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New Endings, Old Beginnings - One couple's story of leaving Tucson

Angels In The Neighborhood Benedictine Convent

by on Jun. 21, 2010, under Life

I love to sing.  I really love to listen to people sing.  Listening to the melodic voices of the nuns in residence at the Benedictine Convent on Country Club is like having angels for neighbors.  This may be hard to replicate in California. Their angels are probably too busy to sing.

There is no more glorious sound than a choir of nuns singing and making melody in their hearts. There is no sound on earth more heavenly than the sound of singing saints. There is an ancient saying, “there is no such thing as a sad saint.”  Bishop Walsh, a friend of mine, who lived briefly at Regina Cleri, when I managed it, once said to me, “if you sing, why would you want to go to heaven.”

Everyone in my family sang. My mother played the huge pipe organ at our church, my grandfather was a pianist and was a professional orchestra leader. My uncle Bill sang in the Notre Dame choir. My aunt Dorothy who was educated by Benedictines used to live the dictum of the nuns at the school where she was the Principal, that “to sing, is to pray twice.”  Singing by being universal, is possibly one of the few ways of dropping all differences and entering a state of pure joy.

To dampen other peoples joy by refusing to participate in it may be one of the greatest sins of life.  Should you ever want a dose of pure joy, and be prompted to participate, visit the Benedictine Convent on Country Club and you will get a little taste of heaven. We have angels in the neighborhood.  I will so dearly miss this place of refuge and peace that I have visited for nye on 40 years.

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  • missb

    I’d love to see an update here! How’s Apple Valley?!

    • http://pointmantucson.yuku.com/ mike_brewer

      Well after 150 days I can safely say, we absolutely love it here. The amazing thing is the groceries that are about 25% less than Tucson!  I have been back to Tucson 4 times now.  After 52 years, it is a bit odd to come to town as a Winter Visitor!  But fun. Took the train and stayed at the Hotel Congress. I highly recommend this excursion. It is so cool to just get off the Amtrak train and traipse on over to the Hotel.
      I do not miss the heat of Tucson and the lack of breezes.  Yet I sure as hell miss my pals. And Rincon Market!

  • http://pointmantucson.yuku.com/ Michael Patrick Brewer

    15 months in California and I can now call myself an official, “winter visitor!”  I have been back to town 9 times since we moved.  I still assist with Retreats in northern Arizona for returning combat veterans. Each time I have come to Tucson to just loiter with friends and my grandsons. It is a most unique experience to be a visitor in the city that nurtured me.  It has a bit that Miracle  on 34th Street aspect to it.  Leaving and returning to your roots is a great source for journaling and pondering those existential questions of , “what are we doing here?”


About Us

Nearly native Tucsonans, Michael and Lydia Brewer were shuffled off to Tucson in their childhoods, Mike from downtown Dixon, IL, and Lydia from the hills outside New Kensington, PA. They met in a whirlwind of serendipity, married in 1982, raised three children, and are now preparing to trek westward to the beaches of California to cocoon. Five decades of attachment to the desert southwest inspire them to share the memories, joys, and sorrows of a full and adventuresome life in Tucson, as well as the trials and tribulations of planning and executing their migration to a spiritually nourishing coastal environment. Both Michael and Lydia believe that writing their way out of town will alleviate some of their separation anxiety, and provide closure and a fond farewell to the city that has nurtured them for the last 50 years.

 

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