Music. Parents.

I remember being on the phone with parents while I was in college.

Me: "Oh, Dad- I heard this band I think you'd like and should check out."

Mom: "What, *I* wouldn't like them? Why just tell your Dad?"

Me: "Because Dad has many, varied and complex opinions on music. You only have two opinions: 'that's fine' or 'it's too loud.'

Dad: [Failed attempt to mute laughter]

A Playlist for Bob

A thought about Ash Wednesday (Mostly for Chadwick)

Every year, seeing smudgey crosses on the foreheads of co-workers reminds me what time of year it is and what day it is.  This year, I decided to do a little research on the mark of the cross.

My understanding is that priests give the mark while giving a short "ashes-to-ashes" recitation ("Remember Man that you are dust and unto dust you shall return.").  So it appears to be a memento mori, a reminder of one's own mortality.

This made me think: The Eastern analogue of this is "the transience of all things" found in Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism.

So what's the difference between the two?  I think the Western view focuses on the finite and self, while the Eastern view focuses on the infinite and outside the self.

For reasons I don't entirely understand, I think I prefer the Eastern view.