Life is what happens while you are making other plans…
February 28, 2008 by Fran · 6 Comments
Today was one of those days. An e mail announcement from my supervisor at work revealed she has been diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer. Will have a mastectomy on Friday, surgery to remove a breast, and lymph nodes. A year of chemo, hair loss, nausea. A 43 year old vibrant Mother of two, with no family history of cancer. Just brought tears to my eyes thinking about how her world has changed in one day. Just a routine annual exam.
I have heard medicos say that such experiences have a profound effect on our lives. We are forced to look at life in a different way. Suddenly, you have a deep inner clarity- you really understand, to the core about how short life can be. You instantly readjust priorities, and you see life in a whole different way. Things that were such a big deal, may now be viewed as time wasting, and not worthwhile. Shared time with loved ones, and keeping a positive attitude, cherishing things that were, perhaps just the day before, taken for granted.
I later heard news that Grandpa (my father-in-law), took a fall on ice & broke his shoulder.
My Mom is having a hard time as aging and life’s changes are becoming overwhelming to her at age 83. A fiercely independent Woman, who has lost her independence, and having to cross bridges she never imagined.
None of these people planned for these events. if they had their say, or could vote, they would have opposed them.
Sphere: Related ContentInstant Karma: Add hot water and Stir
February 4, 2008 by sagefever · 7 Comments
You all have heard of Karma.” Karma literally means “deed” or “act” and more broadly names the universal principle of cause and effect, action and reaction
that governs all life. Karma is not fate, for man acts with free will creating his own destiny. According to the Vedas, if we sow goodness, we will reap goodness; if we sow evil, we will reap evil. Karma refers to the totality of our actions and their concomitant reactions in this and previous lives, all of which determines our future. The conquest of karma lies in intelligent action and dispassionate response. At the least, you have heard of “what goes around comes around”. Well maybe you have caught Earl on NBC.A recent blog brought back my memory of my first few weeks back in my hometown.
Funny story~ being spit on. I move back home, having been living on the west coast, been in my Central Valley hometown for about 4 weeks or so. I am walking to downtown when two gentlemen, in a pea green gas-guzzler, pull over ask if I would like a ride. I politely say no thank you and keep walking. They circle back and say “come on, get in” and I decide my best option is to ignore them, surly they will stop ~I ain’t that good looking. Sure ‘nuff there they are thinking the third time is the charm. They kept circling as if I was a tuna and they were the sharks. They pull over, open the door and before they get a word out, I say “No way!!! But the High School is that way, go find someone your own age! “Okay I was rude, but then they suggested I’d never marry, like an idiot I said, “If you two are my choices, get me to the nunnery.” Time slows down; it feels like you are watching a movie, not your real life. Spittle flies straight into my eyes, drips down all over my face, they speed off in a puff of smog. Now just do not make me mad, I can take a lot but…. I note the license plate number with a coldness I hope to never feel again.
Sphere: Related ContentThat Damn Dam
January 27, 2008 by Guest Author · 3 Comments
Today, we have a guest author, Omnipotent Poobah. I love his writings and I hope that you will check out his blog here if you enjoy this one by him~Dusty
Page, AZ - I’ve always had a great love for travel. There’s something comforting about feeling the miles unspool under my feet. For me, the destination has no real point, I’m all about the journey.
Day-to-day life can be grinding. Too much stress and strife. It’s easy to forget - despite what may be happening - we are still a great nation. We live in a beautiful land of infinite variety. Our geography is perhaps some of the most beautiful in the world. But trips like this also help remind me that our people are as beautiful as our land.
An elderly woman asked where I was headed last night. When I explained nowhere in particular, she opened a conversation that was a nice break from the whole not-talking-to-anyone thing. Or the woman who helpfully offered two cents to the drugstore clerk when I had no change. Last night a waitress, easily 30 years my junior - called me “Hon”. If they weren’t so cynical, I think these small gestures would be the best thing about politicians campaigning.
The folks who offered these small pleasantries could have been serial murderers for all I know, but the things they said and did were still nice at the time. The point to what they said or did weren’t the real point, the journey that connected them with me is what they’re all about.
Sphere: Related ContentYou can’t always get what you want, but you just might find, you get what you need~
January 7, 2008 by sagefever · 2 Comments
The old has turned into the new, another cycle starts, and this New Year begins. T
he winds here are gusting off and on and finally a series of storms are lined up, heavy with the promise of rain, so far, only leaves are falling. Nonetheless the rain will come, cleaning our air, the plants and settling the inevitable dust. Rain ~elemental science magic. Basic precipitation occurs when calcium oxide and sodium hydroxide are emitted into the atmosphere, undergo chemical transformations, and are absorbed by water droplets in clouds. The droplets then fall to earth as rain, snow, or sleet. Sounds so dry, so clinical, yet we have all felt the power of a good cleansing rain.
This week other forces have, both clinical and elemental, have been at work in my life. A lifelong friend has stepped up and has gone beyond the extraordinary, doing me an indescribable kindness. That kindness has lifted me up, helped make that which seemed impossible, possible. A warm rain of peace and hope has given me heart. The added benefit is that, this act has made me see how I hold myself back, yet again shown me exactly who my own worst enemy is. Always my battle, both spiritual and worldly, is with myself, the one thing that I both control positively and can control me negatively.
Sphere: Related ContentFevered Reality~
I have a low grade flu~ so what to write, beyond grumbling about a fever, body aches and bad nightmares?
Pakistan looks like a bad thing waiting to happen, yet on Friday I hear the good news Bhutto is released from house arrest and elections~ if we can trust President Pervez Musharraf words ~ will be held in February. Burma continues to be a nightmare of unknown proportions, though word slowly leaks out of death and imprisonment of 1000’s. The state of ‘emergency” continues in former Soviet Georgia, while we wonder if this is a sign of an “old Russia” type threat, in India a twin is separated form her twin and now with the usual 4 limbs is given a chance at a “normal life”. Meanwhile Turkey, troops clashing with Kurdish rebels ,okays plans to build nuclear power plants. And in Venezuela Chavez calls the opposition “fascist’s” as he clamors for more power. Somalia, Congo, Uganda~ all not on “Best vacation” lists, unless you’re a mercenary.
