It is the first Christmas in several years that our two boys, Betty and I are all together. I believe we all had very high expectations. Our dreams of the perfect family reunion and special traditions of Christmas' past, quickly dissolved as we discovered we all had different desires.
Chris has been in Arizona for the last 3 years and is preparing to leave the service and he desired to sleep as much as possible. Other than eating out and seeing a movie, he hibernated up to and including Christmas Day.
Nick, who works evenings, and is mostly a shadow that comes and goes as quickly and quietly as a cat, continued his stealthy pursuit in the days leading up to Christmas. Up early (for him) at about 1Pm, he was seen restlessly pacing the house, waiting for something to happen as the day passed by.
Betty and I played a rousing game of checkers then made a couple of apple pies on Christmas eve. A pie for us and one to drop off at work for the team. We were up early Christmas morning, and we drove into work to drop the apple pie. Then Betty went off to the Dog Park with her new best friend "Inu", a recently adopted Shiba Inu. Now she bounces to the music from the stereo as she tidies up and gets ready to start dinner.
Me? I resolved even before Chris arrived for his visit, to simply go with the flow and fill my time with whatever caught my attention. I took an extra day off to make myself available, just in case they all decided to be catalysted into a family activity. None materialized, but I was content to know they were all under the same roof.
The only real traditions we observed this year were, making fried dough Christmas morning, and watching Christmas Vacation. We decorated the outside of the house as usual, and after a struggle to keep the tree vertical, Betty got it decorated in all it's splendor.
It is now Christmas afternoon. The presents still wait, untouched under the tree. Although the stockings are stuffed to the point that they have to sit on the hearth, instead of hanging by the mantle hooks, they too, sit untouched. The Turkey waits patiently in the fridge for us to get motivated. It has no real choice.
On the Bright Side
There are so many things to be thankful for, not the least is, that we are all together, healthy and for the most part, very happy in our own ways. We have all grown over the last few years, and although we have all changed, we are all still a family.
I stumbled upon a quote recently that helped me realize that change is inevitable and it is best to look at it in a positive light, even when it means cherished traditions may evolve. Traditions, I mean true traditions, will survive.
"Change does not change tradition. It strengthens it. Change is a challenge and an opportunity, not a threat."
Prince Philip of England
So trim the tree, cook your families favorite meals or treats, sing along to your favorite song, take a walk together, or see a good movie together. Whatever your tradition, cherish it, hold on to it for all of the great memories it will provide for the future. Yet, remember to allow it to move through the inevitable changes that everything must go through. Set your expectations high enough to be a dream, and your attitude to accept reality.
The most important thing is to be available when situations present themselves. You never know when a new tradition will begin, or a time honored tradition will re-invent itself. As you turn life's corners, remember it is best to.....always look on the bright side of life.
Merry Christmas 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Sunday, January 31, 2010
On the Bright Side
Good Day Everyone,
I stared to write a long discord on the troubles of the past that have turned most people away from giving to the needy. The grumbles of New Orleans, the greed of Wall Street, the failing economic system that has so many people with less than they had a year or so ago. I don't want those things to take center stage, that happens more than necessary already. What I want you to get out of this post is a simple single message.
Recently the people of Haiti suffered a terrible tragedy when an earthquake turned their country into shambles. The world began reacting, sending help, and supplies as quickly as possible. At our place of business we have a large number of Haitians, so our company, like so many others, began doing whatever they could. We set up computers and removed firewalls so anyone who wanted could go on Face Book, or Twitter and try connecting with friends and families. We set up phone banks to allow them to call anyone they wanted for free. We set up a large TV so they could watch for any news updates.
We knew that in the early stages most phone lines wouldn't be working, and that the infrastructure for Internet activity would not be available into Haiti, but we hoped that through the social networks available today, that some word would trickle out. What we offered wasn't much, but it was heartfelt, and full of hope and promise.
I only spent a few minutes in the communication center, and it was heart wrenching to see the worry on faces and hear the fear in their voices. Each time someone would dial the phone and hear the all too familiar busy signal, their hopes and spirit were tested. You could see them physically shrink in their seat, and then slowly steel themselves back to hold onto what little hope there was that everyone was safe.
