I am a late arrival to understanding the importance of ceremony in our lives. 

But I've often been late to understanding the more cerebral things in life.  I suppose I'm a slow learner but I also think it's due to my tendency to overlook the obvious.  The forest for the trees and such.  I recently posted about completely missing Anton Chirguh as the symbol of fate/death in No Country for Old Men.  You get the idea...

Fortunately some things are hard to miss.  One of those things occurred last night.  The church my late aunt attended holds a yearly service for those who have passed in the last twelve months.  My father and I attended in her honor.

It's the major Methodist church in my hometown and as such is the beneficiary of well-to-do members.  The outside of the building is pedestrian but the sanctuary is impressive with its simplicity and beauty.  I had been in the sanctuary before but had forgotten how it's construction and furnishings lends itself to its purpose.

The service of remembrance was primarily musical.  It was beautiful to hear and see.  A fifty something member choir was backed by two cellos, two violas, a violin, a bass and a harp player.  It sounded like the words that were sung were in Latin or some other foreign language and when I looked at the program that was the case as translations were listed for each segment.  A baritone and a soprano took their turns as well.  The massive stained glass rendering of Jesus overlooked us all and provided a stunning visual of why we were there.  My father whispered to me at one point that this was the same sanctuary that my maternal grandfather's funeral was held in.  He died when I was very young and I barely knew him but it made me feel good to know that.

There were thirty-two passings in the last year at the church, my father's sister being one of them.  As each of those names were called a representative of the family came forward to receive one single white rose in remembrance.  I recognized some names.  The former CEO of the Fortune 500 company headquartered in town.  The father of a judge was another.  A couple of names I had heard my parents talk about in the past. 

My father and I made the trip up the main aisle together and we were greeted and handed the white rose by the minister who presided over my aunt's graveside service.  When we returned to our seats my father whispered to me that she would have reveled in this ceremony and that our presence would have been important to her.  And he said, as we southerners sometimes say, she rose above her upbringing to deserve this type of service.  He was right.

My father had asked me earlier if I thought it would be OK for him to leave before the service was over.  At age eighty-nine he had put in twelve hours of work already for the day and I told him that it was fine to do so.  He left with the single white rose in his hand. 

My thoughts went to my childhood and the Mother's Day services at our small church.  Each year children of living mothers were honored by wearing a red rose on their clothes.  I did it many times. 

White roses were worn by those children whose mothers had passed.  My father, who lost his mother before he was ten years old, always wore a white rose.

We humans are sometimes capable of extraordinary things.  Ceremonies of remembrance are one of those things.

The Titans are playing again.  This time Vince Young is starting.  As I see it that's not the problem.  We have a terrible defense and lots of injuries.  Anyway I went a 3-2 last week making me 23-12 for the year. The Vols looked good last night.

Jaguars 30, Titans 17--I don't think the Titans have fixed anything by starting Vince Young.  I hate to say this but I think they will be lucky to win a game this season.

Ravens 23, Broncos 20--I'm still not drinking the Denver kool-aid.  If the win this game I'll think differently but I don't think they will win in Baltimore.

Packers 30, Vikings 21--The Vikings are the better team in this game but emotion takes over for the Packers and they win a big one.

Saints 37, Falcons 23--I believe the Saints are going to be the NFC Super Bowl representative. I'm not sure who is going to beat them in the regular season.  New England is due in the Super Dome later in the season but I don't think they can handle the Saint's offense.

Jets 31, Dolphins 27--Dolphins lost a tough game against the Saints last week.  I don't think they have recovered.  And to go into New York to win is just asking too much.

I had a terrible week.  I went 1-4, only getting the Tennessee game correct and if Alabama hadn't blocked that field goal I would have been skunked.  Adding insult to injury I picked Kansas over Oklahoma and as Katherine pointed out to me afterward I should have listened to her.  You're right, Kat.  The Sooners can win road games.  So I regressed to a 24-16 for the year.  Let's face it.  If you're in Tennessee and a football fan you're not having a good year.  Nevertheless...

