On my facebook page, I read this & it struck me as something that is important to remember as we are all filling ourselves up today & looking at the ads for Black Friday:
"Chris wants everyone to know that 2/3 of the world lives on less than it cost us for a can of cranberry sauce...be thankful today but be helpful tomorrow..."
I have always felt charity was important so please don't forget to donate this Christmas, whether it be for "Toys for Tots", the "Salvation Army" or the local food pantry. Many grocery stores will have places where you can drop off can goods to donate so it is easy to give.
I know with the economic trouble everyone is facing these days, it is easy to say, there isn't even enough for me but often it is because of our "wants" not our "needs". It is easy to forget that there are so many families in this country who do not have the "needs" covered. Even if you don't have the funds to donate this holiday season, the "Red Cross" can always use blood donations. There is always a way to find a way to help someone in need, even if it is shoveling the snow from an elderly neighbor's drive for free.
Also, don't forget all of the men & women in the arm forces who will not get to spend the holidays with their loved ones.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!
I wanted to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving. I am so thankful for so many things. While life has it's challenges, I really do have so many terrific things in my life. I have very sweet & adorable children. A husband who works very hard. A kind and generous sister. I have terrific friends who really bring joy to my life with kindness & compassion & a kick in the ass when I need it! The list could go on & on.
I do want to mention though that I am thankful for this modern age that allows me to write this blog. It has been nice to be able to get my ideas out, to share what I find interesting & funny or important with all of you who read it. I want to say thank you to you.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Yes Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus
An 8 year old wrote to the New York Sun newspaper asking if Santa was real in 1897. Here was the reply she got. I love his eloquence. Click on the title if you want to read about the history of this story.
"Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood."
"Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood."
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Haunting Me
I loved this!
Haunting Me
By Michell Storm
The ghosts that haunt us never go away. Everyday, day in and day out, they are there, though not always conspicuous. When you are alone and your mind is quiet, when your mind is ready for a respite, the ghosts slowly sneak in. The ghosts of regret. The ghosts of shame. The ghosts of loss, hurt, disappointment. The ghost of blame. The ghost of bitterness. The ghost of the one that doesn't exist. And the worst one of all: The ghost of fear.
Some days the ghosts are real. They walk with you. They talk with you. They scream at you. And you forget which world you are in. The real or imagined? Their world or yours?
How did it happen, when did it happen? Some might just call them memories, but they're not. Some might say they are demons but they are not. Demons want you to do something. These ghosts are different. They want an explanation. Why you did, why you didn't. What if you did? What if you don't? Look what happened when you didn't? They become authentic. You have conversations with them. You argue your points to them. You justify what you did or didn't do.
Why is that the right thing is sometimes the hardest? Why is it like this?
How is it that can you walk down the same path for so many years with someone and end up at some point and realize you don't know who that person is let alone who you are or how you could have ever let yourself get there. Where were the ghosts then?
Of course they were there all along. You just chose to ignore them or perhaps they chose to ignore you. In doing so, maybe they are protecting you. Maybe they are your defense, your security. I mean, after all, if they disappeared, and you actually had a restful sleep and your brain was ever quiet enough for you concentrate on something other than them, what would that be like? Would the quietness of your mind; of being alone with yourself be too much?
The thing is the ghosts never go away. You might control them, or ignore them or even deal with them in a positive way. But you'll pass them on, just as they were passed on to you. In this way the ghosts are like bags, or little trinkets. But instead of being beautiful they are ugly, but nevertheless extraordinary..
I wanted my ghosts to go away and leave me alone. I wanted them to disengage. I'm tired of them. I'm exhausted from them pulling and tugging at me and covering me. But then, I never imagined that everyone I knew would just turn, so apathetic, when I needed them. I never thought that I'd be in so far over my head that I could barely see. I never though everyone would just watch as I fell. I never thought that I'd look around and only see my ghosts.
I never thought I'd see such disregard.
But here I am now. I've fallen hard and I'm barely keeping my head above, struggling hard just to maintain and there are the times more often than not when I think I'll just let it all go.
But I can't, even when I want to. One ghost keeps me going. The ghost of fortitude.
Maybe one day my ghosts will settle down or even disappear. So long as I try my hardest not to let them overtake me and fight against them, maybe I won't pass the ghosts on to my children. Maybe the ghost of fortitude will look after me and put my separated heart back together.
And maybe someday, I'll be able to walk along the same path with someone, and my ghosts will quietly trail behind.
Haunting Me
By Michell Storm
The ghosts that haunt us never go away. Everyday, day in and day out, they are there, though not always conspicuous. When you are alone and your mind is quiet, when your mind is ready for a respite, the ghosts slowly sneak in. The ghosts of regret. The ghosts of shame. The ghosts of loss, hurt, disappointment. The ghost of blame. The ghost of bitterness. The ghost of the one that doesn't exist. And the worst one of all: The ghost of fear.
Some days the ghosts are real. They walk with you. They talk with you. They scream at you. And you forget which world you are in. The real or imagined? Their world or yours?
How did it happen, when did it happen? Some might just call them memories, but they're not. Some might say they are demons but they are not. Demons want you to do something. These ghosts are different. They want an explanation. Why you did, why you didn't. What if you did? What if you don't? Look what happened when you didn't? They become authentic. You have conversations with them. You argue your points to them. You justify what you did or didn't do.
Why is that the right thing is sometimes the hardest? Why is it like this?
How is it that can you walk down the same path for so many years with someone and end up at some point and realize you don't know who that person is let alone who you are or how you could have ever let yourself get there. Where were the ghosts then?
Of course they were there all along. You just chose to ignore them or perhaps they chose to ignore you. In doing so, maybe they are protecting you. Maybe they are your defense, your security. I mean, after all, if they disappeared, and you actually had a restful sleep and your brain was ever quiet enough for you concentrate on something other than them, what would that be like? Would the quietness of your mind; of being alone with yourself be too much?
The thing is the ghosts never go away. You might control them, or ignore them or even deal with them in a positive way. But you'll pass them on, just as they were passed on to you. In this way the ghosts are like bags, or little trinkets. But instead of being beautiful they are ugly, but nevertheless extraordinary..
I wanted my ghosts to go away and leave me alone. I wanted them to disengage. I'm tired of them. I'm exhausted from them pulling and tugging at me and covering me. But then, I never imagined that everyone I knew would just turn, so apathetic, when I needed them. I never thought that I'd be in so far over my head that I could barely see. I never though everyone would just watch as I fell. I never thought that I'd look around and only see my ghosts.
I never thought I'd see such disregard.
But here I am now. I've fallen hard and I'm barely keeping my head above, struggling hard just to maintain and there are the times more often than not when I think I'll just let it all go.
But I can't, even when I want to. One ghost keeps me going. The ghost of fortitude.
Maybe one day my ghosts will settle down or even disappear. So long as I try my hardest not to let them overtake me and fight against them, maybe I won't pass the ghosts on to my children. Maybe the ghost of fortitude will look after me and put my separated heart back together.
And maybe someday, I'll be able to walk along the same path with someone, and my ghosts will quietly trail behind.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
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