What happened to January?

In a flash it was just well, gone! What did I do? Where was I? I have nothing to show for it. I don’t even have much of a recollection of it. I mean 31 days and I can really only account for the Sundays. I know where I was and what I was doing on those days at least. But that is only 4 days, what happened to the others?

One of those 4 days had an impact on me. My minister said something very profound that really grabbed me on one of those Sundays. He spoke about the 3 B’s of Christianity. Believing, belonging and becoming. I like it. It reached me. I believe in Christ, I belong to Christ, but then the “R” word – the responsibility of the relationship – the final B is becoming Christ-like. That’s a tough one. He said we are all in those B’s somewhere but we shouldn’t get stuck in the first one. It’s been a long time since I have worried about grades and letters, but I am so glad I got those 3 B’s.

But honestly I get an “F” for January. I know I was dealing with the whole furniture and redecoration issue, and I know that Mike and I became ‘24’ addicts by starting at season 1 and watching all the way through to season 5. I cooked, I cleaned, I poked around the internet but January just disappeared right out from under me. How often does that happen? Is it a sign of age? Is it even a valid question? Is anyone else wondering what happened to January?

KAMIKAZE CAROLING

Four years ago I began singing in a mixed a cappella group. Each year at Christmas we are invited to sing at several different Christmas parties as part of the entertainment. But the biggest part of our time is spent in what we laughingly call “kamikaze caroling”. That means we will make rounds at several nursing homes and hospitals. We are always well received and it is obviously appreciated. We usually just go up and down the halls or stand at the nursing stations. Usually people will stop what they are doing. Some join in singing. Some clap and cheer us on. Some follow us to the next stop and listen to the same songs over and over. What always gets to me are the ones that cry. For whatever reason – maybe it’s a particular song that elicits a sad emotion. Or it’s just a deep appreciation that someone cares enough to put out the effort. Whatever the case we always enjoy ourselves, feel appreciated and leave knowing we lifted the spirits of some of the patients and family.

We always stop in a few restaurants to sing and after the employees get over the shock and disbelief they always receive us well and are glad for the distraction and even the disruption. One of the stops we made was to a Quiznos Sandwich Shop. The owner is from India or somewhere similar and he was so excited and appreciative that he treated us to drinks out of his cooler. We also went to an outlet mall. It was just sort of random. It started because one of the girls that sang with us last year was working in one of the stores and we wanted to surprise her. We sure did surprise her, but it was an even bigger surprise to us. Everywhere we went people pulled out their cell phones and cameras and began recording us or taking pictures. We went into a Ghirardelli Chocolate store (yeah, you know why) and we were amazed at the shoppers treating us to their candy purchases. Of course all the children we encountered watched us out of curiosity, but the adults watched us out of amazement and confusion. I suddenly realized most people have never seen Christmas carolers. As a matter of fact I have never seen any. We continued along at the outlet mall, choosing stores at random. We mostly chose stores that seemed busy so we could reach more people. We stopped in a Yankee Candle store and I have never seen anything like the reaction. They wouldn’t let us leave. We sang every song we knew. Shoppers and employees alike stopped what they were doing and begged us to continue. Time after time people stopped in their tracks in total amazement that we were actually standing there in front of them singing. We even went into a Burger King and I thought one of the workers was going to pass out. You could just see them thinking they should pinch themselves to make sure it was real. This has probably happened every year, but this year I really noticed it more. And at some point it stopped being a gift I was giving and became a gift I was receiving.

Each year we begin rehearsing every Sunday night from September till the first weekend of December. Then we spend those first two weekends of December – both Saturday and Sunday making our rounds. Every year we joke because there is always a snow storm – usually both weekends. My husband always says “oh, look at the forecast – it’s gonna be really bad weather – that must mean Common Thread is singing”. Each year I am excited to begin and exhausted and tired of it at the end. But this year was special. This year somewhere along the way it became a gift to me. It will hold a special place in my heart for years to come. The Christmas spirit truly descended on me.

Sing some carols - Merry Christmas.

Stand by Me

This video is the song Stand by Me played by musicians around the world involved in the Playing For Change Foundation. This group is dedicated to connecting the world through music by providing resources to musicians and their communities around the world. You can find out more about them at their website: http://www.playingforchange.org/. The video is 5:27 long, but well worth a listen.

The vote

I don't know what to do. I guess I really don't even want to vote this year. I haven't felt this way since 1988 when it was between the good Bush and Dukakis. I wound up voting for Bush and that came out ok. Even though now that I look back Dan Quayle should have really scared me. Of the candidates and their running mates I guess the only one I could force myself to vote for would be Beiden, but he scares me too. I don't even want to talk about Palin, I so wanted to get on board with her. I would have definitely voted for Hilary even though I am not certain I am completely ready for a female president. I guess I could always vote for Chuck Baldwin, but I can't really see a "Chuck" in office either. And of course, he's just as scary as the other two. But in all honesty I don't think any of them are presidential material any more than I am. Where have all the good men gone? I married one of them, but where are the rest of them?

