Friday, December 30, 2005
A houseful to convince me
My wife and I had talked for a long time about adopting kids.
I don't think my wife knew that my aunt had adopted two children until we were at her funeral. I could hear the gears turning.
Then came Christmas at Dad's. He has an annual ritual of serving a giant prime rib, so the kids are sure to come. Along with their kids. Even my sister, whose two-year-old is getting over a stomach flu. Plus, get ready for this, my cousin with her three boys. There were six boys in the house, five of which were under the age of five.
On the way home my wife said, "nothing about tonight convinced me that we should have children."
Well said.
I don't think my wife knew that my aunt had adopted two children until we were at her funeral. I could hear the gears turning.
Then came Christmas at Dad's. He has an annual ritual of serving a giant prime rib, so the kids are sure to come. Along with their kids. Even my sister, whose two-year-old is getting over a stomach flu. Plus, get ready for this, my cousin with her three boys. There were six boys in the house, five of which were under the age of five.
On the way home my wife said, "nothing about tonight convinced me that we should have children."
Well said.
Body Bag
I helped put a dead man in a body bag tonight.
He wasn't cold. He had died just a few hours earlier. Just as I came in, I think.
Also, he didn't "look" dead. He just looked like a human being. He had been doing well, recovering in the hospital from some condition or other. Then, finally, the mortal shell gave out. It didn't matter that his toe nails needed to be trimmed. He isn't going to need toe nails where he's going. I imagine someone may give him a shave if he is to have an open casket funeral.
The thing that surprised me is that it didn't bother me. It was a little strange putting a human being into what amounts to a giant sandwich bag. It is counter-intuitive to have a bag over one's head, never mind the whole body. But the act of dying is as natural as the act of breathing, or the act of being born.
He wasn't cold. He had died just a few hours earlier. Just as I came in, I think.
Also, he didn't "look" dead. He just looked like a human being. He had been doing well, recovering in the hospital from some condition or other. Then, finally, the mortal shell gave out. It didn't matter that his toe nails needed to be trimmed. He isn't going to need toe nails where he's going. I imagine someone may give him a shave if he is to have an open casket funeral.
The thing that surprised me is that it didn't bother me. It was a little strange putting a human being into what amounts to a giant sandwich bag. It is counter-intuitive to have a bag over one's head, never mind the whole body. But the act of dying is as natural as the act of breathing, or the act of being born.
Friday, December 23, 2005
Goodbye Aunt Kay
My aunt passed away on Saturday.
My wife and I drove down to Kentucky to attend the memorial service on Wednesday.
I saw my cousins, whom I hadn't seen since I was about seven years old. My aunt had adopted two boys when they were 12 and 10, rescuing them from a household of abuse. And if you would ask her, she would proudly (and perhaps loudly) proclaim that "these are my sons!" They were there with families of their own, who shared fond memories of their adopted mother.
She was a woman with a lot of heart and passion and she will be missed.
My wife and I drove down to Kentucky to attend the memorial service on Wednesday.
I saw my cousins, whom I hadn't seen since I was about seven years old. My aunt had adopted two boys when they were 12 and 10, rescuing them from a household of abuse. And if you would ask her, she would proudly (and perhaps loudly) proclaim that "these are my sons!" They were there with families of their own, who shared fond memories of their adopted mother.
She was a woman with a lot of heart and passion and she will be missed.
Saturday, December 10, 2005
blog this!!
Have you noticed how many blogs seem to be dedicated to cats? Not the musical. But domesticated house pets.
I've noticed that blogs seem to fit into categories. There are a lot of blogs out there that are written by teenage girls who have dedicated their blogs to the worship of their respective boyfriends. At first charming, then very frightening, in a boiled bunny rabbit kind of way.
Then there are the ones written by narcissistic women who find it necessary to document every bite of food they have eaten in a day. It's the insecure y-chromosome diet.
Admittedly, my blog isn't exactly what I had envisioned when I decided to start it. I really wanted something that people could read and get a chuckle over. Something that would be thougth provoking, but most of all, amusing.
But then again, I don't own a cat.
I've noticed that blogs seem to fit into categories. There are a lot of blogs out there that are written by teenage girls who have dedicated their blogs to the worship of their respective boyfriends. At first charming, then very frightening, in a boiled bunny rabbit kind of way.
Then there are the ones written by narcissistic women who find it necessary to document every bite of food they have eaten in a day. It's the insecure y-chromosome diet.
Admittedly, my blog isn't exactly what I had envisioned when I decided to start it. I really wanted something that people could read and get a chuckle over. Something that would be thougth provoking, but most of all, amusing.
But then again, I don't own a cat.
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Jesus and the Indiana house
Who else thinks it is ridiculous that a federal judge has ruled that opening prayers in the Indiana house of representatives may not invoke the name of Jesus?
A friend of mine revealed his relief with the decision. He thinks that pushing a particular religion from the pulpit of the state representative government is "offensive".
I said to my friend that the Constitution doesn't guarantee us the right to not be "offended". He turned his back to me and we didn't speak any more that day.
In a conversation I had with another friend later that day, I said that the governement is "Public", and that the government has no right to interfere with free speech in public. I said that if the government can abridge our right to religion and free speech in that manner, then what other rights are we willing to give away?
This is all in the name of the "separation of church and state". I challenge anyone to show me in the constitution where we are guaranteed a secular government. The first amendment reads as follows: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
A friend of mine revealed his relief with the decision. He thinks that pushing a particular religion from the pulpit of the state representative government is "offensive".
I said to my friend that the Constitution doesn't guarantee us the right to not be "offended". He turned his back to me and we didn't speak any more that day.
In a conversation I had with another friend later that day, I said that the governement is "Public", and that the government has no right to interfere with free speech in public. I said that if the government can abridge our right to religion and free speech in that manner, then what other rights are we willing to give away?
This is all in the name of the "separation of church and state". I challenge anyone to show me in the constitution where we are guaranteed a secular government. The first amendment reads as follows: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
