Today as you read this my left brain will be in overdrive. I will be speaking at our Annual Iowa Cancer Registrar's Association Fall Workshop in Iowa City. I love going back to Iowa City in the fall, since this brings back the memories of me heading there for another year of college back in the late 70's and early 80's.
Autumn gives me mixed feelings in my stomach; one of sad endings, as summer slowly fades, and one of happy beginnings as new classes start with new opportunities to meet Mr. Right. (PS: This never did happen in college)
These sad and happy feelings are how I now experience pictures of our sweet Missy cat who was still alive last fall and enjoying the autumn weather next to the catnip plant.
These sad and happy feelings places that catchy tune back in my head from the song called "Closing Time" by Semisonic.
The lyrics say "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.
9-16-09 nature brain This last weekend I thought it was time to put the unproductive volunteer pumpkin to rest. Once it hit the 2nd floor window I knew it was time. I figured Greg wouldn't want it climbing on the house.
Well, after he saw it, he thought it was pretty interesting garden "project" to observe a bit longer. The fine tentacles that this plant sends out are fascinating.... especially after they start to twist and anchor the plant as it grows.
Next year, I hope to purposely start a pumpkin, and this time plant it in the sun, so maybe it will produce a surprise pumpkin like I had in 2002.
9-15-09 yearning brain I clearly remember as a child the first time a prayer of mine was answered. This was a serious prayer, a heartfelt prayer, and prayer of desperation.
Our family cat Tippy had been with us for about 4 to 5 years. Tippy was a great mother cat and each year she gave us a new liter of kittens twice per year. Somehow my parents managed to find homes for all these kittens, but they got to the point when they were tired of this cycle.
As a child of age 9 or 10, I was given the explanation that Tippy would be taking her current liter of kittens to live on a farm to help keep the mice population under control. It would be a wonderful place for her to live.
At that age, I didn’t know I could say no….. Back in my day, our parents made the rules and we followed them. I remember the day someone came and put Tippy and her kittens in a box placing them in their car trunk and drove off to “the farm”.
I remember starting to miss Tippy and feeling an intense longing for her. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know that asking my parents to get Tippy back might be an option. Instead, I did what I had learned in church. I started to pray every night that God would bring Tippy back.
As I said, these were heartfelt, desperate prayers like I had never prayed before. I did feel somewhat comforted by doing this every night….. for how long I have no idea. As a child, I really wasn’t acutely aware of time.
But one morning it did happen. Tippy was there at the back door wanting to come home. Everyone was surprised and I was so delighted. We were then allowed to keep Tippy, and she was happily neutered and lived a good long life.
I relate this LONG story for one reason only. It’s because I’m having those same intense feelings and longing for Laurel, ever since I received a few emails from her last week. Laurel and Lynn were sisters and lived in our neighborhood down the street and they were mine and my sister’s childhood friends. I haven’t seen Laurel since Lynn’s funeral about 10 years ago. Laurel lives in Colorado. Lynn died of breast cancer in her early 40’s after fighting it half her life.
I just wanted to tell Laurel …. Come home! I’m longing for a chance to hug you, share stories with you and laugh! We will always be like family!
I believe Love brought Tippy home to me, now I'm hoping the same with Laurel!
9-14-09 RIGHT brain This weekend I helped with the hanging of the annual Fall Art Exhibit at my church (Westminster Presbyterian Church).
I’ve been lucky enough to participate in this for about 9 years. Each year we are given a theme and the September sermons, education, music and art at church center around this theme.
This year the theme is “Transformation and Change”.
At first, I didn’t think I had time this summer to work on a project, but I did like the sound of this theme of transformation. So I got inspired to do something different, something FUN and easy (I thought)... Painting out in the back yard.
I did have fun using my creative brain to experiment a little on this project. I had to try twice before I got something that was close to what I was envisioning.
The name of my new piece is called “The Healing” My statement is:I believe LOVE is the most powerful force in the universe. Chaos and brokenness are always transformed by LOVE and forgiveness.
This piece measures about 54 inches x 54 inches.
PS: It was an unplanned coincidence that my prior post mentioned "healing" and "forgiveness", followed by this art posting today.... or is it just one of those wonderful god-incidences?
9-12-09 altered brain In 2001, Greg was the building director of the Iowa Federal Building in downtown Des Moines. I remember on the morning of September eleventh, I was working from home and Greg called me and told me to turn on the TV.
