List 36 - a few things I've learned this week . . .

Here are a few of the things I've learned this week:

1. I learned that sometimes if you tell your eight year old son not to forget to put his belt on, he might consider putting the belt 'on' the bed was good enough.
2. I learned that even when everything is set up perfectly - you ate at your favorite pizza place, you saved a great big slice for the next day's lunch, you retrieve your go-to pizza stone, you sing the right songs, you're rocking this thing called life - you might get so carried away with your greatness that you forget the slice in the oven.           

     3.  I learned that you never know what you might look down and see on the sidewalk in front of 

          your house.

     4.  I learned that even on the grayest of days, one still finds stuff like this, doing its thing . . . 

      5.   I learned that sometimes when I'm at my most angry about all of the negativity on the internet, I 

           end up finding something so good, like this:

         

    There are only two days of the year when nothing can be done.  One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow, so today is the right day to love, believe, do and mostly live.  Dalai Lama

     

  6.  I learned that when you find this in your porch railing, it means that yesterday your kids were 

          finished with the snack and they put it away.

     7.  And I learned that a gingko storm is every bit as beautiful as a snow storm, and you don't even    

         have to stock up on bread and milk.

                                             What did you learn this week?

          

List 27 . . . Who to ask - what's the meaning of life?

What is the meaning of life?  Now, that's a question!  I was thinking the other day about one of my favorite authors, Robert Fulghum, and I was reminded of one of his stories in particular.  It appears in his book, It was on Fire When I Lay Down On It.  In the story, Fulghum shares how he loves to ask folks the question . . . What's the meaning of life?  Please, please, take the time to click on this link to read the story yourself - you'll be glad you did.

Fulghum points out that most folks are quick to laugh off the question and then move along - as if no one actually wants to consider it.  But, finally, he finds someone who is willing to answer, and that answer is definitely worth the read.  It has me thinking . . . who could I ask about the meaning of life?  Whose thoughts would I most want to hear?  Hmmmmmm . . .

How about that for a list this week?  How about we name the folks we wish we could ask, "What's the meaning of life?"  This is a hard one, I know.  (For those of you who have been working on the dinner party list from a few months ago, maybe this is a good part two.)  Let's say this . . . Name ten people, living today, who you would like to hear from.  Hey, maybe some of us can actually ask!

I can't wait to hear yours!

Here are ten of the folks I'd like to ask:(As always, in no particular order - and I'm sure I'll want to add to the list after I hear your ideas!)

1.  Frances, the 104 year old friend of my grandmother, who is almost totally blind, cannot hear much, is confined to a wheel chair and laughs and smiles every time I've ever seen her.

                       

                  2.  The Dalai Lama

                                     









3.  My friend Amy's father, Scott, who grew up in an orphanage and visits there frequently to help continue what helped him.

4.  Anyone in the para-olympics.

5.  Will Ferrell












6.  An astronaut.

7.  Anyone who has visited all seven continents.

8.  Anyone who has celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary.

                                                         9.  My Dad.

10. Terry Gross, host of NPR's Fresh Air since 1975. 
 I cannot imagine anyone she hasn't interviewed!

List 8 . . . A few of the things Sadie is trying to teach me.

We got Sadie four years ago.  She was a 'rescue' dog.  And though a relative once misunderstood and said she wasn't sure what Sadie would be able to rescue because of her small stature, by rescue I mean we got her from a rescue facility.  She is rat terrier; and before seeing Sadie in late January of 2008, I didn't know that there was such a species.

I wasn't sure if I wanted a pet.  I grew up with Sparky, which was wonderful, but I feared that a pet would require a lot of me.  I was afraid I was stretched too far, and a dog would be a big responsibility for us all.  Too much money.  Too much maintenance.  Too much to add to the already overbooked agenda of these crazy lives.

For reasons I cannot remember, I changed my mind.  Thank, God.  Tim and I spent much time and attention on preparing the kids for the big changes that would be required of them to take care of a dog.  We began to look.  We scoured the Pet Finder on the internet, and then we went to see Miss Cindy's dogs.  When I saw Sadie (a dog who didn't seem all that appealing to me at the time) perch on Harry's chest and watched them stare into each other's eyes, it was all over.

And life as we knew it has never been the same.  There is dog hair on our furniture, but our hearts are too filled to care.  I was proved wrong on how much responsibility it would add to our lives because Sadie has been a dream.  We've been lucky.  She needs very little (aside from as much petting as possible) and gives very much.

Sadie has taught us a lot, but these are thirteen of the things I believe she is trying to teach me:

1. Eat when you're hungry and not when you're not.
2. Protect those you love - period.
3. Let people know what you need by your actions.  If what you really want is to have your belly rubbed, turn over.  
4. Show people you love that you love them . . . all of the time. 
5. Go on lots of adventures but always know where home is.
6. Never hesitate to let folks know if you think something isn't right.  
7. If you are completely exhausted, just lie down.  Take a rest.  And huddle up in a little ball if you need to.
8. If you feel cold or sad or lonely or just a little down, snuggle up as close as possible to someone safe.
9. When you find wide open spaces in a regular old day, run like the wind or roll around and around or jump up and down.  Enjoy yourself where you are.
10. Don't pay too much attention to time.  Be with the folks you're with, enjoy what's happening.  Be content.
11. Don't spend a lot of worry on things you can't change.  If your ears are too big, it's okay.  Be you.
12. Keep your eyes open.  You never know what you might see.
13. Remember that love doesn't need words.

What is your dog teaching you?