Thursday, September 23, 2004
So Many Causes
So this morning was a story relating the plight of the "modern" African bushman of the Kalahari Desert -- slowly being squeezed out of habitat, and therefore, existence by encroaching development and economic avarice - the desire for diamonds. Ironically, the Bushmen of the Kalahari are believed to be the world's oldest surviving community, estimated to be 20,000 years old. The Bushmen are being encouraged to give up their "hard lives" of hunting and gathering and take jobs. If I hadn't read Ishmael, I would almost be inclined to suggest these "primitive" people wake up and smell the highly pressurized carbon. But now, the Bushmen need money to fight to keep their lands, where they used to live quite contentedly, even without a copy of the Star Wars Trilogy on DVD.
It occured to me how many good causes there are. Many of them are related on NPR. Many more exist in my community, my church, among my acquaintances. If one listens too hard and too long, it can become rather overwhelming. Breathe, I tell myself. I remember the words of my good friend, Carolyn: "You can't bleed for the world." Perhaps not.
I have things to do.
And bills to pay.
By the way, Cat Steven is now on the DHS Watch List.
Originally, this entry was to be titled Karma Camel Lawn. You see, we had our lawn stripped, roto-tilled and reseeded last week, just a few days before the remnant of Ivan plowed through our neck of the woods. It turns out, that probably spared us considerable insult in that six inches of roto-tilled soil makes a pretty good sponge (or camel, if you will -- although we all know the hump stores fat, not water, right?). So instead of a flooded basement, as we've had previously with the advent of extended or torrential rain, we merely got a trickle into the usual corner of the workshop.
So which causes should one fight the good fight for, anyhow? My inclination is to focus on my family, friends and church community. They're the ones who have buoyed me up when I have needed it most. Who better to support?
So the Bushmen may have to go it on their own. A little honest work won't hurt them, will it now?
breathe.
evolve.
laugh.
Thursday, September 09, 2004
Total Harmonic Convergence
qzen42 feels 
Total Harmonic Convergence
Today was Calvin's 1st day of 1st grade. I walked him to the bus. He got on, looking sleepy, but otherwise ready to face the day. After school, we walked over to MickeyD's, with several stops to inspect bugs along the way.
Today was Brianna's 1st overnight with her birth Mom. And here I sit, not missing the diapers, but missing her intensely. She has muddled her way into my heart. It is amazing to think we have had her in our life for over 9 of her 13 months. We have seen her sit up, pull up, cruise and take her 1st few tentative steps. We have celebrated a birthday. We have heard her babble and watched recognition spread across her face as we talk and coo at her.
I have learned ever so much about foster parenting and parenting. Woody Allen is right. 90% of life is showing up. While we were on our annual Labor Day camping trip with friends from our church, the UUCLV ( www.uuclvpa.org) I had the chance to rock Brianna to sleep each night while we sang around the campfire. One night, as she cradled in my arms, she gazed up @ me, all dreamily, as babies often do, but her eyes burned into my soul. It was the glow of the campfire that made her so radiant. It was the smokey pine smell. It was the 1st chill in the early September air. It was the almost ritual ballads, sung quietly but passionately. Mi Padre.
For a moment, the Universe held its breath. The planets aligned.
What about those Barkin' Spiders ( http://www.getodd.com/stuf/stupid/spider/spider.html ) [soon to be a Yahoo! group]? We started life as Young UU's, but when several of us slid over the event horizon of 35, we searched for a new name, since we could not officially retain the Young UU moniker. Next up was the UU Somethings (fashioned after 30 Something) but the name never really achieved enough cachet to stay. Then, whilst camping @ Kenshire Kampground ( http://pavisnet.com/kenshirekampsite/ ) near the Grand Canyon of PA( http://www.visittiogapa.com/grandcanyon.html ), Kirk, a charter member, introduced us, rather noxiously, to the term. Days later, Kat (another charter member) and I were playing Frisbee golf at nearby Jordan Creek park, when we stumbled across the Barkin' Spiders Frisbee club. The karma was too profound to ignore. We had our name.
Strolling back from MickeyD's last night, watching Calvin watch the Universe, I realized what a gift my Tai Chi instructor has given me. The ability, when I really try, to be here now. I was just there with him, inspecting a beetle muddling across the sidewalk. I can visualize him crouched down on his haunches, all snips and snails and puppy-dog tails. And I loved it.
Life is full of transitions. Rites of passage. Hellos. Goodbyes. Don't get so caught up in the story of the moment that you miss the moment.
breathe.
evolve.
laugh.
