WIR: Judi Dench: Shakespeare, The Man Who Pays The Rent

 It's been a good while since I posted about what I'm reading.  This was a gift from a dear friend and IS a gift from a woman, I now feel is also a dear friend.  The contents are the transcribed interviews by Brendan O'Hea of Judi reminiscing about her many roles in Shakespeare plays over her long and storied career.  The result is an intimate portrait not only of this award winning actor and master of the Bard's words, but a coming to life of those very words.  Dame Judi explores both the considered meaning of Shakespeare's genius, but also the many places and people who have guided her journey.  The book is simply delicious.  A must read for anyone who admires Judi Dench, and a fascinating foray into the mind and magic of William Shakespeare, too.

Dinner: Creamy Sweat Italian Sausage and Vegetable Zuppa

 

Chesapeake Shakespeare Company: Mary Stuart

 Another home run with two amazing actors in the roles of Mary Stuart and Queen Elizabeth I.  With a front row seat that literally put me at the feet of the actors, it was easy to not miss a beat.  Lise Bruneau's passionate Mary Stuart exploded from her every move, gesture, and line.  She is a masterful actor who embraces characters full throttle.  The perfect person to play Mary.  Lesley Malin'a Elizabeth was intelligent, subdued at times, at times conflicted, but in the end cunning.  The cast of male characters were played nearly as shadows, mirror reflected the women, at times just pieces of furniture.  And in the end, none of them matter.  It wasn't their story.  Don't misunderstand my meaning.  They were just exactly what they needed to be.  

The original play was written at the end of the 18th century by Friedrich Schiller, and this version was up-dated by Peter Oswald.   Having never seen the original, I have no idea what exactly Schiller brought to the canvas.  However, there were several instances of tongue in cheek humor that did feel like contemporary slights.  The set was simple and with the help of projections glorious at the same time.  But the standout were the costumes!  Kristina Lambdin deserves a standing ovation all her own.

Finally, I experienced something with this performance that I have never seen before.  And as egregious as it was, it did not dampen my enthusiasm for the show.  The role of William Cecil, Lord Burleigh was covered by the understudy, Nathan Rosen.  While clearly "familiar" with the character and the roll, Rosen performed the entire character with script in hand!  At first, because when he arrives, he's come to share an edict, I thought it was a prop.  It took me about 3 minutes to realize that he was actually reading from it!  I will give him that William Cecil is not a minor roles.  But still.  And of course, it not just his presence with a script that detracts, it effects his interactions with all of the others on stage.  In one instance he had to juggle the script and snatch a piece of paper from another character which was a bit challenging.  

Of course, there is a little pre-show merriment.  Today it was the cast performing three minstrel numbers, period pieces were the two, the other a contemporary number to the playwright with lyrics written by him.  Intermission saw the giving away of a bottle of Prosecco, an intermission tradition.  Chesapeake Shakespeare Company is always a fun place to see the play.

Mary Stuart (Lise Bruneau) with her nurse, Hanna Kennedy (Jamie Virostiko)

Mary attempting to ingratiate herself with her jailor, Amias Paulet, Knight.   She convinces him to convey a letter of contrition to the Queen.

Mortimer (Joshua Williams), born again Papist who has sworn a secret allegiance to save Mary with his uncle Paulet, who is unaware of his subterfuge. 

The Queens meet: Mary Stuart and Elizabeth I (Lesley Malin)--this is something that NEVER happened in real life.  And Elizabeth allows Mary to stand in her presence.

However, she will not bow down to her.

The lover of both women, after betraying both at least once, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester (DeJeanette Horne) attempts to repair the damage by denying the treason in order to maintain his own head upon his own shoulders.

Mary making her last confession with the help of her longtime friend, and steward, Melvil (Paul Diem)

With Mary dead, Dudley escaped to France, her High Treasurer banished, her last friend in the world, George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, (Gregory Burgess) retires leaving her all alone on an empty, ever darkening stage.

Spring in My Gardens

 

Habemus Papam!: Pope Leo XIV

 Robert Francis Prevost, Cardinal Deacon of Santa Monica, Prefect of the Dicastery of Bishops, President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, and Titular Cardinal Bishop of Albano, 4th from the top in hierarchy of the Holy Roman Apostalic and Catholic Church  entered the conclave with 132 other Cardinals this humble servant and exited just two days later at Pope Leo XIV.  

