"NOTHING IS TOO WONDERFUL TO BE TRUE."
.........Michael Faraday.........
...English scientist (1791 - 1867)...
OK. It is a new day.
Thanksgiving Day, 2003 is now over.
The turkey and pies have been put away.
The dishes have been washed
Counters and tables have been wiped.
We have searched out and disposed of every crumb.
After dinner, we took a few moments to just sit down to talk with the dear ones who joined us. An old friend and her son stopped by. After saying goodbye to the family, we decided to put off the rest of the cleanup to visit for a while.
My friend, like many in our family who joined us tonight, does not live close.
We don't see each other very often theses days.
So we were delighted to see her and her son, who will be off to college in June.
This year we couldn't leave one dirty dish till the morning as we both longed to do.
By the time Pete and I got back to the kitchen,
a small troop of ants had realized there were good eats here.
Upon discovering them, we knew we daren't leave anything out that might bring more.
We know that if we didn't do a good job, the small troop would turn into a massive army that would take over the house.
Pete washed. I wiped and put things away.
It's not that no one had helped with the dishes.
There were those who stood at the sink, washing away for quite a while, when I finally had to sit down.
But still, there was lots to do
.
Thanksgiving is the last holiday I still want the old fashion way.
You know, fancy table, china and crystal and silver.
...All sitting down together.
Giving thanks and taking our time.
With a fairly large group of people,
Two turkeys, one roasted and stuffed,
The other, seasoned and slowly smoked overnight by Michael
Smoked brisket to die for. (Also, courtesy of Mike).
And, every kind of side.
Stuffing,
Mashed potatoes,
Elsie�s sweet potatoes,
Mary�s special beans,
Rolls and butter.
Two Salads,
Green beans,
Olives, pickles,
The traditional orange Jell-O, stuffed with celery, carrots and almonds which I concocted when the kids were little to get them to eat at least some vegetables
Three kinds of cranberries,
Whole Cranberry sauce,
Jellied Cranberry sauce
Cranberry and Orange relish.
Then, there is desert�.
Elsie's wonderful pumpkin pie, which I begged her to make,
Michele's famous apple pie, which would have taken a prize this year.
Sweet potato pie, also lovingly baked by my daughter in law.
And, Sue's yummy fudge.
Ah, the bounty we have!
May we always be grateful.
May each of us do what we can to see that everyone around the world shares in our wealth.
On this day, which we have set aside to give thanks,
let us be truly grateful.
Most of us have far more blessings than sorrows.
There is more right than wrong,
and more beauty than darkness.
So... Let us be thankful,
and let us demonstrate our gratefulness
in every way we can.
Let us find a way to show our appreciation,
for all we have been given
while mindful of those who are in want.
Each loving thought,
every kind word,
any generous act,
can add some peace to the world.
And, make our own lives happier.
Laughter is good too.
Have fun.
:-)
Let us remember
We are One.
...Making progress on clutter. There is less of it. Yeah me!
But my computer is still SLOW.
The more I learn about this thing, the less I seem to know.
I wish I understood.
What does Rebuild Site mean?
Do I lose everything when I do that?
And, why do I have to do that?
When all I want to do is fix a comment?
"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
John Fitzgerald Kennedy
........(1961-1963)
Lord, Give me patience.
Things are moving very slowly on my computer.
I don't know what's wrong.
Mike says my old method of just turning off and on the computer doesn't do anything to fix it. Actually, he also added something about 'spinning around three times" to his sentence.
Another thing he said was that I shouldn't be running a Norton's update or scan every day either. However, I don't really think that either of the boys wants me calling them everytime something is weird or goes whacky.
I realize that I could be doing something wrong. But the only way I check that is to save what ever I am working on, then turning off the offending program and try again. Sometimes that works. Sometimes it does not.
I have no clue what to do when everything slows down. Or, when I changing a word or fixing sentence structure while working on a Microsoft Word document, and all of a sudden with each key stroke, the letter in front of what I am fixing disappears.
I know that old saying "Junk in, junk out". But I really don't know what I am doing wrong. And, restarting the computer or the program usually does fix the problem. I don't know why.
You may remember that I am trying to learn how to make a spread sheet. I wanted it ready for tonight. All three of my guys know about this. I found what looks like a great site for free, but this week, haven't had time or energy to go through the tutorial. But I WILL!
Mike sent me a link for good online computer classes. I will look into this too, because I am determined to learn this skill.
