Category Archives: Blog

My Angel

September 23, 2016Blog, My Family, True LoveSarah Patten

Who said angels have to be people?

This post is dedicated to Angel on her birthday.

An Unexpected Gift

Christmas Eve day in 2004 was a very special day. I was slow getting ready, and I believe I was staring at the Christmas tree when the phone rang. My older brother answered it and then quickly hung up.

“There’s a lab at Save Mart who needs a new home!”

With that, my family and I went from lazy to rushing to meet up with my mom.

When my family met up with Mom, she was with a mother and two little girls holding a black puppy.

A puppy?

I wanted a young adult dog. But my expectations changed as we took turns holding her.

My family outside of Save Mart with our new “edition.”

We quickly found out she was named after her mother Angel. She was most likely part Labrador Retriever and Australian Shepherd. She had been born September 22. My family had fallen in love. Mom paid the previous owners, and we carried a very scared puppy home.

Angel hardly moved, wouldn’t eat, and ignored us when we got home. We had her rest in my brothers’ room. I was in the hall trying to get her out. I gently talked to her. She would start approaching me and then go back in the room. Then she finally came and curled up in my lap.

Best Friend

Angel’s eyes show compassion when she knows you’re sad, and so she sits with you. She use to jump around when she could tell you were happy. She prefers sitting down now and wagging her tail. My dogs have always tried to make people happy.

As I mentioned before, Angel was very shy when we were brought her home. Her shyness was one of the probable reasons why she was the last pup of the litter to find a home. I had just returned from school and taking the winter off. Most of my friends were out of town going to college, and my family had their busy lives. I worked some, but I was basically alone. I think that’s why Angel and I became so close.

Angel’s Other Friends

Though socially awkward, Angel had a chance friendship with two dogs behind our yard. People love to see her. She’s come out of her shell. One person who broke through to her was a five-year-old girl. She’s thirteen now and is kind of like a second owner to Angel and my other dog. Angels also loves the girl’s little sister. Angel opens up more quickly to people she senses have gentle souls. She especially adores little children and babies.

Angel has aged quite a bit now. I don’t know how long she has to live. But she has had a good life. One individual that kept Angel going and probably preserved her life is our very energetic Australian Shepherd, Zane. He makes sure she gets plenty of exercise!

And of course, my parents. Angel has a harder time being around men, but she loves my dad. Angel really loves my mom.

I’m not there to take care of Angel, but I can rely on my mom to take care of the dogs.

My mom shows so much love to the dogs.

And that is not always easy. The dogs are mischievous and have a new—and delicious— diet because of Angel’s special needs.

Angel easily makes me happy. I don’t want to sound cheesy, but I believe Angel was sent from above.

Happy birthday, Angel!

Mrs. Hamilton: When You Only Got 97 Years to Live

April 26, 2016Blog$10 Bill, Alexander Hamilton, Elizabeth Hamilton, Her storylineSarah Patten

Hands down I agree with the article by Cokie Roberts about how Elizabeth Hamilton–not her husband Alexander–should be on the $10 bill.

Now I don’t totally hate Alexander Hamilton—I mean he’s a founding father. I did a report on him in eighth grade and got a good grade but was weirded-out by his personal life. Then years later, a musical about the man comes out. It made me research him again—and nope—my feelings for him hadn’t changed. While I was on Wikipedia, of course I had to click on his spouse’s name: “Elizabeth Schuyler.”

I was shocked.

“Ninety-seven? Ninety-seven. NINETY-SEVEN!” I couldn’t believe it. I told my roommate who listened patiently to how I can’t stand Alexander Hamilton but that his wife, Elizabeth, was extraordinary.

Martha Washington said, “She was always my ideal of a true woman.” In Alexander Hamilton’s farewell note he closed with calling Elizabeth “Best of wives and best of women.”

How did she make it to ninety-seven? Well, she and her sisters had been savvy in preserving themselves through the Revolutionary War. She proved she had a survival instinct. She was active. She was forgiving and loving. She had a purpose.

While preserving her husband’s memory (through gathering his papers and shutting down negative comments about him), she also had to pay his debts (was Alexander really qualified to be Secretary of the Treasury? Um…no!) and auction off their house . Miraculously, she was able to repurchase it. So who’s the real treasurer? (She had even helped him draft his financial plans!) She was the brains. Elizabeth also founded the first orphanage in New York (plus she also took in orphans into her personal home) and helped Dolley Madison raise money for the Washington Monument.

Elizabeth died fifty years after her husband. She was a survivor, but I further believe she had a divine mission to accomplish.

She greatly contributed to having her husband—and the other men who founded the United States Constitution as well as the document itself—being remembered and revered.

Images:
Paintings: Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton by Ralph Earl

An Angel’s Account of the Behind the Scenes of the Largest Nativity

December 13, 2015Blog, ChristmasLargest Nativity, Piano GuysSarah Patten

Have you seen the Christmas music video about the largest Nativity? It’s officially called “Over A Thousand People Came Together to Break a Record And Bring This Moving Christmas Hymn to Life.” If you haven’t, you will. If not now, then I want you to click on it later in this post!

