February 18 2024 — Existential Autotrip

February 18, 2024
# 1645

*Photo Credit To Wikipedia Commons/ George Washington by Charles Willson Peale, 1776*
Historical event: 15 june 1775
George Washington’s rank insignia was three general's stars. As commander-in-chief, he wore a blue sash, indicating his status.
**On June 15, in 1775, George Washington became the supreme commander of the Continental Army.**

_____________________________________
Cover Story
In 1753, Washington received a commission as a major in the militia of the British Province of Virginia.

He was sent as an ambassador to present-day Erie, Pennsylvania, to address territorial disputes and assert British claims in the Ohio River Valley. He urged French officials and Native American tribes to vacate the region. The French, ensconced in their Fort Le Boeuf, offered him fine cuts of meat but little else.

Washington published a pamphlet about his mission. The pamphlet highlighted the urgency of countering the French expansion in the Ohio Valley, urging action be taken against the French whose position in the Ohio Valley had grown too large. The pamphlet gained widespread attention in both the U.S. and Britain.

In 1754, Washington led an expedition of 160 men to assist in constructing a fort, Fort Necessity near the Monongahela River near present-day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Along the way, he and his men, aided by Mingo allies, ambushed a French scouting party. The French leader was killed, sparking tensions. This act of aggression contributed to the broader conflict—the global Seven Years’ War—between European powers.

Washington built Fort Necessity near the Monongahela River, but a larger French contingent attacked, forcing his surrender.

In 1755, he served as an aide-de-camp to General Edward Braddock during the ill-fated expedition against Fort Duquesne.

Despite the disastrous Battle of Monongahela, Washington’s leadership and courage stood out during the retreat.

His experiences in this conflict and his knowledge of the area shaped his military reputation. But despite his ambition and political acumen, his Application for a Commission in His Royal Majesty’s Army was denied. The reasons remain somewhat unclear, but the denial might have been due to a combination of factors, including politics, rivalries, and perhaps a preference for British-born officers.

From 1755 to 1758, Washington held the rank of colonel and commanded the Virginia Regiment.

He directed provincial defenses against French and Indian raids, honing his tactical and strategic skills.

Under his leadership, the regiment became one of the best-trained provincial militias of the time.

Washington’s experiences during the war shaped his military reputation and political savvy. Although he faced notable failures, his resilience and adaptability prepared him for future challenges. When he arrived at the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia in 1775 his respected military reputation preceded him.

In 1775, The Second Continental Congress faced a critical decision: selecting a commander for the militia forces gathering outside Boston after the battles of Lexington and Concord. The New England forces lacked leadership, guns, ammunition, and training. Some congressmen believed that New England officers should lead the army, while others favored an outsider to create a truly “Continental” force.

Congress sought a commander with direct combat experience, and few had more than Washington.

At forty-three, he was vigorous and young enough to endure the long campaigns of a protracted conflict. His appearance exuded martial dignity. Benjamin Rush noted, “He has so much martial dignity in his deportment that you distinguish him to be a general and a soldier from among ten thousand people.”

The debate over George Washington’s appointment as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army was relatively swift. After his arrival at the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia on May 9, 1775, Washington was promptly placed on several committees handling military preparedness in the colonies. His respected military reputation lent him credibility and expertise.

Washington commanded a loyal following among fellow delegates and his Virginians convinced many congressmen of his unwavering dedication to the patriot cause. Politically, his selection would unify the colonies, making the Massachusetts cause a struggle shared by the entire continent.

The urgency of the situation—the need for leadership and unity among the colonies—led to swift deliberations. Within a few weeks, Washington was unanimously chosen as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, signifying the beginning of the process to create a national military force. Given his combat experience, vigor, and unwavering dedication to the patriot cause, his appointment made perfect sense. By June 15, 1775, George Washington accepted the assignment to lead the Continental Army. He pledged obedience to civilian authorities in Congress, declined a salary, and requested only reimbursement for expenses during the conflict. In his acceptance speech, Washington humbly stated, "I am truly sensible of the high honor done me in this appointment…"

______________________________________
Commentary
One of the sweetest effects of being busy is that greatly anticipated moments that would otherwise seem far away come rushing at you before you have time to prepare. Fortunately, Cancun is not the kind of place that requires a whole lot of preparation, because it’s stampeding directly at me.

There are indeed things to do in Cancun, but on this three-night, four-day trip I seek only peace and quiet. Frequent walks along the beach are in that category. I’ll enjoy the sun (Don’t say it: sunblock); the sandy, thin, lethargic waves’ last gasps swamping my toes (the extent of my adventurous self); the soft breeze, and the calls of seabirds. Two-hour, ocean-view, balmy, all-you-can-eat , and American-style breakfasts including the freshest of fruits? I can also handle that. Afterwards, I might wander into town and enjoy the hustle and the Mexican expressions of culture. I’ll eat dinner at the hotel at a civilized 7.00pm, looking for the freshest fish simply cooked.