You know the last Leo, Leo the 13th, reigned from 1878 to 1903, when he died at the age of 93!  Perhaps the gift of longevity was also in Cardinal Prevost's mind when he selected the name Leo.  If he were to emulate the lifespan of his most recent namesake predecessor, his rule could last until the year of our Lord, 2049!  

It's been said, though, that it is his admiration of the emphasis Pope Leo XIII placed upon the plight of the poor in the midst of the abject poverty that the industrial revolution created.  He, having been born in 1810, would certainly have seen the paradigm shift from rural to urban and the failed promise of work with fair compensation.  In particular, Pope Leo XIII's encyclical "rerum novarum" which took on the obligation governments had to treat the working class with fairness and the dignity due their labors.

That said, tomorrow (which is already a lot closer in Rome than it is in Washington, DC) the real work begins.  Among the first thing to take note of is where he will choose to reside.  Famously, Pope Francis eschewed the pomp of the Papal Palace in favor of a more modest abode in the Vatican Guest House.  It was a significant gesture in light of the criticisms of the church's excesses.  I've also heard commentators place importance on the new Pope's first foreign visit.  On this score, I have a MONUMENTAL DREAM.

The fact that he is being called the Pope from the United States (when in fact he holds dual citizenship with Peru) has given President Trump an adversary to conquer.  Trump is so ignorant.  He has no idea what he's up against, but he can't stand to play second fiddle to anyone!  He has the gall to announce that he's looking forward to meeting the new Pope.  Like he's gonna go downstairs and say "hey" to the new cook.  

So back to my Dream: I would love it if Pope Leo the XIV would announce that his first foreign visit would be to El Salvador.  That his mission there would be to visit that fucking notorious prison, and offer a mass to the inmates.  Furthermore, he would provide passage for Kilmar Abrego Garcia to return to the United States in his company, and then meet with President Trump and perform his second foreign Mass in Washington, DC.  Now, THAT WOULD BE BRILLIANT!

2025 Papal Conclave: Italy

 I end this exploration with the Italian delegation of Cardinals.  There are 17, although 8 would be as well just associated with Vatican City as they are a large part of the administration hierarchy of the Holy See.  The Cardinals are ranked in "importance", although for the vast majority this is just a chronological listing by consecration.  The exception to this ordering are the top five who hold key rolls in the Vatican Administration.  The top two are both Italians.  #1 is Cardinal Pietro Parolin age 70.  Of all the Italians, Parolin seems to be their best hope as a successor, and he holds the powerful position of Secretary of State of His Holiness--in other words, he runs the place.  Presumably, he also knows exactly where all the bodies are buried.  #2 is Cardinal Fernando Filoni, age 79.  Cardinal Filoni is Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, an order founded by the leader of the first Medieval Crusade, Godfrey of Bouillon, circa 1099.  Cardinal Parolin was appointed by Francis, while Filoni was appointed by Benedict XVI.

Of the Cardinals with ties to specific Cathedrals, none is more well known than Cardinal Domenico Battaglia, age 62, of Napoli.  Cardinal Battaglia is called a "Street Priest" for his association with the poor and addicts, but his greatest claim to fame is his bold and sometimes daring opposition to Organized Crime syndicates known colloquially at the "Mafia".  Another Street Priest is Cardinal Augusto Paolo Lojudice, age 60, Archbishop of Siena-Montalcino & Bishop of Montepulciano-Chiusi-Pienza.  As much as any member of the Cardinals from Italy, Cardinal Lojudice is said to be in lock-step with Pope Francis' vision for the modern Catholic Church.

The youngest member of the Italian Cardinals is Cardinal Baldassare Reina, age 54, the Vicar General of Rome.  Hand picked by Pope Francis, Cardinal Reina has been responsible for the complete reorganization of the leadership and structure of the Diocese--a Vatican DOGE if you will--that has been referred to as "dramatic" in its accomplishments.  It may also have just been a gift to his successor, a clean house to come home to.  Finally Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, 69, the Archbishop of Bologna.  He was also Pope Francis' envoy to peace talks between Ukraine and Russia which bore no fruit, but elevated Cardinal Zuppi in the eyes of the Italian public and solidified his status as a peacemaker.  In a contentious Conclave, could his selection be the one to bring peace?

