Monday, July 4, 2011

Happy Independence Day!

As I lay on my picnic blanket, gazing up at the fireworks show earlier this evening, many thoughts paraded through my mind.  I reflected on all my blessings.  Felt more like Thanksgiving rather than celebrating the 4^th of July. 

I thought of all the many friends I have.  How amazing they are.  How rich they make my life.  My phone’s been buzzing non-stop for the past couple of weeks with messages from many of those friends, who wanted to share with me and ensure that I was doing okay.

My mind drifted to my father’s funeral this past Friday.  How it had been somber.  How the military honoring of him would have put the biggest smile on his face.  Just then, a firework exploded in the sky—a giant happy face.  It was positioned as if meant for planes flying overhead to get its full benefit rather than those of us on the ground.  That made me smile, for I thought how my father had served our country as a special ops flyer in the air force.  It was almost like that smiley face firework was meant to honor him…or so I’d like to think.

Mine has been a great holiday weekend.  One I know I’ll always cherish and whose meaning was far more profound than in years past.  I hope that others had an equally celebratory and enjoyable holiday weekend.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Though it seems a rather straightforward concept, the idea that we can’t make decisions for others so we shouldn’t let them make choices for us is anything but.  People come in a wide variety of personalities.  Some are leaders.  Others are born followers. 

There’s nothing wrong with being a follower, in my opinion, so long as a person is aware of what and whom they are following.  Do they adopt the views and concepts of the one they’re following as ones they truly believe in, or are they blindly following along, unaware of all ramifications of their following?

If they’ve considered the consequences of their allowing others to make their choices for them, are they at peace with all that entails?  Sometimes, allowing others to make our decisions for us robs us of our power, individuality and ability to think for ourselves.  Other times, and in the right circumstances, it can build us up, empower us and strengthen our resolve. 

Knowing when and to whom to yield that power to would seem, then, to be the biggest hurdle.  Hand that control to the wrong individual(s) and it might mess you up.  If, however, the timing is right, you’ve carefully weighed all the options and come to the conclusion that this—giving up your decision-making power—is the right choice (for you), then things can and often do work out for the best.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Earlier today, I spoke with a friend about how some people, myself and friend included, tend to be different drummers, moving through life to the unique beat that we hear.  My friend agreed.  I smiled and added that sometimes the world understands us…many more times, it stands back, shaking its head in confusion, baffled by what leads us. 

I’m okay with this.  I come from a long line of different drummers.  My grandmother, who passed away a couple of years ago, was so much a different drummer and believed in being such, that she and my grandfather named not one but two of their boats Different Drummer.  They were proud to proclaim to the world their uniqueness. 

Today, we laid my father to rest.  It was a gorgeous day, one he would have loved.  A gentle breeze picked up as the representative of the military blue taps on his bugle.  Part way through the song, I noticed that the bugler wasn’t, in fact, blowing into the horn.  Instead, there was a speaker at the end of the horn, projecting the taps for us to enjoy.  Couldn’t help but think how different this was.  Wonder if my father would have approved….

My father was another different drummer.  He’d think nothing of getting in his car and driving four and a half hours up the coast just to stop at a private hamburger stand.  Why?  I asked him once.  He responded by cocking his head and telling me that it was because he loved their burgers.  His comment wasn’t said in a mean manner but one that denoted his surprise that I would have to question.  After all, to him it seemed perfectly normal to drive that far for a good burger.

Different drummers…the world is comprised of them.  Some opt to reveal themselves.  Others feel compelled to tuck their uniqueness away and only reveal it to a select few.  Me, I suppose I’m a hybrid of the two.  Some things I reveal to all.  Other sides of myself I choose to keep to those whom I trust and myself.  But whether or not I’m proclaiming my uniqueness or holding it close, in my heart, I’m always a different drummer.

Thursday, June 30, 2011

There are some things that just shouldn’t be.  Los Angeles traffic is one of those.  Earlier this evening, I had to go and pick up two of our grown kids from a main airport.  Since it was later in the week and day, I knew traffic would factor into things, but I had no idea just how much. 

I was excited that a meeting I’d attended landed me halfway between my office and the airport, shaving off a good amount of time.  Getting to the airport went just about as expected.  Hit a little traffic along the route. 

Though each of my kids arrived from different locales and on separate airlines, we arranged to have them meet up together so I could pick them up at one spot and time.  They managed to locate one another without too much trouble and claim my daughter’s luggage, which she’d checked.  I had parked a few minutes from the airport and was ready when they called to be picked up. 

So far so good….

Then came the arduous drive home.  That ordeal, which should have been an hour-long drive without traffic, took us four and a half hours due to fighting traffic! 

Ugh!

Though my kids were tired, as was I, from a long day, we made the most of our time spent inching along the congested freeways.  We sludged our way through a stream of cars, hardly moving at times, completely stopped at others and at most, driving barely fast enough to generate a slight breeze should the windows have been rolled down.  During that time, we caught up with one another, sharing stories of what the other had been up to.  The whole while, as is a common occurrence when interacting with my kids, the car reverberated with our laughter.

Hour after hour rolled by.  We passed some obvious reasons for the added traffic—accidents.   Most of the time, we saw no cause for the added delay.  Either way, it didn’t matter.  We settled in for the long drive and set our minds to make the most of our situation. 

What could have turned into a long intolerable drive, ended up being manageable due to the resistance of each of our spirits, positive attitudes and willingness to engage with one another the whole while.  So, though it never should have taken us nearly that long to get home, traffic or not, it did provide us extra time to spend with one another.  And for that, I’m grateful!