Call To Worship - March 31, 2019 - "THE ADVENTURE OF GETTING OLDER" and Trans Day of Visibility

Rev. Sammons will explore the adventure of getting older, both as a minister now retired and as a person who wants to remember the poets adage: “Birth and death are the landmarks but it’s the field between that’s important.” Rev. David Sammons is the Minister Emeritus at MDUUC.

Rev. Sammons is building his sermon on an excerpt from “The Fountain of Age” by Betty Friedan.

Welcome!  I am Michelle Paquette, pronouns she/her/hers.

“Birth and death are the landmarks but it’s the field between that’s important.”  OK, where was this advice 50 years ago when I needed it most?

It was impressed on me at an early age that I had a duty of self-sacrifice, a duty to live my life for others, and that actions for myself were selfish.  I spent much of my life doing this, living the way others demanded.  I essentially marked time, rusting away, soul corroding, waiting for death to ring down the curtain on this performance.

Betty Friedan made the point in “The Fountain of Age” that wearing out is far preferable to rusting out.

Several years ago, I had a crisis of sorts that forced me to re-examine the way I lived my life.  I acted. Rather than rust out, I was going to live, live MY life, and see if I could wear it out instead.

Well, so far, so good!  I’m definitely alive, definitely enjoying life, and while I may wear out I’m definitely not rusting out.

Oh, the dress!

This is something special just for today.  These colors come from a flag designed by Monica Helms, the Transgender Pride flag.  I’ve learned that 70% of folks think they have never met a transgender person.  Now, none of you are in that 70%!   I wear these colors proudly as a transgender person today.

This is the Transgender Day of Visibility, a day to show your support for the trans community. It aims to bring attention to the accomplishments of trans people around the globe while fighting fear and prejudice, by spreading knowledge of the trans community.  This is not a day for mourning: this is a day of empowerment and recognition.

This year, we need allies more than ever.  No, what we need are co-conspirators!  Come and join us at 4 this afternoon in Civic Park, downtown Walnut Creek!

For the transgender communities, today is a day to celebrate our lives, our successes of the past year.

For my trans siblings, we who transcend gender have looked beneath the surface, and have seen depths that most do not realize even exist.  We know these depths within ourselves, these places that most may never encounter. We know the strength, the resilience, and the wisdom we hold deep within us.

Now, let us all, together, explore the adventure of getting older, and perhaps  find ways to wear out rather than rust out, as we worship together.

Waiting for “a more convenient season”

"First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. 

I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: “I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action”; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a “more convenient season.” 

Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.”

- MLK Jr

Reverend King’s words still ring true, and apply even today to the struggle of all marginalized people to be treated as equals and to dispel the hierarchy of privilege imposed by Western Colonialist culture.  

I hear these words, “Not now.  It’s not your time.  Wait for a ‘more convenient season’, as we have other priorities.”  This saddens me.

Within the path of my own life, I see all too clearly the intersectional nature of the same forces that hold back people of color, the differently abled, the queer community, and transgender people.  None of us quite fit the Western Colonialist culture.  We are all seen as somehow living life improperly, due to factors beyond our control. There’s that taint of the broken concept of ‘original sin’, with our differences seen as somehow being more sinful, thus placing us lower on the hierarchy of privilege.

I think that even those of us involved with a faith that has no room for the concept of original sin have, by being raised and living within a Western Colonialist culture, incorporated the cultural concept into our patterns of thought and action.  There is a subtle tendency to place obligation on those whom we see as somehow less worthy, less privileged or more damaged, even when our intentions are good.

We see this placing of obligation in patterns of speech, those little conversation starters and commentary that some see as harmless, but place obligations on the less privileged.  These often carry demands that others justify their presence, or even their existence, demands that are simply not present between privileged peers.  They may serve to put others in their place on a perceived hierarchy of privilege.

“No, where are you REALLY from?”

“Oh, did you see the dress he is wearing?”

