A very good friend, and wise woman, taught me that everyone must have something to look forward to. This little gem has given me a new perspective on life. Without something to look forward to all we have is the grind of everyday life.
I thought about looking forward as I watched the space shuttle Atlantis land this morning. After 30 years it still amazes me that something that big can go straight up into space and then come home land like a an airplane. As a child of the 60's I grew up with the space program and like millions of Americans watched as Apollo 11 landed on the moon. We held our collective breaths every time one of the ships left the launch pad, cleared the hurdles of the mission and re-entry, coming back to earth in a very small capsule in the ocean.
With this backdrop I still vividly remember my feelings of excitement and pride in my country as the first space shuttle took flight. I knew that just as the Apollo 11 mission was the beginning of something amazing, so was this new method of space exploration. We, as a country, had something to look forward to. We were united in enthusiasm and pride.
Today, Atlantis landed with nothing to look forward to. I cried. I cried not just for the space program that means so much to our country but to the city where I live. The Johnson Space Center in Clear Lake City is a gem in Houston's crown. We are space city. Our sports teams have space themed names and our children tour the space center on field trips. The name of our city is one of the first words uttered from the moon. Space, and all that it represents is fundamental to the history and image of Houston, Texas. I'm proud to live here.
What do we as Americans have to look forward to? Everyday when we get up and turn on the news or open a newspaper (do it while you still can) we are bombarded by gloom and doom. Where or where is that tiny light; that glimmer of hope?
I'm looking. I know it is out there somewhere. As we approach the Memorial Day weekend, I pray that this day of remembrance is about more than barbeques, a day off to sleep in, or the race to the best sale. I pray that each and everyone of us stops to give thanks for our troops - particularly those who died in the line of duty. Because of them we continue to be a free people. Say a prayer. Say thank you to a soldier. Find ways to support those who put their lives on the line each and every day so that we have the chance to continue to pursue happiness.
In memorium:
Robert E. Perkins - U.S. Army and John A. Means - U.S.M.C.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Sounds and Smells
I spent the better part of Sunday buying music from iTunes and creating a new playlist. I'm not sure how much I spent, and no doubt will be surprised when the bill comes in - but, oh well, it's only money.
I was specifically looking for songs that represent my generation, things I listened to when I was a kid as well as a teenager. I include in this musical queue, the years of latent teenage behavior of my post divorce life in the late 1980's. Other than holidays and bill paying, I really enjoyed being single. Oops, off track again. Back to the music. I found songs by The Hermann's Hermits, Bread, Three Dog Night, and The Grass Roots, which nicely compliments my existing collection of Eagles and Chicago. To that I added Cyndi Lauper, Madonna (the early years), Bruce Hornsby (I have eclectic taste), Survivor, and Phil Collins.
Things that I hadn't thought about in years popped into my head as I was choosing the songs. Often a scene or a face would pass through my consciousness then would be gone just as fast. Trying to hold on was impossible - kind of like catching snowflakes, there one moment, gone the next. Some of these glimpses were pleasant, some, not so much. There were a couple of times that a song elicited a feeling of anxiety or fear but there was no picture to go along with it. I wonder - what happened at that moment in my life that was so unpleasant that I can't remember it. Hmmm, makes me curious but not enough to linger here.
The sense of smell has long been recognized as the sense that draws us into another time - another place. The other day I bought some new makeup. I bought it for the smell. Weird, maybe, but this smell and the memory it brings are both good.
The smell of Cover Girl makeup always makes me think of my friend Kay. My mom sold Avon and that was the only makeup I was allowed to use. But Kay and her sister both used Cover Girl foundation. When I spent the night at her house and borrowed her makeup I felt free to make my own choice. Kay's family was like a second family for me. I spent far more time at her house than she did at mine. I liked her family. I thought her parents were kind of strict, but I liked it. It made me feel safe. At this point in my life my folks were busy and not so strict anymore. The teenage years are not the time to loosen the reins! Smelling Cover Girl make up always takes me back to that time.
Moving, marriages, and life got in the way and Kay and I lost touch. Something that always made me sad. She is the one friend who connects me to my childhood. The one person who has known me longer than anyone except my family. It is hard for me to explain how important that is to me. I think never having biological children has caused me to feel differently about relationships. I need to be grounded and children are certainly grounding and humbling. Kay reminds me where I came from and keeps me rooted in today. We haven't physically seen each other in about 25 years. I hope that will change, but even if it doesn't I know that I will always have a friend in her.
