. . . I feel that I should acknowledge what has been said about me on This Ain’t the Lyceum, and must disclose the following:
Ah’m a-splurgin’!
That’s what I said in my best Yosemite Sam voice to my daughter, as I grabbed a large bottle of hot sauce off the shelf at the supermarket, rather than our customary medium-sized bottle of hot sauce. Only problem was, it wasn’t my daughter. It was some stranger, who moved on quickly.
Anyway, I just went on a bit of a book-buying spree with some Amazon credits you lovely folks helped me earn by buying Amazon items through my link (and if you can’t see the blue ad on the right sidebar, you can find a quick link in the tab at the top of the blog, where it says “Shop Amazon here!“).
It’s mainly my eleven-year-old son who was looking for something to read. I think I may have picked some stuff that was a little young for him, but he will live (and his nine-year-old brother, who prone to settle for comic books, will definitely enjoy these). Here is what I ordered (note: the pictures may not neccessarily be from the same edition I’m linking to. I just chose what I thought was the best illustration of the book):
both by Mary Nash. Both of these are great reads, so weird and funny. Three siblings, the boy with the complicated conscience, the slightly prissy girl, and the nakedly awful little brother Theobold, nicknamed “The Toad,” find ways to subvert the tender care of their housekeeper, Mrs. Coverlet. I read these as a kid and they totally held up. Nice portrayal of realistic sibling relationships.
by John Fitzgerald. This is the eighth in the wonderful Great Brain series, and I don’t think we’ve read this one yet. It does not appear to have been illustrated by Mercer Mayer, like the others, which is a shame. If you’re not familiar with the series, which tells of a Catholic family in Mormon Utah dealing with their intelligent, unscrupulous, money-grubbing son and his gullible younger brother, you should get a hold of them asap. Great for sneaking in a little history, too.
by Joan Aiken, illustrated by Quentin Blake Just tons of fun. I love anything by Joan Aiken. Here she is just enjoying herself as a storyteller, following the antics of a nice girl and her unreliable pet, with lighthearted stories told in a remarkably sophisticated literary style. Love how Aiken understands children, but doesn’t talk down to them.
by Walter R. Brooks, illustrated by Kurt Weise. I know I’ve gone on and on about the “Freddy the Pig” series. We’re slowly working our way through the list, and haven’t hit a dud yet. Great for reading aloud for all ages.
by Norton Juster, illustrated by Jules Feiffer. Written and illustrated by the same guys who did The Phantom Tollbooth, which my kids loved to death, even though I often had to explain both sides of the puns. I actually heard this book was a bit of a disappointment, but even if it’s not quite as good as tollbooth, that’s still pretty good! I’ll let you know what we think.
I also ordered a few books for myself:
by Leif Enger. I read Peace Like a River and was blown away. It’s one of those fascinating writing styles that teeters on the brink of magical preciousness, but never quite topples over the edge, and takes you to some amazing places. Peace Like a Riverwas so original and captivating, I’m really looking forward to this newish book by Enger.
Kristin Lavransdatter III: The Cross
by Sigrid Undset, translated by Tiina Nunnally. I will admit that I had only the shakiest grasp on the plot in about 40% of part II. The politics and the complicated family trees were just beyond me. But I have the general idea, and I totally got the emotional end of the story, and I gotta find out what happens to Kristin.
So! Thanks again for shopping through my Amazon links and helping me keep our bookshelves overflowing! What are you reading lately?
7 Quick Takes: When I Was Little
Just for fun, let’s go way, way back to early childhood– say, age five and under. For reference, I was born in 1974. Here’s what I remember:
1. My favorite outfit
I had a dress that was white on the top and knit plaid on the bottom. It had a breast pocket that was clear plastic so you could see a picture of a lion inside. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my life. Actually, I’m sure it was hideous and unbearably tacky, but I remember wearing it to Mass, which means my mother must have understood how much I loved it.
I also had not one, but two pairs of corduroy pants that were lined with plaid flannel. My mother got that at Marsen’s Army Navy Department Store. I made sure my cuffs were turned up so everyone knew what wonderful pants they were.