On the Bright Side
Less than a week after the disaster, most of our friends had heard from someone and at least they knew better what was going on in their home country and with their friends and family. The disaster was wide spread. One news person reported that every family had cried in Haiti.
I returned to my office one afternoon and found a card laying on my desk. As I opened it and read it, I sank into my chair. I read it several times in preparation of sharing it with my team. The card was a simple one, pure white with a delicate watery world background, a single word at the top of the card read "Thanks", and the inscription inside read "In this busy world, where there never seem to be enough hours in the day...you always find the time to share yourself with others." Very touching, but what hit me was the handwritten note on the back of the front cover of the card. Here is how it reads.
Dear Mr. Robert
Thank you for being a voice on behalf of the Haitian people, in this chaotic time of great challenges. I strongly believe that the lord has inspired you to take lead and encourage others to join the cause. May God greatly open the windows of heaven and pour out his blessing upon you and the people of the U.S.A. that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Prov. 28:27 "He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack"....
Jean P. Rheau
Now how is that for a Bright Side? I have to tell you there was not a dry eye in the house when I read this to our team. After receiving the card, we have doubled our efforts to help, and keep finding new ways to being the voice of those who are challenged.
Please remember there are a lot of people who need our help. There are voices whom we can not hear, unless we choose to listen. Please open your ears and your heart to hear their stories, and help even if it is in a little way. When the world is in the worst of times, always..........look on the bright side of life.
I stared to write a long discord on the troubles of the past that have turned most people away from giving to the needy. The grumbles of New Orleans, the greed of Wall Street, the failing economic system that has so many people with less than they had a year or so ago. I don't want those things to take center stage, that happens more than necessary already. What I want you to get out of this post is a simple single message.
Recently the people of Haiti suffered a terrible tragedy when an earthquake turned their country into shambles. The world began reacting, sending help, and supplies as quickly as possible. At our place of business we have a large number of Haitians, so our company, like so many others, began doing whatever they could. We set up computers and removed firewalls so anyone who wanted could go on Face Book, or Twitter and try connecting with friends and families. We set up phone banks to allow them to call anyone they wanted for free. We set up a large TV so they could watch for any news updates.
We knew that in the early stages most phone lines wouldn't be working, and that the infrastructure for Internet activity would not be available into Haiti, but we hoped that through the social networks available today, that some word would trickle out. What we offered wasn't much, but it was heartfelt, and full of hope and promise.
I only spent a few minutes in the communication center, and it was heart wrenching to see the worry on faces and hear the fear in their voices. Each time someone would dial the phone and hear the all too familiar busy signal, their hopes and spirit were tested. You could see them physically shrink in their seat, and then slowly steel themselves back to hold onto what little hope there was that everyone was safe.
On the Bright Side
Less than a week after the disaster, most of our friends had heard from someone and at least they knew better what was going on in their home country and with their friends and family. The disaster was wide spread. One news person reported that every family had cried in Haiti.
I returned to my office one afternoon and found a card laying on my desk. As I opened it and read it, I sank into my chair. I read it several times in preparation of sharing it with my team. The card was a simple one, pure white with a delicate watery world background, a single word at the top of the card read "Thanks", and the inscription inside read "In this busy world, where there never seem to be enough hours in the day...you always find the time to share yourself with others." Very touching, but what hit me was the handwritten note on the back of the front cover of the card. Here is how it reads.
Dear Mr. Robert
Thank you for being a voice on behalf of the Haitian people, in this chaotic time of great challenges. I strongly believe that the lord has inspired you to take lead and encourage others to join the cause. May God greatly open the windows of heaven and pour out his blessing upon you and the people of the U.S.A. that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Prov. 28:27 "He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack"....
Jean P. Rheau
Now how is that for a Bright Side? I have to tell you there was not a dry eye in the house when I read this to our team. After receiving the card, we have doubled our efforts to help, and keep finding new ways to being the voice of those who are challenged.
Please remember there are a lot of people who need our help. There are voices whom we can not hear, unless we choose to listen. Please open your ears and your heart to hear their stories, and help even if it is in a little way. When the world is in the worst of times, always..........look on the bright side of life.
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