Growing Compassion

I recently took a small class to Seattle Center to see Tibetan leader in exile, the 14th Dalai Lama.  A wizened, humble man with a constant smile, the Dalai Lama's impressiveness was less about his speech and more about his presence.  While the Dalai Lama wasn't always easy to understand, there was no mistaking the love that he feels for all humanity.  I hope my students are inspired by the idea of using terms like peace, understanding, forgiveness, and, yes, love when talking about world issues.  The Dalai Lama says that compassion is a SECULAR concept and should not e relegated to religion.  Amen.

Out with the old

There is something about springtime that just makes me want to throw things away.  I want to see things clean and dust free, drawers that are free of stuff I never wear, papers I have been saving trashed, and, in short, everything neat, tidy, and spring-cleaned.  Now, here is the rub:  I want everything to be be clean, but I don't necessarily want to be the one to clean it!  Every time I start a home project, I get overwhelmed.  I am not a decorate or a remodeler.  When someone says, "Anyone idiot can do it!" they haven't met me.  For instance, in my room are some very old blue curtains.  The are uuuuuuugly and I look at them and wish I could figure out a way to change them.  Yeah, I know, it can't be too hard, right?  Well, they are on a rod with a pulley system and I once tried to change out curtains like this and I ended up breaking them.  I've always just had curtains I could slide on a rod and use tie backs when I needed to open them.  Did I just not get the decor gene that most women I know have?  Am I just not adventurous enough?  I want decorating to be static; you know, I just want to do it once and then forget about it.  Unfortunately, styles come and go and stuff changes.  Today I threw out a half dozen wall hangings I made 15 years ago - all with hearts and sentiments about home and covered with dust.  How did I ever think they were cute?  I need a decorating makeover.    

Spring Break...baby gone wild

So here I am in So Cal on Spring Break.  There is no other place I'd rather be then with my family.  The trouble is that my family is in three different places:  Washington, Utah, and California.  Rick's job is demanding, and because he works as a contractor, when he doesn't work, we get no moolah, so it is HARD for him to leave.  The kids and I are all tied to our school schedules...oh, come to think of it, we are all tied to some kind of obligation and opportunity cost.  Earlier in our marriage, Rick and I struggled to do things because we had economic limitations; now it is all about time, time, time.  Never enough of the stuff, too much of it passes too quickly, and the impossibility of time travel makes it so that we constantly have to choose between many options.  Sigh......

Baby Fallon in person is a joy, Natalie and Will are diligent parents, and Pasadena is sweet and sunny.  Week went too quickly.

California dreamin'

California with my gorgeous grandbaby, Fallon and my almost as gorgeous daughter, Katrina.