“What are you?”

“You don’t act like a normal black person, ya know?”

“I just don’t understand why you’d want to mutilate your body.”

“No, you’re white.”

“You look just like a real woman.”

“No, I don’t do pronouns.”

We call these microaggressions, although there really is nothing “micro” about them to the person on the receiving end.  Impact is rather different than intention, and whether a person is marginalized by nationality, race, orientation, ability, or gender identity, it hurts to be reminded of having less privilege.  It hurts to be put in what others believe is our place.

It hurts to be told that it is not yet our time.  It hurt when I was 15 years old, and it still hurts to hear this at age 65.  I wonder if I will live long enough to see our time come.

I long for the day when I will not be viewed as being wrong for simply existing.  I hope for the day when simply living as our authentic selves will be accepted by the world, rather than seen as proof of our unworthiness, our sin, our mental illness, or other codewords for hatred.

Is it possible to look to common cause, the intersectional source of much of the poor behaviors that we see as white supremacy culture, as homophobia, transphobia, and the other manifestations that come from Western Colonial culture’s assumption that there is only one right set of beliefs, appearances, and ways to live?   Is it possible to move the conversation towards accepting diversity, not only in race, but in nationality, in ability, in gender, in sexuality and identity?

Or, are we advised to wait for “a more convenient season?”

“Letter From a Birmingham Jail”, King, Martin Luther, Jr. (Southern Christian Leadership Conference), April 16, 1963

https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/letter-birmingham-jail

“The Time Is Always Right to Do What Is Right”, Michelle Paquette, 2019

https://michellepaquette.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-time-is-always-right-to-do-what-is.html

“Thoughts on Privilege”, Michelle Paquette, 2019

https://michellepaquette.blogspot.com/2019/01/thoughts-on-privilege.html

“TRUUsT Releases Report on the Experiences of Trans Unitarian Universalists"
https://transuu.org/2019/01/21/truust-releases-report/

"BORN BAD: Original Sin and the Making of the Western World”, James Boyce, Counterpoint, 2015

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1619024985/ref=nodl_

Surgery: Stage 2 revisions and breast augmentation

I had a full depth Gender Confirmation Surgery (GCS) 16 months ago, done as a single-stage procedure, but unfortunately the clitoral hood and labia minora shrank away, leaving some very sensitive spots very exposed.  There’s a reason I don’t wear pants very often!  Ow...

I now have a surgery scheduled for February 26 with Dr. Salim of the San Francisco Gender Clinic, at Kaiser San Francisco for a revision and breast augmentation (BA).

On the GCS revision, the plan is to fuse the very top of the labia majora to construct a clitoral hood, produce a pair of folds within the labia majora so as to reconstruct the labia minora, and at the posterior end the fourchette or labial frenulum, a fold of tissue joining the labia, will be lowered to be level with the introitus or vaginal entry.  (This will make dilation much easier.)

I’ll be off dilation for 3-4 days after surgery, and may have to restart using a narrower dilator at first.  Not a big deal.

I will be using that donut pillow again for a while, though.

For the BA, I’ll be getting 300cc implants.  These will be circular smooth-surface lightly cohesive with medium profile.  (Other profiles may be flat to extended or conical).  With my particular anatomy and pectoral muscle form, I will probably have the most natural appearance and improved aureole placement with an over-muscle implant, with incision in the new breast fold.  I should wind up with something like a 36C.

I’ll be on restricted activity for a month, and won’t be able to lift my arms above shoulder height for a while.  I’ll have to shuffle the kitchen around quite a bit!

—

And here I am, three days post-op! 

There’s a little discomfort at the labiaplasty site, nothing terrible.  I did use a minimal half tablet of the Norco equivalent I was prescribed to get to sleep last night.  The breast augmentation (BA) mostly just itches around the sides of the medical bra.  The Velcro front fastening on the bra kept coming loose until I put a safety pin through it, before I even left the hospital.  Having a BA?  Bring safety pins!

