A story about one of the candidates in New York’s state senate race made us laugh out loud at breakfast today. Husband read me the article about a campaign debate between an incumbent Democrat and rival Republican in which the rival accused the incumbent of being inconsistent on key issues. To assure the voters that he was nothing like that, he said, “I haven’t changed my views on anything in my whole life.” Yes, that’s what the public wants making decisions on their behalf, a rigid doofus immune to growth. Note to candidates: If it’s really true that none of your views have ever changed in your entire life, for chrissake don’t brag about it. Get some help, read a book, something.
Then I read a story to Husband about the passing of a woman who became a nun at 92, just six months before she died. She had always wanted to be a nun, but was never able to realize her dream, so in 1997 she began saving her money and reaching out for donations to build a Greek Orthodox monastery. It was completed in 2005, and she moved in a year ago with her wheelchair and three times weekly dialysis. At a ceremony this past April, she formally became a nun and lived her dream for the last six months of her life. Before you feel sad for her, think of all the people who don’t ever reach their dream, or sadder still, don’t even have one. I found the story sweetly joyous.
Even more joyous to read were all the stories about the 33 rescued miners in Chile. We have all lived through accounts of horrific atrocities upon mankind that serve to unite the world under a cloak of brotherhood; things like 9/11, Darfur, Sarajevo, and Rwanda. We keep reaching into our bottomless pit of outrage in reaction to the regular onslaught of misery unfolding somewhere in the world. How incredibly uplifting to have a daring rescue of Everyman heroes to bring us together. The stories of how these men survived far under the earth’s surface in the face of the unknown have made the whole world’s heart beat faster.
“Los 33” rewrote both Survivor and Lord of the Flies as they ticked off 69 days of existence over 2,000 feet underground. They worked out, played games, talked of babies waiting to be born, and soccer games waiting to be watched. They kept each other going, rationing their food, thinking positive thoughts, and voting on issues in their own microcosm of democracy where a group decision took 16 + 1 vote to pass. When the story broke that they were arguing about the order of the rescue – who would be first and who would be last – it turned out they all wanted to be last. Each one wanted their fellow miner brothers to reach safety first. Seeing the newspaper photo of all 33 miners in their hospital robes posed with Chile’s President Pinera was a sight for sore eyes. In their sunglasses and hospital slippers they somehow managed to look like the real life heroes the whole world needs.
As this blog begins its FIFTH YEAR of words and pictures, Daughter’s Featured Fotos return to Comic Con
dead soldier
white angels
tough
and one for my buddy snake eyes