I saw the second installment of a movie, The Hunger Games, over the holidays. I had read the book trilogy a few years ago, and wondered why it was such an easy read, because it was pretty good. Then I learned that it was written as a Young Adult series. When I was reading I felt that it seemed not that far-fetched, and then I saw the two movies and felt that it was not really the future...it was the present.
Why?
If you have not read The Hunger Games you can go here for a Cliff's Notes Summary. Or you can read my quick summary which leaves a lot out. or you can read the books.
Summary: The books reflect a society that is under the control of the privileged few. The privileged dress exotically, have exotic eating habits and hobbies, can indulge in almost anything and are happily ignorant of the fact that they are surviving on the backs of the various districts that produce food and products for them and keep the country going. Each of these districts has a skill level, an important product or resource for the country, and in most cases a bare survival life style for its citizens. They get money and food based on their contributions to the country and get additional bonuses if they have a winner in the hunger games. The rich and powerful government tightly controls everything, has technological eyes everywhere, and finding out what is really going on is information only for the privileged few. The games themselves involve an annual contest where children are "reaped" by lottery from each district and placed in a televised battle to the death with lots of science fiction animals, weather, and weapons and against each other. It is a contest that reminds the citizens that a revolution against the Capital can result in annihilation. I do not do the book justice with such a short summary, but it is a good (not great) read.
Now, back to my premise that we are in a society much like the one above and getting closer every year:
We have two societies already in this country: 1) The very wealthy and
upper middle class 2) The rapidly shrinking middle class living on the
edge and the growing poor. Following are even more clues that we are strangely close to this story. Our wars are not far from being battles to the death for our young (mostly) which we honor if they return, even missing pieces.
1) The NSA scandal which indicates they watch us more than we know
2) Fashion shows---I mean really have you seen anything more exotic than the parade of costumes the rich wear?
3) News stories on men who dress as inflated dolls!
4) Digital grieving and lighting virtual memory candles via computer for the departed.
5) Edible packaging of foods
6) The woman who had plastic surgery to look like a Barbie Doll.
7) Clearly visible plastic surgery and Botox injections on male and female newscasters giving them the oddest places for wrinkles and dimples when they lift an eyebrow or grin. Go ahead and check a few talking heads next time.
8) The legalization of marijuana which has resulted in pot hotels with pot smoking lounges, a surge in buildings that are designed for growing the weed, and a new Wall Street fund for pot that is growing like madness.
9). While the U.S. poverty level has been reduced in this country since the war was declared by President Johnson, world poverty is growing very fast.
10) One citizen worries about their next meal while another citizen buys the fancy package for their new car that will not only heat the seats in the winter but also cool those same seats in the summer.
And lastly...3-D printers that can print pets that do not need to be fed or cleaned up after......yes, maybe that one is made up, but do you really think that is very far away?
Half of us get lazier and half of us work so much harder. It is the Hunger Games.
Wednesday, January 08, 2014
Friday, January 03, 2014
Contrasts and Missed Opportunties or the Downside of the Holidays.
A series of pre-holiday incidents that made me think and wonder when I will get it right:
In early December, when we were setting up our Christmas tree, the 'Thin Man' who had felled those large trees this summer knocked at our door for a reason we never finally understood. He seemed to think we wanted more mulch, but perhaps that was Hubby's comment because the Thin Man never said that. He began in a fitful fashion to explain about the recent theft of most of his equipment from his storage yard which resulted in letting go all the staff but two for economic reasons, and a further ramble about police, his exploration of the 'hood' (a term which he apologized for using), and other tails of his activities in his pursuit of the missing saws and a generator. Later he confused the story even more by saying that two of his workers had up and quit for no reason, and that he suspected them of the theft. We surmised he had been drinking due to his glazed red eyes, although his manner was polite and his voice clear. After lengthy anecdotes on his part and our sympathetic responses, he finally left us standing with tree ornaments still in hand in the open doorway and unformed questions. There was no offer of a bonus holiday gift from us, as he claimed to have $1800 in his pocket (?) and there did not seem to be a way to help him without belittling him in some way. He left us with a rather dour feeling in our hearts for days after. There are so many people in this world that seem to be the victims of their own mistakes and behavior, but who are basically not bad people.
