When things slow down at work, I often search on topics of interest--one of them being leadership. As I have mentioned previously, I am always trying to determine how people become leaders within organizations. Is it because of their skills in this area, or more often, the who they know leadership track. I came across and interesting book called "The DNA of Leadership". I found an interview that the author did with Shrinkwrap radio that was very interesting.
The most interesting point for me was the fact that according to the book, only 50% of our genes are fixed, and 50% are encoded to be influenced by the environment. So, the environment we are in can influence how we act, behave and grow. It also stated that we remember how people make us feel much more than what they say.
The author came up with the acronym CHANGES
C--Community
H--Humanity
A--Aspiration
N--Navigating
G--Generativity (sp)
E--Expression
S--Spirit
Leaders need to realize that inclusion is a human need, and that when people are excluded, it can result in territoriality (my, I've got a bunch of big words in this thing). Another comment I found interesting was that gossip is something people do to help support each other and help them understand what is going on inside the company when they are being excluded.
So much of this made sense to me and hit home for stuff happening in my work environment. I've taken enough of the mandatory management classes--I know what my motivator is--I like to be in the know. I need the big picture view to help me understand the steps I need to take to get to that big picture. I often tell my bosses, so that they don't have to read my mind to figure it out.
I know I've said this a hundred times, but all I want is "a little respect", a dab of inclusion, some opportunities for growth, a chance to share my views and ideas, and a team that can come together, talk about the hard stuff, not get caught up in the petty stuff, not see everything as an attack on them personally.
Aren't we all in this together?
Humanity for all
Spirit be with you.
Nancy
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Monday, September 11, 2006
9/11 Remembering
Ast he anniversary of 9/11/01 comes around, it amazes me that five years have passed. I remember so clearly that morning. I had been in a meeting and came back to my office to see everyone in turmoil. There was a small TV in one of the offices, used for media stuff, and they were all gathered around trying to get an idea of what was happening. We watched as our world as we knew it, safe, isolated from the rest of the world, end that day. We watched as word of the Pentegon came over the wires. We heard rumors of other buildings that had been bombed--and here we were sitting in a federal facility-next door to another large federal facility--not too comforting. There was no more working that day--we were all glued to the tube, or to our radios in our offices, or to CNN online. Soon after they sent all federal employees home--the traffic was a nightmare-but all I could think of was that I wanted to be at my home--as if somehow that made me more safe.
For days, I was sucked in to watching it all on TV. And, then I started internalizing it and kept waiting for the "other shoe to drop". Everytime I heard unusual jet noises, I wondered what now. I think remembering this is a good thing. Five years later, we are already angry with increased restrictions at the airports, etc. We need to remember--we need to stay vigelant--we are no longer safe.
For days, I was sucked in to watching it all on TV. And, then I started internalizing it and kept waiting for the "other shoe to drop". Everytime I heard unusual jet noises, I wondered what now. I think remembering this is a good thing. Five years later, we are already angry with increased restrictions at the airports, etc. We need to remember--we need to stay vigelant--we are no longer safe.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Ease My Worried Mind
I know many people will have seen this--I've gotten it a couple of times myself, but I think it gives rise to some thoughts about where we are in the world and whether we should worry. Let me know what you think?
I think the world has changed (not all for the better). Some of these worries I think are real, but some are probably born of the media sensationalism that we are now all exposed to on a daily basis. We wonder why there is an obesity epidemic among our children--well, they can't go out and play unless you are the security guard these days. Because of the media--we worry that every apple at Halloween will be filled with razor blades. Because of the media, we worry that if they do eat dirt, they will get horrible bugs in their intestines. As a grandmother, I have moved the kind of worries mentioned below to my grandkids. My adult children should now be able to take care of themselves--however, I still worry.
TO ALL THE KIDS WHO WERE BORN IN THE
1930's 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's !!
First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.
As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.
Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because......
WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms..........WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no
lawsuits from these accidents.
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.
We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays,
made up games with sticks and tennis balls and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them!
Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!
This generation has produced some of the best risk!-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!
The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned
HOW TO
DEAL WITH IT ALL!
You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated our lives for our own good.
I think the world has changed (not all for the better). Some of these worries I think are real, but some are probably born of the media sensationalism that we are now all exposed to on a daily basis. We wonder why there is an obesity epidemic among our children--well, they can't go out and play unless you are the security guard these days. Because of the media--we worry that every apple at Halloween will be filled with razor blades. Because of the media, we worry that if they do eat dirt, they will get horrible bugs in their intestines. As a grandmother, I have moved the kind of worries mentioned below to my grandkids. My adult children should now be able to take care of themselves--however, I still worry.
TO ALL THE KIDS WHO WERE BORN IN THE
1930's 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's !!
First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.
As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.
Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because......
WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms..........WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no
lawsuits from these accidents.
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.
We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays,
made up games with sticks and tennis balls and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them!
Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!
This generation has produced some of the best risk!-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!
The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned
HOW TO
DEAL WITH IT ALL!
You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated our lives for our own good.
Monday, September 04, 2006
Laboring on Labor Day
I never got the idea of Labor Day--a day of rest for all the workers of the world, but what do people do--they go to the stores, which means that somebody has to labor, some folks don't get the day off. I guess that's why I always wanted to work for the Federal Government. We get tons of days -all those federal holidays when the rest of the world still has to work. Columbus Day,Labor Day, Memorial Day, Martin Luther King Day, President's Day,....which the retail industry turns into a reason to have a sale--another concept that doesn't make sense to me.
Somewhere on the news, or on some show today they talked about the fact that 1/5 of the people in the United States makes up for like 85% of the income--I think I'm off, but the concept was that the rich are getting richer, and the poor are getting poorer. It's a sad state of affairs when Americans are less healthy than the poor of England. I still haven't understood how folks that have been barely breaking even can deal with gas at $3.00/gallon or higher. Of course, this was the first holiday weekend that the gas stations/companies didn't raise the prices.
