Both mom and dad have done positive things to further who I am and how I react to the world around me. However, I think it is dad who did something I will never forget and taught me to respect each and every individual regardless of skin color, ethnicity or race.
I remember I was fifteen at the time just emerging out of my tomboy phase. My close girlfriend was a Hindu. She invited me to go along to her temple for Pooja. It stands for worship and paying homage to the gods. I was into different cultures and learning as much about them was my goal at the time. I went along but it was very different from what I was used to as a Christian girl. Church was a sedate affair, however, the temple was different. It was noisy and the colors boomed with vibrancy and it was very crowded. Statues caught my eyes and they were painted in bright colors as well. We walked in and immediately we had to remove our shoes, then we had to break a coconut. It was followed by lighting incense and bowing to the deities and there were other things but I don’t quite remember them all now.
I did what was asked of me but I couldn’t wait to get back home. Once home, I walked in and blurted out to my dad, “It was so strange! I don’t know about Hinduism but it is not my thing!” Actually I used the term, “pagan” to get my point across, belligerence showing on my young face. Dad pinned me with his no nonsense gaze and said, “It is no different from our religion. Yes, they do things a little differently but they are praying to God. It’s all the same.” That took the wind out of my sails! I spent the rest of the evening thinking about what he had said and unknown to him he had taught me “tolerance” that day and that lesson has stood the test of time.
Perhaps, he taught me a bigger lesson and that is to RESPECT every person, every culture and every religion. I’m teaching my son to do the same thing. Here’s the thing, tolerance is not taught in schools, it begins at home.
Daily writing prompt
Describe a positive thing a family member has done for you.
Found this joke online and wanted to share. I think it is hilarious.
Two old farmers were sitting in a front porch swing. One asked the other, “You know that my granddaughter is going to college, and I’m trying to keep up with how she’s doing. But she sometimes talks with just using the initials of what she’s talking about. Like, what she’s studying for.
His old friend asked, “Well, what do they start with?
The grandfather replied, “Well, one starts with “B”-sound, another starts with an “M”, and the other is longer but it starts with “P.”
The friend said, “Oh,” those are easy. The “B” stands for BS, and you and I have shoveled enough Bull-S out of the corral to know what BS is.” The grandfather nodded.
“The “M” one is MS, and that means More of the Same.” Again, a nod.
“And if she gets educated to the end, it’s “PHD” for Piled Higher and Deeper.”
My ex has the last one and I guess that is about right! 🤣
A friend sent me this article early this morning and it hit the nail on the coffin where Trump is concerned. Read on to find out why.
An Aussie’s reply to Trump’s rant about ‘NATO not being there for us.’
Mate. You run a country with 600,000 homeless people sleeping on the street tonight. A country where 40% of adults can’t cover a $400 emergency without borrowing money. A country where insulin costs more than a car payment and people are rationing it to survive. A country where medical debt is the number 1 cause of bankruptcy. A country where women are dying in hospital car parks because doctors are too scared of abortion laws to treat a miscarriage.
You lock up more of your own citizens than any nation on earth. More than China. More than Russia. More than North Korea. The land of the free has 2 million people in cages, and a quarter of them haven’t even been convicted of anything. They’re just too poor to make bail.
Your life expectancy is going backwards. You’re the only developed nation where that’s happening. Your infant mortality rate is worse than Cuba’s. Your kids do active shooter drills between maths and English while you sell the gunmaker’s stock to your mates.
Your minimum wage hasn’t moved in 15 years. You’ve got teachers working 2 jobs and veterans sleeping under bridges and you just spent a trillion dollars flattening a country that didn’t attack you.
And you’ve got a convicted felon, adjudicating raping, paedophile protecting, porn star shagging insurrectionist running the biggest dumpster fire war campaign since the Taliban thanked you very much for losing again.
And you’re calling Greenland poorly run?
Greenland has universal healthcare. Free education. One of the lowest incarceration rates in the world. Nobody goes bankrupt there because they got sick. Nobody dies in a waiting room because their insurance said no.
“NATO wasn’t there when we needed them.” When exactly was that, champ? September 11? Because NATO invoked Article 5 for the first and only time in history FOR YOU. Soldiers from dozens of countries deployed, fought, bled, and died in Afghanistan FOR YOU. Australia wasn’t even in NATO and we still showed up. For 20 years.
And you pulled out at 2 a.m. without telling anyone and left them to deal with the mess.
So maybe before you start calling other countries poorly run, have a look at your own backyard, you spray-tanned aluminium siding salesman. The only thing poorly run in this picture is your f**king mouth.
Credit: Jim Scroggins – original author unknown
He said it like it needed to be said and that part about, “have a look at your own backyard,” really hits home doesn’t it?
Sitting outside in the garden is just as nice as taking a walk out in nature. Today, it is exceptionally wonderful because the sun is out, there is a cool breeze blowing and a cloudless blue sky adds to the pretty picture. I’ve got my second cup of coffee on the table, a notepad and pen just in case I get some bright ideas. I love jotting them down before it flies out of my head never to be seen again.
All is quiet where “the three” are concerned. I’m talking about Larry, Curly, and Moe! Just kidding. I’m talking about the three cats, Chachi, Galli, and Shiro. They’ve had their food, have been cleaned and brushed and are taking their midday naps. It is peaceful for a change.
