Albert Connette and Charlotte Matthews

00:01 Hello, my name is Albert connette. I'm 62 years old. Today's date is Thursday, June 17th, 2021. We are in Crozet. Virginia and my conversation partner is Charlotte Matthews and Charlotte and I are married. She's my wife.

00:28 And my name is Charlotte Matthews and I'm 55 years old. Today's date is Thursday, June 17th, 2021 and I am in Crozet, Virginia. My conversation partner is Albert connette and he is my husband.

00:48 So when we were talking about having this conversation, we came up with the thoughts that while we have similar. We have numbers strandz and threadz. That go through our occupations. You were a pastor. I'm a poet. I'm also a professor, and you also write and garden. We're trying to think about something games that that the reason for doing this interview and we came up with sort of trying to make words that we speak or write.

01:20 Speak to people in a way that transcends the ordinary.

01:27 And I was also thinking how one of your great Heroes and since you always dress up as Abe, Lincoln's. So, so tellingly on Halloween, the Hat, the pool. I mean, people think you're a blinking. I mean, the children like, literally believe that you're a blinkin and you give them all a penny and it's just, it's the most delightful, delightful interaction, and he is the one who said, we can either criticize the rose bush for having Thorns or we can give grace to the thornbush for having roses. And I feel like you Albert, see the world in that way where

02:13 You never seem to look at it from your, always surprise me in your ability to bring out a really positive element in. Very surprising situations, which to me, is transcendent which to me has a very spiritual quality. A sense of speaking about a higher realm and getting us out of the sort of Monday Pain Quotidien and sing like we're yeah we could think about it as a thorn bush that has roses. And isn't that better? Can you talk a little bit way of being

02:50 I know that's a child. I used to really enjoy this exploring in the woods or particularly along the shore. We lived near the beach to go down there and walked and look in the tidal pools and then

03:08 Lower tied, it around the Jetties for their feet, all kinds of sea life tucked away and I guess enjoyed and reveled in creation around me and I met a guy he was a photographer. One time. You said he goes out each day to explore the Earth as if it was a new planet. He was just

03:41 Visiting a wonderful perspective miracle, and I can be noticed and celebrated.

04:00 But yeah, I was serving in the church for Noah's to dress up like Abe Lincoln after somebody had written to the local newspaper because our church and help them with the utility or something. They were thankful. They didn't know my name, but they said the Pastor looks like a blink.

04:28 Preschool director asmita. She had a notepad and asked me to dress up on Lincoln's birthday and come, and read a book to the children.

04:41 But the more I learned about him, no more respect and admiration and

04:47 Are there any initially I'd always heard Abe. Lincoln was not very good looking.

05:01 Word of Praise, but

05:05 But you to notice things and look at the surface and understand, I didn't notice it, but you kind of look.

05:29 The, under the Hidden Side of Things.

05:33 So that's what you mean by more transcendent.

05:37 So I'm wondering, how are you?

05:40 Take me to approach the world would like to know that way.

05:46 I think, I

05:50 Always was drawn. I've always been drawn to small things like an acorn in the looking at that, the shadow of the acorn and then marveling and those I guess more diminutive seemingly diminutive signs. And, you know, it lately. I've been a big scout for leave in the shape of hearts and recognized it. So many flower petals are in the shape of Hearts, like our rosebush, those are heart-shaped. So it seems to me like a bit of a sign that particular is a day's hard and then there's a heart shaped puddle or heart-shaped Leaf. So I think having had in my life quite a few kind of curve balls are on my way as always kind of been on like a scout looking looking for signs that the things are going to be. Okay, but, you know,

06:50 But there's a higher reason for, you know, maybe the suffering that I was feeling or going through that, maybe there was a reason for that and I think if you look begin to look for it almost becomes contagious, like you see the heart shaped leaves and then the next day, you might see more or cloud in the shape of a heart or

07:12 In that way. I've been always search scouting scouting out for it growing up right in the city right in Washington, you know, kind of was able to find nooks and crannies. The Gardens at the National Cathedral The Bishop's Gardens, which were just a few blocks from my house, could walk up there and just any season, there was something absolutely magnificent in those sort of amazed likes Gardens or you just go outside or at someone, but I like your scientific way of looking at the world.