Tennessee 24, South Carolina 20--Steve Superior comes to Knoxville and the Gamecocks are ranked and Tennessee isn't.  I think this is a pivotal game for the Vols because if they win this one it's possible that they could win out the rest of the season with games against Memphis, Mississippi, Kentucky and Vanderbilt.  That would make them bowl eligible.  But it starts with SC.  They have played ranked teams well this year.  We shall see.

Texas 30, Oklahoma St 17--Just too much Longhorns for State in this one.

Oregon 30, USC 27--It sounds a bit odd but I think USC ranked number four is actually the underdog in this one against Oregon who is ranked tenth.  But that makes them dangerous and therefore more apt to win.  I expect the Ducks to be fired up though and pull this one out.  But barely.

Oklahoma 37, Kansas St 17--I've learned my lesson.  Don't bet against the Sooners.

West Virginia 30, South Florida 21--South Florida plays the Mountaineers close for a half but they wear down and WVU pulls away.

1.  Marry any of the "real housewives" on television.

2.  Have anyone with the last name of Pelosi or Reid in charge of my health care.

3.  Find out that I was married to Rosie O'Donnell in my former life.

4.  Tell anyone that I'm having an argument with that I'll give them the last word.

5.  Win an award when Kanye West is in the audience.

6.  Become a guest on Oprah or Dr. Phil.

7.  Have plastic surgery anywhere other than my face.

8.  Receive a compliment from Michael Moore or Sean Penn. 

9.  Tweet.

10.  Become a greeter at Wal-Mart.   

It's been two years this month since my former company told me to take a hike. 

I've been thinking about that whole deal today.  I came to a quick conclusion.  It's been nothing but a plus for me.  Seriously.  I'm more relaxed.  I don't dread going to work each day.  And I love what I do.  For the last few years I was on my old job I remember deciding that sixty-two was going to be it.  Now I think it's sixty-five, maybe sixty-six. 

While on my former job I can remember wondering whether I would miss my job when I retired.  The fact is I haven't missed it at all.  I rarely think about it.  And when I do it's not a positive thought.

I don't keep up with my former employer but occasionally I talk with someone who is still there.  It's always the same refrain--how bad things are, how clueless the management is and how they hire vice-presidents but no workers.  Last week someone told me they had begin selling some real estate assets.  That sounds like a death rattle to me.  My conclusion is that if it were not Japanese owned it would have been shut down a year ago.  The Japanese are known for their patience in business and I used to see it firsthand.  I'm guessing their capacity might be a little low right now.

I do feel bad for the employees still there.  In the eighties and nineties it was a fantastic company to work for.  We defied recessions and gained market share.  Most of us were on incentive bonus plans that paid handsomely if you were willing to put the work in.  Then the owners and manager/stockholders cashed out to the Japanese and it's been downhill ever since.  The new management thought it would just keep on happening and provided no leadership except to reward themselves.  It was shameful.

I know that I am now in a good place.  And glad to be here.

I've been catching up on my reading of late.  

I read one magazine over the weekend that said taking a flu shot reduces your chances of getting the flu by 90%.  Today I read in the Atlantic that those same vaccinations are practically useless.

It proves to me there's a downside to getting all the information that we get from the media.  Our tendency is to believe what we read but obviously one of those publications has it wrong.

I suppose the advantages of all the communication we have outweighs the disadvantages but I've felt for a long time that the media operates in a vacuum of sorts.  By that I mean there's no checks and balances like those that exist in most of our society.  And if anyone from a blogger up through a government official proposes some checks and balances the media screams censorship. 

I'm all for a free press.  It beats the heck out of the alternative.  But I think we need a few checks and balances to prevent the misinformation that is occurring.  Maybe better labeling of articles or reports for opinions versus news reporting would work. 

I don't know if that will do it but if this type of media reporting leaves me confused as to what to believe it makes me wonder what seniors twenty years older do with it. 

You can classify this post as an opinion.

The Titans are off this week.  Thank the Big Guy for small favors.  I went a much improved 4-1 last week making me 20-10 for the year.  And the Vols looked good against the number one team in the country yesterday so maybe Tennessee football is looking up.

