Today is Veteran's Day or I should say the weekday that the government says we celebrate Veteran's Day. How many of us really do celebrate Veteran's Day? Is it not just another day to celebrate having a holiday (day off of work) or just another day to not celebrate that banks & other federal offices are closed (i.e. no mail)? Celebrate is a very strong and joyous word and the concept is almost too strong for Veteran's Day. Don't we often think of "veterans" as those men and women) of World War II? Those veterans of my father's age or older. Isn't it kind of weird to think of those people (at their age) celebrating?
Honor the veterans seems so much more appropriate to me. Although I'm sure that 40, 50 and even 60 years ago, these people did celebrate Veterans Day. They celebrated that they were alive and back home, after WW II. They celebrated the peace that their war efforts brought to the world.
Hubby served this country during the Vietnam War and I just asked him, "Do you consider yourself a veteran?" He replied, "Yes, I am." I know that I often forget that he is a veteran, partly because I was not part of his life during that time. I think part of it is that Vietnam War had a finality that involved us vacating the country with thousands of people trying to climb on planes to escape with us (the USA). If you remember the news of that time, it was not a pretty ending. Needless to say, hubby served our country with honor.
My sister sent me an email today about thanking the veteran for our freedoms. Yes, we are a country full of freedoms and we have so much to be thankful for. Our veterans of wars, past and present have served our country in bringing peace to the world or parts of the world. They served a higher purpose than most of us can or are willing to understand.
Thank you to the veterans and their families. May we never forget their sacrifices and their efforts. May we honor them and celebrate their services.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Neighbors
Hubby & I just got back from a wonderful meal at our neighbor's place. In our married life, there have been very few places that we have lived and felt like we lived in a neighborhood or community. In Wisconsin we lived on a lake & those neighbors became such dear friends. I know that a couple of them can attest to how hard I cried when we moved. You would have thought some one died.
Then we moved here to the the Rio Grande Valley last year & we're in a community "of friends 55 and over." Until about three weeks ago, it's been fine living here. We have some couples that we play cards, dominoes or marbles with on Friday or Saturday nights. We have some neighbors that we play cards with on Tuesday nights. I have some neighbors that I see on my morning walk. There are some neighbors that hubby sees down at the pool. But some things have changed and I wrote about my feelings in Sunday's blog.
I truly did feel quite sad, maybe it was just the mood I was in, I'm not sure. But tonight, another neighbor invited us over to their place for fajitas and it was so good! It was "good" not only because of the food, but because of the companionship and love that was passed from neighbor to neighbor. We talked of a neighbor that is close to death and our hearts and prayers went out to he and his wife, who is tonight sleeping on the floor at the hospital.
Regardless of the turmoil happening here in my community or in my heart or the turmoil in your heart or life, there is hope. I say HOPE. I shout HOPE! :)
Doesn't it feel good? Even our neighbor that is close to death may at this time be reaching out his heart and soul to Jesus; where Jesus is saying, "Welcome to MY community, heaven!" God bless you, DB! God bless us ALL!
Then we moved here to the the Rio Grande Valley last year & we're in a community "of friends 55 and over." Until about three weeks ago, it's been fine living here. We have some couples that we play cards, dominoes or marbles with on Friday or Saturday nights. We have some neighbors that we play cards with on Tuesday nights. I have some neighbors that I see on my morning walk. There are some neighbors that hubby sees down at the pool. But some things have changed and I wrote about my feelings in Sunday's blog.
I truly did feel quite sad, maybe it was just the mood I was in, I'm not sure. But tonight, another neighbor invited us over to their place for fajitas and it was so good! It was "good" not only because of the food, but because of the companionship and love that was passed from neighbor to neighbor. We talked of a neighbor that is close to death and our hearts and prayers went out to he and his wife, who is tonight sleeping on the floor at the hospital.
