Celebrate lLife While Living

Several days ago I attended a presentation on Japanese death rituals. The one that caught my attention was the act of having a funeral or celebration of a person's (who I will refer as the honored person since not deceased) life while they are still alive, usually in their 60's or 70's.

During the celebration the honored person talks about their life's accomplishments and highlights and thanks those who helped them along the way. Attendees can offer testimonies concerning the honored individual. This celebration is viewed as a transition from a career and parenthood and other responsibilities to moving into retirement, rest, and more attention on ones self.

I like the concept. Why should we wait to our death and note hear how those around us viewed our lives? Wouldn't it be great to enjoy the food and drink others usually partake at the celebration of our lives?

Merry Christmas

Christmas is tomorrow. Why did I have to grow up? As a child the day before Christmas would be filled will anticipation, awe, and wonder. Colored lights seemed brighter, music was everywhere and the whole world as I knew it was decorated and bursting with holiday spirit.

The surprise and anticipation is gone. Most present you receive as adults you buy yourself. You don't have large family Courier & Ives holidays. Not sure if those were ever real. Why is this? Maybe  because everyone is scattered all over the country. Some people may be absent because they must work now that many businesses still operate on Christmas day. Oh where did Christmas go? Faith Hill song it aptly in her song "Where are you Christmas" which is one of my favorite Christmas songs. If you haven't heard it, I recommend listening to it.

You may not have a greeting card or Hallmark Channel Christmas, however have a MERRY CHRISTMAS, be safe if you are traveling and above find peace and love.

A Voice for the Voiceless

Currently I am reading a book written by a man who was working in Ferguson, Missouri on public relations at the time of the shooting of Michael Brown on August 9, 2014 and the riots that followed. I had the occasion to hear the book's author Devin S. James speak in Kansas City October of this year. His presentation was enlightening and am enjoying the book so far. I want to wait until I complete it before making my evaluation of it. I think it is a good read for anyone interested in current events, politics and racial relations.

INSIDE  FERGUSON A Voice For The Voiceless, Devin S. James Destiny Publications

Should We Let Them In?

This post is very controversial, As many people will probably disagree with me as agree.

Several things  about this current immigrant debate both amuse and concern me. So concerned  are we that persons coming from another country migrating to the US for a better life would cause damage such as kill us and destroy our homes, towns and cities.  Gee, that sounds like the history of our forefathers who came to this country and unmercifully killed and tried to animate the indigenous people who were already  living here. We  destroyed their homes and villages.  Sounds like ISIS in Paris last week and what we are afraid of in this country.
Should we have treated the Indians as we did? Why do we have the audacity to think it was okay for us as immigrants to destroy the lives of persons already living in this country, but look out for those dangerous Syrian immigrants.

Additionally, the talk of a Federal registry of persons in this country is scary. Are we in George Orwell's book? Does "Big Brother" need to kept better track of us? Isn't the census enough? I am not saying we don't have an issue in the world today, with the Taliban and ISIS, but we need to think about fairness and acting in a humane manner. What about the principles of our country?

No Bricks Got Broken

Do you ever have one of those days? Dumb question, right? Okay, Wednesday started out like any other day. I had an appointment for a possible ear infection that afternoon.  As I walked to the doctor's office from my parked car I fell just two or three feet from the office doors. I somehow landed on my back and hit the back of my head hard on the bricks. It made an awful noise.  No one else probably would have heard it, but it loudly echoed inside my head. I lay there a few minutes trying to ascertain the extent of my injuries.  Legs still moved, no spinal injuries.  The hair on my head didn't feel wet, no bleeding.  I could move my limbs, no broken bones. Then I checked the bricks because I wanted to see if I cracked any of their bricks. with my hard head. (thats what everyone tells me.) Well now I had two reasons to see the doctor. Turns out I did have a minor ear infection. He checked mr for a concussion.  Glad I knew the day, time, date, and current president or he wasn't going to let me go home. As it was I wasn't allowed to drive home. and my head and elbow still hurt. (Somehow or other I hit my left elbow)