A Few Random Thought on Humaness

Scale model of the Earth and the Moon, with a beam of light traveling between them at the speed of light. It takes approximately 1.26 seconds. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The limiting Humaness of our species persists; a thought that occurs, leading to other considerations.

Human beings by virtue of self-definition set boundaries that previously did not exist, guided by ego and belief that proclamation makes something true?  Just a thought.

Scientists working endlessly of ‘laws of nature, of the universe, actually limit development by declaring physical truths to be, well, truths.

What if – travel through space and time has nothing to do with mass, propulsion or energy?

Did ET’s build ancient complicated structures around the world such as in Malta, Egypt, England, Central America or India?  Not likely, at least in the sense we consider.  Perhaps all of us are ‘T’s’.  Just terrestrials and none in the organism that is the cosmos is really ‘extra’.

What if we all had knowledge now lost, where space, time, and matter flowed as a single organism, and it is only our very human egos that persist in making us believe we are more than part of the universe?  Man, (generically speaking here), has in the past declared we are the center, first of a flat earth, then of the solar system, then the universe.  And always there seems to be a sense of surprise to find out that oops there is more.

What if there are multiverses? Do they have doppelgangers reflecting our existence as some scientists postulate?  No.  Again our egos insist we are so important that another universe cannot exist unless it mirrors us.  Human Ego, Humaness.  Have we not learned from the ‘earth is the center of the universe’ mind set?

Does this very idea make us less than we think we are?  No.  In fact it makes us even more important in a cosmic sense.

Here’s a thought;

Stop believing in what you see before you and stop believing you can only apply manmade, man conceived laws of nature.

Suppose for instance that The Speed of Light is not absolute.  But until you let go of that idea you cannot see ‘the other’.

Suppose physical travel through time and space without machinery is possible.  Clinging to our current beliefs we will never know.

Suppose building and design of massive weights and structure without ‘modern’ equipment is easily done?

Suppose communication by defined language is not necessary.

 

Suppose the teachings of Jesus Christ, Mohammed, Buddha, just to name a few were in fact the true message and our humanness absorbed them and turned them into ‘my God is better than your God’ and ‘if you do not belief as I then you are condemned to eternal hell’.  Maybe the messages were never meant to be humanized, or limited, or politicized leading to that most evil sin, judgment of others.

Suppose the human body can self-heal but we lost that knowledge by egotistic limitation.

The answers to these rambling sorts of questions lie not in what is out there to be learned or discovered. They lie in the very center of our own being which is not a small singular entity, but the connection to the vastness of everything.

What if the only thing we had to do was to quiet our hearts and minds, tune out this noisy world of ours, and listen?

Just a thought.

Related articles

• Time Travel (mymessagetogb.wordpress.com)
• Let Go Of Me, Ego (wanderlustcr.wordpress.com)
• Ego – Overcoming the Limitations of Personality While in Search of the Cosmic Self (wakingtimes.com)

Closing Off One Year – Believing in Another

Believing

Hardship (Photo credit: StormKatt)

Well these last few weeks have been filled with challenges for many people I know, including us. This is a wonderful time of year and makes me aware of all our blessings. Sometimes you just have to let life happen and deal the best we can. I have a dear dear friend who believes in dealing with the hand we are dealt and she is one of the most positive people I know.

Regardless of What or Who you believe in, I think Belief is necessary. It is strengthening.  Now anyone who is reading this and is anti-Christian, or Atheist, or agnostic, don’t get your girdles in a knot.  Belief is a very personal matter for each of us; God, Jesus, Creator, Universe, Oneself.  The important thing is that we believe.

Our beliefs give us Hope and Hope is the Life Saver, that allows us to not only survive but to do it well.  Sometimes you just have to hang on to the side of the dingy while it tosses us around on stormy seas.

No one gets through life free of strife.  Sometimes we can have a mind set that gets things flowing in a positive peaceful way but most times its just getting through the difficulties.  That’s where faith and hope and belief come in.  Faith in yourself, your own strength.  Faith in a Creator.

