tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15895111.post3883745347165764130..comments2023-11-03T12:44:19.948+01:00Comments on Orwell's Picnic ~: Things I knowHilary Jane Margaret Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03771332473693479830noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15895111.post-22495456104504482362011-03-11T18:37:52.452+01:002011-03-11T18:37:52.452+01:00"This little episode of medical distress has ..."This little episode of medical distress has reminded me that I had duties in life. And has made me wish I had fulfilled them better."<br /><br />I can relate to that. I'm eleven years older than you and in recent years have lamented the many mistakes and negligences of my life. <br />There's a beautiful prayer by St. Teresa that's helped me. I've copied it below.<br />God is in the business of redemption and restoration. He wants to and is able to make everything right in our lives in His own wonderful way. Nothing is truly lost.<br /><br />Prayer of St. Teresa of Avila:<br />O my God! Source of all mercy! I acknowledge Your sovereign power. While recalling the wasted years that are past, I believe that You, Lord, can in an instant turn this loss to gain. Miserable as I am, yet I firmly believe that You can do all things. Please restore to me the time lost, giving me Your grace, both now and in the future, that I may appear before You in "wedding garments." Amen.Garynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15895111.post-41818277415461348632011-03-09T05:29:09.501+01:002011-03-09T05:29:09.501+01:00Hilary,
I have been reading your blog for yea...Hilary, <br /><br /> <br /><br />I have been reading your blog for years but never commented, perhaps I should have. Your internet presence and writings have enriched my life. I believe you still have many gifts yet to give, and you may not realize what a benefit you are to others. <br /><br /> <br /><br />I think I can relate: I am single, childless and an only child. I had endometrial cancer at 49. I had surgery, and made it through. That was ten years ago. If I can offer any moral support as one who has "been there", please let me do so. Of course, I will pray for you. <br /><br /> <br /><br />FernAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15895111.post-16822914940225792992011-03-09T02:51:25.007+01:002011-03-09T02:51:25.007+01:00The best thing about this post was reminding me ho...The best thing about this post was reminding me how rich I am and how grateful I should be to all those good people who have taught me so much. Including you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15895111.post-79490762217556731382011-03-09T02:45:44.650+01:002011-03-09T02:45:44.650+01:00Really great post, Hilary. So thought-provoking th...Really great post, Hilary. So thought-provoking that I shared the main point with my 14yo daughter "what you are given is meant to be handed on." Just brilliant! I hope all goes well and will say prayers.<br /><br />God blessAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15895111.post-65845396538873045252011-03-08T12:37:31.923+01:002011-03-08T12:37:31.923+01:00I am very pleased with you all. You're all bei...I am very pleased with you all. You're all being very well behaved. Biscuits all 'round.Hilary Jane Margaret Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03771332473693479830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15895111.post-40149690498210543982011-03-08T10:45:34.007+01:002011-03-08T10:45:34.007+01:00Worry - “What? I can’t go to heaven like this! I’l...Worry - “What? I can’t go to heaven like this! I’ll be all cross and I won’t be able to enjoy it properly.”<br /><br />~<br /><br />This is funny. I really didn't have you down as the sort of Catholic who thinks they are going straight to heaven! There is actually an in-between stage, but you are not allowed to talk about it :-)Paul Smeatonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18085686998646292793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15895111.post-14031679989736148482011-03-08T07:52:17.672+01:002011-03-08T07:52:17.672+01:00I wish you could come live with me and teach my ch...I wish you could come live with me and teach my children things and let them destroy your concentration for awhile, and also teach me to dress better. Don't die, and if you do, can I have your hats? - KarenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15895111.post-6316450466140741442011-03-08T05:01:26.401+01:002011-03-08T05:01:26.401+01:00My dear Miss White,
I love you, etc., and am con...My dear Miss White, <br /><br />I love you, etc., and am concerned deeply and so forth.<br /><br />But on this matter of looking forward from 45 into the second half of life, even taking an unseemly liberality with your fractions, I wonder if you aren't just a tiny bit late for that.<br /><br />I hadn't thought you such a shameless optimist.<br /><br />I wish to assure you that as one with offspring, the little blighters don't listen to a single bloody thing you tell them and that, at that, a father is given to wondering if he mightn't have done something really useful otherwise. Everyone wonders now and then.