The Dog Days of Summer, the Magical Mystery Tour, and the Girl with Kaleidascope Eyes...

The Dog Days of Summer, The Magical Mystery Tour,

and 

The Girl with Kaleidascope Eyes

or...

"It's Seirios!"

During the past week I made time to get an eye exam because all my cheap reading glasses keep breaking.  I have been putting off getting prescription lenses due to the cost of new lenses and frames.  There are some good deals, if you catch it at the right time, but I happened to look for them during the dog days of summer- late July, August, even into early September.

Finally, I went on a vision quest to see if I could find a pair of 70's retro frames to use with my new eye prescription.  One mall eye proprietor (an optomistrist) recommended that I try Dick Story's Optical, one of the few brick and mortar optical companies around which has been in business in OKC since 1971.  He said if anyone knew where to find local vintage or retro frames, Dick Story's might, aside from visiting random thrift stores periodically.

My Magical Mystery Tour
at Dick Story's Optical - Illusion:

It was just across the street, but out of the way, from the mall - and it was surreal from the time I walked in the door holding my prescription in hand [like it was an invitation, ... to make a reservation].  I was met by the very articulate and intelligent owner, Dave Trent, who greeted me and asked if there was anything in particular I was looking for.  When I mentioned that I was hoping to find some retro eye glasses frames like the ones I used to wear in the 70's, he had a spark of recognition and a glimmer in his eye, maybe even a bit of a flashback.

Dave showed me the cases with the newest frames of retro-inspired designs, all very nice, but I didn't see anything like what I had in mind - the Original Mary Jane octagon/oval shaped black frames I had worn in the 70's.  He said, "Hmmm, well, if you'll come with me, I think I might have something else that you'll like.  Come right over here and sit at this desk [roll up].  I have some old stock I can show you that I have set aside in my dog drawer. [They've got everything you need]." All the frames in the dog drawer were from the 1960's and 1970's and well hidden from view.  He only got them out for unique occasions since most customers want the newest frames on the market.  He said he still has a few ecclectic customers, so he reserves his old stock for rare inquirers.  As we sat down, he sat across from me at the desk and reached into the dog drawer.  One by one, he lifted them out, frame by frame, some of the most beautiful retro eyeglass frames, original styles which I hadn't seen for at least 30 years! Not only did he show me the frames, he encouraged me to try them on, then demonstrated the quality and functionality of each one, down to the tiniest screw that holds the hinge-screw in it's place!  He was so knowledgable and thorough, very educational regarding the frames, which types of lenses would work best for which purposes, and how to get the best fit for the different types of progressive lenses and what work best for different functions, but most exceptionally, he had an eye for the art of framing the face - he stays with the customer "till we have faces" (C.S. Lewis).  The whole time we were looking at the frames, the background music in their store was playing music from the 60's and 70's!  I almost didn't know "where the artificial stops and the real starts" (Andy Warhol).

With Dave's helpful preparation and information, the decision on lenses became clear to me.  The hardest part was deciding which frames to choose.  There were several that looked really great on, each one was like a trip to the past.  He also seemed to enjoy looking through them as much as I did, and he took the time to show me a few select current styles that were striking, retro-inspired, or statement frames, some dramatic or for special effect.  The only drawback to getting retro frames is that if they break, since they are one-of-a-kind, and if they can't be repaired, they can't be replaced.  It's sad to think that such great items from the past are quickly disappearing from view and how rare it is to find them in new, pristine condition.

After trying a few different frames and discussing them, he reached into the drawer again and said, "I have one more pair that you really should try..  I'm not sure how it got into the dog drawer, because I have a separate collection that I have marked 'not for sale'; but I'd like to see what you think of these..  I think they'd look great on you."  He pulled out a pair of Caval's from the 1960's [like magic] in their original condition, never worn!  I remembered seeing them in high-fashion magazine ads growing up and dreaming that one day I would get to wear a pair like them.  However, it was always a glossy magazine fantasy and not a reality, until I actually got to try them on!

At first I laughed at the size of the lenses - mind-blowing!  But when I put them on, I was surprised how comfortably they fit and how perfectly brilliant everything looked through them!  Not only did everything look more alive, all the lights became incandescent and danced around on the lenses, so that it looked like kaleidescope eyes.  He said they looked like a great fit [for my soul].  I was surprised - I liked them better than I expected.  It was like putting on my first pair of high heels or my first platform boots that were 6 inches tall, like a goddess with rock star status. ~{o}-{o}~ They felt as delicate as butterfly wings, with tiny crystals gleeming across the bridge of the nose and on each of the temples like drops of dew.