Bengals 27, Bears 20--I'm not sure which Bengals team is going to show up today.  It might be the one that beat the Steelers or the one that lost to Houston.  I'll flip a coin and say the former.

Giants 30, Cardinals 17--The Giants' defense looked bad against the Saints last week.  I think they will fix that this week and take their frustrations out on the Cards.

Steelers 24, Vikings 21--The Vikings are playing well but it's tough to win in Pittsburgh.  Just ask the Titans who if they had won their season opener there might be a totally different team.  I think the Steelers defense wins this one.

Jets 27, Raiders 21--NFL defenses are starting to get to Jets quarterback Sanchez.  But the Oakland offense is usually inept.  That happens again and the Jets bounce back.

Falcons 31, Cowboys 27--I like this Falcons team a lot.  They keep winning big games.  This is a big one today in Dallas and they come through again.

I improved to 4-1 last week losing only the Virginia Tech/Georgia Tech game.  That makes me a respectable 23-12 for the year.  This is a big week for Tennessee fans.  Tennessee plays Alabama at their place. 

Alabama 20, Tennessee 13--The Vols played pretty well against Florida when they were number one.  I think they will play Alabama well too.  But it's going to be a low scoring game if both defenses play up to their potential.  Tennessee's defense is good but not as good as Alabama.  They carry them to the win.

Kansas 30, Oklahoma 28--Three losses already this year for the Sooners.  Could this be a fourth?  I think so because all of their losses this year have been on the road.

BYU 33, TCU 23--Will this be the BYU team that beat the Sooners or the BYU team that lost to Florida State.  TCU is unbeaten but they haven't played the level of competition that BYU has.

Arkansas 30, Mississippi 27--The Razorbacks should have beaten Florida last week but the officials bailed the Gators out again.  The Hogs are for real even though Houston Nutt will have the Rebels fired up against his old team.

Michigan State 27, Iowa 24--End of the road for the Hawkeyes win streak.  They're a good team and will end up in a BCS bowl but the Spartans knock them out of the race for a national championship.

1.  In my lifetime I've voted for a Republican for President in every election except one.  I'm not telling you which one that I didn't.  I'm not telling about the Republicans either.  Some things are just too embarrassing to admit to.

2.  I admit when I'm wrong.  I found out early that being honest about your mistakes takes a lot less time and effort than denying it or hiding it.

3.  I've always had a secret desire to parachute out of a plane--which is probably not a good thing since I've always wanted to be a fighter pilot too.

4.  I have no artistic ability at all.

5.  One of my biggest regrets is not having learned a second language.  My choice would have been Spanish or Japanese. 

6.  My biggest pet peeve is that I hate being around anyone phony or dishonest.  I simply cannot tolerate a person like that and once I identify someone who is like that I avoid them.

7.  I don't particularly like chocolate but I will occasionally eat a Heath bar.  I love peanut butter though.

8.  I'm a damn good money manager.  I invest with only moderate risk but for the long run and I've changed my investments as I have aged.

9.  I've had a crush on Marie Osmond my entire life.  Of course I like Padma too.  It's the dark hair and dark eyes.  Gets me every time. 

10.  History fascinates me.  When I go to historical sites I get a surge of adrenaline when I think about the people and events that happened there.

 I went another mediocre 3-2 last week making me 16-9 for the year.  Between the Titans and my picks it's been a long season.

New England 37, Titans 13--Titans can't win if they get behind.  Their defense sucks this year and they're always behind.  End of story.

Saints 30, Giants 27--If this game were in New York I think it would be a different story.  It's not and it isn't.  Most people think the Giants are the number one team in the NFL.  I do as well but not today in New Orleans. This is my upset special.

Falcons 24, Bears 21--The Falcons are beginning to believe.  Just ask the 49rs.  It won't be easy but I think they take da Bears down.

Vikings 27, Ravens 24--Game of the week for the NFL.  The Vikes are riding high with Favre and Peterson.  They are at home and that makes the difference. 

Chargers 31, Broncos 27--The Broncos run comes to an end today in San Diego.  I like the Broncos but I thiink they have been playing over their head somewhat.