With the increase in gas prices, the grocery prices have gone up as well. It amazes me that I live in Georgia, but peaches never went below about 80 cents a pound--and they were hard as rocks, and when they ripened, they dried up and were yucky. The only foods that haven't gone up as much are the snack foods that aren't good for you anyway. Do the companies out there care about the obesity rates in the US, or are all these conglomerates owned by foreign nationals who would love to bring the US down--while they take our money, killing us softly--
And, to top it all of, Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter died.
A strange Monday--lots to think about
Nancy
Somewhere on the news, or on some show today they talked about the fact that 1/5 of the people in the United States makes up for like 85% of the income--I think I'm off, but the concept was that the rich are getting richer, and the poor are getting poorer. It's a sad state of affairs when Americans are less healthy than the poor of England. I still haven't understood how folks that have been barely breaking even can deal with gas at $3.00/gallon or higher. Of course, this was the first holiday weekend that the gas stations/companies didn't raise the prices.
With the increase in gas prices, the grocery prices have gone up as well. It amazes me that I live in Georgia, but peaches never went below about 80 cents a pound--and they were hard as rocks, and when they ripened, they dried up and were yucky. The only foods that haven't gone up as much are the snack foods that aren't good for you anyway. Do the companies out there care about the obesity rates in the US, or are all these conglomerates owned by foreign nationals who would love to bring the US down--while they take our money, killing us softly--
And, to top it all of, Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter died.
A strange Monday--lots to think about
Nancy
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Where You Lead, I Will Follow
Well, I'm back in the office-although hardly anyone is here, so I had time to think about leadership again, especially given some of the things going on in the world. I have been watching a course from Harvard called "The Psychology of Leadership"--see previous posts, and today the lesson was about leadership--and how do we train leaders. In looking around on the web, I found these interesting statements:
To Change the World, Change Yourself First
Inscribed on the tomb of an Anglican Bishop at Westminster Abbey
When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits,
I dreamed of changing the world.
As I grew older and wiser I discovered the world would not change
So I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change my country
But it too seemed unmoveable.
As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt,
I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me.
But alas they would have none of it!
And now I realize, as I lie on my deathbed, that is I had only changed myself first,
Then by example I might have changed my family.
From then, by example, I might have changed my friends.
From their aspirations and encouragement I would have been able t better my country
And who know. . . I might have even changed the world.
This was very apropos after a conversation I had with my daughter about men. Some women attach themselves to men that they think they can change--make better (it's for their own good, isn't it), and for the most part they find that it doesn't happen. I should know, I had one like that--that I was going to save, and fix all of the problems he had. Twenty-three years later I finally got it. It wasn't going to happen.
I also found this very interesting commentary that seems to fit in with the conversation:
Rules for being human
You will receive a body. You may like it or not but it will be yours the whole time.
You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full time informal school called Life. Each day in this school you will have the opportunity to learn. You may like the lessons or you may hate the lessons but you will have little choice anyway.
There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial and error, experimentation. The 'failed' experiment is as much a part of the process as the experiment that ultimately works.
A lesson is repeated until learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, then you can go to the next lesson.
Learning lessons does not end. There is no part of life that does not contain its lessons. If you are alive, there are lessons to be learned.
There is no better there than here. When your there becomes here you will simply obtain another there that will again look better than here.
Others are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate in yourself.
What you make of your life is up to you. You have the tools and resources that you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.
Your answers lie inside of you. The answers to life's questions lie inside of you. All you need to do is look, listen and trust.
Y
ou will forget all this
The statement that caught my eye was the one marked above--which kind of follows the post on reflections.(see previous post).
So, what makes a leader--according to Harvard, two necessary things are competence and character. So, can we train people to have character? Is it a skill or an innate part of the person. And, if it is innate--how did it get there--through parental/teacher models?
I know this is blasphemous, (I don't think any of my bosses read this), but where I work, leaders are determined by who you know, what ladders you climbed to get ahead--not competence and character. Sometimes it seems like if you mess up bad enough (and you are in the network--you get bumped up the ladder higher). Certainly the people who end up in leadership positions for the most part never received training for it--so I guess my work thinks that leadership is innate (at least that's my logic). I'm not jealous or anything because I have been put in leadership roles several times--not because I wanted to climb the ladder, but I was willing to do the work. I figure if I lead, I don't have to follow.
So, I would like to put this out to my loyal (reader(s))--is leadership a skill or innate?
Still hot and humid in Atlanta
Nancy
To Change the World, Change Yourself First
Inscribed on the tomb of an Anglican Bishop at Westminster Abbey
When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits,
I dreamed of changing the world.
As I grew older and wiser I discovered the world would not change
So I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change my country
But it too seemed unmoveable.
As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt,
I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me.
But alas they would have none of it!
And now I realize, as I lie on my deathbed, that is I had only changed myself first,
Then by example I might have changed my family.
From then, by example, I might have changed my friends.
From their aspirations and encouragement I would have been able t better my country
And who know. . . I might have even changed the world.
This was very apropos after a conversation I had with my daughter about men. Some women attach themselves to men that they think they can change--make better (it's for their own good, isn't it), and for the most part they find that it doesn't happen. I should know, I had one like that--that I was going to save, and fix all of the problems he had. Twenty-three years later I finally got it. It wasn't going to happen.
I also found this very interesting commentary that seems to fit in with the conversation:
Rules for being human
You will receive a body. You may like it or not but it will be yours the whole time.
You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full time informal school called Life. Each day in this school you will have the opportunity to learn. You may like the lessons or you may hate the lessons but you will have little choice anyway.
There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial and error, experimentation. The 'failed' experiment is as much a part of the process as the experiment that ultimately works.
A lesson is repeated until learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, then you can go to the next lesson.
Learning lessons does not end. There is no part of life that does not contain its lessons. If you are alive, there are lessons to be learned.
There is no better there than here. When your there becomes here you will simply obtain another there that will again look better than here.
Others are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate in yourself.
What you make of your life is up to you. You have the tools and resources that you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.
Your answers lie inside of you. The answers to life's questions lie inside of you. All you need to do is look, listen and trust.
Y
ou will forget all this
The statement that caught my eye was the one marked above--which kind of follows the post on reflections.(see previous post).