Hardship is owned by each of us.  We may go through years of relative calm and then, oops here comes Life.  Belief is our Strength and while I cannot change the path many of us are on I can certainly be there to provide support which doesn’t necessarily ease the pain, but sometimes it eases the mind and/or soul.

There will be better days.  Maybe just not for awhile.  No one can set a time limit on trials and tribulations.  Back in May of ’80 we started with the death of my grandfather.  Thereafter at least every six months for a period of six years we lost many family and friends and most of them too young, way too young.  In that time there were good things, good times, but the shadow remained for a long time.

Since August we have had five deaths of friends and family, we have had lots of illness and upset.  We shall survive and we will do it with good cheer and a healthy dose of gratitude for what we do have and did have.

Life for me remains good and if we did not have pain, how would we recognize that good?  I am not sure how I feel about that last sentence as I am pretty sure I could recognize the good without pain and suffering to contrast it, however I am trying to remain very sporting of this Thing called Life.

 

Give Me a Head with Hair, Long Beautiful Hair …or Au Naturel

When I was young I had long beautiful hair. Longer  and shinier than this pic.

My hair in my teens was a shining auburn, below my shoulders and straight as a board.  I ironed it like everyone else even though there was no need.  We rinsed our hair with vinegar and water for that extra shine.

Then something happened – call the 30’s – No not the 1930’s, MY 30’s and suddenly that little bottle of colour became part of my life.  And my hair got shorter and shorter.  So for 30 (seems to be the magical number doesn’t it?) odd years I have helped support the beauty industry by buying product.  Now it is more like this:

So as you may know I seem to be going through a catharsis in my 65th year.  Something, well everything is changing.  I no longer hang ten over the surf board of life but now look for meaning and am living more on purpose rather than by whatever winds buffet me along the road of life.  Well okay I don’t look like that anymore as menopause brought me a short few months of naturally curly hair.  Alas it did not last.

Now it is more like this:

And I have stayed pretty consistent in my color ‘Golden Blonde‘.  Now see what I did there?  That ‘cool’ look or so I thought covers up a lot including the old double or triple chin.

Why the ‘confession’?

Well I took a good look around and noticed that women my age who color their hair, in my opinion look like they have colored their hair.

See I am not sure it makes me look younger anymore.  I think it just makes me look like a woman my age trying to look younger.  I may be off base in this but I am going to try..try..to go back to the 60’s ideas of natural flow no show.  So even though I have been growing that faux girlish look out, when my roots are long enough I am getting all the color cut out.  I mean my hair will grow again and if I look too awful in my natural state I can take up the bottle again but it is such a nice adventurous idea I am going to make it so.

When I do I shall if I am very very brave post a pic.  No promises on that since part of my cathartic change is to be truthful.  And realistic.  And kind at the same time.

What other changes of purpose have I done?  I will have to let you know another time.  Y’all have a great weekend!

 

 

 

Sunday Night Musings: Family, Golf, and …..The Classiest Unclassic

I’ve been thinking about family tonight.  This weekend, like every other Civic Holiday weekend, hosts our golf tournament.  Now it wasn’t ‘ours’ until three years ago, but I will explain more about that later.

Thirty-six years ago at the tender age of twenty-eight my brother and his good friend George started a golfing tradition.  They called it The (both their last names) Unclassic.  The first trophy – yes there was a trophy engraved and everything – is still talked about to this day.  It seems one day the two men were talking and golfing and when George hit the ball with his driver and the ‘head of the driver went further than his ball.’  That head became the focal point for the first trophy which my sister-in-law designed and made.  Each year the men duked it out for seventy-two holes to declare a winner whose name and year was added to the trophy.

Unfortunately that trophy was lost but another took its place.  And the tournament of the Unclassic has occurred every year.  Now the winner is decided after an eighteen-hole play off.  Some of the participants have changed over the years but the core group remains the same and now today the next generation or two now take part and as we sat around post game and stories of the beginning years were told and laughed about hysterically by the new generation the continuation of a tradition was assured.