Regardless of the turmoil happening here in my community or in my heart or the turmoil in your heart or life, there is hope. I say HOPE. I shout HOPE! :)
Doesn't it feel good? Even our neighbor that is close to death may at this time be reaching out his heart and soul to Jesus; where Jesus is saying, "Welcome to MY community, heaven!" God bless you, DB! God bless us ALL!
Monday, November 5, 2007
Old Age
This weekend hubby & I went to the island for a music fest and shrimp fest. Our main reason for going was for the shrimp fest as we both like shrimp and then hubby entered us on the music fest web-site for free tickets. I won a 3 day pass so then he paid for one. It was actually fun to sit and listen to different styles of music and have a few drinks. We stayed overnight there & took the bus and cab to our venues. Many of the bands seemed to be from Austin, TX and one band had a very loyal following of fans (about 20 young people). The music they played was reminiscent of the 70's and they (and their fans) dressed the part..... hippie-looking clothes, dreadlocks, sandals or no shoes.
All of sudden, I felt very OLD! I am old enough to be their grandmother! I just sat there dumb-founded. What happened to the years? What happened to me? What have I done? Oh my gosh, it was not a good feeling & I truly sat there so serious. I just wanted to cry. Where is my youth? Sometimes reality hits hard. Then an old favorite song of mine was played, "Rocky Top Tennessee." I just could not keep still any longer. I was up on feet clogging and clapping my hands and singing. I found my youth.... in my heart... young of heart. Music touches the heart and soul more than most anything can, I think.
I know that some day my feet won't "clog" and my hands won't "clap" and my voice won't "sing" and I can assure you that my heart will be smiling and jumping for joy when I hear Rocky Top Tennessee. In the meantime, I guess I will just act young at heart and maybe even embarrass myself. Because someday, I won't even remember that I've embarrassed myself. Someday, I won't even remember to be depressed about OLD AGE!
All of sudden, I felt very OLD! I am old enough to be their grandmother! I just sat there dumb-founded. What happened to the years? What happened to me? What have I done? Oh my gosh, it was not a good feeling & I truly sat there so serious. I just wanted to cry. Where is my youth? Sometimes reality hits hard. Then an old favorite song of mine was played, "Rocky Top Tennessee." I just could not keep still any longer. I was up on feet clogging and clapping my hands and singing. I found my youth.... in my heart... young of heart. Music touches the heart and soul more than most anything can, I think.
I know that some day my feet won't "clog" and my hands won't "clap" and my voice won't "sing" and I can assure you that my heart will be smiling and jumping for joy when I hear Rocky Top Tennessee. In the meantime, I guess I will just act young at heart and maybe even embarrass myself. Because someday, I won't even remember that I've embarrassed myself. Someday, I won't even remember to be depressed about OLD AGE!
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Blowing Off Steam!
Peace! Not right now, I don't feel it. Just got back from a two lap jaunt around my neighborhood. I stopped in to talk to a lady who's husband is dying of cancer. She was not home & her Sunday paper was at her door which tells me she's been gone to the hospital for a long day. I originally started my walk this evening to blow off steam. There's been some controversy brewing in our community and I've tried to stay out of it, but some things are getting on my nerves. I know some of my neighbors read my blog so no names will be mentioned as is usually my "policy" here in this blog.
Of course, I would run into five of the people "stirring" things up on my walk. I wanted to scream and confront them, but instead I cried. I wanted to say, "There are people in our community with cancer and dying, yet all you think about are your personal agendas and your personal vendettas. Get a life! Be thankful you have a life and a future in this beautiful community." But I can't control them, anymore than I can control my own emotions sometimes. I want to be able to continue to chat with and joke with the "stirrers," they are not "bad" people. Yet, my feeling is that they are trying to divide our community, into board of directors-supporters and board of directors-opponents. It's so unfortunate. It's so unnecessary. Why can't we all just get along? It's enough to make one cry.
