Archive for the ‘Chronicle’ Category
What’s It All About?
I’m not convinced that it matters whether or not I know that angry Democrats rebel against Obama’s tax-cut deal with Republicans. Or that Google delays netbook plans for Chrome OS to mid 2011. How about my awareness of the US appeals court ruling that the Food and Drug Administration can only regulate “e-cigarettes” as tobacco products and not as drugs, and thus cannot block their import? There were 55 people listed in the local obituaries for yesterday, and I didn’t know a single one of them. I could hold a door open for an elderly man in a public place and have no idea that he was a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor. (If he was 18 when it happened, he’d be 87 years-old now.) I can interact with an employee at work and not have a clue they had been involved in a domestic dispute the night before. I have walked past people who are experiencing inner despair and not paused to notice.
Then, when I am all alone in the darkness, I sense it all. It’s as if there is a time lag and when I stop long enough to free my attentions from the distractions of the day, it all catches up. Energy doesn’t vanish, it is transferred from one form to another.
With luck, I overcome the urge to be overwhelmed with grief for the drama of our human foibles, and I come to rest in the simple solution of feeling love for all those who need it. Love is what it is all about.
Fine Line
I woke up a couple of days ago and something seemed out of sorts. You know that sense you have before actually getting sick? There is nothing specific to point to that feels wrong yet, but you can still tell. “I’m getting sick.”
At that point, I imagine that if I had a microscopic view of myself, I would be able to see why I feel the sensation of getting sick. Before we even break out with that sore throat, or cough, or fever, there are things going on at the cellular level that we can detect, even though we can’t specifically identify.
On Sunday I became so tired in the afternoon, I fell into a totally involuntary nap, sleeping even though I had no intention to do so. My appetite has not been there at meal time, yet showed up with a vengeance at odd hours. However, Monday morning, I had no reason not to go to work. Since it was Monday, and I was going to work, I packed for the usual morning soccer games. Soccer felt like I’d aged a decade since the last time I played. Again, there was nothing specific to point to, but I felt slow, extremely tired, and enjoyed little success.
This is the time when I feel our self-talk can have greater impact. If I were to keep telling myself that I was getting sick, my body would easily oblige me. Conversely, I choose to focus my attention on the fact that days are passing and no specific symptoms of illness are materializing. Microscopically, my cells are doing what cells do to fight off any tiny invaders and everything is performing the way it is supposed to.
I believe there is a very fine line between getting sick and staying healthy when it comes to the regular onslaught of minor viral infections that we face on any given day.
For not feeling quite my normal peak healthy self lately, I must admit, I still feel pretty good. Nana nana nanna na.
Passionate Appreciation
In case you didn’t catch the first, or second, mention that I have made here about the VideoSong artists, Jack Conte and Nataly Dawn, since I discovered them about a week ago, I am going to make it a bit easier for you to get on the Pomplamoose fan bus. Here is one of my current favorites. Take a few minutes to watch and listen…
Another day
shows its face
I’m half awake
Half in space
And if you told me I was beautiful well that would just
be in poor taste.Another hour
Flying by
I’ve yet to shower
Yet to dry
And if you told me I was wonderful I probably would
wonder why.I am yours
You are mine
I am yours
You are mine
So it’s alright.Another plate
In the sink
We’re half the same
Half distinct
And if you told me I was perfect I’d assume you’d had
too much to drink.Another day
Fades away
We’re half asleep
Half in space
And if you told me we were dreaming I would pinch you
to prove we’re awake.
A Saturday Status Report
The weekend has arrived.
Shoveled the driveway last night.
Slept in this morning.
Still tired.
Morning sleep interrupted by vibrating cell phone.
Alarm company for day job calling to report unauthorized entry.
I authorized the entry.
Crawled back into bed under wonderfully warm covers.
Fell back to sleep.
The weekend has arrived.
Privilege
Sometimes I find it hard not to frame everything about this great big complicated world, from my limited personal perspective. But hey, it’s only natural. I am what I am.
There are moments when I get a sense that everyone in the world is focused on the same hot topic, even though there are a great many people who have little, if any, exposure to events beyond their immediate physical space. Heck, there are people in my own community that don’t have the financial ability to have an internet connection in their home, even if they are lucky enough to own a computer.
At first, it struck me as rather odd to witness financially impoverished remote mountain people in Nepal making regular use of cell phones. There are surprises to be had with regard to the technology found in underdeveloped regions, as well as with people surrounded by the latest technical trappings, who can’t afford to participate.
Realize this, folks… those of us who log in to the internet on a regular basis are members of a privileged group of people in the world. There is value in not continually taking that for granted.
December Wishes
December has arrived. It is the time of year when requests are made for our wish lists. What do I wish for? I wish for world peace. I wish my neighbors would never, ever, ever use their leaf blowers. I wish it wasn’t possible to hear the sounds made by a human jaw chewing food in an otherwise silent room. I wish my lungs weren’t asthmatic. But those things aren’t what the circle of family who draw names for a Christmas gift-giving exchange would like to see on my list.
They want stuff that can be purchased.
I don’t mean to be difficult, …not that I haven’t been in the past. I did resist for a time and neglect to provide any such list. I also have listed items like: shirts, socks, and underwear. Who wouldn’t benefit by having new underwear? There has also been a period of time when I gave in and put some pretty significant treasures on the list that I wouldn’t buy for myself. Since something was going to be purchased, I figured it may as well be something that I would actually use.
I also took advantage of one of those online shopping sites that allow you to save a wish list to allow your family and friends to just click and purchase. It’s like registering for wedding gifts. Look at what we have allowed technology to do to us!
