Morning John…

The dogs were barking at 5 AM for some reason so here I am awake.  They have had their breakfast and probably will head back to sleep.  Me…I’m up.

Yesterday was a filled day.  I replaced the back door deadbolt.  I was proud to do it.   Although it did require another trip to Home Depot.  The dead bolt I got before was keyed on both sides.  That would mean we would need a key in it at all times for safety.  I guess one would need that in some locations…not a door in your house.

Gabe went to Austin’s birthday party after school.  They had an old fashioned treasure hunt, then girls came for the BBQ part, I stopped in for a little bonfire action.  By the end, most were gone and mischief looked like a priority.  I dropped off a few dvds…Tenacious D, Bottle Rocket, and a snowboarding one.  I’m sure all went well…and into the morning.  I loved watching their interactions.  Right on the edge of playful goofiness and true teenager-ism. 

Well, this will be my last letter to you  for a while.  Soon you will know why.  That day will be fun.  This blog site will be quiet for a bit.  When the time is right you will be able to write again.  I have loved writing you and filling you in about our days.  We miss you and love you.  Soon we will be together again.  Much love always and forever.   love…d  

Hey John…

Happy Passover.  This evening the Obama family held the first Passover meal in the White House.  Gabe & I think Obama may have to enter the Guinness Book of World Records with all of his “firsts”.

I encountered so many happy people today.  I had to get Max’s car fixed up for Spring and I was regretting the Sears Autoshop experience.  Well, it was great.  The guy there was a riot to talk to.  He could not imagine how someone born and raised in Vermont could ever negotiate the NYC.  He found me in the waiting room to tell me of his one day in NYC.  He has no desire to ever return.

He had a friend from NJ while in college 25 years ago.  This friend took 3 Vermont college boys into the city for the day.  He told me many events of the caliber that 4 college students would enjoy.  One was especially funny.  He said there he was in this brew-pub having lunch.  This place would give you all the free beer you could drink as long as you were eating.  A woman came to their table and put down a key and said “$20”.  He looked at the key and then her and said, “That key is not worth $20”.  His friend had a hoot with that one.  He had no clue.

While I waited I went to JC Penney’s to get Gabe some socks.  The cashier not only helped me recieve a $10 rebate but also was able to take another $10 off for some in house special.  I never even asked for any of that.  She just offered.

Next stop after the car was done was Home Depot.  This is not my most thrilling store however no less than 5 people asked me if I needed help on my short trip (although maybe it was my glazed over eyes).  The first man who asked me if I needed help did not even have his uniform on.  He looked like a cutomer.  He said he was off at the moment none-the-less he walks me to the end of the store looking for dog leads.  He friend redirects me to another spot.  On the way there I again get asked…however now I know where I am going.  The next fella helps me find a new dead bolts for the doors and opens them to make more keys…even though I haven’t bought them yet.  While he makes the keys I go to the aisle with ropes to find dog leads.  Two more gentleman help me find them…they were on the top shelf.  They only have 2 lengths, 20′ and 75′.  I ponder the sale because I think 20′ is too short and 75′ was way to long.  They then strike a bargain with me and say…hey you can buy the 75′ for the cost of one 20′.  They seriously try to talk me into it by saying it will save me from hooking 2 together.  I kindly thank them for their gerousity and say I will just get the two 20′ leads.  Interesting.  It didn’t just stop there.  I went to the self service checkout.  I love those lines because I think I am playing kids grocery store imaginary play.  Well, the guy is so helpful there that he scans all my items (in the self service lane!) and then I pay.  Darn I missed my playtime.

At this point I can’t wait to see what will come my way with friendly people.  My next stop was the bank.  Nothing too exciting played out there…no special lottery number was hit.  Although while opening mail this morning I got a surprise check from our flood insuance being canceled.  That truly started my fun positive day.  The money will got towards Chai’s medical bills.  See, money is green and it flows.

This is my last errand day.  Tomorrow will be getting the house in order.  Much to do.  I took Chai & Satori on 2 walks today. I would say Chai is officially feeling better.  She has got her wiggle back.  Gabe had lax practice.   The mountain tops were glowing with white snow in the late afternoon sun.  It was beautiful.

Good night John!   love…d
            

Hi John…

We woke to white outside.  Not much at this low elevation yet it was snowy throughout the day.

I am beat.  I have been burning the candle on both ends and it is catching up with me.  The day was busy starting with taking Satori to get a clip and me to Carole’s for my hair.  We both were getting our hair done at the same time.  Her dog Zara is recovering from a broken toe.  She has a splint.  We exchanged dog stories. 

More importantly we talked about her brother-in-law who is captured right now by Somalian pirates.  He is a merchant marine captain of the ship that was just taken over by pirates.  The crew is now safe and he is still being held captive.  I can’t imagine the worry the family is in right now as they wait for news.  They must feel powerless.  Michael is on another ship and is well.  He too must be beside himself waiting for news.  Time will tell.  I wish them well and send my love. 