While I wasn't paying attention

I was thinking today about all the little things that go on around us that we don't notice. I am pretty tech savvy and computer literate so I make use of all the modern conveniences that are available online. I pay bills, shop, correspond, surf ... all those wonderful things that are available to me 24-7 - at my fingertips. I am all about convenience and the new age of computers really satisfies that need for me. So while I wasn't looking something strange started happening. Big blue USPS mailboxes started disappearing. I live in a condo and so I have a centrally located mailbox and in that complex of boxes there is an outgoing slot, but it is only a slot. You can only put 1 or 2 pieces in at a time. Now that I have my little "work at home" job I need to mail out invoices and sometimes there is a big stack so that little slot just doesn't do the trick. Of course there is not a post office convenient to get to so I began looking for my neighborhood mailbox. Let me tell ya, it ain't there anymore. So being the surfer that I am I started looking online. All across the country these mailboxes are being removed for lack of use! I suddenly realized IT'S MY FAULT! I don't have a neighborhood mailbox anymore cause I stopped using it. How very strange. I went on the USPS website to see what they have to say about it and I can't even easily find any information! Very interesting! I did find a website totally unrelated to the USPS that will allow you to put in your zip code so that you can find the mailbox nearest you, but it is actually designed to help you find a payphone - which by the way are also missing. Here is the link to the website: http://www.payphone-project.com/mailboxes/53406-0010.html
Wow, I feel really bad. I took them for granted. I do have fond memories as a teenage girl walking to the corner mailbox to mail a letter to my boyfriend. So romantic. It seems sad there is a whole host of generation that will never have that opportunity - course they may not want to, but even if they did, now they can't. Sad. All this happened while I wasn't paying attention. What else have I missed?

New look at old Alma Mata

I finished my high school years at C.E. Byrd High School in Shreveport, Louisiana. Our mascot was the "yellow jacket". I didn't think much of it. I have always been afraid of them and will run screaming like a little kid when they are around.. bees, wasps hornets, yellow jackets, dirt dobber, fly - whatever is flying fast around me gets my attention and I start trying to get away. I did get stung on the tongue while eating an apple on the playground in first grade - which scared everyone and earned me a trip to the ER, and I know I stepped on a bee while walking barefoot as a young child, but I don't remember much about it except to be afraid.

Now I know what the deal is! On Monday (Labor Day) I got nailed on the ring finger of my left hand. Unprovoked, unexpected, and certainly undeserved! I never saw it coming. It was a yellow jacket! It hurt like the DEVIL! I'd say a pain level of 8 on a scale of 10 for about 12 to 14 hours and then mild pain after. Swelling was bad. Nothing eased the pain. It is now Thursday - 3 days later and all the pain has finally subsided and the insane itching has commenced. This pain was probably worse than when I broke my finger. I am amazed how bad it really hurt. No wonder I am so afraid. Of course now I've learned all about them and my fear actually attracts them. But that doesn't mean I will be able to act differently in their presence. Especially since my current plan is to stay in the house until the cold weather rids them!

They are described as "predatory" and "angry" and they can send off a signal to all their friends to come and attack you! I guess that might be ok, but for high school sports? Unprovoked? I don't think so. Here's a picture of these mean little buggers. You can read about them here.

I guess I should say don't run screaming from them, but if you hear or see someone running and screaming, get out of the way! it might be me.

The Shack

My friend Kathy gave me a book to read this past weekend. She and I often exchange books - we both have a love of suspense novels. So I assumed from her description of this book that was sort of what I would be getting. She told me it is the story of a guy who lost one of his children to a serial killer and years later he gets a note in his mailbox from a mystery person to meet him over the weekend at the place where his young daughter was killed - "The Shack".

While her description was spot on, it was sorely lacking. This is a very thought-provoking and absolutely controversial book. Most Christians I know would be having a field day heckling this book. It's all about this man that lost his daughter reconciling his relationship with God. It's all about forgiveness and choosing to lay down your pain and burdens.

At the end of the book there appeared to be an advertisement but upon closer inspection was a very clever way of promoting the book and it's website www.theshackbook.com. It suggested that you write in your blog about the book, which I initially rejected and though of as free publicity and promotion (which it is), however, the passage (below) I quote from the book touched me so tangibly I let that drive this blog.

I think the way the Holy Trinity is portrayed is on the kooky side - very "Unitarian Church". The images of Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit the author chooses to portray are way on the far side of "feel good" and not to my liking - nor did they feel very imaginative to me, but who am I to judge someones perspective on their relationship with God? My pastor tells me that most theologians have blasted this portrayal of the Holy Trinity as neither sound or correct. But there is goodness in this book. A wonderful message. It's a great read and I will read it again someday. One particular passage struck me very deeply and I will hold it very close.

Here is the direct quote from the last paragraph on page 185: God is speaking to Mack - the character in the book and he says: "Mack, just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn't mean I orchestrate the tragedies. Don't ever assume that my using something means I caused it or that I need it to accomplish my purposes. That will only lead you to false notions about me. Grace doesn't depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colors."

"Grace doesn't depend on suffering to exist ...". I needed to hear that. I needed that application in this story and in life. What a concept. I guess I knew it, but I needed it defined very simply like that. It's something I can really hold on to.

Thanks to William P. Young for writing "The Shack". Everyone should read it. with an open mind!