This morning marked the date I was to remove the bra and shower.  Oh, what a relief that is!  Of course, the unveiling produced it’s own reaction.  For just 300cc on a side, well, damn!    The incisions are quite small, surprising me.  It looks like they will wind up right on the fold, almost invisible.  I’ll start the silicone scar treatment as soon as I am cleared for this by the doctor.

I reapplied A&D ointment (allergic to bacitracin) on the labiaplasty sutures, and put on a fresh pad again.  Bleeding has almost stopped, just a tiny amount of oozing there.  I’ve been cleaning and swapping in fresh pads twice a day.

The Foley catheter is, well, a catheter, with all its own maintenance.  I have a night bag, a leg bag for daytime, and I have to drain them periodically as well as the sanitizing after swapping bags.  I’ve been more active yesterday afternoon and today, and of course that means the catheter tip and lumen (drain opening just behind the tip) have likely been brushing against the bladder lining.  A couple of clots have shown up in the bag, right after a twinge that tells me bladder pressure dropped suddenly.  They likely used a single-lumen catheter and the tiny opening was plugged by a clot.   I have to keep an eye on this, as a plugged indwelling catheter can cause significant problems.  (I can remove it, worst case, and suspect I can now pee on my own as swelling has started to subside.)

After the shower, I had to re-don a sports bra to maintain pressure and placement.  But first...

I have a fun Tommy Bahama resortware dress, rather open on top, that was a bit problematic to wear out in public.  I’d glue on a NuBra, and apply bronzer to try and fake cleavage out of my 34A-B bust.  Now, however, I can just wear it to good effect!

Persistence: MDUUC Call to Worship for February 24, 2019

Journalist Norah O'Donnell said:

Persistence is incredibly important. Persistence proves to the person you're trying to reach that you're passionate about something, that you really want something. 

I recall that as a child, I could be annoyingly persistent about some things.  My parents had a way of dealing with this, of course.  “Just ignore it, and maybe they will get tired of it or forget about it.”  This didn’t work for everything.   I did finally get that bicycle, after a few years!

As adults, we may have somewhat loftier goals than that bicycle.

Rabbi Tarfon said:

Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.

Persistence in doing what is needed is important.  I feel that I need to be mindful of the scope of the work, and what my capacity may be. It is not OK for me to push myself to exhaustion.  While some may treat that exhaustion as a status symbol, I find that this is not a great idea, as it may lead to despair and abandoning the work I attempted.

It is OK to rest, to take a break.  Doing this before we are exhausted means that when rested, strength renewed, we may go forward with our works once more, rather than abandon them from exhaustion.  While others may hope that “maybe they will get tired of it or forget about it”, we know that we will soon return, much to their despair!

Even as we rest, recover, and gain strength from each other here, today, we may consider how we shall further our works as we worship together.

Michelle’s Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

1 c butter 2 sticks

1 c white sugar 210 g

1 c packed brown sugar 200 g

2 eggs

1tsp vanilla extract

3 tbsp blackstrap molasses 

2 c all-purpose flour 250 g

1 tsp baking soda 2 tsp calcium carbonate baking soda (salt free)

1 tsp salt Optional for salt-free

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

2/3 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp allspice

1/2 tsp ground cloves

3 c rolled oats 270 g

1/4 c milk

1 1/2 c raisins

In a medium bowl, cream together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla and molasses. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and other spices; stir into the creamed mixture. Mix in oats, and finally the milk and raisins. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F  Grease cookie sheets or use parchment paper. Roll the dough into walnut sized balls, and place 3 inches apart on cookie sheets. 

