Senator Edward M. Kennedy

Goodbye Teddy

I’ve been absolutely obsessed with the passing of Sen. Ed Kennedy. I, along with the entire Nation, have been anticipating the event for sometime now. It was obvious his time on earth was rapidly coming to an end when he began the pursuit of changing the law in order to fill his vacant Senate seat sooner than later. But, still. I felt an urge of surprise when I saw it on the television in the clinic where I work, stating that he had in fact died.

I don’t have a television so I’m limited to video clips I can view from the computer but I have followed as closely as possible in order to be part of history. One of my initial reactions to the service held in an historical Catholic Church in Boston was one of curiosity. I am confused as to how he was able to remain a Catholic, receive communion, have a series of priest say prayers with all the bells and whistles, while his first wife sat next to their son and his present wife sat next to another of his sons. My brother in law, Tom, was ex-communicated when he and his first wife divorced and he was told by the Priest and Bishop he would not be able to accept communion in a Catholic church again. My good friend Paula was told she could no longer accept or be given communion in the Catholic church because she supported a congressional bill that advocated Women’s Right to Choose. This is nothing against Ted Kennedy. My brother in law would continue to be part of the church which removed him if they had accepted his transgressions.

I remember Ted Kennedy’s transgressions clearly. I was living in Washington, DC the night of the fatal over the bridge and into the creek incident. I followed the entire unfolding of the story from the waiting room at Columbia Hospital for Women because I didn’t have a television then, either and the hospital was just across the street. What I remember most is his honesty, an admission of guilt with no excuses and what felt to be true remorse. It took a while, but I forgave him.

And I remember the younger brother who’s voice cracked when he gave a eulogy for his slain brother, and how as the youngest of many, rose to the occasion that was required and became the Patriarch of an extremely powerful family. The grief he encountered over his lifetime is something I can’t imagine but he continued the work of those before him and made a difference in the world he left behind. Ted Kennedy didn’t have to work. He could have lived quite comfortably with never holding a job, but what I admire most about the Kennedy family, is they extended themselves to public service and worked endlessly toward helping the common man in a quest for what is right.

I see this as an end to an era. I’m glad Sen. Edward Kennedy continued to work for the blue collar worker, the children in Early Start, promoting health care for every American even if he didn’t have to. Thank you Senator.

A Wedding Toast

Megan's favorite bedtime song, when she was a young child, was Que Sera, Sera. Will I be pretty? Absolutely. Will I be rich. Probably not. Those were easy. As she grew older I found answers to be more difficult. The lingering question in this mother’s mind, was “who in the world will Megan find to love and who will love her? Would it be possible for this extraordinary young woman to find someone who would be her equal? In intellect, compassion, integrity. Someone with whom she could share her life? And not only find someone with these necessary components, but one who would bring other, more important gifts to the table.? As long as we’re hoping, wouldn’t it be nice if she met someone who was more out-going than reticent, a gift of gab would be nice for someone of Megan’s naturally quiet nature. A love for and talent in music would be awesome, especially if this person could appreciate hill-billy roots. A person who would not merely endure the little brother, but one who would understand the importance of this relationship to Megan and one who would embrace Austen as a brother. Loving me would be nice as well. This other person would make ‘Lists” to lessen stress, and have the ability to orchestrate enormous projects and bring out the inner child in all of us.

Thank you Rebecca and Bill. Sarah completes the package. Que Sera, Sera

I look at the relationship between Megan and Sarah and I see a perfect union. One of respect, and love, one of passion and commitment. I see decisions, big and small, being discussed and an agreement made conjointly. They agreed to place their professional live’s on hold and traveled South America for 6 months; they have moved from East Coast to West Coast to East Coast to West Coast, one worked in order for the other to accelerate academically and now it is time for the other to work and support the academic growth of the other. These decisions are not easy ones to make, but Megan and Sarah work hard to encourage and assure each other’s growth.