The following week we headed up to Philadelphia to attend a 50th wedding anniversary of friends. We spent a day layover to enjoy the city, and as luck would have it, we were there to enjoy a small and lovely wet snow. Big sloppy flakes fell everywhere. Within minutes struggling cities are transformed into postcard scenery after such wet snowfalls. We slogged through the streets to look at holiday window displays, shopped at their famous downtown market center with breakfast crepes to die for,
and watched the Macy's Christmas light show in the shoe department...yes, it is a family tradition here as we met a three generation example listening to Julie Andrews voice host the singing.
We also thought we saw the Pie in the Sky guy...just an inside joke for British readers.
By the time we returned to the outside, several ambulances were stopped at various intersections for various reasons. We crossed the street only to see a large man fall to the sidewalk while crossing an icy patch just ahead of us. He did not move after that. Several people tried to help him up, but he did not respond and was too heavy for them to lift. We hailed a nearby ambulance driver, who responded that he could not stop because he was on a call, but finally, at our insistence, exited the vehicle to check on the fallen pedestrian. (Drunk, drugged, elderly, homeless hoping for shelter?) Who could tell with all the bundled clothing and snow-covered face.
We then trundled into a pub down the alleyway and watched an afternoon wintery football game over a lunch of mussels and pasta and wine under lots of holiday glitter before a foul-mouthed ardent Eagles fan made us return to our hotel room with our holiday purchases to watch the second half of the game in peace and quiet. Then it was back out to dinner at a place recommended by the hotel. One of those places where the servings are small (you order various tapas) and the seating is miniscule. The only thing large, are the prices, of course. We had become good friends of the young couple seated just to the side of us (another story for another day) before we had even ordered dessert since we were seated close enough to cut each others food!
It was late, dark, and very cold as we departed the restaurant for our two block walk back to our hotel. The streets were no longer busy with shoppers or automobiles. We passed one homeless person bundled like a wrapped mummy in the shadowy shelter of an entryway to one of the stores. I did not stare, only glanced, still focused on my walking and not falling. The person's face was covered in scarfs and tucked down, never noticing the outside world in his struggle to stay warm.
I was concentrating on walking carefully across the icy sidewalk and while I had finished only one glass of wine, I was not feeling as coordinated as I would have liked. Hubby and I did not hold hands or take each others arms or take our eyes off of the treacherous terrain ahead for very long. It was every person for him/herself! Life can be like that sometimes.
Then out of the shadows a man without head cover but in a warm winter coat and holding the hand of a small bundled boy approached us asking if we lived in the area and knew about it. We glanced up, apologized that we did not know the area at all, looked down again and we continued to carefully make our way forward. The man started to cross the street and then turned back to us explaining he was looking for a shelter where he could get a hot meal. I took him at his word and pointed to the Catholic church down the block, because I had seen it lit for mass earlier when we went to our dinner. He headed in that direction and we continued on our way.
Stupidly, it did not occur to us to give him money for food. Although the restaurants in that area were all very expensive and mostly took reservations at that late time of night. The incident and my casualness haunted me all evening. Was that a test from God? Was that an angel in disguise? Was I so focused on not falling and finding warmth that I let a child go hungry that night? Later when I was inside and warm I wondered why did I not offer to take him to our hotel coffee shop? ( I had written a check to a church with a winter homeless shelter just the week before, but it was a church far, far away from here and that in no way eased my conscience.)
Homelessness has a long history in our wealthy country. Philadelphia's first pan-handling ordinances were passed in the 1820's, so disenfranchisement is historic to this area. It is a very complicated issue. Many of our homeless are veterans and families of veterans. Approximately two-thirds of our homeless are disabled in some way. Mental patients were released from state run hospitals in the 1970s with a cut in Federal spending and these people ended up on the streets creating our first bump in homelessness. Bigger cuts to housing subsidies, low-income mortgages, and HUD agency budget cuts happened in the 1980's. That is when I saw more homeless people when I went into the cities. “people who are sleeping on the grates…the homeless…are homeless, you might say, by choice.” A quote from one of our former presidents who actually believed that and most likely never interviewed a homeless person in his wealthy life or lived in a northern climate.
