Something to Think About

I was relaxing in the hot tub at the gym the other day, and I overheard a story about an act of forgiveness. Someone's cleaning lady had "borrowed" a favorite blouse, and allowed her daughter to wear it on a date. The blouse was returned back to the owner's closet. The boss lady called the cleaning lady on it, who admitted she had indeed done the deed.

Rather than sulk away, she asked the boss lady for forgiveness. She even gave a lump sum in cash in an effort to forge a way towards forgiveness, which the boss lady did.  After the story was recounted, the boss lady reported that the general consensus from her friends was that she should not have allowed the cleaning lady to continue with her employment, but the boss lady was adamant. She believed the cleaning lady had earned forgiveness by owning her mistake and making amends.

Would forgiveness come as easily for you?

Paycheck to Paycheck

The conspiracy theorist inside has me thinking about what happened to the missing airplane from Malaysian Flight 370. In the forefront, some Communist country, like North Korea or China, basically masterminded a true hijacking, and they have the plane hidden someplace inside their iron curtain. What they did with the people, I don't even like to think about. Every time I see some satellite photo depicting potential debris from the wreckage, I am skeptical. I heard a PBS newscaster say that the investigation isn't moving fast enough to keep up with our appetite for knowing what happened. That rung true and insightful to me as well. It looks like we really will have to wait and see.

Because I am working as a tax accountant these days, I really don't have that much time to speculate, nor watch the ongoing news updates, as well as any other form of entertainment. My world has become taken over by that ever looming deadline - April 15th. I am happy to report the tax deadline is only 3 short weeks away, but at the same time I provide a gentle reminder for those of us who haven't yet begun to delve into our tax files... Get busy people! And don't forget to deduct your charitable contributions. 

Now that I've established that there isn't much in the news besides a missing airplane, and my time is overwhelmingly involved in filing tax returns, it may come as a surprise that I do make the time to fit in some humorous television in my never ending quest for a quick laughing out loud moment. Thank goodness for the DVR, which I regret to report is warning me often these days that my recording space is quite limited, but I digress. 

Yesterday, I had a chance to view a recording of the Colbert Report, from the 12th of March. He had interviewed one of my favorite people in the world, Maria Shriver, who had produced a documentary about impoverished Americans. Although there was quite a bit of witty banter going on, which gave me a few chuckles, the show was noteworthy because of what Maria said when things got quietly serious about her movie that premiered on St. Patricks Day on HBO.  The movie is titled, Paycheck to Paycheck - The Life and Times of Katrina Gilbert. The movie is basically about the 42 million women in the US who are raising kids and weaving their way in and out of poverty. 

As a tribute to these women, Katrina, and Maria, I would like to end today with a quote from the show. When Steven asked her what can we do to help, Maria said, "We can tell our daughters to think of themselves as providers. We can tell our daughters to stay in school as long as possible and to delay having children until you have an education because there's a direct correlation between your education and the amount of money that you can make."

Duck, Duck, Goose

Ever see the movie Winged Migration? It's a quiet documentary about birds. There isn't a lot of human dialogue. It's set to music and occasionally there is a subtitle here or there, or maybe a bit of narration. But ultimately it's about birds doing bird behaviors in varying habitats all over the world.

When I think about birds and their migratory patterns, it makes sighting three pairs of Canada Geese this morning a little more special. Canada Geese migrate from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Circle. We are lucky to have them as visitors to our city. People think they are residents, but they aren't. Pay attention to what months they are seen, and it becomes obvious that they are just passing through - once on their trip North and once on their trip South.

I love that I can rely on their return. While I've never written down my observations, I have participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count during President's Day weekend many times. I believe the geese begin stopping here right around that time. We hear them passing overhead for a couple of weeks before they actually start to land and gather. But lately as I traverse the bike path I find myself sighting them more and more. It's my version of the game, Duck, Duck, Goose. 

Spring is such a great time to observe birds. Like Rachael Carson, I think it's true that Spring would feel empty without the sounds, and sights, of migratory birds. I can't wait until April, when it's time for California Quail sightings and groups of water fowl offspring all over the place. Spring is the promise of their return too. 

People Understand

I saw a saying on the back of a tee shirt last week that read, "Strength is not giving up even when people would understand if you did." I had an encounter with a young lady who suffers from sickle cell complications that helped me see how this statement applied in my own life when I bumped into her this past week at the local grocery store. She was one of my daughter's best friends back in high school. I'll call her Zondra. 

We were both picking up necessary sustenance for dinner when I recognized her. Zondra gave me a warm hug, and remarked that she looked a mess. To me she looked as lovely as ever, and I told her so. After all, I have seen this young woman at her worst. That was several years ago, when I went with my daughter, Dawn, to visit Zondra in the hospital. She had been placed there because of yet another sickle cell crisis. That time it was her hip, and I can remember that she was in an enormous amount of pain. Eventually she had to undergo hip replacement surgery.

When I asked her about her hip, she had good things to report. I know, because of the disease, that it's only a matter of time before it's something else. I believe she does too, but I am always in awe over her incredibly great attitude. She never gives up. To me, she is the epitome of strength. She is also extremely kind and peaceful, always keeping her focus in the present moment. I think most people feel lucky when they are around her. She just has a way about her that makes one feel appreciative about life itself.

That day in the grocery store, I looked to Zondra for some encouragement about my relationship with Dawn; we've had a huge parting of ways. I believe I can count on one hand the number if times we've seen each other this year - and I'd only be using two fingers. Dawn didn't spend Christmas with us, and didn't even bother to give us her itinerary when she left the country. When I told her high school buddy this, she wasn't surprised in the slightest. "Don't worry," she stated mater of factly, "it will blow over."

Our encounter in the grocery store left me feeling hopeful, but in all honesty, it's difficult for me to keep the faith. I miss my daughter very much, but I do NOT miss the person she has turned into. As I said to Zondra when she remarked that she couldn't remember the last time spoke to Dawn, "Maybe you're better off. She will alienate you if you don't say what she wants to hear. The last time I heard her voice she was yelling disrespectfully at her father on the phone, and she isn't talking to me anymore."

"Don't worry," she repeated, "It will blow over."

And the Oscar Goes to...

This is the first Academy Awards show that I am not excited about. Last night I searched for all the trailers of the best picture nominees, as well as the best actor and actress nominees. After I was done I realized why. There were only two or three movies I thought looked good, and that was after watching about 10-15 trailers. I know I shouldn't do this, but I have predictions - based on politically correctness and my take on the movie trailers I watched last night.

Best Picture - Gravity 

This is one of the three I would go see in a theater.

Best Actor - Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club

This is two of the three I would go see, but likely on DVD. 

Best Actress - Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine, but the academy absolutely LOVES Meryl, so we'll just have to wait and see. August: Osage County is the third movie I'd possibly watch, but just for the acting.

Supporting Actress - Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave. She happens to be a Yale graduate like Meryl.

Gotta go. It's starting right now.