A while ago, I came across that site where I had created a list and noticed there were things still on it that I didn’t even remember selecting. I had obviously been living comfortably enough without the items. It occurred to me that the only reason the items made it on the list in the first place was because I saw them while searching the site.
That is like the phrase that I am guilty of using too often regarding food. “I am fond of see food.” See food, eat food.
I could look at any number of shopping sites and discover things to put on a wish list. Yet, if I didn’t see these things, I wouldn’t even know I wanted them. Making a list, in and of itself, engenders the wish. See things, want things.
I still haven’t gotten around to making full use of so many things I already have. I truly don’t need anything more. This year, I am seeking to UNDER-indulge. I’m choosing, see charity, give charity. I saw the invitation to “give a goat” on the 2009 video of the Christmas song, “Always in the Season” by Pomplamoose. Now, that is what I want on my wish list. I want people to choose a meaningful gift to give me and help children and families around the world receive training and animal gifts that help them become self-reliant.
My December wish this year is for people to consider Heifer International in their gift giving plans.
Complex and Simple
Comparing myself to others, I feel simple. And complex. It’s just human nature. It is not surprising at all to notice that there are people who blow me away for their depth of intellectual pursuits, political awareness, and social participation. At the same time, I notice that my level of activity appears to be dramatically more involved than plenty of other folks. Of course, it’s all relative. What I notice about thinking of these comparisons is that the contemplation of differences usually corresponds with thinking about the past or the future, and therefore, not the present moment. When I am fully focused on the here and now, I rarely find it to involve such comparison.
One of the things that has me feeling a sense of simpleness lately, is the regular pattern I traipse throughout our house. For the most part, I don’t go into the living room. Or the basement. I have a very consistent trail between our kitchen, the library, and my upstairs bedroom. Cyndie has made changes to rooms in our house that I haven’t discovered until months after the fact. I could get by living in a tent. Two or three rooms becomes a luxury. The good thing about this is I won’t be upset at all if I need to be moved into single room senior living situation someday.
For the variety of my interests that command attention, I have become a master of none. It hasn’t escaped my consideration that I might have achieved a much higher degree of proficiency in a number of my avocations, had I applied more focus and allotments of time. C’est la vie.
That’s just part of the simple complexity of me, you know? Aren’t we just the most interesting of creatures? Feel free to ponder your own contrasting traits today, in light of the idea we are at the same instant, both simple and complex.
Finding the willingness to accept the possibility of simultaneous existence of two opposing characteristics in ourselves, breeds great expansion of our understanding and insights about both our immediate world, and the greater expanse of souls on this planet. It’s a simple way of becoming much more comfortable with complexities of our lives.
Table Memories
Since we didn’t have Thanksgiving dinner at our house this year, my siblings didn’t get their annual chance to be with the old family table, so I am presenting this for their benefit…
I mostly am reminded of trying to do my homework as a schoolboy, when I look at the pattern of dots marking the border of our table. The pencil lead would poke through the paper when you weren’t paying attention and strayed too close to the edge.
The other main memory I have of this table is that it was almost always covered by accumulating newspapers, magazines and old mail, sewing projects, or at the far end, an occasional jigsaw puzzle. There are 5 center leaves available to expand the table to a length that exceeds our present dining room. When Mom allowed Cyndie and I to have the table, she did so with one requirement: we needed to host Thanksgiving, because it was the only table large enough to accommodate everyone when we all gathered.
Now Mom is gone, and some of the family is out of town, so the remaining family has been spending the Thanksgiving holiday with families of spouses. At least that means we didn’t need to clear off the table for a big meal. Lo and behold, it has a sewing project on one end, and fresh home-made holiday treats that Cyndie and Elysa produced over the weekend, on the other.
Savings Galore
In this time of discounts, it seems appropriate that today’s post be offered at 6o% off. Plus, the earlier you read, the more you save. By that, I mean, the earlier you arrive to read, the less there will be to read, and that means time saved.
Discovery
There is something special about that moment of discovery, when someone alerts you to something they feel to be noteworthy and you have your eyes opened to a whole new wonder. Even though millions of other people may have already discovered the next sensation, when it is the first you are seeing it, and it resonates for you of all things good, the moment can be an explosion of inspiration and joyous energy.
Pomplamoose. If you haven’t seen them yet, and own a television, they are now showing up on a holiday car commercial. Otherwise, the place to find them is on your computer. Jack Conte and Nataly Dawn have already been plying their joint video song artistry on youtube for a couple of years, but I have just discovered them now. 
You should, too. They are fun, fun, fun and they are true artisans of the craft of music and recording. It is the way it should be. It is why people say things like, “Don’t ever change.” What they have been producing is so fresh and unpretentious that their growth as artists and individuals becomes a threat to the charm of their current output.
Don’t tell Cyndie, but I have fallen in love with Nataly. And don’t tell Nataly, but I think I have a thing for Jack, too. Just watch their video songs, as many as you can. You will see what it is that appeals so much to me. It’s not just the shots of Nataly eating cereal and milk. Hang around for the post-song bits at the end of the clip. Plus, make sure you can turn your sound up, because the harmony of Nataly’s multi-tracked voice is a hook that is so enticing it feels addictive.
If you haven’t already, you deserve to enjoy the period of discovery now. It will enable you to claim that you watched them back when they were just an internet sensation with a couple of commercials to their credit. Me thinks they will end up with many more artistic accomplishments that will expand their popularity dramatically. That, or my euphoric flush of discovery has me thinking like a love-struck kid again.
But, after all, isn’t that what the special moment of discovery is all about?