2. Favorite disgusting kid food
On Saturdays, we had grinders at our house; which meant that there were leftover grinder rolls on Sundays. And that meant that we could come home after Mass and sit at the table reading Archie comics and dipping hunks of rolls in orange juice or Coke. Exquisite!
PIC Pop Tate does not approve.
3. Earliest memory
I was walking down the front steps, and my big sister, Abby, said, “Way to go, Simmy!” So I must have been walking with one foot on each step, instead of carefully setting both feet on a step before proceeding down. I remember thinking something like, “Can’t stop to listen, gotta concentrate” and the zooming away, feeling powerful and brave.
I also remember getting my head stuck under the couch. Normally, my head would fit under the couch, but I was wearing two pony tails with those plastic ball elastics.
PIC Goody beaded ponytail holders
Why don’t they sell those anymore? Those were great. Unless you are trying to get your head out from under the couch.
4. Biggest fear
Nothing original here. The idea of my parents dying was the worst thing I could imagine. I remember sitting with my three older sisters, trying to come up with a loving sentiment to put in the newspaper for one of those special Mother’s Day pages. My contribution was, “Happy Mother’s Day. I hope you don’t die too soon.”
5. Favorite book
Richard Scarry’s Best Storybook Ever
I liked the cartoony stories full of dumb crooks, Lowly Worm, and crazy detailed diagrams of every possible item of clothing a rabbit could own, and such, but I was completely captivated by the more realistic illustrations — the ones of the baby bear who rode on his father’s shoulders, the bunny who shopped in a candy store, the hedgehog who found a perfect apple in the snow and brought it home for his wife. Gorgeous, and a paradise of warmth and security.
Plus, this book is long. I felt like I could keep reading it forever and never run out of nice things.
6. Secret desire
The living room, I thought, would be an earthly paradise if only the floor slanted down from the walls toward the center, and the bottom were covered with pillows and toys, so you could just slide and play, slide and play all day. (Now that I am an adult, our living room is strangely like this, except it only slants one way, there are apple cores, rolls of toilet paper that the dogs chewed up, broken Christmas ornaments, and missing cell phone chargers mixed in with the pillows and toys. It does not feel like paradise, per se.)
7. Earliest dream I can remember
I was eating a banana, when he suddenly got mad, became enormous, and ate me.
PIC banana biting man
First one to say “Calling Doctor Freud” is out. (More banana art here.)
Now your turn!
Favorite Outfit
Favorite Disgusting Kid Food
Earliest Memory
Biggest Fear
Favorite Book
Secret Desire
Earliest Dream you can remember
And don’t forget to check out Conversion Diary for the other Seven Quick Takes. Happy Friday, everyone!
If you wrote to me and didn’t get an answer . . .
I’m sorry. I’m going through my inbox and am horrified at how many emails I never answered. I’m trying to respond to everything, but I know I’m going to miss some. If you have an urgent question, please send another email! And please don’t be offended. I am making an effort to respond immediately to emails, so they don’t get lost, but there is a lot of plate-spinning here, and I just drop stuff. I just do. Thanks for understanding!
The National Catholic Bioethics Center is kind of amazing
They are a great resource for all kinds of news and information about bioethics, including issues like brain death, use of vaccines, IVF and more.
Here is their pledge:
The National Catholic Bioethics Center believes the Catholic reverence for human life can help shape societal attitudes and public policy for the benefit of all, particularly for those who are weak and vulnerable.
The Center pledges its service to clergy, religious, and laity, especially those in the health care professions, as they face daily ethical challenges in the care and treatment of patients. In light of the convergence of civil law and scientific advancement, the Center also seeks to reach those who influence law and public policy. Indeed, the Center’s mission transcends religious boundaries in its application of ethical reflection consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Magisterium to society-at-large as we grapple with the complex issues posed by the rapid developments in medicine, science, and biotechnology.
The Center also pledges its fidelity to the magisterial teaching of the Church and to the bishops who provide leadership and pastoral guidance to clergy and laity on complex bioethical issues. The Center seeks to facilitate the critical partnership between dioceses and health care institutions in fulfilling their mutual commitment in service to the human person.
Today, I found out that they offer free ethics consultations, 24/7.
The NCBC guarantees that a credentialed ethicist will be available 24/7 to assist you, or any person, with those most difficult moral health care decisions one must make from the beginning to the end of life.