So, what makes a leader--according to Harvard, two necessary things are competence and character. So, can we train people to have character? Is it a skill or an innate part of the person. And, if it is innate--how did it get there--through parental/teacher models?
I know this is blasphemous, (I don't think any of my bosses read this), but where I work, leaders are determined by who you know, what ladders you climbed to get ahead--not competence and character. Sometimes it seems like if you mess up bad enough (and you are in the network--you get bumped up the ladder higher). Certainly the people who end up in leadership positions for the most part never received training for it--so I guess my work thinks that leadership is innate (at least that's my logic). I'm not jealous or anything because I have been put in leadership roles several times--not because I wanted to climb the ladder, but I was willing to do the work. I figure if I lead, I don't have to follow.
So, I would like to put this out to my loyal (reader(s))--is leadership a skill or innate?
Still hot and humid in Atlanta
Nancy
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Reflections
I saw a great reflection photo on another blog and decided I would share a couple of mine from Alaska. Reflections are very interesting--the fact that they are backwards of what really is. Have you ever done that experiment where you take a picture of the left and right half of your face and then put the two left sides or two right sides of the picture together--it's like we have a good twin and an evil twin.
My husband is a Gemini and he really is sometimes like two people--the great guy, very kind and generous and then the other one that seems to only pop out when he is tired. The one that seems to be like Dr. Jeckyl. Me, I'm sure that some people see me completely differently than my family sees me. I remember long ago when a family counselor just couldn't believe that I ever got angry. Yep, our reflections--the one out front, the one behind the mirror that we try to keep out of sight from the rest of the world, or not. My son believes totally in the premise,that what you see is what you get, and if you don't like it, f..k it. He is totally himself (unless he is trying to get something from me), all the time, no airs, no games--of course who he is drives some people batty (sometimes me), but I do admire him for having the guts, (not necessarily the best judgement) to be totally who he is. My two other sons have learned how to play the game pretty well--the "how to win friends and influence people". My daughter, is a little more like my other son--just more reserved and more introspective and quiet. (Of course, I am now hearing stories from her younger days that would make me think differently). I think sometimes bad stuff happens to good people and it has a dramatic effect on them.
So, what do people see when they look at me? I know that I have my own internal view of myself, and that's probably why there aren't a lot of pictures of me hanging around. In my head, I'm a kid, uncoordinated, havent' really gotten comfortable with my body, but still wanting to play and have fun, be silly, dance, laugh, and not have to be an adult. What I have had to be in real life is the "adult", reserved, I won't say quiet, but certainly not raucous, except at home dancing with my 19 month old grandchildren. I have had to be the responsible one, the caregiver (not so good at that part), the provider, and now, since my Dad died, sort of the head of the family. It isn't necessarily who I want to be, but so it goes.
Monday, August 28, 2006
North to Alaska
I can't help it, as soon as I got home I was working on putting my pictures together into a program on my computer called Click to DVD--it allows you to put your pictures in a slide show, but you can also add music. Now finding the right music for the pictures took me more time than putting the pictures in. As you can tell from previous posts, I have started tying everything to a song title. (I was hoping it would get more folks to my blog, but that didn't work either). Well, anyway, I divided the slides into Homer, Denali, Seward, and Anchorage--since those were the places we visited. I started looking for free mp3 songs on the internet, and found some very cool sites with Alaska stuff--unfortunately, some of the mp3's turned out to be mpu's (don't even know what that is, but my program won't convert them to mp3's). So, I found the first song (if I knew how to add audio files I would-but haven't figured that part out either). It was called "Where we live", and talked about a place with blue skies, big oak trees, lots of love, yada..... So that one had to go with Homer--see previous posts. Then for Denali--I had found this great music, but it was mpu, so I ended up using a John Tesh song--and it really worked. Then, for Seward, I used a Queen song--"This could be heaven"--and Anchorage --I found that I had "Find Your Way Back", right on my Jefferson Starship cd sitting downstairs. So, got it all put together, and must have watched it 4 times yesterday--once with each kid, and once on the tv in the living room--bigger picture, better sound. Made copies for the inlaws, etc.
Pretty crazy what can give you satisfaction.
Pretty crazy what can give you satisfaction.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Alaska the Flower Garden
Denali or "Bust"--ed
Our second stop on the crazy whirlwind that we shall call our "vacation" was Denali National Park. Somehow or somewhere I got this crazy notion that National Parks were for the "people" of this country. The reality is that some of these parks are for the "rich", and the rest of us can hope that one day we too can save up enough money to get to see it. It wasn't the Park system that was the problem--I applaud our Park System for making something pretty reasonable. It was 20 for a family to have access to the park for 7 days--that's not bad at all. And, it wasn't too bad to take the bus trip for 8 hours into the park, 23.00/person. It was all of the stuff around the park that sucks. Hotel rooms close to the park, 200/night. Gas outside the park, 3.53/gallon, a bag of chips at the concession right outside the park, 9.00 dollars. Give me a break, why are companies allowed to rip people off because they are a captive audience? I think the Park should take a more active role in determining who can work with them, or around them, so that it can be something that "all the people" can appreciate.
So, to save money--we stayed at some cabins 13 miles south of the park. McKinley Creekside Cabins--well with all the rain, they were almost creek surrounded cabins. $130.00 for a little cabin with two double beds, a bathroom, and a little table. There was no TV, no phone, no radio, and for the most part, might as well have been no heat. I don't think it ever got above 60 degrees in the cabin, and that's with the thermostat set on 90. I would have complained more, but I didn't want to move all of our stuff. We were trying to save costs by bringing stuff for breakfast and lunch, and only having to eat dinner out. So, if you plan to go to Denali--I wouldn't recommend the cabins.
The ride into the park was long, and we didn't see any animals until the last 10-15 miles (out of 63 one way). The road is basically one lane, dirt, and only buses for the most part are on it. However, when you are 2-3000 feet above the valley floor, on a one lane ledge--it isn't much fun meeting another bus. I must give cudos to our bus driver--he was really great, and tried hard not to scare us to death.