There was a time when Italian Popes were a given.  For most of the world's lifetime the Popes were from Poland, Germany and Argentina.  Is it time to go back to Italy for a leader?  If so, Pope Francis has created a very different Italian ecclesiastical hierarchy from which to choose.

2025 Papal Enclave: Europe

 By Europe, I mean all the nations by Italy.  When it comes to the Papacy, Italy gets a page all to itself.  Of the rest of Europe, there are 35 Cardinals, the largest block from any of the geographic regions.  Many nations have multiple votes with France leading the way with 5.  Spain, Portugal and Poland each have 4, and the United Kingdom and Germany each have 3.  Peace-loving Switzerland has 2.  While the story in other areas like Africa, Asia, and South America is focused on Progressive replacements, Europe is the opposite.  The conservative factions of the church seem to be pinning their hopes on a European winner.

But let's go counter and look at a centrist candidate that is getting a little buzz.  Cardinal Mario Grech of the little island nation of Malta.  Pope Francis liked Cardinal Grech and appointed him to the Pontifical Council to Promote Christian Unity in 2020.  His centrist bona fide is built on stances like working to defeat a move to legalize divorce on one hand, and on the other proclaiming a non-judgmental open hand to dialogue with members of the LGBTQIA+ community, even those in committed relationships.

Heading up the ranks of the conservatives is Cardinal Péter Erdõ of Hungary.  Cut from a similar clothe as Hungary's nationalist president, Erdõ rings a nostalgia bell for some who long for another Pope John Paul II; unfortunately, the reality is far less rizz and far more return to heartless doctrinal orthodoxy.  On the other hand, another conservative darling is attending the Conclave from the Netherlands.  Once a beacon of the liberal and lasse faire social ethos, the Netherlands has in recent years given birth to it's own form of nationalistic conservatism.  Cardinal Wim Eijk, the Archbishop of Utrecht would easily be seen as part of this paradigm shift.  He once removed a parish secretary who was a member of the Trans community against the outcry of the congregation--micromanage much?  It seems like such a cruel and petty assertion of authority--be wary of this one.  

Of course, some Cardinal will capture my attention and in this crew it's Cardinal José Tolentino de Calaça Mendonça of Portugal.  Cardinal Medonça was actually born on the Island of Madeira, then a Portuguese colony and lived there until age 9.  His father made a living fishing.  He is an academic, theologian, with published works of essays, poetry, and plays.  He has taught at Universities in both Brazil and the United States along with his native Portugal.  The youngest of the European Cardinals is also from Portugal.  Cardinal Américo Manuel Alves Aguiar is Bishop of Setúbal just south of the capital Lisbon.  In 2023 he lead the planning for World Youth Day, and in September of that year was named to the House of Cardinals.

Finally, I give you Cardinal Emil Paul Tscherrig of Switzerland.  He was born in a place so tiny that it no longer exists as an incorporated entity in the southern Alps.  He has been one of the most prolific of Vatican diplomats.  He retired last year while holding the post of Nuncio to Italy and San Marino (think Ambassador), the final of his long list of assignments which began in 1996 under Pope John Paul II when he was named Nuncio to Burundi (a humble beginning).  2001 - Nuncio to Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, and Suriname.  Later that same year, Saint Kitts and Nevis was added.  2004 - Nuncio to Korea, and later that year, Nuncio to Mongolia.  2008 - Nuncio to Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway.  2012 - Nuncio to Argentina.  There is a famous story that after Pope Francis I was elected, he asked Nuncio Tscherrig to inform the Argentine Catholic hierarchy and community at large that they could choose to miss his investiture as Bishop of Rome and use the money it would have cost them to attend to perform acts of charity instead.  Francis appointed him to the House of Cardinals in 2023.

