14 ‘Azamat 164 B.E. – Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Mom’s using her walker to help get her from the bed to the wheel chair and in an optimistic mood most of the time. She has her prayer beads, prayer book and magnifying glass next to the bed, so she can say prayers when she likes.
Yesterday her therapist came and gave her some exercises she can do in the walker. She likes using the walker, although she still needs some help when using it, but that should pass. Mom has three different types of exercises to do. One group of exercises she does in bed, another while sitting in the wheelchair and the last while she uses the walker to stand up.
I still can’t seem to get caught up on the house work, but it is progressing slowly. I’m almost caught up with the laundry, but this I’ve said before and then got behind again. I had an interesting experience Monday. I had to bail out the dishwasher. It usually retains a little bit of water, but Monday it appeared as if it hadn’t drained well. I haven’t used it since, but I’m going to have to use it soon. On Thursday someone is coming in to fix the garbage disposal, it won’t run at all. I finally found the reset button, but that didn’t help so I put in a work order.
The Feast of Nur is Monday, June 4, at 7:30 pm. On the morning of the 4th Mom has a doctor’s appointment at 7:20 am. I know that seems a bit early, but the last time she had an appointment it was at 10:20 am and, because of blood test and X-rays we didn’t get out of the building until 2:00 pm. The Earlier I take her in the better chance I have of getting out of the building before noon.
Friday, June 1, I’m taking her in for a blood test. I can take her in as early as I want though because the Quest Diagnostics on Burnham is open 24/7. The earlier Friday we get in, the earlier we’ll get out. Right now, I’m just putting everything in Baha’u’llah’s hands and getting as much done in a day as I can. The problem is that I can’t seem to get as much done as I want.
Yesterday, May 29, we went out. Mom had to recertify for a senior program and we needed to pick up some meds for the pharmacy. I stopped by the pharmacy first, because it was suppose to open at 8:00 am and we didn’t leave the house until 8:00 am. I got to the pharmacy, about 8:20, and it wasn’t open yet. We went to get Mom recertified and then back to the pharmacy (about 9:00 or 9:20 am)open.yet. We went to get Mom recertified and then back to the pharmacy, but it still wasn'ick up some meds for the pharmacy. I, but it still wasn’t open. So we went to pay the water bill, that done we went back to the pharmacy, it was open this time and we got the meds. It’s been an interesting week so far and it’s only Wednesday.
I will admit that I’m feeling a lot better today than I was Monday or Tuesday, I’m not sure why. It’s not because I’m getting any more rest. Since Mom got home I’ve been sleeping on the loveseat, not conducive to resting the body. Last night I went to “bed” early and instead of sleeping on the loveseat, I slept on the couch. Not a good idea, the loveseat is harder than the couch, so I sleep better on it and my back doesn’t hurt when I get up. Tonight I think I’ll try my own bed and see if I can hear Mom from there. She has a crystal bell that she can ring if she needs me, so I think that sleeping in the bed will work from now on. Oh well, it’s all in Baha’u’llah’s hands. Everything will work out.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Monday, May 28, 2007
Memorial Day 2007
12 ‘Azamat 164 B.E. - Monday, May 28, 2007
I haven’t turned on the T.V. all morning, so I don’t know what type of Memorial Day ceremonies or specials are on. Since we haven’t taken the R.J. for several months, I don’t have a T.V. schedule in the house. I have memories of Memorial Day commemorations from previous years and from my childhood.
Memorial Day was one of the nonreligious holidays that my Grandparents always commemorated. My Grandpa never fought in a war, he was too young during World War I and too old during World War II. His brother, Uncle Roy, was in the First World War. My father, while he never went over seas, was in the Army Air Core during the Second World War. Dad was stated in Las Vegas at Nellis Air Force Base (don’t know what it was called then). I didn’t have any male relatives or know anyone who fought in the Korean Conflict. I do know several Vietnam Vets. One of my brothers was on an Air Craft Carrier during one of the Gulf Wars. That’s about the extent of my experience with Veterans.
Growing up, Memorial Day was one of those holidays that meant a Road Trip every year. However, the Road Trip consisted in visiting the graves of family and veterans in different towns in Oklahoma and Kansas. At the beginning of May, my Grandmother began preparing for the journey. She made crape paper flowers to put on the graves. When we visited some of the cemeteries, there were military ceremonies, which included the playing of taps and the firing of guns. At others, we put the crape paper flowers on the graves and then went to the next cemetery. My Grandmother always put the homemade flowers on all the relatives’ graves, not just the veterans in the family.
I remember we could always tell the graves of veterans from those of nonveterans, because little American flags were always stuck in the ground behind the headstone or sitting on the headstone itself. Some of the commentaries we visited didn’t appear to be close to a town of any size. They were just fenced graveyards in an Oklahoma or Kansas prairie, while others were just outside of small towns that had a filling station (gas station), grocery store, bank, courthouse and jail.
During those Memorial Day Road Trips, we would stop somewhere, usually outside a small cemetery and eat lunch. My Grandma Newland always packed Southern Fried Chicken, Potato Salad, Macaroni Salad, soda and desert. We never worried about the Potato Salad going bad because she packed it in ice in a portable ice chest. Come to think about it, I don’t think we worried about anything on those Road Trips. We drove from commentary to commentary putting the crape paper flowers on the grave. Grandpa Newland could always tell us which relatives were World War I or World War II veterans. I don’t remember us saying prayers at the gravesites, although the preceding or following Sunday services were dedicated to Memorial Day and remembering the departed soldiers and veterans.
Today my Memorial Day commemoration will consist of a prayer for the departed. I doubt that I even turn the T.V. on before 3:00 pm. I’ll look at the 4:00 news of course, but that’s about it. I won’t go to a Memorial Day Parade, if there is one any where near by. I won’t visit one of the cemeteries here in Vegas. I haven’t decided which prayer I’ll say yet, there are several wonderful prayers for the departed in the Baha’i prayer book.
I haven’t turned on the T.V. all morning, so I don’t know what type of Memorial Day ceremonies or specials are on. Since we haven’t taken the R.J. for several months, I don’t have a T.V. schedule in the house. I have memories of Memorial Day commemorations from previous years and from my childhood.
Memorial Day was one of the nonreligious holidays that my Grandparents always commemorated. My Grandpa never fought in a war, he was too young during World War I and too old during World War II. His brother, Uncle Roy, was in the First World War. My father, while he never went over seas, was in the Army Air Core during the Second World War. Dad was stated in Las Vegas at Nellis Air Force Base (don’t know what it was called then). I didn’t have any male relatives or know anyone who fought in the Korean Conflict. I do know several Vietnam Vets. One of my brothers was on an Air Craft Carrier during one of the Gulf Wars. That’s about the extent of my experience with Veterans.