We did see grizzlies, a mom and her cubs and a lone bear, caribou--a small herd, dall sheep, and a wolf. Of course, when you see them, they are barely more than specks, and even with zoom on cameras, they are still barely more than specks.
The park is very picturesque, but due to the clouds and rain, we never even got a glimpse of McKinley (Denali). I wish they would make up their minds on the name. By the way, McKinley never even made it to Alaska.
The bad part was that while we were on the bus tour, we found out that due to all of the rain, the road to Anchorage had been washed out, along with 100 feet of the railroad. Now, you would think that there would be at least 2 ways to get to Denali from Anchorage--unfortunately, there are really only 2--the Park Highway (which got washed out) or a drive to Fairbanks to take the Richardson and Glenn Allen Roads. So, given that we had to get to Seward on Monday, we toughed it, drove to Fairbanks (it was then, only then as we drove away from the park that we saw Denali in the rearview mirros), then to Richardson Highway, through the North Pole (town, not place), to Glenn Allen, which was the best part of the trip--the backside of the Chugash mountains--full of snow, some glaciers, and spectacular scenery.
More later
Nancy
So, to save money--we stayed at some cabins 13 miles south of the park. McKinley Creekside Cabins--well with all the rain, they were almost creek surrounded cabins. $130.00 for a little cabin with two double beds, a bathroom, and a little table. There was no TV, no phone, no radio, and for the most part, might as well have been no heat. I don't think it ever got above 60 degrees in the cabin, and that's with the thermostat set on 90. I would have complained more, but I didn't want to move all of our stuff. We were trying to save costs by bringing stuff for breakfast and lunch, and only having to eat dinner out. So, if you plan to go to Denali--I wouldn't recommend the cabins.
The ride into the park was long, and we didn't see any animals until the last 10-15 miles (out of 63 one way). The road is basically one lane, dirt, and only buses for the most part are on it. However, when you are 2-3000 feet above the valley floor, on a one lane ledge--it isn't much fun meeting another bus. I must give cudos to our bus driver--he was really great, and tried hard not to scare us to death.
We did see grizzlies, a mom and her cubs and a lone bear, caribou--a small herd, dall sheep, and a wolf. Of course, when you see them, they are barely more than specks, and even with zoom on cameras, they are still barely more than specks.
The park is very picturesque, but due to the clouds and rain, we never even got a glimpse of McKinley (Denali). I wish they would make up their minds on the name. By the way, McKinley never even made it to Alaska.
The bad part was that while we were on the bus tour, we found out that due to all of the rain, the road to Anchorage had been washed out, along with 100 feet of the railroad. Now, you would think that there would be at least 2 ways to get to Denali from Anchorage--unfortunately, there are really only 2--the Park Highway (which got washed out) or a drive to Fairbanks to take the Richardson and Glenn Allen Roads. So, given that we had to get to Seward on Monday, we toughed it, drove to Fairbanks (it was then, only then as we drove away from the park that we saw Denali in the rearview mirros), then to Richardson Highway, through the North Pole (town, not place), to Glenn Allen, which was the best part of the trip--the backside of the Chugash mountains--full of snow, some glaciers, and spectacular scenery.
More later
Nancy
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Find Your Way Back
Two years ago, my husband and I made our first excursion to Alaska. He had heard Clark Howard talk about cheap tickets to Anchorage as he was driving back from one of his weeks out in Southern Georgia. If I hadn't mentioned it before, he is an archeologist and spends at least 40 of the 52 weeks out in the field. He called me on his cell phone, I got on line, and the next thing I knew, we had tickets to Anchorage. This was in February, and the tickets were for August.
Two years later, we decided to do a similar trip, this time taking my Mom (If you have been a loyal reader, you know my Dad died in November, 05) and we thought she would enjoy the trip. In March, this time, I got a little voice in my head that said go check travelocity for tickets--and amazingly enough, they were on sale. Tickets from Atlanta to Anchorage, for just over 300/person.
I spent several weeks trying to figure out a schedule that would get the most in with the availability of places in Homer, Seward, Denali, and Anchorage. Things get booked up early in the year, so there was no time to waste. Schedules made, it was just a mater of waiting and waiting and waiting until August.
I should have been forewarned when my friend in Sitka had complained of how cold and wet summer had been. So we made it to Anchorage with no problems other than leaving my cell phone in the terminal in Chicago. We found a hotel while on the plane waiting to take off to Anchorage, and the next day picked up our rental car and drove to Homer. It was the first of many rainy days.
We stopped in Soldatna for fishing licenses and food, and arrived in Homer just in time to check into our digs for the next four days. We lucked into finding a two bedroom cabin with a full kitchen so we had all the comforts of home, including a dog who seemed to magically appear every time we cooked.
So, here were my impressions of Homer after two years.
There is now only one gas station--used to be three.
Groceries that used to be 20% higher than Atlanta were now 50% higher.
The oil craziness has had a major role in decimating Homer. Yet, somehow, Homer continues to be the salvation for those that need it the most.
In the major drug store, I asked the clerk how she ended up in Homer.(One of those questions I always like to ask). She told me that it was a long story, but God brought her to Homer, and it had been a miracle. This was a common story I had heard two years prior.
What is it about a place like Homer--way the "hell" out of anywhere that draws people in and helps them that have lost their way find it again? Sometimes I feel jealous that they have found their "home", when I still seem to be searching for mine.
This trip, I did feel a little more like a "local". I found the other couple of grocery stores other than Safeway, and went to both of them. The U-Store It was amazing, from garam masala to french butter, from dried cherries to fishing gear. You could be English, Irish, French, German, as well as Russian, Asian, and Mexican) Everyone was represented in that store. (I applaud you)
The bottom line was things have changed. I don't see the same spirit of oneness that I saw two years ago, and may be it was the weather, but maybe it is a statement of how our government can change things, not always for the better---but for the rich, the fancy--those that can afford it, leaving the rest of us behind to wishful think and hope.
