Travelin’Oma, Week 11, Day 3. Finals week! The following questions were the quiz (not multiple choice). I really liked this one. My answers are simply the ones following the “bolded” questions.
Book Shelf Seminar Final: Are you a bookworm?
Do you own more than 100 books? Absolutely! Although cataloguing my library is a project for the future (one of those that I lay in bed at night planning for), I don’t currently have them listed and they are still packed in many, many boxes since we still don’t know where we will be living yet. I estimated that I have somewhere between 750 and 1000 volumes, but who knows…
Do you read any book or magazine that is handy? Of course. I have read a great number of things I would never of dreamed of perusing because they were the only literature available.
Have you ever read the cereal box? Yes. Too many times to count.
Do you have a membership with the local library? Yes. My first library card was from when I was in first grade and I have had one ever since.
Do you go to the library more than once a week? Probably not more than once a week, but it is definitely a place I visit often.
Would you rather read a book than go out with friends? I’m with my mom on this one. I’d take the friends since they aren’t always available, but books are always there.
Do you visit the bookstore more often than you do your mother? No, since currently I am living with my parents, that would be pretty difficult to do.
Do you wear glasses? If so, was reading the reason you got them? I wear glasses but funny enough, I take them off to read.
When asked your favorite hobbies, do you reply with a single word "reading?" That’s actually consistently my first answer but it is usually followed up by things like quilting, travel, photography, and designing.
Have you ever stayed in bed all day reading? I have spent several days of my life doing this, but not for quite a few years. Oh, to be able to do this again… Maybe one day on vacation or once my children are all grown up and gone.
Essay question: Leave a comment about the book you're reading right now.
I am currently reading two books.
The first book I am reading was actually mentioned in one of Oma’s early School Days posts:
10 Steps to Fashion Freedom by Malcolm Levene and Kate Mayfield. I am loving it! It is a marvelous way to rethink how you feel about yourself, inside and out. I checked it out from the library and liked it so much (and want to refer back to it in the future) that I decided to buy it for my own library (second-hand from thriftbooks.com).
The second book is The Winds of War by Herman Wouk. I have heard wonderful things about this one for a long time. So last week, when Joseph and I were squeezing in a trip to Sam Weller’s Bookstore in Salt Lake City, one of our favorite used (and new) bookstores, in between a wedding we were attending and the luncheon following the ceremony, and we decided to each find a book to purchase, a used copy of The Winds of War was my choice. (As a matter of interest, Joseph’s selection was a well-worn copy of The Complete Poems of Robert Frost.) In the thirty-ish pages I have read thus far, I am definitely enjoying it. I can’t wait to delve in further.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Travel Studies Seminar Final
Travelin’Oma, Week 11, Day 2. Finals week! Below is the quiz that Oma gave on Travel. I have highlighted my answer from the multiple choice selections by “bolding” the answer. (I am also “bolding” the questions.) Any additional thoughts are in brackets following my answers.
Travel Studies Seminar Final
1. What is your traveling style?
~ Going on a super luxury cruise, relaxing and eating well for a week.
~ Going with friends on a history bus tour with a guide. {Not so much with the bus tour with a guide, but maybe on a bus with ourselves (and our guidebooks) as our guides.}
~ Going on a wildlife safari or a mountaineering expedition.
2. How many clothes do you usually take along on a holiday?
~ At least 2 new sets of clothes for every day of the vacation.
~ One set per day is usually enough.
~ I can easily manage in 3-4 sets, no matter how long the vacation.
3. How many pieces of luggage did you carry on the last vacation?
~ Including the sleeping bags and the tent?
~ Two suitcases, carry-on, shopping bag, purse, tote, diaper bag, laptop, pillow, coat.
~ A backpack, that's all.
4. Given the following choices, where would you prefer traveling to?
~ Alaska or Tahiti
~ India Or China
~ Kenya Or Greenland
5. What is your preference regarding hotels, while on vacation?
~ A luxurious five star, with a room service 24 hours duty.
~ A medium priced hotel, with just the necessities.
~ A Tent rules.
6. What are your food preferences on a holiday?
~ A six course meal at the best restaurant in town.
~ A decent meal at a good place for $12.