Growing up, Memorial Day was one of those holidays that meant a Road Trip every year. However, the Road Trip consisted in visiting the graves of family and veterans in different towns in Oklahoma and Kansas. At the beginning of May, my Grandmother began preparing for the journey. She made crape paper flowers to put on the graves. When we visited some of the cemeteries, there were military ceremonies, which included the playing of taps and the firing of guns. At others, we put the crape paper flowers on the graves and then went to the next cemetery. My Grandmother always put the homemade flowers on all the relatives’ graves, not just the veterans in the family.
I remember we could always tell the graves of veterans from those of nonveterans, because little American flags were always stuck in the ground behind the headstone or sitting on the headstone itself. Some of the commentaries we visited didn’t appear to be close to a town of any size. They were just fenced graveyards in an Oklahoma or Kansas prairie, while others were just outside of small towns that had a filling station (gas station), grocery store, bank, courthouse and jail.
During those Memorial Day Road Trips, we would stop somewhere, usually outside a small cemetery and eat lunch. My Grandma Newland always packed Southern Fried Chicken, Potato Salad, Macaroni Salad, soda and desert. We never worried about the Potato Salad going bad because she packed it in ice in a portable ice chest. Come to think about it, I don’t think we worried about anything on those Road Trips. We drove from commentary to commentary putting the crape paper flowers on the grave. Grandpa Newland could always tell us which relatives were World War I or World War II veterans. I don’t remember us saying prayers at the gravesites, although the preceding or following Sunday services were dedicated to Memorial Day and remembering the departed soldiers and veterans.
Today my Memorial Day commemoration will consist of a prayer for the departed. I doubt that I even turn the T.V. on before 3:00 pm. I’ll look at the 4:00 news of course, but that’s about it. I won’t go to a Memorial Day Parade, if there is one any where near by. I won’t visit one of the cemeteries here in Vegas. I haven’t decided which prayer I’ll say yet, there are several wonderful prayers for the departed in the Baha’i prayer book.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
500 Entries
11 ‘Azamat 164 B.E. - Sunday, May 27, 2007
I finally did it, I completed 500 entries in The Snowflake Chronicles, my writing.com blog. This means that I get to start a new blog on that site. The name of the new blog is Snow Melt. I’m beginning that blog on Memorial Day (Monday, May 28, 2007). I decided to make the first 26 entries alphabetical entries, which will take me through Nur.
I’m going experiment with the entries in Snow Melt, expand my writing. I’ve created the blog, but haven’t put the first entry in yet. I’ll do that after midnight writing.com time (Eastern Daylight Time), which isn’t too long from now. I feel like celebrating, but I’m not sure how to celebrate the completion of The Snowflake Chronicles.
Since I’ve completed The Snowflake Chronicles, my next project will be to delete some old entries from this blog. I think I’ll delete everything up until the beginning of 2007. When I delete entries, I make sure I save them to a manuscript and burned it on a CD, this way I can always go back, read them and find writing ideas.
I finally did it, I completed 500 entries in The Snowflake Chronicles, my writing.com blog. This means that I get to start a new blog on that site. The name of the new blog is Snow Melt. I’m beginning that blog on Memorial Day (Monday, May 28, 2007). I decided to make the first 26 entries alphabetical entries, which will take me through Nur.
I’m going experiment with the entries in Snow Melt, expand my writing. I’ve created the blog, but haven’t put the first entry in yet. I’ll do that after midnight writing.com time (Eastern Daylight Time), which isn’t too long from now. I feel like celebrating, but I’m not sure how to celebrate the completion of The Snowflake Chronicles.
Since I’ve completed The Snowflake Chronicles, my next project will be to delete some old entries from this blog. I think I’ll delete everything up until the beginning of 2007. When I delete entries, I make sure I save them to a manuscript and burned it on a CD, this way I can always go back, read them and find writing ideas.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
How Can a Person be Thankful in Adversity?
10 ‘Azamat 164 B.E. – Saturday, May 26, 2007
The question arises – “How can we be thankful in adversity?” I’ve found that a gratitude journal helps. I started a gratitude journal last year because of a weekly prompt in one of my yahoo groups. Every Thursday is Thankful Thursday. Each week a person list 10 things her or she is thankful for.
I gave my gratitude journal the name of Glory because I began in the month of Jalal, which means Glory. When I make my weekly entry I address the journal directly as “Dear Glory”. I put the date of the entry above the salutation and when I’ve completed the grateful list I end the entry with either “Thankfully Yours” or “Gratefully Yours” and sign my name.
The great thing about a Gratitude Journal is that you can make monthly, weekly, or daily entries. The entries don’t have to be in letter form. I can make a gratitude entry in any form from proses sentences to poems. Sometimes I list the reason I’m grateful and sometimes I just list an item without saying why I’m grateful for it. All though, in times of adversity and troubles it’s nice to know the reason I’m grateful for something.
If I make more than one weekly entry, then I always make sure that the Thursday entry is 10 items. There are times when it is difficult to find 10 things to be thankful for, but I’ve found that persistence and prayer helps. Entries other than Thursday are, at least, three. The problem with making the entry smaller than 10 is that it doesn’t stretch my gratitude muscle. Ten items exercise that spiritual muscle more then items.
Another way to be thankful in adversity is prayer. If I have problems finding things to be thankful for, then I choose a prayer for “Praise and Gratitude” from the Baha’I Prayer Book. After I say one of the prayers revealed by Baha’u’llah, the Bab or written by ‘Abdu’l-Baha then I can find several things to be thankful for.
A Gratitude Journal is a wonderful thing to have; I can look back at the past entries for a pattern or ideas for poems, stories, articles, or blog entries. Of course, I don’t have to share my thankful list with anyone at all, I can keep it private if I want, but I usually share the Thursday entry at the very least. I know that I like to see what other people are grateful for, because often I find things that I have in my own life I forgot to list.
I suggest everyone make a gratitude journal. It doesn’t have to be a formal journal. It can be a loose-leaf notebook or a blog entry. The advantage to having a formal gratitude journal is that I can look back over the past entries in times of difficulties or when I’m not going through difficulties and see how Baha’u’llah has blessed my life.
“Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity. …”
Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 284
The question arises – “How can we be thankful in adversity?” I’ve found that a gratitude journal helps. I started a gratitude journal last year because of a weekly prompt in one of my yahoo groups. Every Thursday is Thankful Thursday. Each week a person list 10 things her or she is thankful for.
I gave my gratitude journal the name of Glory because I began in the month of Jalal, which means Glory. When I make my weekly entry I address the journal directly as “Dear Glory”. I put the date of the entry above the salutation and when I’ve completed the grateful list I end the entry with either “Thankfully Yours” or “Gratefully Yours” and sign my name.
