Author: boomingbanter

This morning our nephew’s wife posted a beautiful new photo of their little girl as they are celebrating Pongal the Indian harvest festival.

Just to explain a little how mind works this picture got me thinking of cute little girls in literature and the first one that came to mind was Eppie from Silas Marner.

Eppie whose real name was Hephzibah transformed the life of poor old Silas.

Silas had had a rough time and one that might have made others bitter but all he did was withdraw.

He’d been falsely accused of robbery, forced to move from his home and then later, after much hard work as a weaver, had been robbed himself of everything he’d saved.

While all this was taking place Eppie’s Mum an abandoned opium addict was trying to find her estranged husband and alas died in the process leaving poor little Eppie only two years old lost and alone on a winters night.

Eppie finds Silas and in a sense they rescue each other. He has no knowledge of little children but soon grows so attached to Eppie and she to him that they cannot live without each other.

There’s a lot more intrigue but in the end Eppie sticks with Silas and they all live happily ever after.

This is the only novel by George Elliot that I’ve ever read. That too was a very long time ago probably 1975 but just see how a good book can stick. Silas and his willingness to forgive and to love stuck with me. Even today, forty five years on seeing one sweet girl brought back memories of another.

This but of mental exercise has also given me a nudge in the right direction for this summers reading. The classic will have to be Middlemarch. Maybe I should start at spring break!

Blessing # 579 – Little Loves

This morning the school district called us at 5:15 to announce that school was running on a two hour delay due to “inclement” weather. What this might be we decided would be a surprise as we turned off the alarm and went back to sleep!

Turned out it was fog of Dickensian proportions. Scooby was totally perplexed as we couldn’t see more than a few feet in front of us. Very spooky but a good prod on the book for today.

I haven’t read all of Dickens novels but by far the favorite among those I know is David Copperfield. Seems it was also Dickens “favorite  child”.

David himself is someone I could take or leave. He’s a bit flaky. The supporting characters though are adorable. Barkis and Peggotty and the Micawbers are wonderful and when it comes to admirable women who could ever forget Betsy Trotwood.

Her honesty in making her desire for a niece rather than a nephew so clear on the night of David’s birth, her willingness to speak up and stand up to David’s horrible stepfather and of course her tenderness and kindness not just to David but also to the adorable Mr Dick.

Certainly Dickens must have encountered someone equally gracious in his lifetime in order to develop such a beautiful person.

He also must have had some run ins with hateful people like the obnoxious Uriah Heep. The things that Dickens engraved on my heart with this creep were the virtues of the Betsys in this world and to be beware of false modesty and finally that wonderful word we hardly ever used obsequious!

Blessing # 578 – Sincerity

Bit late on the banter as it was dealers night at the mall. We go in after hours to update our booths, reorganize and dust our treasures.

This has been a great experience for me. Getting to know a new set of people. Everyone is helpful and encouraging and there’s so much to learn about the business.

The mall is in Delaware Ohio the county seat and home of one of the country’s presidents Rutherford Hayes. It was established in 1808 so the city has a lot of character.

Its hard to imagine though that the first house wasn’t even built when Jane Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice. It was no more than a village when the novel was published in 1811!

This is the book I’ve read most often. The first time was as a sixteen year old at school. It was part of our O-Level syllabus and man am I glad it was!

Unlike the complexity of the Forsyte Saga it’s possible to get to grips with every character in Pride and Prejudice. The one that is written forever into my heart is Lizzie Bennett. 

For sure there are many of you who can relate. Lizzie was and is an inspiration. One of the best loved ladies in literature and portrayed by multiple stars of stage and screen!

She had spunk. Somewhat unconventional for her day she was willing to stand up for herself and her sisters.

Was Jane Austen like Lizzie? It’s seems she may well have been. She turned down a proposal, she travelled, she was stubborn and she dared to dream!

Way to go girls!

Blessing # 577 – Hopes of Heroines

These last weeks it has been forbidden to speak to me between seven and eight on Sunday evenings. The Forsyte Saga is running on PBS.

It’s the 2002 version with Damian Lewis as Soames. My Mother was just as addicted to the original 1967 version when it ran on BBC. Everyone was silenced!

The trilogy is just as good as the TV series. Probably very racy for the time when it was published and definitely on my top ten list of best books. If you haven’t read it do give it a go.

Last night Soames and Irene the long divorced key characters meet in a museum with their children by from their subsequent marriages. It’s awful in its awkwardness and the looks of hate and hopelessness are horrible.

Made me ponder what makes a great story and the conclusion reached was that there has to be at least one character that becomes written onto your own heart.

This might be surprising but in the Forsyte Saga for me it’s Soames. He appears cold and mercenary but he is a good son and brother. He is sadly obsessed with his first love Irene but shows that he has redeeming character in his love for his only child Fleur.

Even though I was just a child when the first series ran I never forgot Eric Porter and his sad dark look. Damian Lewis as Soames has quite a different appearance but both of them you could class as creepy. Almost like Dracula. So what’s it that makes the character so pointent. The depth, the sadness the goodness that eventually come to light. Who cares to speculate?

Blessing # 576 – Redemption

Our house can be like a circus at times. Suppose that’s true of most homes. Today on the stroke of midnight all hell broke loose. Alarms starting going off all over.

I’d been sound asleep since ten so when I woke up my first thought was tornado! Scooby was going berserk when Aaron rushed into our room to let us know the popcorn he’d been cooking in the microwave had gone on fire.