~ Whatever you can carry in your cooler. {Although I occasionally balance it out with both of the other options to this question…}
7. How do you travel while on a holiday?
~ A rented car.
~ Public transport.
~ By foot, wherever possible. {A combination of both of these answers – depending on the situation.}
8. What's your dream vacation?
~ Biking down the California coast.
~ Eurailing around Europe for three months.
~ Two weeks at a beach resort.
9. You and your friends are hiking. You
~ Take the most difficult route; it's no fun otherwise.
~ Take the route everyone else takes.
~ You take the simplest route, after all reaching the destination is important.
~ {These answers don’t really fit me. I would probably take the route that fits the situation best – whether I was with children or not, wanted the hike or the destination or both – but I do like to get off the beaten path when I can.}
10. While on a beach
~ You prefer to go surfing or scuba-diving.
~ You are content with swimming in water.
~ You would rather stay on the beach and build sand castles {read!}. {I definitely go with a combination of all three here.}
11. In an amusement park, you will be seen
~ On the new gigantic roller-coaster.
~ Taking the scenic train ride.
~ Watching the kids while reading a book.
12. Someone says they're taking you bungee jumping.
~ You are totally game for it. Wow!
~ You express your doubts, but are persuaded.
~ You throw up.
13. When you are on a camping trip
~ You cook and eat whatever you can catch.
~ You bring fried chicken for dinner, and muffins for breakfast. {Although Joseph would probably be cooking and so it would likely be the first answer.}
~ You hire a dutch oven chef.
14. You're planning a long road trip with the kids. You
~ Buy a new car with a built in DVD player.
~ Take plenty of benedryl.
~ Buy several copies of Harry Potter, and read it out loud together.
15. You're in Washington DC for a long weekend. You can't wait to
~ Visit all the Smithsonian museums.
~ Take a city tour to see the Lincoln Memorial and other monuments.
~ Sleep in every morning, take in a movie, and see a live ballet that night.
Timed test: You have 15 minutes to plan a trip. Use Expedia, Travelocity, or any other resource to find a flight/driving route, plus a hotel/place to stay in a city of your choice. Is it do-able? Pack your bags!
Disneyland, coming right up! I think my children are getting old enough that they would really enjoy Disneyland. Now all my prep is done, we just need to find some time off to go...
I did a quick look-up and found driving directions, a hotel to stay in, and discount tickets to the park. I haven't been there since I was a kid, however, and would love any input from any of you on fun, inexpensive places to stay or places to get good deals on discount tickets to the park.
Travel Studies Seminar Final
1. What is your traveling style?
~ Going on a super luxury cruise, relaxing and eating well for a week.
~ Going with friends on a history bus tour with a guide. {Not so much with the bus tour with a guide, but maybe on a bus with ourselves (and our guidebooks) as our guides.}
~ Going on a wildlife safari or a mountaineering expedition.
2. How many clothes do you usually take along on a holiday?
~ At least 2 new sets of clothes for every day of the vacation.
~ One set per day is usually enough.
~ I can easily manage in 3-4 sets, no matter how long the vacation.
3. How many pieces of luggage did you carry on the last vacation?
~ Including the sleeping bags and the tent?
~ Two suitcases, carry-on, shopping bag, purse, tote, diaper bag, laptop, pillow, coat.
~ A backpack, that's all.
4. Given the following choices, where would you prefer traveling to?
~ Alaska or Tahiti
~ India Or China
~ Kenya Or Greenland
5. What is your preference regarding hotels, while on vacation?
~ A luxurious five star, with a room service 24 hours duty.
~ A medium priced hotel, with just the necessities.
~ A Tent rules.
6. What are your food preferences on a holiday?
~ A six course meal at the best restaurant in town.
~ A decent meal at a good place for $12.
~ Whatever you can carry in your cooler. {Although I occasionally balance it out with both of the other options to this question…}
7. How do you travel while on a holiday?
~ A rented car.
~ Public transport.
~ By foot, wherever possible. {A combination of both of these answers – depending on the situation.}
8. What's your dream vacation?
~ Biking down the California coast.
~ Eurailing around Europe for three months.
~ Two weeks at a beach resort.