The great thing about a Gratitude Journal is that you can make monthly, weekly, or daily entries. The entries don’t have to be in letter form. I can make a gratitude entry in any form from proses sentences to poems. Sometimes I list the reason I’m grateful and sometimes I just list an item without saying why I’m grateful for it. All though, in times of adversity and troubles it’s nice to know the reason I’m grateful for something.
If I make more than one weekly entry, then I always make sure that the Thursday entry is 10 items. There are times when it is difficult to find 10 things to be thankful for, but I’ve found that persistence and prayer helps. Entries other than Thursday are, at least, three. The problem with making the entry smaller than 10 is that it doesn’t stretch my gratitude muscle. Ten items exercise that spiritual muscle more then items.
Another way to be thankful in adversity is prayer. If I have problems finding things to be thankful for, then I choose a prayer for “Praise and Gratitude” from the Baha’I Prayer Book. After I say one of the prayers revealed by Baha’u’llah, the Bab or written by ‘Abdu’l-Baha then I can find several things to be thankful for.
A Gratitude Journal is a wonderful thing to have; I can look back at the past entries for a pattern or ideas for poems, stories, articles, or blog entries. Of course, I don’t have to share my thankful list with anyone at all, I can keep it private if I want, but I usually share the Thursday entry at the very least. I know that I like to see what other people are grateful for, because often I find things that I have in my own life I forgot to list.
I suggest everyone make a gratitude journal. It doesn’t have to be a formal journal. It can be a loose-leaf notebook or a blog entry. The advantage to having a formal gratitude journal is that I can look back over the past entries in times of difficulties or when I’m not going through difficulties and see how Baha’u’llah has blessed my life.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Mass Deletes
3 ‘Azamat 164 B.E. – May 19, 2007
We didn’t attend the Feast of ‘Azamat on the evening of May 16. Mom and I were sitting in Valley ER, or rather, I was sitting and she was lying in a bed. I think I mentioned the reason in the last post. The last few days were interesting (?) – all right, maybe not the best word for our adventures. Actually tiring is a better word. On Monday, I need to take Mom in for a blood test. I’m not sure what that’s going to show. Right now, I’m doing laundry. I’d say I have only one more load of sheets after this, but that may be an under estimate. The only laundry I’ve did for the past week is sheets. I didn’t know we had so many sheets.
I just heard the washing machine go off, so I’ll go put those in the dryer and see what else there is to do before putting another load of sheets in. I retrieved all my e-mail last Sunday and then had to wait until Thursday to retrieve it again. As a result, my boxes are full. I think the best thing to do now is just mass delete everything and start over. I probably won’t delete everything, but I will delete most of it; if I miss something important the “tough cookies”.
It’s amazing how freeing it is just to check every e-mail in a box or folder and then press the delete key. It’s also a bit upsetting. I mean if I should delete something important, then what? I’m not going to worry about it now though. I’m just too overwhelmed to worry about what’s in my e-mail boxes and what I’m deleting. I am starting with a folder rather than the main e-mail box. I started out by checking everything and then unchecking what I thought I wanted. Then I decided to check everything a look at the subject lines. Now I’m just checking everything and then clicking the delete icon. I’ll move from the folders to the main mail box later. I sort my e-mail into folder, so that the main box isn’t too full (most of the time).
It’s amazing how relieved I feel now that I’ve decided to simply mass delete everything without looking at the subject line. The folder I’m working with is one that I normally don’t do this type of mass delete in. However, doing anything else right now doesn’t seem the right thing. I have unread messages in that folder going back to March of this year. I have other folders that hold read message from 2006, 2005, etc. I think I’ll mass delete those as well and just clean out the entire box. That way I’ll start fresh and maybe be able to respond in a timely manner. There is always hope.
Even deleting the way I’m doing it takes time. Time I could use in some other way, but if I don’t do this now … the job will be bigger tomorrow or next week. Putting thing off just doesn’t help; it only makes matters worse. I’ll mass delete and then post to the group that the folder was set up for. I may get only the one folder cleaned out today, but if I work a little bit each day on this then eventually, I’ll have a … OK, my train of though just derailed. It’s been a stressful week and I’m tired, weary and for some reason not at all worried about anything.
We didn’t attend the Feast of ‘Azamat on the evening of May 16. Mom and I were sitting in Valley ER, or rather, I was sitting and she was lying in a bed. I think I mentioned the reason in the last post. The last few days were interesting (?) – all right, maybe not the best word for our adventures. Actually tiring is a better word. On Monday, I need to take Mom in for a blood test. I’m not sure what that’s going to show. Right now, I’m doing laundry. I’d say I have only one more load of sheets after this, but that may be an under estimate. The only laundry I’ve did for the past week is sheets. I didn’t know we had so many sheets.
I just heard the washing machine go off, so I’ll go put those in the dryer and see what else there is to do before putting another load of sheets in. I retrieved all my e-mail last Sunday and then had to wait until Thursday to retrieve it again. As a result, my boxes are full. I think the best thing to do now is just mass delete everything and start over. I probably won’t delete everything, but I will delete most of it; if I miss something important the “tough cookies”.
It’s amazing how freeing it is just to check every e-mail in a box or folder and then press the delete key. It’s also a bit upsetting. I mean if I should delete something important, then what? I’m not going to worry about it now though. I’m just too overwhelmed to worry about what’s in my e-mail boxes and what I’m deleting. I am starting with a folder rather than the main e-mail box. I started out by checking everything and then unchecking what I thought I wanted. Then I decided to check everything a look at the subject lines. Now I’m just checking everything and then clicking the delete icon. I’ll move from the folders to the main mail box later. I sort my e-mail into folder, so that the main box isn’t too full (most of the time).
It’s amazing how relieved I feel now that I’ve decided to simply mass delete everything without looking at the subject line. The folder I’m working with is one that I normally don’t do this type of mass delete in. However, doing anything else right now doesn’t seem the right thing. I have unread messages in that folder going back to March of this year. I have other folders that hold read message from 2006, 2005, etc. I think I’ll mass delete those as well and just clean out the entire box. That way I’ll start fresh and maybe be able to respond in a timely manner. There is always hope.
Even deleting the way I’m doing it takes time. Time I could use in some other way, but if I don’t do this now … the job will be bigger tomorrow or next week. Putting thing off just doesn’t help; it only makes matters worse. I’ll mass delete and then post to the group that the folder was set up for. I may get only the one folder cleaned out today, but if I work a little bit each day on this then eventually, I’ll have a … OK, my train of though just derailed. It’s been a stressful week and I’m tired, weary and for some reason not at all worried about anything.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Facets of Faith
2 Azamat 164 B.E. – May 18, 2007
I came up with this idea yesterday. I’m not sure where it is going right now. I do know lately I’ve had trouble writing entries for this blog. I haven’t made a n entry for several days. What does that have to do with faith? An interesting question, almost as interesting as my life the past few days; since Monday it’s been one long adventure (that’s as good a word as any) right after another.
