This is one of two online writing spaces I use.  The other is called "The Notebook" and can be found at http://radio-nowhere.org/nb/ and is where my poetry and occasional forays into short fiction can be found.

It's a bittersweet birthday for my Grandma Stratton today.  She turns 102, but is not doing well at all.   Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers as she makes this transition in life.  It's been a good one for her...and I am certainly going to miss her.  

I don't know about you, but I am more than a little sick and tired of people's "Social Media" emotional manipulation.  Not a day goes by that I don't see some photo on FB with a cute dog, cute kid, cute old person, cute sunrise, cute "I Hate Cancer", cute "Who is really reading this", cute garbage dump and cute meme with a pithy or equally cute saying followed by "Like this if you agree."

You know what the implication is, right?  If you don't click "Like" you don't agree and are scum of the earth, not fit for human company.  I mean, who really doesn't think every little girl should be a princess at least once in her life?  What dog doesn't deserve a good home?  Who really thinks cancer is cool and doesn't suck?  

Please, for the love of God and Country, please quit ruining wonderful little moments/memes/pictures/thoughts with "Click if you like this!"

It's emotional blackmail.  

This hasn't been a horrible year by any stretch.  We moved into a smaller, yet far more comfortable home and divested ourselves of quite possibly a ton of "stuff" that had been accumulating.  We still have too much "stuff" but isn't that 'Merica?

Anyhow, I'll be glad to see the taillights of 2012, and hope the small lights of 2013 don't turn into the headlight of a train aiming to run me over.

Happy and Prosperous 2013 to you and yours!

Today is 12/12/12

Feels like a Wednesday

As you can see, these are college aged girls.  I am not a college aged girl.  Press play, if you dare...  

I keep thinking I'll "get on track" but it seems it isn't going to happen...oh well, I'll keep plugging along.

I am thankful for Rational Thought.  Those people who have the ability to think something through without letting emotional reactions clutter the process, who can see the truth or heart of something and look at that in a more objective fashion.  As most of us tend to react to things (politics, family issues, work problems, etc) with a heavy dose of emotion in the mix, it can cloud the solution which quite often entails accepting responsibility (which can be seen as blame) by one or all parties involved.

I wish I was better at this.  I wish I could let go of my inclination to charge into discussions or topics allowing my emotions to overtake my reason or ability to think more objectively.  I'm thankful for the times it happens, and long for it when I realize I've acted the fool by not doing so.

It seems somewhat appropriate to me that as I have missed a few days I should be grateful for Second Chances.

If it weren't for Second Chances I honestly don't know where I'd be right now.  I mean, at one point (or more) in my life I've hurt and caused problems for most every member of my family with my antics or poor choices.  I missed out on a lot of Life with many people because I thought I was more than I was.

Yet, God in His Grace has not only forgiven me but has expressed his Grace in my life through His people.  I've been granted forgiveness and second chances (and third, fourth and more) by multitudes of people.  Which makes it so much easier to for to let go of my anger and hurt feelings.  It really is self-destructive and a damned lot of work, holding grudges is.

So, today I am grateful for and saying Thanks for Second Chances.

I am thankful for sunshine.  Sounds cheesy and corny and the stuff of bad pop songs, but there it is.  

Sunlight illuminates far better than any electric lamp yet created, warmer and less ambiguity.  Sunshine can and does reflect of certain surfaces blinding one for a moment or longer, and for that I am thankful as well.  It makes for a challenge to see what is truly there, what is lurking or hiding and hidden behind the glare.  Sunlight teaches patience because eventually the sun sets and vision clears and sight is restored.

Sunshine on a bitingly cold winters day, with a temperature of 4 degrees and light winds can make the lack of heat more bearable.  It may not warm the bones but it warms the mind and heart if you allow it to. 

Sunshine chases away the shadows, those things that frighten us in the dark.  Even if we will not admit to them, they are there.  Darkness doesn't like the light of day.  Sunlight illuminates.

So, today I am thankful for the light of sun and the Light of the Son...