"According to the United States Conference of Mayors, in 2008, the three most commonly cited causes of homelessness for persons and families were a lack of affordable housing, cited by 72 percent, poverty (52%), and unemployment (44%). The suggestions to alleviate homelessness included providing more housing for persons with disabilities (72%), creating more employment opportunities (68%), and building more assisted housing units (64%)." (Wikipedia) We do not have affordable housing but we do have empty houses abandoned by the banks who wrote obscene mortgages. Abandoned houses that no longer make the banks any money, but blight the neighborhood. What if the banks wrote them off, and taking those not purchased by those fancy real estate flippers, found some way to sell the leftovers to the newly homeless? I live on a street where a house, that might have garnered $700,000 to $800,000 dollars during the boom, has sat idle for years and is now falling apart. Yes it is too far into the country for an unemployed family, so perhaps not the best example...just an example of the write-it-off mentality of mortgage brokers.
This December Congress cut food stamps (which mostly go to feed poor children) and did not extend long term unemployment insurance with the view that it would encourage people to look for jobs. No one ever cites a survey or study on how starving people makes them look harder for a job, so in my book, that is what they are, opinions to ease guilt of lawmakers doing this. The few people I know who have used unemployment benefits are certainly not happy about it, and would take a job if they could find one. But job creation is another very complicated issue.
Thanks to this pathetic, disengaged Congress, there will be more homeless and hungry on our streets in the coming months and throughout the year. There will be more sleeping bodies on the streets for my grandchildren to pass on their way to the museum. One U.S. Congressman suggested we put children to work as janitors if we are going to give them a free/subsidized school breakfast. (Then we could fire the working father janitor and get cheaper child labor?) At least we haven't completed the grand immorality that Japan has. Japan has a solution for their homeless people...!
In early December, when we were setting up our Christmas tree, the 'Thin Man' who had felled those large trees this summer knocked at our door for a reason we never finally understood. He seemed to think we wanted more mulch, but perhaps that was Hubby's comment because the Thin Man never said that. He began in a fitful fashion to explain about the recent theft of most of his equipment from his storage yard which resulted in letting go all the staff but two for economic reasons, and a further ramble about police, his exploration of the 'hood' (a term which he apologized for using), and other tails of his activities in his pursuit of the missing saws and a generator. Later he confused the story even more by saying that two of his workers had up and quit for no reason, and that he suspected them of the theft. We surmised he had been drinking due to his glazed red eyes, although his manner was polite and his voice clear. After lengthy anecdotes on his part and our sympathetic responses, he finally left us standing with tree ornaments still in hand in the open doorway and unformed questions. There was no offer of a bonus holiday gift from us, as he claimed to have $1800 in his pocket (?) and there did not seem to be a way to help him without belittling him in some way. He left us with a rather dour feeling in our hearts for days after. There are so many people in this world that seem to be the victims of their own mistakes and behavior, but who are basically not bad people.
The following week we headed up to Philadelphia to attend a 50th wedding anniversary of friends. We spent a day layover to enjoy the city, and as luck would have it, we were there to enjoy a small and lovely wet snow. Big sloppy flakes fell everywhere. Within minutes struggling cities are transformed into postcard scenery after such wet snowfalls. We slogged through the streets to look at holiday window displays, shopped at their famous downtown market center with breakfast crepes to die for,
and watched the Macy's Christmas light show in the shoe department...yes, it is a family tradition here as we met a three generation example listening to Julie Andrews voice host the singing.
We also thought we saw the Pie in the Sky guy...just an inside joke for British readers.
By the time we returned to the outside, several ambulances were stopped at various intersections for various reasons. We crossed the street only to see a large man fall to the sidewalk while crossing an icy patch just ahead of us. He did not move after that. Several people tried to help him up, but he did not respond and was too heavy for them to lift. We hailed a nearby ambulance driver, who responded that he could not stop because he was on a call, but finally, at our insistence, exited the vehicle to check on the fallen pedestrian. (Drunk, drugged, elderly, homeless hoping for shelter?) Who could tell with all the bundled clothing and snow-covered face.
We then trundled into a pub down the alleyway and watched an afternoon wintery football game over a lunch of mussels and pasta and wine under lots of holiday glitter before a foul-mouthed ardent Eagles fan made us return to our hotel room with our holiday purchases to watch the second half of the game in peace and quiet. Then it was back out to dinner at a place recommended by the hotel. One of those places where the servings are small (you order various tapas) and the seating is miniscule. The only thing large, are the prices, of course. We had become good friends of the young couple seated just to the side of us (another story for another day) before we had even ordered dessert since we were seated close enough to cut each others food!