2025 Papal Conclave: North America

 North America includes Central America and Caribbean, home to 4 of the 20 Cardinals attending from the region.  The largest group, not surprisingly comes from the United States with 10, followed by Canada with 4, and Mexico with 2.  When you stop to consider that fact that Mexico has the 2nd largest number of Catholics on the planet after Brazil, it is impossible to ignore the fact that power is not based in numbers by wealth.  A paradigm that is certainly not unique to the Catholic Church, but perhaps a little more poignant when considering the stated mission of the faith.

Like South America, North American is a bit of a long-shot when it comes to the selection of the 267th Holy Roman Pontiff.  However, there are some interesting folks in the mix.  Two really stand out to me:  Cardinal Michael F. Czerny, Society of Jesuits.  It would be challenging to find a Cardinal with a more interesting resume.  Born in Czechia when it was still part of Czechoslovakia in 1946.  Born in a mixed religion family where most of his mother's Jewish family died in the concentration camps, his parents immigrated to Canada when he was just 3 years-old.  He co-founded the Jesuit Centre for Social Faith and Justice in Toronto at the age of 33.  10 years later he was appointed Central America Universities Director of their Institute for Human Rights directly after the martyrdom, along with 10 others in El Salvador of its previous Director.  Next he moved to Rome to work in the Jesuit Secretariat of Social Justice.  In 2002 he founded the African Jesuit AIDS Network coordinating the vital work of combating AIDS in nearly 30 Sub-Saharan African nations.  In 2016, Pope Francis appointed him under-secretary of the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.  At the Age of 78, he might be one of those surprise winners with a likely mid-range tenure.  

The other stand out and sometimes talked about Pope-to-be is Cardinal Robert Francis Provost, age 69.  He would be the first Pope from the United States.  His story is somewhat similar, but nearly as far ranging.  Born in Chicago, he earned his initial degrees from Villanova University and then Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.  He continued his academic studies in Rome.  Beginning in 1985, he joined an Agustinian mission in Peru.  For the next nearly 30 years, his life was spent between Peru and Chicago serving various roles in both places.  In 2014, Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, and a year later he was consecrated as the Bishop of Chiclayo.  A post he held until 2023, when he became Archbishop Emeritus of Chiclayo, Peru and moved to Rome as Prefect of the Dicastery of Bishops.

Among the others you have a couple of more conservative leaning Bishops.  Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI and is considered the de fecto leader of the American Delegation by conservatives in the Catholic Church.  A staunch and petty oppressor of LGBTQ+ personhood and women's equality, Cardinal Dolan has been reported to be spending his pre-conclave time schmoozing younger Cardinals in the hopes of influencing their votes.  Mexico is also sending a member of the conservative minority of Cardinals in the person of Cardinal Francisco Robles Ortega.  Cardinal Ortega has largely built his reputation in the church around his opposition to abortion.

Of the newbies, Cardinal Frank Leo of Canada is the youngest member of the delegation.  He is also a member of the class of Cardinals appointed by Pope Francis I on December 7, 2024.  The other first timer of note is Cardinal Chibly Langlois of Haiti--the first ever Cardinal of this poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.

2025 Papal Conclave: South America

 The region is home to the largest Catholic national on earth: Brazil, and Brazil will have 7 cardinals at the conclave.  Just considering South American proper, there are 17 cardinals traveling to Rome to participate in the selection of the next Pope.  The likelihood that one of them or another individual from South America will be selected on the heels of Pope Francis I, an Argentinian, are slim.  None of the pre-show prognosticators have identified anyone from the region on their shortlists.  Still there are some very interesting Cardinals out there.

Of the Brazilians, Cardinal Paulo Cezar Costa is the youngest from the entire region at 57, and is the Archbishop of Brasilia.  Cardinal Sérgio da Rocha of São Salvador da Bahia is perhaps the most progressive of the Cardinals gaining notoriety back in 2021 when he celebrated a Mass for "all the Victims of Transphobia".  Although Cardinal Leonardo Ulrich Steiner who is the first Cardinal ever from the interior Amazonian city of Manaus has long held that reputation throughout the region.

Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez of Argentina is a Pope Francis I protegee whom Francis brought to Rome over a decade ago to act as his ghost writer.  Another interesting Cardinal is Carlos Castillo Mattasoglio of Lima, Peru.  Cardinal Mattasoglio is a proponent of that Latin American Chestnut, Liberation Theology.  But no one is predicting a new Pope from South America, and we may never know the influence that these Cardinals will express in the selection of the man who does.