The following account was mostly written last year–2014–shortly after the nativity video came out. This gives a different point of view than the other behind the scenes videos and accounts….

Diary Notes

My last journal words for the month of November:

I signed up to be part of the largest nativity ever (hopefully). I followed links on Facebook ward page that led to the event.

It’s tomorrow!

The very beginning of the next day’s entry:
My fingers are beginning to unthaw.

A New Friend

I thought I dressed warm enough for the day of filming. I mean I had two layers of socks and jeans under my white skirt. I just had a thin shirt underneath the white sweater I had worn backwards to hide the buttons.

Check-in was at two. I was nervous I wasn’t going to get a good parking spot so I went early to one of the designated parking areas—the parking lot of the temple. I drove there before one o’clock to make sure I didn’t run into any traffic. I didn’t.

There were cars parked there but very few which belonged to the grounds workers. I kept thinking, Just give it more time, and you’ll have families to follow.

I hoped and prayed for angels.

Sometime after a prayer, a car pulled up a few spaces over. The driver was wearing white and had her hair curled. I hoped for the best. After a while, I just had to get out of the car. I had to get to Rock Canyon Park. I had to know if the other person dressed in white was going to the same place. I couldn’t be shy.

I walked over and said, “Um, excuse me…”

The driver opened the door. She was wearing an angel costume! What a relief. We set out to Rock Canyon Park.

As my new friend, Haley, and I walked across some road work, I found out she was from a few towns over and decided today to be a part of the nativity. “I knew about it weeks ago but decided I was going to do it today. I went to Wal-Mart this morning to put together my costume. I took off work.”

We found the park, and a lot of cars were parked curbside. There was some confusion on where to sign in and where to wait.

We were told we could wait on the grass by one of the white tents. I saw a few people come out with the “bell costume.” Basically a white bell shape screen that could go over your head. I couldn’t be a bell angel. I had signed up too late.

Me and Haley shortly after checking in at the park. My prayers of finding an angel to follow were answered.

The Little White Tent We Saw In the Distance

Most people were there with their families.

This was one of the first views after I checked in. Here are tents and angels lounging on the grass.The VIP tent was much farther away .

I wasn’t too worried about grass stains, but Haley and I thought it would be best if we sat in some of the chairs further down the field. We wondered what the red balloon was and why some people were taking pictures with a guy who had a camera. “I think he’s a famous YouTuber,” said Haley. We saw the archway where we knew the main cast of the nativity would pose. We saw the hill we would be standing on.

The guys who handed us our orange wristbands said something about singing with Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

We had our eyes on the little tent. We were given a list of prominent people who would be participating. Haley had to explain more on who some of their identities. It was cool sitting in the chairs because we also saw people coming out of a distant little tent near the parking lot.

A woman came out wearing a silvery white robe and some kids came out. People kept going in and out. Haley and I speculated who they could be.

People related to the Piano Guys? Was Studio C going to provide entertainment while we waited? When was David Archuleta going to appear?

“Oh! Oh! Is that Peter Hollens?” Some people dressed as shepherds and Wise Men were appearing.

“Um, who?” I felt a little out of the loop. Haley was obviously a die-hard fan of the singer.

We talked about the other celebs that were on the list. Some were more familiar.

I wasn’t too sure who the some people were except Alex Boye. We spotted him as a Wise Man dressed in orange the instant he walked out of the tent.

Calling All Angels

More and more people were coming. A family in front of us were talking about getting together their costumes together that day.

Then came directions. “Angels with a purple wristband, please report to…” “Angels who have an orange wristband with words written on it, go…”

I turned to Haley. “Is that us?”

“No, we don’t have writing on ours.”

Then I heard, “All angels, go…”

It was time to take the group shot.

I think I took this pic on the way to the group shot. In a few hours, the animals would freak out at the sounds of the helicopters and booming music.

We got in line with the rest of the angels to go up to another slope. But as we went through the portable orange fence, we were each given a green and white wristband.

Haley and I got in the middle. Everyone had to scoot in. We could see some of the people below. The main cast of the nativity. I knew they were down there because of the Wise Men’s bright wardrobe. Some officials and cameras were there too.

Angels were taking cell phone pictures and talking about YouTube videos. It was exciting, but I felt sorry for the bell angels who were trying to protect their 3D costumes.

“We broke the record, right?” I asked.

Haley nodded. “I’m sure we did.”

But how would it go on record?

That was answered when we heard there was an official guy to witness the event. I heard the first part about Britain and over 800 angels. “And today…” He started to speak slower and the angels got louder. Cheers caused me to assume we broke it.

After taking the group picture, we angels managed to come down the steep hill and take some pix with the main cast.

I’m not sure how we managed to get down the hill, but we did and managed to take some pictures with some cast members. One asked, “Aren’t you cold?” I wasn’t till he asked.

The sun was going down quickly, and it was getting colder fast! We needed to rush to the other hill, which was the filming location.

Haley and I left toward the other hill after she got an individual shot with Peter Hollens.

It was getting colder.

