I forced myself to go for a walk in the cold drizzle.
This was my reward.
It’s hard to go outside when the weather is cold and rain is falling.
I always feel better when I do…both mentally and physically.
Always gotta make the effort.
For the past several weeks, I have taken a few minutes, now and then throughout my day, to observe the little tree outside my window.
At the beginning there were only bare limbs jutting out from the small trunk.
Then tiny buds appeared, followed by tiny leaves.It is still mostly barren with little buds still appearing.
I have to look carefully and slowly to see the changes that have occurred in the past day or so.
I don’t want it to blossom.
I don’t want to contemplate that cycle of rebirth and death.
I want it to stay as it is today with tiny green leaves and mostly bare limbs, full of promise.
A true story.
A five-year old girl grabbed her Dad’s whiskey and tried to gulp it down like the cowboys do in the westerns.
Furious, her Dad yelled, “Don’t spit it out! Swallow it!”
With tears in her eyes, she choked it down, gagging and crying.
Not a nice Dad in my opinion.
The little girl is now a grown woman with grown sons of her own.
She is a great mother.
Her Dad was always tough with his three children.
He was still alive when she told me this story. More than once I witnessed him being mean to his children and grandchildren.
I was not intimidated by him and found the presence of mind not to respond when he tried to bait me.
But when he was mean to my children, I put on my boxing gloves.
I stood up and went over to my children. I took them each by the hand.
I ignored the old man.
I spoke loudly and firmly to my little boys. I told them that he was a bully and that they should ignore him.
Having said that, I glared at the old man. He said nothing.
Even to this day my grown sons will laugh about the time Mom “took on this old man”.
It was a departure from everything I had been taught about treating my elders with respect.
Years later, thinking about his behavior still makes me angry.
My friend never had a good relationship with her father.
She is a wonderful artist and a really kind person.
“We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must – at that moment – become the center of the universe.” Elie Wiesel
President Zelensky said it best: “This is not ping pong. This is about human lives.” Stop the politics. Send the planes now. #PlanesforUkraine #StandwithUkraine
American journalist Dan Rather (@DanRather) tweeted at 4:35 PM on Thu, Mar 24, 2022:
“At this moment of history , America is calling us. Do we have the courage, will we take the time and make the effort to answer… each in our own way but also as part of a national collective for what is good, decent and necessary?”
Before leaving my warm bed this morning, I turned up my thermostat, turned on my coffee pot and turned on soft music throughout the house. All of this, thanks to my smartphone and smart home.
Continue reading “There but for the grace of God…”Hello my friends,
Just a friendly reminder to be careful today.
Don’t go to the forum!
Afterall, it is the Ides of March!
Talk soon…I hope! 🙂
~Lori
“People are not limited so much by their illness as by their attitude to it. The illness may present physical challenges, but the emotional challenge is often far more important. Our human spirit may stumble as the path ahead appears too daunting, yet with support and encouragement, our resilience can be re-enabled and used to find creative solutions. We are all individuals, and one person’s plan may not be a good fit for another who, outwardly at least, appears to be in a similar situation. Enabling people to be architects of their own solution is key to respecting their dignity. They are only in a new phase of life; they have not abdicated personhood.” *
Excerpt from With the End in Mind: Dying, Death and Wisdom in an Age of Denial by Kathryn Mannix, MD,author, palliative care doctor for 30 years and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) practitioner.
Why this book?
I heard Dr. Mannix on a CBC podcast ** and knew that I had to read her book. Listening to her on the podcast and reading her book make me wish that I could sit down and talk with her in person. She seems kind and wise.
Instead, I read a chapter every morning. Her writing gives me much to think about as I recall deaths of my loved ones and contemplate the deaths that I will encounter in my family, friends, neighbors, and, of course, myself.
Some might think that reading about deaths would be depressing. Actually, I find it comforting. It gives me a framework for thinking and talking about the inevitable. ~Lori
*….They are only in a new phase of life; they have not abdicated personhood.” When my Husband was dying from cancer, he commented more than once, “I am still here!” He hated when his loved ones (including me) tried to shield him. He worked until about a week before he died…from his hospital bed. He was as active and engaged as his illness permitted until the end.
**”White Coat, Black Art” and “The Dose” CBC podcasts with Dr. Brian Goldman.
Important Update Regarding Trading Russian Securities:
Due to liquidity issues stemming from restrictions placed on all Russian securities (and not just those impacted by recent sanctions) by Schwab’s clearing agents, buy orders on Russian securities will not be accepted and sell orders will be attempted on a best efforts basis only. This is a rapidly evolving situation and we will continue to provide updates…. Charles Schwab
Auf wiedersehen, Dilbar!
The Germans seized the super luxury yacht of sanctioned Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov. At 512 feet in length, the Dilbar is one of the world’s largest yachts, complete with a swimming pool, a 30,000kw diesel-electric power plant, two helicopter pads, a sauna, a beauty salon, and a gym.
Lori Greer in Portland 