2025 Papal Conclave: Oceania

 The region of the world encompassing all of those small island nations across the southern Pacific Ocean, along with Papua-New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand, it covers a massive area, yet brings only 4 cardinals to the Conclave.  However, with only four, we can get a snapshot of each.  The elder clergyman among the quartet is a native Kiwi, Cardinal John Drew is Archbishop Emeritus of Wellington, New Zealand.  Much of his active ministry was spent in working with the formation of other priests and in education roles.  Now 76, Pope Francis I elevated him to the Cardinal ranks in 2015.

Two of the Cardinals are in their 60's.  Cardinal Soane Patiti Paini Mafi is the first Cardinal ever for the island nations of Tonga.  Also appointed Cardinal in 2015, at the time he was the youngest Cardinal in the ranks.  Besides Tonga, he also served for a time on Fiji.  Cardinal John Ribat of Papua New Guinea also spent a little time in Suva, Fiji.  Ribat's entree to the priesthood was through Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and he studied in the Philippines before returning to Port Moresby permanently.

The final member of Cardinals from this region is Mykola Bychok who is a member of the Ukranian Greek Catholic Church as well as received by the Roman Catholic Church--he gets to wear a slightly different costume, too.  Bychok's move from Urkaine to Australia was orchestrated from start to finish by Pope Francis I.  And at 45, he is the youngest member of the conclave.  

2025 Papal Conclave: Asia

 Another region which has never had a Cardinal elevated to the Papacy.   A region where Catholicism (and Christianity, in general) has a rather weak to outright dubious claim to hearts.  Roman Catholicism is in direct conflict with other forms of Orthodox Christianity across Russia, Armenia, Georgia, Cyrus and by political association the nations of the former Soviet Union.  The pantheon of other faiths are myriad: Sunni Islam, Shia Islam, Ibadi Islam, Wahhabi Islam, Theravada Buddhism, Vajrayana Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Shintoism, Taoism, Animism and related folk religions, growing number of atheists and even Jewish sects (most notably in Israel).  Early Catholic missionaries left bad blood (and just a whole lot of blood) in places like India, Taiwan and Japan.  Today only one nation stands out as predominantly Catholic and that is the Philippines.  South Korea is 25% Christian, but predominantly of Protestant and Evangelical sects. 

 Of the 22 Cardinals headed to Rome for the Conclave, some have interesting stories and connections to the Roman Catholic Church, but only one is receiving any serious press vis a vis a possible Asian Pope.  Of those who are just interesting to me Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa of Jerusalem is perhaps top of my list.  Pizzaballa is a Friar of the Franciscan order and the Custos of the Holy Land.  A custodian priory is housed in the Monastery of Saint Saviour in the heart of old Jerusalem.  It was founded in 1217 by St. Francis himself, though the current monastery was built in the 1500's.  Cardinal Pizzaballa (Pizza Dancer?) is the first head of this order to be named a Cardinal.  

Two of the Indian Cardinals caught my attention.  Cardinal Filipe Neri António Sebastião do Rosário Ferrão of Goa.  What a magnificent name!  And it's certainly not Patel or Chaudhary!  It's a name you'd more likely expect on a Cardinal from Brazil or Lisbon.  And it speaks to the centuries old roots of Goa as a Portuguese enclave on the southwestern coast of India.  The other is Cardinal Besalios Cleemis. Besides being a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, Cleemis is also the Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, a church that was originally founded by St. Thomas according to Church tradition and only later came into communion with the Roman Catholic Church.  As such, he will be wearing a unique costume to the party.

But the bell of the ball from Asia is Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle from the Philippines.  He is ranked 3rd in authority among the Cardinals.  (Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana is ranked 7th).  He has rizz writ-large!  To hear him speak, to watch him in crowds, he would easily become "beloved".  At 67, he is not the choice that some have predicted; that of an interim Pope.  Someone to allow the church to take a breath from the policies of Francis as it contemplates its next steps.  It's a quaint notion for an institution that has a reputation of being anything but guileless.  That scenario would select someone like Turkson, who is 76 and then hopes he only lives to be 86!  But Tagle at 67, could easily lead the church for 10, 15 or even 20+ years.  To choose Tagle would be to set the direction forward.  And it would be a direction of which Pope Francis would approve.  Personally, I like the guy.

