Two Clericuses and One Transient Ischemic Attack

This past Tuesday, we welcomed the clericus of Ulster County and the clericus of Dutchess County for a day of sharing and learning about the diocesan's Global Women's Fund. A clericus is a monthly gathering of the clergy of a county, for the purpose of mutual encouragement, communication, and exploring common ministry. There were about 20 ministers in attendance. The Ulster County clericus has its regular meetings at the monastery.

One of the Dutchess clergy in attendance was Father Allan Ford who volunteers as Spiritual Director to our three brothers in Assisted Living. He meets with them monthly as a group to address issues relevant to their spiritual lives. The Rev. Allan Ford is priest-in-charge of St. Margaret's Church, Staatsburg, across the river from us.

From top, clockwise, a portraite of our Fr. Founder, James Otis Sargent Huntington, with Fr. Allan Ford;
clergy of the Ulster and Dutchess clericuses in the refectory and in St Gregrory's classroom.

Every Wednesday morning, Br. John supervises the work of our two library volunteers, Ms. Liza Doty of Beacon and Ms. Susan Barbarisi of New Hamburg. They are helping us make great progress in the cataloging of new books and the cleaning up of our old card catalog. As you can see from the picture below, they also have great fun doing it. Liza and Susan often join us for the office of diurnum and stay for dinner with the community and our guests.

From left to right, Liza Doty, Susan Barbarisi and Br. John enjoying a "moment of levity"
while working in the monastic library

As usual, we enjoyed the visit of several Associates this week. Many of them came ahead of time to attend the Advent Retreat led by The Rev. Martin Smith.

Asssociates and an Associate Probationer. From top, clockwise,
Ellie Sulston of Bloomfield, CT, Br. Peter, our Novice, Laurel Stewart of Longmeadow, MA,
Ann Gannon of Evanston, IL; Probationer, Marty Burt of South Burlington, VT;
Ann Gannon, Gloria Taylor of Wappinger Falls, NY and Elizabeth Gillett of Hamilton, NY

This Sunday, we had the visit of Anne and Larnie Hiller for mass. They are amongst our regular Sunday visitors and come to us from nearby New Paltz. On Sunday, Br. Joseph caught several guests in the company of Br. Bear. Br. Bear usually keeps company to our Guest House Manager, Lori Callaway, in the Guest House Office. He's the sociable type and meets lots of people on his errands.

From top, clockwise, Anne and Larnie Hiller, The Rev. Martin Smith and Br. Bear;
our chef Bob Morano and Br. Bear; Br. Joseph with Marty Burt;
Michael Madsen from Bel Air, MD; Marth Montgomery of Baltimore, MD.

A week ago, on Sunday, I suffered a bout of aphasia just before and during Vespers. Br. Adrian, who is a retired hospice nurse, had the good sense to insist that I go to the emergency room. Br. Robert James who is my primary health care proxy took me to Vassar Hospital in Poughkeepsie. I was eventually admitted for observation and further tests. It turned out I suffered a Transient Ischemic Attack. A TIA is like a mini-stroke without lasting damage. It is treated very seriously because it can be a warning sign of possible future full-blown strokes. I was discharged from hospital on Monday evening. Since then, I have diligently organized the follow-up medical appointments and taken new medications.

The aphasia took me by surprise and I was frustrated by it rather than scared for I did not fully realize what was happening to me. I worried my brothers since this was happening very publicly in choir during one of our offices. The aphasia went away after about 45 minutes. In the emergency room, I realized I was very calm because I was ready to die if my time had come. Later on, as the implications of a mini-stroke came to rest with me, I realized I was not ready nor calm about the possibility of lasting debilitating consequences of surviving a full-blown stroke. My acceptance of life on life's own terms still has to progress.

As a result of the TIA and the hospitalization, I have taken every moment of this past week as a grace and I have tasted every moment with renewed joy. It is good to be alive and enjoying good health. The TIA went entirely away very soon. So, post fact it has a quality of unreality. I feel fine now; did I really undergo this serious incident? But reports from witnesses remind me that it was really bad, if only for a few moments. Life is a beautiful, rich, resilient, yet fragile gift. I'll use it for love while I have it.

Thanks be to God for my creaturely being. Your will be done, Beloved.