The smallest gifts.....

As I sit here on my second snow-day of the work week, I'm reminded of the rush of the season, and in particular, gifts. While this is the season for gift-giving, I'm not thinking about the typical "gifts" exchanged on Christmas morning. I'm thinking of all the gifts we're blessed with but take for granted. I received the "gift" of time this week, twice, with the cancellation of school. I have the gifts of a wonderful husband, a great family, and exceptional friends. I have the gift of a job that I love. I have the gift of a mother that struggles but still maintains the most optimistic outlook on life. I've always preferred to give gifts rather than receive. It's such a joy to present "presents" to those that are special in my life, as opposed to receiving them. I'm grateful for all the gifts in my life!

What on Earth am I doing????

I love to write. Whether it's the one "single line" status on my Facebook profile, corresponding in e-mails with friends and family, or writing on my white board at school, I simply love to put "pen" to "paper" and create something unique. It corresponds with my personality. At school, I'm all about business and structure. However, I love to zap in a tad bit of creativity and spice things up a bit. It only makes the educational process more meaningful and fun. So, in creating this blog, I've opened the door to an occasional fling for me into the world of "freelance" writing. While I wish time afforded me more opportunities to refine my writing skills, and spend more time in doing so, opportunity fails me as school commitments often leave me wishing for more hours in the day. I still am hoping to use this as an outlet to allow my creative flair for words to have a "home." How often I'm able to contribute to it remains to be seen!! Until then...

My first post from September, 2008:

Introspection on Aging!

I just spent a few hours with my mother. It's depressing to watch the elderly we so respect and cherish suffer. I assume she's going through Erickson's "Integrity vs Despair" stage in her life. She's struggling with losing her independence. She's weathered being a widow for 10 years, strokes, broken legs, and now another mini-stroke. She's lost her driving privileges to macular degeneration. She can barely eat anything. She has nothing to look forward to. I sat there and listened to her say "I want to leave this world." How do I answer that? What response could I possibly give her that would be encouraging? I get angry at the fact that elder care is so wrapped up in bureacratic red tape. Too much income for services, not enough disability for others. It bothers her tremendously that she has to depend on me. I'm the only dependent living in the same town. It bothers her to ask me to do chores for her. How do we make our parents understand that this wheel of life rolls around and as children, we do not mind doing chores and taking care of them. As busy and hectic as our lives are, I'd be a schmuck if I simply didn't find the time for her in my hectic life. If I were Bill Gates, I'd build the elderly assisted living establishments that were plated in 24K gold. They deserve it for raising us!
25 September, 2008 Public