Yesterday, I sent Matt an e-mail for help so that I could have this simple project finished in time. Today, he told me to send him my file. I figured how to attach it to an e-mail, and did. He called to ask what I wanted to change, and in two shakes of a fist, he not only changed it, but told me I could do this easier on Word, and sent it as a Word table. I hope I am using the right terms here.
Then, I added the pertinent information, I have it saved, printed and it's ready to go! But, I really do want to learn how to do this for myself. And I will! Without just memorizing just which keys to press, in what order. I really want to learn and understand what I am doing. Honestly!
So have patience with me. I am trying.
I have spent the last few weeks trying to clear some space. I have been in closets and files, trying to get rid of the all the excess. I've given bags and boxes of things away. But, there is still so much stuff filling the house.
Paper is another problem. All day today and yesterday, I have been sorting, tossing and filing. The piles are smaller, and I can see the bottom of more tables and flat surfaces. The plan is to have it cleared before Thanksgiving.
I keep trying to keep the goal in mind, but it does seem somewhat overwhelming at times.
The problem is attachment to material things. Everything seems to bring back a memory of some kind. Many objects were given or owned by someone I loved.
I know this is rather silly, but I have met others who share this affinity. It just feels better to give these things to someone who will give them a good home.
As if they were real! What is it that makes us feel that way?
Oops, I forgot to mention on my earlier post....
On Monday, Arnold was sworn in the 38th governor of California. His very first act as governor was to sink us millions of dollars deeper in debt. But I hear that is good. Someone will probably explain it to me.
Monday, I had an esophagram.
Without eating or drinking anything from midnight the night before, you go in and put on a gown. Next, you enter the X-ray room where a woman gives you some fizzy stuff that is suppose to give you gas. Oh Boy!
Then you are introduced to a kid you noticed earlier slipping on the protective gear that is suppose to protect from radiation. You think that this is probably a beginning technician. The woman introduces you to this person who is way younger than your children, and says "This is Doctor Radiologist. He is going to do the procedure."
Doctor Doogie hands me a glass of white stuff. He tells me to drink it when he says "go". He says "go". I drink. It is thick, and yucky. But I get it down. He looks at the X-ray as it goes down the throat.
Then, I learn that I didn't have to drink it all. I didn't realize that he meant "sip". I was thinking that I was being brave. He gives me more. Yippee!
OK. I'm done. I am told that my doctor will get a report in four to five business days. I have to be patient.
A friend sent me an uplifting piece that made me feel better about all the hours I spent seemingly in vain yesterday.
I don't believe in a devil, as I know there is only one power in the universe. But we can use the word 'devil" to describe any thing that gets the way of our being connected. For me it is the Ego-Mind.
I don't think anyone really needs to meditate or pray, because we cannot really be disconnected from the Universe, even if it seems like we are. And, that at some point in our existence, we will become aware, no matter what we do. But, these practices help to make the path to enlightenment shorter. And, we can more often feel a sense of peace during the journey.
If you read yesterday's rant, you are aware of the frustration I felt when I was unable to make a spreadsheet. In order to attach a link or two, I googled Excel and found what looks like a great online tutorial. I started to copy it and am determined to take the time to learn the skill. But was too tired to do anything more last night and am really trying to just clean up my office today. I will learn! Just not now.
This is the story that made me feel better:
PUSH
A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared.
The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might.
So, this the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all of his might.
Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.
Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind: "You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't moved."
Thus, he gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man.
Satan said, "Why kill yourself over this? Just put in your time, giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough."
That's what the weary man planned to do, but decided to make it a matter of prayer and to take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.
"Lord," he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"
The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. ........Your task was to push.
And now you come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown; your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have True, you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. That you have done. Now I, my friend, will move the rock."
At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just a simple obedience and faith in Him. By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who does the moving.
It has been one of these days.
Today, I have spent much of the day trying to learn how to make a simple spreadsheet on Excel. This is not the first time I have tried to do this. I have spent many hours in in the past in the attempt. I have always failed to master this skill.
I have seen people do this, seemingly effortlessly, in just a few minutes. So, I'm thinking, "This cannot be beyond me. Lots of people of all ages know how to do this. It can't be that hard, can it?"
I really don't want to give up again. However, at this moment, I have to resist the urge to smash this PC to smithereens. I am so frustrated. So, before the day is over I am going to rant! One more time!