It was late, dark, and very cold as we departed the restaurant for our two block walk back to our hotel. The streets were no longer busy with shoppers or automobiles. We passed one homeless person bundled like a wrapped mummy in the shadowy shelter of an entryway to one of the stores. I did not stare, only glanced, still focused on my walking and not falling. The person's face was covered in scarfs and tucked down, never noticing the outside world in his struggle to stay warm.
I was concentrating on walking carefully across the icy sidewalk and while I had finished only one glass of wine, I was not feeling as coordinated as I would have liked. Hubby and I did not hold hands or take each others arms or take our eyes off of the treacherous terrain ahead for very long. It was every person for him/herself! Life can be like that sometimes.
Then out of the shadows a man without head cover but in a warm winter coat and holding the hand of a small bundled boy approached us asking if we lived in the area and knew about it. We glanced up, apologized that we did not know the area at all, looked down again and we continued to carefully make our way forward. The man started to cross the street and then turned back to us explaining he was looking for a shelter where he could get a hot meal. I took him at his word and pointed to the Catholic church down the block, because I had seen it lit for mass earlier when we went to our dinner. He headed in that direction and we continued on our way.
Stupidly, it did not occur to us to give him money for food. Although the restaurants in that area were all very expensive and mostly took reservations at that late time of night. The incident and my casualness haunted me all evening. Was that a test from God? Was that an angel in disguise? Was I so focused on not falling and finding warmth that I let a child go hungry that night? Later when I was inside and warm I wondered why did I not offer to take him to our hotel coffee shop? ( I had written a check to a church with a winter homeless shelter just the week before, but it was a church far, far away from here and that in no way eased my conscience.)
Homelessness has a long history in our wealthy country. Philadelphia's first pan-handling ordinances were passed in the 1820's, so disenfranchisement is historic to this area. It is a very complicated issue. Many of our homeless are veterans and families of veterans. Approximately two-thirds of our homeless are disabled in some way. Mental patients were released from state run hospitals in the 1970s with a cut in Federal spending and these people ended up on the streets creating our first bump in homelessness. Bigger cuts to housing subsidies, low-income mortgages, and HUD agency budget cuts happened in the 1980's. That is when I saw more homeless people when I went into the cities. “people who are sleeping on the grates…the homeless…are homeless, you might say, by choice.” A quote from one of our former presidents who actually believed that and most likely never interviewed a homeless person in his wealthy life or lived in a northern climate.
"According to the United States Conference of Mayors, in 2008, the three most commonly cited causes of homelessness for persons and families were a lack of affordable housing, cited by 72 percent, poverty (52%), and unemployment (44%). The suggestions to alleviate homelessness included providing more housing for persons with disabilities (72%), creating more employment opportunities (68%), and building more assisted housing units (64%)." (Wikipedia) We do not have affordable housing but we do have empty houses abandoned by the banks who wrote obscene mortgages. Abandoned houses that no longer make the banks any money, but blight the neighborhood. What if the banks wrote them off, and taking those not purchased by those fancy real estate flippers, found some way to sell the leftovers to the newly homeless? I live on a street where a house, that might have garnered $700,000 to $800,000 dollars during the boom, has sat idle for years and is now falling apart. Yes it is too far into the country for an unemployed family, so perhaps not the best example...just an example of the write-it-off mentality of mortgage brokers.
This December Congress cut food stamps (which mostly go to feed poor children) and did not extend long term unemployment insurance with the view that it would encourage people to look for jobs. No one ever cites a survey or study on how starving people makes them look harder for a job, so in my book, that is what they are, opinions to ease guilt of lawmakers doing this. The few people I know who have used unemployment benefits are certainly not happy about it, and would take a job if they could find one. But job creation is another very complicated issue.
Thanks to this pathetic, disengaged Congress, there will be more homeless and hungry on our streets in the coming months and throughout the year. There will be more sleeping bodies on the streets for my grandchildren to pass on their way to the museum. One U.S. Congressman suggested we put children to work as janitors if we are going to give them a free/subsidized school breakfast. (Then we could fire the working father janitor and get cheaper child labor?) At least we haven't completed the grand immorality that Japan has. Japan has a solution for their homeless people...!