9. You and your friends are hiking. You
~ Take the most difficult route; it's no fun otherwise.
~ Take the route everyone else takes.
~ You take the simplest route, after all reaching the destination is important.
~ {These answers don’t really fit me. I would probably take the route that fits the situation best – whether I was with children or not, wanted the hike or the destination or both – but I do like to get off the beaten path when I can.}
10. While on a beach
~ You prefer to go surfing or scuba-diving.
~ You are content with swimming in water.
~ You would rather stay on the beach and build sand castles {read!}. {I definitely go with a combination of all three here.}
11. In an amusement park, you will be seen
~ On the new gigantic roller-coaster.
~ Taking the scenic train ride.
~ Watching the kids while reading a book.
12. Someone says they're taking you bungee jumping.
~ You are totally game for it. Wow!
~ You express your doubts, but are persuaded.
~ You throw up.
13. When you are on a camping trip
~ You cook and eat whatever you can catch.
~ You bring fried chicken for dinner, and muffins for breakfast. {Although Joseph would probably be cooking and so it would likely be the first answer.}
~ You hire a dutch oven chef.
14. You're planning a long road trip with the kids. You
~ Buy a new car with a built in DVD player.
~ Take plenty of benedryl.
~ Buy several copies of Harry Potter, and read it out loud together.
15. You're in Washington DC for a long weekend. You can't wait to
~ Visit all the Smithsonian museums.
~ Take a city tour to see the Lincoln Memorial and other monuments.
~ Sleep in every morning, take in a movie, and see a live ballet that night.
Timed test: You have 15 minutes to plan a trip. Use Expedia, Travelocity, or any other resource to find a flight/driving route, plus a hotel/place to stay in a city of your choice. Is it do-able? Pack your bags!
Disneyland, coming right up! I think my children are getting old enough that they would really enjoy Disneyland. Now all my prep is done, we just need to find some time off to go...
I did a quick look-up and found driving directions, a hotel to stay in, and discount tickets to the park. I haven't been there since I was a kid, however, and would love any input from any of you on fun, inexpensive places to stay or places to get good deals on discount tickets to the park.
Write Away Seminar Final
Travelin'Oma, Week 11, Day 1. Finals week! This is the quiz Oma gave on writing. Some answers here might not make sense unless you also take a look at the quiz.
Write Away Seminar Final
1. The power in your house goes out, and you are stuck with candles and nothing to do but think. How long could you entertain yourself just sitting?
~Hours. I'd plan, plan, plan. I’d make a mental list of all of the projects I have been wanting to do and start thinking of the best way to attack each of them. I’d also likely think of all kinds of other projects I wanted to do and figure out how to do those as well. (I’m a little bit like “If you give a mouse a cookie” when it comes to projects…)
2. You're writing and the phone rings. You:
~Answer it – I get distracted easily.
3. The person calling is one of your dearest friends, who wants to get together for brunch and a good long chat. Unfortunately, this brunch will take place during your scheduled writing time. You:
~Decide to go. You can’t always go to lunch, but you can schedule other things (like writing or laundry or most of my daily tasks) for another time.
4. You're at the restaurant with your friend when you have a fantastic idea for a novel. You:
~ Are shocked. I wouldn’t have imagined that I would think of something so great, but I am completely prepared to write it down since I carry a notebook with me everywhere. (Although, come to think of it, if I thought of something like that, I would probably have no problem recalling it later when I got home!)
5. You imagine yourself as a successful writer. What is the image that is clearest in your mind?
~Your backside glued to the chair, your cramped fingers on the keyboard, and your blurred eyes on the monitor. And for me, trying to think of something clever to write on my blog.
6. If money was no issue, what would you do with your spare time?
~Shop til I drop, then go to a fabulous used bookstore and buy thousands of dollars of books on the list to complete my perfect library. Then, after outfitting a room in my home as a library with floor to ceiling book shelves and overstuffed brown leather chairs, I would sit alone in a room full of books and read.
7. Do you have . . .
~Several emails in my inbox with the subject “blog idea:______” with each blank filled with ideas for future blog entries.
8. You figure the biggest benefit of becoming a writer is:
~The writing.