Angel Praises

We were ushered to the hill. A guy with a megaphone announced the arranger of the the version of “Angel We Have Had Heard on High” He started teaching us the additional verse we would sing along with the recording.

He’d say lines, we would repeat. “Now say it to your neighbor!”

Everyone seemed to be catching on except me. I was mesmerized by the track. The Piano Guys, Mormon Tabernacle Choir. David Archuleta. That’s a winning combo.

But I still didn’t know the words. I didn’t know the words were available online before that. I tried to recite what I knew to Haley but couldn’t remember.

“We have the words!”

A mother and her daughter, Emily, had the lyrics printed out. It was getting darker but we could make out the words well enough. If there was the rare chance the cameramen got us on tape, I feared I wouldn’t know the words. Plus, memorizing the words gave us something to think about besides the chillier temperature. Perhaps that was the plan the directors had in mind.

When the angels got a break to go to the tents to get warm, most of them gladly rushed to the tents. I could hardly move. So, Haley, Emily, and I practiced. In fact, the first Deseret News article about the event captured the moment with the three of us practicing on the empty hill in one of the many photographs. (Ours was fuzzy.)

We soon thought it best to get to go to a tent since the break was going to be longer than I initially thought. I had adjusted my skirt a certain way where I could have access to my jean pockets. I had the mini fake candle production gave us in one and my phone in the other but still was nervous my phone was going to slip out.

Wising Up

The tent was a little warmer. Our spirits lifted by the sight of donuts, muffins, cocoa, and apple cider. The apple cider was room temperature but the maple donut was delicious. Haley and I rushed to finish our food when we heard the angels needed to go back.

Oh. They needed the bell angels.

We went by a mother and her daughters who were by a heater. We took turns to be by the warmer spots. We went over the lyrics. I panicked each time a guy in a vest announced it was time for the angels to go back to the hill. Once again, it was the bell angels.

But a lady came up to me and Haley and asked if we went to the VIP tent.

“It’s warmer. Lots of people are taking pictures with Alex Boye.”

Haley and I ran to the little white tent. There was a photographer taking pictures of people against a lighted backdrop with words: ShareTheGift and Radiant.

In the VIP tent–or another chance to meet some stars. Plus, #ShareTheGift.

There was a table with handouts that said “Share the Gift. I will share the gift by…” Alex Boye and another cast member were taking pictures with people. I noticed their picture was done. “I want to take a picture with a Wise Man,” I said.

I held up my Share the Gift paper for the photographer and then rushed to Alex Boye who was filling out how he was going to share the gift. He said, “I will share the gift by sharing…wisdom. Get it?”

With Alex Boye! He was super nice and added cheer.

Haley and I took individual phone pix with him. He was even more fun than he was in his videos.

Someone announced, “They need all angels now!” We got out of the tent, and the hill was covered with angels again. I think they started to play the music, and we ran to what we assumed was our spot before.

An Angel’s Eye View

We took out our candles. I made the mistake of taking out my cell phone. David Archuleta’s voice rang out and that meant the cameras were rolling. I couldn’t find my pockets fast enough so trusted the phone would be safe enough resting on the wrinkles near the pocket.

There was a lot of stopping and starting for aerial shots, close-ups. Haley and I got close to one (but didn’t make it in the video) The camel and donkey looked like they were having a hard time—especially with the loud sounds! A shepherd (who I’m now pretty sure was Jeremy from Studio C) had to chase the donkey a couple times, but they were all gentle with the animals. I was impressed by that—and the bell angels.

The bell angels were in some sort of order and had to turn their light switch on at a certain time. (The bell angels are the lights you see moving that form the nativity profile at the end of the video.) The switch lit up the bottom of their costumes blue. “Let’s do it again,” said the booming voice. Wow. How did they manage to turn on a switch? And multiple times! My fingers were becoming more frozen. The bell angels kept at it. They came on at a certain time and had to time when their blue lights went off.

When the ground people (this time I mean the bell angels and the nativity cast) were getting directions, I was trying to get my phone back in my pocket. I was able to open up my pocket with enough space for my phone. My phone got near the pocket but my hands couldn’t cope together. My fingers were wrapped around the phone but wouldn’t budge. I tried not to give up but so it was painful, and I just put it on some denim wrinkles again.

I’ll have to say the night was tough. My thoughts then: “But this is going to be a good story. We’re going to be so glad.”

The arranger of the video and other megaphoned voices were also encouraging. “You guys are doing great!” People with children were allowed to leave. If you could stay, it would be nice. Haley and I kept saying we were going to stay the whole time. And we did. We went to the trouble of finding white clothes and coming here, so we would take the trouble to stay till it was done.

My feet were hurting, and my boots were getting uncomfortable. It felt a little better when we walked down the hill ever so slowly. The main cast were clearing out. But some stayed. Between shots, an announcer said, “Alex Boye has agreed to stay a half hour after and take pictures with any of you guys who want to.” The directors kept on saying encouraging comments like “You’re doing awesome!”

The best motivation, though, was when one director said, “Think how this video will bring people closer to Christ.”