Three years ago the men decided that we women could finally play with them.  Well not really with but in the same tourney.  We even have our own trophy which goes (so far) to one who excels in the game.  She is a sweetheart and I am happy for her but I did tell her that next year I will get my name engraved. Ha Ha.  Well perhaps if I keep score we will see.

Now you may wonder what all this has to do with ‘family’.

First, George who remains without link of blood ties is now and always will be family.  Secondly Sheila the annual winner for women has been, without link of blood ties, now and always will be family.

We are very lucky my sibs and cousins that we are best friends.  Genuinely fun-loving laughing uproarisly best friends.  Lots of folks have a hard time believing it but it is true.

Third we, as a family are blessed by the non-marital, non-blood ties but forever part of our family (as dubious as that honor may seem) by this wonderful woman Sheila and of course by George.

I once knew a woman, actually my first mother-in-law who used to say, ‘God gave us our family but thank God we can choose our friends.’

Somehow we hit solid gold with both and I figure we are about the luckiest laughing fools on the planet.

CERN, God Particle

 

It’s a bright sunny warm morning here on the east mountain and the day is yet to begin for this household as G1 and G2 have not yet arisen, which is somewhat unusual although it could be a carry over from two previous nights of watching fireworks.  Canada is 145 years old and comparatively young compared to the old world but still worthy of celebration.

The first item I spotted in the local rag, The Hamilton Spectator, is that ‘Physicists inch closer to proof of ‘God particle’.

Now I love all things CERN aka the European Organization for Nuclear Research and am especially intrigued by its $10 billion atom smasher, not because I understand it (as posted previously) but because of the intrigue.  CERN exists way underground on the Swiss-French border so there is a certain futuristic weird stuff to the whole idea.  It seems that little Higgs Boson subatomic particle,’that if confirmed could help explain why matter has mass, which combines with gravity to give an object weight.’. HUH??

See what I mean??  To me it seems easily explained and I don’t see where God particles come into this. Though I have no idea  what…well anyway, now this very statement will occupy much of my thinking today. All things CERN tickle my grey cells especially since it reports that scientists have compiled ‘vast’ amounts of data that show the footprint and shadow of the particle.

Well I suppose if one must delve at subatomic levels and spend billions of dollars doing it then good for them.  I suspect people of faith, any faith already know.  (And yes I am not looking for an argument on the existence or non-existence of God). Faith means many things and really that discussion is better left to others.

Rob Roser from the Fermilab in Chicago compared the results to finding ‘the fossilized footprint of a dinosaur saying: ‘You see the footprint and the shadow of the object, but you don’t actually see it.

HUH???  Sounds a little like a barker at a circus, Now you see it!  Now you don’t!

Hairy Start

HAIR

I woke up to the song ‘Hair’ this morning (Feb. 29, 2012) famously from the musical of the same name and was immediately transported to the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto in December 1969.  I can actually feel the ermine, the butterflies and the tingles plus a bit of a blush.  What, you don’t remember any of that from the show?  Well, let me explain.

In 1969 I was a tiny wee slip of a girl who although a bride of a few months remained pretty virginal in several ways of the world.  Hair has been called The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical written by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot.  It was quite revolutionary at the time with its clear anti-war, pro-drug, complete integration and freedom of sex message.

Now the ermine was a coat I wore.  My then sister-in-law Lynne had inherited an ermine coat from an aunt.  The aunt was quite short and for her was knee length but on us fit perfectly in the miniskirt fashion of the day.  We dressed up for the Royal Alex (in those days everyone did) and I encouraged her to wear the coat but she could not as her husband forbade her to wear it for fear someone they knew would see her and think they had more money than he let on to the public.  (I never noticed it in him but I guess he was one of those, ‘I’m so poor’ people.  To what end I am not sure) however……  so I wore the treasure and sat watching the show as I stroked the sleeves and thought..hmmm I was meant to wear ermine.

