March 2008

March 30, 2008…

Twenty years ago today, my eldest daughter, Jennifer, was born. Like most moms, I cannot believe how quickly the time has passed. It seems like only yesterday she was just a little girl, hostessing ‘tea parties’ and rocking her ‘dolls’ to sleep.

Playing ‘dress up’ was a favorite playtime…transforming herself for her own amusement into the ‘princess’ I already knew she was.

As I watched her grow up into the young woman she is today …a part of me wishes it didn’t happen quite so fast.

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Home from “Work”… But are we?

…Another weekend’s threshold.

Friday night marks the beginning of the much anticipated weekend. Time to spend the next two days doing things we want to do. We fill them with fun and entertainment, perhaps an excursion or a visit…or maybe dinner and a movie out. It’s our time to relax and chill… ‘resting up’ before another work week begins…

…Or do we?

I think for most of us, weekends are spent remaining busy…doing chores or running errands. …The laundry’s backed up, the furniture is dusty, the cupboards are empty and the house is a mess. Always too tired during the week to tend to these matters, we reserve the long awaited ‘Saturday and Sunday’ to accomplish these tasks.

Understanding the mentality and perceived necessity of this thinking, for most people, life on this merry-go-round is ritualistically similar.

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Desiring to stay young forever, we are, unfortunately, unable to halt the ticking of time. For every year witnessed, we bear evidence of it passing. Time’s footprint, recognized despairingly by a new wrinkle on a face, indicates to all the ‘many-a-day’ seen.

Unsolicited weight gain can add insult to injury. Requiring no extra indulgences to even warrant its existence, it responds ever so slowly at our attempts of removal.

We continue forging forward despite these perpetually recurring ‘gifts’, …our quest for remaining youthful unwavering. We craftily attempt to cheat time, or at the least slow it down, …all the while solicitously monitoring our appearance.

Equipped with the knowledge available today, we are armed with the necessary arsenal needed to combat this unforgiving process…

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I stopped by to visit you today. A beautiful day, …Spring, at last, being felt in the air. I thought the trees would be beginning to bud, but I think it’s still a bit too chilly. I brought you flowers, though…I know how you found them to be so pretty.

There’s so much to tell you..I don’t know where to begin. I know once I get going I can ramble on sometimes…anybody watching would think I’m just talking to hear myself…but I know that you’re listening. If there’s one thing that I could always count on, it was your undivided attention. You always made me believe that everything I had to say… was of the utmost importance.

The kids are well, …they’re getting older so fast. Time just seems to be passing so quickly I hardly realize it. It’s only when I stop and catch my breath that I’m awakened to each passing day.

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Accompanying my Uncle today on another visit to the Veteran’s Hospital for his regular doctor appointments, I am again reminded of the bravery of the men and women who have and continue to, answer a Call of Duty. As a Veteran of World War II, he, my Dad, and many others, have served their country fearlessly and courageously.

A visit to this type of hospital is an experience unlike any other. American flags, reverently displayed with honor, gracefully adorn the lobby. With tributes to the brave acknowledged everywhere, one cannot help to feel pride and awe for these soldiers, merely by entering the building. Walking the corridors which seem to be ever full of people, I am aware that for every face I see,…there are countless others who have never made it home.

These men and women, who have fought in wars stemming from intolerance, hatred, and terror, …exposed perhaps to indespicable acts of inhumanity, …continue to embrace life respectfully. As brief encounters with these honorable people are met with courtesy and kindness, one can’t help but find inspiration and admiration in their character.

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“A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart, and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.”
- Sent by Donna Roberts

Friendship.

Indulged in by everyone, and being cultivated since childhood, friendships are a centrical part of life. Acknowledging the importance of friendships from a very young age, the desire to surround ourselves with people of ‘like’ interests, lives, or personality is a natural instinct that for most, does not need to be learned.

Varying in bonds of ’strength’ and longevity, friendships could be found in differing stages and degrees. There are some that seem to have been around forever, remaining strong throughout the years. These bonds seem never to wear or waver….withstanding the test of time.

A younger friendship, although not quite as established, is delicate yet sound, yielding the same love and understanding…holding promise to grow further still with the passing of days.

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Eyes which saw hatred…

See now, …only love.

The evil men do: …”Madison’s” Story.

Wanting to share Madison’s story not only with the attempt to continually raise the awareness of animal cruelty, but to pay tribute to the ‘angels’ that go out of their way to battle it.

Madison and her ten litter mates were ‘bagged’ and thrown to their deaths from a bridge and into a river in Kentucky, January 2007. A bystander, … recognized here as an ‘Angel’ of Intervention, bearing witness to this horrific crime, attempted to rescue the puppies from this obscene, undeserved fate. Although acting hastily, unfortunately, ..only six pups survived the impact of the fall.

