NEW BEGINNINGS
As the saying goes, you can’t go home again. But you can go visit. We spent a wonderful day in Bethlehem at Lehigh University celebrating the inauguration of Lehigh’s 15th president, Joe Helble. The campus looked lovely, and the ceremony had the requisite pomp prompting misty eyes. The Chief Penguin and I were pleased to see and chat with so many former colleagues and friends. The experience was simultaneously a trip down memory lane and a day of optimism for the future. Go Lehigh, cheers for the Brown and White!
RECENT READING–SUPER LIBRARIAN
The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
Marie Benedict writes novels focused on strong women, usually ones who have been ignored by history or not fully appreciated. I’ve read several of her works, but this one stands out as one of the best. Bella da Costa Greene was initially hired by financier J. P. Morgan to catalog and document his library of rare manuscripts and books. Over time, her role expanded. She became his chief negotiator and agent in the purchase of new items, even traveling to England and the Continent solo. Their relationship was a close one, both professionally and personally, and after Morgan’s death, she was named the first director of the library. All of this would be remarkable enough for the early 20th century when few women had such prominent positions, but Greene had a big secret. Born Black, she had lived as a white woman since her teens. Benedict and Murray’s novel depicts the stresses and challenge of maintaining this façade at a time of more rabid racism.
This book will delight my librarian friends and is a welcome tribute to one woman’s determination and accomplishments. Partly due to her efforts, the Morgan Library transitioned from a strictly private library to a library and museum open to the public. Now I need to make another visit! (~JWFarrington)
COMPELLING LIVE THEATER!
To Kill a Mockingbird
After a long Covid hiatus, Broadway is back. The other evening, we went to see To Kill a Mockingbird, and it was simply marvelous! The entry lines for checking vaccination status moved along efficiently, and masks were required in line and everywhere in the theater. Theater staff enforced mask wearing, citing individuals with a reminder if they weren’t complying. We had third row seats and the hall was full.
Like many, I first read Harper Lee’s novel when I was a teen and then again later in life. I recalled upright Atticus Finch and Scout, his curious, frisky little girl. Set in the 1930’s in a small Alabama town, multiple strands are interwoven with the main plot. Atticus’s willingness to defend an innocent Black man against death penalty charges is consistent with his belief in the goodness and decency in everyone. Later, his belief is tested when events spin out of control. His two children, Jem and Scout, and their friend Dill don’t always understand or agree with him, but they defend him. It’s a powerful play, set in a different time, yet with messages that resonate today. Despite its seriousness, there are occasional bits of humor, often provided by the children acting as chorus and interpreters.
Jeff Daniels as Atticus and Cecilia Keenan-Bolger as Scout are both superb, while Michael Braugher is convincing in his Broadway debut as the accused Tom Robinson. Highly recommended! (~JWFarrington)
CRAFT IN THE KITCHEN
Clementines for Halloween
My older granddaughter loves to bake, but she also enjoys just puttering in the kitchen and inventing creative ways to make edible food items. In anticipation of Halloween, she devised a clever way to showcase clementines as jack o’lanterns.
Peeled clementines are decorated with a banana slice and some green colored yogurt for the top and the stem. Eyes, nose, and mouth are devised from slices of prune glued on with molasses or honey. Sprinkles or other decorative touches can also be incorporated. This was a fun activity for both granddaughters and me. E also has her own blog, but since it’s available by invitation only, I’m unable to share the link. Suffice it to say, she wrote a detailed recipe complete with a photo.
Note: Header photo of Lehigh’s University Center (Packer Hall) and clementines ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved).