While many of the critics embraced the revolutionary play it was protested by church groups in Indiana where the issue was not the depravity of the message but the nude scene and city authorities suggested the cast wear body stockings.  Many theatres were closed rather than present the musical.  It was given some dignity by the presence of power.  Princess Anne who was eighteen at the time was seen dancing on stage and in Washington Henry Kissinger attended.

Hair has been quoted as being responsible for the end of censorship worldwide.  Much has been written on its social, cultural and legal impact but on that evening it was just two young ladies stepping out in high fashion to enjoy great music and shocking story and scenes.  This was the very first live production for me and of course I purchased the LP (long playing record for those who…uh never mind), and I am sure that to this very day I can sing most of the lyrics.

So when ‘Hair’ rocked me from the sleepy saddle of slumber this morning, for a few moments there, time travel did exist.

She asks me why, I’m just a hairy guy
I’m hairy noon and night, hair that’s a fright
I’m hairy high and low, don’t ask me why, don’t know
It’s not for lack of bread, like the Greatful Dead, darlin’

Give me a head with hair, long beautiful hair
Shining, gleaming, streaming, flaxen, waxen
Give me down to there, hair, shoulder length or longer
Here baby, there, momma, everywhere, daddy, daddy

Hair, flow it, show it
Long as God can grow, my hair

Let it fly in the breeze and get caught in the trees
Give a home to the fleas, in my hair
A home for fleas, a hive for the buzzing bees
A nest for birds, there ain’t no words
For the beauty, splendor, the wonder of my hair

Flow it, show it
Long as God can grow, my hair

I want long, straight, curly, fuzzy, snaggy, shaggy, ratty, matty
[ From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/h/hair-lyrics/hair-lyrics.html%5D
Oily, greasy, fleecy, shining, gleaming, streaming, flaxen, waxen
Knotted, polka dotted, twisted, beaded, braided
Powered, flowered and confettied
Bangled, tangled, spangled and spahettied

Oh say, can you see my eyes if you can
Then my hair’s too short
Down with here, down to there
Down till there, down to where it’s stuck by itself

They’ll be ga-ga at the go-go, when they see me in my toga
My toga made of blond, brilliantined, biblical hair
My hair like Jesus wore it, Hallelujah I adore it
Hallelujah Mary loved her son, why don’t my mother love me?

Hair, flow it, show it
Long as God can grow
My hair, flow it, show it
Long as God can grow
My hair, flow it, show it
Long as God can grow
My hair

(Thanks to Wikipedia.org)

Beyonce JZ New Baby..YuuuCh

I am so sick of overly rich people adoring their new borns.  Even Jennifer Garner who I have admired says she will do anything for the happiness of her children.  Excuse me but that turns my old age stomach.  Life, and I don’t care how rich you are, is not easy and children should,in my opinion, be taught that it is hard, something to be conquered.  Instead the new young are being taught they are adored, and will grow to believe the world owes them something, and by God they will throw a tantrum until they get it.

For some reason, far beyond my ken, life is meant to be hard, I don’t know why but it is.  I don’t care if you believe in fate, the now of it all, or nothing at all.  Life is hard.  And if you think that parents who give all to their young on a silver platter, and constantly tell them…you are wonderful, you are magic, you are the be all and end all…well all I can say there is much disappointment waiting beyond tomorrow.

There are lessons to be learned.  Forget the silver platters because when it comes down to the nuts and bolts of it all..well there are just nuts and bolts.

What have you taught your children today?   What will they remember?

Comes That Time of Year

Comes That Time of the Year

I have been enjoying reading all the blogs on WordPress, or at least as many as I can manage, particularly those of my BB’s (blogging buddies), as most are tallying up, evaluating, assessing and reviewing all they have achieved either in life during the last twelve months or in their pledge of commitment to WordPress Postadaychallenge or Postaweekchallenge.  It is the reviewing and the assessing that helps us set our goals for the next year and gives us a sense of accomplishment for our efforts.  It’s an opportunity to perhaps brag a bit or pat ourselves on the back and I am amazed at what I have learned from my comrades-in-type and impressed that I sort of hang around with the best of the best.  Some of you have taken up the Postaday2011 Challenge Questions and I confess that I am joining the pack for no other reason than to celebrate the ‘us’ of it all.

