Norah and Me
I quite enjoy the vocal and piano stylings of Norah Jones. I've harbored this vague suspicion that she looks remarkably familiar ever since purchasing her album Come Away With Me several years ago. Then it hit me: Maybe I had met her at Interlochen Arts Camp, where I worked two summers as music librarian for the high school jazz bands. This was back in 1994 and 1995, when I was in college. I remember being impressed by a vocalist/pianist who bore a striking resemblance to the now-all-grown-up Norah. (Although she wore these black-framed glasses back then, which were pretty artsy and cool-looking.) Well, thanks to Wikipedia, I confirmed my suspicions. Norah went to Interlochen. I was her music librarian.

There you go, one of my few claims to fame. Another being that Jimmy Carter once told me to, and I quote, "Hurry Up", but that's another blog entry for another day.

P.S. While doing research, I also found out that Norah's dad is the famed sitar maestro Ravi Shankar.

HowManyOfMe.com

There is: 1 person with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

I wonder if this is quite true? Because I happen to know another Jackie Wyse, I've even taken some of her calls. Perhaps she's really a Jacqueline. (There are 2 Jacqueline Wyses from the U.S.A. and I'm not one of them!)

More stats about my name:

There are 199,479 people in the U.S. with the first name Jackie.
Statistically the 313th most popular first name. (tied with 2 other first names)

I wonder what those two other names are?
The survey wouldn't fess up.

There are 1,860 people in the U.S. with the last name Wyse.
Statistically the 15944th most popular last name. (tied with 327 other last names)

One thousand eight hundred sixty Wyses. That would be quite the reunion.

New Blogging Venture

Check it out if you get the chance: a group of women blogging together about the emerging church, theology, life, et. al.

Hello again

I'm back.
In London at the moment.
Off to Bath this weekend.
Will Blog More Soon.
Promise.

Heaven is other people.

The World Council of Churches is gathering in Brazil this week. I signed up to receive news releases regarding the proceedings. One summarized a talk by a Finnish Orthodox priest, Father Heikki Huttunen. Here's a quote from the news release:

In contrasting Sartre's observation that "hell is other people" with a saying of St Seraphim of Sarov, [Huttunen] presented what became a motto for the participants. He said Seraphim regarded other people as heaven. Throughout the year and not only during the Easter period, he greeted all who came to him with the words, "Christ is risen! My joy!" Huttunen said, "We must be motivated by that insight."

Christ is risen! My joy!

Imagine that, instead of the endless how-are-you-fines that punctuate our days...

P.S. Look here for more on the WCC conference.