07:56 Yeah, but sometimes you see through to something deeper.

08:04 Or.

08:05 Connected.

08:08 And dumb or spiritual Transcendence, I guess sometimes the more you see and look and noticing, the more you have that kind of minutes.

08:21 More objective seeing and noticing.

08:27 I'm wondering about your writing. How are you? Cuz she writing tie into the way you help notice, or Explore. More of the things you notice, or what, you notice speak to. What's your experience in life. When did you first start writing and how to do?

08:49 Come to pursue writing it.

08:53 A lifelong activity in vocation warm the bench during the sports never really good at anyting writing seem to be like one thing where I could say what I was carrying around with me that I wouldn't have said otherwise that I wouldn't have discovered. I think writing when you write you are able to put down literally on paper what you've been figuratively carrying around with you and you know that you might write the word artichoke and then think about those little hairs are inside the artichoke which they then might remind you of a cat's whiskers that then I might remind you of your first. And so you go on this journey when you begin to write and I think writing reveals what we might. Not otherwise allow ourselves to

09:49 To encounter and and I think it's a way to navigate the world. I think it's the author of Out of Africa who said any sorrow can be born if it can be made in the story and I think we tell each other stories as a way of getting to know each other children will tell each other stories. If you fight Sans like to listen over here children on the playground and they're like, I'll start in medias res like in the middle. So or so when he brought the bunny home and we didn't have any food and the other kids kind of getting it and I think they get to know each other through story and I think writing is a way to tell stories using images using concrete language. I would say to my students

10:42 Don't tell me you had a good morning. I say show me the good morning. Say that I held my one-year-old son up to the window. And he blew his breath onto the glass. It was February. And with his little hand, he drew a heart in the condensation that has breath and made. And he was wearing a yellow fuzzy sleep suit with non-skid soles. Now. I know your morning. I know what happened as opposed to it was good morning, which is Bland and somewhat generic. So I think writing give the shape to what may otherwise be formless, but I think that in your particular in your preaching, you Albert do very much the same thing where you bring to life stories as a way to

11:37 Xzibit, what, what's in your heart, and what, you're trying to share with those listening to you. How do you land upon those stories when you're sitting down? I know you're going to sit down to write a sermon this evening began tinkering. Chiseling away at 1. What store is going to fit in? Well, do they just come to you?

12:08 Well, yeah, I think I mentioned the importance of the power of story rather than just kind of rational objective description of things, people that level where they're more likely to engage your beak.

12:26 Invited into a new place, a new trade. Sure change. Transformations, the word that came to mind.

12:36 So that's your kind of living with the story of the text in scripture. Then sometimes you see that, that she lived out, we would say in flashdry incarnated.

12:52 And so stories that you see around, you get woken in but also stories that you read and pastors have a lot of resources, his tickets for lot of grades again, but I found a good story that touches me on my

13:21 The doctor.

13:23 Read it a few times before. I can even reach it without tearing up too much. And I know it's going to speak to other people. If they'll be able to.

13:34 It's Spirits, something.

13:38 The holy Envy invited into a new place by that story. One story that you telling that you've preached that if you only had one, one last sermon never going to eat again, but let's not say what day it is of the year at the favorite image story.

14:10 I don't mean the one that came to mind. It was actually a story, shared by the Boston Globe, writer editor about his wife cancer.

14:26 But she was working with the friend volunteering at a camp for kids with special needs and was really drawn to this one particular girl hell.

14:38 Who is just kind of a real free spirit alive and engaged?

14:45 So one day they were but she had helped issues when they, the kids were engaged in a game of duck, duck goose and running around. And she noticed a little note behind her and she glanced at it and read the words. If we could have chosen any child in the world. We would have chosen you.

15:20 Another is a volunteer. She said you need to read this quickly. It's the secret of life.

