A brief thought about "The Thorn Birds" from Syl:

Did I read the book or did I see the mini-series first? I really can’t remember-- but I can remember the day in 1983 ( while discussing my excitement over the upcoming mini-series with my coworkers) when my mentor, a “prim and proper” older woman (my age now), expressed her sheer horror that I was about to watch such an abomination of a movie during “Holy Week” (yes, it began on “Palm Sunday” and ran through “Holy Week”). You see, my mentor was a devout Catholic, and the mini-series (I found out) “raised the ire of the “United States Catholic Conference.” It was with this knowledge then that I watched The Thorn Birds with such devilish fervor!
--"Kyrie eleison!"

Since that “Holy Week” of “priestly passion,” I have seen the mini-series several times and have read the book more than twice. I always fall under the spell of this achingly beautiful movie and fall in love with the sublime Father Ralph de Bricassart over and over again. I remember seeing a review of the book that stated: “…all else pales in comparison.” --Amen to that!

Ivan,I would also like to take this time to say to you, my dear old friend, that it gives me great pleasure and sheer joy to be able to work on this blog with you! After all these years--I think we are, only now, finding out all we have in common. Let this blog (and our eternal friendship) cause a bond between us that cannot be broken!
--Amen.