This is a real spiritual work of mercy. If you are inclined to donate to the NCBC, I know they would put your money to good use. They are providing something so important, as medical technology shoots so far and fast beyond what most people can understand. No one asked me to plug this! I was just very moved to hear that they offer this service for free. Good guys.
At the Register: Embarrassment vs. Shame
While I was writing today’s post, I whined on Facebook:
Can’t tell if I’m struggling because I have hold of an important idea that is worth working through, or because I’m tired and stupid and making something out of nothing.
to which the wise and paternal Mark Shea responded:
Catholics are a both/and people.
Anyway, here it is, the piece I might as well have entitled: PLEASE MISUNDERSTAND ME! Okay, end of preemtive whine.
This is the stupidest thing I have ever saw.
I do this all the time when I’m alone. I laughed so hard!
At the Register: How to thaw a frozen heart
Me, Mark Shea, Greg Popcak, and Elizabeth Scalia
I forgot to mention it the other day, but we four did a roundable hour on Sheila Liaugminas’ show on Relevant Radio on Friday. Fun, fun, fun! It went by very fast, so mostly I remember the part where Dr. Popcak expresses relief that he no longer needs to wear that unbecoming denim jumper. You can listen here.
Good reminder about the Jahi McMath case
No one will argue that what happened to Jahi McMath isn’t a tragedy. But, John Di Camillo of the National Catholic Bioethics Center reminds us, it may not be the cut-and-dry case of a hard-hearted hospital wedded to the culture of death that some reports are making it out to be.
Jahi McMath went in for tonsil surgery and ended up being declared brain dead three days later, and there has been a legal struggle ever since, to determine whether or not she can be moved to another facility which will agree to continue keeping her on life support. The whole story is horrible and heart-wrenching, and I can’t even begin to imagine what I would do if I were the parents of this girl.
But we, as readers, don’t know all the details of it. In an interview with the Catholic News Agency, Di Camillo says:
“It’s not something that’s simply a clear-cut, back-and-white case that we can, from the outside, say we know what’s going on. Because we don’t,” he added.
So even though this is a highly emotional case, it’s important for Catholics not to make rash statements about the decisions of the people involved. The other day, I almost commented somewhere that that the hospital probably wanted Jahi to die to cover up any evidence of malpractice during the surgery. But that would have been a serious sin of detraction. Not only do I not know the motives of the doctors involved, I do not have any specific medical information about the case.
Di Camillo stressed the need to know the facts of Jahi McMath’s case before making a moral judgment.
“Before even getting to the ethical considerations, the medical facts are an absolute priority,” he said. “If we have a medically clear and confirmed determination of death by these neurological criteria, then we’re dealing with a situation where the body is actually the corpse of the deceased of this young girl.”
“If we’re dealing with a case where the person is in fact brain damaged but still alive, then we have a whole different set of ethical criteria because we’re talking about a living human being who is worthy of full respect and full treatment.”
Di Camillo reminds us that end-of-life decisions must be made on a case by case basis, and that “[l]ife support systems are sometimes ordinary means of treatment and sometimes disproportionate.” He reminds us that the case is not truly similar to Terry Schiavo, because Schiavo was clearly not brain dead; her husband simply didn’t want her to be alive anymore.
I wrote an article for Catholic Digest exploring some of the dilemmas caregivers face when they have to make life or death choices about the people they love. (The article includes some links for further reading on Catholic medical ethics, and a site that provides samples of an advance directive with durable power of attorney or healthcare proxy.)
The Church does not, as many people imagine, insist that we squeeze the last possibility out of every beating heart. I do not mean to imply that that’s what Jahi McMath’s parents are doing! The point is, we simply do not know. It is appropriate to pray for the family, and it is appropriate to have public and private conversations about what the Church teaches about end of life medical decisions. But it is wrong to assume we know what is going on in this particular case.
The only thing I’m not clear about is whether it ought ever to be up to hospitals to make the decision about whether to remove life support, assuming that the patient truly is past saving. I know that there are cases in which a person really is truly dead, and is being kept artificially “alive” because the family can’t bear to say goodbye. In those cases, should the hospital be able to make the decision for them? I don’t know.