2025 Papal Conclave: Africa

 For years much has been made of the growing numbers of Catholics in Africa.  A region where more conservative and less socially tolerant cultural norms center paradigms of moral turpitude.  In the sister, Episcopal Church, these differences have led to schism and moral indignation between diocese north vs south.  So I find it a little curious that with this transition to the next Pope, this narrative has largely vanished.  Then I looked at the demographics.  

With only 17 participating members in a conclave with around 120 members, even if these Cardinals were to act as one, the effect could easily be ignored.  Add to that the fact that 14 were appointed by former Pope Francis I, and it's unlikely that a large number are out of step with his more progressive and gentle approach to the job of being Bishop of Rome; Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Servant of the Servants of God, Patriarch of the West, Primate of Italy, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Roman Province, and Sovereign of the Vatican City State.  Although with a title like that, it's easy to see how hard it would be for anyone to whom it was bestowed not feeling a little arrogant.  

When considering the 17 men who will be present from Africa at the conclave, you really don't see a lot that is remarkable about them as a whole.  Their resumes read much alike with a stream of ordinations, appointments and participation on various councils.  Of the few who seemed to stand out, the youngest, Dieudonné Cardinal Nzapalainga has made a name for himself in the Central African Republic by courageously joining with leaders of the Evangelical Protestants and Islamic faiths to create an ecumenical voice for peace and a cessation of the sectarian violence that often plagues the C.A.R.  Two others found their appointments to the Bishopric locally opposed largely on the basis of tribal animosities.  In the end, Pope Francis found a way to secure both Stephen Ameyu Martin Cardinal Mulla of South Sudan and Peter Ebere Cardinal Okpaleke of Nigeria to the Bishop's seat sand then on to the House of Cardinals.

On the elder end, the only Bishop of the bunch whose name was familiar to me, Peter Kodwo Appiah Cardinal Turkson (in my mind Bishop Peter Turkson) of Ghana.  He is arguably the most accomplished with regards to accolades and accomplishments.  He speaks 6 languages.  He is the only Bishop participating in the Conclave from Africa who was elevated to Cardinal by Pope John Paul II back in 2003.  And if there is to be an African Pope this time, he is considered the Front runner.  Another noteworthy member of the African delegation is Robert Cardinal Sarah who found himself leader of Guinea's Catholics during the presidency of Ahmed Sékou Touré (1958-1984) which grew increasing oppressive over time.  However, Sarah is an outspoken conservative who often clashed with Pope Francis I.

Richard A. Ashby (1961 - 2024)

 Death is the best of time and the worst of time to consider someone's life, with apologies to Charles Dickens.  The good thing is that the story is over.  The last sentence written.  Looking for facts fits within a neat set of parenthesis (1961 - 2024).  But, of course, the story is over.  There's no more to be written.  And there's no way to ask the source about the what, the why, the wherefore behind the "facts".  

I am the blessed graduate of an idiosyncratic religious college in the middle of nowhere.  I gave my heart to assimilate, but in the end it was futile.  The truth set me free.  And I know, I would not be the well-adjusted, happy person I am today without having transited through those years.  In spite of its wacky ideas about faith and religion, I will never again be in the midst of so many good, and good-hearted people.  Of course, there were some oddballs.  I doubt many of these same people would approve of my "apostate" life, but;

hey, I know what the world apostate means thanks to them!  I know a whole lot of amazing things because of my friendships and acquaintances.  

They send out a regular alumni rag with articles on all the amazing things Jesus is doing for them, and highlights of accomplishments of alumni like babies had, books written, PhD's earned.  The usual.  It's all uninteresting to me; however, I do skim the In Memoriam.  In particular members of the classes of '80 through '86 when I was there and for a few years thereafter.  The latest edition arrived today and listed under that section was "Richard Ashby '83, Business Owner/Finance, 7/18/24 Milton, Delaware."  Hmmm...

