Tuesday, May 23, 2006

 
Unbelievable!

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

 
A couple articles...

First, this on recess disappearing in public schools. We already have a climate of fear around kids being allowed to play without adults close by, we already have most kids never playing any pickup games of sports because they're all organized to death, now this. Kids need unstructured time to learn how to do things themselves. Utterly absurd.

And this, quite a comment on sports mania. These people really need a reality check!

I attended my nephew's funeral this last weekend. As heartbreaking as it was, seeing numerous family members was a delight. Many good laughs were had amidst the tears. I hope to see them again at New Year's.

An interesting opportunity presented itself in the form of a rather distant relation I had never met before: The nephew of my sister's ex-husband proved to be a warm, friendly, and sincere person to chat with. Our family's had connected almost 40 years ago, and then that bond was broken ten years later in an ugly divorce. Perhaps some healing and forgiveness can be both given and gotten—something I think all of us on both sides can use—or maybe some sort of peace over it all, or just finally a better understanding. I was young at the time and didn't fully understand the magnitude of what happened. Looking back, now with children of my own, I grieve the situation and wonder that the parties involved came through it as well as they did.

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

 
Finished Delany's Times Square Red, Times Square Blue the other day. A very interesting analysis of cross-class contact in an urban environment and how it relates to urban planning in general, and the Times Square renovation project in particular. If you've read my blog before, you'll know that I love Delany's writing, but I'll mention one thing here: His wonderful prose style that can connote such a palpable atmosphere in a story at times seemed a little out of place in the essay form where raw information communication and clarity may be more valuable and appropriate. Still, I highly recommend the book. From his writing, he's the kind of guy I'd love to sit down to dinner with and talk about the world.

Saturday, May 06, 2006

 
My nephew died this morning around 9:00 AM after being taken off of life support hours prior.

I pray he rests in peace with his Lord.

Friday, May 05, 2006

 
For my nephew, his time here is almost done. He was an organ donor, and so my sister has elected to leave him connected so that when the time comes his organs can be used. It is expected to take less than a week for things to run their course.

He has been living with my mother for the last five months or so, during which time he gave her not a moment's trouble, got his life together, and surrounded himself with good friends. In trying to find the brighter side of these events, I'll say this: He'll leave us on a high note, happy at the end, living with someone whom he loved and who loved him, something he didn't have for most of his 33 years.

I believe that I'll see him again one day and in that moment, I will beg his forgiveness for being so distant and of no use to him, a member of my own family.

From Job:

Naked I came from my mother's womb; naked I will depart. The Lord gives, the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

And from Luke, the parable that Charles Dickens called the greatest story ever told:

There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, "Father, give me my share of the estate." So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, "How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men." So he got up and went to his father.But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son." But the father said to his servants, "Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." So they began to celebrate.Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. "Your brother has come," he replied, "and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound." The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, "Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!" "My son," the father said, "you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found."

Dear Lord, I pray you bring him home to you.

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

 
Entropia is in the news again! It'll be interesting to see how this changes what's going on in there.

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

 
Very sad news today: Further examination of my nephew revealed extensive brain damage. The decision was made a short while ago to take him off of the ventalator and let him go.

Monday, May 01, 2006

 
Things are looking up for my nephew a little bit: He was able to open his eyes a little yesterday. He's able to respond to commands on the left side, but not the right. Later this week, he'll have his jaw set and a trachiatomy done.

Many people are praying for his recovery.

Life is quiet on other fronts, everyone is well.

Times Square Red, Times Square Blue is proving to be a good read; I have about 80 pages left.

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