tommy is twenty four

Life is sweet with Tommy. With him, we are always "among friends". Happy Birthday, T!

camper's delight

We're going to miss Robbie!!!!

Robbie is going to work at a camp on Catalina Island this summer. This is the effect he has on people. Can I just climb in your lap, Robbie, and suck my thumb? or can I just climb on your back, and you carry me around? or can I just lean on you? Since R doesn't like talking on the phone, or e-mailing, it makes it tough when he's not physically around. So, I'm just saying it now and probably a lot more, WE WILL MISS YOU ROBBIE! and we'll miss your wisdom, your good spatial and decorating sense, and your HUMOR and your cooking and your strength. and your willingness to play anything, cards, tennis, Risk, Settlers of Catan. I guess it is time we shared you.

Let us Pray

This has been a week of letting go and saying goodbye. My parents returned to their home on Monday after a short visit. "Until we meet again." There was the funeral for our young airman on Tuesday. "A life snuffed out too soon." News about the execution in Georgia. "Respect Life." And reminders of the torture at Guantanamo perpetrated by our people. "Geneva Convention." Our third son took a job on Catalina Island for the summer so he will not be home. Pete listened to an economist in Sacramento ask the question:"Why are we building more prisons, paying prison guards $75,000 starting salary, and paying a starting teacher in our decaying public schools, half that?" Letting go of people and letting go of illusions about what passes for leadership... and again, I ask, what can I do? As my youngest said, once when he was about 4 years old, "Mom, mumembah? Pray? God?" With age comes forgetfulness, but also, comes enough losses and disappointment that one finally has to resort to the only One who ultimately cares and can do anything about it. Let us Pray.

a native son comes home

Sr. Airman who lost his life in Afghanistan due to a roadside bomb came home today. He was flown in from Travis AFB to Buchanan airport in Concord this morning at 11:30 a.m. His parents and his only brother were there to greet his body. An Air Force honor guard was there to lift the casket and carry it to the waiting hearse. A group of half a dozen veterans were there to hold American flags as the casket was marched past the small group of family and friends. The military members stood at attention and saluted. The civilians stood quietly with hands over hearts and those who had served in the military saluted as his flag draped casket went by. His mother, who was being held up by her younger son and by a dear friend, blew kisses. Is there any way sufficiently appropriate to honor the life of a native son, 24 years old, whose life was taken by a weapon like an IED? Let us all remain "semper fi" to the covenants into which we have entered. What else can we do? Commend his soul to God.

a nice sit down and a chat

For those of you who know me, there's nothing I enjoy more than a nice sit down and a chat. My idea of heaven is everyone having that "nice sit down" all together. Granted, that is not possible, really, because one can't have a good chat with more than a few people at one time. BUT, that's what heaven is for: to project one's dreams of what can't be here on to this place in the hereafter. However, this red couch placed in front of Harrod's is a step in the right direction . Next, we need to add a series of coffee tables set with a tea service oh, about every third person. While we're at it, add a city garden with some blossoming trees and blooming roses. Then, my grandmother steps up and we say, "pull up a chair!" and she does. That's one of my ideas of heaven. What is yours?

on the edge

I'm on the edge of something... an insight about my life as a military man's daughter. "Men's violence toward women"... mentioned in Women in Black's statement about themselves. Violence. There are all kinds of violence.. and I have negative reactions to some sorts of violence, but then I perpetuate them myself. For example, in the use of language, I may use "strong" words and frighten my listener. I'm interested in learning about non-violent speech and have resisted buying a book I saw on the subject. Why resistant? Because as I become more conscious, there's a chance that there will be created a greater divide between me and those around me. Then I might judge. That's the greatest violence I think I commit against others. Is there a path through this? I can invite God into this desire or, as one of my mentors suggests, name the intention at the beginning of my day. Then, check how I did at the end of the day.

jesus ascending

We were outside after dinner and Pete said, "Look, there's a cloud that looks like Jesus ascending." So, we all looked and we saw a cloud that looks like Jesus ascending. So, John ran into the house to find the camera and then Pete went inside to look for the camera and then three people took pictures of the cloud. I remarked, "Wouldn't it be something if that were really Jesus?" which widened my heart. Was the Ascension a one time event? or does it still happen in our experience? and what would it look like? In lieu of any other answer, I'll just enjoy the picture of the cloud that floated by my house on April 27, 2008. ... and wonder.