Unlike many of you I did not reach my goal of 365, not because of writer’s block or lack of material but because the presence of mind simply wasn’t there.  It may have been because of personal upheaval (Lord knows there was lots of that this year) or just too dang tired.  Declaring there was not enough time simply didn’t cut it as proved by 5 Minute Fridays.  Five minutes is never too much to ask, and as long as it is clear it is a twelfth of the hour attempt all is forgiven.

So to recognize WordPress.com for all their support and encouragement:

1)      WHY DID YOU START THE POSTADAY/WEEK CHALLENGE?  I was new to blogging and started with WordPress at the encouragement of MB my daughter-in-law who thought my tales would be of interest to others. I chose Postaday for structure and to gain experience.

2)      DESCRIBE THE STATE OF YOUR BLOG AT THE TIME OF THE CHALLENGE.  Raw is the only word that comes to mind.  I think I started in December and posted once.  It wasn’t much and many of my first blogs did not include tags or categories.  It takes me awhile to find my way around techie things!

3)      HOW DID YOUR BLOG EVOLVE OVER THE COURSE OF THE CHALLENGE?  Well the easiest answer to that is that it grew from being tentative observations to embracing ideas, memories, and recognition of events including acknowledging others in the WP family.  Themes began to emerge which I would like to strengthen this coming year.

4)      DID YOU POST AS OFTEN AS YOU HAD HOPED?  WHY OR WHY NOT? No I sure did not.  Weekends away were skipped and in this last two weeks of the year my dedication slipped as I became preoccupied with other things.

5)      WHAT TYPE OF BLOGGING STRATEGY WORKS BEST FOR YOU?  Definitely looking at what is going on in the moment and framing it for presentation.  I have found first thing in the morning is best as my mind is fresher then.  Since my mornings have become more structured since August it would mean starting before my day begins and I have had some difficulty achieving this.

6)      IF YOU COULD GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY?  I guess there is nothing as what I have learned was a part of the growth for the year.  Even the techie stuff.

7)      WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF ACCOMPLISHING THIS YEAR?  Hmm.  Definitely the enriched relationships I have developed. People in word who become part of my heart, my family.  Joss Burnel my Crowing Crone, Judith Baxter, who is growingyoungereachday my down under friend, Val Erde and Pat Cegan for inspiration and encouragement, Tricia at the domesticfringe, Elizabeth at Mirth and Motivation, Paul Johnson The Good Greatsby.

8)      NAME 3 GREAT BLOGS YOU HAVE DISCOVERED THROUGH THE CHALLENGE.  Wow keeping to 3 is very difficult but certainly Susan Castle at susanthecoach.wordpress.com whose experience and ability to succeed amazed and motivates me.  My friend Mark at redriverpak.wordpress.com whose humor and journey gives me strength and who is my idol (hmm guess that is my American Idol hehehe), and Colleen at bikecolleen.wordpress.com who seems very brave in all things.

9)      WHAT SURPRISED YOU ABOUT THE CHALLENGE?  Definitely how quickly so many people/bloggers became important to me.  Many who don’t even know I exist.  I was also surprised at the wealth of knowledge out there.  If I could read fast enough I would read everyone.

10)   WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO WANT TO BLOG REGULARLY?  Do it.  Don’t think about an audience, just do it for you own self-expression.  Be sure to tag your work and reply to every comment and acknowledgement.  Also read and comment on other blogs.  You know how much work you do to post so you know that to show appreciation or recognition of others is equally important.

11)   WHAT ARE YOUR BLOGGING GOALS FOR 2012?  Do it.  Fine tune.  Organize. Read Read Read.

A little wisdom from Erma Bombeck to whose list I would only add…blog blog blog and be sincere.

If I Had My Life To Live Over

by Erma Bombeck

The following was written by the late Erma Bombeck
after she found out she had a fatal disease.