Owing to my surname, Richard was one of the first people I ever met at Asbury.  Like Elementary School, there was some alphabetical ordering of activities during orientation week.  I remember that he was from Pennsylvania.  His father was a Methodist minister, and it was during a time when he was pastor of a church in the vicinity of Pittsburgh.  He was a happy-go-lucky fellow.  Quick to laugh.  Always in a hurry.  When we were Sophomores he ran against me for class President.  I won.  But it was all in fun.  Still, somewhere inside him I always felt there was a little sadness.  Or maybe, hindsight is 2020.  

Looking for an Obituary was fruitless.  I eventually found Obit's for his mother, and a brother 10 years his senior.  For Richard, I found an arrest record from 2007 for passing a pair of bad checks in the amounts of $1,000.00 each.  Another Court case from 2002 in which he petitioned for reconsideration of a revocation of his driver's license for 5 years on the grounds of 3 serious citations while driving between 2000 and 2002.  He lost.  His Driver's License was revoked.  The final document was the approval of a request by another brother to be made heir of his "estate".  Recent addresses indicated modest but nice abodes.  No mention of any heirs or indication of said.  The photo is from our Junior College Yearbook.  Richard would have been 21.

Life is a funny old bird.  What you imagine it will be when you are but 20 or 22 is no guarantee of getting there.

Wilmington, DE: Brandywine Zoo

 The final stop on my Spring Break Zoo Trek was the lovely little Brandywine Zoo in Wilmington, DE.  The smallest of all the zoos covering just 12 acres, it hugs a gentle palisade along the Brandywine River in the heart of the city.  It has great dreams and has developed an incredible master plan that would more than double the size and give it the ability to share a wider range of animal species. 

Perhaps by reaching for the stars it was able to achieve an amazing first step.  In 2019, it opened its first truly new habitat in decades.  The new Lemur Habitat costs over 3.5 million and created a home for three species of Lemurs: Ring-tailed (4), White & Black Ruffed (2), and Crowned (2--now, 3 with the birth of a baby in 2024), Guinea Fowl (4) and Radiated Tortoise (3).  They also renovated the huge habitat for their signature species, the Andean Condor.

The next major phase was a new animal welfare and quarantine facility that was completed in 2022.  For such a small zoo, it is nothing short of amazing.

New Entrance blueprint.

Originally the third phase would be led by the creation and expansion of the zoo's entrance.  This plan involves a new pathway, a new entrance gate, a new large water feature built around a new multi-species habitat.  The price tag for this sits at around 8 million.  The state has committed half of that--which is pretty amazing.  They collected contributions toward a quarter more.  But given the gap, the project has been shifted to the final phase.  

Replacing it with a new multi-season Habitat built at the "elbow" of the plaza at the end of the zoo--kitty-corner from the new Lemur Multi-species Habitat.  In preparation for the new entrance, the zoo took on a pair of Southern Pudu and a pair of Toco Toucans who were given a home in the old habitat at this juncture.  Southern Pudu, a diminutive antelope from South America was brought to the zoo in part to excite the community and bolster contributions for the new entrance.  In the present situation, both the Pudu and Toucans have been relocated to other AZA institutions.

The intention of the new Habitat is to create a venue where animals can be viewed both during the warmer months and within a building, during the colder months and inclement weather.  Once completed, it will most likely become the home of a species of sloth along with a return of Toucans.

Any visit to any zoo is a crap shoot.  On this visit, the Brandywine zoo's Bobcat was out, the Andean Condors weren't.  No Pudu or Toucans, but lots of great viewing of Lemurs.  

Andean Condor Habitat.

FLORIDA BOBCAT

Lynx rufus floridanus

Squeakers is a Florida subspecies Bobcat that was rescued in the wild as a kitten and taken in at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans.  From there, she was transferred to the Brandywine zoo around the age of 1, and has called Wilmington her home ever since.  

Encountered a wonderful Keeper who was sharing this amazing lady!

Ball Python

Python regius

The Red Pandas were not in a photogenic mood... 

Two of the RADIATED TORTOISE, Astrochelys radiata.

CROWNED LEMUR

Eulemur coronatus

Mother and child.

WHITE & BLACK RUFFED LEMUR

Varecia varegata

RING-TAILED LEMUR

Lemur catta

HELMETED GUINEAFOWL

Numida meleagris