Wednesday, January 01, 2014
Knock, Knock...Who's there?
My house is clean, my decorations packed away, my refrigerator and freezer being slowly emptied over the weeks ahead to use up all the "old" food. (What a blessing to write that I have old food when many have little food.) My floors are vacuumed and/or mopped, my laundry done, and the guest bedrooms' sheets all changed. I ran my 3 and a quarter miles on the elliptical today and lifted some free weights...none of these were New Year's resolutions, because that makes them dangerous and confining. I just like to start with a clean slate and hopefulness and find some way to justify that glass of wine or plate of dessert.
2014 welcomes us anal-retentives, just as she does those who are celebratory rather than Puritanic in nature and those who slouch, still half- asleep on the sofa, trying to watch the Rose Bowl game and trying to not think about their dread of the work day ahead. (Been there and done that!)
2014 also welcomes those who rise from a tangle of ribbons and partially cleaned food plates and watch little children that have way too much energy as they greet the first day of this year. She smiles at those who gaze at piles of laundry and wonder if they will start the sorting before they run out of underwear.
2014 also welcomes those who spent the day at the hospital/rest home/therapeutic foster home holding a hand and trying to smile more and trying to remember gentle and humorous anecdotes for someone they love. 2014 comes with a ray of promise and a pat on the shoulder.
2014 welcomes those who have seen many new years come and go, and who now wonder how many they will see in the future. 2014 takes their shoulders in her forceful hands and says, "One day at a time, my friend...do not stare at the future. Savor today!"
But 2014 is especially happy to greet those who took that leap, changed that habit, headed down that new and very different trail, made that big decision and changed their life forever for the better.
2014 welcomes us anal-retentives, just as she does those who are celebratory rather than Puritanic in nature and those who slouch, still half- asleep on the sofa, trying to watch the Rose Bowl game and trying to not think about their dread of the work day ahead. (Been there and done that!)
2014 also welcomes those who rise from a tangle of ribbons and partially cleaned food plates and watch little children that have way too much energy as they greet the first day of this year. She smiles at those who gaze at piles of laundry and wonder if they will start the sorting before they run out of underwear.
2014 also welcomes those who spent the day at the hospital/rest home/therapeutic foster home holding a hand and trying to smile more and trying to remember gentle and humorous anecdotes for someone they love. 2014 comes with a ray of promise and a pat on the shoulder.
2014 welcomes those who have seen many new years come and go, and who now wonder how many they will see in the future. 2014 takes their shoulders in her forceful hands and says, "One day at a time, my friend...do not stare at the future. Savor today!"
But 2014 is especially happy to greet those who took that leap, changed that habit, headed down that new and very different trail, made that big decision and changed their life forever for the better.
Monday, December 30, 2013
You Make Me Better Than I Am
With all of life's struggles and challenges, there are always a few things in life one finds restorative. A few things that give the hope and energy to take that step forward. A few things that weave us back into the fabric of life. I believe that not only do we have to keep an awareness of those moments when they touch us, but we have to savor and re-visit those moments. Close your eyes and think of the last time you smiled inside and felt ever so briefly restored.
Was it when you finally got that angel to balance on the tree?
Was it when your unshaven son gave you a scratchy kiss.
Was it that gift bottle of wine that reminded you of your sunset bicycle ride so long ago?
Was it that bestfriend dog wet-kiss that surprised you after such a long day of errands?
Was it that holiday card from someone you have not seen in years and years?
Was it that sale on a sweater you have been eying for weeks?
Was it that toddler girl at the holiday party who stopped wide-eyed to look at the tree?
Was it the patience from your loved ones when you burned the first batch of cookies?
Was it finding Grandma's platter that had been stored way at the bottom of the drawer?
(Yes, these are not universal incidents...but you can certainly add your own.)
For me, many of these moments were savored reading the comments from my blog readers that I read and re-read this past week. Talk about restorative! You make me want to be a better writer/communicator/photographer than I am. You remind me that the great fabric of life is both virtual and concrete.
Was it when you finally got that angel to balance on the tree?
Was it when your unshaven son gave you a scratchy kiss.
