Did You Find What You Expected?

Two men were standing near the entrance each with a bag in hand, one bulging with produce, the other containing only a couple items. The full bag was held by a man who stood tall smiling the biggest brightest smile; the bag with few items inside was held by a man slumped down scowling at the ground. "That was a wonderful shopping experience with so many fresh vegetables to choose from. I will make my family a delicious dinner tonight. I will be sure to shop at this market again" said the excited smiling man. Responding to that the other man barked "I have never seen such rotten produce with so little to choose from. I will not even be able to make my family a small salad for dinner. I won't be coming back here to shop again".

This is similar to the tale of two men visiting an ancient city with a gate keeper who prompted the two visitors about what they could expect to find once inside the gates of the city; one he told would find friendly helpful people, a lot of produce to choose from with many bargains; the other he told would find unfriendly people who wouldn't help him, who wanted only to take his money & give nothing in return. The two visitors reported to the gate keeper on their way out of the city, saying they had each found exactly what they were told they would find.

Whether the two men shopping at the market were actually promted openly about what they could expect, I believe they were indeed prompted. They went to the market each with their own expectations and not foresaking them, these expectations (prompts) proved true.

What we expect to find, I believe is exactly what we will find. If we go out expecting to find dishonest people who are not willing to help us, that is what we will find; expect to find honest people who are helpful then honest people will be waiting to help us.

On occasion I get a surprise but most times I find what I expect; how about you?

A Lesson

A Lesson

In all things, perhaps buried deep, there is a lesson
lose it not from sight
It can seem somehow there is no chance of winning
but it's worth the fight
In all things, perhaps buried deep, there is a lesson
find it and hang on tight
It can seem somehow the sun has gone from our life
but it's probably just night

This little verse, I wrote for a friend a couple years ago and I come back to read it now and again because all too often I have occasion to question what has happened, not necessarily to me although sometimes, but to my friends and loved ones, asking the one question we have all asked at some time or other......WHY. It's the one thing I struggle with most I think.....accepting. Although everyone has different beliefs, I believe that we are all here on a predetermined path of our own choosing and yet I sometimes have such a hard time accepting the way things unfold.
"Why does life have to end before it has begun?" I ask when a wee babe dies before they have learned to crawl........as I hold closer my very precious beautiful babies & grand babies.

"Why do so many innocent people have to suffer?" I ask when the wars with seemingly no purpose continue..........as I remain safe, warm and protected inside my own home.

"Why are there so many starving people in the world?" I ask when I see pictures from the third world countries........as I scrape the bits remaining from a plate that has just held a delicious meal.

"Why did that young mother have to die?" I ask when the drunk who drove the car that forced hers off the road receives a meagre a fine.........as I am still able to drive down the street.

"Why did she have to leave us?" I asked when my beautiful daughter went to bed and didn't get up the next morning............as I remain here and miss her every day.

"Why, Why, Why"...........there seems never an answer........but I know

In all things, perhaps buried deep, there is a lesson.......

I just have to continue looking (and looking) until I find it..........and sometimes the answer might be just as simple as.......'it's probably just night'.....

Dreams Add Texture

Having heard it said that 'dreams add texture to your sleep' I would have to conclude as well that 'dreams add texture to your life'.

To answer the call (thanks Twilla for the topic) I will try to tell you about my dreams, lost and living.

Sadly and in hindsight, I think I grew to become afraid to dream. Probably because of many disappointments, some hurts, some stumbles, a few falls and the like, my dreams remained in the background, safe from scrutiny and failure; so far back and so safe from inspection they became lost to me. I recall now that I held back from expressing excitement, happiness, new ideas, dreams, always afraid of their reactive power on others and more, I was afraid of being told the dream was somehow inappropriate or even a waste of my time or any number of other like comments. What better way to snatch away dreams from someone......to treat them in such a negative way. I seemed to learn to be wary about what others would think of me.......if I did this that or the other.......if I didn't do this that or the other.

A couple dreams survived though............

The first, rather contradictory to my person because I don't especially like daring midway rides (the roller coasters etc.) but I have always wanted to learn to fly.......an aircraft of course (well yes I would like to be able to fly myself too - guess that could be considered a dream!). I think at this stage in my life, the odds of accomplishing this dream are now slim, but I still have the dream. I still think of what it would be like to be able to fly an airplane among the clouds, watching the scene below, wondering what all the those 'tiny' folk were doing or thinking right at the very moment I passed by.