15:33 Loved and that unique and special.

15:40 David.

15:42 Livermore, Family secret.

15:47 Yeah, I love you.

15:50 I love that and I can see. It makes you emotional now. It's a beautiful story.

15:59 I love it. I love it. I love it.

16:03 Thank you for that reminded me of that one.

16:06 And I love that one.

16:09 So we both we both, right? And we go straight instead of different different ways. I don't know. I think I'm writing for my mother has been dead now for 22 years. And soon as I think I'm writing.

16:27 I don't know for my children or just writing because the way I cat scratches at a tree, I just have to write.

16:35 And I know that this past year, you've been working on some children's stories and some poems. What's brought you to that kind of writing.

16:50 I think you know what I right. I'm more trying to reach people with something about message.

16:57 Kerr Brothers gear, the creation issues of justice, and environmental stewardship.

17:14 I think, you know, you're writing my experience that but it's just look more closely live. More fully be more alive and don't.

17:31 Got to walk through life, not celebrate. The thorn bush has flower that you is a playing with the laureus, somebody wrote in a prayer and I love that keep us from being so dull that we don't notice how I love that.

18:00 So, what time?

18:04 Yeah, but I

18:06 I tend to write because things have started taking shape in my mind. I noticed you right? That you sent. I just sitting down in your mind. You're writing, goes for your mind.

18:19 Yeah, that's actually what your mind, follows your writing rather than that case. It's more. So that's so true. Thinking sorting out things words and store images.

18:43 Do your pain during thinking reflecting?

18:47 As you right, rather than the other way around. Yes, that is really kind of facts or collect the noticing and then I'm like, thinking about today's interview. I was looking back on a little talk, again, few years ago and these amazing facts that earthquakes can turn water into gold. So like I'll read a fact like that and I just will go crazy like jumping with joy, like what earthquake Center in 100 gold. And then just in 2019 baby Saddleback tortoises were found on the Galapagos Islands for the first time in a hundred years, scuttling along on the sand.

19:37 And that walrus who showed up in Ireland, this year. I think you fell asleep on it Iceberg, and he ended up in trying to write a short story about that. Right now, that's making the stories of the little girl, was the first one to see him and it's like there's a little risk in Ireland, you fell asleep on it. I shall read these facts are notice, notice things in the world and I just go I just feel like I'm going to burst cuz I just have to like write about it and and and make it into something. So the time I get into then asleep. Where's the you know, do I write? I don't know yet.

20:16 Baby personality related in Ocean, more extroverted.

20:20 Percent. It's kind of sorting out engaging the world.

20:26 Your conversation with the writing in your case, more introverted is sort of sorting out if you internally and then

20:37 To creating a product.

20:49 Typically, that's the case with the sermon.

20:59 This fascinating conversation writing is always there to do. Like I have the paper to tell it to camaraderie and companionship thinking of creating maybe a new Mosaic or something new before.

21:44 And the joy pure joy in that.

21:47 Share that with others first fireflies. Last no, no.

22:14 I think he's.

22:16 Got your card personality.

22:29 I thought if we could all just be as attentive as a dog wanders in the creation around us.

22:40 I know. Yeah. And is energetic.

22:46 Yeah, yeah.

22:49 So you're also a teacher, enjoy your students, but I'm wondering how the

23:04 Heather.

23:06 Writing noticing things gauging place in the world to Creation in a deeper way. How that

23:16 Cancer in your teaching set.