Mike gave me some advice in the few moments he could talk. He always wants to teach me to understand the concept of what I am doing, so that I will be able to do it again. I think that is good. I want to understand how it works. I rarely catch on the first time things are explained to me. At least, in matters technical or mathematical.
I need to learn both visually and kinetically. And, many things have to be explained to me several times until I get it. Not everyone has the patience to work with someone like me. I get lost if a term is used that I don't understand. If I am unable to stop them at the first point of confusion, anything thereafter is gobbledygook.
Matt said he would call tomorrow. Or at least I think that's what he said. Our conversation was via computer on Windows Messenger. I was sitting here in front of this blasted thing, when a little pop up window (the little blue man) showed me that Matt was on line.
He was at a Starbucks playing with his new laptop. He sent me a picture taken by the camera.
Tonight, a young man in our Spiritual Family called regarding a message I had left earlier about something else. He asked how I was doing. I told him that I was frustrated, and why. This young man works with computers all day. He was sympathetic. He told me that this program is not that simple. And, it isn't all that easy to learn. Especially for some of us.
Then, he said something really nice. He told me that he really thought it was great that I am trying to learn how to do this. He saw that I am trying to stretch. He suggested some books that he thought might help. And, where to get them.
I will get the books for reference. But, darn it. You would think that someone of normal intelligence could figure this procedure out! Without loosing days in the attempt. I keep telling myself that it will be worth the time in the long run. But, I really do have other things to do! Curse*@*#"+~#*!
Oh. And, will someone tell me why all of a sudden, when I left click my mouse, everything is going much faster? I am spending way too much time just trying to back up.
Oh, my Gosh! In entering this blog and linking to stuff I just looked up on Google I may have found something to help me that is not loaded into this computer. Maybe I can do this after all.
I am addicted! My son, Michael, is responsible. After all, it is he who first got us hooked up to the internet. He set us up with a modem, and saw that we were connected via AOL, before he went overseas for a long work assignment in Hong Kong.
He wanted us to be able to keep in touch, without worrying about the time difference and the cost of long distance calls to such a far away place.
That was nice. He is a good son.
However, I don't think he ever thought it would come to this. I am quite sure that he never thought that his mother, who before this time wouldn't even touch a computer, would at some time in the future hear this infernal machine calling to her day and night. But, it is his fault never-the-less.
So, he shouldn't be surprised when he gets a call from me in the middle of anything asking for HELP!
Yesterday morning, before I had done anything other than drink a cup of coffee and read a bit of the newspaper, the Monster called. I thought: "What would it hurt to just check my messages?" I did.
As I looked at neglected e-mail messages and forwards received from friends and relatives, something happened. I think I must have downloaded a nasty little "bug". All of a sudden all kinds of strange things started happening. I could not disconnect from AOL. Things started changing on my desktop.
I tried to run the Norton's, but nothing happened when I hit the button. Next, I restarted the computer in the belief that most problems can be solved by just turning it off and back on. This usually works. I think that even machines need a rest now and then!
When this piece of technology restarted, the icon for the Norton's Auto-Protect program was GONE! It no longer sat on the toolbar at the bottom of my screen! I looked for it. And the search feature came up with a list of twenty-seven possibilities. I found one that said: Live Update. I hit that one and did the live update. Then I turned off the computer again, with the hope that when it was turned back on, the Norton's Icon would be back where it belongs, and all would be right with my world.
The Icon was still missing. At this time, I developed a fear that a bad virus, or something even worse, a worm, had infected my computer. I don't exactly know what these things are, but I know that they are BAD!
I needed help. And I needed help now!
So, I called Mike at work. A man answered his phone telling me that I had reached Mike's phone. I told him: "This is Mike's Mom. Is he around?" Usually the person who answers Mike's phone knows where he is, connects me or actually tells me where he is and takes a message. This option was not offered. Instead, the man said: "He hasn't come in this morning." I asked: "Has he called to say he would not be in?" The man replied: "I haven't heard anything about that.'' I hung up.
OK. This concerned me, and at this point, Mom Alerts started to sound off. I am a mother after all. So, of course, I went about trying to find out what had happened to my first born son. I called his home. No one answered. I did not leave a message.
I considered that Mike might simply be offsite at a meeting, and also considered whether I had a right to possibly interrupt an important business gathering. I decided that since he was actually responsible for my dilemma, I had the right to call his cell and check.
