Monthly Archives: July 2015

Recently I read that when you stand for everything you stand for nothing or if you don’t take a stand then you don’t stand for anything…oh hell, I don’t remember what it was.  I’m sure somebody out there can fill me in.  I know that recently the political posts have picked up a notch on FB.  And I suppose they will continue as we get closer to election time.  I have made the decision to opt out of that arena…not that I don’t have opinions on the subject matter…its just I do not like how I feel when I post anything that might be construed negative or open myself up to a lot of negative response; especially in that arena…so I’m sticking to the cardinal rule, if I can’t say something nice about someone, I’m keeping my mouth shut.  Or biting my tongue, which might explain the reason its getting shorter.

So does this mean that I’m not taking a stand?  Not really…but I’ll stick to the areas I’m more familiar with.

Like…I am Vegan.  The reason being- I love animals and I do not like the idea of killing them so I can eat them and then s…them out the next day when it is so not necessary.  I was a vegetarian for almost thirty years.  I choose to eat a plant based lifestyle because I think it is healthier for us and kinder to our animal friends.  It breaks my heart to see the way the animals are treated.  I used to justify eating cheese and butter as okay because I wasn’t killing (however indirectly) the animal.  But then I thought if I was put in a chute everyday, so someone could milk my breast without me having any say so about it…how would that be?  I am all about freedom of choice and a huge advocate for those who can’t speak for themselves…animals being one of these.  So now I’m vegan.  I also happen to think that besides being a much healthier sustaining way of life; it is also much kinder to our environment.

I wish instead of the new health care program that is, we as a country would have opted for and put our energy into creating a preventive health care program.  Like John F. Kennedy tried to do.  He was a firm believer in exercise, implementing programs in schools, trying to get kids active.  If our society put more energy into taking control over their own health, a program as such today, would not even be needed.

And I also would like to say this about the Confederate Flag.  There has been a lot of hoopla lately surrounding it.  I learned a long time ago with Mark, that if I wanted him to stop doing a particular ‘ism’ or behavior…the best way to deal with it…was to quit giving it power by giving it so much attention.  I remember giving a talk to Michael’s elementary school way back when.  One of the questions that was asked me, was how do I feel about kids using foul language.  For anyone who knows me, knows that probably wasn’t the question to ask me…since my mouth runneth over a lot…but here’s the thing.  If I did take offense to a word (and I do have a few that rub me the wrong way 🙂 my action would be to give no response…at all.  Because I know this to be true..the more I make an issue out of it, the bigger the issue becomes.  So my advice to them was…to ignore it.

The same thing with the confederate flag.  Before this opposition came up…every time I saw the flag flown in the back of a truck or stuck on a fence…I didn’t like it.   Interestingly enough, I’ve noticed that with all of the attention the flag has gotten I’ve had the opportunity to explore my own judgments of it and let them go.  It is just a flag and its colors are beautiful, not unlike our own.  This flag represents a people that stood for what they believed in, wanting their independence from big government, no different than our founding fathers.   The fact that slavery was tied in with it…whether that was by intention or not…is the reason I would not hang that flag from my home…that and the fact that the war has been over for a long time, the flag that I fly is my nation’s flag.

But if my neighbor chooses to fly the confederate flag, then so be it.  I am grateful that I can live in a country where he/she is free to do so.  I want to live in a country where as long as I or the person next to me, are not hurting each other, we are free to do, say, or eat what we want.  And that’s okay.  So that’s my stand(s) for today……..:).

So …yesterday as the sun was setting a late afternoon thunderstorm popped up…well the makings of one that fizzled out before it really ever got started.  Mark was walking when the winds picked up and the rain started…a combination that does not work well for his sensitive being.  I heard him yelling out in the field and I went to meet him.  As he came towards me, his shorts scrolled up as far as they could go (so the wind doesn’t blow them on his skin which to him feels like needles going in from all directions) I noticed that his shorts were ripped and torn…a result of his frustration and pain.

I went to get him a new pair of shorts and invited him in to get out from under the weather; but once he changed he went back to walking.  I on the other hand went inside grabbed a glass of wine, went back outside, found a chair to sit in the paddock and wait for him to make the loop (it’s about a half of mile)… and hopefully do it without issue.

As I sat, I felt the day settle on me like the sun  reaching for the earth behind me.  I felt sad that after eight years Mark is still struggling to find his way and we live in a moment to moment basis…never quite knowing what the weather inside of him will be like.  I felt an emptiness that although we’re all family, many of our members have chosen to either alienate from one another or end relationships altogether.  I felt compassion for all those who are struggling and for those who have recently lost people that they love.  And I miss my dad.   I felt my emotions rising and as the rain subsided my tears began…the gentle breeze cooled my skin…feeling good to me but wondering if it was hurting my son as he walked.  I looked to the sky, the clouds, the last rays of light, as the tears fell releasing the sadness from within.

Mark came round the bend, this time without issue…he stopped to say hello to me and seeing me in my emotional state came over to sit next to me.  He kissed my cheek and taking my hand, told me that it was going to be okay.  Then he asked me, “Is it going to be okay?”  I nodded as I blubbered…”yes”.  He got up and did another round of walking.

This time when he came up and saw me in the same place, tears still falling…he came over and patted me firmly on the cheek and said, “Done!”….

I laughed and got up and walked another lap with him.  Yes…done.