9. You read:
~You invented the term multi-tasking because reading IS your "something better to do". You usually have a book in hand no matter what else you're doing at the time.
10. You have some strong opinions about a political issue. You:
~Discuss it at length with my husband.
11. You realize you have an experience that would benefit others. You:
~Write a blog entry about it.
Essay question: Am I right for writing?
Yes… at least that’s what I want to believe. It may take me many more years of practice, but I’m starting to feel like there may be hope for me as a writer. However, my aspirations are not to be a Great American Novelist, or to write a treatise that lands me on the NY Times Best Seller List. I want to express my thoughts clearly, effectively, and with an element of wit or beauty. I want to be able to move people with the words that pour from my fingers. But I don’t need to move the masses; I just want to touch the lives of those nearest to me – to somehow change them for the better.
Write Away Seminar Final
1. The power in your house goes out, and you are stuck with candles and nothing to do but think. How long could you entertain yourself just sitting?
~Hours. I'd plan, plan, plan. I’d make a mental list of all of the projects I have been wanting to do and start thinking of the best way to attack each of them. I’d also likely think of all kinds of other projects I wanted to do and figure out how to do those as well. (I’m a little bit like “If you give a mouse a cookie” when it comes to projects…)
2. You're writing and the phone rings. You:
~Answer it – I get distracted easily.
3. The person calling is one of your dearest friends, who wants to get together for brunch and a good long chat. Unfortunately, this brunch will take place during your scheduled writing time. You:
~Decide to go. You can’t always go to lunch, but you can schedule other things (like writing or laundry or most of my daily tasks) for another time.
4. You're at the restaurant with your friend when you have a fantastic idea for a novel. You:
~ Are shocked. I wouldn’t have imagined that I would think of something so great, but I am completely prepared to write it down since I carry a notebook with me everywhere. (Although, come to think of it, if I thought of something like that, I would probably have no problem recalling it later when I got home!)
5. You imagine yourself as a successful writer. What is the image that is clearest in your mind?
~Your backside glued to the chair, your cramped fingers on the keyboard, and your blurred eyes on the monitor. And for me, trying to think of something clever to write on my blog.
6. If money was no issue, what would you do with your spare time?
~Shop til I drop, then go to a fabulous used bookstore and buy thousands of dollars of books on the list to complete my perfect library. Then, after outfitting a room in my home as a library with floor to ceiling book shelves and overstuffed brown leather chairs, I would sit alone in a room full of books and read.
7. Do you have . . .
~Several emails in my inbox with the subject “blog idea:______” with each blank filled with ideas for future blog entries.
8. You figure the biggest benefit of becoming a writer is:
~The writing.
9. You read:
~You invented the term multi-tasking because reading IS your "something better to do". You usually have a book in hand no matter what else you're doing at the time.
10. You have some strong opinions about a political issue. You:
~Discuss it at length with my husband.
11. You realize you have an experience that would benefit others. You:
~Write a blog entry about it.
Essay question: Am I right for writing?
Yes… at least that’s what I want to believe. It may take me many more years of practice, but I’m starting to feel like there may be hope for me as a writer. However, my aspirations are not to be a Great American Novelist, or to write a treatise that lands me on the NY Times Best Seller List. I want to express my thoughts clearly, effectively, and with an element of wit or beauty. I want to be able to move people with the words that pour from my fingers. But I don’t need to move the masses; I just want to touch the lives of those nearest to me – to somehow change them for the better.
Friday, November 6, 2009
You Are Not Alone
Travelin’Oma, Week 10, Day 5 – I can’t believe I’ve made it this far!
You are not alone.
When I first found out that what I had been struggling with for several years was depression and anxiety, I felt very alone. I felt kind of like a hypocrite walking around and acting like everything was just fine when inside I felt such complete darkness. I was overwhelmed, yet relieved to know that now that my illness had a name, I could start on the road to recovery. I got a prescription for antidepressant medication, but a doctor who was not very sensitive gave me a medication that was not a very appropriate fit for my symptoms and required that I stop nursing my 9-month old baby. “Go home, feed him for the last time, and then start taking this medication,” he told me. It was awful. I rocked Austin while I fed him and sobbed and sobbed, feeling even more like an inadequate mother than I already felt now that I was unable to provide for his most basic needs. (As a side note, it actually turned out to be a big blessing that I had to stop nursing him, but that’s a story for another day.)