Mike answered. Relief! He said he could talk. I told him what had happened. He calmly instructed me what to do. I followed his instructions. I was able to run a scan. I had to do it three times as new problems continued to be discovered my detective. Finally, the computer appeared to be fixed. I hit the restart button. The missing Icon was back. Halleluiah!
A few hours later, I forced myself to get up and eat breakfast. I then forced myself to make the bed and take a shower. I took one more peek, because I kept hearing the monster calling. I am under a spell.
Finally, I forced myself away one more time. I went outside. I looked at the sky. I took a walk around the neighborhood. And, tried to appreciate the blue, the green, the flowers, and the cool air. But, I was not truly in the moment. My mind kept swirling with thoughts about how I could best express my thoughts about what I was seeing. I am in the control of a beast. I might as well give this thing a name. And, start to figure how to control it before it completely takes over.
Later, Mike called to see if everything was OK. I told him that it was. As I said, he is a good son. But, he is an enabler. This morning, before I had really connected to reality, he called. He told me to link to The Onion and find the article: Mom Finds Out About Blog. I did.
I have not yet eaten breakfast. I have not showered. I am not dressed. As I said, I am under the control of a Monster. I think that maybe both of my precious boys have been taken over too! Maybe I need to call an exorcist.
Someone I know is going through a difficult experience these days. She is in mourning. She is mourning the loss of someone who was truly a "sister" is every way but blood. She is grieving the loss of a friendship. Her friend has moved away from what we call reality.
My friend sent me some words her "sister" had written before she went away. This is what she wrote:
'On Oprah today she asked the question "what do you know for sure?"
"I know that we are all connected by the heart. Also, out of all change comes more change, and that somehow we come out of the change for the better. And, we still get to choose and change again if we want. Nothing is permanent except love!"
When my friend discovered the words that had been sent by her treasured "sister", she was comforted. At least a little.
Some time ago, linking to someone's site, I read a comment about how the author had "more fun rereading his own blog than reading anyone else's". I haven't a clue how to find this journal again, and I am sure that blogger said it much more concisely and simply. However, I remember when I read his post, I laughed.
I have wondered why some of us so enjoy hearing our own voice most of all.
Maybe, it is because, unconsciously, we are really trying to hear the word of God speaking from that place in our soul where the great "I AM THAT AM"resides.
Maybe it is just that some us are more self absorbed than others. If you know what I mean, you also know that the internal dialog can start to make one deaf.
When listening to your own thoughts start to become overwhelming, or you find yourself talking too much, you can repeat this:
"Just Shut Up, and Listen!"
This is something I frequently have to tell myself. Occasionally, when I follow this command, I actually hear!
Ok. Today, I had an appointment with an Otolaryngologist (an ear, nose and throat doctor). He was nice. I babbled like I usually do when I am nervous. I am always nervous when I see a new doctor.
At these times, the rapidity of my speech grows. I feel unsure. I never quite know how much information to offer. What is important to mention, and what is not. I usually talk too much.
After I begin to feel comfortable with a physician, I start to feel more like an adult, rather than a scared thirteen year old.
Many old fears reappear when a new symptom arises which does not go away. I think I know what I am afraid of.
I am afraid of being told that nothing could be found, and that I am somehow manufacturing the symptom out of my imagination. I am afraid that there is something wrong which will be misdiagnosed or missed until it gets way worse. I am afraid that in order to find out the cause, some painful, extremely uncomfortable or disgusting procedure will have to be performed to properly discover the cause. I am afraid that I am crazy. Or, that it is something really BAD.
All these fears surface whenever I face a new health challenge. However, once the cause is found and treatment options are explained, I generally settle into a state of acceptance and find ways to cope.
I often experience strong feelings of self doubt when I am hurting or feeling ill. I wonder how I might be creating the situation. I wonder if it is all psychosomatic. That little negative voice tells me that if I were just more spiritually evolved, I wouldn't go through these kinds of experiences. That little demon tells me that if I just did something different or thought differently, this wouldn't be happening. Old feelings of guilt come up.
Nearly all of these fears are based on real happenings. I have had conditions misdiagnosed or dismissed when doctors were unable to find the cause. And doctors, who I was sure, just thought I making a big deal over something very small. Sometimes, I have waited too long and let things get out of hand.
I am embarrassed to admit that I feel a sense of relief when a doctor can explain what is wrong. When I am told that it is something that will get better with treatment, and not a fiction made up by a needy mind to get some attention. Or, even something that I may have to live with, but that it is real.
This goes back to a flawed sense of self. A distrust of my own perception. But, I do the best I can.
