One Day after...
Today is "Black Friday" as they call it in the world of retail.
The loves of my life are out there doing their parts to make it a festive, Hap-Hap-HAPPY Frikkin Christmas (apologies to Clark Griswold) for all the retail workers by joining in the throngs of folks buying and selling while I'm here at home in peace and quiet listening to my download of one of the last of the late Chris Whitley concerts. I stumbled across the news that he had died from lung cancer this past week. He had a truly unique sound.
I truly dislike shopping for the sake of shopping, therefore today is one of my least favorite days. Actually what it is about today is the crowds. It’s the crowds that make me uncomfortable which is odd in that I like people and get along fine with strangers. MBH (below with a friend's kid) -
says that one of the things she admires about me is my way of being able to converse with complete strangers. It’s the mob atmosphere that has a tendency to ruin my ability to enjoy being out.
I often wonder what it is that compels the good writers to keep writing when the muse leaves. I understand the discipline of writing for writing's sake but what I don’t get is what they write about when they "go dry".
I started this blog in order to express myself. I read so many political blogs on a fairly regular basis that I doubt there is much I can add to the overall discussion that hasn’t already been said by those more studious than I.
I guess that being said, I will keep most of my political thoughts to themselves. Suffice it to say, I support the President and the troops. I voted for him twice and would gladly do so again if he could run. I would like to see them come home soon but not before they are finished and the war won.
I suppose I should include the obligatory salute to the holiday:
(Written the eve of Thanksgiving)
THANKSGIVING
What does it mean?
We’ve all heard the stories about the Pilgrims and the first thanksgiving but I’ve always found it interesting that this national holiday while not specifically Christian in celebration is one of the most Christian in spirit.
A holiday set aside specifically to give thanks for our harvest and bounty but yet, who are we thanking if not God? Why thank him unless you acknowledge his supreme mercy in caring for his children? Why be thankful unless deep within our hearts we know in a visceral way that God is the ultimate source of our life and breath.
This will be our first Thanksgiving in many years where we aren’t the ones hosting the dinner. We will be traveling to our daughter’s boyfriend’s family’s home to celebrate with them. I’m a bit apprehensive as to what to expect but maybe this is just my inherent desire to control my life manifesting itself.
As I sit here typing, the remains of two fingers of George Dickel whisky beside me, I am find my mind waxing eloquent.
What do I have to be thankful for?
• I am a child of the risen Lord Jesus. I know that it is not essential for me to be perfect only that I recognize that I am forgiven. As I grow as a Christian, I find myself more and more amazed at the miracle of our Lord’s plan that includes my salvation.
• I’m relatively healthy. At 44 years of age I have outlived a significant portion of humanity over the years. I would be an old man in many cultures only 100 years ago.
• I have a beautiful wife of 16 years with whom I am only growing more and more in love with. The night of our wedding as she turned to walk down the aisle and I went up to meet her and escort her to the altar I thought she was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I still think so.
• I am good at what I do at my place of work. It is a job I am able to find some fulfillment at. I attempt to keep it in perspective; Architecture is something I DO not who I am. Years ago I decided that my job supports my life, not the other way around.
• My daughter is a wonderful, intelligent, witty, fascinating young woman. She is making her way in this life in a way that is hers alone.
• My parents seem to be in fairly good health for their age. I speak to them often but see them less than I would like. I do not remember ever being unable to speak or relate to them. One of my fondest experiences is that I have grown to know them as adults as I have grown.
• I live in a country which although not perfect is by far the most free, most advanced country in the history of mankind. It is possible to become almost anything one wishes here if only one puts their mind to it.
• I take for granted, technology that did not exist in my own childhood. When I started as an architect we drew with the same tools that the architects of the ancient Egyptians used with the only difference being ours were updated in technology. Thomas Jefferson would have recognized the tools and techniques used in my first office. Now we use computers which allow us to create virtual projects in virtual worlds in ways that were not even imagined 30 years ago.
