"Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset." Saint Francis De Sales

Friday, February 13, 2015

My Slow, "Humble," Takes About Me.


1. I have had dreams like this.


2. One of my favorite movies is “El Cid,” from 1961. After the death of king Ferdinand, the kingdom is divided into three parts. One for each of the surviving children. The eldest, Sancho, claims the throne and sends his brother Alfonso to the dungeon of Zamora. On the way, Rodrigo de Vivar, El Cid, intercepts the guard escorting Alfonso.

Rodrigo: “Will you give me your prisoner, or must I take him?”
Captain of the guard: “There are 13 of us and you are alone.”
Rodrigo: “What you do is against God's law. Were you 13 times 13
I would not be alone.”
Captain of the guard: “What kind of a man are you?”

It is a great scene and I enjoy it each time I watch the movie.

Charlton Heston as Rodrigo de Vivar
3. Kelly requested that we share “some mundane details about your life?!”

I am French-Canadian with a mix of Ojibwa and Scottish blood. An odd combination for one who was born in Hampton, Virginia. However, my Dad was from Chazy, New York near the Canadian border. His parents were from Canada. He met Mom in Hampton during WWII and they were married in '46.

We moved from Virginia, to Vermont then Maine and on to Cortland, New York. We finally settled in Buffalo, New York. I attended Canisius College and graduated with a degree in Business Management. Dee and I were married in ’71 and raised three sons. We now have six grandchildren. We moved to Richmond, Virginia about twenty years ago. I attended the University of Richmond and completed a certificate for Information Processing Systems. This was a career change that God pointed me to and I’m glad I listened to Him.

The Forgette Clan; Stephen, Eric, Dee, Todd and Me.
4. I enjoy writing and have a journal that I have kept since March of 1975. Inspiration or the desire to keep a journal came from the book “The Siren Years,” written by Charles Richie. He was a Canadian diplomat who wrote about his experiences during and after World War II. He wrote about the daily things that he experienced. There was no plot, no heroic figures or cowboys riding off into the sunset. When I go back to read about me in 1975 or 1980, I see a me who has grown in my spiritual journey. Thankful to God and knowing that He has always been there guiding me through my life.

5. Historical miniatures are another hobby I have enjoyed for a long time. I have always been interested in history and have researched Ancient Greece through to the Napoleonic Wars. I have painted armies from these periods, filling my house with a lot of “toy soldiers.” My current area of concentration is the French and Indian Wars in North America and the American Revolution.

6. I played bagpipes with the Greater Richmond Pipe and Drums. That’s me next to the piper wearing the cowboy hat. I’m wearing my Turnbull Clan kilt. 


7. I enjoy red wines and single malt scotch. Dee is an excellent cook, so my favorite foods are her Italian sauce with rigatoni, meatballs, sausage and braciole, strombolli, apple pie and french toast.  I am a cradle Catholic but was late in recognizing the importance of my spiritual journey with Christ. Dee and I share in our faith and are involved in various ministries at our church. Reading is another hobby of mine. My favorite authors; J. R. R. Tolkien, Terry Brooks and Bernard Cornwell.


Read other "Takes" at "This Ain't the Lyceum."

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