Two years later, we decided to do a similar trip, this time taking my Mom (If you have been a loyal reader, you know my Dad died in November, 05) and we thought she would enjoy the trip. In March, this time, I got a little voice in my head that said go check travelocity for tickets--and amazingly enough, they were on sale. Tickets from Atlanta to Anchorage, for just over 300/person.
I spent several weeks trying to figure out a schedule that would get the most in with the availability of places in Homer, Seward, Denali, and Anchorage. Things get booked up early in the year, so there was no time to waste. Schedules made, it was just a mater of waiting and waiting and waiting until August.
I should have been forewarned when my friend in Sitka had complained of how cold and wet summer had been. So we made it to Anchorage with no problems other than leaving my cell phone in the terminal in Chicago. We found a hotel while on the plane waiting to take off to Anchorage, and the next day picked up our rental car and drove to Homer. It was the first of many rainy days.
We stopped in Soldatna for fishing licenses and food, and arrived in Homer just in time to check into our digs for the next four days. We lucked into finding a two bedroom cabin with a full kitchen so we had all the comforts of home, including a dog who seemed to magically appear every time we cooked.
So, here were my impressions of Homer after two years.
There is now only one gas station--used to be three.
Groceries that used to be 20% higher than Atlanta were now 50% higher.
The oil craziness has had a major role in decimating Homer. Yet, somehow, Homer continues to be the salvation for those that need it the most.
In the major drug store, I asked the clerk how she ended up in Homer.(One of those questions I always like to ask). She told me that it was a long story, but God brought her to Homer, and it had been a miracle. This was a common story I had heard two years prior.
What is it about a place like Homer--way the "hell" out of anywhere that draws people in and helps them that have lost their way find it again? Sometimes I feel jealous that they have found their "home", when I still seem to be searching for mine.
This trip, I did feel a little more like a "local". I found the other couple of grocery stores other than Safeway, and went to both of them. The U-Store It was amazing, from garam masala to french butter, from dried cherries to fishing gear. You could be English, Irish, French, German, as well as Russian, Asian, and Mexican) Everyone was represented in that store. (I applaud you)
The bottom line was things have changed. I don't see the same spirit of oneness that I saw two years ago, and may be it was the weather, but maybe it is a statement of how our government can change things, not always for the better---but for the rich, the fancy--those that can afford it, leaving the rest of us behind to wishful think and hope.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Leaving On a Jet Plane
So, I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again. Except, I had better be back by August 25th. It has finally come, my vacation. I only started planning it in February, because the flights are cheap. When you are going "North to Alaska", it is a different kind of travel experience. You have to buy your tickets months in advance, find places to stay--pay usually 50% of the cost in advance to hold the cabin or reservation, because everyone and their brother all want to go to Alaska in the summer. Of course, it makes sense--you don't want to go there in the winter unless you love cold weather and snow. My husband does, but I definitely am a warmer weather kind of woman. So, the day has finally come, and what happens--some crazies in England or somewhere decide they want to start creating chaos in a world already full of chaos. Give me a break. Can you pick some other time to do this stuff? Do you have to pull this stuff right before I plan to take a vacation. Really---what's your problem? Are you bored? Don't you have anything better to do than plan your own death? I believe there is life after death, but only for those that deserve it--and killing innocent people doesn't make you worthy, it makes you stupid--especially if you are listening to some radical crazy person that doesn't seem to be blowing himself up--just asking the young, the bored, the restless to do it in the name of something.
A long time ago, when I was in graduate school we talked about revolution as a necessary part of system change--I believed it then, but it wasn't revolution of killing people, it was revolution of ideas, and working within people's frame of reference.
I want my vacation, and I want it without the chaos of people trying to hurt others. I want to go softly into the vacation without having to deal with stress and strife. So, do you guys think you can lay off for a couple of weeks? I would greatly appreciate it.
So, for the next couple of weeks, unless I find an internet cafe that I can get to, or want to get to, I will be incognito-lost in the world of mountains, glaciers, fish, (and for my husband's sake--more fish), and I will see you back in the real world in late August.
Until then, peace, and may the world come to its senses and realize if we aren't all in this together, we are all doomed.
Not so hot in Atlanta,
Nancy
A long time ago, when I was in graduate school we talked about revolution as a necessary part of system change--I believed it then, but it wasn't revolution of killing people, it was revolution of ideas, and working within people's frame of reference.
I want my vacation, and I want it without the chaos of people trying to hurt others. I want to go softly into the vacation without having to deal with stress and strife. So, do you guys think you can lay off for a couple of weeks? I would greatly appreciate it.
So, for the next couple of weeks, unless I find an internet cafe that I can get to, or want to get to, I will be incognito-lost in the world of mountains, glaciers, fish, (and for my husband's sake--more fish), and I will see you back in the real world in late August.
Until then, peace, and may the world come to its senses and realize if we aren't all in this together, we are all doomed.
Not so hot in Atlanta,
Nancy
Thursday, August 10, 2006
So You've Got to Have Friends
I couldn't remember the name of the song, but it goes something like, "And You've got to have friends...." I can hear the tune in my head, but I can't seem to remember the words enough to find it online. Previously, I have talked about "Beautiful Enemies", those friends who aren't just there to pat us on the back, but to pick us up off our butts when we get slapped down and to remind us to pay attention to what's going on around us. Those friends who don't always agree with us, and help us see the other side. Well, I talked about my husband being my "beautiful enemy", but I missed saying something about someone who has been my friend for a long time, in a very different way, my daughter. I was really young when she was born, never had been around babies before, but I was certainly awe struck with her, and very possessive. As she grew up, we didn't always have the best of relationships--I guess I thought she was a Daddy's girl, and figured that since I had three boys after her, I could let her go bond with him. It wasn't until she was an adult, with kids of her own, and she moved to Hotlanta too, that I really had the opportunity to get to know her as a friend. Now, it isn't always smooth sailing between us, because we are very different in some ways, but I can say that she has been that female friend that I never really had a chance to have. With 4 kids and a very demanding job, I was lucky to have time for my family. But, my daughter has been there for me, when I'm down, or lonely, or mad. She has taken a load of burden off me with my sons when they get rowdy and crazy. She listens to then for me and counsels them, when she knows I will just be mad about the chaos they have created. (I must say my oldest son no longer falls in this category. He has been a champ and I count him as another friend). But, back to my daughter. We've had some wild experiences together. One time, when I was stationed out on Saipan, she went with me to Tinian and we sang karaoke until the wee hours at a little bar on the island. I have gotten to be with her in the delivery room for the birth of her oldest son and the twins. We cook dinner together quite often (she cooks , I clean). We argue about why Zyira on Rock Star Supernova should be gone.(She likes her, I like Delana) We watch America's Next Top Model, but she refuses to watch Survivor--the folks are too dirty.
