Life is now!

This week was bittersweet. My dear Aunt Sheila was killed in a car crash by a drunk driver early Sunday morning. She was 54 and a loving mother and grandmother who will be missed. Her death, and the deaths of so many friends last year led me to make a choice this week. I could reside in sadness and begin to believe this will be another year of tragedy or, I could continue to believe this year is going to be remarkable. While it is important to take time to grieve, I've learned I cannot allow myself to focus on the negative circumstances, because in this life there will be ups and downs. That is a fact.

Monday was Dr. Martin Luther King day. To commemorate, I visited the Los Angeles Museum of Tolerance along with some Creative Team members from church. This was my second time at the museum, so I split off to explore other areas. I came upon an exhibit of about 15 women of colour who changed our way of living and brought new civil liberties to all of us because of their perseverance through hard times. No matter what obstacles they faced, or tragedies they encountered, they pushed toward a goal of seeing change in our nation.

I also heard two Holocaust survivors recount their experience. Each was very different, yet there was a common theme - there are good people in this world and life is worth living. Both told of horrific moments where loved ones were murdered, and those around them were inhumanely treated. One was in Auschwitz and described extreme hunger and having to share a pot of water with spoiled vegetables and eating a piece of bread that was "half sawdust." The other spoke about running and hiding from town to town at the age of 9 and 10, not knowing where to go or what was happening. Both shared how there were people who helped them and others - a priest, a worker, a fellow labourer at camp - someone who risked their lives to preserve theirs. In the midst of such insurmountable situations, both of these survivors kept going, kept living, and didn't give up.

What I take away from this week is this reminder:
           Life is precious, we are privileged to be breathing. And if we're living in a nation whose citizens are free, we have even more to be thankful for. Whether I am in turmoil or incandescently happy, I will choose to be thankful and live each day to the full. Life is not my accomplishments of 10 years ago, nor is it my goals of next year, life today, life is now!

"These things I have spoken to you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you will have tribulation: but be of good cheer, and take courage; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Christmas

This Christmas was a hard one as we said goodbye to Duke, our dear dog of 11 years. He was affectionately known as Poopy Duke. For the first time in a while, it was pretty tough getting into the Christmas spirit. We didn't put up too many decorations and we didn't really purchase any gifts until Friday, the 23rd. Yet and still, it was lovely to be home with my family. My parents and I embarked on watching all VI episodes of Star Wars. Unfortunately, we left the universe in statis, with the Empire in control since we didn't watch the last episode. We also didn't engage in our tradition of watching all 3 The Lord of the Rings movies (extended versions of course). We did however partake in a bountiful Christmas dinner cooked by yours truly on Saturday night. Mom conveniently hurt her back Saturday morning and was not able to do much but pull out cookbooks, dictate recipes and offer moral support. I didn't mind at all - now I have all the secret recipes! Dad helped by cooking the mashed potatoes, and my brother David, hmm, well, he ate!

Sunday morning we went to church where I was happy to sing 3 songs - Joy to the World, O Come all ye Faithful and the Christmas standard, O Holy Night. Afterwards we went home to eat again and open presents. My big gift was tires for my car (so appreciated) and David's was a new laptop! Mom enjoyed receiving lots of bath soaps and salts and Dad got cologne, T-Shirts and a pretty nice gift card.

During my time at home, I was able to sleep a bunch, enjoy the fireplace and attend quite a few Zumba classes! I also met up with some dear high school friends and saw the Gabe Zimmerman Memorial Bench that was placed at our high school, University High. Gabe was an aide to Tucson Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and was shot and killed last year on January 8th at a community event.

Right before I left we played a ridiculous game called Quelf. It forced us to be silly and zany (as if we needed help with that) and gave us lots of good laughs! It was a lovely way to end the visit home.