Aequus Nox

Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.

― F. Scott Fitzgerald

I realize the autumnal equinox was a few days ago, but I've been in its compelling company and I'm just now emerging enough to reflect and write about it.

In case you've forgotten the chapter on astronomy from seventh grade science, here's what Wikipedia says on the subject of equinox:

At an equinox the Sun is at one of two opposite points on the celestial sphere where the celestial equator (i.e. declination 0) and ecliptic intersect. These points of intersection are called equinoctial points: classically, the vernal point (RA = 00h 00m 00s and longitude = 0º) and the autumnal point (RA = 12h 00m 00s and longitude = 180º). By extension, the term equinox may denote an equinoctial point.

If that doesn't make any more sense now than it did back then, this means that around the time of the equinox, which happens twice a year, day and night are about equal.

Earth Lighting Equinox. From Wikipedia Commons.

Here's what I love about the autumnal equinox: autumn begins, and I really like autumn; for all the common reasons and some less obvious ones too. Who doesn't enjoy a bit of relief from the summer heat, the glimpse of winter, pulling the sweaters out, the way your body begins to crave substantial, hearty meals, not to mention the amazing color palette of the landscape?

I also like that the equinox is a passage--not just a passage of time but a portal into what's next--a fresh start, opportunity for things new, potential for adventure. It's almost as if nature is saying, "I'm going to give you mild temperatures, calm winds, a crispness in the air, and sights that will blow your mind. Now get out there and make the most of it!"

But what I love most about an equinox as well as the solstices is that they are like a big downbeat to the beautiful rhythms of life. I don't think it is an accident that there are four seasons, like four beats to the measure of a many songs.

Our lives beat to rhythms; even to the most basic of life: our heart beat. Our days are divided rhythmically. Morning, night, morning, night. Day, week, month, year. Day, week, month, year.

Okay this is weird. As I'm typing this, I'm listening to Pandora®. Dave Brubeck's amazing jazz standard, "Take Five" just came on. This song, like so much of jazz, throws the normal rhythms off a bit because it has five beats to a measure. It's a little tricky to tap your foot to and that can be a little unsettling for reasons we don't dwell on.

But let's do dwell a minute. Not all jazz music has five beats to the measure, but most has syncopation:

A disturbance or interruption of the regular flow of rhythm: a placement of rhythmic stresses or accents where they wouldn't normally occur.

All that, along with the polyrhythms and cross-rhythms so common in jazz, make it an acquired taste at best. We tend to like our rhythms regular and predictable. Unfortunately when that's all we know, we pretty much just march through life without paying much attention to the nuances. Jazz makes us skip occasionally, it makes us stop and wait and listen and feel at a deeper level.

Obviously I'm using jazz as a metaphor, but I think its a good one. So while autumn is a marker, a downbeat, it's also a passage. Pay attention! Maybe the tempo is changing, the cellos are taking the lead. If you don't listen you'll miss it. You may march right through it. Don't be oblivious. 

RECOMMENDATION: I highly recommend two arrangements of "Autumn Leaves" for your fall playlist:

1. By Eva Cassidy. On the album "Live at Blues Alley."
2. By Bill Evans Trio. On the album "Portrait in Jazz."

Have any other suggestions for great fall tunes or ideas for doing fall right?

I Choose Shaving Over Gliding

Pops Shave Kit

[Disclaimer: Lest you think I'm setting myself apart and above as some sort of expert on men's health, wealth, fashion and hygiene, those who know me well can quickly set the record straight. I'm no Sean Connery. Although a guy can pretend right? This post is just me telling whomever is listening what I like, not offering up advice. But if you choose to take it as such, it's probably worth what you're paying for it.]

Speaking for this guy and maybe a few others, I have a love/hate relationship with shaving. And let me qualify right away that this post is about facial hair shaving; specifically "wet" shaving--shaving with water, shave cream and a blade razor.

How many blades does our razor need? We're up to five now in razors and you wonder if five is better than four, why not TEN? Multiple blades is just part of the new and improved technologies. As a matter of fact one company has taken it above regular old shaving. Here's their promise about the latest:

The Gillette® Fusion® ProGlide™ Power Razor is Gillette’s most advanced blade ever. Thinner, finer blades with a low-resistance coating glide effortlessly through hair for less tug and pull, providing incredible comfort, even if you shave every day.

Try Gillette Fusion ProGlide today; after one shave, you’ll stop shaving and start gliding.

This "glider" will cost you $10.97 at Wal Mart. A 12-pack of replacement cartridges is $39.47. Gliding is not cheap.

One day, not too long ago, I was waxing nostalgic about the days as a prepubescent boy when I would watch Dad shave and long for the day when I could start. Occasionally he would take the blade out of his safety razor, let me lather up and pretend. Shaving back then seemed more real, more dangerous, less glidey. 

I decided to roll back the clock and invest in a good old razor and blades. I looked at several and decided on an Edwin Jagger® De89bl Double Edge Safety Razor. When it arrived, I was as excited as I was as a thirteen year-old, getting to shave the peach fuzz with a real blade that very first time. I also learned that a small piece of tissue will stop the bleeding.