Krishna and Scooby had waited for him to come home from work at 11:30 and as he’d headed off for the basement they’d come to bed. His plan was to settle down with a big bowl of popcorn and watch TV. Instead we had a little run around.

After a minute of all alarms ringing the security company called to see if we were OK or if we needed the fire brigade. Aaron had doused the fire and it was out by then so we declined the offer!

That didn’t mean the episode was over. We had to get the alarms stopped and reset the system. So there were a lot of frantic ups and downs and round and rounds. Fortunately Krishna could quickly lay his hand on the deactivation codes. It felt like an hour but in a matter of minutes we were all back to square one.

Scooby had had a hair raising  experience though. He stuck to me like a limpet. Think he needed a little reassurance all was well.

It was a tad toasty and getting back to sleep challenging. One thing was obvious though burnt popcorn is better than Febreeze! Best eliminator ever of wet dog whiff!

Blessing # 575 – Air Freshener

We had to dodge the rain again today and Scooby had to spend some quality time with his Dad as I was out and Aaron was sleeping.

He always gives a warm reception when we’ve been away and a few kisses too but is a little more clingy and less demanding at least for a hour or two afterwards. It’s like he needs a bit of time to reconnect.

Usually when we see people after an absence we rush into chatting and catching up. Maybe we should take a tip from furry friends and just sit still and silent.

Blessing # 574 – Welcomes Home

Miserable  is the only way to describe today if you are a dog like Scooby who likes to be outdoors.

No human right in their mind is going to walk far in rain like this. We dodged in between the downpours for a quick trot but Scooby had that depressed droopy dog look most of the day.

He took to his little kennel for a while moped around the kitchen and eventually resigned himself to the sofa for a sleep.

It’s certainly not our mood that was rubbing off on him. Krishna was happy as a clam, me too come to think of it. I was following all the latest on TV and YouTube about the royals and glad of the excuse to concentrate on this. Aaron was only home for twenty minutes after school before he went to work so it was nothing to do with him.

Conclusion? Scooby like all dogs can have their own little down days. They do so much to lift our moods maybe it’s because they empathize with us because they know what it’s like to feel low.

Maybe a little chicken chew will do the trick to put a smile on his face after all who wants a grumpy guy on a Friday

Blessing # 573 – Down not Out

Scooby has gained ten pounds since he came home in September. That’s more than a third of his original body weight. He’s far from fat and he has grown taller so it must be mostly muscle.

Food now comes way after exercise, sleep and play on his priority list. When he first arrived he’d wolf down everything now he has days when he can happily just nibble.

Yesterday he ate well and his bowl of kibble was empty this morning. When I gave him his breakfast he took a sniff and a couple of his crunchies and that was that.

He had his morning walk, a good car ride and a little snooze but still wasn’t interested in eating even after his long walk this afternoon.

We’re having spaghetti and meatballs as Aaron needed something fast before leaving for work. As always Krishna insists Scooby gets his share.

His three meatballs were chopped fine and mixed with his crunchies but he did what he often does just took the good bits and left the rest.

Now after a little more playtime he’s having another snooze.

Such behavior would be totally unacceptable in human society but just imagine for one moment it wasn’t.

How many of us are clearing our plates because we’re polite rather than hungry?

How many of us just want the sausage but eat the hotdog bun as well?

Who among us stays awake by eating when we really want a little sleep?

Mind you if you were eating the same thing day after day with only the odd treat thrown in you might be a bit more picky.

Or if you were truly hungry like our dear fluffball once was you’d be only too pleased to tuck in.

Blessing # 572 – Food Fantasy

A very important role of any canine companion is to protect their humans.

Anthropologists would tell you this is why the bond between the wolf and primitive man became so strong. Of course all good relationships are reciprocal.

Scooby was as quiet as a mouse when we got him but now he is a true defender of the home. Even with eyes closed he always seems to be vigilant to the unusual.

One of his favorite spots to sit is upstairs where he can survey all the doors and all that’s going on. Sense a scene in silence.

He also loves to ride shotgun when we go out in the car and will bark at people on foot who gets close. When out walking though he is fine with people and dogs moving at a steady walking pace. Once something is moving faster though like a jogger or a biker or ever a fast moving critter he’ll make his presence felt. He seems to see and appreciate differences.

Not only does he look like a little wolf he takes very good care of his pack and we are grateful.

Blessing # 571 – Lord Protector

If you are to be ready to walk at anytime you must be well rested.

Scooby’s so skilled at sleeping soundly.

He snuggles into bed between Krishna and me and never says a word till morning. Occasionally he’ll move a bit to the foot of the bed or up to the top of the pillows but he does so very discreetly you don’t notice. He has the talent to behave like a warm Teddy Bear.

When morning comes he gets up quietly with me and after a quick nip outside wakes up Aaron. While Aaron takes his shower Scooby snuggles into his warm bed. Never miss a chance for forty winks. 

The pattern continues throughout the day. There can be a nap after a morning walk or after the afternoon outing. Any soft spot will do to rest your head.

Never ever ever though does sleep happen in the evening. It’s essential to keep moving then. Play ball, torture your humans as they try to banter or play war games. Make sure that you go to bed tired and ready to sleep.

Just put the blinkers on and chill.

Blessing # 570 – Sleeping Dog