More childhood lessons - this time from the Girl Scouts: "Make new friends, but keep the old; one is silver and the other gold."
Find a friend and tell them they are loved - you'll both be happy you did.
I was specifically looking for songs that represent my generation, things I listened to when I was a kid as well as a teenager. I include in this musical queue, the years of latent teenage behavior of my post divorce life in the late 1980's. Other than holidays and bill paying, I really enjoyed being single. Oops, off track again. Back to the music. I found songs by The Hermann's Hermits, Bread, Three Dog Night, and The Grass Roots, which nicely compliments my existing collection of Eagles and Chicago. To that I added Cyndi Lauper, Madonna (the early years), Bruce Hornsby (I have eclectic taste), Survivor, and Phil Collins.
Things that I hadn't thought about in years popped into my head as I was choosing the songs. Often a scene or a face would pass through my consciousness then would be gone just as fast. Trying to hold on was impossible - kind of like catching snowflakes, there one moment, gone the next. Some of these glimpses were pleasant, some, not so much. There were a couple of times that a song elicited a feeling of anxiety or fear but there was no picture to go along with it. I wonder - what happened at that moment in my life that was so unpleasant that I can't remember it. Hmmm, makes me curious but not enough to linger here.
The sense of smell has long been recognized as the sense that draws us into another time - another place. The other day I bought some new makeup. I bought it for the smell. Weird, maybe, but this smell and the memory it brings are both good.
The smell of Cover Girl makeup always makes me think of my friend Kay. My mom sold Avon and that was the only makeup I was allowed to use. But Kay and her sister both used Cover Girl foundation. When I spent the night at her house and borrowed her makeup I felt free to make my own choice. Kay's family was like a second family for me. I spent far more time at her house than she did at mine. I liked her family. I thought her parents were kind of strict, but I liked it. It made me feel safe. At this point in my life my folks were busy and not so strict anymore. The teenage years are not the time to loosen the reins! Smelling Cover Girl make up always takes me back to that time.
Moving, marriages, and life got in the way and Kay and I lost touch. Something that always made me sad. She is the one friend who connects me to my childhood. The one person who has known me longer than anyone except my family. It is hard for me to explain how important that is to me. I think never having biological children has caused me to feel differently about relationships. I need to be grounded and children are certainly grounding and humbling. Kay reminds me where I came from and keeps me rooted in today. We haven't physically seen each other in about 25 years. I hope that will change, but even if it doesn't I know that I will always have a friend in her.
More childhood lessons - this time from the Girl Scouts: "Make new friends, but keep the old; one is silver and the other gold."
Find a friend and tell them they are loved - you'll both be happy you did.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Lost and Found
Like millions of people around the world last night I sat through the series finale of Lost. I never really wanted to watch this show, but on that first night gave into my husband - he does control the remote and I am generally not motivated enough to go into the other room. One episode; that's all it took. I haven't missed an episode in the past six years. Don't quiz me on anything because I probably won't remember details. My brain simply doesn't retain that kind of trivia. Heck, my brain rarely retains important stuff.
I tried to follow the Tweets about the finale. They were hitting so fast it was impossible, but I did notice a couple of interesting trends:
1. Why do people who hate/have never watched/could care less feel obligated to tell those of us who are fans of the show how they feel? And, might I add, often in very foul language. If you aren't a fan - go somewhere else.
2. This same philosophy could be applied to many areas of life. As most of us learned as children, "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all." Words do hurt. Forget the old "sticks and stones" garbage. Words hurt and they can't be taken back. Choose them carefully.
The internet is filled with folks who, because they are anonymous they feel they can say anything to anyone. My guess is that they wouldn't have the guts to say those things to a person's face. Play nicely with others. You will be able to sleep at night and look yourself in the mirror.
I personally loved the fact that not all the questions were answered. There was much left to the speculation of the viewer and interpretation can be left up to that person, and it will be colored by their personal beliefs and values.
Here is my take - love it or leave it - but remember, play nice.
1. God is love. God will never leave our side - it is we who turn our backs on Him.
2. There are forces of good and evil at work in the world around us and we can't always see or recognize them. I believe that the spiritual world is at work for both sides and we have a choice to make.
3. Every person who crosses our path, no matter how insignificant it seems, is significant. Treat them as you would like to be treated. Another lesson from childhood worth remembering.