Going Home

It was a little past ten when we were dismissed. Some of the directing crew told us we all did a good job and to look for the video on December 12^th on YouTube. We got to keep our candle but I used my phone walking back to the parking lot. Haley and I actually found our way back pretty easily, but what if I hadn’t had anyone to walk back with? It was late.

We had expected the lot to be fuller but it wasn’t—which meant it was easier to drive out. It was yet another tender mercy for me. I had quite a few angels looking out for me.

I got home, and maybe two hours later checked if we got in the news. We did! I texted Haley about our blurry shot, and she confirmed it was us.

I will never forget the experience. I was definitely brought closer to Christ that freezing night. As I shivered, I had considered what I would have done the night of His birth. Maybe this was a way of showing I would have rushed to see the baby in the stable. I’d like to think I actually participated when the host of angels appeared to the shepherds.

P.S. When I saw my candle the next day, it was still on! It was a reminder to share the gift. Share how much the Savior means to me. Do what he would do and let my light shine.

Going Viral

I was still waking up when I checked my email on Friday. I perked up when I got an alert saying the video was up!

I clicked on the link. Huh. Just a little over 300 views.

That didn’t last long. What I thought was more impressive than the video was how it was coming up on Facebook. I even got emails from family asking if I saw the video yet.

As I’m writing this—less than four days later—the numbers are going up. I think we’re almost at 900,000 now. (Update on December 13, 2015-over 9 million nearing 10!)

But the thing that matters most is the feeling. As I watch it, I get excited about the additional verse and the music buildup and then the outside nativity appears. As I watch and recall standing in the cold, I do get a warm feeling. Something tells me This actually happened. People traveled far to see the child who would save them. Thousands and thousands more—or maybe trillions more—were probably singing the night of Christ’s birth. I hope I was among them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrLoWt2tfqg

Images and Videos:
Video is inserted at the end of this post. The featured photo is a screen shot of the video that features some blurry angels. I doubt I’m in that blur, but hey, I was somewhere else in white.

All other images taken by Sarah Patten.

From Maria Anna to Martha: 5 Influential Piano Gals

May 10, 2015Blog, Mothers, Music, My FamilyHer storyline, Music mothers, Women pianistsSarah Patten

Life would be a dark place if it weren’t for music. But thanks to creators of music, my world is a happier place. I’m indebted to so many but I have to say there are some standouts that paved the way for my love of music. Maria Anna Mozart, Fanny Mendelssohn, Clara Schumann, Jane Bastien, and Martha Patten.

Maria Anna Mozart

The two prodigy siblings. Wolfgang was inspired by his big sister, “Nannerl” Anna Maria

When we hear “Mozart,” don’t we think of the boy? Wolfgang Amadeus? We don’t think of his talented sister Anne Maria Mozart as much. Smithsonian magazine called her “The Family’s First Prodigy.”

Her father, Leopold–a court musician and teacher to his children–took them on tour across Europe. The trio was a hit and the siblings made a good team. She was considered one of the greatest pianists.. However, Leopold pushed more for his son’s performances as it was easier for males to break into a professional music career.

Wolfgang saw Anna Maria as a role model. She accompanied him and played his compositions. She also wrote her own, which we sadly don’t have today. But we do have their letters and her diaries which display affection and eccentricity.

I can only imagine her reactions when she opened to write in her diary and found that her brother was at it again. Pretending to be her and writing irreverent language that I rather not repeat.

Fanny Mendelssohn

Another equally talented sister. She composed over 460 compositions and sometimes they were attributed to her brother, Felix, because it just wasn’t proper for a woman to publish music. Felix, though, corrected Queen Victoria that a piece she was fond of was not by him but by Fanny.

She said that one of her piano works, The Year, was for “home use entirely.” Of course it wasn’t, but I’m sure she gave informal concerts to her family that the world will never know.

Clara Schumann

Clara was romoted by family and friends but had a mind of her own and showed the world that women are master performers too.

Clara’s career was promoted by her father and associates but had a mind of her own. She took the opportunity to show the world that female pianists can be equal to men. I thank her for that.

I’m not sure if I would have gotten along with her, though. But it was nice of her to promote the career of her husband, Robert. I also have to laugh that while he was a student and guest of her father, Robert scared her by popping out of nowhere dressed as a ghost. She wouldn’t fall in love with him til later, but perhaps that’s when the sparks started to fly,

Jane Bastien

Everyone in my piano teacher’s studio knew I was on the lowest piano level. (Some things haven’t changed much.) Even when I was promoted to second on the program, it was common knowledge.. For years, I was playing pieces by either Jane or James Bastien. When I saw other names such as Mozart, Beethoven, Schumann, I longed to be playing those composers—or any other composer however obscure. Anyone but Bastien.

HOWEVER……..

Jane Bastien is still one of my favorite composers. It’s evident in the Bastien teaching books that she’s a brilliant teacher. Thanks to her I was wowed and inspired by the other students who went up on stage playing songs by composers whose names I couldn’t pronounce.

I remember bits and pieces from other famous composers’ songs I eventually played, but I remember the very first piano song exactly I performed in my piano teacher’s annual recital—which of course was a Bastien song.