Before I could catch my breath again, he brought out a second pair of 1960's Atlantique sunglasses!  Sparkling with the first pair, now totally Scorching!!  Mind doubley-blown.  It was still up in the air if the Caval's were for sale, but Dave had the heart of a true artist, he offered to sell them and gave me time to consider and keep them in the dog drawer for me - indefinitely.  But before I could let the sun set, I had decided.  I went back the next day to pick up the glasses [my face missed them].  I also got to meet Mrs. Trent, who was equally as kind as Dave.  When I got back to my car, I put on the Cazal's and started the engine.  The song that immediately came on the radio (which was on a random classic rock station) was the Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour!"  This song was on the Beatles' album my dad gave me for my 11th birthday in 1967 after his secretary had come back from a trip to England, during the 'Summer of Love'.  It seemed like an illusion [allusion], like I had gone from H.P. Lovecraft-ers to Timothy C-Leary's on my vision quest.  And I did find a pair of Original retro 70's silver octagon frames with a gold patina on them for my progressive lenses at Dick Story's [Satisfction guaranteed].  Back in the day, they used actual gold in the metal.  These were made with fine German craftsmenship, and will be ready to pick up in another week.  The Cazal's have lenses too large to be fit for progressive lenses, but they can be worn as fashion sunglasses, or fit for a tinted distance-only lense, appropriate for looking at the past in retro-specs.  I didn't want to wait, being so myopic in my seizing of the dog day [Wanting to take them away, take them today].

Some quotes and articles I discovered with my new eyes - [the pictures (above) were taken before I saw this fitting article]:

“The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes”…   Marcel Proust

Motivational Speaker, Michelle Ray's Blog:

In "The World Through Kaleidescope Eyes," Michelle Ray makes an observation, saying, "consider looking at life through a kaleidoscope and become an “observer of beautiful forms” (the ancient Greek translation for kaleidoscope). We can unravel a deeper meaning behind what we think we see when we become more receptive to looking at life through a broader lens. How often have you found that your original perception of a particular person or circumstance was flawed?  Upon further investigation, you uncovered fresh and exciting information that gave you a renewed appreciation for the relationship. These are the experiences that we need to draw upon whenever we catch ourselves in “black and white” mode; convinced that we are right. Instead, when you find yourself taking a myopic view, consider the words of French novelist Marcel Proust: “The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”

The Dog Days of Summer reference and the Dog Drawer:

The Romans referred to the late-summer period as dies caniculares, literally meaning Dog Star days, out of the belief that the summer heat was caused by the proximity of the star Sirius (the brightest star and part of the Canis Major—Large Dog—constellation) to the sun during these months.  (Seirios - Greek)

(The Dog Star is a symbol of power, will, and steadfastness of purpose, and exemplifies the One who has succeeded in bridging the lower and higher consciousness. – Astrological Definition)

...the "dog days" are actually defined as the period from July 3 through Aug. 11 when the Dog Star, Sirius, rises in conjunction (or nearly so) with the sun.

As a result, some felt that the combination of the brightest luminary of the day (the sun) and the brightest star of night (Sirius) was responsible for the extreme heat that is experienced during the height of the summertime. Other effects, according to the ancients, included droughts, plagues and madness.

A more sensible view was put forward by the astronomer Geminus around 70 B.C.  He wrote: "It is generally believed that Sirius produces the heat of the 'dog days,' but this is an error, for the star merely marks a season of the year when the sun's heat is the greatest."

Dog star, Nile days

In ancient Egypt, the New Year began with the return of Sirius. It was, in fact, the "Nile Star" or the "Star of Isis" of the early Egyptians. 

Interestingly, some 5,000 years ago, this 'heliacal rising' (appearing to rise just prior to the Sun) occurred not in August, as is the case today, but rather on, or around June 25. When they saw Sirius rising just before the Sun, they knew that the "Nile Days" were at hand. Its annual reappearance was a warning to people who lived along the Nile River. 

The star always returned just before the river rose, and so announced the coming of floodwaters, which would add to the fertility of their lands. People then opened the gates of canals that irrigated their fields. 

Serious about star Sirius

Priests, who were the calendar keepers, sighted the first rising of the Dog Star from their temples.  At the temple of Isis-Hathor at Denderah is a statue of Isis, which is located at the end of an aisle lined by tall columns. 

