On the minus eighth day of Christmas, which is today, I don't feel very Christmassy, but I know how to rectify that. From now until Christmas I'll write about Christmassy things. And so:
Nativity.
At Townsend Park, where my mum lives, the men have made lifesize painted plywood Christmas decorations and placed them at various points throughout the grounds. There are Disneyesque mice in red Christmas hats saluting near the flower bed, thin angels blowing golden horns at the end of the drive, reindeer with mouselike features prancing on the oval, and, the piece de resistance, a nativity scene in the gazebo, complete with everybody but the infant Jesus.
This lack of a baby Jesus is quite concerning. Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and the wise men staring into an empty cradle.
Has he been stolen?
Or has Easter come early?
Showing posts with label angels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label angels. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Fork Off
How is it funny advice? asked Pliny the Elder.
Well, you know, even if heaven is smiling and so on, it's a bad idea to press on before the lights turn green, I answered.
Oh I see, he said. Is that the way it works? You must only cross when the light turns green? I go whenever I see the little red or green walking man.
Then heaven must certainly be smiling on you, I said.
Yes, I shall revise my practice, said Pliny. As to the advice on the church poster, apart from its inappropriateness in the vicinity of traffic lights, what do you suppose it to mean? You said you liked it.
Well, I said, although I thought heaven and the angels were a bit over the top, I really liked Press on. It's such an encouraging exhortation for anyone whose resolve is faltering.
I agree with that, said Pliny. I do not like heaven and the angels either. If heaven and the angels are smiling and rejoicing over you, why in the name of all the gods would you want to press on? Surely you would do well to remain exactly where you were.
I hadn't thought of that, I said, but you are quite right. Church posters often do say funny things. Today we drove past one which said, If you come to a fork in the road, take it.
Strange advice, agreed Pliny.
Strangely appropriate for us as it happened, I said. We were about to take the first road on the right. But as a general piece of advice, I found it wanting. It doesn't tell you which fork to take. It's fine if you're on a main road and another road forks off. But what if you're on a road that forks in two directions?
In that case, said Pliny, it would pay to have some idea of where you were going, and press on.
Well, you know, even if heaven is smiling and so on, it's a bad idea to press on before the lights turn green, I answered.
Oh I see, he said. Is that the way it works? You must only cross when the light turns green? I go whenever I see the little red or green walking man.
Then heaven must certainly be smiling on you, I said.
Yes, I shall revise my practice, said Pliny. As to the advice on the church poster, apart from its inappropriateness in the vicinity of traffic lights, what do you suppose it to mean? You said you liked it.
Well, I said, although I thought heaven and the angels were a bit over the top, I really liked Press on. It's such an encouraging exhortation for anyone whose resolve is faltering.
I agree with that, said Pliny. I do not like heaven and the angels either. If heaven and the angels are smiling and rejoicing over you, why in the name of all the gods would you want to press on? Surely you would do well to remain exactly where you were.
I hadn't thought of that, I said, but you are quite right. Church posters often do say funny things. Today we drove past one which said, If you come to a fork in the road, take it.
Strange advice, agreed Pliny.
Strangely appropriate for us as it happened, I said. We were about to take the first road on the right. But as a general piece of advice, I found it wanting. It doesn't tell you which fork to take. It's fine if you're on a main road and another road forks off. But what if you're on a road that forks in two directions?
In that case, said Pliny, it would pay to have some idea of where you were going, and press on.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Press On
Pliny and Nostradamus went to the Lunch Hour Concert today. Pliny's mum is in Ballina enjoying wind, rain and storms.
In Adelaide it is a beautiful day. The sky is blue and interlaced with yellow autumn leaves. At the lights on Frome Street near the Church of Christ Scientist is a poster that reads: Heaven smiles on you. Angels rejoice in you. Press on.
Pliny likes this. But she thinks it is funny advice to place at traffic lights.
In Adelaide it is a beautiful day. The sky is blue and interlaced with yellow autumn leaves. At the lights on Frome Street near the Church of Christ Scientist is a poster that reads: Heaven smiles on you. Angels rejoice in you. Press on.
Pliny likes this. But she thinks it is funny advice to place at traffic lights.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