As I looked at the women around me, they looked like they had it all together, and I had a throbbing ache in my chest that took a long time, and medication, to go away. I am immensely blessed to have an incredible and understanding husband who has been right by my side holding my hand and stroking my hair when I need him to. However, I still felt very alone.
Then two major blessings came my way that helped me to know how much God loved me by letting me know that I was not alone – there were others around me to help and He was always there for me, night and day. These blessings also changed how I have approached my depression ever since. Incidentally, they both came through the Visiting Teaching program of my church, a program that allows us women to support and uplift one another through assignments where we are asked to visit and teach women around us.
The first one occurred when I was visiting with two other women down the street from me and we were chatting away about life and school, etc. One of them mentioned something about having forgotten to take one of her medications the previous day and she off-handedly named the medicine as she was telling us this story. I recognized the medication as one of the ones the doctor had indicated as a possibility for me to take for my depression. As I was in the throes of determining which prescription was most helpful for me, I was very interested in how it had worked for her. I cautiously asked her about the medicine and in so doing, found out that the other woman there also had depression and anxiety, just like me. These women seemed so well put together that I couldn’t believe that they were in a similar situation. I started to cry as I felt a small part of my burden lifted to know that there were others – even both of these women in front of me – out there who knew what the darkness and worry felt like that had been gnawing away inside of me for so long. To find that they were able to function so well and seem so “normal” was just what I needed at that time.
The second experience happened a few weeks later when two women who were good friends were at my apartment visiting me. They caught me on a particularly difficult day and when they asked how I was doing, I burst into tears. I had been trying to keep from weighing others down with my trial, but I felt safe with them and it all came pouring out. I found out that one of the women was a yoga instructor and, knowing that we were also tight on money (another large stress in my life at the time), she offered to let me attend her classes for free to try to help with the depression. This was just what I needed. It allowed me to have an emotional release as well as exercise. They even offered to arrange babysitting for me if Joseph wasn’t available at the times the classes were held. Had I not shared with them, they would not have been able to help me in a way so specific to my needs.
It has been several more years since I started getting this under control and I have good times and not-so-good times, but I have remained fairly open since then with others about my depression and anxiety. I don’t like to make others uncomfortable or burden them with the struggles of my life – I try to be pretty matter-of-fact about it – but I hope that it allows others to not feel alone. If anyone is under the seriously misguided illusion that I have it all together in my life, they can know that I don’t, and I hope that it gives them strength to not hold themselves to an unreasonable standard. I also pray that it helps those who may be struggling with depression themselves and don’t want to admit that this could really be the problem to know that it is okay – not fun, but okay – to face this and figuring out what the problem is can be the first step to stopping the feeling that you are drowning. I hope my experiences also give understanding to those around me who have loved ones that struggle with depression and/or anxiety. I have been blessed with loved ones all around me who are supportive, even if they don’t really understand how real and deep the pain can be that comes with depression. I am grateful for them and grateful for the times that they have told me that I’m not really doing as well as I thought I was so that I could start to get help again. It is sometimes difficult to monitor that yourself when you are struggling.
I’m not necessarily where I want to be yet. I don’t laugh very often, I have to remind myself to smile, and I want to feel less heaviness inside me. However, I am fighting it each day and getting closer to my goals. I hope that those around me who love me will continue to be patient with me as they help to lift my burdens every day while I struggle. For them: know that I love you and am aware of how much you do to compensate for my inadequacies. Thank you.
For anyone else who is struggling out there, and some of you have far, far greater burdens to carry than I, know that you are not alone.
You are not alone.
