I've been following the Iraq Diary of Saad Eskander. On Feb. 8th, two of his librarians, one Sunni and one Shi'ite, were kidnapped. The Sunni was released but the other was executed. Sectarian violence is beyond all understanding though I am trying to teach myself and gain insight into the terrible Schism. I am hoping the current issue of Time Magazine will offer some insight.
I ask myself where this interest has come from and it's not an easy question to answer. I suppose the beginning would have its roots in 9-11. But even before 9-11, I was very aware of Afghanistan and the Taliban when the Great Buddha's were destroyed, reduced to rubble. A vital part of the history of that part of the world was mindlessly destroyed. I've never really gotten over that event but there IS reason for hope.
The war in Afghanistan and our misguided venture into Iraq cannot be ignored and somewhere along the line I wanted to learn more about the spiritual me, the part of me that makes me real. Discovering Frida's and others Afghan blogs opened that world to me in a very different way. Almost hand in hand, while I explored a deeper knowledge of my Faith, I started reading stories center in Afghanistan, Serbia, and Iraq. Somehow it seemed that having some knowledge of these worlds through the voices of the people themselves, might hold the key to understanding not only them but also understanding an important and neglected part of myself.
Eskander ended his entry for February 8th with these words: "I have come to realise that nowadays in Baghdad, the perfect human being would be one who can switch off all his senses. To be blind and deaf is not a curse anymore, but a blessing in disguise."
What a terrible and sad reality.
Monday, March 5, 2007
It's A Monday
The weekend FLEW passed me. All of the Saturday tasks were accomplished. I made progress on Q and Erin's weddings favors on Sunday. The kitchen was ignored. The Grand Canyon in my mind that exists between knowing what I need to do and DOING what I need to do is pretty GRAND. So far I've been able to discover only the occasional temporary bridge that crosses to the other side.
Good news on the home front. Krista starts a new job in two weeks. She got a phone call last week completely out of the blue. She had left an application at a large medical office a couple of months ago and then didn't hear anything from them. Then this past Wednesday she got a call for a medical assisting interview. Friday she interviewed and less than an hour after she left the interview she was called with an offer. Here are the STATS:
Current job - 28 hours/week, $7.50/hour, no benefits
New job - FT hours, $9-10/hour/full benefits in 6 months (or a raise - her choice). Can you say BENEFITS???
I am thrilled for her. Not only will she work primarily for one doctor in the clinic but she will eventually have the opportunity of working in surgery with the plastic surgeon who is also on staff. Krista is focused on Dental Hygiene for future school but this could open a whole new world of possibilities for her.
The Road to Willows
I talked with Corey last night and even though our extended visit has been delayed to July, we DID come up with a Plan B. I love Plan B's. Don't you? Friday around 3:30 a.m. Don, Kris, and I will leave for the long drive up to Forest Grove (near Portland). We pass right by the Willows exit a farming community (population 5,000) and Corey's home that is just large enough to support one Starbucks. Plan B - meet up at Starbucks just off of Interstate 5 around 7 a.m. for a 30 minutes meet and greet and sharing of hugs and hellos. I can hardly wait. Pictures forthcoming next week. Corey will probably get hers up first since we won't be home until the following Monday and we will be doing a lot of sleeping that day.
I have a boatload of work on my desk. Time to leave this break. Perhaps more later. Wishing everyone a great week.
Good news on the home front. Krista starts a new job in two weeks. She got a phone call last week completely out of the blue. She had left an application at a large medical office a couple of months ago and then didn't hear anything from them. Then this past Wednesday she got a call for a medical assisting interview. Friday she interviewed and less than an hour after she left the interview she was called with an offer. Here are the STATS:
Current job - 28 hours/week, $7.50/hour, no benefits
New job - FT hours, $9-10/hour/full benefits in 6 months (or a raise - her choice). Can you say BENEFITS???
I am thrilled for her. Not only will she work primarily for one doctor in the clinic but she will eventually have the opportunity of working in surgery with the plastic surgeon who is also on staff. Krista is focused on Dental Hygiene for future school but this could open a whole new world of possibilities for her.