Of course, I would run into five of the people "stirring" things up on my walk. I wanted to scream and confront them, but instead I cried. I wanted to say, "There are people in our community with cancer and dying, yet all you think about are your personal agendas and your personal vendettas. Get a life! Be thankful you have a life and a future in this beautiful community." But I can't control them, anymore than I can control my own emotions sometimes. I want to be able to continue to chat with and joke with the "stirrers," they are not "bad" people. Yet, my feeling is that they are trying to divide our community, into board of directors-supporters and board of directors-opponents. It's so unfortunate. It's so unnecessary. Why can't we all just get along? It's enough to make one cry.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Today
Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Today is the first day of a new month. Today's quote on my "sisters" calender from Ralph Waldo Emerson:
Finish every day and be done with it.... Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense. This day is all that is good and fair. It is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on yesterdays.
How many of us start the day realizing that this day is "too dear... to waste a moment on yesterdays"? All too often we are burdened or "cumbered with our old nonsense." We think about what we did or did not do yesterday. How many of us start the day with a "high spirit"? Do we often forget that a spirit can soar in height, even though we (or our loved ones) are suffering physically or emotionally? How often have we heard a person that is suffering say, "You lifted my spirits"? Yes, sometimes it is our spiritual self that gets us going in the morning and keeps us going throughout the day.
Today is a new day, "begin it well and serenely." Peace
Finish every day and be done with it.... Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense. This day is all that is good and fair. It is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on yesterdays.
How many of us start the day realizing that this day is "too dear... to waste a moment on yesterdays"? All too often we are burdened or "cumbered with our old nonsense." We think about what we did or did not do yesterday. How many of us start the day with a "high spirit"? Do we often forget that a spirit can soar in height, even though we (or our loved ones) are suffering physically or emotionally? How often have we heard a person that is suffering say, "You lifted my spirits"? Yes, sometimes it is our spiritual self that gets us going in the morning and keeps us going throughout the day.
Today is a new day, "begin it well and serenely." Peace
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Reinforcements
God sent the reinforcements to me! Pushing that boulder up the hill was getting very tiresome as I mentioned in my blog a couple of days ago. Like my sister commented, "an uphill battle."
I wasn't sure if I should give up or not. But God sent my youngest sisters with wonderful, up-lifting comments to make me feel so much better. God gave me the courage to get back on the scale after two weeks of eating.... too much and exercising.... too little! I really expected to have gained a lot of weight, but I was only one pound up. Then today God sent a co-worker from another department to come by and she exclaimed, "Rayna, you look awesome!" I kid you not, she said that. I know, I was surprised too.
These three "gifts" have given me the reinforcement to continue on this journey and push harder to get that boulder up and over that crest of a hill. Thanks, sisters & God!
I wasn't sure if I should give up or not. But God sent my youngest sisters with wonderful, up-lifting comments to make me feel so much better. God gave me the courage to get back on the scale after two weeks of eating.... too much and exercising.... too little! I really expected to have gained a lot of weight, but I was only one pound up. Then today God sent a co-worker from another department to come by and she exclaimed, "Rayna, you look awesome!" I kid you not, she said that. I know, I was surprised too.
These three "gifts" have given me the reinforcement to continue on this journey and push harder to get that boulder up and over that crest of a hill. Thanks, sisters & God!
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Boulders of Life
It's been four months ago today that I got on the scale and decided it was time to do something about my weight and my health, ill-health that is. Four months does not seem like a long time, yet it sometimes feels forever. This week, I wonder what I have accomplished other than losing a few pounds. I have better eating and exercising habits. Note, I write "better" not very good or excellent. That's OK for right now. My self confidence and assertiveness is stronger. Writing this blog is a major contributor to this. I feel more open to a spiritual relationship with God. All of these are accomplishments for which I am thankful.