Monday I took my mother to the doctor. Her appointment was at 10:20 AM. Now getting Mom into and out of the car is a project. She hasn’t been home from the Rehab Hospital very long (maybe a week) so when I take her anyplace, I have to take her wheel chair. I load Mom into the front seat (this gets easier with practice), after which I remove the leg rest from the wheel chair and put them in the back seat, and then I fold the wheel chair up and load it in the trunk. I tried putting the chair in the backseat, but it’s easier getting it in the trunk. It’s a bit more difficult getting it out of the trunk, but that’s because of the cover to the spare tire. After the doctor’s visit, she went for x-rays and a blood test, didn’t get home until around 2 PM.
Tuesday morning sometime between 2:00 AM and 3:00 AM, got a phone call that Mom’s potassium and magnesium were low and that I should get her to either an Urgent Care or ER. I took her to the Urgent Care on West Charleston and Rancho. She was there until sometime between 3:00 Am and 5:00 AM Wednesday morning.
Wednesday somewhere around 11:00 AM, got a call from her doctor to take her to Valley ER because the x-ray showed a problem with her lungs, we stayed until about 8:00 PM. The x-rays were clear so the doctors sent her home. Then Thursday morning a different type of emergency took us out of the house, I didn’t have anyone to leave Mom with so she went. Anyway, because of all this, I didn’t get on line for about three and a half days.
So what does all this have to do with the facets of faith? During all this chaos the one thing that helped me through was a prayer revealed by the Bab, The Remover of Difficulties, and one revealed by Baha’u’llah, The Tablet of Ahmad. Without these two prayers, I don’t think I could have gotten though. Both prayers I memorized a long time ago. Both focus my attention on positive thoughts rather than on the negative.
Faith is like a diamond. It’s true beauty doesn’t come out until it is shaped by the diamond cutter. Tests and difficulties help shape a person’s faith and polish it’s facets so they can sparkle. The last few days have certainly polished my diamond.
I still have a lot to do, but I’ll get it done. In the mean time … what? I lost my train of thought. Oh, well I guess that’s what I get for multitasking. I’m trying to wash a load of sheets and type this at the same time. I have washed so many sheet the past few or maybe it’s been two weeks. My sense of time it not what it used to be. I know what day it is and year, but past events seem like distant memories – stress or just plain weariness. Interesting, it’s been eight days since my last post, doesn’t seem like that long.
I came up with this idea yesterday. I’m not sure where it is going right now. I do know lately I’ve had trouble writing entries for this blog. I haven’t made a n entry for several days. What does that have to do with faith? An interesting question, almost as interesting as my life the past few days; since Monday it’s been one long adventure (that’s as good a word as any) right after another.
Monday I took my mother to the doctor. Her appointment was at 10:20 AM. Now getting Mom into and out of the car is a project. She hasn’t been home from the Rehab Hospital very long (maybe a week) so when I take her anyplace, I have to take her wheel chair. I load Mom into the front seat (this gets easier with practice), after which I remove the leg rest from the wheel chair and put them in the back seat, and then I fold the wheel chair up and load it in the trunk. I tried putting the chair in the backseat, but it’s easier getting it in the trunk. It’s a bit more difficult getting it out of the trunk, but that’s because of the cover to the spare tire. After the doctor’s visit, she went for x-rays and a blood test, didn’t get home until around 2 PM.
Tuesday morning sometime between 2:00 AM and 3:00 AM, got a phone call that Mom’s potassium and magnesium were low and that I should get her to either an Urgent Care or ER. I took her to the Urgent Care on West Charleston and Rancho. She was there until sometime between 3:00 Am and 5:00 AM Wednesday morning.
Wednesday somewhere around 11:00 AM, got a call from her doctor to take her to Valley ER because the x-ray showed a problem with her lungs, we stayed until about 8:00 PM. The x-rays were clear so the doctors sent her home. Then Thursday morning a different type of emergency took us out of the house, I didn’t have anyone to leave Mom with so she went. Anyway, because of all this, I didn’t get on line for about three and a half days.
So what does all this have to do with the facets of faith? During all this chaos the one thing that helped me through was a prayer revealed by the Bab, The Remover of Difficulties, and one revealed by Baha’u’llah, The Tablet of Ahmad. Without these two prayers, I don’t think I could have gotten though. Both prayers I memorized a long time ago. Both focus my attention on positive thoughts rather than on the negative.
Faith is like a diamond. It’s true beauty doesn’t come out until it is shaped by the diamond cutter. Tests and difficulties help shape a person’s faith and polish it’s facets so they can sparkle. The last few days have certainly polished my diamond.
I still have a lot to do, but I’ll get it done. In the mean time … what? I lost my train of thought. Oh, well I guess that’s what I get for multitasking. I’m trying to wash a load of sheets and type this at the same time. I have washed so many sheet the past few or maybe it’s been two weeks. My sense of time it not what it used to be. I know what day it is and year, but past events seem like distant memories – stress or just plain weariness. Interesting, it’s been eight days since my last post, doesn’t seem like that long.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Two short, but bittersweet posts
14 Jamal 164 B.E. – Friday, May 11, 2007
I like bagpipe music. The call of the pipes speaks directly to my soul. I realize that not everyone likes to hear the pipes nor do they understand the emotional quality of the music. I’m not sure whether it’s because I’m Scotch-Irish that I’m so attracted to bagpipes or some other reason. I especially like to hear spiritual and religious songs played on the pipes.
13 Jamal 164 B.E. – Thursday, May 10, 2007
Mother’s day approaches on Sunday, May 13. Mom is home and progressing slowly, but progressing nonetheless.
Bagpipes
I like bagpipe music. The call of the pipes speaks directly to my soul. I realize that not everyone likes to hear the pipes nor do they understand the emotional quality of the music. I’m not sure whether it’s because I’m Scotch-Irish that I’m so attracted to bagpipes or some other reason. I especially like to hear spiritual and religious songs played on the pipes.
13 Jamal 164 B.E. – Thursday, May 10, 2007
Mother’s Day Approaches
Mother’s day approaches on Sunday, May 13. Mom is home and progressing slowly, but progressing nonetheless.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Blessing of Baha’u’llah
12 Jamal 164 B.E. – Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Sometimes we go through life not counting our blessing or being thankful. Therefore, today I think I’ll recount some of the blessing Baha’u’llah has showered on me. I’m not sure how many I’ll have listed at the end of this post, but I do know that how-ever many it is, it won’t be complete. It won’t be complete because the blessings showered upon me by Baha’u’llah are unending.