The Road to Willows
I talked with Corey last night and even though our extended visit has been delayed to July, we DID come up with a Plan B. I love Plan B's. Don't you? Friday around 3:30 a.m. Don, Kris, and I will leave for the long drive up to Forest Grove (near Portland). We pass right by the Willows exit a farming community (population 5,000) and Corey's home that is just large enough to support one Starbucks. Plan B - meet up at Starbucks just off of Interstate 5 around 7 a.m. for a 30 minutes meet and greet and sharing of hugs and hellos. I can hardly wait. Pictures forthcoming next week. Corey will probably get hers up first since we won't be home until the following Monday and we will be doing a lot of sleeping that day.I have a boatload of work on my desk. Time to leave this break. Perhaps more later. Wishing everyone a great week.
Friday, March 2, 2007
Thoughts on Forgiveness
Do you remember one pivotal
Life-changing
Hurt?
Do you recall it as clearly as if you were there
in the moment?
Did it change you forever?
Are you stronger or weaker because of it?
Did you life become
F-r-a-g-m-e-n-t-e-d?
Lost -
Uncertain -
Deeply insecure -
Fearful.
Will I be abandoned again?
At last a moment of clarity
of understanding
of insight.
A door opens wide.
Forgiveness enters.
Healing.
Life-changing
Hurt?
Do you recall it as clearly as if you were there
in the moment?
Did it change you forever?
Are you stronger or weaker because of it?
Did you life become
F-r-a-g-m-e-n-t-e-d?
Lost -
Uncertain -
Deeply insecure -
Fearful.
Will I be abandoned again?
At last a moment of clarity
of understanding
of insight.
A door opens wide.
Forgiveness enters.
Healing.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Something Extraordinary
Six years ago when my father died, I wished that I would have a dream of him, a visitation of sorts. It never happened. Occasionally I would see a tall, white-haired man from the back and think I was seeing my father, then only to be disappointed when I would realize it was not him. I don't wish for this dream anymore but last night something extraordinary happen.
I wasn't asleep yet but floating in that half awake twightlight time when suddenly my mother
was with me. She was bending over me and reaching out to touch my cheek. I felt myself rise up to meet her gentle kiss on my forehead. I felt a smile slowly spread up from my lips to my eyes like a hesitant wave that suddenly crashes on the shore, my face engulfed in the warmth of that kiss. I was stunned but I knew, finally KNEW, that my mom was okay. I woke up this morning feeling completely and perfectly at peace.
I wasn't asleep yet but floating in that half awake twightlight time when suddenly my mother
was with me. She was bending over me and reaching out to touch my cheek. I felt myself rise up to meet her gentle kiss on my forehead. I felt a smile slowly spread up from my lips to my eyes like a hesitant wave that suddenly crashes on the shore, my face engulfed in the warmth of that kiss. I was stunned but I knew, finally KNEW, that my mom was okay. I woke up this morning feeling completely and perfectly at peace.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
It's Only Thursday
It has been a rough week at work - so rough in fact, that I've avoided my computer for the past couple of nights. I'm working on some projects that require a lot of close work, going back and forth between screens on the monitor, formatting spreadsheets and generally just giving me one huge pain in my neck. On the upside - well, I'm getting a lot done at work. On the downside? I'm not getting very far on my kitchen; the file drawers are waiting to be filled, and I have about ten more pages to read to finish Reading Lolita in Terhan.
Reading right now is like slogging my way through knee high deep molasses. The world is full of distractions, none of them very interesting, just distracting. I've been trying to shake off a bit of sadness again and have come to the conclusion that there is something to be said for the approach of a full moon.
I find my mind busy with creating the end results of severa; home projects but they don't get any farther than my head. My list goes something like this:
1. Take a Before Picture of the bedroom linen closet.
2. Get to work curing that closet.
3. Take an After Picture of the CURE closet
4. Post it here and claim bragging rights.
5. Move to the kitchen nightly for one week.
6. Each evening do a bit of painting and sealing.
7. Take the After Picture of the finished west side of the kitchen.
8. Post pictures here and claim more bragging rights.
9. Begin anywhere - but be sure to begin - and start putting together mom/dad history.
10. Topics - photos, cards, accts, medical stuff, heritage paperwork.
11. Etc.
12. Etc.
13. Etc.
There's more, I'm sure, but it's a start. Hummmm, didn't mean to end on 13 on purpose but . . . well, could be a sign . . . of something anyway.
