Wednesday, September 17, 2008

85% Santo Domingo Dark

I prefer dark chocolate. Perhaps it is an acquired taste, but I came to savor it, the darker the better, quite willingly. When the wonderful sweetness I still appreciate moves to the background, dark chocolate, the darker the better, whispers. Complexity of berries and spice resonnate on the taste buds. Soon, one learns to hold it on the tongue longer and longer, to ponder, to learn and meditate on Santo Domingo. I understand dark chocolate is good for the heart.

Perhaps if life were wrapped like a Hershey's Milk and a Godiva 85% Santo Domingo Dark, I wonder, would I choose wisely?

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

A Moment of Greatness Story

I was thinking about "moments of greatness" stories that sometimes build up positive attitudes that build up positive real life. You know, the opposite of nightmare stories. So, with that in mind, I noticed a really great thing this week. I'll tell you the story.

A tall, very dark priest from Nigeria processed off the altar, preceded by a small, very pale man of Italian descent. The contrast of the two was so striking. The little man was only chest high to the priest. There were perhaps 3-, perhaps 4-, decades difference in their ages. They had led most their lives on different continents. So what great story, I wondered, led both of them to be in an unknown urban church on an ordinary day in the summer of the second millennium?

One might wonder: Why was the African man wearing ancient-style Hebrew garments Why was he offering sacrifice like Melchisedech, priest of Abraham of Ur of the Chaldees? And why was the African man presiding over rites so like a synagogue service? And why was the little Italian man helping him? And why was there a life-sized representation of capital punishment? Yes, there was a near naked criminal, a slender man portrayed in execution, nailed still to his cross? What great story could anyone make of this?

From Africa, Southern Europe, Northern Europe, Asia, the Pacific Islands, North America, South America, Central America, the Caribbean Islands, a handful of people in attendance that morning. Can you imagine? Just a handful, but from nearly every corner of the planet! Yes there they were, standing, sitting, kneeling together in the urban church that summer day of the second millennium.

The greatness of this story is the greatness of the story that drew them all together. And the greatness of the story I told you today is also in the great question that remains: who called them?

My guess is, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you...."

You have a story, too?
Luv,
vm

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Tell Me A Story....

So I had a nightmare. I was awake the whole time, you know. I was just telling myself the story of what my preferred future might look like, when a terrible alternate story took over. The Nightmare Bard attempted to narrate my least preferred future. It was a future filled with negatives notions, clammy fears, and bitter irony. Optimism and hope were the first casualties. What a brazen daylight sortee! What a wicked stab at commandeering my very own internal monologue!

But maybe you could help, here. What do you folks do about night terrors, (even those like mine that happen in broad daylight)? What remedies were tried on you? When the little ones in your loving care cry out in the night, how do you help? I thought about this. How about sitting close and telling a story, until the tight feeling goes away, and the damp brow dries?

For example, once, Janet was afraid to go to sleep at Grandma's house. Grandma engaged the help of then student psychologist-in-residence, Uncle Marty. He thought a gentle story was the perfect medicine. So, Uncle Marty told little Janet the story of Don Bosco. According to this particular narration, Don Bosco's appeal to little ones was his amazing ability to turn white milk into chocolate milk! Can you imagine such greatness? And Janet's response to this effort at soothing? "Nothing helps, Grandma."

You know what would chase the Nightmare Bard away for me? Would you tell me a Don Bosco-type story? What I mean is, please tell me a story about a time when you experienced a moment of greatness. What was it that made it a moment of greatness? (And thanks for turning on the light in the hall.)
Love you, dear Nematodes,
V

Monday, September 8, 2008

Progress

Dear Folks: Things are looking up. Here's a word of encouragement. Just returned from a fast weekend trip to Orlando. What's changed? Seems the JetBlue seats have gotten bigger and the seat belts are more generous. Oh wait: am I smaller around?

Well, last time visiting FL, in late April, I was using a little electric scooter chair to get around because I couldn't walk very well. I also needed a cane. Pain management was hit and miss, and I was eating "lefty." Every struggle issue of April past has improved. Rejoice, folks! Rejoice for us all! With your help, I'm walkin' around like a trooper. The secret? Same as yours: just keep swimming. Say, don't tire of your good work. Steady trembling knees. Strengthen weary hands.

How are you folks doing? Are you giving Team Nemo a try still? Send us all an encouraging word. The new school year has started. Lots of schedules have changed. But do let's try to make that goal and join each other in January. That will be a victory worth a medal, whether or not we cross anyone else's finish line.

Speaking of which, this weekend three of us reached an intermediate goal of significance to us: we are now light enough to ride a Segway! We had a short trial run. FUN!! It was a prize! Losing those particular "Segway pounds" meant so much. High 5s to the three riders in the wind!

Tell us, have you reached any special goals on your way to January's 5K? We could all use a good narrative from you.
With love and blessings,
Avec amour et joie,
V