A jewel was placed in the goddess' forehead. The statue was oriented to the rising of Sirius, so that the light from the returning Dog Star would fall upon the gem. When the priests saw the light of the star shining upon the gem for the first time, they would march from the temple and announce the New Year.

In the temple appears the inscription:  "Her majesty Isis shines into the temple on New Year's Day, and she mingles her light with that of her father Ra on the horizon." 

This week, just before sunrise, Sirius might again be glimpsed rising just above the southeast horizon for those living in mid-northern latitudes. At more southerly latitudes, Sirius is already conspicuous, twinkling above the horizon at dawn.

Sirius is the brightest star of the constellation Canis Major, the 'Greater Dog' in Latin. According to Burnham's Celestial Handbook other names for it include 'The Sparkling One' or 'The Scorching One.'

The star appears a brilliant white with a tinge of blue, but when the air is unsteady, or when it is low to the horizon as it is now, it seems to flicker and splinter with all the colors of the rainbow.  At a distance of just 8.7 light years, Sirius is the fifth-nearest known star.  Among the naked-eye stars, it is the nearest of all, with the sole exception of Alpha Centauri.

Little did I know before reading this article, that I found the Caval eyeglasses, Atlantique sun glasses, and Silver Octagon eyeglasses on September 11th, the day of the Coptic (Egyptian) New Year!

 The Magical Mystery Tour begins just as The Dog Days are Over!

Reference links:

http://dickstoryoptical.com/

http://www.contrarianconsulting.com/the-dog-star-hierarchy-of-needs/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_days

http://www.space.com/8946-dog-days-summer-celestial-origin.html

http://www.michelleray.com/the-world-through-kaleidoscope-eyes/
http://farmersalmanac.com/weather/2015/06/29/why-are-they-called-dog-days-of-summer/

[shout out to the boys from brooklyn]

The Thief of G-d's DoubleVision

It seems odd to think that someone could steal from G-d.  To be a thief of G-d would mean to take something from G-d without asking, to keep what rightfully belongs to Him, or to withhold what is due to Him.  How do you steal from someone who has freely given us all things to enjoy?

One day I realized that I felt like I had been a thief of G-d all my life.  I had always done things my own way without thinking about (depending on) G-d, and I believed that if I ever wanted to get something I want, it had to be by my own efforts.  That was how I learned to survive growing up.  I still strive for G-d's blessings at times, instead of asking first, being thankful, and just allowing them to be bestowed.  I hadn't learned to depend on G-d's blessings and provision like the birds of the air do, or the lilies of the fields who depend on Him to provide for their needs to feed and clothe them.  He even gives them beauty, abundance, and many special blessings besides their basic needs.  I hadn't learned how to trust my Heavenly Father.  Ye'shua says,

"If G-d gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers— most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to G-d’s giving. People who don’t know G-d and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both G-d and how he works. Steep your life in G-d-reality, G-d-initiative, G-d-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met."
Matthew 6:33 MSG

     While growing up, as I mentioned, I always felt that I wouldn't get what I really wanted if I left it up to someone else, a very 'poor' attitude to have - the opposite of living generously.  As I was thinking about this, I was reading in the book of Genesis for my Bible as Literature class.  The story I happened to be reading was about Jacob, the Patriarch.  Jacob stole the first-born blessing of G-d from his twin brother Esau by 'pulling the wool over his eyes'.  It's quite a story, but afterwards, his brother was angry with him.  Then, when Jacob ran for his life from his brother's rage, he went to his mother Rebecca's family, to his uncle Laban.  On the way, he slept at a place which he named Bethel, because it was a place where he had dreams and G-d spoke promises to him there.  When Jacob woke up he realized he was on sacred ground.  He took the rock he had used as a pillow and set it upright as a pillar (his 'pillow' was now a 'pillar', ha! sounds like he could have been in Oklahoma!)  He did this to remember G-d and he anointed his 'pillar' with oil (ha - sounds funny to an Okie - but enough 'pillar-talk'), what a sense of humor this G-d of Jacob has.  I think He must have put that in the translation just for Okies like me.