On to other things -
Corey's in California for a short visit and we've been talking about getting together now for a couple of months. Unfortunately, her dad is sick and it takes up (and rightly so) a lot of her time. And now he's feeling a bit better (Thank God) and it became abundantly clear to Corey and I that trying to fit a meet-up in was going to be too hard. So now we are talking about July. I can take lots of time off in the summer so that will give me a lot of flexibility. So, until July Corey . . . oh, and that hit and run at Starbucks on the 9th as we drive up to Portland. I'm going to try and make that happen.
That's another thing, we are driving to Portland Oregon (well, Forest Grove actually) for Erin's bridal shower. We leave March 9th. We will be meeting all of Erin's VERY LARGE family. Yikes!! Quiet, shrinking violet that I am, it will be tough going. LOL The wedding's in June so I'm hoping that I can actually do a meet-up of some of you Oregon bloggers. Not sure of our itinerary yet but it would be nice.
And in closing - one final thing. I got the nicest surprise in the mail today. An envelope arrived for me from Lee-Ann in Australia. I've been admiring her garden while mine is dead in the water thanks to some very severe frosts this year. So what do I find but this lovely garden magazine for summer 2007. Mind you, this is Australia so the summer is NOW. I love the seasonal twist and hope to find lots of good tips and inspiration from this wonderful surprise. Thank you so much Lee-Ann and also for the pretty card and lovely note that accompanied it.
Reading right now is like slogging my way through knee high deep molasses. The world is full of distractions, none of them very interesting, just distracting. I've been trying to shake off a bit of sadness again and have come to the conclusion that there is something to be said for the approach of a full moon.
I find my mind busy with creating the end results of severa; home projects but they don't get any farther than my head. My list goes something like this:
1. Take a Before Picture of the bedroom linen closet.
2. Get to work curing that closet.
3. Take an After Picture of the CURE closet
4. Post it here and claim bragging rights.
5. Move to the kitchen nightly for one week.
6. Each evening do a bit of painting and sealing.
7. Take the After Picture of the finished west side of the kitchen.
8. Post pictures here and claim more bragging rights.
9. Begin anywhere - but be sure to begin - and start putting together mom/dad history.
10. Topics - photos, cards, accts, medical stuff, heritage paperwork.
11. Etc.
12. Etc.
13. Etc.
There's more, I'm sure, but it's a start. Hummmm, didn't mean to end on 13 on purpose but . . . well, could be a sign . . . of something anyway.
On to other things -
Corey's in California for a short visit and we've been talking about getting together now for a couple of months. Unfortunately, her dad is sick and it takes up (and rightly so) a lot of her time. And now he's feeling a bit better (Thank God) and it became abundantly clear to Corey and I that trying to fit a meet-up in was going to be too hard. So now we are talking about July. I can take lots of time off in the summer so that will give me a lot of flexibility. So, until July Corey . . . oh, and that hit and run at Starbucks on the 9th as we drive up to Portland. I'm going to try and make that happen.
That's another thing, we are driving to Portland Oregon (well, Forest Grove actually) for Erin's bridal shower. We leave March 9th. We will be meeting all of Erin's VERY LARGE family. Yikes!! Quiet, shrinking violet that I am, it will be tough going. LOL The wedding's in June so I'm hoping that I can actually do a meet-up of some of you Oregon bloggers. Not sure of our itinerary yet but it would be nice.
And in closing - one final thing. I got the nicest surprise in the mail today. An envelope arrived for me from Lee-Ann in Australia. I've been admiring her garden while mine is dead in the water thanks to some very severe frosts this year. So what do I find but this lovely garden magazine for summer 2007. Mind you, this is Australia so the summer is NOW. I love the seasonal twist and hope to find lots of good tips and inspiration from this wonderful surprise. Thank you so much Lee-Ann and also for the pretty card and lovely note that accompanied it.
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