And, I have learned a thing or two along the way. Some sympathy has developed for others as they go into similar valleys of doubt. I have come to really appreciate those doctors who do their best to look past my personality and listen. I have realized how very blessed I am to get medical treatment at all.
But, most of all, I have realized that there is a true reality that passes beyond the appearance. "There is no sickness in the soul."
Oh, and yes, the doctor I saw today has ordered test that I fear may be icky. He said he doesn't think he will find anything awful. When I asked what he thinks it is, he says it may just be some swelling caused by a previous infection. But just to make sure, I am going to have to drink some awful stuff and have an x-ray of my neck.
I was hoping he would take a look and just say: "Oh I see it, and I can fix it right now." Darn!
Since I came to believe that there was a benign loving force in the universe, something changed. Things started to make some sense.
When I began to realize that my "idea" of justice was inherently flawed ... and, that I didn't see the whole picture, new ways of thinking started to emerge.
It came to me that I had only been aware of a minute portion of the whole. Even that glimpse was distorted by my flawed perception ... my clouded vision.
I had made assumptions of what was. And, I had made judgments, without knowing all the facts. I was ignorant.
I had always believed in a strict code of justice. This was right. This was wrong! This was fair and that was not. I had a strict code of law. It included rules of behavior for myself and for others. It even included rules of how the universe should be.
I believed that my logic and reason could lead me to truth. I could not reconcile the thought that a God who was all-loving, all-knowing and all-powerful, could still let "bad" things happen. I could not understand how a loving God could allow some to suffer terrible torment, and others could go about seemingly unscathed.
The only God I could accept was one that was all loving and good. All knowing and all powerful. Eternal. Immortal. And, always present.
I reasoned that if any of these qualities were missing, whatever existed was not God.
It often appeared that if there was a God, he was not looking, or not caring, by allowing terrible injustice to occur on a regular basis. My logic led me to believe that because of this, there could be no God.
When pushed to accept faith by well meaning Christians, my mind was closed. I could not believe in a loving God who would allow anyone to be excluded from His/Her presence, simply because that person could not accept any particular belief. I could not believe that a loving God would allow separation, no matter what sins were committed.
So, I reasoned that there could not be a true God. And decided that if things could be understood, the explanations would come though scientific discovery, by using our reason and logic in every aspect of our lives.
Nevertheless, there was a still small voice inside of me that asked, "Wouldn't it be wonderful!" That small part of me wished for irrefutable evidence that God existed. And, that everything (even the bad), could be explained. I wanted to understand. I guess we all do.
I envied those who had faith. They just seemed surer ... happier ... more settled. Their faith seemed to give them a sense of peace.
I didn't realize that, I too, had faith. That, I held something in reverence. What I venerated was the mind. The ability to reason. I relied on logical thought to prove or disprove any idea.
One day, things changed. I started to examine my preconceptions, and I considered the possibility that some the concepts I held dear were flawed. I began to wonder if there might be more to the tableau before me. And, I considered if my perception of the picture was impaired by false assumptions.
Possibilities emerged. Questions emerged.
What if there is more to the story? What if there were colors I could not see? Could there be no duality? What if all events, all beings blended into a magnificent masterpiece, a beautiful harmony? Could there be no death, no disease, and no illness? What if these things were all illusions? What if there was a God who was present, and part of us? What if we were all part of this Unity?
This change did not come about through logic or reason. It emerged out of pain and mourning. It came out of sadness and loss. It came as a gift brought by my Mother's illness and passing. It came slowly. It came simply.
At some point, I could no longer believe that my Mother had ceased to exist when her body died. Something of her spirit had to have remained, which had no part of my memories and experience. In some inner part of me I felt her presence. I knew she was still there.
I no longer could convince myself that the only thing left was the genetic material that she had passed on, or the memories and emotion that filled my mind and heart. I knew on an inherent level that somehow, somewhere she was Alive.
I was told by some that this was just wishful thinking on my part. The trouble was that I was unwilling to let go, to accept that she was gone. That this kind of belief, like religion, was a crutch, because we were afraid and weak.
I considered those ideas, but I knew beyond doubt that these ideas did not hold the truth.
My mother used to say that "Every problem comes with a gift in its hands." I started to realize the truth of this old saying. And, started to open my mind to possibilities that what happened to my Mother could not be classified as "unfair". That her pain and suffering had some reason, some meaning that my limited mind was unable to comprehend. I started to consider that there was more to the picture than my eyes could see.