As a friend and not the parent, I've had to learn how to hold my tongue sometimes and so has she. I know I can never make up for not being the kind of mother she needed when she was young, but I hope that I'm getting better at being the kind of friend she would like me to be.
So, since this seems to be my day of tributes--here is to my daughter!!!.
And, thanks to one of my other friends, I have the words to the song!
Bette Midler - Friends -Alternate Lyrics:
the feeling''s oh so strong.
You got to have friendsto make that day last long.
Had some friends, but they''re gone,somethin'' came and took them away
,and from the dusk ''til the dawnhere''s where I will stay
.Standing at the end of the road, boys,waitin''
for my new friends to come.
I don''t care if I''m hungry or cold, freezing.I got to get me some.''
Cause you got to have friends.
Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba.Friends.
"Oh, that''s the favorite part of my voice, you know.I really like to get up.
Hm."Oh, friends."Thank you."Oh, friends, friends, friends, friends.I had some friends, oh, but they’re all gone, gone.Somethin'' took ''em away,and from the dusk ''til the dawnhere is where I''m gonna stay, you know, oh.Standing at the end of a real long road, Jack,and I''m waitin'' for my new friends to come,and I don''t care if I''m hungry or freezing, freezing cold.You gotta, you gotta get me some.''Cause you gotta have,"you gotta have friends. I''m telling you. I am speaking ''cause I know. It’s going too fast. We’re all going too fast! I''m trying to tell you to slow down! They’re hard to come by! Those friends are hard to come by! I didn’t have many friends, you know. But, things are getting better now. And I think it’s gonna be okay, ''cause I have a couple now."Friends,you gotta, you gotta, you gotta have friends, friends.You gotta, you gotta, you gotta have friends, friends.
It's a Beautiful Day
I was thinking this morning as I was driving to work. I really do have a great job. Not because I make a bunch of money(cause I don't), not because I get fame and recognition(definitely don't), not because I'm the "boss"(I'm just a worker bee), but because of the great people I get to work with all across the country. This is a tribute to them.
The people I work with out there in the "real world" are amazing. They are there for the right reasons. They care about the people in their communities and want them to have the opportunity to lead healthy, happy lives. This isn't just something they say, this is something they honestly believe and work for every day. My job is to try to help them in any way I can to get there. These folks are creative, collaborative, dedicated, and honestly some of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure to meet. They were there for me when my Dad died, and even though I am a consultant, they were more like my extended family, grieving with me. When I get the priviledge of going out to meet with them, they have always been more than gracious, taking time away from their incredibly busy schedules to take me to see the great programs they have been able to implement in their communities, the hard work in making policy changes, the incredible tedious work of compiling data to report to me so that I can advocate for them. They make my job so rewarding. Through them, I feel that I too can be a part of the difference that they are making. I am so proud and honored to call them my friends. One of my partners said yesterday that I was her mentor. Well I can tell you, I have learned more from all of them than I could ever give back.
An incredibly big "Thank-You" to all my buds out there. (You know who you are). You guys are the center of my Universe.
Nancy
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
What's Love Got to Do With It?
I have been amazed at the rate of divorce in this country. I wonder if this happens in other countries at such a rate. Guess I will need to research it, but I was thinking about Love and marriage, partners, children and how different it often is. We are supposed to have unconditional love for our children. I was raised that your parents loved you, they might not always like you or your behavior, but they always loved you. I kind of thought that marriage was supposed to be that way. That you unconditionally loved your spouse, but there were times when you didn't necessarily like them. Well, I learned the hard way that unconditional love doesn't necessarily come with marriage. Guess that's why I have an ex. I have recently been taking an online class on the psychology of leadership. It talks about unconditional acceptance and the permission to be human. Our friends should be our "beautiful enemies", not just agreeing with everything we say, but they should give us permission to be human. I know that is one thing I can say about my present husband. He has given me unconditional acceptance since the day I met him, and 12 years later, that definitely hasn't changed. I have tried hard to follow his example, and for the most part, other than him leaving his dirty socks on the floor, it is pretty easy to do. I can burp, or fart around him(when it gets away from you) and know that he won't tease me, or berate me for doing it. I can get angry, or cry at a movie, or yell at the crazy drivers on the road, and he understands and allows me to be me--the good, the bad, and the ugly.
I have learned so much from him over the years--stuff I thought I knew, but obviously didn't practice. I have learned how to be a better leader by watching him. I have learned to be more giving, more understanding, and less judgmental. So, I think Love and being loving gives us the safety to be who we are, and I'm thankful every day.
I have learned so much from him over the years--stuff I thought I knew, but obviously didn't practice. I have learned how to be a better leader by watching him. I have learned to be more giving, more understanding, and less judgmental. So, I think Love and being loving gives us the safety to be who we are, and I'm thankful every day.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Monday Morning Humor
Thanks to Tomas for this joke:
An old country preacher had a teenage son, and it was getting time the boy should give some thought to choosing a profession. Like many young men, the boy didn't really know what he wanted to do, and he didn't seem too concerned about it.
One day, while the boy was away at school, his father decided to try an experiment. He went into the boy's room and placed on his study table three objects:
* a Bible,
* a silver dollar, and
* a bottle of whiskey.
"I'll just hide behind the door," the old preacher said to himself, "and when he comes home from school this afternoon, I'll see which object he picks up. If it's the Bible, he's going to be a preacher like me, and what a blessing that would be! If he picks up the dollar, he's going to be a businessman, and that would be okay, too . But if he picks up the bottle, he's going to be a no-good drunkard, and, Lord, what a shame that would be."
