No, this won't be a deeply theological or philosophical piece, just something that found it's way into my Junk Mail that hit a chord.
A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one and said, "Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like. " The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in.
In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths. The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. The Lord said, "You have seen Hell."
They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.
The holy man said, "I don't understand." " It is simple" said the Lord, "it requires but one skill. You see, they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves."
I've been reading a lot of Medieval romance novels lately and I guess the contrast between then and now that doesn't put modern days in a positive light is that back then people worked together a lot more. I guess it may have mostly been because if they didn't work together they wouldn't survive but from that cooperation I'm sure there were instances where people helped each other and worked together just because of a genuine desire to do so. Today we live in a world - at least in the West - where each individual or family is more likely to be an island onto themselves.
Especially here in America, you can live somewhere and never know your neighbours name. It's bad but I only met my neighbours wife maybe 3 weeks ago and I've been here since June. (Mind you we live in split building type housing.) And I remember at our last base in similar housing, I'd mistakenly received my neighbour's mail and when I went to carry it over and introduce myself in the same go, the man cracked the screen door, mumbled hello, snatched the letter and shut the door in my face.
Such is life I guess, but it's so sad.
Taking Time
My Aunt P recently visited with us for Thanksgiving... well, actually to come and see the little one for the first time. Thanksgiving was just a bonus. I love seeing my AP because she's my Mom's younger sister and it's always nice to hear stories about my Mom, but as my relationship with my Aunt has grown since my Mom passed I've come to love my AP more as her own person. Not sure if that makes sense, but to me it's now more of liking AP for her stories and the way she sees the world and the advice she imparts, as well as her being a link to my Mom.
One of the biggest things she left with me this time (apart from the amazing olive oil tip!) is the value of taking time to look after yourself. Yes, I eat healthy (or do my best to *eyeing cookie box on kitchen counter*) and I get enough rest but my AP taught me the value for taking time for myself. As always, nothing puts things into perspective like having a baby and I suppose it took Moo to make me understand that it's not a timewasting indulgence to pamper myself - and it doesn't have to be in a big way either.
Mind you I wouldn't mind being able to jet off to a weekend spa retreat but part of being a mom is definitely being practical and my AP helped here as well by showing me loads of little things that I can do (to be honest I'm not quite sure she realizes the big impact she had!). So these days my home smells like a delightful mix of McIntosh apples, cranberries, sandalwood and a wonderful Yankee Candle fragrance called 'Home Sweet Home'. In the evenings while J clicks away at the computer, I've stopped staring at his back waiting for him to make conversation, I either initiate talk-time myself, or I snuggle in the couch with a good book and a glass of wine, enjoying the play of the lights on the Christmas tree. And I give myself a mini-spa treatment every bath time with flavours like Mango and Bath & Body Work's delicious Japanese Cherry Blossom.
Yup, life is simple... but life is good.
Yup, life is simple... but life is good.
Isn't this ornament precious? I found it at Dillard's last week :)
Dutty Wine Drama
Am I the only one who thinks that today's Jamaica Observer Editorial Cartoon is just the business? LOL I remember seeing the front page of a Star back in June that said that doctors were alledged warning of the fatal dangers of doing the 'Dutty Wine' - the dance that goes along with the Tony Matterhorn hit track of the same name. Lots of discussion ensued but it all faded away because we decided that while you could probably strain your neck, doing the dance - even on your head top - probably wouldn't result in anything except some nasty bruising and a sore back. Enter yesterday's Observer that an autopsy is to been done on the body of a teen in the dutty wine dance (click here for the story) alledging that the girl involved may have "experienced dizziness as a result of decreased blood flow to the brain, which could have caused a blackout and subsequent trauma to the brain". Interesting but tragic development...
Success!
A second ago it dawned on me that if I wait until I "have time" to sit and do a long blog post then you all might never hear from me again! So although I know the Miss is supposed to wake up any minute now, I'm going to hammer off a short post because this is reall great news!Well, J and I have been in the process of filing for my permanent residency here and this month marked a succesful end to what has been a two year process. Now I know in the grand scheme of things and the way immigration matters go, two years is a really short time, but because I wasn't allowed to live in the US meanwhile everything was being processed, J and I have been apart for most of our marriage! (Thankfully we have credit cards and J had lots of leave stored up.)
So finally I'm not only back in the States, but as my friend just said on MSN I'm also "finally stable". Don't worry though, I definitely know that foreign is not a bed of roses and to be honest migrating is bittersweet... let's face it, there's nothing to match the extended family and friend network we both have in Jamaica, and the way of life on the rock might be hard and unsafe at times but there's a level of comfort there that you'll never experience anywhere else.
Anyway, on that note let me sign off... but not before adding that the Miss' first Halloween was a blast. I decked her out in her Milky Moo costume and she was so tired that she pretty much just chilled and slept meanwhile we trick or treated with my friends and their kids. Well, time to nap while I can.
Ciao.
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