In one of the revealed prayers Baha’u’llah refers to tests as “a healing medicine”. Life is full of tests and difficulties; they come to us in various ways and at different times. An event that may be mundane to one individual could be a test for another. The intention of tests and difficulties is to strengthen faith and polish the soul’s mirror. That’s why tests and difficulties are blessings because without them the soul wouldn’t develop wings of ascent to fly in the next world.
The prayers revealed by Baha’u’llah are blessings. Unlike the prayers that an individual says, writes, or composes spontaneously. The prayers Baha’u’llah revealed help the individual focus on achieving the reason the soul was created and the Divine Essence. We can’t know God directly, but the purpose of the individual is to know and love God. The only way a human being can know God is through the Mirror of the Divine Essence. Baha’u’llah is the Mirror of God for this age. Therefore, when we read or recite a prayer revealed by Baha’u’llah, we are reading and reciting a prayer revealed by the Divine Essence through Baha’u’llah.
Another blessing of the prayers revealed by Baha’u’llah is that they ignite the individual’s soul. They bring joy and happiness. They awaken a person to the reality of the Divine Essence. They inspire and cause the individual to look toward God rather than self. I know when I read or recite one of the prayers my entire attitude changes. My day is brightened and I’m encouraged to achieve the goals I set for myself.
When I go to set goals I don’t set them without saying, at least, one prayer. Prayer focuses the soul and mind on the attributes of God. Prayer helps me to concentrate on what I’m doing rather than worrying about what’s not done or what I may not get done. This is another of the blessing of Baha’u’llah.
Baha’u’llah has given so many blessings that it is difficult to list them all. Indeed, I don’t think I could list all the blessing here because I keep discovering new blessings everyday. One of the blessing, for me, is the ability to compose poems and stories. Creativity is a blessing; it helps me to discover new things about myself and about the world around me. Without it my life would be boring. Without Baha’u’llah I would never have discovered the three onenesses and the unity of the human race.
However, the greatest blessing is my life is the knowledge of Baha’u’llah. Just knowing that God has sent another messenger, mirror, prophet and manifestation gives me the courage to go on each day, place my problems in the hands of Baha’u’llah (which is like placing my problems in God’s hands) and go on without worry.
One of my favorite prayers revealed by Baha’u’llah is the Long Healing Prayer.
Sometimes we go through life not counting our blessing or being thankful. Therefore, today I think I’ll recount some of the blessing Baha’u’llah has showered on me. I’m not sure how many I’ll have listed at the end of this post, but I do know that how-ever many it is, it won’t be complete. It won’t be complete because the blessings showered upon me by Baha’u’llah are unending.
In one of the revealed prayers Baha’u’llah refers to tests as “a healing medicine”. Life is full of tests and difficulties; they come to us in various ways and at different times. An event that may be mundane to one individual could be a test for another. The intention of tests and difficulties is to strengthen faith and polish the soul’s mirror. That’s why tests and difficulties are blessings because without them the soul wouldn’t develop wings of ascent to fly in the next world.
The prayers revealed by Baha’u’llah are blessings. Unlike the prayers that an individual says, writes, or composes spontaneously. The prayers Baha’u’llah revealed help the individual focus on achieving the reason the soul was created and the Divine Essence. We can’t know God directly, but the purpose of the individual is to know and love God. The only way a human being can know God is through the Mirror of the Divine Essence. Baha’u’llah is the Mirror of God for this age. Therefore, when we read or recite a prayer revealed by Baha’u’llah, we are reading and reciting a prayer revealed by the Divine Essence through Baha’u’llah.
Another blessing of the prayers revealed by Baha’u’llah is that they ignite the individual’s soul. They bring joy and happiness. They awaken a person to the reality of the Divine Essence. They inspire and cause the individual to look toward God rather than self. I know when I read or recite one of the prayers my entire attitude changes. My day is brightened and I’m encouraged to achieve the goals I set for myself.
When I go to set goals I don’t set them without saying, at least, one prayer. Prayer focuses the soul and mind on the attributes of God. Prayer helps me to concentrate on what I’m doing rather than worrying about what’s not done or what I may not get done. This is another of the blessing of Baha’u’llah.
Baha’u’llah has given so many blessings that it is difficult to list them all. Indeed, I don’t think I could list all the blessing here because I keep discovering new blessings everyday. One of the blessing, for me, is the ability to compose poems and stories. Creativity is a blessing; it helps me to discover new things about myself and about the world around me. Without it my life would be boring. Without Baha’u’llah I would never have discovered the three onenesses and the unity of the human race.
However, the greatest blessing is my life is the knowledge of Baha’u’llah. Just knowing that God has sent another messenger, mirror, prophet and manifestation gives me the courage to go on each day, place my problems in the hands of Baha’u’llah (which is like placing my problems in God’s hands) and go on without worry.
One of my favorite prayers revealed by Baha’u’llah is the Long Healing Prayer.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Doing Laundry
11 Jamal 164 B.E. – Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Someone came to fix the dryer yesterday. The technician put in new rollers inside under the tub of the dryer. The dryer doesn’t squeak any more. The dryer runs without making any disturbing noises. I can now do laundry without hanging it out on the line, there are exception but those are small and not things like sheets and towels. I still have to completely catch up on the laundry and remake my bed, but I’m getting there and should have the laundry caught up today sometime. It’s nice to have both a washer and a dryer that works.
Anyway, I spent most of the day finishing the laundry and drying cloths. I don’t know how my Grandmother survived without an automatic washer for so long. It’s amazing what kinds of technology we can and can’t do without. It was difficult for me to wash cloths and hang them on the line or the patio. However, for years before the advent of wringer washing machines, my Grandmother wash her cloths on a scrub board (I think that’s what it was called), wrung them out and hung them on the line. When the wringer washer came along, my Grandfather got her one. I can remember her using it. For years, she would put the cloths in the washer, wash them and put them through the wringer. then she would put the cloths into wash tubs and rinse them. I used to watch Grandma do this, I used to help her. She always warned us to be careful not to get our hands caught in the wringer. After the last rinse (Grandma always rinsed her cloths twice) she hung them on the line to dry.
Today we take automatic washers and dryers for granted until they need maintenance and we can’t use them for a while. Only when deprived of modern conveniences do we appreciate them. OK, there has to be a story plot here and a lesson as well.