Edwin Jagger De89bl Double Edge Safety Razor Chrome Plated

$39.69

Edwin Jagger

Buy on Amazon

I was not disappointed with my decision. I love this razor and real shaving. It turns out if you have a really good blade and a beautifully balanced razor, one blade is all you need. You can buy this beauty at Amazon® (see link below) for about the price of a pack of ProGlide replacement cartridges and it will last longer than you will. Of course you'll have to buy blades for it. You can buy 100 for about ten bucks. So you save money, get a wonderful shave, and feel more manly. What more could you ask for?

This photo at the top of this post is my actual razor and my choice of shave cream and blades. Don't  be afraid of the cost of the Jack Black Beard Lube. It is well worth it.

I'm planning soon to ramp up the authenticity and buy myself a real badger shave brush. With the money I'm saving on disposable razors, I can afford it.

So as it turns out, maybe different doesn't always equate to "new and improved." Maybe, at least when it comes to shaving, we had the right tools years ago.

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Product links in this post are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I may receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value for others. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Age Is A Number

This week I've been in school. Although it's been years since I put on a new pair of blue jeans, gathered my new #2 pencils and notebook and boarded the school bus, there was still a bit of that old back-to-school angst as I stepped into this school. This school has been for certification to administer a personality inventory.

A couple of years ago I mentioned to my Amazing-Missus that I thought maybe I was going through Mid-Life Crisis. She said, "Don't flatter yourself, you're way past mid-life." She keeps me real.

Well today I learned that, at least to according to the Swiss psychiatrist, Carl Jung, that Mid-Life is a stage of life and not a particular age. After all age is just a state of mind right?

Satchel Paige

Don't believe it? Then how would you answer this question:

How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?

This is a quote from the great Satchel Paige. As a kid, I loved listening to baseball games on the radio. I am old enough to remember Satchel playing for the Cleveland Indians. He came to the Big Leagues from the Negro Leagues when he was 42, making him the oldest rookie to ever play on a major league team.

Well back to his question. It's a good one right?

As I've tried to explain to people what I'm trying to do with this blog I explain that it is sort of therapy for me as I go through what I've come to call my Second-Coming of Age.

I also learned today that according to Jung, the second coming of age is a healthy life stage of sorts and that in this stage I can focus on some traits I have that have always been there but sort of in the background. Who knows maybe I'll be braver, bolder, more like Hemingway without the desire to beat people up. Maybe I'll be more interesting and less cynical. Maybe I'll be the same old phart, but it's sort of fun to imagine.

Girl Power

You go Pope Francis! Normally I wouldn't pontificate so casually regarding the Pontiff, but this One seems to be inviting us to be more real and familiar.

I liked so much of what he is reported to have said in his recent interview. Particularly this, speaking of the social issues that the church obsesses over: 

The dogmatic and moral teachings of the church are not all equivalent. The church’s pastoral ministry cannot be obsessed with the transmission of a disjointed multitude of doctrines to be imposed insistently ...

We have to find a new balance; otherwise even the moral edifice of the church is likely to fall like a house of cards, losing the freshness and fragrance of the Gospel. The proposal of the Gospel must be more simple, profound, radiant. It is from this proposition that the moral consequences then flow.

How about the role of women? When asked about this, he sounded pretty much like all male authority figures in the church:

I am wary of a solution that can be reduced to a kind of “female machismo,” because a woman has a different makeup than a man. But what I hear about the role of women is often inspired by an ideology of machismo. Women are asking deep questions that must be addressed.

Let me say clearly, I don't understand an "ideology of machismo." Apparently it is much clearer in Latin cultures and this Pope would know much more about that than I ever could.

So I will write what I do know. For many years I had a role in ministry to young people, mainly adolescents. All of this was within the Southern Baptist Convention. I am so sad to say that the most conservative of this denomination still hold to a narrow view of the role of women in the church and, unfortunately, beyond the church walls too. I am very happy to say that I've been blessed to know many, many women who identified with Baptists who were strong, effective leaders despite the rhetoric and ranting of church fathers. All of the dogma on the matter comes from a few verses in the letters of the Apostle Paul. I don't know of anything in the words or life of Jesus that would lead anyone to the conclusions the church has drawn on the matter.

Judy, Jane, Paula, Brooke, Jessica are just a few of the young women I've known who believed they had a calling to serve the church. It broke my heart to know of the hurdles, roadblocks and discouragement they would face if they pursued this calling in a Baptist church.

Again the good news is, as I've already said, many women have just forged on anyway: my Mom, my Aunt Betty, my Mother-In-Law Betty, my Daughter-In-Law Kara and my own Amazing Missus Arlene.

Yes that's my youngest grand girl, Harper, in the cape pictured above. I hope she  always believes she has super powers. Her cape is just as significant to me as the priestly garments of the Pope himself.

You go Harper and Karlee and young girls everywhere.