I asked, “what channel?”…. he said something like “any channel” and he hung up. So I walked downstairs, feeling curious, and turned on the TV. I saw a plane sticking out from a tall building in NY. It looked like a small plane to me and I thought “that is a strange accident”….
As I was standing there watching, another plane flies into the picture….. HOLY COW! What’s going on here? That’s no accident!
One of my strongest memories from 9-11 was how beautify blue and clear the sky was in Des Moines that day. I later heard that the sky was clear all over the country that day. During the morning, I walked outside feeling strangely disoriented, wondering what was coming next. I saw squirrels out in the back yard and my cats sunning themselves, and I longed to be unaware and carefree like them.
The world outside my house looked the same, but everything about life seemed to be totally different from that moment on.
Later Greg called and said they were sending all the Federal workers home and clearing the building just in case other buildings around the country might be targeted. However, Greg stayed and did’t come home until later that afternoon. Was he in danger staying there? I tried not to worry but felt enormous relief when I saw him come through the door later that day.
I can understand the worry and anxiety of the families waiting for their love ones to return home that evening…… but some never did return.
Eight years after 9-11, my life has gone back basically to normal….but a "new normal" of being more awake about not taking anything in life for granted. These families who lost love ones never will get their “normal” back. But life does go on, one day at a time, one tear at a time.
I wonder if they have healed?
It doesn't feel, over all, like our country is healing very well.
I highly recommend this book: Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy , it's an uplifting story of grace. If we all could love and forgive like these Amish, the world would contain more peace.
It's good to remember out of respect, but we need to also remember to forgive. Forgive like the Amish forgave the shooter of their school house killing of children a few years back. A person forgives to release themselves from the pain, it doesn't mean we condone the act.
I may have posted this prior, sorry if it is a repeat .... but wanted to post today.
The words below are my reaction in the following days of 9-11. I was hearing a lot about why this could have happened and learning more than I ever wanted to know about people who hate America.
Some chose revenge, some chose to stay ignorant, some chose to pray, some chose the call to defend, some chose fear, some chose to divide us, some chose love,..... I chose to "wake up" on 9-11.
“It’s About Time” -America
Thank you SEPTEMBER ELEVENTH for awakening me from my comfortable middle-age nap.
I was couch potato like- Drowsy, Lulled into complacency by the rich meal of prosperity, Over fed by my middle class life.
Groggy as I was- I didn’t even know I was chosen. Too sedated to care much of the “other world’s” woes.
The alarm came- Shocking and too loud to ignore. No snooze button to be found. Time to stretch, rub the sleep from my eyes.
Yes, I am now awake- Called to stand up, summoned to make a difference. Justice to be prayed for, liberty to protect. Life to be grateful for, love to spread. -by Judy Sebern Beachy
The pictures are from 2006: On the five year anniversary, The Healing Fields came to Des Moines. One flag with name, for every person killed in 9-11. It was beautifully painful.....
... And powerfully healing....
Now, I long to remember 9-11 as the last moment we were all onenation.....and grieve this loss in 2009.
9-10-09 tantalizing taste bud brain Labor Day weekend: Sunday late afternoon
After the car show, Greg and I headed out to Aggie Acres to attend the 10th Anniversary Cook-off. This was our first time attending one of Molly and Jeff’s Labor Day parties. Guess we just never where in town before.
The competition was for the best “meat dish” which were cooked on the grills, and also a division for best side dish and best dessert. Trophy mugs were awarded.
Teriyaki Turkey won out of the 16 meat dishes entered; Aggie’s Sweet Potatoes won best side dish (Aggie is Jeff’s Mom), and Bev’s Mom’s Texas chocolate sheet cake won best dessert.
I was just happy that my Peach Cobbler got at least 4 votes out of the 15+ desserts to choose from.
Peeps my peacock friend was there demanding a lot of attention from anyone who would give him the time of day.
I also enjoyed the wagon ride out into the field for the chance to feed some of the animals: Buffalo, cows, horses, sheep, goats, lama, donkeys to name a few.
This was another fun, relaxing visit to Aggie Acres with an abundance of GOOD FOOD. At least 100 people were in attendance. I lost count, it was hard to keep track of all the kids.... (kids of all ages, young and old!)
