Sad News

                         

Last night my little angel kitty, Charlotte, died. Today I am crying, not for my loss, but for all the little innocents that are born into the world without the hope of survival. 

Without her rescue from the yard at school, Charlotte would have probably died alone. But, thanks to a dear friend and the care of many others, I experienced several weeks of joyful interaction with this little one. I was also able to be with her during the final hours of her life.

We are not sure what caused her death. The vet, who was consulted by phone, thought that it could have been a congenital condition or perhaps a virus. I do know that, from the beginning, although she ate well, she did not put on weight. I can only believe that she was not well from the beginning of her brief life.

I am grateful for my friend, Em, who was with me at the time, and for her tears, which demonstrated her love and compassion for all living things, especially people and cats. 

Life must go on. With only four weeks left here, it is very doubtful that I will adopt another kitten. At least, not for this year.

Until next time, 

Bee Rich

George Carlin's Wit and Wisdom

I am not sure why I am writing this blog post, today of all days, when my plate at work is full, I have an appointment at the club, and I want to go for a swim; however, here it goes.

I received a very nice email from a former school administrator, who is a Christian. It was written by George Carlin after the death of his wife. The words caused me to pause and reflect on their validity in today's world. I copy them here, with credit to George:  

GEORGE CARLIN (His wife died....and George followed her, dying July 2008) 
Isn't it amazing that George Carlin - comedian of the 70's and 80's - could write something so very eloquent...and so very appropriate.

A Message by George Carlin: 

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. 

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. 

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. 

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. 

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. 

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete... 

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. 

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. 

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent. 

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. 

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. 

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind. 

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: 

 Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. 

George Carlin

I am not sure why I am writing this blog post, today of all days; perhaps it will remind some of you and me of the importance of these values:

• loving one another unconditionally
• caring enough to hold our tempers in check, 
• being content with exactly where we are in life
• taking time to communicate, especially to listen and really hear one another
• finding peace in our souls

Until next time,

Bee Rich

Every Day is a GOOD Day!

Cheers!

In India the hottest months are April and May. They are past now as June rolls in. Indian summer is over and the India schools are back in operation. The rains have brought cooler temperatures and yesterday on our walk home, we saw school buses whizzing  by filled with children, reminding us that a new school year has begun in Bangalore.

As we turned up our street, we saw several young people disembark from their yellow bus. They looked fantastic,  wearing their perfectly white uniforms, shiny black shoes and brand new clean back packs. They were teasing one another, laughing  and generally enjoying the end of their first day of school

Meanwhile, we are winding down the school year. Plans are being made for graduations, annual field trips, year end parties. Report cards are being written and there is a buzz in the air all about summer vacation. Returning teachers are looking forward to a brief break before beginning planning for the next school year.

Talk about mixed emotions...after a year of living and working in India, my husband and I are preparing to return to Canada. My heart is heavy, knowing that soon we will be saying farewell to students, parents, colleagues and friends. And yet, we will be saying hello the comforts of home, family, friends and new and changing opportunities.

I know that wherever we are, whatever the circumstances we will have good days. And the present is what life is all about.

Until next time,

Bee Rich

101 Posts!

New fallen snow on our pines.

          I love to write. In August, inspired by Emily and Lindsay (two wonderful friends from Egyptian days),  I began to write a blog.  This morning I noticed that I have written 100 entries.  That calls for some form of celebration...something like what primary classroom teachers plan on the 100th day of school.  So, for all of my favourite people who read this blog, here are 100 reasons to write and/or read people's blogs.