Someone came to fix the dryer yesterday. The technician put in new rollers inside under the tub of the dryer. The dryer doesn’t squeak any more. The dryer runs without making any disturbing noises. I can now do laundry without hanging it out on the line, there are exception but those are small and not things like sheets and towels. I still have to completely catch up on the laundry and remake my bed, but I’m getting there and should have the laundry caught up today sometime. It’s nice to have both a washer and a dryer that works.
Anyway, I spent most of the day finishing the laundry and drying cloths. I don’t know how my Grandmother survived without an automatic washer for so long. It’s amazing what kinds of technology we can and can’t do without. It was difficult for me to wash cloths and hang them on the line or the patio. However, for years before the advent of wringer washing machines, my Grandmother wash her cloths on a scrub board (I think that’s what it was called), wrung them out and hung them on the line. When the wringer washer came along, my Grandfather got her one. I can remember her using it. For years, she would put the cloths in the washer, wash them and put them through the wringer. then she would put the cloths into wash tubs and rinse them. I used to watch Grandma do this, I used to help her. She always warned us to be careful not to get our hands caught in the wringer. After the last rinse (Grandma always rinsed her cloths twice) she hung them on the line to dry.
Today we take automatic washers and dryers for granted until they need maintenance and we can’t use them for a while. Only when deprived of modern conveniences do we appreciate them. OK, there has to be a story plot here and a lesson as well.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Invaders in my back yard
10 Jamal 164 B.E. – Monday, May 7, 2007
Well they’re back, I saw the kids retrieving toys again tonight. It was during the news, when Mom and I were eating supper. I’m going to have to keep an eye out tomorrow and see where they are entering the backyard. I may have to go out and see if I can do something about the loose board myself. I think this is a recent issue. I’m still not all that worried about it. I suspect the kids parents don’t know they’re entering this yard through a loose board. I don’t think the kids realize we see them.
Invaders in my backyard sounds like a good title for a story. I’ll have to keep that in mind. However, if the kids are going to make coming into my yard a daily habit, I’m going to have to figure out a way to put a stop to it. Yesterday I asked what ‘Abdu’l-Baha would do in this situation. I don’t think he would let it go on, but I do think he would use a wise approach. I’m not sure what the wise approach is at this time. I think they are coming into the yard from the house directly across the fence. I’ve looked in that backyard and from the play equipment, there appears to be children living there; although there are probably children living in all the houses on Sweeny, which is the name of the next street in that direction.
Well they’re back, I saw the kids retrieving toys again tonight. It was during the news, when Mom and I were eating supper. I’m going to have to keep an eye out tomorrow and see where they are entering the backyard. I may have to go out and see if I can do something about the loose board myself. I think this is a recent issue. I’m still not all that worried about it. I suspect the kids parents don’t know they’re entering this yard through a loose board. I don’t think the kids realize we see them.
Invaders in my backyard sounds like a good title for a story. I’ll have to keep that in mind. However, if the kids are going to make coming into my yard a daily habit, I’m going to have to figure out a way to put a stop to it. Yesterday I asked what ‘Abdu’l-Baha would do in this situation. I don’t think he would let it go on, but I do think he would use a wise approach. I’m not sure what the wise approach is at this time. I think they are coming into the yard from the house directly across the fence. I’ve looked in that backyard and from the play equipment, there appears to be children living there; although there are probably children living in all the houses on Sweeny, which is the name of the next street in that direction.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
An Interesting Situation
9 Jamal 164 B.E. – Sunday, May 6, 2007
Today I realized an interesting situation that occurs periodically in my back yard. The neighbor’s kids somehow get into the yard to retrieved balls and other toys they accidentally throw over the fence. Mom and I were sitting in the dining room watching a Fred Asteria (I hope that’s how you spell the name) movie on Channel 10. I glanced out the patio door and there walking across my backyard was a boy about 10 years old or younger. He retrieved a ball, tossed it into the back fence neighbor’s yard, and then disappeared out of sight. About five or ten minutes later he was back with a younger brother. The retrieved to toys, finally got them into their yard and then left my yard. I know they got into my yard through a loose board in the fence, but I don’t know which board is loose.
I’m going to have to do something about it, I don’t mind the neighbors kids retrieving their toys that land inadvertently in my yard, but I’d at least like them to be polite enough to knock on my door and ask. I’m going to have someone clean the back yard the first Saturday in June, so when Larry come I’ll have him check the fence boards and see if there is a way to secure any that are loose. In the mean time, I’m just going to have to keep an eye out to see how often these kids get into the yard. I don’t know how long they’ve been doing this, from the way they acted it’s a common occurrence.
I wouldn’t have know there was a problem if Mom hadn’t got out of the hospital recently. She needs a hospital bed right now, so I had them put the bed in the dining room rather than in her regular bedroom. I moved the TV into the dinning room, so she could have some entertainment.
I wonder how ‘Abdu’l-Baha would handle this situation? I’ll have to meditate on that and see what I come up with. I don’t want to come off as a witch spelled with a b in this, I just want the kids to ask permission before coming into my yard. I don’t think that’s too much to ask, it only shows respect for your neighbors. I suppose this could be a good opportunity to meet the back fence neighbors, I’ll have to determine when their home and what house they live in and maybe go see them. When I can get away; right now Mom can’t be left alone, so I’m sort of stuck in the house if I can’t find someone to sit with her.
I’ll keep an eye on the situation. Until school lets out for the summer (or does the grade school in this neighborhood year round) it’s not going to be a big problem except maybe on Saturday or Sunday. I know there must be an opportunity of some type here. Maybe to tell those neighbors about Baha’u’llah, this is a good way to get to meet them. With kids of that age, it’s best to approach the parents with any problems and concerns. As soon as possible, I’ll have to get to the next street and figure out which house it is and meet the parents.
Today I realized an interesting situation that occurs periodically in my back yard. The neighbor’s kids somehow get into the yard to retrieved balls and other toys they accidentally throw over the fence. Mom and I were sitting in the dining room watching a Fred Asteria (I hope that’s how you spell the name) movie on Channel 10. I glanced out the patio door and there walking across my backyard was a boy about 10 years old or younger. He retrieved a ball, tossed it into the back fence neighbor’s yard, and then disappeared out of sight. About five or ten minutes later he was back with a younger brother. The retrieved to toys, finally got them into their yard and then left my yard. I know they got into my yard through a loose board in the fence, but I don’t know which board is loose.
I’m going to have to do something about it, I don’t mind the neighbors kids retrieving their toys that land inadvertently in my yard, but I’d at least like them to be polite enough to knock on my door and ask. I’m going to have someone clean the back yard the first Saturday in June, so when Larry come I’ll have him check the fence boards and see if there is a way to secure any that are loose. In the mean time, I’m just going to have to keep an eye out to see how often these kids get into the yard. I don’t know how long they’ve been doing this, from the way they acted it’s a common occurrence.
