The day started out as usual with work and our typical lunch of salad and jackets with our new friends at the college, but then we headed out for four very important destinations: the Sheldonian Theatre, the Bodleian Library, the Covered Market and a concert.
First stop, the Sheldonian Theatre. Not quite like going to Tinseltown, this amazing horseshoe-shaped theatre was commissioned by Gilbert Sheldon in 1663 and completed in 1669—just three hundred years before 2 Papa graduated from high school. A young, thirty-one year old architect, Christopher Wren, was hired to take on the challenge. Prior to the Sheldonian being built, all University events (awarding degrees, etc.) were held in the churches. But, by Elizabethan times, the proceedings had gotten so out of control (We’ve all seen some of those, haven’t we? Now we know who to blame --those crazy Elizabethans). They even included personal, lewd comments about the candidate’s now no-so-private lives. Sheldon decided a separate building was needed to get the events away from the churches. He went on to become the Archbishop of Canterbury and never set foot in the building. It is still used for all University events from degree ceremonies to concerts and debates.
Second stop, the Bodleian Library. Completed in 1619, the world famous Bodleian library has over 10 million books. It has always been a read-only library. Everyone who has a library card (us now) is called a reader. Apparently, even King Charles I was refused permission to borrow a book in 1645. It’s massive and students line the desks in what appears to be extremely intense study. I felt very out of place, like I had accidently stepped into the gifted and talented class, until I passed one young woman with books open and deep thoughts furrowing her brow. She was intently working on her computer, pulling together all the knowledge she had taken in today….wait, no, she’s just facebooking. For real! Oh well, she obviously knew where to get the really important information in life. Photo above: 2 Papa outside of the library.
Next stop, the Covered Market: Instructions to find peanut butter. Go to the covered market, pass the bakery with the wedding cake in the window, pass the stinky butcher who cuts meats up in the window, pass the clothing store with a coat you’ll want to buy, look for a store named Palm, like the palm of your hand, look closely in the back of the store and there you’ll find one jar of Jiff Peanut Butter. Victory! I got it. I felt like I had just smuggled drugs--especially after I paid for it. For the small jar of peanut and a box of graham crackers (I couldn’t pass them up) I paid $21.50. I felt so guilty, I insisted we walk back (no bus fare) and eat at home (cheap food) tonight. 2 Papa thought I was being so sweet to think of saving us money that way until he saw me making my peanut butter and jelly sandwich. YUM! It was such a sacrifice. :)
Last stop, the Electric Light Orchestra. Now we are truly back in college and rocking it out at a concert. We partied like it was 1975, up in our seats, screaming and dancing. Well, at least, we did in our minds. Actually, our bodies just sat there and we bobbed our heads with the music until the last two songs. Then every able bodied baby-boomer was on their feet swinging and a swaying with the beat. It was fun! They are an incredibly talented group of musicians who span three decades with lots of music we know. They even did some Bob Dylan, Steve Miller, and Beatles stuff. Fantastic!
We had a close call yesterday I forgot to tell you about. We’ve been here for 20 days, but we can’t seem to get it down that the traffic comes from a different direction. Oxford even tries to help us Americans out by painting in the street on the intersection “Look Left” or they say “Look Both Ways.” I'm surprised they don't add "dummy" after the warning. Even with that, our habitual instincts take over and look the way our brains say to look. Yesterday, 2 Papa stepped out after looking only one direction, the direction he would have at home to go halfway across the street, and almost got run over. Fortunately, the car stopped in time and all is well. It’s really a great lesson in life to train ourselves to look both ways so we can always do the right thing.
“Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts. Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.” Proverbs 4:23
Have a great evening. Peace and love, as us baby boomers would have said.
Hugs, 2 Mama
First stop, the Sheldonian Theatre. Not quite like going to Tinseltown, this amazing horseshoe-shaped theatre was commissioned by Gilbert Sheldon in 1663 and completed in 1669—just three hundred years before 2 Papa graduated from high school. A young, thirty-one year old architect, Christopher Wren, was hired to take on the challenge. Prior to the Sheldonian being built, all University events (awarding degrees, etc.) were held in the churches. But, by Elizabethan times, the proceedings had gotten so out of control (We’ve all seen some of those, haven’t we? Now we know who to blame --those crazy Elizabethans). They even included personal, lewd comments about the candidate’s now no-so-private lives. Sheldon decided a separate building was needed to get the events away from the churches. He went on to become the Archbishop of Canterbury and never set foot in the building. It is still used for all University events from degree ceremonies to concerts and debates.
Second stop, the Bodleian Library. Completed in 1619, the world famous Bodleian library has over 10 million books. It has always been a read-only library. Everyone who has a library card (us now) is called a reader. Apparently, even King Charles I was refused permission to borrow a book in 1645. It’s massive and students line the desks in what appears to be extremely intense study. I felt very out of place, like I had accidently stepped into the gifted and talented class, until I passed one young woman with books open and deep thoughts furrowing her brow. She was intently working on her computer, pulling together all the knowledge she had taken in today….wait, no, she’s just facebooking. For real! Oh well, she obviously knew where to get the really important information in life. Photo above: 2 Papa outside of the library.
Next stop, the Covered Market: Instructions to find peanut butter. Go to the covered market, pass the bakery with the wedding cake in the window, pass the stinky butcher who cuts meats up in the window, pass the clothing store with a coat you’ll want to buy, look for a store named Palm, like the palm of your hand, look closely in the back of the store and there you’ll find one jar of Jiff Peanut Butter. Victory! I got it. I felt like I had just smuggled drugs--especially after I paid for it. For the small jar of peanut and a box of graham crackers (I couldn’t pass them up) I paid $21.50. I felt so guilty, I insisted we walk back (no bus fare) and eat at home (cheap food) tonight. 2 Papa thought I was being so sweet to think of saving us money that way until he saw me making my peanut butter and jelly sandwich. YUM! It was such a sacrifice. :)
Last stop, the Electric Light Orchestra. Now we are truly back in college and rocking it out at a concert. We partied like it was 1975, up in our seats, screaming and dancing. Well, at least, we did in our minds. Actually, our bodies just sat there and we bobbed our heads with the music until the last two songs. Then every able bodied baby-boomer was on their feet swinging and a swaying with the beat. It was fun! They are an incredibly talented group of musicians who span three decades with lots of music we know. They even did some Bob Dylan, Steve Miller, and Beatles stuff. Fantastic!
We had a close call yesterday I forgot to tell you about. We’ve been here for 20 days, but we can’t seem to get it down that the traffic comes from a different direction. Oxford even tries to help us Americans out by painting in the street on the intersection “Look Left” or they say “Look Both Ways.” I'm surprised they don't add "dummy" after the warning. Even with that, our habitual instincts take over and look the way our brains say to look. Yesterday, 2 Papa stepped out after looking only one direction, the direction he would have at home to go halfway across the street, and almost got run over. Fortunately, the car stopped in time and all is well. It’s really a great lesson in life to train ourselves to look both ways so we can always do the right thing.
“Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts. Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.” Proverbs 4:23
Have a great evening. Peace and love, as us baby boomers would have said.
Hugs, 2 Mama
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