No Turning Back Now May 31, 2008

Just got done watching LOST. Mind is reeling-I have a love/hate relationship with that show. I will watch it to the end. Once you start watching LOST there is NO TURNING BACK!!! MWah hahahaha… All I can say is the series finale better be fanf-ngtastic.

Memorial Day May 28, 2008

I actually made it to the D-town Memorial Day parade this year. I think the last time I went was about 8 years ago I took my Goddaughter who at that time was only 5. It actually might have been longer than that-maybe it was 10 years ago. Anyway for a while I watched a different township’s Memorial Day parade because it went right by the house we lived in-that info doesn’t pertain to much of anyhting-I just liked the memory of sitting on the porch with my daughter while she enjoyed all the fanfare. At any rate, seeing all the soldiers, especially the older ones always makes me emotional. I don’t know that there is any one reason for this-I can’t pinpoint the emotion and it drives me crazy when I can’t identify why I am feeling something. It reminds me some of these people went because they were told they had to-some went willingly-either way they are, in my eyes, some of the bravest men and women one can ever encounter. Thank God for all these brave men and women. They remind me Memorial Day isn’t just a day to hang outside and eat but a day to be grateful, a day of remembrance and pride.

Good Fat, the Bad & the Ugly May 13, 2008

Fellow blogger Bill the lawyer posted something about good fat injections.  I found it interesting you should give it a read.

He mentioned about the possible powers that be-maybe you’d be interested in that too. I find my interest wandering way away from all that s*&t. It really stresses me that I don’t feel stongly supportive of any of them so I try to ignore it all.  I really would like to see a democrat in office again but I think we got the shaft in the candidate department. I guess I hope I am wrong but I don’t think either dem has a chance of winning the presidential election. Pretty much pisses me off. In case you couldn’t tell by my other posts about this garbage I am a bit bitter in this area-yet still strangely proud to be an American. In a lot of places I wouldn’t be able to voice my feelings (or do so many other things I enjoy and choose to do) so I still embrace my natural born citizenship. That’s the skinny on the good fat, the bad and the ugly.

On Eagles’ Wings May 6, 2008

They sang one of my favorite hymns (my other I mentioned before is the Prayer of St Francis) today at my AUnt Jo’s funeral:

 

On Eagle’s Wings

 

Words and Music: Michael Joncas

 

Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shal mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord,
Who abide in His shadow for life,
Say to the Lord, “My Refuge,
My Rock in Whom I trust.”

 

And He will raise you up on eagle’s wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

 

The snare of the fowler will never capture you,
And famine will bring you no fear;
Under His Wings your refuge,
His faithfulness your shield.

 

And He will raise you up on eagle’s wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

 

You need not fear the terror of the night,
Nor the arrow that flies by day,
Though thousands fall about you,
Near you it shall not come.

 

And He will raise you up on eagle’s wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

 

For to His angels He’s given a command,
To guard you in all of your ways,
Upon their hands they will bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

 

And He will raise you up on eagle’s wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

 

She looked very peaceful and her life was celebrated today by family and friends and a beautiful sunny perfect day. Her granddaughter got up and spoke which I thought was very brave. I have a couple vivid memories of her as her granddaughters are very close to my age and my mom is very close to her daughter so we spent a good amount of time together as we were growing up. One of them is jsut of her laughing so hard at my cousin who was performing some silly antics in pants that were too small for her and the other is of her dancing with my grandmother to some italian tune at a wedding. They aren’t earth shattering memories but depict her outgoing colorful personality. The priest suggested to us to take memories we have and make them a part of us-not being afraid to have a good time would be something I’d like to make a part of me.

Aunt Jo was the wife of my grandfather’s brother, Salvatore or as we knew him Uncle Tudi (I hope I spelled that right.) He was not only his brother but best friend and passed away long ago of lung cancer. This really was the beginning of my awareness of cancer (I was only a teenager) and he is one of my team’s inspirations to Relay.

One of the things I (in my mind) rebel against at funerals is the tradition of wearing black and dull colors. Maybe this is a little morbid but I think natural to contemplate your own mortality but I want to be the one wearing red at my funeral.  I would really want everyone to dress colorful because life is colorful. I understand it’s a symbol of mourning and a time to grieve but funerals are also a celebration of a life. I would hope the emphasis would be on that.

I hope Aunt Jo rests peacfully and feeling celebrated.