocent thing that's happened there in eight years. While we don't know yet if Bush is a great man, we are reasonably certain that he is a good man, and for that we are breathing a sigh of relief. Greatness is a revealed trait, often unable to manifest itself until trying circumstances arise, and so we shall have to wait. Goodness, on the other hand, is obvious to all. It's just that some people don't value it too highly. And so they vote Democrat. I'm kidding. Really. Our holidays were fun in spite of it all, and even full of fresh resolve to do more and be better. On Christmas Day, while we were all sitting around the table, my 70-year old mother announced she'd made two New Year's resolutions. All of our mouths dropped open, since we'd never heard her resolve anything before! "The first one is to go to church more often," she said, but then came the caveat. "Of course, I went to Mass with Liz and John last night, and in the middle of it, I leaned over to them and said, 'I hate this!'" (You know, she is a convert to Catholicism, and I'm not sure she ever took to it wholeheartedly.) Then came her second resolution, to our collective baited breath. "And I've decided to have more fun." Well, this we've got to see! And I hope we do--whenever she's on the verge of having fun, something pulls her back from the edge. She either talks herself out of it, or doesn't feel well, or something. Anyway, she was serious about this "fun" thing, so we are trying to help her follow through. I suggested if she'd just go to a "fun" church, she could kill two birds, but no one found me amusing. Our oldest son Scott (the one you didn't get to meet) had not noticed my newest appliance, the one Josephine installed, the clothesline, until about a week ago. He was eating at the kitchen table, looked out and said, "What is that?" "A clothesline," I answered. "What is it for?" he queried. You get the idea of the level on which we sometimes converse. I told him I intend to leave it up for the duration of my time on earth, to which he could only respond, "Why?" A college education ain't what it used to be. Our sweet daughter Carrie is finishing out her first year at "------- Christian University," but has been dismayed since arriving there in August and finding out that she, herself, is not a Christian. Surprise, surprise! We had not anticipated this denominational bugaboo, innocents that we are, but it has been an unacceptable environment for her to remain in for the long term. Next fall, she will transfer to Kansas State University, where a number of her friends attend, and where no one cares enough to define for you the exact address of your eternal destination. Thank God for public schools! Hmmm...I never thought I'd say that. At my niece Shaylyn's first birthday party last night, my sister Mary Baillie was telling us the dream she'd had the night before. She dreamed our whole family (my mom, siblings, spouses, children, cat and our dog Bono) hopped on a plane and went to see the cousins in Scotland, and guess where we stayed? With Mary and Frank! In the dream, you lived in a castle, on acres and acres of voluptuous countryside. I told Mary that your house wasn't large, and you probably couldn't handle a big crowd, at least not for the month-long visit indicated by her dream, but she could not be dissuaded. "I never have dreams that are so clear, so life-like!" she exclaimed. "I think it must be a sign from God." A bonafide religious experience, wouldn't you say? Thank you so much for the Scottish calendar! It is the same style your mom used to send my dad back in the fifties--I love that era. I will frame the prints after the year ends, and auld acquaintance shall not be forgot. Wishing you, your hubbies, your sisters and all your children a wonderful New Year, with the high hope of us staying as close as sisters! I love you very much. Katy
Posted by Katy on 01/21/01 at 05:11 PM
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