23:21 I think that they feed like, I feel like they're at, they dovetail beautifully because

23:32 I like to write with my students, and

23:37 In fact, I designate one day of each week is just a rating day where I'll give us all promise and we right together and we share together without judgment and just what were you? What did you go? Did you discover today when you were writing? And I the more I teach and, you know, I've got everything from first grade nap to now teaching at the University level. I feel like there's some really not a huge difference that in fact, it's the first graders were a little less judgmental of themselves. In a little, a lot less judgmental themselves, and a lot more willing. If I said like, OK, tell me everything, you know about a sunflower, they could write a full page and the adults, because I think the world is not just about a bunch, like, we've been in the dryer something like, to be, I mean, you want me to talk about,

24:37 It's down to me to talk about the season and all this worry. And, you know, I just like to say, tell me everything, you know about sunflowers every single last thing, and just have fun doing it to try to bring that sick. As you are to be, brought into the give that as a gift to my students that it's that education is not about your teaching. I love the quote by the author of The Petit. Prince, who says, you know, if you want to teach

25:08 Teach men to build a boat, do not have them would and give them instructions. Instead show them to yearn for the vast and endless. See her face would basically make some love the thing and then they'll go and want to do it. And I regard teaching in that same, joyous way that I do writing, which is too full of a chance to be a chance to hear and be heard to tell and to be told and the joy in that is I think what, distinguishes us as humans, let you know, I think.

25:48 It's a way to navigate very difficult times and a way to share joyous times. So, the two go hand-in-hand. I don't think I could be a good teacher if I weren't an active writer.

26:02 I think I'd feel two dimensional.

26:08 And I know in your you and your birding is whenever you get a chance here, you're out. Look at the birds in the air looking for birds that and you've gotten so, so amazingly good, like oh, there's a worm-eating warbler and yesterday, you know, like quiet and stung once and you did it beautifully. I feel like for you that's a very spiritual access bird walks. Can you tell me more about the connection between birds and faith?

26:52 I guess I liked it in oats.

26:56 Its focus time Outdoors for your noticing things in your anticipating or looking for them to changes with the seasons. And the location any day, there could be on a surprise, our Delight, a new bird or a emergency up close that. You normally don't get a good view of

27:22 But it's also, you know, to be focused on something. I think your mind can go about maybe.

27:29 Settling or sorting of finding peace with other things. May be gardening, painting activities.

27:55 Your emotions are upset or anxiety, experiencer feeling of it, that that makes sense. Yeah. I love that engenders a degree.

28:19 Perspective. Maybe that's it.

28:25 I love that. But what about those winged creatures that whose bones are all birds bones? Hollow?

28:33 That's what I've heard of that mean. You know that you don't know a whole lot about physiology. Look at him and calls in a little bit about habitat.

28:59 I'm learning a lot of birds, Pursuits, you know, one thing the certain of the birds in your area, but then you have birds that migrate through and

29:09 There's some challenge there and then you can go to another area. They're entirely new Birds.

29:16 It's pretty exciting in these. These like creatures, who?

29:21 Can sweat from the stability disability. Maybe they are signs from

29:30 Another realm that.

29:33 Not that everything isn't saying we see that that we're being held up by something that isn't visible to us. Something is supporting us that we don't even know and so we can, they can fly.

29:50 Yeah.

29:57 Add a reminder to birds. I mean, it may not know it, but I mean, apart from birds eating insects and caterpillars off of trees at the Air Force would be only a matter of time. I mean, there there's a sense of dependence upon you and learn about it.

30:23 Appreciate Birds.

30:29 I love your lover birds. And and your and your desire to build them homes. I love the way that year. I love the Martin house and how you've really been.

30:41 Focusing on making homes for them and having more in our backyard. Thank you very much for that. I trust you. I trust you though. I do and you said of her making it available to lots of people by making birdhouses and selling them at farmers markets. Very very cool.

31:17 Exciting.

31:21 Even ask me if I'm well, you just mention life around you some curve balls. If you had more hardship and loss and struggling treatment for cancer at an early age. So I'm just wondering

31:44 The writing, Choda.

31:47 Therapeutic for you. And

31:51 Sorting that out or finding some healing and peace and Hope.

31:58 Absolutely. I mean, I

32:02 You know, when I was

32:05 Recognize that I was going to have to dedicate a year of my life to mastectomy and chemo and radiation. I

32:13 Realize that he had this.