Hard to write anything beyond that.  Hard to talk about my day which seems insignificant to those waiting.  I will take Carole’s bright attitude and move forward as we wait for news.

I brought Chai for a car ride to get Satori.  Satori looks so cute.  Oh…maybe I’ll grab a picture tomorrow.  Randy at the Grateful Dog is going through some major changes…both personally and professionally.  She is a real sweetie.  I brought her a few daffodils and a SamStone to brighten her day.  I hope to get Chai in after her stitches come out.

I had my last Kids Yoga at RES for the Spring.  These kids are wonderful.  I love watching how much these kids love their Moms & Dads.  When they tell stories…even the simpliest details you can just tell how much they love their families.  They just bubble with smiles and adoration.

Tonight was my Teen yoga at a new time and day.  We had enough for a class.  All were tired so it was a Yin-talking class.  Good to hear their stories. 

We made a yummy rigatoni spaghetti dinner with Kristin.  I had been on the phone throughout the day.  Yes, I am off to bed.  Too much swimming in my head right now.

Good night love.   Hope you are warmer than we are here.  love…d
 

Hey John…

I guess I don’t always think that there are others reading my letters to you.  Some times I just yack as if I am talking to you.  Well I got a few “hellos” from readers checking in with me today to see if I was okay.  I am okay.  Actually I am very okay and I appreciate the love and care in seeking me out.  I love you guys.

So, I did a little rant last night.  There are times in my life that I just don’t understand people.  I reach a point that I am just stunned at what a human can do to another human.  It is not that I am in despair over how we act.  I have more hope and faith than the word despair.  No, I am just stunned.  Stunned that a person can decide to kill himself and take out 15 other people along the way.  I am stunned that we are capable of blowing up a car and killing those around us…not only once but 6 times in 72 hours.  I am stunned that a person can get up and go to work one day as a receptionist and have a man come in and shoot her and all her co-workers.  I am stunned that a father can kill himself and his children just so his ex-wife doesn’t get them.  These are desperate people.  Why not just kill themselves.  How did this get so big that one feels they must bring others along with them in death?

There are times I ignore this…times I feel compassion…times I look for a reason…times I wonder about what needs to play out here…what is the bigger picture?  But the last few days I have felt astonished that I share this planet with individuals who choose to kill innocent people as they kill themselves.  Don’t they even get it that there is no “get out of jail free” card.  These issues will still exist on the other side.  We are here to learn and leaving school early doesn’t get rid of the lesson. 

The media doesn’t even know what to say.  We all just tell the story and shake our heads because these events are so far off the moral richter scale.  We don’t even teach these things to our kids.  We tell them to stay away from drugs, use a designated driver when drinking and “don’t shake the baby”.  Do we now need curriculum that covers if you feel like suicide please do it by yourself?  Harsh sounding isn’t that?  Even writing those words are hard.  Suicide is a scary topic.  We dance around that subject.  Death is scary to people yet not talking about it will not make it go away.  I do believe we have the right to end our own lives.  I sure hope someone chooses differently because again…they still need to attend to the issues either here or at another time.  For some reason we still can’t manage that “thou shall not kill” simple rule.  Maybe since our society does not respect that simple rule it trickles down to the single individual. 

Maybe my empathy button is on overdrive right now.  My heart just aches for the terror and dispair felt by others in those last few moments on this earth.  I would like mother earth to just say “okay cut it out…enough already”.  Maybe we have to say it.

My day began to balance me with cleaning.  Much thinking happens while cleaning.  It’s a nice meditation.  I then did 5 hours of errands.  I don’t make a “good girl” because shopping is my least favorite activity. 

It began going to the dentist to pick up our new electric toothbrush.  On the way I heard the good news about our legislature overriding the govenor’s veto of same-sex marriage.  I was so happy I felt like dancing in the car.  I got to the office and it was quiet in there.  I approached the 3 receptionists and said “You probably don’t talk politics in the office however did you hear?”.  One said “oh we do talk plotics and much more”.  One out of the three had just heard and we checked our responses and saw we were all happy.  We did the “yes to equality” dance. 

Now I am more aware that there are readers of this blog who may not share my same opinion.  I hope over time you may see the equality of this event.  If not, know we can still exist side by side.  I love seeing that more and more we are becoming more equal.  To allow two people the right to marry whether they have a different skin color…religion..or are the same sex.  This is only good.  Hopefully Obama will pick up the wave and work this at a federal level.  My children’s children may one day write a paper in school about how odd that a law was required to create a marrage for 2 people just as Gabe is surprised that there were separate water fountians for blacks and whites.  This is only good.

Gabe & I finished the evening with lacrosse in the snow…yes falling snow in Jericho.  Satori and I ran.  And tonight Gabe & I watched “Yes Man” with Jim Carrey.  Just say “yes”.

Well, I am off to a bath and then bed.  Sleep well John.  love…d

I think I will end with Brit F.’s myspace quote.  I believe in the world when a 17 year old feels compelled to quote this…
  
“Until the philosophy that holds one race superior, and another, inferior, is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, everywhere is war.”