Bake for 10 minutes in preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Michelle’s Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 c butter, softened 2 sticks

1/2 c white sugar 100 g

1 1/2 c packed brown sugar 310 g

3 eggs

1 tbsp vanilla extract

1 tbsp blackstrap molasses

3 c all-purpose flour 375 g

1 tsp baking soda OR 2 tsp calcium carbonate - baking grade

1/2 tsp salt (optional)

1 tsp ground cinnamon

2/3 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp allspice

1/2 tsp ground cloves

1/2 tsp ginger

2 c semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cream together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla and molasses. Add baking soda to batter along with salt if needed. Add in the spices; cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ground cloves, and ginger.  Stir in flour, then chocolate chips. Drop by large spoonfuls onto ungreased pans.

        Bake for about 10-12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are nicely browned.

Deep Dish Pizza

I’ve built this pie in a big deep dish pan, and a variation split between a 6” and 12” cast iron skillet with different toppings, with very good results.  The recipe is quite forgiving.

INGREDIENTS

CRUST

4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons yellow cornmeal

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons or one packet of yeast

4 tablespoons olive oil

4 tablespoons butter, melted

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons lukewarm water

1 teaspoon sugar

FILLING

3/4 lb. mozzarella cheese, sliced

1 pound Italian sweet or hot sausage, cooked and sliced; 

OR 3 cups of the sautéed vegetables of your choice

OR just mix them up, about 3 cups of filling total

28-ounce can plum tomatoes, lightly crushed; or 28-ounce can diced or chopped tomatoes, drained  (Add one 5.3 oz can of tomato paste for a more American-style sauce).

2 to 4 garlic cloves, peeled and minced

1 tablespoon sugar (Leave out for a more tart sauce)

1 to 2 teaspoons mixed dried Italian herbs (oregano, basil, rosemary), to taste, crushed

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan or Asiago cheese

2 tablespoons olive oil, to drizzle on top

INSTRUCTIONS

Making the crust: 

Pour the lukewarm water and one teaspoon sugar into a mixing bowl, and add yeast.  Wait for the yeast to ‘proof’, or start foaming; 5-15 minutes

Mix the dough ingredients, and knead to make a smooth crust. This takes 5-7 minutes in my KitchenAid with dough hook on low speed.

Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise until it comes close to doubling, about 60 minutes.

While the dough is rising, ready a 14" deep-dish pizza pan or large cast-iron skillet.  Pour in 3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil, tilting it to cover the bottom of the pan, and up the sides.

Stretch the dough to make as large a circle as you can, larger than your pan.  I do this by hand rather than with a rolling pin, as I like the uneven  character of the hand-stretched dough.

Lay the dough in the pan, and stretch it towards and up the edges till it starts to shrink back.  You may have to pinch it along the top to avoid shrinking back if in a shallow pan.  Cover to rest for 15 minutes. Start preheating the oven to 425°F while the dough rests.

Bake the crust for 10 minutes, until. 

While the crust is baking, prepare the filling.

Drain the tomatoes thoroughly. Combine them with the Italian seasoning or herbs, the garlic and sugar.  Add salt to taste. Add one 5.3 oz can of tomato paste if a more ‘American’ style sauce is desired.

Remove the crust from the oven after 10 minutes, when set and just starting to brown.

Cover the bottom of the crust with the sliced mozzarella, fanning it into the crust. Add the sausage, sautéed vegetables, or other ‘toppings’.  

Spoon in the tomato mixture.

Top with the Parmesan cheese.  

As a variation, or for cheese lovers, top with another several ounces of mozzarella cheese, and even more sausage, pepperoni, or mushrooms.

Drizzle another 2-4 tablespoons of olive oil on top.

Bake the pizza for about 25 minutes, or until the filling is bubbly and the topping is golden brown. 

Remove it from the oven, and carefully lift it out of the pan onto a rack. Allow the pizza to cool for about 15 minutes before cutting and serving.  The internal temperature will continue to rise even as the pie cools.  There will be less runny cheese oozing out when the pie is allowed to rest and cool

Yield: about 8 huge or 12 reasonable slices