General Agricola was restless; for three nights he did not sleep. The Caledonians were plotting, of this he was certain. They were a pompous lot, thinking they could defeat his legions.
There was fire in his belly and he was determined to prove himself irreplaceable to the emperor, Vespasian.
Agricola summoned his first officer, Acilius. “I require the services of the scribe, Tertius. Depart immediately and bring him to me.”
Acilius did as commanded. The wizened scribe, Tertius, sat at the foot of Agricola, his calamus at the ready. He began the most crucial message of his life.
Her friend did not die but their precious relationship did. What makes a solid friendship come crashing down like a sandcastle, a friendship we think will test the tides of time and prevail?
The vitriolic words from her friend’s mouth were like a slow-burning poison in her gut. Never had she been so verbally and needlessly attacked. It was shocking; she will never speak with her friend again. Anger of such magnitude reveals a person’s true colors.
What a selfish way to act. What an awful way for a friendship to die.
Jim at Song Lyric Sunday has asked us today to name a song we’d like to have played at our funeral. Well, I don’t want a funeral – a small gathering after my cremation will suffice – but I’ve always had music in my life so why not in death?
Truth be told, I already have a playlist prepared when I “shuffle off this mortal coil”. It wasn’t easy to choose the songs – not because I was getting verklempt but because there are just too many songs I love. However, there’s one special song that has always meant a great deal to me and it only seems appropriate.
I’m talking about “In My Life” by The Beatles.
The song is said to be based on John Lennon’s life; he wrote most of the lyrics after writing his book “In His Own Write”. The lyrics about friends refer to Stu Sutcliffe, an early Beatle and great friend of John’s who died in 1962, and a school mate named Pete Shotton. John also thought of his Aunt Mimi (who raised him), his wife Cynthia and his mother Julia who in 1958 was knockeddown and killedby a car drivenby an off-duty policeman.
When The Beatles recorded the song, they left an opening in the middle for the instrumental break. Producer George Martin filled it in by playing a piano solo and speeding up the tape to make it sound like a harpsichord, giving the song a baroque feel and inspiring pop music producers to use harpsichords and other similar instruments in their future arrangements.
“In My Life” is found on The Beatles’ “Rubber Soul” album; it was voted the best song of all time by a panel of songwriters in a 2000 Mojo magazine poll. Rolling Stone magazine ranked “In My Life” number 23 on its 2004 list of “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” as well as fifth on its list of The Beatles’ “100 Greatest Songs”. The song placed second on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s “50 Tracks“. According to Acclaimed Music, as of 2020 it was the 194th most celebrated song in popular music history. Judy Collins, Ozzy Osbourne, James Taylor, Johnny Cash, Rod Stewart, Bette Midler, Diana Krall and Boyz II Men are among the many artists who have recorded covers.
“A little piece of artwork” was the way John referred to “In My Life”. I feel the same way; I have a framed copy of the lyrics in my bedroom – see my graphic above. There isn’t one word in that song that does not resonate profoundly with me. The musical accompaniment, in my opinion, could not be a better match. “In My Life” is just one more example of why The Beatles are and always will be the greatest musical group to ever grace this planet.
There’s a good chance you know all the words to this song; I certainly do – they are carved into my heart. I hope whoever is at my celebration of life will sing along with this touching and beautiful song.
There are places I’ll remember All my life though some have changed Some have gone and some remain All these places had their moments With lovers and friends, I still can recall Some are dead and some are living In my life, I’ve loved them all
But of all these friends and lovers There is no one compares with you And these memories lose their meaning When I think of love as something new Though I know I’ll never lose affection For people and things that went before I know I’ll often stop and think about them In my life, I’ll love you more
Though I know I’ll never lose affection For people and things that went before I know I’ll often stop and think about them In my life, I’ll love you more.
Written by: Lennon-McCartney Recorded: October 18-22, 1965 Producer: George Margin Engineer: Norman Smith Released: December 3, 1965 (UK) December 6, 1965 (US) Available on: Rubber Soul
PERSONNEL – John Lennon: vocals, rhythm guitar Paul McCartney: harmony vocals, bass George Harrison: harmony vocals, lead guitar Ringo Starr: drums George Martin: piano, tambourine
Did you ever lie on you back on warm July grass and watch the clouds change from one glorious design to another, sun rays streaking through like beams from heaven while a hint of a rainbow appears and you whisper in wonderstruck tones “This is so ineffably awesome”?
Born in Bethlehem, mother was Mary, father was Joseph. Well, let the record show he was actually my ‘foster father‘. My real father is the big man upstairs. Crazy, right? What with Him and me and the Holy Spirit being Three in One, it’s complicated – kinda like the Fab Four only not. Damn, those boys are good. People say they’re even bigger than me.
Oh, please, no need to introduce yourselves. I’ve known you since you were in your mother’s womb. Actually, since before that. Again – it’s complicated.
I’d like to address a few things. That ‘questionable relationship’ between Mary Magdalene and me? Yeah, it happened and let me tell you – once you’ve had your feet washed by Mary’s tears and dried by her long brown hair, there’s no going back. But I digress.
Do you people really believe I wanted to come to earth, take on human form, and die for your sorry asses? You all saw the picture of me in the Garden of Gethsemane. I was sweating blood. Hell, I was crying blood. And yet you think you’re ‘deserving‘? Think again!
I never asked for it – roaming the desert, preaching, choosing my disciples, performing miracles, being adored on Palm Sunday [ok, I have to admit the miracles and adoration were pretty cool] but the tempers that raged? No piece of cake.
The denials and betrayals by those I loved most. The badgering by Pontius Pilate and Herod Antipas. The humiliation by the Roman soldiers. My unimaginably agonizing crucifixion – looking down from the cross to see my mother a broken woman.
And for what?! Look at you! Have you learned nothing in two thousand years? Oh, there are some good ones among you but most of you make me sad, regret giving up my life so that you could be saved. Eternal life! How many of you deserve eternal life?
Let’s take a quick look around. The deceit, corruption, lies, immorality, hatred, killings, greed, war, the democrats, the republicans, the Arabs and Jews (still!), Brexit, Russia, Ukraine, China, COVID, vaccines, artificial intelligence, the media, the Trumps, the Bidens, the Royals, the WORLD! Liar, liar! Pants on fucking fire!
What have you done to this perfect Garden of Eden my Father created? Pollution, climate change, deforestation, over-fishing, food waste. Call it what it is: ‘The Gang Bang of Mother Earth‘!
Our collective trio of hearts is breaking. As my sweet George likes to say: ‘Isn’t it a pity?‘
Get your acts together, people, before it’s too late. Love one another as I have loved you. And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make.
She was much too young, too ravishing to be a widow.
The essence of propriety, she sat on a chair at the foot of her husband’s coffin, graciously greeting those who came to pay their respects.
Her husband’s beloved Adagio in G Minor played softly in the background.
A tear escaped and she dabbed her eye with a lace handkerchief. Her stepson, her husband’s grown son, stood behind her, a conciliatory hand lightly on her shoulder.
The Elephant's Trunk 