Was it that gift bottle of wine that reminded you of your sunset bicycle ride so long ago?
Was it that bestfriend dog wet-kiss that surprised you after such a long day of errands?
Was it that holiday card from someone you have not seen in years and years?
Was it that sale on a sweater you have been eying for weeks?
Was it that toddler girl at the holiday party who stopped wide-eyed to look at the tree?
Was it the patience from your loved ones when you burned the first batch of cookies?
Was it finding Grandma's platter that had been stored way at the bottom of the drawer?
(Yes, these are not universal incidents...but you can certainly add your own.)
For me, many of these moments were savored reading the comments from my blog readers that I read and re-read this past week. Talk about restorative! You make me want to be a better writer/communicator/photographer than I am. You remind me that the great fabric of life is both virtual and concrete.
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
My Christmas (Holiday) Card to You.
As most of my readers know, I am not a religious person. I could write that I am an agnostic, but I am not a person who spends energies being skeptical of hope. That term does not fit my more positive outlook on spirituality, which is seeking the energy of peace and understanding. All religions appeal to me in small ways. Therefore, I do celebrate Christmas, which is certainly all about hoping for peace. The ornament on the left in the photo was made decades ago by my mother-in-law. I treasure it as I treasured her and regret that I did not show her more of that love when she was with us. This will be my last post for a while as I am traveling up north both for Christmas and to child-sit and then to go to my son's birthday party!! My your new year be filled with PEACE and UNDERSTANDING.
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
OK, So I Am Posting
When alone, I have time to wander, ponder, dilly and even dally if the cause strikes me, and blog, which was something I had put on hold for a short time. I was playing Christmas music and wrapping the many gifts that I buy each year once again breaking my promise to buy less. I had finished about 80% of the toys and clothes and decided to head to bed. As I turned off lights last night and headed to bed, the view to my back deck glowed and I noticed the golden rain that had frosted the deck with honey. It was just above freezing and that is why this water looks almost frozen. I thought briefly how glad I was that I did not have to go out in this weather either to party or to work, but, it does look deceptively beautiful, when one is cozy and warm inside.
When I woke the next morning early before the sunrise, as I most often do, I looked outside and saw that the weather had sugar dusted the yard in snow. I put on my camouflage outfit and headed out for a walk in the dark hoping to sneak up on the woodcock that lives in the ravine. When I returned I notice that the motion lights were on and this gave me a little Christmas card scene.
I just had to share it right away, and who is more important to share such beauty with than my bloggers?
Keep warm!
Tuesday, December 03, 2013
II
Pushing the pause button this week. I am recovering from Thanksgiving, babysitting, and going forward with holiday shopping. While I find blogging and reading blogs a compelling activity, I accept that I do have a life with some bigger demands. I will certainly be away until the new year is underway. If you are curious (Ha!) I will be organizing my 10,000 (actually my index says there are 43,689--but I cannot get my mind around THAT(!)) photos. I will be cleaning out closets of old photographic prints and leftover linens. I will be organizing that pile of books at the end of my bed table which seems to be so fecund and falling over onto the ground when I bump them in the dark on my way to the bathroom. I hope to finally decide how to organize my overflowing pantry...and may give away some dishes and stuff and buy MORE containers.
Toodle-loo. (Oh, in case you want to know WHAT I have been doing before this...)
See you next year!
Toodle-loo. (Oh, in case you want to know WHAT I have been doing before this...)
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| Getting the rest of the wedding gifts back to my son and out of the guest bedroom. |
 |
| Doing karate. |
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| Dancing to Christmas music. |
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| Assisting with homework. |
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| Feeding the chickens that were guests over the weekend. |
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| Bowling |
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| (Actually watching bowling.) |
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| Dealing with despair. |
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| Checking out the dinosaurs. |
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| Marveling at butterflies. |
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| !!! |
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| And, at this time of year, there always there has to be a visit to Thomas. (Yes, this is Percy, but Thomas was also there.) |
See you next year!
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Who Are You? Is That a Resolution?
I sometimes watch my adult children and wonder what genetic mix has created them with their energies, self-confidence, optimism, forgiveness and golden humor. Where did they get the wisdom to see what is truly important. I see these traits in the man I married, an only child, doted on and given opportunities galore to succeed or fail. The only child of an aging couple in their second marriages who saw this child as their second and last chance to get it right. And thus he sees himself as an important cog in the wheel of life.