With such an ambitious itinerary, I will return home exhausted.

______________________________________
Kat’s Gen Z Corner

Sacred Sisterhood

Melding the spirit into my corporate world.

My monthlong trip to an Indian eco farm to study Hatha yoga has come to an end. The most unexpected piece from the experience was the meeting amazing women also attending the program. It was kind of radical to spend an intimate time with such open and peaceful girls my age, all of whom came from different walks of life. I learned so much from their perspectives, so different from those I know in New York. We only spoke positively; we are vegan; we meditated inside Tibetan temples. We hugged so much; we water-colored; we cried when I left. I hope I can hold onto their easy vulnerability and innocent wisdom even among the corporate chaos of the city. I cannot quit my job to forever frolic barefoot on exotic beaches, like many of them do, but I will work hard to bring that beautiful worldly love into my life back in Manhattan.

______________________________________
Tucker’s Corner
One of my favorite things about film is how collaborative it can be. Having worked on several small productions I can say that it’s incredible to watch so many different people working so many different jobs come together and all row in the same direction. Actors, crew, production staff, all working to achieve something they care about. To quote the Queen song “it’s a kind of magic”. The sad truth of working on a set though is one of the biggest pieces of the production is rarely in sight and that’s the film’s music. Whether a score or a soundtrack the music has such a huge impact on the final feel of a film yet it’s production and addition to the project often exists in a bubble all its own. All this to say that this week I got a chance to watch and review a lovely documentary about one of the greatest film composers to ever do it. His music is iconic evocative and could stand completely on it’s own if film disappeared as a medium tomorrow. Thankfully that’s not going to happen and instead we can hear his work enhance every film they accompany. This is Ennio.

A metronome ticks, and a benign-looking man lies on a rug in his tracksuit bottoms and repeats some exercises. Cut away and he is conducting, alone in his study, where every surface overflows with papers. Music swells. There is something strangely moving, terribly personal, about the epic tune in contrast to the image on the screen of a very old man standing among the banal mess of a creative life.

Morricone, born in 1928, wrote over 500 scores for film and television, from Sergio Leone’s spaghetti Westerns, to Dario Argento’s giallos, to Tornatore’s Cinema Paradiso, to Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight, for which he finally received an Academy Award in 2016 after decades of being nominated and disappointed.

Giuseppe Tornatore’s Ennio is, from its opening sequence, a beautiful portrait of iconic Italian composer Ennio Morricone. The documentary works around snippets of a central conversation between Tornatore and Morricone. Tornatore is off-camera, his voice and any questions are not included – Morricone is telling his story to the camera, but there is clearly someone behind it. The result is a successfully meandering exploration of Morricone’s motivations, and the way in which his imagination works.

The removal of the inquisitor from the scene allows Morricone to explain himself at his own pace, without being audibly flattered or pressed on any particular subject. The documentary also presents over 70 interviews, gathered over five years, with directors, musicians and collaborators including Clint Eastwood, Joan Baez, Hans Zimmer and Bruce Springsteen, which intersect with Morricone’s account. They are interwoven with archive footage of his family life and concerts, and clips from films containing his scores. The documentary’s release follows Morricone’s death in 2020, so has become a tribute.

Morricone initially describes growing up in Rome and being forced to play the trumpet by his father, then seeking praise from his highly strung tutor at the conservatoire. As a young man he played at comedy shows to bring home the bread and also made experimental music with ‘traumatic’ sounds, often made from everyday objects – a method utilised later in his film scores.

A conflict between his dual identity as experimental musician and film composer runs throughout the film, but is not over-dramatised. Morricone comes across as neither humble nor arrogant, simply absorbed by his work and his way of seeing the world. He hums his tunes to explain points regularly, mimicking instruments – his impression of the coyote sound in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly is truly delightful.

Morricone’s great legacy as a composer is pretty much undisputed among those interviewed. No one has a bad word to say about such a groovily innovative yet reserved character. There are humorous recollections of lulls in his versatility and “eh, basta!” episodes when he refused to work on projects – Tornatore’s included – then changed his mind. But his few mistakes, gilded by hindsight and no little collective reverence, become idiosyncrasies.

With any less genuine fondness expressed by all involved, and any less careful representation of it on Tornatore’s part, the effect could be saccharine. As it is, none of the sentimentality is forced, and so the overall tone is warm and transportive, in the ‘Once upon a Time…’ style of the stories Morricone shaped with his music.

Although it celebrates Morricone’s particular genius, this documentary is not greedy with the nostalgia it generates as it casts light on so many parts of 20th century culture. Throughout, you are reminded of other brilliant aspects of those films, those songs referred to – the implicit impetus is to watch or re-watch them. Ennio is discreetly generous.

_____________________________________
Fr. Mike

THE HEART OF LENT
Some of us think Lent is nothing more than a forty day obligated marathon of church imposed sacrifice, an inconvenient time which we must survive by staying away from something we like such as sweets or coffee.

