***SPOILER ALERT FOR THE AMAZING RACE!!!***
Given my contentious relationship with my father, it was very touching to hear what father-son team Mel and Mike White had to say at the Philimination mat in Thailand. I can't remember his actual awesome words, but Mel said that Mike was his son, and that he was proud that he will leave someone in this world that would change it. Now THAT'S a parental seal of approval if I ever heard or saw one!
They were one of my favorite teams (Margie and Luke is the other one of course) and I was sorry to see them go. (Phil also said the same thing.)
Remember this exchange between Aragorn and Eowyn in The Two Towers?
Aragorn: What do you fear, my lady?
Eowyn: A cage. To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them and all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire.
Aragorn: You are a daughter of kings, a shield maiden of Rohan. I do not think that will be your fate.
It is interesting how many women are obsessed with finding true love and getting married. It is equally, if not more, fascinating, how disillusioned women get after many years of marriage. Especially if they're staying in the relationship only because their own feelings about propriety or the sanctity of marriage won't allow them to leave an unhappy situation. They come to realize at some point that Mr. Right is Mr. Wrong, and yet they stay for various reasons. This is so disheartening and probably one of the saddest things I can ever hear. I keep hearing women say they wish they never got married, or that they love their kids, but wish they never had them.
I know marriage is probably one of the hardest things people will ever do in their lives, and you do see couples who are genuinely happy. Good for them if they actually find true love or even better, true friendship in their spouses. But when their partners are so undeserving, unappreciative and uncaring, why spend the rest of your life like that? Women get so boxed in by what society dictates, or expects of them. They define themselves as mothers, wives, homemakers, forgetting that they are persons, individuals who need to, as Oprah says, live their best lives.
Here's Maya Angelou's I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.
I am genuinely saddened by the passing of the great actress Natasha Richardson. I wouldn't say I'm her biggest fan, but her body of work is outstanding. I feel lucky to have watched her Blanche DuBois on stage.
Her demise brought out feelings of grief that I went through when Princess Diana died. Both are royalty (Ms. Richardson comes from a long line of performers), both passed away in tragic accidents at the prime of their lives, leaving 2 young boys motherless. She led a quiet, un-Hollywood life with her husband Liam Neeson, who was reportedly so distraught (and understandably so) by the loss of his wife. The thought of keeping her alive just so they could bring her back to New York and have her family and friends say goodbye to her is heartbreaking. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and loved ones.
Goodbye Natasha! May you rest in God's peace.
I had a wonderful birthday, even though I had to go to work. I opened my birthday gifts...this mug from Cecile was the first one I opened. Got candles from Karina, a turtle neck and clock from Manang Etta. I didn't really want presents but thanks!
My co-workers gave me a funny card and a birthday cake. My patient's husband gave me flowers. A classmate I had reconnected with on Facebook sent me a birthday card, and a friend from Indiana sent an Edible Arrangement. I had my taxes done...well half-done. The Indian tax preparer was very concerned when he learned I was on disability for a while, and kept wishing me well. He seemed very religious, kept referring to God. Lovely man.
My eldest sister and her family then took me out for dinner. All in all a wonderful day. Lots of text messages, emails and voicemails. Life is good.
Thanks my dear family and friends! You make life worth living.
Recently I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged & the mother said, 'I love
you, and I wish you enough.'
The daughter replied, 'Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too,Mom.'
They kissed & the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see she wanted & needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy, but she welcomed me in by asking, 'Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?'
'Yes, I have,' I replied. 'Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?'.
'I am old, and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead & the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral,' she said.
'When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough.' May I ask what that means?'
She began to smile. 'That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone.' She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, & she smiled even more. 'When we said, 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.'Then turning toward me, she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory.
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear..
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive & everlasting.
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.
She then began to cry and walked away.
Most of us cannot imagine life without our microwave ovens, cellphones, laptops, and other gadgetry meant to make our lives easier. But technological advances give rise to a whole new set of problems. Microwaves destroy the nutrients in our food. Blackberrys and computers get hacked into, allowing malicious people to steal identities or spread viruses. Cellphones are being used for sexting and bullying. We keep hearing about teenagers committing suicide because of harassment. I have recently reconnected with classmates via Facebook, and it seems that our collective memories of our gradeschool and highschool years are all positive. I don't know if it's because it was a different country, different culture, it was a Catholic school, who knows? But I sure wouldn't want to be a teenager growing up in America today.
How can people like Rush Limbaugh, Pat Buchanan and other conservatives say that they all want President Obama to fail? We all live in the same country! He fails, the whole country suffers. They can leave if they want to. Do they simply want Obama to fail as miserably as their old boy Bush did? Or it's just politics as usual, sticking to the ol' party line, criticizing without offering viable solutions or alternatives. This isn't a time for divisiveness. You guys lost the election. Best that you learn how to deal with it, and do something good for the sake of your countrymen instead of just mindlessly mouthing off.
Rules are as follows:
1. Put your iPod or other music player on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the NEXT button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Return to Pooh Corner (Kenny Loggins)-Does that mean that person is overweight? Or on time out?
WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
The Riddle (Five for Fighting)-Very interesting...
WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Shape of my Heart (Backstreet Boys)-What's up with THAT?!
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
I'll Cover You (Rent cast album)-Awww
WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
No one is to blame (Howard Jones)-Untrue! I blame everyone :)
WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Centerfold (J. Geils Band)-mwahaha!
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT OFTEN?
Part of your World (The Little Mermaid soundtrack)
WHAT IS 2+2?
Suburbia (Pet Shop Boys)
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Liberte (Gilbert Montagner)
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Impulsive (Wilson Phillips)
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Points of View (Pops Fernandez and Joey Albert)
WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
American Idiot (Greenday)-What does this mean??!
WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Stranger in this World (Taboo cast album)-Oooh! Me an alien being to them?
WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Something About You (Level 42)
WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Somewhere Out There (Our Lady Peace)-I guess I'll never leave.
WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Wonderful (Everclear)
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Change your Mind (Sister Hazel)
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Kyle's Mom's a B***h (South Park soundtrack)-LOL!
WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Lost in your Eyes (Debbie Gibson)
HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Taylor the Latte Boy (Kristin Chenoweth)-What? I'll drink too much coffee?
WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Into the West (Annie Lenox ROTK soundtrack)-Hmm, that I should have stayed in the Far East?
WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Happy Ending (The Little Mermaid soundtrack)-OMG this is so interesting.
WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Find your Grail (Spamalot cast album)-gotta find my purpose?
WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Journey to the Past (Lea Salonga)
WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Any Lucky Penny (Nikki Hassma)-gambling?
DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Our Last Summer (Mamma Mia soundtrack)- I say Colin Firth likes me.
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Stars (Simply Red)-Hmm..that I should have BEEN a Broadway STAR?
WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Leaving yesterday behind (Keno)
WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Feels like Home (Chantal Kreviazuk)