I thought I had the above traits, but age has given me the wisdom to see I am a punctual, list adhering soul given to joy only when all has been completed and put away and failure is no longer an option. Only when the small rest time that is given as reward for work well done, do I allow myself to be open and less attentive. I do not like these traits in myself and this past decade as my adult children have held up this mirror, I have tried to change and mellow out just a bit. It is hard work to change oneself and also is an embarrassment to do this. It is hard to stop and remember to look at the view on the way up instead of waiting until you are at the very top to relish the hard work and share the joy of the view with others.
I was the oldest of five with many chores and responsibilities. My mother was critical of much that I did and only gave praise for good grades as she knew this was the gateway for her children to a better life. All else was expected and she did not forgive you if you became distracted by daydreaming. Life was not a bowl of cherries but a tall cherry tree which must be climbed for any reward. She focused most of her attention on the youngest as that was all that her remaining energies allowed and she expected me at an early age to be more of an adult. I write this not to place blame but to see more clearly why I am the way that I am, why I am always the adult in my family, why I need down time, why going soft and making mistakes is scary for me and why I am critical of those who put fun before deadlines.
But I will keep trying and little by little I will not be so focused on clearing the path, but picking the flowers.
I thought I had the above traits, but age has given me the wisdom to see I am a punctual, list adhering soul given to joy only when all has been completed and put away and failure is no longer an option. Only when the small rest time that is given as reward for work well done, do I allow myself to be open and less attentive. I do not like these traits in myself and this past decade as my adult children have held up this mirror, I have tried to change and mellow out just a bit. It is hard work to change oneself and also is an embarrassment to do this. It is hard to stop and remember to look at the view on the way up instead of waiting until you are at the very top to relish the hard work and share the joy of the view with others.
I was the oldest of five with many chores and responsibilities. My mother was critical of much that I did and only gave praise for good grades as she knew this was the gateway for her children to a better life. All else was expected and she did not forgive you if you became distracted by daydreaming. Life was not a bowl of cherries but a tall cherry tree which must be climbed for any reward. She focused most of her attention on the youngest as that was all that her remaining energies allowed and she expected me at an early age to be more of an adult. I write this not to place blame but to see more clearly why I am the way that I am, why I am always the adult in my family, why I need down time, why going soft and making mistakes is scary for me and why I am critical of those who put fun before deadlines.
But I will keep trying and little by little I will not be so focused on clearing the path, but picking the flowers.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Thank You!!
Not too many years ago, with the help of Oprah Winfrey, Americans rediscovered thankfulness. They read books, took seminars and started "thankfulness journals." It was a fad, but a good fad, certainly better than anything the Kardashians had given us in this decade. I am sure that ministers and priests and monks and nuns and other spiritual souls just shook their heads in disbelief, because this is their calling and what they had been telling people to practice for years. An overweight, rich, black lady had somehow gotten through, past the soap operas, the shopping channel, and those questionable religious programs. Yes, most of the listeners were woman with small children or those without jobs, but their actions spread like ripples on the pond to their families and loved ones. Goodness grows slowly but goes on forever.
I cannot list all the things I am thankful for this year (my readers are high up in the list) because this post would be way too long. I would begin with the big things like a faithful devoted husband and beautiful children and grandchildren and finally wind my way down to things like the beauty of floating feathers and the fact that we are made from stardust which connects us to this vast and awesome universe in a magnificent way.
I hope that your Thanksgiving Day, whether with those you love, those you cannot stand, or with just yourself, has a peaceful moment where you can stop and ponder all the good things in your life that you are thankful for.
(My jury duty wascancelled postponed until next week, so even though it is a civic duty, I am thankful for that small reprieve.)
I cannot list all the things I am thankful for this year (my readers are high up in the list) because this post would be way too long. I would begin with the big things like a faithful devoted husband and beautiful children and grandchildren and finally wind my way down to things like the beauty of floating feathers and the fact that we are made from stardust which connects us to this vast and awesome universe in a magnificent way.
I hope that your Thanksgiving Day, whether with those you love, those you cannot stand, or with just yourself, has a peaceful moment where you can stop and ponder all the good things in your life that you are thankful for.
(My jury duty was
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