     Then Jacob did something new:

Genesis 28:20-22 Jacob vowed a vow: “If G-d stands by me and protects me on this journey on which I’m setting out, keeps me in food and clothing, and brings me back in one piece to my father’s house, this G-d will be my G-d. This stone that I have set up as a "memorial 'pillar'" ;) will mark this as a place where G-d lives. And everything you give me, I’ll return a tenth to you.” MSG

     Before he set up his "memorial pillar," Jacob made a vow to G-d based on the promises G-d made to him while he slept.  He said if G-d keeps His promises, "this" G-d would be "his" G-d.  The "if" clause indicates that Jacob didn't yet trust "this" G-d, and his pillar was a memorial to remember his dreams which had died while he slept.  He knew this G-d was able to keep His word, but he hadn't experienced it first-hand yet to make it personal.  Once he experienced G-d providing for Him and fulfilling his dreams, he agreed the memorial would become the mark of a place where "his G-d lives" to him.

     After Jacob arrived at his uncle Laban's place, he met Rachel.  Jacob wanted to marry Rachel when he met her, even though she was the second daughter of Laban.  Jacob didn't consider the custom of their culture, that it would be inappropriate to marry Rachel before her older sister, Leah, had a husband (although it seemed 'okay' to marry a cousin? They're not in Oklahoma anymore...although she could have been a second-cousin).  He made an agreement with Laban, who is really like a foil for Jacob, just as Leah seems to be a foil for Rachel.  In the agreement, he got more than he bargained for, he got tricked into marrying Leah, or 'weak eyes', and had to double his commitment to work for an additional seven years in order to marry Rachel.  I don't think that Leah was the one with the weak eyes, but Jacob possibly, because he didn't see it coming.  Eventually, Jacob completes his commitment to his uncle Laban, and decides to take his double-wife family, children, flocks and herds that he had gained and return to his homeland.  This meant that he would also have to face Esau - his twin brother and his other 'double' that he ran away from.  This is where Jacob gets into 'double-trouble'.  If he stays with his uncle Laban, his uncle will keep taking advantage of Jacob.  If Jacob returns
to his father's house, he will have to face his brother Esau's wrath and possible revenge since their father Isaac had died.

     Although Jacob worked hard and fulfilled all his commitments to Laban, he left with his family(s) like a thief in the night, because he knew his uncle Laban would try to stop them.  G-d had provided for Jacob and prospered him, but Jacob was still relying on his own efforts to keep what he really wanted - Rachel, the beautiful one.  On their way, his uncle Laban came out against Jacob to stop them; because not only had they left in the night without saying goodbye, Rachel had also taken the household idols with her when they left.  She had either trusted in the familiar household idols and didn't want to part with them, or she may have wanted to dis-empower her father when she left with her husband, bringing the idols with them.  She was relying on her own efforts as well to meet their needs.  She hid the idols under her seat and told her father she couldn't rise to be searched, because 'Aunt Flow' had already caught up with her.  So the household gods traveled with them on their way back to Jacob's home, although Jacob didn't know they were aboard the caravan.  She had hidden the idols even from Jacob because she hadn't learned to trust him, or Jacob's G-d yet either.

     As Jacob was on his way to return to his homeland, a 'stranger' came and wrestled with Jacob one night - they wrestled all night until morning - and Jacob wouldn't let him go until he promised to bless him.  I always thought it was odd that the man he was wrestling with had to flee because the sun was coming up - which sounds like something a vampire might say? What place are we in now?  Jacob asked the stranger to tell him his name, and the 'stranger' said, "Why do you ask my name, seeing it is "Wonderful?"  He touched Jacob's hip and it went out of joint and the stranger disappeared.  After that, Jacob walked with a limp, leaning on his walking staff.  He knew he must face his brother Esau and he would now have to trust G-d to save him, since he could no longer run from his brother.

      When his brother Esau finally saw him, he accepted him. Jacob gave the glory to G-d, and Jacob's name was also changed to Israel by the 'stranger', because he became a prince with G-d by wrestling with G-d (in prayer and pleading) all night and prevailed until day-break.   Jacob first sent all his flocks and herds ahead of him, then all his belongings, all his servants, then all his family, and last, his favorite wife, Rachael and their son Joseph, and finally he had to give up his own life to G-d's will.  He had to be willing to give up his old ways of survival, give up all that he owned, give up all that he loved, and give up his own life in order to be restored to his brother Esau.  Basically, he had to give up.  Jacob's brother Esau let him live because G-d's favor was on him, Israel.

     That is why when G-d appeared to Moses, He said, I AM the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel).

Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States

On Thursday, September 3 - Mesore 28, the church commemorates the Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

"He has said He is, 'The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,' because each one of these possessed God entirely. And it is to the no small honor of the Patriarchs that they lived to God." - Origen