The loves of my life are out there doing their parts to make it a festive, Hap-Hap-HAPPY Frikkin Christmas (apologies to Clark Griswold) for all the retail workers by joining in the throngs of folks buying and selling while I'm here at home in peace and quiet listening to my download of one of the last of the late Chris Whitley concerts. I stumbled across the news that he had died from lung cancer this past week. He had a truly unique sound.
I truly dislike shopping for the sake of shopping, therefore today is one of my least favorite days. Actually what it is about today is the crowds. It’s the crowds that make me uncomfortable which is odd in that I like people and get along fine with strangers. MBH (below with a friend's kid) -
says that one of the things she admires about me is my way of being able to converse with complete strangers. It’s the mob atmosphere that has a tendency to ruin my ability to enjoy being out.
I often wonder what it is that compels the good writers to keep writing when the muse leaves. I understand the discipline of writing for writing's sake but what I don’t get is what they write about when they "go dry".
I started this blog in order to express myself. I read so many political blogs on a fairly regular basis that I doubt there is much I can add to the overall discussion that hasn’t already been said by those more studious than I.
I guess that being said, I will keep most of my political thoughts to themselves. Suffice it to say, I support the President and the troops. I voted for him twice and would gladly do so again if he could run. I would like to see them come home soon but not before they are finished and the war won.
I suppose I should include the obligatory salute to the holiday:
(Written the eve of Thanksgiving)
THANKSGIVING
What does it mean?
We’ve all heard the stories about the Pilgrims and the first thanksgiving but I’ve always found it interesting that this national holiday while not specifically Christian in celebration is one of the most Christian in spirit.
A holiday set aside specifically to give thanks for our harvest and bounty but yet, who are we thanking if not God? Why thank him unless you acknowledge his supreme mercy in caring for his children? Why be thankful unless deep within our hearts we know in a visceral way that God is the ultimate source of our life and breath.
This will be our first Thanksgiving in many years where we aren’t the ones hosting the dinner. We will be traveling to our daughter’s boyfriend’s family’s home to celebrate with them. I’m a bit apprehensive as to what to expect but maybe this is just my inherent desire to control my life manifesting itself.
As I sit here typing, the remains of two fingers of George Dickel whisky beside me, I am find my mind waxing eloquent.
What do I have to be thankful for?
• I am a child of the risen Lord Jesus. I know that it is not essential for me to be perfect only that I recognize that I am forgiven. As I grow as a Christian, I find myself more and more amazed at the miracle of our Lord’s plan that includes my salvation.
• I’m relatively healthy. At 44 years of age I have outlived a significant portion of humanity over the years. I would be an old man in many cultures only 100 years ago.
• I have a beautiful wife of 16 years with whom I am only growing more and more in love with. The night of our wedding as she turned to walk down the aisle and I went up to meet her and escort her to the altar I thought she was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I still think so.
• I am good at what I do at my place of work. It is a job I am able to find some fulfillment at. I attempt to keep it in perspective; Architecture is something I DO not who I am. Years ago I decided that my job supports my life, not the other way around.
• My daughter is a wonderful, intelligent, witty, fascinating young woman. She is making her way in this life in a way that is hers alone.
• My parents seem to be in fairly good health for their age. I speak to them often but see them less than I would like. I do not remember ever being unable to speak or relate to them. One of my fondest experiences is that I have grown to know them as adults as I have grown.
• I live in a country which although not perfect is by far the most free, most advanced country in the history of mankind. It is possible to become almost anything one wishes here if only one puts their mind to it.
• I take for granted, technology that did not exist in my own childhood. When I started as an architect we drew with the same tools that the architects of the ancient Egyptians used with the only difference being ours were updated in technology. Thomas Jefferson would have recognized the tools and techniques used in my first office. Now we use computers which allow us to create virtual projects in virtual worlds in ways that were not even imagined 30 years ago.
posted by King Tiger at 10:19 AM
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