 

If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television – and more while watching life.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.”

There would have been more “I love you’s”.. More “I’m sorrys” …

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute… look at it and really see it … live it…and never give it back.

© Erma Bombeck  

A Backwards 5 Minute Friday for Gypsy Mama

5 Minute Friday for The Gypsy Mama

5 Minutes on a sunny day!

Today’s 5 Minute Friday challenge is:

 Backwards

What does ‘Backwards’ bring to your mind?

 This could make for a very uncomfortable five minutes because nothing comes to mind except perhaps moving backwards from my goals, which I consistently do a lot.  I would count my life much more successful if I had always moved forward but then I might not have so many amusing tales to tell.  My life might have been made up of controlled chuckles rather than silly outrageous laughter had I stayed on course.  It is my backwardness that keeps my life interesting.

 Driving backwards comes to mind but I don’t do that well.  I can tell you that from experience with the odd crunch here and there.

 One step forward and two back comes to mind and thank goodness I love to dance because at least then I can make my life’s struggles look like an original dance staggering here and there to my own drummer.

 So now that I think of it…backwards isn’t so bad at all!  There are not enough ‘google maps’ in the world to keep me moving forward!

 Time’s up!

 

 

Was it a Dream?

Was it a dream????

I have had the honor to attend several deaths through out my decades in nursing.  Probably more than a hundred.  Most have been good, some inspiring and a few …well…

One I will remember forever, even though this one time I was not there.

Many many years ago…read decades here.. I worked in a nursing home.  Most of the home comprised of private apartments and we also had a small twenty-eight bed sick unit.  When I made rounds each day I always stopped in to see one particular couple.  They were English and very proper and deeply in love even after almost seventy years of marriage.  Just being around them made you feel good.

I was with the doctor the day he had to tell Mr. M he had lung cancer and not long to live.  No this is not a smoking story – the man had never puffed in his life.  After the doctor left I returned to see how my English gent was doing.  I asked him how he felt about the news.  He said, “Chris I am ninety-two years old.  I am a Christian so I know I will see my sons and other family that have passed.  But life is precious and if I was two hundred it would still be too soon to leave it.”

As the next few weeks passed Mr. M got weaker and finally ended up in our sick unit, bed ridden and emaciated.  I had Monday and Tuesday off so when I gave report to the next shift on Sunday I said that Mr. was weak but holding his own.

I went off to enjoy my days with my young family.  Just after midnight on Monday I had a dream in which I woke up in my bedroom to find Mr. M standing beside my bed.  He was smiling.  I was distressed and asked him what he was doing there.  That he was sick and had to get into his bed.  He smiled and said that I did not understand and to come with him.  I found myself standing bedside his bed in the Home.  He was standing beside me and then I noticed he was also peacefully in his bed.

I could not formulate any thoughts, let alone words and just stared at him.  He smiled again and said that he had to go but he was going to tell “them” how kind and good I was.  I panicked once it dawned on me what he was saying.  I found myself begging him not to tell anyone.  I said “they” knew me and knew I was not good and please please don’t say anything.  He smiled again, so sweetly, and then he was gone.

I woke to find myself sitting up in bed.  I looked at the clock – it was two-twenty a.m.  Thinking what a strange dream it was I went back to my slumbers and forgot about it.

Wednesday I returned to work and was getting report from the night staff.  I pointed out that they forgot report on Mr. M.  The nurse said that he had died. After what felt like a long pause I asked when he died.  Two-twenty Tuesday morning.

For several days after that I was not sure what to do with that information but I felt like there was something I was supposed to do.
His wife kept coming to mind but I resisted thinking sure I’m supposed to go to this old grieving lady and tell her I spoke with her dead husband.  But the thought would not go away so feeling forced and more than a little stupid I went to the apartment.

We chatted about nothing really and then I told her bout the dream.  I wasn’t sure what to expect but she just quietly said, “Thank you dear, I knew if there was a way he could  let me know he was alright he would.  And he has.”

I don’t think of it often, but every now and then……