100- You will learn something new every day about life.
  99- You will learn something about yourself.
  98- It is good for the soul.
  97- It is great practise for the writing process.
  96- You can count down the days until Christmas.
  95- You can post awesome pictures so your friends and family can visualise where you are.
  94- You can use spell check before you press PUBLISH POST.
  93- Blogger continuously saves your writing, so if you accidentally press the wrong key, you don't lose all of your work.
  92- It is easy and FUN to learn to blog.
  91- You can "free think" and write to your heart's content, and then delete the inappropriate parts.
  90- You can keep track of the date.
  89- It keeps your mind active.
  88- Your mind subconsciously sends messages like: "You could write about this."
  87- You can recall wonderful memories.
  86- You get to tell and retell stories.
  85- You can reflect on news items.
  84- You can copy and paste (aka steal) quotations from Facebook and Hotmail.
  83- You can reread your blog and think, "Did I really write that?"
  82- You can look back in your declining years and recall something that you have forgotten.
  81- You can write about sad times.
  80- You can write about happy times.
  79- You can ask rhetorical questions.
  78- You sometimes receive comments from people you didn't know were reading your blog.
  77- There is a deep satisfaction when you write something just right.
  76- You can always go back and edit a blog post.
  75- You can express appreciation.
  74- You can start a family feud about animal rights.
  73- You can promote a worthwhile cause.
  72- You can express love.
  71- You can learn about different genres of writing and experiment with them.
  70- When someone asks you what you like to do in your spare time, you can say, "I write a blog."
  69- You can express satisfaction.
  68- You gain insight.
  67- You get to know yourself.
  66- You get to know others.
  65- You realise how difficult it is to stick to a schedule.
  64- You appreciate the passage of time.
  63- You gain wisdom from others.
  62- You realise that you have something worthwhile to say. 
  61- You realise that others have something worthwhile to say.
  60- You begin to value your primary and secondary and tertiary education.
  59- You grow spiritually.
  58- You grow emotionally.
  57- You grow stronger in your convictions.
  56- You become a more flexible thinker.
  55- You realise that sometimes the only people who care about what you write are your best friends in the world and yourself, and that's okay.
  54- You realise that you will never run out of ideas.
  53- You understand that everyone has a different point of view and that is what makes life so interesting.
  52- You learn to agree to disagree. 
  51- You learn to persevere.
  50- You see how one person can make a difference.
  49- You can pick labels which help you and others to find out what really is important to you.
  48- You can gain confidence in yourself.
  47- You can do something that you really enjoy.
  46- You begin to realise that you are a part of something greater.
  45- You learn to empathise more with others.
  44- You begin to share experiences with others.
  43- You can imagine being at someone's home for tea.
  42- You can travel vicariously.
  41- You can encourage others.
  40- You can encourage yourself.
  39- You begin to understand your priorities.
  38- You are more open to the ideas of others.
  37- You experience the power of the written word.
  36- You understand that a picture is often worth more than a thousand words.
  35- You learn more about what really interests you.
  34- You see that inspiration can come from within or without.
  33- Reading and writing are great motivators.
  32- You do not have to worry about due dates, deadlines, rubrics or marks.
  31- You can change your name to a pen name.
  30- You can pass on your web address to people and know that only those who are truly interested will be your audience.
  29- You can take a break to help your husband do something more important, like putting up the Christmas lights, and go back to your writing later.
  28- You can write and drink tea at the same time.
  27- It saves paper.
  26- You feel connected, linked in, networked, or whatever the jargon of the day happens to be.
  25- You can express joy.
  24- You can enjoy a cup of coffee while you write or read.
  23- You can stand up while you write or read.
  22- You can enjoy a glass or two of wine while you write.
  21- You can see the joy in the most menial of tasks e.g. washing dishes, vacuuming, gardening.

  19-  You can make comments about the weather.
  18-  You can recall a story from a CBC program that really turned your crank.
  17-  You can ponder the meaning of life.
  16-  You can begin to accept the realities of your situation.
  15-  You can begin to examine your mortality.
  14-  You can count down from 100 the most important reasons for blogging.
  13-  You can reconnect with a brother or sister. 
  12-  You can touch the life of a person who lives half way around the globe.
  11-  You can pass on good news. 
  10-  You can express hope.
    9-  You can make a difference in one person's life.
    8-  You can start a "prayer chain".
    7-  You can celebrate special moments.
    6-  You can honour a special person in your life. 
    5-  You can highlight a special moment in your life. 
    4-  You can reconcile with a long lost friend.
    3-  You can connect with those people you cherish. 
    2-  You can stay in touch with the important people in your life.
    1-  You can express gratitude--thank YOU for reading to the end of this centenary of ideas. 

Here's to the first one hundred.  Now on to the next one hundred...

Until next time,


Bee Rich
 
 

I hope you will know if you are on my list of someone I miss! 

 

Life is Good!



Our wonderful family-live, love, laugh!

                           
I have been thinking about smiles lately.  For those of you who know me, you probably remember that I have a full, toothy grin.  Recently, I discovered that when I am feeling sad or tired, if I smile, I begin to instantly feel better.  I shared that thought with my brother-in-law the other day during a discussion about feeling sadness.  The smile I was alluding to is the smile that is forced by using one of the major muscles in the face.         
          Today, as I travelled home from Ottawa, I listened to a CBC radio interview with a psychiatrist who has studied this sort of "Lip Service." The main point of the conversation (for me) was that there are two types of smiles.  The first one is when a person wills or forces a smile.  According to the research, there is a totally different sequence of neural firings that create a true smile.  There is a difference and we can see it.
          I shared this information with my brother-in-law. He agreed.  Together we determined that genuine smiles come from the heart. I reminded him of the caregiver who wore a mask one day because she had the sniffles. She was a person who smiled with her eyes and, although she wasn't feeling all that well, she was genuinely happy. 
          May all of your smiles be real, may your joy show in your eyes, and may you spend your living days loving and laughing. 

Until tomorrow,

Bee Rich

P.S.

The Party's Over

       After weeks of planning for my mom's 80th birthday party, I realized that I had forgotten to buy her a gift.  Hosting the party was a major accomplishment because my mom's family is from the USA and this weekend was September 11 anniversary.  Despite the date, however, all of the "Holcomb" families were represented, including my brother and sister, cousins from New York and Connecticut and my mom's surviving sister. 
       The gift I finally gave my mom is a print out of THIS IS YOUR LIFE, framed and mounted for her to read at the party.  So much better than a poem written by me.  She also received a picture of her first great grandchild, many cards, a beautiful silk scarf and funky purple slippers.
       In all this I received a beautiful bouquet of flowers, arranged by my amazing cousin-in-law (but more like a sister) Gloria May, who celebrated her 40th wedding anniversary on September 4th.  Thank you GMK and Jon, for the flowers, hugs and precious memories.  Safe travels, everyone!
     More to come tomorrow, today I am happily tired. 

Until then,

Bee Rich