Thursday, December 25, 2008

50

50, that sounds ominous. It is a big number that's for sure. Half a Century and as I look back at all the changes and how far we have come since I was born on this day in 1958 it seems extraordinary. I can remember when the year 2000 sounded like it was in the far, far, distant future and would never arrive and here it is 2008, almost 2009. We have come a long way from 1958. We have fought several wars, and the world has grown, not in land mass, but in countries and people. The Soviet Union split and the Berlin Wall fell. We put men on the moon and a space station in outer space. Society has begun to fall into a moral decline that is speeding toward an explosive end and the world is heading, or should I say spiraling into what may be a great depression.
As I look back on my life I think of things that stand out. Seeing Elvis in concert, his passing, traveling to many places as a military dependent and as an adult, marriage, raising two boys, earning my bachelors and my masters degrees in education. I also look at the inventions that have come about during my life time, desktop and then laptop computers, cell phones, CD's, video cameras, microwaves, iPods, iPhones, and many others too numerous to count. We added two states to our country and made changes in our government. It will be interesting to see where we are 50 years from today.
We have gone away from and returned to many things as a society, aprons were the thing of our grandmother's generation and now they are becoming the thing of our children's generation. We have come full circle in many ways, with many things.
It is interesting what can change in 10 years time, but even more so when you look at a greater span of time, like half a century. I want to reflect more on this period of time and change in my life and our world's life as I look back over these last 50 years of my life and look forward to the next 50.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Cancer

Cancer is an awful disease that attacks people in many cases for reasons unknown. Why does it choose one person over another? I know a rhetorical question. But when it strikes your family you often wonder why. I know some of the reasons it struck my father, he is and had been for too many years a heavy smoker. But I question why some smokers never get cancer, and yet live to be 100. It seems that cancer is random, it is like play Russian roulette. Will the cancer bullet strike this one, or that one?
I know this is a tough subject, but I am wondering about it and I am questioning the treatments, the diagnosis, the death sentence if you will that is handed out by doctors. Do they really know who will live and who will die and how long someone will live? I mean first it was a year, then six months, and now a year again. It is as if we are simply puppets in the game they play and the lives of our loved ones are what is at stake.
Why is some people dance through treatment and others drag? Why do some die quickly and others linger for years?
What is death really? Is it the beginning of a new life or just the end, period.
I would really like to know the answers to my questions, but the only one who can answer them is God and though I trust in him, there are days I feel he is not listening. I know that he only gives me as much as I can handle, but why, oh, why, does he think I can handle so much?

Thursday, November 6, 2008

European Odyssey

We wandered through Europe this summer in awe of all the beautiful art and architecture. It was at times overwhelming and at other times an emotional roller coaster as some paintings, sculptures, or architecture was so exquisite. It was a wonderful experience and I want to return and spend more time in several of the places.

We landed in Paris after flying all day and spent several hours wandering around the airport and eating. We had a delicious mozarella and tomato on a small loaf of Italian bread. It was delicious served with a light dressing. We sat and relaxed for a few hours before gathering up the group to once again troop through the airport and board the plane for Greece.

We arrived in Athens late and after gathering everything and getting everyone cleared through customs, we discovered one student's suitcase was lost. After waiting on the bus for them to file the claims and get everything taken care of so it could eventually catch up to us we headed to the hotel. Of course it took a couple of hours to get there and get everyone sorted out into their rooms, but once we had I was glad to fall on to the hard cot that was to be my bed for two nights. The noise from the street was disturbing at first, but fatigue won out and I slept the night through.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Home Invasion

Do you know what it feels like to be violated? Raped? Have your privacy invaded? Your personal things fondled by a stranger?
I do. My home was breached, assaulted, raided by the uninvited, strangers. They broke in and violated my home, my sanctuary, my personal space, my refuge from the world. It is no longer my asylum and shelter. It is not a safe haven because they have tainted it. That feeling of comfort in my own home is destroyed. It feels as if there is no place I can feel safe and protected from the devastation. They made me feel unsafe, raped, violated, as though my home were unclean. I have a need to wash everything in my house, every item of clothing in my closet because they touched them. The feelings of contamination and infection, things are now tainted because they touched them. My home feels like it has been infected and I need to clear out all the germs they left behind. It is as if my home has been polluted and needs to be purified, and made clean again.
Do these monsters, they are not human in my mind, know how it feels? Do they realize the filthy feeling that is left behind? Do they care? NO! They are savage animals! They are inhuman!
They deserve only death. The havoc they wreck on others lives is uncalled for and definitely not something to be proud of. These savage creatures deserve to suffer in the depths of hell.
What is wrong with our society, today? Why must people prey on other? Why must they rape and pillage? Have we retreated backwards into the dark ages, the prehistoric, medieval times when plundering was common and society was uncivilized.
It is wrong to live in fear, but at this moment I am afraid to leave my home unguarded. I feel as if I should be there at all times guarding my belongings and keeping my home safe from intruders, from the barbarians who have ravaged my home and my family.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Australia One

Of all the places in the world that I have ever wanted to travel, I would say Australia was my number one dream. Having actually gotten the chance to travel there last summer, I can say it was well worth it. The land down under is awesome. It is clean and fresh and the people were warm and welcoming. I traveled with 3 other adults and 38 teenagers and the experience was well worth it.
Australia is an incredible and unique place. It is modern and yet ancient. The people are unique, and yet very British in some ways. They are their own people, especially those that live in the Outback. We stayed on a farm or station out in the boonies. It was a very long drive to the station, but the views were wonderful. The thing that stands out in my mind is the red dirt. It reminds me of Oklahoma. My mother hated the red dirt because it stained my clothes and would not come out for anything.
The outback is beautiful and peaceful. I would love to spend more time there, but am not sure I would want to live there fulltime. I do like the peace and quiet, but think it could be lonely if you were there too long.
The termite mounds add an interesting touch to the country side. They look like giant ant mounds from a distance, but are solid and hard when you touch them. They have tiny holes running through them connecting tunnels that the termites use.
The termites hollow out tree limbs that are then cut down and used to make digereedos. Two of our delegates actually made their own digereedos, but had to leave them there because the wood has to cure and be processed and sealed before it can be transported out of the country.
Stay tuned for more on the trip of my lifetime.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Only When I Laugh

This movie brings back memories of when my husband and I were dating and he was in the hospital due to a swimming accident. He hit a sandbar with his head and cracked a vertebrae in his neck. He was allowed out of the hospital on pass and we were going to go see this movie. That night he called to cancel our date. The reason he gave for canceling was that he had surgery the next day. I told him that excuse was worse than "I have to wash my hair." We both laughed, as he knew I was only teasing him. It several years for us to actually have a chance to see the movie. In fact it was about 7 years later that we watched it on HBO. Every time I see this movie I think how lucky I am that my husband was not paralyzed and am thankful.

Wondering Today

Why should I start a blog? What do I have to say that might be of interest to others? Interesting thoughts, and there is a reason. I want credit for my class. This is a class assignment. We are learning about blogs and how to blog. I wonder if this will be as much fun as it looks? We will have to wait and see.

It Is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to Pay Off Your College Loan

  There is a key point that the leftist are totally missing in their, asinine argument, saying that the government should pay off student lo...