I wouldn’t have know there was a problem if Mom hadn’t got out of the hospital recently. She needs a hospital bed right now, so I had them put the bed in the dining room rather than in her regular bedroom. I moved the TV into the dinning room, so she could have some entertainment.
I wonder how ‘Abdu’l-Baha would handle this situation? I’ll have to meditate on that and see what I come up with. I don’t want to come off as a witch spelled with a b in this, I just want the kids to ask permission before coming into my yard. I don’t think that’s too much to ask, it only shows respect for your neighbors. I suppose this could be a good opportunity to meet the back fence neighbors, I’ll have to determine when their home and what house they live in and maybe go see them. When I can get away; right now Mom can’t be left alone, so I’m sort of stuck in the house if I can’t find someone to sit with her.
I’ll keep an eye on the situation. Until school lets out for the summer (or does the grade school in this neighborhood year round) it’s not going to be a big problem except maybe on Saturday or Sunday. I know there must be an opportunity of some type here. Maybe to tell those neighbors about Baha’u’llah, this is a good way to get to meet them. With kids of that age, it’s best to approach the parents with any problems and concerns. As soon as possible, I’ll have to get to the next street and figure out which house it is and meet the parents.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Again a Two-Day Entry
8 Jamal 164 B.E. – Saturday, May 5, 2007
This is getting a little bit redundant. This is the second two-day entry in a row and I have no excuse. I’m not even sure why I didn’t post an entry yesterday. Not like I’m going anywhere unless I find someone to set with Mom while I’m gone. I did get her meds yesterday, but I got the neighbors to keep an eye on her while I was gone. Getting the meds didn’t take that long, I did have to go to the bank to get money, but that wasn’t long either. Anyway, I got Mom’s meds and I’m going to have to go give her the evening pill in a few moments. She’s getting easier to get in and out of her wheel chair. She seems to be about to use her legs a little bit more than she could when she got home a few days ago.
Right now she’s sitting in the wheel chair watching a cooking show on channel 10. I’m going to go fix a hamburger for supper, but I don’t think we’ll have supper until closer to 6:00 PM. Mom enjoys the Britcoms and Lawrence Whelk. Lawrence Whelk comes on at 6:00 and the Britcoms at 8:00. I think between the two, I’ll read the Long Healing Prayer revealed by Baha’u’llah, so Mom can hear, Mom enjoys listening to this prayer.
7 Jamal 164 B.E. – Friday, May 4, 2007
The dryer squeaks and isn’t working properly. So I’m stuck with washing the cloths and then drying them either on one cloths line or on the patio. I’m using both. It isn’t easy, especially since we’re using a lot of sheet lately and they need to be washed and dried everyday. I can’t go the launder mat. Mom just got home from the rehab hospital a few days ago and can’t be left alone. She is in a hospital bed and has exercises to do besides other things that need done for her. I put in a work order on the website and someone got back to me about the dryer, but they won’t be out until Monday. So I’ll just have to work with the situation.
I don’t really like to take we cloths to the launder mat anyway. You get them there and dried, then come home and a couple of days later you go out to your car and find that a wet washrag or other small wet item fell out of a basket and onto the floor (they never fall out in the trunk) of the backseat. It leaves an interesting (I think that’s a good word for it) odor in the car.
I don’t like interesting odors in my car, because they stick around for days, weeks and months. You can’t get them out easily and covering them up doesn’t always work or even help. The only way to get an interesting (?) odor out of you car, is to use four forty-five air conditioning. You roll down all four windows and drive forty-five miles an hour preferably on a highway or street where that is the speed limit.
Oh well, this too shall pass. It’s only a test and life is full of test, difficulties and adversity. Baha’u’llah says to be thankful in adversity.
This is getting a little bit redundant. This is the second two-day entry in a row and I have no excuse. I’m not even sure why I didn’t post an entry yesterday. Not like I’m going anywhere unless I find someone to set with Mom while I’m gone. I did get her meds yesterday, but I got the neighbors to keep an eye on her while I was gone. Getting the meds didn’t take that long, I did have to go to the bank to get money, but that wasn’t long either. Anyway, I got Mom’s meds and I’m going to have to go give her the evening pill in a few moments. She’s getting easier to get in and out of her wheel chair. She seems to be about to use her legs a little bit more than she could when she got home a few days ago.
Right now she’s sitting in the wheel chair watching a cooking show on channel 10. I’m going to go fix a hamburger for supper, but I don’t think we’ll have supper until closer to 6:00 PM. Mom enjoys the Britcoms and Lawrence Whelk. Lawrence Whelk comes on at 6:00 and the Britcoms at 8:00. I think between the two, I’ll read the Long Healing Prayer revealed by Baha’u’llah, so Mom can hear, Mom enjoys listening to this prayer.
7 Jamal 164 B.E. – Friday, May 4, 2007
Drying Cloths without a Dryer
The dryer squeaks and isn’t working properly. So I’m stuck with washing the cloths and then drying them either on one cloths line or on the patio. I’m using both. It isn’t easy, especially since we’re using a lot of sheet lately and they need to be washed and dried everyday. I can’t go the launder mat. Mom just got home from the rehab hospital a few days ago and can’t be left alone. She is in a hospital bed and has exercises to do besides other things that need done for her. I put in a work order on the website and someone got back to me about the dryer, but they won’t be out until Monday. So I’ll just have to work with the situation.
I don’t really like to take we cloths to the launder mat anyway. You get them there and dried, then come home and a couple of days later you go out to your car and find that a wet washrag or other small wet item fell out of a basket and onto the floor (they never fall out in the trunk) of the backseat. It leaves an interesting (I think that’s a good word for it) odor in the car.
I don’t like interesting odors in my car, because they stick around for days, weeks and months. You can’t get them out easily and covering them up doesn’t always work or even help. The only way to get an interesting (?) odor out of you car, is to use four forty-five air conditioning. You roll down all four windows and drive forty-five miles an hour preferably on a highway or street where that is the speed limit.
