The past few days have been really hot here, not spring-like at all. And while I've been waiting for the warmer weather, my body and mind seem a little discontented. I realized why yesterday: I was remembering where and what I was a year ago. That I was recuperating, and I'd wake up everyday from a mostly sleepless night and feel the heat of the day. The subway rides, the sun beating down on us while we walked around Manhattan.

But then again, the memories were mostly good. How Lynn and I would roam around the city after my treatments. How we'd go to Cecile's house on weekends to get a respite. And after I got back to my own home, how we'd go to places in the state we've both never been.

And yet again, I say THANKS.

This is Canvas performing The Simpsons theme at the end of the show last night.

I caught part of one of NPR's morning programs today on my way to work. ( I have a very short commute.) Since it's Holocaust Remembrance Day, they were interviewing a survivor and another guy. I didn't catch their names, but the woman was Clara. I did a search tonight and came up with Clara Kramer (Stephen Glantz is the co-author and presumably the other interviewee). Their book is Clara's War. The interviewer mentioned something she said in the book. She wrote:

I am 81 years old, and I am one of the lucky ones. Ever since
the day I left the bunker, I have done my best to live a worthy
life. I have dedicated myself to the teaching of the Holocaust.
The privilege of surviving comes with the responsibility of
sharing the story of those who did not.

I woke up in a bad mood and wasn't particularly looking forward to going to work. ( I blame my Keppra rage.) So just when we think we're having a bad day, hearing stories like hers puts everything into perspective.

I wish us all a worthy life.


Doggone! The White House has a new dog-in-chief. I love this photo.


(Photo from AP)


I am so impressed by the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips by the U.S. Navy. The 3 remaining pirates were holding him at gunpoint in the lifeboat being towed by the USS Bainbridge. Snipers shot each pirate in the head amid rough waters. The Special Ops guys then shimmied along the towline to rescue the captain. Now these guys have the right stuff.

I smell a movie.

Before today's mass, the choir was singing as the congregation filed in. After the music stopped and the processional was about to start, a little girl cheered: "YEY!" That made us all laugh.

Happy Easter!

Click here to see my new favorite commercial.

Happy moments, praise God.

Difficult moments, seek God.

Quiet moments, worship God

Painful moments, trust God.

Every moment, thank God.

I was leaving for work this cloudy morning when this little girl across the street also happened to be exiting her house. She jumped out through the front door and said "Wow!". I don't know why she said it, but assumed it was due to the warm weather. She looked up at the trees and had a big smile on her face. And that put a smile on MY face.

May we all have at least one "wow" moment everyday.



I went on a really short weekend getaway to see the cherry blossoms in DC. I took the bus and stayed over at friends. I find airports, train stations and bus terminals fascinating. Amid the hustle and bustle, there's a lot of the human experience going on. Tears, sadness, joy at being reunited, anxiety or anticipation, hugging and kissing. Everyone's coming and going and I often wonder where everyone's off to. Case in point: My seatmate on the outward bound trip had her hair up in a ponytail, reading glasses on. I didn't get a good look at her but I assumed it was an older woman. When we got closer to our destination, she asked me how far we were from the terminal (I had no clue but assumed we were close.) She let her hair down, put make up on, and she became this younger person right before my eyes. Every now and then, from the corner of my eye, I'd see her smiling to herself.


I love this voiceover from Hugh Grant's Prime Minister character in Love Actually: "Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspicion... love actually is all around"


I have always loved medical dramas on television. I remember watching St. Elsewhere as a kid, and wanting to be somehow part of the healthcare profession. When ER first came out in 1994, I was hooked. It was ground-breaking TV. The camerawork captured the energy of an emergency room. The stories were human, always heartwrenching, thought-provoking and inspirational. I even loved the theme music. Must-see TV Thursdays...Friends, Frasier, always ending with ER. It was my weekly crying/therapy session, my weekly I-wish-I-became-a-doctor and I'm-glad-I'm-not-a-doctor moment. As an allied medical professional just starting her career then, I identified with the doctors and nurses questioning or second-guessing themselves, getting involved in their patients' lives, trying to do their best but not always succeeding in helping their patients.

I stopped watching the show probably after Season 5, when the original characters started leaving. I watched the series finale tonight, and it didn't disappoint. The show came full circle, from Dr. Carter's (I still love Noah Wyle!) first day as an intern at Chicago's (fictional) County General Hospital, to Dr. Mark Greene's grown-up daughter Rachel as a medical student looking to get into emergency medicine like her illustrious dad. No surprises, no ridiculous ending, just life in the ER moving on. Michael Crichton would have been proud.

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I love Stephen's comment about Beck's sanity and how he fears for it.


 

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