The second, (although I think, a little less stronger than a dream) was to learn photography. I have forever taken pictures & had an interest in the field, just never taken any courses to further that interest. Most times I haven't even learned how to operate & take advantage of all the features on my camera.

I am still learning not to worry so much about others & what they think of what I do, say or what I would like.

Another Christmas

Not everyone gets to celebrate Christmas twice! We celebrated three times! It was great! We had a dinner & exchanged gifts with Aaron & Katie in December (before Aaron went to Hawaii & Katie to Kamloops); a second time with Karli & Tobias on Boxing Day; then January 16 was our third Christmas celebration with Eric & Robin (away in North Carolina for Christmas) and Aaron & Katie. We had ham instead of turkey but it was a great day, yummy dinner, lots of laughs, good company and a few games of dice afterwards......very enjoyable. The sun shone brightly........(a plus).

After weeks of rain and dark dreary days I was overjoyed to see the sun! Unfortunately it's not shining as I post this but I take heart that it will return.

So, Merry Christmas everyone (again)! We had a wonderful time!

What is Your Opinion?

Well................

Some folk have an answer to that question no matter the topic, idea, how it is presented, and no matter the circumstance.

Do you have an opinion about the dish pictured here?
I could express an opinion about this dish because I know what the ingredients are, who made it, when I ate it, how it tasted etc. but could you express an opinion about this dish?

I recall some years back, John (my daughter's partner at that time) asked "Carla you can't have an opinion about everything can you?" Her reply "yes" and believe me she had an opinion about everything, and never hesitated to give it to you whether you asked for it or not. There was very seldom a time when I didn't know where I stood with my beautiful daughter Carla (now able to express her opinions in God's house) because she was always blunt, to the point and she was rarely stuck for an opinion. This is an area where her & I had a definite difference (of opinion).....I think 'when giving opinions (asked for or not) one should use some diplomacy in responding'. I know people who use endless words & countless minutes trying to express an opinion about something and in the end it has become so watered-down & convoluted the meaning is totally lost. Some place in between those two extremes there is a middle ground which is quite acceptable (my opinion of course).

However having said that, I still can't quite come up with an opinion about everything. There are some things I simply couldn't express an opinion about (without some research) except to say that I have no opinion.......but is that an opinion (to have no opinion)?.......sort of like to make no choice is to have made a choice.........hmmmmm not sure. What is your opinion???

From Pristine to Rubble

Just short days ago I wrote about laughter, the furthest thing from the minds of the Haitian people at this moment, whose capital city & surrounding area was, on January 12, devastated by a .7 Earthquake.

Port Au Prince, Haiti's capital city was at the heart of this quake. I simply just cannot imagine what this would be like to live through and though my heart is with the people who have to endure this devastation, I hope we never have to experience this kind of tragedy.

From pristine to rubble in such a short few minutes; the presidential palace was not immune to the grip of the quake.

I have tried and tried to put myself in the shoes of these people but as I sit in a house intact, watch cars drive down the street, make my lunch, play with Mocha and do all the things we take for granted, I just can't quite get out of the shoes I am so used to wearing. There is nothing that could ever prepare me to face a tragedy like this. Again, I hope this is something we never have to face.

Laughter, the Best Medicine

I've heard many hilarious things 'out-of-the-mouths-of-babes' or have just been able to laugh myself silly as the little one giggles in wild abandon at something toe tickling. I cherish those funny times with the kids and grand kids when they were small.

I'm not quite sure though if it's the times or if it's just me but so much of what is referred to as humor 'is just not funny' to me. What have I missed? Am I just getting too old?

Seriously though.........

There is the dude standing in front of me on a stage shouting every profanity he has ever learned, in his opening line. The crowd laughs uproariously - I sit like a bump on a log because I don't see it as funny.

How about 'America's Funniest Home Videos'.......the little guy comes ripping down the hill on his little saucer and SMASH!! he hits a post at the bottom. Ha Ha Ha - That's so bloody UN-funny I can't contain myself.

I love a good laugh as much as the next but when someone is humiliated or hurt I don't consider it laughable.

I think sometimes people laugh at things going on because others around them are laughing. That's sad - I can find enough to laugh at (including myself) without being a monkey and immitating the one next to me.

Laughter really is the best medicine but I want to laugh, not because the label says it's funny, but because something tickles my senses (even if it's just the teensiest bit south of normal).