When I first found out that what I had been struggling with for several years was depression and anxiety, I felt very alone. I felt kind of like a hypocrite walking around and acting like everything was just fine when inside I felt such complete darkness. I was overwhelmed, yet relieved to know that now that my illness had a name, I could start on the road to recovery. I got a prescription for antidepressant medication, but a doctor who was not very sensitive gave me a medication that was not a very appropriate fit for my symptoms and required that I stop nursing my 9-month old baby. “Go home, feed him for the last time, and then start taking this medication,” he told me. It was awful. I rocked Austin while I fed him and sobbed and sobbed, feeling even more like an inadequate mother than I already felt now that I was unable to provide for his most basic needs. (As a side note, it actually turned out to be a big blessing that I had to stop nursing him, but that’s a story for another day.)
As I looked at the women around me, they looked like they had it all together, and I had a throbbing ache in my chest that took a long time, and medication, to go away. I am immensely blessed to have an incredible and understanding husband who has been right by my side holding my hand and stroking my hair when I need him to. However, I still felt very alone.
Then two major blessings came my way that helped me to know how much God loved me by letting me know that I was not alone – there were others around me to help and He was always there for me, night and day. These blessings also changed how I have approached my depression ever since. Incidentally, they both came through the Visiting Teaching program of my church, a program that allows us women to support and uplift one another through assignments where we are asked to visit and teach women around us.
The first one occurred when I was visiting with two other women down the street from me and we were chatting away about life and school, etc. One of them mentioned something about having forgotten to take one of her medications the previous day and she off-handedly named the medicine as she was telling us this story. I recognized the medication as one of the ones the doctor had indicated as a possibility for me to take for my depression. As I was in the throes of determining which prescription was most helpful for me, I was very interested in how it had worked for her. I cautiously asked her about the medicine and in so doing, found out that the other woman there also had depression and anxiety, just like me. These women seemed so well put together that I couldn’t believe that they were in a similar situation. I started to cry as I felt a small part of my burden lifted to know that there were others – even both of these women in front of me – out there who knew what the darkness and worry felt like that had been gnawing away inside of me for so long. To find that they were able to function so well and seem so “normal” was just what I needed at that time.
The second experience happened a few weeks later when two women who were good friends were at my apartment visiting me. They caught me on a particularly difficult day and when they asked how I was doing, I burst into tears. I had been trying to keep from weighing others down with my trial, but I felt safe with them and it all came pouring out. I found out that one of the women was a yoga instructor and, knowing that we were also tight on money (another large stress in my life at the time), she offered to let me attend her classes for free to try to help with the depression. This was just what I needed. It allowed me to have an emotional release as well as exercise. They even offered to arrange babysitting for me if Joseph wasn’t available at the times the classes were held. Had I not shared with them, they would not have been able to help me in a way so specific to my needs.
It has been several more years since I started getting this under control and I have good times and not-so-good times, but I have remained fairly open since then with others about my depression and anxiety. I don’t like to make others uncomfortable or burden them with the struggles of my life – I try to be pretty matter-of-fact about it – but I hope that it allows others to not feel alone. If anyone is under the seriously misguided illusion that I have it all together in my life, they can know that I don’t, and I hope that it gives them strength to not hold themselves to an unreasonable standard. I also pray that it helps those who may be struggling with depression themselves and don’t want to admit that this could really be the problem to know that it is okay – not fun, but okay – to face this and figuring out what the problem is can be the first step to stopping the feeling that you are drowning. I hope my experiences also give understanding to those around me who have loved ones that struggle with depression and/or anxiety. I have been blessed with loved ones all around me who are supportive, even if they don’t really understand how real and deep the pain can be that comes with depression. I am grateful for them and grateful for the times that they have told me that I’m not really doing as well as I thought I was so that I could start to get help again. It is sometimes difficult to monitor that yourself when you are struggling.
I’m not necessarily where I want to be yet. I don’t laugh very often, I have to remind myself to smile, and I want to feel less heaviness inside me. However, I am fighting it each day and getting closer to my goals. I hope that those around me who love me will continue to be patient with me as they help to lift my burdens every day while I struggle. For them: know that I love you and am aware of how much you do to compensate for my inadequacies. Thank you.
For anyone else who is struggling out there, and some of you have far, far greater burdens to carry than I, know that you are not alone.
Monday, November 2, 2009
A Listening Ear and an Open Heart
Travelin'Oma, Week 10, Day 1. It was a fabulous post today, Oma. I was so inspired by the beautiful stories of fellow classmates! We have some fabulous writers in our class.
