Monthly Archives: January 2008

When the Music Fades

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Posted by Phil on January 12, 2008 – 9:50 pm
Filed under Just for Fun

This evening as we wheeled my mother-in-law into the living room, I was reflecting about life and how one measures it. She is in the last days of battling Parkinsons and a very aggressive cancer. We turned on the Gipsy Kings, her favorite group and listened as she enjoyed the vibrant songs that characterized her life. Irma has always been a spunky independent sort that danced to her own tune. She’s a fighter and one who could hold her own in difficult circumstances.
 

I’ve always enjoyed a wonderful relationship with her and count her as one of those unique gifts in my life. Even tonight I was joking with her that we’d get her going in the wheel chair but she wouldn’t be able to dance to the tune. In Irma fashion, she tapped her foot in a bit of a dance just to let me know she was in charge. What a hoot.

The beginning and end of life is such a precious thing. The birth of children bring joy with an expectancy of new life. Instantly their life changes yours forever. Becoming a parent is one of the most amazing things I will ever experience on the face of this earth.

When life starts to draw to it’s end, there is another tender time when loved ones though saddened, once again can celebrate the life of one dearly loved. We don’t know exactly how many days remain with her, but we count each one a blessing. It is our privilege to have her in our home to live out the last of her days with the same dignity she has lived with every day of her life.

The bouquet above from our table is filled with roses and lillies. The roses symbolize to me the romance and zest for life on earth and the lillies for new life as one passes from this one to the next.

 

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Keeping Sane While Running at Full Gallop

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Posted by Phil on January 6, 2008 – 10:59 pm
Filed under Just for Fun

If the first days of 2008 are any indicator of what this year holds I’m going to have one busy year ahead. After having some good downtime during the holidays I resumed life with hardly a minute to spare. How does one maintain a rhythm in the middle of such hectic days?

When I was a good number of years younger I would just keep running at full tilt until I would finally crash one day and end-up with a sinus infection or other nasty bug that would lay me flat for a week or two. I think I’ve learned something along the way as I don’t seem to have as intense down turns in my health, for which I’m very thankful.

Some stuff I’ve found to be very therapeutic are:

  1. Playing the guitar. I’ve mentioned this before but playing the guitar is just a great release of stress often five or fifteen minutes here and there.
  2. Napping. I used to never, ever take naps. Now at least on weekends I find them quite refreshing.
  3. Vacation. I’ve learned to take vacation more often and what a huge difference that makes.
  4. Time with family. My wife and kiddos are sources of joy and diversion from the serious stuff of life that pales in importance to spending time with them. 
  5. Reading for pleasure. This one I’m just getting back into a bit, thanks in part to a good friend who got around to writing a pretty nifty novel. Robert Earl Keen
  6. Watching concerts on DVD. This Christmas I received two great concerts: Simon and Garfunkel’s Concert in Central Park and Robert Earl Keen’s concert from the new series of Austin City Limit’s recordings "livefromaustintx".
  7. Blogging. Yeah I’ve been a bit of a slacker lately in this area for a number of reasons but I do find blogging to be a pleasant and relaxing experience. I anticipate my rate of postings to pick-up as I’m heading into ‘08. In the words of the old Monty Python movie, "I’m not dead yet!"

So what rates your top seven or so list of stuff to do to keep life sane?

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