Today's local newspaper carried an Associated Press article about "The Diet Debate - Critics: Government Ads too Soft on Fat" and the fact that 2 of 3 adults are overweight or obese. The article says that the new series of public service announcements are "too soft" and are a "wimpy attack" on "explosion of obesity in America." The president of the Ad Council is quoted, "So many people, when they think about losing weight, see it as a Sisyphean task - 'I have to lose weight but I can't fit it into my busy schedule'."
I had to look up the word "Sisyphean" as I didn't know what that meant. It refers to a cruel king that was condemned to roll a boulder up a hill in Hades to have it roll down each time it got close to the top. I may not have known the word, but I know the concept. Very few of we overweight and obese people have not suffered from this " Sisyphean task."
A few weeks ago, I felt like that man .... just about ready to crest the hill of having one-half of my weight loss goal accomplished & then it would be downhill from there (losing the rest of the weight). Regretfully, right now, I feel like the downhill is on this side of the hill, not the other side. I'm straining to hold that "rock" in place, my feet are sliding down the hill, the rock is getter heavier and heavier. Part of me wonders if I should just let the rock go down the hill as I dive out of its way and catch my breath before I go down there & start pushing up again? Or should I keep pushing as hard as I can even though it's exhausting to do so? Maybe my recent physical pain in my back, leg and foot have more to do with my emotional exhaustion than I realized. Holding up the rock is hard work. I know some people do not believe in your psyche' contributing to your physical health, but I do. Until I wrote all of this out, I had not thought of my physical pains having anything to do with my journey to Peace.
Yes, I needed to write again. It's been too long since I had written "deep" stuff and I had thought that I had nothing more to say or nothing more that I wanted to say. I guess I was wrong. Being wrong has been a hard pill to swallow lately. I have been wrong about writing about others and not myself. It only leads to problems. Once a word is spoken (and written) you can't take it back. Then the speaker/writer has to suffer the consequences, which can be a heavy load to carry ... or a heavy load to push up the hills of Hades.
Today's local newspaper carried an Associated Press article about "The Diet Debate - Critics: Government Ads too Soft on Fat" and the fact that 2 of 3 adults are overweight or obese. The article says that the new series of public service announcements are "too soft" and are a "wimpy attack" on "explosion of obesity in America." The president of the Ad Council is quoted, "So many people, when they think about losing weight, see it as a Sisyphean task - 'I have to lose weight but I can't fit it into my busy schedule'."
I had to look up the word "Sisyphean" as I didn't know what that meant. It refers to a cruel king that was condemned to roll a boulder up a hill in Hades to have it roll down each time it got close to the top. I may not have known the word, but I know the concept. Very few of we overweight and obese people have not suffered from this " Sisyphean task."
A few weeks ago, I felt like that man .... just about ready to crest the hill of having one-half of my weight loss goal accomplished & then it would be downhill from there (losing the rest of the weight). Regretfully, right now, I feel like the downhill is on this side of the hill, not the other side. I'm straining to hold that "rock" in place, my feet are sliding down the hill, the rock is getter heavier and heavier. Part of me wonders if I should just let the rock go down the hill as I dive out of its way and catch my breath before I go down there & start pushing up again? Or should I keep pushing as hard as I can even though it's exhausting to do so? Maybe my recent physical pain in my back, leg and foot have more to do with my emotional exhaustion than I realized. Holding up the rock is hard work. I know some people do not believe in your psyche' contributing to your physical health, but I do. Until I wrote all of this out, I had not thought of my physical pains having anything to do with my journey to Peace.
Yes, I needed to write again. It's been too long since I had written "deep" stuff and I had thought that I had nothing more to say or nothing more that I wanted to say. I guess I was wrong. Being wrong has been a hard pill to swallow lately. I have been wrong about writing about others and not myself. It only leads to problems. Once a word is spoken (and written) you can't take it back. Then the speaker/writer has to suffer the consequences, which can be a heavy load to carry ... or a heavy load to push up the hills of Hades.
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