I became really excited when Jane Bastien was in a piano convention center in San Diego. She was a gracious, smiling woman, and I got to take a picture with her. Believe me, I couldn’t have been more ecstatic to meet her than meeting the Mozarts themselves.

Martha Patten

I'm honored my favorite pianist happens to my mom. She could have made bucks but continues to share her expertise and expression music with others. Here she is teaching a grandchild.

I’m honored my favorite pianist happens to my mom. She could have made big bucks but continues to share her expertise and expressive music with others. Here she is teaching a grandchild.

A Broadway performer said my mom could have made a lot of money if she moved to New York. My mom can play by ear, improvise, transpose music into different keys in a matter of seconds.

The piano could be considered her unofficial sibling when she grew up. Piano and clarinet are her specialties, but she can pick up other instruments. She taught band, choir, drama, and private piano lessons. Her students are complimentary of her and have invited her to watch them in performances. One student, now a junior high school history teacher, puts on an annual medieval faire in which his students get into character and show the oddities of the Middle Ages. At the beginning of one of his faires, he told the audience how he couldn’t remember much of what he learned in middle school but could remember the words to “76 Trombones” and then announced the presence of my mom.

I can’t count how many times she accompanied a variety of groups–school plays, choir, church functions, talent shows, weddings, and just all type of revenues. I know if my lifetime, she’s played and performed for hundreds of people. So I’ll just say thousands.

Her genius is impressive, but her trademark is how she makes the individual feel. I’m honored that I get a front row seat and hear her best performances–which are played at home.

By the way, she has composed but they are usually “for home entirely.” But my favorites are “Crib Lullaby,” “One By One and Two By Two,” and “No Tail.”

Sources and Links:
http://www.pianowomen.com /

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/maria-anna-mozart-the-familys-first-prodigy-1259016/?no-ist

Wikipedia

http://historyweird.com/1780-mozart-trolls-his-sister/

Images:
Mozart Family Portrait by Croce
Wolfgang and Nannerl Mozart by Eusebuis Johann Alphen
Portriat of Fanny Hensel 1842 by Moritz Daniel Oppenheim
Drawing of Schumann
Grandma Teaching another Prodigy courtesy of Douglas Patten

My siblings drive me crazy

April 10, 2015Blog, My Family, SiblingsSarah Patten

In honor of Siblings Day and my car reregistered, I decided to give tribute to my siblings and talk about our car memories.

Bob

“Do you see the maroon van yet?” my sister-in-law asked.

I was in a car with people I met a couple hours ago that were headed in the same direction. We were now in a nearly deserted parking lot.

“I think so,” I answered. “Is it covered with snow?”

“I don’t know.”

My ride pulled by a nearly white van. I saw some maroon. “I think I’m right by you guys. Do you see the gray Honda?”

I was annoyed with my sister-in-law when she said, “I really don’t know.”

Another passenger in the car said, “Just see who the driver is.”

I didn’t want to. It was dark and would be slippery.

“Okay,” I told my sister-in-law. “I’m going to knock on the door. Do you see me yet?”

Her response was not encouraging. “Um, no?”

I knocked on the driver’s door. The door opened. It was not my brother’s wife. It was a man wearing a red coat and CowboyS hat.

“Bob!”

“Surprise!” My brother helped me with the luggage and then he and I were off to his house. I don’t remember what we talked about but I remember feeling relieved, secure, and happy. I was finally getting the one-on-one time with my oldest brother.

Dan

If it weren’t for Dan, I wouldn’t be writing this post. The car I had to reregister this week? Yeah, I bought it from him a couple years ago. He upgraded to a better car though we’re in agreement I’m driving a fairly good vehicle.

But Dan didn’t always have the classiest cars. But when you’re in high school any car would do. I still felt cool riding in his first, cheap car. I was a freshman and he was senior. He would race with a friend to school from seminary. It wasn’t healthy for the yellow car.

One morning the steering wheel came off. “What???” Dan tried to keep it in place as we slowly crossed the wide intersection where the most car accidents occurred at school. We made it. Barely, but we made it into a parking spot.

I’m thinking our mom picked us up that day. The car got fixed, and Dan secured the steering wheel with duct tape. The fixes and the car’s accessories cost more than the car itself. A CD player. A loose fake arm from Spencer’s that Dan liked to stick out the window.

Hope this didn’t embarrass him. But like I said, I felt pretty cool riding in his car.

Rachel

Rachel is my favorite travel companion. Even when I get us lost, she’s patient. We never go hungry. Wherever we go, it’s a party–complete with Sonic drinks.

Rachel is pretty cool. As she drove me around, her song “Cool Kids” played over and over again. (I wished I could be like her!) One other favorite one was “Rude.” We applied it to a pet.

One of the most exciting times in her car was when we brought home a movie she wanted to watch with me. But we would have to wait for her husband to get home. Until then we quoted clips in the car and while were eating dinner. We even threw in wisdom.

“It doesn’t matter what happens in the blender. It’s what happens next.”

When it’s just Rachel and I, it’s a fun guarantee.

Joe

A couple years ago, I had the upper hand in some things. That included transportation. Joe is one of the best drivers but needed to borrow my car a few times.