Oh well, this too shall pass. It’s only a test and life is full of test, difficulties and adversity. Baha’u’llah says to be thankful in adversity.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Another two-day entry
6 Jamal 164 B.E. – Thursday, May 3, 2007
I said I was going to attempt to do an entry everyday and if I couldn’t do that then I’d make two or more entries in one day. This is another two-day entry. Yesterday I was ill, vomited etc. I had to go see my mother’s therapist at 9:00 AM PDT. I have no idea what time I got back to the house. I lay down on the couch or was it the love seat. I slept and woke up at 3:00 PM, went back to pick up some stuff from my mother, after stopping at the drug store for some vitamin water (I hadn’t eaten anything, so I thought I need something extra in the water) and a couple of other items. Went to see my mother, took the stuff she wanted me to bring home. Came home and went to sleep again (have no idea what time I got home), woke up at 11:00 PM went to get gas and a couple of stores, only the necessary items; come home and went to sleep (on the love seat). Woke up at 4:00 Am or there about this morning. Still not feeling good, but moved the TV into the dining room and the dining room set into the living room. Swept and mopped the dining room and entrance hall (not to my satisfaction because I failed to get a new sponge for the mop). Now I have to finish the living room and kitchen. I’m feeling better now, I’ll do one or the other next. However, my mother is home so I’ll take care of her and contact someone to come and fix the dryer (I can do this online later tonight). In the mean time, I’m going to go take care of mom and say some prayers. Probably the Tablet of Ahmad revealed by Baha’u’llah.
5 Jamal 164 B.E. – Wednesday, May 2, 2007
I don’t care what anyone says to the contrary, Misery doesn’t love company and doesn’t want company. Misery wants to be left alone to be miserable. So why is it when I’m sick I can’t be left alone to be miserable? I suppose it’s just as well. If I was left alone to be miserable and cranky I’d wallow in my own unhappiness and misery. Therefore, I need to follow Baha’u’llah’s advice and “be thankful in adversity” or in this case misery. What brought this on? I woke up at 12:00 midnight vomiting and with … OK, you can probably guess what else I woke up doing. Anyway, I couldn’t stay home; I had things to do, so I go out and did them. Between doing what I had to do, I slept. I slept not in my bed, because I just couldn’t make myself get off the couch. I eventually got everything done, not to my total satisfaction, but I got it done anyway.
I said I was going to attempt to do an entry everyday and if I couldn’t do that then I’d make two or more entries in one day. This is another two-day entry. Yesterday I was ill, vomited etc. I had to go see my mother’s therapist at 9:00 AM PDT. I have no idea what time I got back to the house. I lay down on the couch or was it the love seat. I slept and woke up at 3:00 PM, went back to pick up some stuff from my mother, after stopping at the drug store for some vitamin water (I hadn’t eaten anything, so I thought I need something extra in the water) and a couple of other items. Went to see my mother, took the stuff she wanted me to bring home. Came home and went to sleep again (have no idea what time I got home), woke up at 11:00 PM went to get gas and a couple of stores, only the necessary items; come home and went to sleep (on the love seat). Woke up at 4:00 Am or there about this morning. Still not feeling good, but moved the TV into the dining room and the dining room set into the living room. Swept and mopped the dining room and entrance hall (not to my satisfaction because I failed to get a new sponge for the mop). Now I have to finish the living room and kitchen. I’m feeling better now, I’ll do one or the other next. However, my mother is home so I’ll take care of her and contact someone to come and fix the dryer (I can do this online later tonight). In the mean time, I’m going to go take care of mom and say some prayers. Probably the Tablet of Ahmad revealed by Baha’u’llah.
5 Jamal 164 B.E. – Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Misery Does Not Love Company
I don’t care what anyone says to the contrary, Misery doesn’t love company and doesn’t want company. Misery wants to be left alone to be miserable. So why is it when I’m sick I can’t be left alone to be miserable? I suppose it’s just as well. If I was left alone to be miserable and cranky I’d wallow in my own unhappiness and misery. Therefore, I need to follow Baha’u’llah’s advice and “be thankful in adversity” or in this case misery. What brought this on? I woke up at 12:00 midnight vomiting and with … OK, you can probably guess what else I woke up doing. Anyway, I couldn’t stay home; I had things to do, so I go out and did them. Between doing what I had to do, I slept. I slept not in my bed, because I just couldn’t make myself get off the couch. I eventually got everything done, not to my total satisfaction, but I got it done anyway.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
May Day Thoughts
4 Jamal 164 B.E. – Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Today is May 1, May Day. From my childhood, I remember specific events about this day. Dancing around a May Pole, I don’t remember how many kids were doing it. What I do remember is a pole, with colored streamer or long sections of some type of paper or cloth hanging from the pole. Then a group of girls and boys, wearing spring cloths, would wind around the pole and braid the streamers around it. The individual would weave in and out. That’s about all I remember about May Day.
Today is May 1, the 11th Day of Ridvan, which is a more important Holiday to me than May Day. Ridvan is when Baha’u’llah declared his mission to his followers. The momentous event occurred in Bagdad in 1863. Celebrating Baha’u’llah’s Declaration is important to me today.
It’s interesting how a person’s thought and concepts change as they mature. When I was a child the May Day events were important, I guess because it was a break in the routine and dancing around the May Pole was fun for a child. However, while I might watch children dance around a May Pole, I wouldn’t find any other reason to enjoy the activity. However, if I’m given a choice between a May Day event and celebrating Ridvan, I’ll celebrate Ridvan without hesitation.
I’m going to have to do a little research on May Day and the May Pole. Even though, as a child, I participated in these events, I don’t know the history of the day or the activities surrounding the celebration. Growing up no one instructed on its history. I’m not even sure now whether the May Pole Dance was a school event or a church event. It could have been either or both depending on what day May Day occurred and if school was in session. Something you remember completely and other things are random snap shots in a photo album memories. This is one of those random memories. Random snap shots in a photo album sounds like a good title for a poem.
Today is May 1, May Day. From my childhood, I remember specific events about this day. Dancing around a May Pole, I don’t remember how many kids were doing it. What I do remember is a pole, with colored streamer or long sections of some type of paper or cloth hanging from the pole. Then a group of girls and boys, wearing spring cloths, would wind around the pole and braid the streamers around it. The individual would weave in and out. That’s about all I remember about May Day.
Today is May 1, the 11th Day of Ridvan, which is a more important Holiday to me than May Day. Ridvan is when Baha’u’llah declared his mission to his followers. The momentous event occurred in Bagdad in 1863. Celebrating Baha’u’llah’s Declaration is important to me today.
It’s interesting how a person’s thought and concepts change as they mature. When I was a child the May Day events were important, I guess because it was a break in the routine and dancing around the May Pole was fun for a child. However, while I might watch children dance around a May Pole, I wouldn’t find any other reason to enjoy the activity. However, if I’m given a choice between a May Day event and celebrating Ridvan, I’ll celebrate Ridvan without hesitation.
I’m going to have to do a little research on May Day and the May Pole. Even though, as a child, I participated in these events, I don’t know the history of the day or the activities surrounding the celebration. Growing up no one instructed on its history. I’m not even sure now whether the May Pole Dance was a school event or a church event. It could have been either or both depending on what day May Day occurred and if school was in session. Something you remember completely and other things are random snap shots in a photo album memories. This is one of those random memories. Random snap shots in a photo album sounds like a good title for a poem.
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