This union, this marriage between 2 extraordinary women, finally recognized by the State of Massachusetts in the USA is no less significant than an African American being elected to the Presidency of the USA.

I say Prost to the Ghost of backward thinking. And Prost to the Present.. enlightenment, of love..what a beautiful time in our lives. What a beautiful day. Que Sera Sera...I love the way the story ends.

Sarah, I say without reservation and with all the love in my heart, I am glad to have you as a daughter. Welcome to our family.

Cheers!

The Zen of Laundry

Until today, I hadn't been inside a launderette since 1978, the basement of University Towers in Tulsa, OK. Since I've been in Germany, I have used the washer and dryer of a friend while I searched Ramstein Yardsales.com for a set of my own. Accepting an offer of goodwill from a friend becomes uncomfortable after awhile and I believed it was time to use an alternative solution for cleaning my clothes.

The difficulty in buying a washer and dryer in Germany is several fold. If it is American made then it is 110v and Germany has only 220v. You can buy a transformer, but that gets really costly. Then, there are 2 types of dryers. A conventional and a condenser. The condenser model is for those without an outside vent or drain. The water pools collects in a tray in the bottom of the dryer, then you empty it. Another problem I have encountered is transportation of heavy items. But none of this matters now, because I have decided I love going to the Launderette.

It's so simple really. You put in your wash and read. You take them out of the dryer, fold them or hang them on hangars. Hanging out the wash was my job growing up, as was folding the clothes. I remember the "chore" of hanging clothes on the line as being somewhat pleasurable. If you did it properly, ironing was made easier. And as I folded clothes today, I found myself smiling.

I recently started reading Living Buddha, Living Christ, by Thich Nhat Hanh, again. Just snippets before I go to bed and one thing that stuck in my mind is what separates a Buddhist from a christian. A Buddhist Monk said, and I'll paraphrase...when a christian sits, he sits. When a Buddhist sits, he knows he is sitting. I knew I was folding clothes today and it was so peaceful. A simple task.

I am not a Buddhist and neither am I a Christian, but today I experienced the Zen of Laundry and I thought I love how simple my life has become. I won't be buying a set of my own. There really is no need.

Choos.

Friends

My apartment is so quiet. I had a visitor the last few days, a friend from OK, Jack Clancy. It was so nice really, coming into the apartment after a day of work, saying loudly "honey, I"m home!" and to be greeted with an enthusiastic kiss on the forehead. I love Jack. Jack is 75 years old, has never married, is a retired American Airline engineer, absolutely brilliant and enigmatic, a world traveler and a friend. He spent quite a bit of time trying to teach me how to convert celcius to farenheit but his formula had 8 or 9 steps and I just couldn't retain all that information. I need maybe a 3 step process. I knew one once, Larry taught me, but now I can't remember it. Jack and I enjoyed his world famous marg'retas on the balcony and watched people with their dogs, my well known salmon on the grill, conversation and quiet. You know you are with a friend when quiet is peaceful.

I drove Jack to Frankfurt airport yesterday morning and stopped by the city Meinz which is on the Rhine river. I had a nice long walk along the river and marveled at the width and beauty of the Rhine, had coffee on the sidewalk and thought of friendship. I reached in my pocket of a jacket I hadn't worn for a while and felt my HopeStone. A gift from a friend with glioblastoma, Joyce.

I carry that stone with me, and I carry friends with me. I feel so fortunate to have lived in Oklahoma the last 5 years because that is where I met Jack, and Joyce, and many others I have with me in Germany. And I'm glad I lived in Seattle where I met Carol and Patty and a few others. My sister once told me I have no hobby except people. I'm also glad I was born to Paul and Lorene McAlister because that gave me Connie as a sister.

Life is an interesting journey. I'm loving it. But I think I should try and develop another hobby in addition to my people one. I start German classes in 2 weeks, a have a box of broken dishes that I may try to turn into art, and I will start reading again. I need to take a computer class and learn how to transfer my photos to my blog! There is so much I need to do.....and I want all of you to come along with me.

Choos!