“Could I use the car this weekend?” Joe asked.

I knew the next thing he was going to say. “I have a date.”

Of course I would let him. And of course he’s gotten a cooler car since then and got married. But he and his wife still help me when I go places.

“Don’t hang up the phone!” (A favorite phrase of his wife) Without her and Joe, I would be in Wyoming right now with bad brakes.

Joe probably thinks (correctly) my car or myself couldn’t survive without him.

Because I needed to reregister my car this week, I needed a smog and safety check and was asking around. I texted Joe who texted back an address. As characteristic of our relationship, he called right after that text.

“This is what you need to know…” He went into greater detail and then asked if I understood. He’s pretty good at simplifying things when I ask.

Zzzzzzzzzz end!

Images:
Personal and family photos
Sonic photo taken by Belinda Hankins Miller

The Austen Vs. Barrett Sisters

February 15, 2015Blog, Poets, Sisters, True LoveCassandra Austen, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Henrietta Barrett, Her storyline, Jane Austen, Robert BrowningSarah Patten

Sisters.

One sister was near marriage but outside forces dashed those hopes. Her writer-sister had a proposal of marriage and….

How will such a story end?

The Austens

Cassandra’s fiance worked in order for them to get married. He went on a military mission but died after he caught yellow fever in 1797. Cassandra now had some money, but no man to share it with. She never married.

Then we all know Jane.

Parties, balls, humor, but never she seemed to find Mr. Right. She briefly accepted a proposal in 1802. The man was financially secured and perhaps it would have been perfect if she loved him. She didn’t and soon declined. One portrayal of possible romances include Becoming Jane.

The Barretts

Henrietta could have been a character out of an Austen novel—was religious but determined to have fun and find romance at balls and parties. It seemed marriage was in her grasp at one point, but any suitor was kicked out of her life by her father.

Mr. Barrett would never let his children marry.

Elizabeth couldn’t spend time outside like she used to, but kept contact with her family, friends, and intellectuals through correspondences and others visiting her. Her mind was active, but felt close to death till fellow poet Robert Browning showed intense interest in her. One of the sonnets she wrote during their courtship starts:

“My future will not copy fair my past.”

The sonnet talks about the new life she feels like she’s been given. She can’t go back to the past where she thought love was lost.

Elizabeth couldn’t make the same mistakes other did. She had to be stealthier than Henrietta. And unlike Jane, Elizabeth had the means to support herself and was in love with a man who loved her. But could Elizabeth back out at the proposal of marriage from Robert? Would she find enough strength to go through with the marriage?

She did. She eloped with Robert Browning to Italy in 1846.. Elizabeth’s father disowned her but she continued to compose poems.

Now what of Henrietta?

Could she find true love? Even if she did, could she find a way to marry?

Four years after her sister eloped, Henrietta married a Captain William Cook. Like Elizabeth, she too was disowned by her father.

We don’t know much about Henrietta but we know she displayed gumption. Some of that gumption is portrayed in, The Barretts of Wimpole Street.

Though the Barrett sisters could afford marriage, could they be indebted to the Austen sisters who gave some do’s and don’ts when it came to marriage and love?

P.S. And which film is better–Becoming Jane or The Barretts of Wimpole Street?

Sources:
http://www.browningscorrespondence.com/biographical-sketches/?id=977
wikipedia.org

Pictures:
"The Two Sisters" by Henri Fantin-Latour
Portrait of Jane Austen by Cassandra Austen
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Engraving September, 1859,      by Macaire Havre, engraving by T. O. Barlow

Should Have Died, but Survived: The Hanging of Anne Greene

October 31, 2014BlogAnne Greene, Christopher Wren, Dr. Willis, Her storyline, Mary Hooper, Miracles, Newes from the Dead, Robert Matthews, Thomas ReadSarah Patten

Anne Greene thought she was going to die.

She hadn’t gotten a fair trial. She protested that she had not killed her baby. Despite the medical proof the baby had indeed been a stillborn, Anne was condemned to hang. Sir Thomas Read, whose grandson impregnated the maid, took special measures and his influence to see that his “noble” family would not have their reputation ruined. She still had her friends’ “support,” at her hanging in Oxford on December 14, 1650. She wanted a quick death, so she requested they pull her swaying body up and down and hit it repeatedly. They did until the sheriff told them to stop. Once everyone thought her dead, she was taken down, placed in a coffin, and whooshed away to a group of doctors and medical students. Anne’s body was going to be dissected.

Mostly Dead Something wasn’t right on the day of the dissection. As the physicians opened the coffin, they were in for a surprise. Did the corpse just move? Was that a breath? Yes, she was still alive. But barely. The dissection lesson quickly did a one-eighty.

1650 Version of ER Some of the treatments included aren’t recommended today, but they did the best for the time to see her breath and make her body warmth again. They poured cordial down her mouth and tickled her throat with a feather which opened and shut her eyes. She coughed and was breathing more. They applied heat plasters, rubbed, and bled her . To remain warm, she was placed in a warm bed by another girl.