<br /><br />The point, Miss White, is that you are a spinster of truly singular quality and contribution, and you should not doubt it. <br /><br />If such sentimentality may be let to stand.J D Carrierehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18360027310305183879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15895111.post-4970919084340241892011-03-08T04:22:25.318+01:002011-03-08T04:22:25.318+01:00The sisters and I here in Cambridge shall remember...The sisters and I here in Cambridge shall remember you and your intentions in our prayers during our time of Adoration throughout this week, Hilary. Know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. <br /><br />In Our Lady,<br />Sister Elizabeth Marie, SOLIAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15895111.post-84435425951083574402011-03-07T22:52:36.705+01:002011-03-07T22:52:36.705+01:00Mary, the trouble with that suggestion is that the...Mary, the trouble with that suggestion is that the internet has destroyed my attention span. I can't even read books these days, let alone write them.HJWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15895111.post-12208550726132243232011-03-07T22:05:54.012+01:002011-03-07T22:05:54.012+01:00What should you do to pass on your riches? Really,...What should you do to pass on your riches? Really, you don't know because it's obvious to me. You need to write a good book and find a better editor. <br /><br />I'd say you have been an inspiration but that would just embarrass us both so consider it unsaid.Maryhttp://www.againstallheresies.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15895111.post-8002936177766470662011-03-07T20:02:04.937+01:002011-03-07T20:02:04.937+01:00I wanted to write some empathetic drivel and say h...I wanted to write some empathetic drivel and say how well you've articulated nearly everything I felt last year during my 47 year-old bout with the male version of what I think you're writing about. But since you've set down such heartless rules and have threatened to "smite" me and stuff, I won't do that.<br /><br />You mean much to people you've never even met. Heaven will not go unstormed.<br /><br />Oh, and if you REALLY want children, you can always take mine!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15895111.post-6043730405681074812011-03-07T18:56:38.638+01:002011-03-07T18:56:38.638+01:00Definitely understand you on the "rejoicing&q...Definitely understand you on the "rejoicing" part, BTW.BillyHWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15895111.post-72473577558287136762011-03-07T18:38:11.824+01:002011-03-07T18:38:11.824+01:00- Eat nothing for two hours before going to bed.
-...- Eat nothing for two hours before going to bed.<br />- A glass of red wine before bed is helpful.<br />- Take some Tums or other calcium carbonate tablets before going to sleep.<br />- Trust in the Lord.<br /><br />I sympathize with you. I went through a similar thing about 10 years ago.Mark S. Abelnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06692448528819277158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15895111.post-8690532539914146472011-03-07T18:23:35.200+01:002011-03-07T18:23:35.200+01:00Skipping lunch today for you.Skipping lunch today for you.BillyHWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15895111.post-49396814479236024002011-03-07T18:22:15.578+01:002011-03-07T18:22:15.578+01:00There is a Ralph Stanley song for just about every...There is a Ralph Stanley song for just about everything you say. Or to paraphrase Pieper, one day you look at the world with all its glamours and it looks like a carnival site the day after.<br />Hugh McDonald of Niagara<br />brother of illustrious Paul<br />(verification word alsedle)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15895111.post-19615535229785297292011-03-07T18:21:43.624+01:002011-03-07T18:21:43.624+01:00I was pleased to come away from my visit to the Ge...I was pleased to come away from my visit to the Gemelli Ambulatore last Tuesday, and be able to say to myself, "Well, so I haven't got necrotising fasciitis. That's a relief!"Hilary Jane Margaret Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03771332473693479830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15895111.post-43955021114434863052011-03-07T18:21:10.620+01:002011-03-07T18:21:10.620+01:00Dittoes. For me to go into detail as to just how...Dittoes. For me to go into detail as to just how much I can "relate to this" would be to nauseate, I'm sure; and so let me just thank you again for your writing. You have helped re-direct this fellow fortysomething back to the good stuff more times than I can count. Keep bringing the gelato back to the 'lypse. <br /><br />TomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15895111.post-11652957089162498942011-03-07T18:20:28.373+01:002011-03-07T18:20:28.373+01:00We will do our best in the Saskatoon office to kee...We will do our best in the Saskatoon office to keep brows unfurrowed and the well-wishing to an absolute minimum. <br /><br />Don't have malaria.<br /><br />There. Cheers!<br /><br />Dave :)Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08801760878458041840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15895111.post-14857161118335790222011-03-07T17:30:11.597+01:002011-03-07T17:30:11.597+01:00Thanks for the heads-up, kiddo. I was starting to ...Thanks for the heads-up, kiddo. I was starting to wonder if I should consider being concerned.<br /><br />"all the incredible riches I have been given by the people who have taught me things. These are things that I have been given by others. I can’t claim they were mine, except for the time I had them, but I have finally come to understand why I was given them. I was supposed to give them to someone else." - yes, exactly so. This is our duty in life. Well said (as always).Michael Chorneynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15895111.post-83223540288871118272011-03-07T17:15:22.791+01:002011-03-07T17:15:22.791+01:00Honest and beautiful article, Hilary. You have no...Honest and beautiful article, Hilary. You have no idea how many lives you've touched this far and what God truly has in store for your life :) God is good.Kate Bryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14833797552350531791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15895111.post-56480795325891487012011-03-07T16:52:26.751+01:002011-03-07T16:52:26.751+01:00Keep thinking girl. (is just one x too sympathetic...Keep thinking girl. (is just one x too sympathetic? ) <br />If I was in Rome I would bring you for a Guiness.Ursula canBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01677879012705076204noreply@blogger.com