A listening ear and an open heart.
Today I was able to spend some time with one of my favorite people: my cousin Lucy. We are only a few months apart in age and are very good friends. This morning I read a blog post she wrote last night about coming to the end of a phase in her life, and I thought about all that has happened in her life in these last three years. Very difficult and painful things have happened, as well as an outpouring of blessings so great that they are unfathomable to many. I have been a part of many of these experiences, but I was particularly struck today as I remembered a specific days about a year and a half ago when she was able to come pour her heart out to me in a moment of crisis and how it changed my life and hers.
As I listened to Lucy’s heart breaking, that day in June, and became more aware of the pain and suffering that she felt, I felt an aching deep inside of me while she told me of the tragedy playing out in her life. Many tears were shed by both of us, and the consequences of her decisions will affect the remainder of her days on this earth, but her decisions were the right ones. However heavy my heart was during the days and weeks that followed, I am so grateful that I was able, in a very small way, to have a part in that sorrow that she carried because it increased my understanding of her soul and opened my heart to feel an even greater love for her than I already did before.
I love you, Lucy! I will miss you so much when you move. I am so excited for your next adventure in life and hope that you will always come to me when you need a listening ear and know that I will always have an open heart to share your joys and your sorrows.
A listening ear and an open heart.
Today I was able to spend some time with one of my favorite people: my cousin Lucy. We are only a few months apart in age and are very good friends. This morning I read a blog post she wrote last night about coming to the end of a phase in her life, and I thought about all that has happened in her life in these last three years. Very difficult and painful things have happened, as well as an outpouring of blessings so great that they are unfathomable to many. I have been a part of many of these experiences, but I was particularly struck today as I remembered a specific days about a year and a half ago when she was able to come pour her heart out to me in a moment of crisis and how it changed my life and hers.
As I listened to Lucy’s heart breaking, that day in June, and became more aware of the pain and suffering that she felt, I felt an aching deep inside of me while she told me of the tragedy playing out in her life. Many tears were shed by both of us, and the consequences of her decisions will affect the remainder of her days on this earth, but her decisions were the right ones. However heavy my heart was during the days and weeks that followed, I am so grateful that I was able, in a very small way, to have a part in that sorrow that she carried because it increased my understanding of her soul and opened my heart to feel an even greater love for her than I already did before.
I love you, Lucy! I will miss you so much when you move. I am so excited for your next adventure in life and hope that you will always come to me when you need a listening ear and know that I will always have an open heart to share your joys and your sorrows.
Goodies from the Substratum
*Note: This is Joseph again.
Goodies from the substratum.
I am a biologist. There are very few things that gross me out. I am often fascinated by things that send normal people running for a garbage can to throw up in. As evidence, consider that for most of Audrey's and my marriage I have appropriated an entire drawer of our bedroom dresser as a home for a collection of fungal isolates in pure culture (yes, I know - poor Audrey. My take on it is - hey, at least they're in sealed petri dishes). Notwithstanding this, my children will occasionally succeed in coming up with something that grosses even me out.
This past summer I made a trip to the high school that I used to teach at in order to gather up some teaching supplies that I had left behind in my move to my current teaching position. As I often do, I took my boys with me. After loading up the van with teaching supplies and then two boys, I climbed in and began to drive away. A minute later, a glance in the rearview mirror revealed that Austin was chewing on something. Mildly curious, I asked what he was chewing on. He replied matter-of-factly "gum."
I then had one of those flashes of insight in which I knew exactly where this conversation was going to end up, yet I didn't want to believe what I knew I was about to hear, because the truth was going to be too disgusting to contemplate. It went as follows:
J - (trying to remain calm) "Oh, where did you get the gum?"
A - (once again in an entirely matter-of-fact tone and still chewing with immense satisfaction) "off the ground," (and by "off the ground," he didn't mean from a nice clean package - we're talking second-hand gum here)
J - (suppressing my gag reflex and pushing my open hand behind me, in front of Austin's face) "Give it to me right now!"
A - (unperturbed and not relinquishing his well-masticated prize) "But Daddy, it so fresh. It so sweet!"
Disgusting.
Goodies from the substratum.