Here’s a woodcut that attempts to illustrate the story:

What Comes Around… As Anne Greene was recovering, the justice system decided to pardon the revived woman. Three days after her execution, Thomas Read died. Maybe from natural causes. People saw these events as acts from God and some science. If you’re like me, perhaps you see it as both. (For more on this topic, watch this interesting video on how religion and science work together.) 1651 was a better year for Anne. She married a John Taylor. Not much is known after that except she had three children and died in 1665. Doctors, students, and others involved in reviving need to get credit for taking action rather than sit and let her die. We have some of the names: Christopher Wren, Robert Matthews, and Doctor Willis. The writer of the pamphlet writer in 1651 called Newes from the Dead or a True and Exact Narration of the Miraculous Deliverance of Anne Greene also should get an award for preserving a record.

A Book Review Author Mary Hooper borrowed the title Newes from the Dead for her historical fictional novel told mainly from Anne’s perspective as she organizes her thoughts and recounts the events that led to a mysterious place. The book and author deserve a huge honor. Once Mary Hooper heard Anne’s story on the car radio, “I was absolutely captivated, I went straight home to find out more about her.” If Hooper hadn’t written the book, I would have had no idea of this remarkable incident. Writing to preserve stories really benefits future generations–no matter how weird. And going back to the book, I appreciate the theme of thinking carefully before deciding. Over and over again, Anne regrets believing the smooth-talking and (not so) “gentleman” who got her into trouble. She learns the importance of going for the kind, sincere, and hardworking guys–but with caution.

I assume that the real Anne Greene had learned important lessons. The true story is serious, a little comical, but very heartwarming. It also is surrounded by those who had to make tough decisions. I would like to see more people know about the hanging and revival of Anne Greene—and perhaps even see it as a movie.

Sources and Links:
A Wonder of Wonders, being a faithful Narrative and true Relation of one Anne Green, who was condemned on the 14 Dec., and hanged in Oxford and was afterwards beg’d for an Anatomy by the physicians and recovered. (1651)

Woodcut from A Wonder of Wonders depicting the hanging of Anne Greene, which she survived.

Newes from the Dead by Mary Hooper on goodreads

Newes from the Dead by Mary Hooper on amazon

Featured image of Sleeping Beauty by W.E.F. Britten included in The Early Poems of Alfred Lord Tennyson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Greene

“Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History”—What Does That Mean?

July 13, 2014Blog, InvestigatorsChristine de Pisan, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, Virginia Woolf, Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make HistorySarah Patten

Laurel Ulrich was perplexed that she couldn’t find much information about Puritan women. As a graduate student at the University of New Hampshire, she was writing a seminar and then an article on early American women. She wanted to let people know that there were other women instead of just the witches. In her article, she wanted to stress that we need to pay attention to the invisible women and wrote “Well-behaved women seldom make history.”

She wrote that in 1976. Nearly twenty years later, a journalist called her up and asked if she could use that quote. Ulrich said yes and soon got asked by others if they could to print that phrase on t-shirts. “Sure! Send me a t-shirt,” Ulrich replied. It was then that the phrase turned into a slogan and phenomenon. It’s been seen on bumper stickers, quilts, coffee mugs, and used by organizations. (Sometimes without her permission.) People interpreted it a variety of ways, and it was used quite differently than she intended. However, she took an interest in the different views of the phrase and saw why people used it the way they did.

So Ulrich decided to write a book called Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History which explores why some women are remembered and why some are not, how they’re remembered, what has been done for them to be remembered, and what we can do. The book centers around three feminist writers—Christine de Pizan of France who lived in the fifteenth century, American Elizabeth Cady Stanton who lived in the nineteenth century, and Virginia Woolf of England who lived in the twentieth century. Though these three women lived in different time periods and places, they were concerned with the way women were viewed. Ulrich reflects on their lives while branching out to many other women who made a mark on history. I learned about women I hadn’t heard of and new information on subjects I already knew about it.

For example, I knew about Rosa Parks, but didn’t know there were other women before her who refused to give up their seat on the bus, but a journalist decided that she was the best candidate. Since she came from a conservative background, her actions would make a bigger impact. Lots of times it’s the way people are presented that help them make history. Ulrich points out that it depends on what you mean by “well-behaved.”

Some daring women were almost not remembered—it took years and multiple efforts to publish an early biography of Harriet Tubman. How many other women need biographies? There are just so many women that are waiting for their stories to be told! At an authors’ conference discussing her book, Ulrich said “History is a dialogue between present and past….What we bring to it is our questions and our concerns. If some women are invisible in history it’s because for some reason that link between the present and past has been broken.”

It’s interesting to note that Ulrich doesn’t really discuss royalty—and that is actually quite refreshing! Ulrich uses a huge spectrum of women. From Joan of Arc being a controversial figure to Mormon polygamist wives who were career women and to the extreme 1970s to milkmaids’ contributions to society and back to us in modern times, your eyes will be opened and you will want to get out there and discover stories—including family stories. The importance of writing your own personal history also stands out.