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Although there are Times when Words go Unspoken…

…You are Forever a Light in my Life.

Finally feeling comfortable and more at ease with my daughter living so far away, I don’t worry about her quite so much anymore.

Aware of her adequate ability to efficiently look after herself, I know she is responsibly enjoying her College life. Juggling her friends and the care of her little dog while dutifully absorbed in her studies, my redundant telephone calling had quieted.

Keeping busy, I became oblivious to the passing of time and unintentionally let our communication lapse.

With the receipt of a distressed, informative email, I was abruptly awakened to my negligence in this matter. … Jen candidly expressing her feelings of ‘displacement’, due to what she perceives as my ‘preoccupied’ world.

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I believe it benefits everybody to adhere to some type of Fitness program along with adapting a Healthy Living lifestyle.

Practicing fitness myself for the last 15 years, and currently involved in the field, there is always something new to learn on this ever changing topic. I enjoy exercise and feel it is vitally important to an optimally functioning body, but it is really just part of the equation for healthy living.

To truly keep the body running efficiently and optimally, it must begin at the cellular level, essentially starting with the foods we eat. The importance of a nutrient rich diet cannot be stressed enough and it is always worth repeating.

I like to equate the body, and the food that’s put into it, to the care of an automobile. While it is important to wash and wax a car (exercise) at every opportunity, in attempt to achieve it’s full luster (muscle tone), the effort would prove futile if cheap, bad, junky gas (food) is put in it’s tank. Letting the fuel drop continually near “E” (hunger), or never changing the oil (nutritional variety), would undoubtedly lead to problems, ….eventually resulting in failed Inspection (never good news). Similarly, that is what bad food does to our bodies, …our ultimate ‘driving machine’.

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For every Thing, …there is a Season.

It will always be difficult.

After 8 years of assisting in a Veterinary Hospital, I still choke back tears at the euthanizing of a family pet. Usually a life-long companion to the fortunate, it is so hard to say good-bye.

A painless procedure for the animal as they quietly succumb to life’s end, it is, by far, the most painful decision a pet owner must make. Somewhat comforted by the fact that a good life was provided, or perhaps not wishing any needless suffering be endured, ..it still remains unbearable. …Left in its aftermath is a whirlwind of emotional turmoil…and a love, …void of recipient.

I am sympathetic to the loss of any animal companion and am aware that immediately the human lives will be altered. Realized in even the most subtlest of ways… the familiar, ritualistic habits become no longer necessary. Tonight there will be no food dishes to fill or any last late night ‘walk’ to be taken ..or in the absence of a lulling ‘purr’, there is at least a fortnight of guaranteed sleeplessness.

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A long time favorite, I have been a Collie owner for over 11 years. A loyal, noble, and good natured dog, I find this breed to be one of the more beautiful that there is.

A herding dog originating from Scotland, the breeds’ standard was drawn up in 1886 and still describes it as it is today. His expression, an important hallmark, is dependent on the shape and balance of the muzzle. It is this finely refined head that is vital to the look of the Collie.

His stance, noble and dignified, is amplified by his magnificent ‘ruff’ … luxuriantly full and framing his head. His gait, while suggesting effortless speed, is similar to that of a wolf. With the ability to change speed and direction instantly, he is an extremely agile dog…all the while remaining graceful in motion.

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As I listen to him speak, I am silently impressed.

This handsome young man, knowledgeable in subject and stubborn in his opinions, …passionately makes his point.

Intently stating his conversational arguments, our opinions again differ…a seemingly common recurrence between us as we don’t often seem to agree. I respect his opinion, nonetheless, and am proud of his enthusiasm.

Lulled by the dialog, I am unable to keep my mind from wandering and drift off into a world of my own. Back in time, …to the days of his youth, …when this ‘little boy’ was the center of my world.

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With ever a leery eye, she observes me from a distance…never getting too close.

As her tail delicately wraps around her paws, she sits scrutinizing me… watching my every move…questioning my intentions.

In pursuit of a kitten, I found her at a Humane Society. A six week ball of black fur, she sat timidly hunkered in a cage, …desiring invisibility, …unaware that such an outcome might lead to her demise. I took her home anyway, despite her shyness, …determined to secure her life.

I named her “Brew”, and she adapted easily to the other animals in the house. It was only with me she remained guarded, …slinking down to avoid an outreached hand, …clearly displaying her apprehension at being touched. She sought solace from her reclusiveness by mindlessly ’suckling’, …on anything from fabric, …to tail.

Our means of interaction was restricted to words. Speaking softly and soothingly, she slowly, …hesitantly, …let down her guard, …cautiously visiting when she deemed me unthreatening. With continued reassurance to soothe her unease, …I allowed her to control the pace of our friendship.

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