This superficial observance of Lent will not draw us closer to Christ, nor help us experience the new life Easter offers or produce the inner spiritual renewal and transformation of heart we hope for through the resurrection.

The main focus of Lent is about being set free to love.

Lent is not about the externals but rather a time for us to change who we are on the inside by being transformed by grace. We are invited to imitate Christ through prayer and fasting.

We are being challenged to let go of our illusions, false Gods, and the idols in our life. To be truly free. How? By asking ourselves: What am I being tempted to: To seek personal ambition at the expense of the common good or to give in to cynicism or hopelessness? To chase pleasure and be unfaithful to myself, my responsibilities, my spouse or to God? To coast and not to grow, to go through the motions and self-protect? What will I choose this Lent?

Lent is not just about freeing our hearts from wrong or unhealthy attachments but turning toward the good. It is not just a liberation from any slavery to our ego and self but about exercising the freedom to love authentically. In this way lent is not just about the little sacrifices we make, but about discerning where our hearts are being directed. Who are we becoming? This is the core of Lent: asking what are our hearts being freed from and for whom? To whom do our hearts belong? Let us ask: Where is my life’s navigation system taking me :towards God, towards another or towards myself? Do I live to please the Lord, or to be noticed, praised, put at the head of line…? Do I have a fickle and “wobbly” heart, which takes a step forwards and then one backwards? Do I love the Lord a bit and the world a bit, or is my heart steadfast in God? Am I content with my hypocrisies, or do I work to free my heart from the duplicity and falsehood that tie it down?

Lent is a laser focused forty day spiritual preparation period for the new life offered through the resurrection of our Lord during which time we purify our hearts through penance, fasting, and prayer. It is a sacred and special time to free our hearts from the slavery of sin by listening more deeply to the Word of God, repenting and recommitting ourselves to living out more intentionally our Baptismal call. Lent is a time of grace that gives us an opportunity to decide for love by forgiving others and being forgiven, and therefore renewing our trust in the mercy of God. It is a time to intensify our prayer, fasting, penance, and almsgiving, as well as to share what we have with the less fortunate. During Lent we ought to set aside time for prayer in order to not only deepen our intimacy with God, but to generously respond to the blessings which we have received. How? By putting our faith into practice through concrete acts of charity, and observing a Lenten fast that enables our heart to grow in the capacity to love. Be sure to join us for our many reconciliation times, praying the way of the cross on Fridays and the fourth Sundays as well as for our Lenten mission “Rebuild My Church” from March 4-6.

High Altar of Greifswalder Dom St. Nikolai during Lent 2014
Concord - Own work

BROILED LIVE LOBSTERS FOR FIVE PEOPLE
What a birthday gift!

5 Lobsters, 2lbs, about $30.00 each
With the lobster on its back, use a large French knife to slit the beast from just below its eyes down to the tip of its tail.
Remove the roe and the tomalley and reserve for the fry pan
Cut off the antennae and dispose of them
Pull out the sac with your fingers and dispose of that too.
To widen the crack in the lobsters, press on its sides until some of the shell cracks
Of course, leave the lobsters intact.

Spend time on the mise en place (the meticulous preparation and organization of ingredients and equipment before starting the actual cooking process. By having everything ready and arranged, chefs and cooks can work efficiently and smoothly).

Turn on broiler

Organize:
5oz finely diced red bell pepper
3oz finely diced dill pickle
Mix and crush in a mortar bowl to taste, your choice of herbs and spices: tarragon, thyme, garlic, parsley, paprika, cayenne, and saffron, saffron being my favorite, garlic my least favorite
freshly ground pepper
1 cup Italian parsley, finely chopped
½ cup melted butter

If adding other shellfish, prepare them for the saute now

1 cup fresh lemon juice: you squeeze the lemons
¼ cup Limoncello
¼ cup of dry white wine

Add the panko to the fry pan and mix the pan well
5 minutes

Saute:
Use a large fry pan and melt the butter
add in the lobster roe (the dark green strip of lobster roe, turns red during the cook)
and lobster tomalley (the green liver and pancreas) and crush them into the butter
Simmer for 6/7 minutes

Add in the freshly ground pepper, bell pepper, pickle, parsley and simmer for 2/3 minutes to develop the flavors.
Add in more shellfish if you want
Add in the lemon juice, limoncello, and white wine.
Simmer for five minutes

Add the Panko to the fry pan and mix thoroughly.

Stuff into lobsters
Set lobster onto lowest oven shelf and broil for 25 minutes,
swapping around the lobsters to brown the tops evenly.

_____________________________________
Chuckles and Thoughts
To be free. Such a thing would be greater than all the magic and all the treasures in all the world.
Robin Williams

______________________________________
Six Word Stories
"Fragile hearts, strong bonds, unbreakable love."

__________________________________
Last Thought
I’m in Cancun. Have been here 24 hours. With 60 hours more to go, the trip has been practically perfect.
That Boston is in a snowstorm does not add to my joy of being here.
Heh! Heh!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Feb 14 February 18 2024