The old man waited anxiously, and soon heard his son's footsteps as he entered the house whistling and headed for his ro om. He tossed his books on the bed, and as he turned to leave the room he spotted the objects on the table. With curiosity in his eye, he walked over to inspect them.
Finally, he picked up the Bible and placed it under his arm. He picked up the silver dollar and dropped it into his pocket. He uncorked the bottle and took a big drink.
"Lord have mercy," the old man whispered, "he's gonna be a Congressman!"
and one from my Mom
MY PHILOSOPHY OF HOUSECLEANING!
I don't do windows because ...
I love birds
and don't want one to run into a clean window
and get hurt.
I don't wax floors because ...
I am terrified a guest will slip and get hurt
then I'll feel terrible( plus they may sue me.)
I don't mind the dust bunnies because ...
They are very good company, I have named most of them,
and they agree with everything I say.
I don't disturb cobwebs because .
I want every creature to have a home of their own.
I don't Spring Clean because .
I love all the seasons and don't want the others
to get jealous
I don't pull weeds
in the garden because ..
I don't want to get in God's way,
HE is an excellent designer!
I don't put things away because ...
My husband will never be able to find them again.
I don't do gourmet meals
when I entertain because I don't want my guests
to stress out over what to make when they invite me
over for dinner.
I don't iron because ...
I choose to believe them
when they say "Permanent Press".
I don't stress much on anything because .
"A Type" personalities die young
and I want to stick around
and become a wrinkled up crusty ol' woman!!!!
Also from Tomas: Why Dogs Bite People:
An old country preacher had a teenage son, and it was getting time the boy should give some thought to choosing a profession. Like many young men, the boy didn't really know what he wanted to do, and he didn't seem too concerned about it.
One day, while the boy was away at school, his father decided to try an experiment. He went into the boy's room and placed on his study table three objects:
* a Bible,
* a silver dollar, and
* a bottle of whiskey.
"I'll just hide behind the door," the old preacher said to himself, "and when he comes home from school this afternoon, I'll see which object he picks up. If it's the Bible, he's going to be a preacher like me, and what a blessing that would be! If he picks up the dollar, he's going to be a businessman, and that would be okay, too . But if he picks up the bottle, he's going to be a no-good drunkard, and, Lord, what a shame that would be."
The old man waited anxiously, and soon heard his son's footsteps as he entered the house whistling and headed for his ro om. He tossed his books on the bed, and as he turned to leave the room he spotted the objects on the table. With curiosity in his eye, he walked over to inspect them.
Finally, he picked up the Bible and placed it under his arm. He picked up the silver dollar and dropped it into his pocket. He uncorked the bottle and took a big drink.
"Lord have mercy," the old man whispered, "he's gonna be a Congressman!"
and one from my Mom
MY PHILOSOPHY OF HOUSECLEANING!
I don't do windows because ...
I love birds
and don't want one to run into a clean window
and get hurt.
I don't wax floors because ...
I am terrified a guest will slip and get hurt
then I'll feel terrible( plus they may sue me.)
I don't mind the dust bunnies because ...
They are very good company, I have named most of them,
and they agree with everything I say.
I don't disturb cobwebs because .
I want every creature to have a home of their own.
I don't Spring Clean because .
I love all the seasons and don't want the others
to get jealous
I don't pull weeds
in the garden because ..
I don't want to get in God's way,
HE is an excellent designer!
I don't put things away because ...
My husband will never be able to find them again.
I don't do gourmet meals
when I entertain because I don't want my guests
to stress out over what to make when they invite me
over for dinner.
I don't iron because ...
I choose to believe them
when they say "Permanent Press".
I don't stress much on anything because .
"A Type" personalities die young
and I want to stick around
and become a wrinkled up crusty ol' woman!!!!
Also from Tomas: Why Dogs Bite People:
Sunday, August 06, 2006
I Can't Get No.... Satisfaction
It is so hard to buy anything these days. You can go online and research the product, but everywhere you go, there are reviews, most of which are terrible. Is it that all products produced these days are defective or are only the folks that are disgruntled are writing reviews. I had been looking for a new refrigerator for the house. My daughter lives with me with her four kids, so we have a world of juice boxes, applesauces, yoguarts, etc--and no place to put the pop, water, or even to fit all of the veggies--plus my frig had not crispers--it was one of my first purchases with my new husband 12 years ago.
So, we had been looking, thinking about a bottom-freezer type in stainless (for our redone kitchen that we have been planning for the last 7 years--and still planning). It was hard to find one that was going to be big enough, or didn't cost over 2000 dollars. So, after looking at several places, we went to Home Depot and got sucked in on the 10% off if you signed up for a credit card, and no tax--(tax free holiday in Georgia for appliances if they were energy star compliant). So, we found one, and it will be delivered on Friday. I had heard that LG was pretty good but, then I read the reviews, they were bad--I guess I can hope for the best, prepare for the worst. But, what is it these days, is construction so bad--does no one care about the job they do? Are things made in "America" worse than things made overseas with "slave labor" or "foreign labor"?
What ever happened to pride in one's work? Is the almighty dollar the only incentive, and even if you make it, it doesn't mean you have to care? It amazes me to live in Atlanta, and see all of these people living in very expensive houses, driving very expensive cars, eating out all the time and wonder--what are they doing differently to be able to afford all of this stuff? How could this many people be making so much more money than me? What kind of jobs do they have? How could employers afford to pay so many people so much money?
Well, for those of us who have to work for a living, and don't make gobs of money, we should at least be able to buy something and have it work the first time, not after three replacements. We should be able to buy stuff that will last 10 years without feeling we need to buy an extended warranty, because you never know what you are going to get, you should be confident that what you spend your hard earned money on will be worth the price you pay.
We will see on this new refrigerator. If it doesn't work out, believe me, I am the first to write, complain, pitch a fit, you name it. But I hate having to do that, and we shouldn't have to. For anyone who reads this (no one does other than some family and a couple of folks at work that I've sent the link too)---let's all put our pride, our skills, and our word into the jobs we do. At least if a few of us make the commitment, we can be an example for the rest.
