The sun is back at last. We had a week or so of rain and it was depressing. We both agreed that had we endured the month or more of the weather in Philadelphia area we would be even more so. So once again it is the “Sunshine State”. There were many comments regarding its name especially by vacationers who packed up and left after days of rain.
There is a common phenomenon, which I have enjoyed over the years, the friendship of men in a group. I had never actually thought about it but was made very aware of it, and of my enjoyment of it, by discussions of it in two books. One was a book devoted almost entirely to the subject called “Inklings”. The other was in a biography of “Augustine of Hippo” where the author quotes the extensive writings on the subject by Augustine. “Inklings” was the name of a group who met at Oxford in the ’40’s in the rooms of C.S.Lewis and at a local pub. It had as its members, himself, his brother Warren (Warnie), JRR Tolkien, and Charles Williams- all authors. “Jack” Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien were professors at Oxford in literature of different periods. So naturally the discussions were on literature mostly and they each read aloud their work as it was being written. (I came across a reference to the “Inklings” in another book I am reading published in 2003:”…in England, as a group of Christian writers called the ‘Inklings’ sought to evoke the Middle Ages…”)
The other group of men who enjoyed gathering together happened in late years of 300 A.D. They were interested in philosophy, theology, and literature of the time. This was Augustine’s group, called ‘servi dei’ (servants of God). Lewis and Tolkien were into creating stories with mythological qualities, like “Hobbit”, “Lord of the Rings”, “Chronicles of Narnia”, and “Prelandria” all of which continue to be read even today. In fact at one point Lewis declared regarding the “The Lord of the Rings”, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if it really succeeded (in selling I mean)? It would inaugurate a new age. Dare we hope?” He should be around today to see the age of “Harry Potter” which owes part of its birth to JK Rowling’s admiring and reading the ‘Chronicles of Narnia’,a Lewis mythological story. Then there are those movies of JRR Tolkien’s works that certainly seem to have “really succeeded”. In reading of Augustine’s group I was reminded of the meetings I attend with a group of men who discuss Biblical subjects. Such discussion inevitably lead to talk of philosophy in it barest forms. The warmth and interest of one group, which meets at 6:15 in the morning, reinforce the concept that these groups are enjoyable. I can’t say I’ve ever sat with a group and discussed literature per se but I have many times met with groups of men interesting in other subjects, like the sport of running and golf. They consisted mostly of learning about how to do it better. I am sure most the men have experienced the fun and enjoyment of sharing ideas, even on those subjects more mundane than philosophy and literature. Lewis says this about those who join in these types of discussions, “The man, who agrees with us that some questions, little regarded by others, are of great importance, can be our friend. He need not agree with us about the answers.” In some instances the groups I have been with have been as large as 20 or as little as three or four but the size doesn’t hinder the quality and the banter that ensues. The groups I read about were “men only”. Lewis was a bachelor till almost 55 years of age, and Augustine became a celibate priest and bishop early in his life (37 years of age). He had spent part of the years prior to that living with a concubine in what we would call today a “common law” marriage. Such relationships incidentally were socially and religiously accepted in those days. The term “religiously accepted” here meant accepted by Augustine and Christians. Both men were not quite misogynist but pretty close. Augustine was a big fan of the Apostle Paul and his thoughts about the place of women in your life. My own experience is that woman in a group either as a member of a committee seeking some goal, or part of class of ideas adds a whole new dimension. Augustine was so bad that he wrote this about Adam and Eve, “Why, after all, had God chosen to make a woman to live with Adam? If it was company and good conversation that Adam needed?” Augustine will answer, “it would have been much better arranged to have two men together, as friends, not a man and a woman” Of course, if Adam had been given such a companion the order to increase and multiply would have been impossible to fulfill. (I wonder how this suggestion would go over today with all the discussion and action re same sex marriage!) I think this exaggeration by Augustine was due to his love of the company of men and not from any sober thinking on the subject. His understanding was generally what all the men of that era thought about the place of women in their lives. Lewis likewise never prohibited the attendance of women; it just never came up. The culture of the University and the use of the Pub made it certain women would not be involved. JRR Toilken and Charles Williams were both married men and on occasions countered any really discriminatory remarks about women and their capacity to think. In spite of this deficiency in reasoning I found the idea one I agree with, namely there is great enjoyment in a group of men conversing about what they consider important subjects, whether it is God or Golf. Lewis was an Irishman having been born in Belfast. Another Irishman that enjoyed such meetings was Frank McCourt. The man whom some say put Limerick on the map as Joyce put Dublin. He, McCourt, didn’t agree with that remark since he wasn’t a fan of Joyce. But he after a hard day’s work in the 60’s would visit a bar where writers hung out. They would drink and tell stories. In an addition to literary types like Pete Hamill, there were the likes of Michael Harrington, the Clancy Brothers and Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Frank’s younger brother Malachy went along too and together they sang and told stories which eventually lead to a cabaret show called “A Couple of Blaguards”. It is still being shown as we recently saw it here in St.Petersburg. It opened on Broadway in 1984. He and his brother later formed a group that would meet on the First Friday of the month in rough accordance with the Roman Catholic tradition of those receiving communion on that day for nine months straight will die in the state of grace. They met in a bar called “Eamonn Doran”. Those stories later became part of the best selling book, “Angela Ashes” These type of events we see disappearing today in the rush of living and with so many other sources of education and entertainment. It was refreshing to read of it and how it enhanced the ability of one doing it, to grow in friendship and learning. So I expect now after all this praise of men’s groups raising our knowledge and enjoyment, the ‘poker night’ will be permitted to continue.
The McSorley clan has a new member. On June 25,2003 Joseph and Sara Lukens received the gift of a son. As the lawyer father announced it, “Daniel Finnegan Lukens has entered his appearance”. I was surprised to see the unquestionable Irish moniker since I had no idea Joe and Sara were admirers of the Irish or their culture. I can envision Daniel Finnegan in a few years learning ‘step-dancing’ from his Irish cousins’ Luren, Dana, and Tara Walsh, daughters of Vince and Evelyn Walsh. I am sure with their help they will all be on the “River Dance XXXVI” in 2013. He, the new child, has given Joe a prime subject on which to practice his writing talents. He sent a three-page email about the first night of Finnegan being home. It could be one of the readings at the kind of groups about which we’ve been speaking. It was appropriately entitled “Finnegan’s A-Wake”.
We spent the first week of July with Mike Golden (June’s son) and his family at a condo in St.Pete’s beach. It was called “Caprice” as in “an unaccountable change of mind or conduct” and it was all of that. We had good weather and the view from our balcony was breathtaking. We could look out over the Gulf, there was not beach immediately in front of us. Then turning our eyes left we could survey southerly the entire St. Pete’s beach from where we were at it northern end with the beach extending and bending out further into the gulf to the southernmost point of the peninsula where “Pas-a-grille” lies. The balcony was in shade most of the day so it was perfect for this “sun-lover”. Immediately below us was the resort’s pool. We managed to venture into it at least once a day. The gulf was so warm on one day it was like a sauna and not great for lounging in, so it was back to the pool. We naturally ate too much but we did walk every day. I got off usually by 6:45 AM to beat the heat and sun, and June usually a short time later. Most of the time I had the pleasure of reading. I was and am working on two rather large tomes but not as large as “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” which is 869 pages. I gave it to June for a birthday present on June 28th and she finished it while we there. In fact, she stopped on the night before our last full day for fear she would have nothing to read at the beach tomorrow. Grandson Matt Golden was also reading it but not at that pace.
Until next time we get this chance to send along our ‘thoughts’, pax tecum!