Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
Francis d'Assisi
"Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings."
William Arthur Ward
"The blessed John the Evangelist lived in Ephesus until extreme old age. His disciples could barely carry him to church and he could not muster the voice to speak many words. During individual gatherings he usually said nothing but, 'Little children, love one another.' The disciples and brothers in attendance, annoyed because they always heard the same words, finally said, 'Teacher, why do you always say this?' He replied with a line worthy of John: 'Because it is the Lord's commandment, and if it alone is kept, it is sufficient.'"
Jerome, Commentary on Galatians, 4th century
"For whosoever will cling to his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."
Mark 16:25
Stocks were ranging widely again today, and managed to gather themselves together after the European close and get taken up back into the green.
Gold and silver finished back up again, regaining much of the pricing they had lost over the past week. I do believe that much of this was 'technical' trading associated with stock option expiration and the punters who like to pile into miners with leverage.
Next week Thursday is Thanksgiving holiday in the US. Markets will be closed.
Trading will likely be light with an upward bias, barring exogenous events.
Brexit seems to be troubled a bit. PM May has made some dramatic changes to Brexit planning that seems to indicate further troubles with a lack of confidence in her plans and progress.
We had quite a bit of snow, which accumulated and lingered beyond the expectations of the forecasters.
Tomorrow I will be taking my son to the airport, so that he can spend the Thanksgiving holiday with his girlfriend who is a student at Imperial College. It reminded me of the custom that the queen and I often had, of spending the Thanksgiving holiday in London.
When we first moved here from northern Ohio we didn't know anyone well. And we would be driving home there for Christmas, so a trip back there was bit too much. But the queen was a little homesick.
So as a special treat we would redeem my frequent flyer miles and go to London for the holiday week, frequently with side trips to Scotland or the midlands. It was not a holiday there, but the Christmas decoration were already up, and places like Harrod's were magical. She thrived in her explorations, and early Christmas shopping. And of course it is the low season, so many cultural things we wished to see and do were highly available. We had many fond memories and times there in the 80's and 90's.
But as for now, my three goddaughters, the queen's delegates on earth, a little army of an extended family here that the queen, in her abundant caring and goodness, had raised for us, had been speaking amongst themselves, and organized a holiday meal which I must abide for the 'sake of tradition.'
I will also have in-laws visiting from Ohio that week. But for whatever mad reason they will be spending Thanksgiving in NYC to 'watch the parade' and eat at a hotel. I could not imagine anything I would like to do less. Unless it was with grandchildren and the queen.
So despite my best efforts at being an old poop it will be a merry family holiday here once again. I sense the hand of she-who-must-be-obeyed in all this, even from the beyond. As she often noted, 'you do one stupid thing after another.' And she had a point. And I would retort, 'God made me that way so I would love you.'
Need little, want less, love more. For those who abide in love abide in God, and God in them.
Have a pleasant weekend.