A small spark of hope appeared. A tiny bit of faith started to emerge. I began to open to other possibilities. These ideas led me to begin a journey of discovery. The most important work of my life!
Some of the people I love, respect, and hold most dear, do not share my views. Most seem to feel some discomfort when I begin to speak of this vital area of my life. I don't want them to feel uncomfortable. I don't want to preach. Much that I say is flatly rejected.
I understand. I used to feel the same way. I didn't want to hear. I felt pressured to agree. Knowing this, I try to respect their sensibilities, but it is hard!
I want to SHOUT my Truth. I want to share the GOOD NEWS.
THERE IS A GOD!
God is present and God is good.
There are reasons. There is no separation.
YOU ARE LOVED!
WE ARE ONE!
Well, it’s not exactly pouring. However, on Halloween morning, Mike let me know that it had started to rain in South Pasadena. It wasn’t raining when we arrived later in the day. However, our liquid sunshine did show its face again as the evening progressed. The kids' Trick-or-Treating was somewhat shortened by the wished for weather. No one was really disappointed, as more than enough candy was had by all.
At Mike’s, we were giving out handfuls to all the big and little witches, goblins and other characters who came to the door. We heard that Matt ran out of candy at his house. He always gets many more revelers than the rest of us do.
When we arrived back home, almost 30 miles away, it wasn’t quite so wet, but there was evidence that some of the sky’s precious liquid had come our way. We have had intermittent showers since. Though the morning today welcomed a bright sun, a good deal of the day was grey and wet. Hooray!
This afternoon I left the house. As I drove down the street, I noticed that I could see the blue sky showing through the spectacularly colored clouds, It was cool and crisp with occational passing showers. Beautiful.
Most of us in California were wishing for rain. A slow steady drip to dampen the fires. To give some respite to those brave souls on the front lines, who have been working so fearlessly in an attempt to save lives, homes and forests. Some died in the effort. There must be a special place in heaven for all of those wonderful people who put their lives on the line, day after day, to protect the rest of us.
By now, I have been in touch with most of the people I know who live in or near the threatened areas. One cousin, who lives in Rancho Cucamunga, told me that they were evacuated. A house, one hundred yards away, burned. His son and family who live in Alta Loma, also had to leave their homes. But they are all safely back now.
Yesterday, I spoke with a friend who lives in the same area. She and her neighbors were also warned to evacuate. But she told me something else as well. She said that there was something beautiful and magnificent about the fire. Even though there were the normal concerns and fears, she and her neighbors were drawn out just to look at it. And marvel at its beauty.
Food for the mind.
I was invited to join a book club. The first book chosen was the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. The first meeting is tomorrow night. I finally bought the book, but have not read it yet. It looks like I will have to miss the first meeting anyway, but still looking forward to reading the novel and hearing what others thought.
I noticed that ABC is airing a program tonight that will explore some of the questions posed by the work. This program, Jesus, Mary and Da Vinci with Elizabeth Vargas, will show in LA at 10:00 PM. I will be watching.
I am surprised that I have heard nothing of any protests regarding this show or the book, considering the nature of the inquiry. It explores, as I understand, allegations which have shaken religious and historical scholars. An article today in the Daily Breeze explains that it regards some evidence that Jesus and Mary Magdalene may have married, and had a child together. We’ll see.
Alert. Eat Sardines!
The health section of the same newspaper had an article today about our need for calcium and the problem for those who are lactose intolerant. It contained an explanation of why some of us can and some of us can’t eat dairy and digest lactose.
There are certainly many ways in which we can get the Vitamin D, Calcium, and other nutrients we need for our human body to function. But, most of us don’t regularly eat enough kale, turnip and mustard greens to do the job.
As I understand it, most dark leafy green vegetables will supply these needed nutritional elements, except Spinach. Although spinach is packed with calcium, the calcium in this green is bound with oxalates that make it difficult for the body to absorb.
However, if you don’t eat dairy, you can also eat lots of broccoli and fish with small bones, such as canned salmon and sardines. Enjoy.
Just thought you ought to know, because I try to be On The Alert!
…………….
PS: This post was ready to go way earlier, but due to the rain, our telephone lines were malfunctioning and I was unable to connect with the internet. Cut Off!
Somehow this seems worse than not being able to use the phone. These days, most of us can revert to the cell system for that. I have finally been able to connect via a dial up. But this method is VERY slow.