I am a biologist. There are very few things that gross me out. I am often fascinated by things that send normal people running for a garbage can to throw up in. As evidence, consider that for most of Audrey's and my marriage I have appropriated an entire drawer of our bedroom dresser as a home for a collection of fungal isolates in pure culture (yes, I know - poor Audrey. My take on it is - hey, at least they're in sealed petri dishes). Notwithstanding this, my children will occasionally succeed in coming up with something that grosses even me out.
This past summer I made a trip to the high school that I used to teach at in order to gather up some teaching supplies that I had left behind in my move to my current teaching position. As I often do, I took my boys with me. After loading up the van with teaching supplies and then two boys, I climbed in and began to drive away. A minute later, a glance in the rearview mirror revealed that Austin was chewing on something. Mildly curious, I asked what he was chewing on. He replied matter-of-factly "gum."
I then had one of those flashes of insight in which I knew exactly where this conversation was going to end up, yet I didn't want to believe what I knew I was about to hear, because the truth was going to be too disgusting to contemplate. It went as follows:
J - (trying to remain calm) "Oh, where did you get the gum?"
A - (once again in an entirely matter-of-fact tone and still chewing with immense satisfaction) "off the ground," (and by "off the ground," he didn't mean from a nice clean package - we're talking second-hand gum here)
J - (suppressing my gag reflex and pushing my open hand behind me, in front of Austin's face) "Give it to me right now!"
A - (unperturbed and not relinquishing his well-masticated prize) "But Daddy, it so fresh. It so sweet!"
Disgusting.
Underestimating Children
*Note: This is not Audrey - this is Joseph, the other half of this blog, and the one drowning in schoolwork. Thus, the infrequency of my posts...
Underestimating children.
One of the most difficult parts of being a teacher is figuring out how much rigor my students can handle. Unfortunately, I think that I often err on the side of making my curriculum too easy, rather than too rigorous. I find that I occasionally make the same mistake in the education of my own children. As a result, I sometimes end up looking a little foolish.
For example, Audrey and I recently drove through Yellowstone National Park with our children. We, of course, stopped at Old Faithful geyser. Because the geyser currently erupts only about once per hour, we had to wait for a few minutes before the eruption began. Our boys spent these few minutes sliding around on the icy boardwalk and falling down a lot, while Audrey and I joined the gathering crowd of onlookers watching the whisps of steam that are constantly escaping from the geyser between eruptions.
Suddenly, about two minutes before the eruption, Austin stopped his sliding, turned to me, and initiated the following exchange:
A - "Daddy, where da hole?"(translation - "where is the geyser?")
J - (Attempting to use terminology that would make sense to a 4-year old) "Over there where the smoke is coming out of the ground"
A - (With a look that conveyed utter disgust at my stupidity) "Dat not smoke, dat hot water!"
Foolish Daddy.
I was rewarded with hearty laughter from the nearest onlookers.
Maybe kids are smarter than we think they are.
Underestimating children.
One of the most difficult parts of being a teacher is figuring out how much rigor my students can handle. Unfortunately, I think that I often err on the side of making my curriculum too easy, rather than too rigorous. I find that I occasionally make the same mistake in the education of my own children. As a result, I sometimes end up looking a little foolish.
For example, Audrey and I recently drove through Yellowstone National Park with our children. We, of course, stopped at Old Faithful geyser. Because the geyser currently erupts only about once per hour, we had to wait for a few minutes before the eruption began. Our boys spent these few minutes sliding around on the icy boardwalk and falling down a lot, while Audrey and I joined the gathering crowd of onlookers watching the whisps of steam that are constantly escaping from the geyser between eruptions.
Suddenly, about two minutes before the eruption, Austin stopped his sliding, turned to me, and initiated the following exchange:
A - "Daddy, where da hole?"(translation - "where is the geyser?")
J - (Attempting to use terminology that would make sense to a 4-year old) "Over there where the smoke is coming out of the ground"
A - (With a look that conveyed utter disgust at my stupidity) "Dat not smoke, dat hot water!"
Foolish Daddy.
I was rewarded with hearty laughter from the nearest onlookers.
Maybe kids are smarter than we think they are.
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