Memorial Days

The traditional Memorial Day (formerly known as Decoration Day) on May 30 is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service (see www.usmemorialday.org).

For me, these last days of May have prompted a different kind of "memorial days."  I've been thinking about the Saturday in May 2010 when I moved out of our family home in Corvallis to an apartment in Portland.  I was a little sad, but I was also excited that I was about to start a new chapter of my life.

I've also been thinking about my friend Laurence who entered the hospital during the last days of May 2010 to receive a bone marrow transplant.  He battled many challenges in the days that followed and served as an inspiration to many with his strong faith and unfailing gratitude.

Today I am indeed in the midst of a new chapter of my life, but it doesn't look like what I hoped it would be. I have had my own health challenges. I have not found my dream job - or any regular work.  I have been slow to make new friends and explore my local community.  Life feels pretty discouraging at times.

The story of my friend Laurence has not turned out as I had hoped either.  After five months of progress and setbacks, he passed away.  He is sadly missed by many friends and family members.

In times of despair and grief, I find it easy to lose hope.  Yet, it is in the memory of braves ones who have gone before me that I sometimes find the strength to keep going.

We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.  (Martin Luther King, Jr.)

The Smoker - Part 2

Following my experience on Friday evening, I looked on the Web to find out about the full moon. I discovered that the full moon would actually be Saturday, May 5. And, it would be the biggest and brightest full moon of the year 2012. People would be watching and taking pictures all over the world. Some referred to it as the supermoon.  

A perigee moon, or SuperMoon, on May 5, 2012 near Palm Springs, California. The moon appears especially big and bright during this once-a-year cosmic event as the full moon is at its closest to the Earth in its elliptical orbit. The perigee side of its orbit is about 31,000 miles closer than the opposite, or apogee, side. (David McNew/Getty Images)

I emailed all my family to be sure to look for this biggest and brightest moon of the year.  I walked out to the street last night and admired its appearance.  I looked at photos of it from all over the world on my computer.  Wow!  It's hard to believe I became aware of all this because of a guy smoking a cigarette in a parking lot.

The Smoker

I was walking back to my car with a cartload of groceries.  Next to a car parked nearby, a man stood smoking a cigarette.  I wondered why he was standing outside his car to smoke.  I started thinking about how few people I know that smoke.  I was thankful I'd never been a smoker.

As I loaded my groceries into my car, the smoker spoke to me.  "That's some moon, huh."  I looked up and saw the glowing roundness of the almost-full moon in the eastern sky.  Even from the lighted parking lot, I could see darker and lighter areas on the lunar surface.  It was pretty amazing.

I mumbled a response, got into my car, and drove away struck by what had just happened.  As I was busy with my groceries and thinking about the smoking habit, the smoker had looked into the sky and recognized the beauty of the moon.  And, he had taken the opportunity to point it out to me.

Once again, I had been reminded to raise my eyes heavenward and look at the bigger picture.

Artists Of Being Alive

The most visible creators I know are those whose medium is life itself;

The ones who express the inexpressible without brush, hammer, clay or guitar.

They neither paint nor sculpt. Their medium is being.

Whatever their presence touches has increased life.

They see and don't have to draw. They are the artists of being alive.


                                              - J. Stone

7 Gratitudes x 7 Days

There are many books out nowadays that address the topic of gratitude.  In fact, I just Googled "books gratitude" with over 43 million results.  Clicking on the first result, Amazon.com, I found that they had a list of 36 items under "Books about Gratitude."  No doubt some of them are helpful, but recently I've been looking at gratitude without the aid of a book.

For the week leading up to Easter Sunday, I'm making a point of writing down seven things I am grateful for every day. Even though I'm trying not to duplicate gratitudes already listed, it seems the more I look for what I am grateful for, the more things to be grateful for show up in my life.

It seemed appropriate when I suddenly realized yesterday, that the greeting cards I was creating contained spring flowers and colors with the message "thank you."

The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!  (Henry Ward Beecher)

The Best Things In Life Are Free?

I recently discovered that my branch library has a "Cultural Pass to Adventure" available for checkout. If reserved in advance, these one-day passes admit a specified number of adults and children to Portland area attractions such as the Washington County Museum and The Pittock Mansion.  I've been wanting to go to The Japanese Garden for some time, and now I can go for free!

On top of that, a friend asked me recently if I would be interested in a free pass to the Portland Zoo - I haven't been to the Zoo for years, although I live only 20 minutes away.  This is another outing where I can take my camera along for some practice.

With the price of so many products and services rising, it's nice to know that some of the best things in life are still free.  Watch for them!

Spring Is Sure To Follow

An old proverb says "No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow." With the temperature near freezing tonight, it's hard to believe that winter is over. But, as I drove today, I saw some of the trees blossoming and spring flowers blooming.

Another sign of spring is the start of baseball season. I spotted a high school baseball team running out onto their practice field, and I know my son is closely  following the major league games as they begin this week.

No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn. (Hal Borland)