Another hot humid Sunday in Atlanta
Nancy
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Riding the Roller Coaster
I am constantly amazed at how much life is like a roller coaster. You have the highs, the lows, the parts that scare you to death, the parts where you scream at the top of your lungs, and the part where you finally get to get off the ride and find a more level path to follow. I still don't seem to have found that more level path, or should I say the people I associate with, my family, my co-workers, my friends keep throwing me back on that ride--I think they think I enjoy it. Honestly, folks, I hate roller coasters-I love the level path, and one day, dang you guys, I'm gonna get there, if I have to take all of you with me kicking and screaming. I would like to think that I can have more than 2 days in a row of relative peace, quiet, and everybody on an even keel.
So the latest person to throw me back on the ride has been my second son. He has been living in Albuquerque, and for the most part doing a damn good job of being independent. He moved back to New Mexico about 16 months ago. I had given him my old Suzuki Sidekick (the cheapest 4WD you can get) when he moved. He sold the car , and flew home for a visit and hoping to find a used car in Atlanta to drive back with. Well, let's just say, people have some pretty crappy junk cars that they think are worth their weight in gold. It was pretty depressing, and since I had offered him my car, my cute little Suzuki wagon,(see picture in previous post), I felt compelled to go ahead and give it to him. Well, we had a little different on the agreed upon price, but we had come to an understanding(I understood that if we wanted the rest of his vacation to be peaceful, I needed to give a little, and so did he). So, we had come to a middle ground, and he was spending the day trying to get a stereo system installed in the car for the ride home. Well, in the midst of that, he got his debit card and cash that he had brought from New Mexico stolen. By the time we got the bank to cancel the card, they had run off with over 600 dollars in cash and 700 dollars in the account. I'm sorry, but I absolutely hate the fact that we can't trust anyone anymore. I hate the fact that people prey on others and take advantage of them. Fuck them all.(excuse my language) It is one of those times that if I could find the crooks, I honestly think that I could inflict bodily harm on them. How dare they hurt my son. He is one of those kids that have had enough tough knocks to take out an elephant. Why him? Why now when we were just getting to place of mutual understanding. I know life isn't fair, but it does seem that some folks get more than their share, and I'm tired of it. So, I can tell you, if you fit the description, you better keep your distance, a mother mad is a force to reckon with.
And, to top it off, my poor husband, having to work outside during this heat spell, with a heat index of 110, fell down a hill, hurt his back, ripped his pants, and will have to go back out there again tomorrow.
I sure hope tomorrow is a better day. I don't want to ride tomorrow.
And you wonder why this blog is called "Stranded in Atlanta"
Nancy
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
The Center of the Universe
When I lived on Hopi, I was told that the Hopi Reservation was the Center of the Universe. The story was that the Four Corners Area of the Southwest and the Himalayan Mountains have more land based lightening that anywhere else in the world, therefore setting up the flow of negative ions. The whole negative ion thing is pretty interesting. You find negative ions at the beach, the mountains, around waterfalls, and when lightening strikes. So, all those places that often makes me feel good are full of negative ions.(except you don't want to be too close to the lightning--I do love to watch it though)
I'm not sure I always felt good on Hopi--it is a challenging environment to move into, being a "bahana" on the Res. It was my first long term experience in living in a culture for which English is not the primary language, and I'm sure I was the brunt of many jokes that I never knew about while I was there.
It was also my first experience of not having all the things we take for granted. During our stay, I had to haul water for drinking and bathing(and flushing the toilet), haul coal for heating, and plan grocery shopping carefully since Winslow was the closest nontrading post grocery store.
But, we also got to do things I never thought I would get to do, like barter for a mustang foal(horse not car) and raise him, attend night dances in a kiva, be the brunt of the Hopi clowns at a bean dance, and get to experience a very traditional intact culture. I learned to shoot a rifle at beer cans on the side of the mesa, ride horses out on the range, through the arroyos, explore ancient ruins and petroglyphs, and step outside of my comfort zone.
So, in some ways, I definitely understand for four years, I was at the center of the universe.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Our Guardian Angels
My Dad died unexpectedly last November. He was 88, had successfully gone through colon cancer surgery and had bright prospects for a full recovery, when the physicians in this small North Carolina hospital, didn't keep on top of his situation and he developed blood clots in both sides of his lungs. They transported him to Asheville, but it was too late. He died on November 5, 2005. It was a devastating blow for all of us. He and my Mom had been married for 60 years. They had celebrated their anniversary in July, his birthday in August, and no one had any thoughts other than he would recover with no problems. He still went to the gym 5 days a week, walked on the treadmill and lifted weights. He could have probably still out arm wrestled us all.
Needless to say our family was thrown into turmoil. Then, several things happened to make us realize that he was still with us, as our guardian angel. The first strange occurrence was when I was putting together a slide show for the funeral. The picture of him at his 88th birthday party at the gym was now my desktop wallpaper. My husband and I looked at each other--"Did you do that?" Not me, my husband said--I don't even know how to do that. So, every day when we get on the computer, there is my Dad.
Then, at Spring break, my daughter was driving back from Orlando when she took the kids to Disney World. She watched as this Lexus sedan with two young women went tearing around her, and then around a school bus. As the car cut back into it's lane, it lost control and when flipping across the median and on top of another car. My daughter-said it was like someone put their hands over her ears. She saw the wreck as if in slow motion, but she didn't hear one sound, not the crushing of metal, or collision. Not one piece of flying metal (and given that the car was going around 80 mph) flew towards her car. She pulled to the side of the road and called 911 to report the wreck. She called me a few minutes later, still shaking to tell me what had happened.
Then, a month or so later, my Mom was driving my uncle's car while her car was being repaired. She got T-boned by a car that came out of no where going about 60 mph. She was taken by ambulance to the Hospital, but other than soreness, she was unhurt.
I think God realized how much this family needed a guardian angel and took my Dad so he could help look after us. Not a day goes by that I don't think about him and miss him, but I know he is looking out for us.
Thanks Dad,
Nancy
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