Ulrich succeeded in writing as she put it a “feel good book.” (It’s already being used as a future reference for this writer!) Her last chapter is powerful. It includes another woman, Jill Portugal, who owns a small t-shirt business. Her t-shirts say things like, “Ignore Celebrities” and “Anti-Porn Star.” Though she’s up against an industry that makes billions, her motto is brilliant: “Taking over the world one shirt at a time.”

Ulrich says, “If well-behaved women seldom make history, it is not only because gender norms have constrained the range of female activity but because history hasn’t been very good at capturing the lives of those whose contributions have been local and domestic.”

The last statement Ulrich makes has three valid points about how people can make history—the last being the most important. “Well-behaved women make history when they do the unexpected, when they create and preserve records, and when later generations care.”

Pictures: Salem Witch by Joseph E. Baker, A Fair Puritan by E. Percy Moran, and photograph of woman and child reading taken by unknown photographer

Marie Thérèse and Aunt Elisabeth

May 31, 2014Blog, French Revolution, RoyaltyHer storyline, Princess Elisabeth of FranceSarah Patten

French Revolution. What comes to mind?

Madam Guillotine, Marie Antoinette, and sink me–The Scarlet Pimpernel. The 1982 film adaption of the book made me laugh so hard. I was also in awe. Did such heroes exist?

There were those who smuggled nobles into other countries. The films shows that Marie Antoinette and Louis’s son survived and was taken from their prison to a safer place.

Wrong.

The sole survivor was the king and queen’s daughter, Marie Thérèse. who clung on to some hope that maybe her brother and mother who were taken away had survived.

I can’t believed I went on for years not knowing about her–or her aunt Elisabeth, the king’s sister. Elisabeth made sacrifice after sacrifice for the royal family–refusing to marry or take other available routes that would take her out of the country. She endured violent attacks with them and even posed as the queen to buy her sister-in-law more time during one ambush. It’s little wonder that Marie Antoinette and Louis counseled their children to listen to their aunt.

All too soon the royal family was taken to the Temple Tower. They endured unfair trials and living conditions grew worse. The king was executed and little Louis was taken to a separate cell. Marie Antoinette was taken away and also executed, but Elisabeth and Marie-Therese only knew the king’s fate. However, I believe Elisabeth knew her sister-in-law was dead and had a strong feeling her nephew was slowly dying. Marie Thérèse had the best chance of surviving.

The heroic aunt. Elisabeth de France by Vigee-Lebrun.

When it was just Elisabeth and Marie Thérèse in the cell, Elisabeth comforted her niece. She was an example of piety, and Marie Thérèse said much of her survival was due to prayer. Elisabeth showed and advised her niece on how to groom herself, keep the cell as clean as possible, and how to handle the guards. It was just a matter of time before Elisabeth was taken away and was prepared to die a martyr. Marie Thérèse would not find out what happened to her aunt, mother, and brother till much later. The information that her aunt watched around twenty-five nobles executed before her and was purposely saved for last would be withheld.

Marie Thérèse was eventually freed and taken to Vienna in 1795 for safety.

The sole survivor. Portrait of Marie Thérèse of France by Heinrich Furger.

Marie Thérèse would go on to help royal refugees and raise troops against Napoleon dubbed her the “only man in the family.” She worked hard to preserve the memory of her family. The following comment about her aunt Elisabeth needs to be remembered.

“I feel I have her nature . . . [she] considered me and cared for me as her daughter, and I, I honored her as a second mother.”

I hope I have some of Princess Elisabeth in me. Her story sticks out to me. In times of tough decisions, I have thought of my role as an aunt. Princess Elisabeth is a wonderful role model. Her story is inspiring because it can make us think of ways we can be more loving toward our families.

Michal: The “Loved and Despised” Princess

May 20, 2014Blog, Royalty, ScripturesHer storyline, Michal and David, Royalty, Women of the ScripturesSarah Patten

I first heard about the woman “who loved” David when I was seventeen. I was in seminary and when my teacher mentioned how David married Saul’s daughter, the girls were like, “Really? That is so cute!” My teacher grinned and continued to glow as she told about Michal saving David from Saul by sneaking him out of a window.
Michal’s story came to light again when I was 24 and suffered from a heartbreak—though nothing near the magnitude of Michal’s. I felt her pain when it said she “despised David.” I wanted learn more so read some biblical fiction about her (like that would tell me the truth) and could feel Michal saying, “That is not me at all!”
So I started doing research—and discovered that the opinions of her are quite diverse! Scholars, artists, and writers differ their views. So who is the real Michal?

"Penelope and Her Suitors" (from The Odyssey)

Penelope and the Suitors by John William Waterhouse (1912).

I was shocked to find that writers have used Michal as their muse. There are traces of her story in fairytales and myths—and even primetime TV!

Rapunzel by Johnny Gruelle

I believe the stuff in the Bible isn’t made up though. I made discoveries that support my already belief that she was a real person. So many royal brides would come to the same trials of Michal. This book points out parallels between Michal and other controversial princesses such as Diana and Fergie. I wonder if in her Bible study, Catherine of Aragon connected herself with Michal.

Catherine and Henry VIII by Henry Nelson O’Neil

Featured Image of Michal helping David by Gustave Dore