32:16 I had this friend called writing and the friend could come with me into the infusion center and I could write down the names of the drugs, which so many of them start with X and have x's in them packs, a tear and cytoxan and terrible names, but I would write them down and then I'd I'd write down, you know, if the lady next to me was reading Good Housekeeping and then I write down everything and it became a way to to navigate I think.

32:52 A difficult times and I still do that. It's a different kind of writing then when I'm thinking, you know, those turtles in the Galapagos Islands. Like I'm like, that's the story. I'm writing. If I'm going through something difficult cancer treatment for instance, or just anything, I make sure I see that has more ratings for myself and I doubt I would share that with anybody. That's why I my journal. I have on the right hand side. I write down. Just the quotidian. Notice. Things like our neighbors curtain rod seems to be a slant a little bit to the right. I wonder if Danny will fix it tomorrow, but then I meant to write that on the left hand side.

33:42 So when I go to write a short story or a poem, I have something to start with already the curtain rod and then I think that's such an idea what it what a curtain rod is. So I always like collecting collecting like little trinkets that all then put into

34:02 A piece of writing, but I done will share share with others. But I also have felt that when I have shared my writing about treatment for breast cancer, that it really resonates with people who've gone through treatment and their caregivers as well. And then it's helps people feel a sense of rather than Doom, or helplessness. Actually, a sense of hope like, maybe,

34:31 There's something in this that lets us see into another realm. May be living with cancer or having lived with cancer. Allows you to see something, you wouldn't have seen. Otherwise, a bright light on the stair.

34:47 So I feel that way. I remember one of our first dates, you made me a tomato sandwich at the church and you would ask me, you know, if it was difficult for me and it wasn't a day to mail password, is it end? And you ask me if it was hard and I was like no it's kind of been like, it's taught me so much so

35:10 Thank you for that.

35:13 I know we only have about 5 more minutes to get to talk here.

35:20 I did want to say, I just really appreciate your patience. As I was thinking about this interview and how patient you are with Emma and patient, you are with Garland and patient, you are with the puppy and would just sort of want you to just know. I really appreciate that. And also ask like if I have to work on your patience, or is it just saying you kind of were born with?

35:50 Being one of five kids and Mom, working and stuff.

36:00 I drank should be in, 150 starts working, and not a whole lot of things, the way they were.

36:15 Look for denim, find happiness, contentedness. Joy, and what you had rather than what you didn't.

36:26 I guess the scents of needing something else in order to.

36:31 Be more fulfilled.

36:37 But I think it's something like you intentionally work on it, but I feel like I've become more patient overtime and I guess a lot of. It's just more perspective.

36:52 Not all up to me, you know, that I do my best and make everything is as I can, there's things to learn and appreciate and value and even when things are chaotic, stress, stir.

37:15 There's roses on the thorn bush living until you get to another place.

37:26 Appreciator live is for these, you can in the midst of whatever. So I guess

37:34 And then my own by engaging with people, like you found and lost your hardship for challenging time.

37:48 Capacity to live in a much deeper level less.

37:53 Set alarm. That's been a witness serve encouragement to me. I feel like you're if you were to.

38:12 You know, excited about having a granddaughter, you're coming in September, 8th that right.

38:26 What do you help the most for her?

38:30 I know you already know very happy that Grant and Katie are so it's going to be such good parents.

38:39 Yeah, huh. I don't feel like she's very blessed child coming into their lives, their family. And I think she'll like them.

38:49 Good Community, you're rounder. So all I can hope for is that she?

39:00 Two will last.

39:03 No, she's I loved by you than special and unique and whatever.

39:11 Yeah, Freedom. Then going back when you were talking about.

39:20 Kindergarteners being better able to write freely than college. Students have to follow certain rules, or do it just a certain way in order to be

39:38 Good and yeah, I got something in Meijer in you you're you're willing to do anything. And yeah, I guess I need a little more freedom.

40:12 We help each other out.

40:17 So do you want to just end this with a second of Silent kind of Prayer?

40:26 Thanks for talking to me and be willing to do this. Yeah, I was like I'll sign up for storycorps I left.

40:36 I Choose You.