4. God cannot be boxed in and just as soon as we think we know it all or have Him figured out, He will surprise us.
5. Hanging on for dear life and trying to be in control of life is futile. We are all here at this time for a reason that is known only to God. Our task is to live each day in a way that honors Him, and to walk humbly with our fellow man.
6. We are all flawed, and we all screw up.
7. Faith is absolutely vital to life. Most of us live a life of faith or a life seeking faith. For me, faith means though I have never seen Him, I live in faith that Jesus Christ lived and is the Son of God who died and was resurrected to save those who believe. There are others who believe differently. As far as I am concerned a life without faith is a life that is hopeless and rooted in this world - it will never be any better than it is right now. When the Lost "survivors" were all hugging in the church I thought about my dad. I'm going to get to hug him again one day. I thought about all the relatives that I barely knew and those I didn't know at all; the friends, acquaintances, and those folks who crossed my path during this life. How amazing is that?
I have lived both the seeking life and the life of faith. Usually both at the same time. I have been a regular church goer and a non church goer. I found flawed humanity at every level of church life. I have been a "holier than thou" finger pointing Christian - for which I am truly sorry. I have worried that I might do something wrong and loose my salvation - that rule follower personality caused me much pain.
I am now in a place that is beautiful. I love God. He loves me. I feel His presence daily and I see how He has chosen to work through me every single day. Do I always get it right? Heck no! But I now know that I can't screw up so bad that the fate of the world is at stake (yes, that is how whacked out I used to be).
And, that, is the message I received from the finale of Lost. This was truly more than a television show for many of us. It became a part of life. Nothing to worship or make more important than it was, simply something entertaining and transforming. Thanks.
I tried to follow the Tweets about the finale. They were hitting so fast it was impossible, but I did notice a couple of interesting trends:
1. Why do people who hate/have never watched/could care less feel obligated to tell those of us who are fans of the show how they feel? And, might I add, often in very foul language. If you aren't a fan - go somewhere else.
2. This same philosophy could be applied to many areas of life. As most of us learned as children, "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all." Words do hurt. Forget the old "sticks and stones" garbage. Words hurt and they can't be taken back. Choose them carefully.
The internet is filled with folks who, because they are anonymous they feel they can say anything to anyone. My guess is that they wouldn't have the guts to say those things to a person's face. Play nicely with others. You will be able to sleep at night and look yourself in the mirror.
I personally loved the fact that not all the questions were answered. There was much left to the speculation of the viewer and interpretation can be left up to that person, and it will be colored by their personal beliefs and values.
Here is my take - love it or leave it - but remember, play nice.
1. God is love. God will never leave our side - it is we who turn our backs on Him.
2. There are forces of good and evil at work in the world around us and we can't always see or recognize them. I believe that the spiritual world is at work for both sides and we have a choice to make.
3. Every person who crosses our path, no matter how insignificant it seems, is significant. Treat them as you would like to be treated. Another lesson from childhood worth remembering.
4. God cannot be boxed in and just as soon as we think we know it all or have Him figured out, He will surprise us.
5. Hanging on for dear life and trying to be in control of life is futile. We are all here at this time for a reason that is known only to God. Our task is to live each day in a way that honors Him, and to walk humbly with our fellow man.
6. We are all flawed, and we all screw up.
7. Faith is absolutely vital to life. Most of us live a life of faith or a life seeking faith. For me, faith means though I have never seen Him, I live in faith that Jesus Christ lived and is the Son of God who died and was resurrected to save those who believe. There are others who believe differently. As far as I am concerned a life without faith is a life that is hopeless and rooted in this world - it will never be any better than it is right now. When the Lost "survivors" were all hugging in the church I thought about my dad. I'm going to get to hug him again one day. I thought about all the relatives that I barely knew and those I didn't know at all; the friends, acquaintances, and those folks who crossed my path during this life. How amazing is that?
I have lived both the seeking life and the life of faith. Usually both at the same time. I have been a regular church goer and a non church goer. I found flawed humanity at every level of church life. I have been a "holier than thou" finger pointing Christian - for which I am truly sorry. I have worried that I might do something wrong and loose my salvation - that rule follower personality caused me much pain.
I am now in a place that is beautiful. I love God. He loves me. I feel His presence daily and I see how He has chosen to work through me every single day. Do I always get it right? Heck no! But I now know that I can't screw up so bad that the fate of the world is at stake (yes, that is how whacked out I used to be).
And, that, is the message I received from the finale of Lost. This was truly more than a television show for many of us. It became a part of life. Nothing to worship or make more important than it was, simply something entertaining and transforming. Thanks.
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