The garden is looking fantastic in all its spring glory. The cherry tree has lots of blooms, the fig tree is greening, the Magnolias have done blooming and the petals are now lying like a carpet of pink and white on the grass. It means work clearing them up but each year they put on a show and the neighbors appreciate their beauty as well. My neighbor told me last week that she loves standing at her kitchen window with coffee cup in hand and looking at that tree. According to her, it brings or rather puts a smile on her face. I can understand that because nature has a way of doing that if you just stop and stare for a while.
The Camelia bush is in full bloom dripping with white blossoms. It’s interesting how this plant stays green all winter and when spring creeps around, the blossoms arrive. They are gorgeous. The tulips are in full bloom as well in a myriad variety of colors. The apple tree is greening and it will just be a matter of time before it starts blooming as well. Last year, it was a bumper crop. Maybe, this year it will take time out. Two years ago, I planted some ground crawlers as they are called here and each year they take my breath away. This year is no different. When they bloom, the ground is nowhere to be seen. It is covered in shades of pinks, purples, and whites. It’s the same this year and it is beautiful. The roses are budding as well and when they do arrive in different shades, the garden will be filled with the scent of vanilla and something sweet. Another thing to look forward to.
The insects are not out in full force yet but they will show up sooner or later. For now, I am enjoying the quiet, the peace, the sounds of nature all around me and I can stay here forever but it’s time to go see what the little rascals are up to.
What is human nature? One explanation refers to “the fundamental characteristics, ways of thinking, feeling, and acting that are generally considered to be inherent to human beings.” One can say we are pre-programmed to act in a certain way when faced with certain situations but nurture and social experiences do play a part in shaping individual behaviors as to how we react to certain outside stimuli.
Here are some quotes that speak to the heart of the matter.
“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity and I ‘m not sure about the universe.” Albert Einstein
“It is human nature to think wisely and act in an absurd fashion.” Anatole France
I totally agree with this assumption. Been there and done that many times over!
“Human nature is deeply ingrained despite our best efforts difficult to change.” Unknown
This one shines the spotlight on the problem itself. Stupidity and stubbornness sometimes or often go hand-in-hand making it a lose-lose situation.
“It’s human nature to remember only what you want to remember and forget what you want to forget, or transform it into a different story.” Unknown
We are all good storytellers so I definitely agree with the transformation part so much so to our own detriment.
“I hate it when people argue in public and I’ve missed the beginning so I don’t know whose side I’m on.” Unknown
This too is human nature.
“People will question all the good things they hear about you but believe all the bad without a second thought.” Unknown
Human nature at its best?
“I chose the road less traveled and now I don’t know where I am.” Unknown
ME TOO!
“Even if you give them everything that they ask for, it’ll never be enough.” Unknown
Are we talking about men here?
Finally….
THE LAWS OF HUMAN NATURE
“You are not a pawn in a game controlled by others; you are an active player who can move the pieces at will and even rewrite the rules.” Robert Greene
There you go. You are not stuck where you are and you have the ability to change your life. You just need to start moving in the right direction. What about human nature? Tell it to take a hike!
It has been three weeks since the two moved in. They are Shiro and Gallahad, my son’s two cats. I agreed to take care of them while he’s away starting a new career and his new temporary apartment doesn’t allow pets. It was an excruciating decision on his part to let go of them for a short while.
Shiro is a little princess and a spoiled little brat. She likes things her way. However, she loves litter boxes. Every time I clean the litter box and walk away, she moves in. I mean she jumps in and stays there! It could be the Aloe Vera scented deo that I add to the litter box that makes it smell like pure heaven to her but the little princess turns into a tramp and doesn’t mind spending time in the gutter! Gallahad is the quiet guy. He looks wise with his orange eyes but he’s all about the food. The minute he hears me approaching, he follows, his fat behind waddling as he pierces me with those eyes as, “Give me food please,” oozes out of every pore! He is overweight but he doesn’t care. I think he loves being who he is. Give him food and his world is a brighter shade of pink! The rest of the day he spends upstairs on the bed enjoying his time alone!
The two are a handful. Shiro more so than Galli. She is loud and if something doesn’t set well, she lets it be known. Her goal is to con her way into the bedroom. She knows that Chachi has that spot now but that doesn’t matter to her. She has her sights set on that coveted prize. Did I tell you that she has big, beautiful eyes? She does and that pitiful meow can tug at any heartstring. Her goal is to befriend Chachi and to oust him from the bedroom. She has a better strategy than Trump! Anyway, they are friends for the moment but Chachi is smarter than he looks. Little Einstein has been proving why he has that name. He has been spending a lot of time upstairs with the cat toys. The kind that helps to make your cat think. Believe it or not, he has managed to get the balls out of one maze and the other one has a piece missing and that is the end of both of them! He is a thinker and I am finding out that the little guy is not as nice as he seems as well. He has taken to snarling and showing his cute little teeth!
His girlfriend, Miss Ipanema, showed up last night. She spotted him sitting at the window seat and set her sights on him. The girl knows how to do that well, she is as loose as they come. A pretty one at that. She is all black with gorgeous green eyes but I’ve decided that she needs to go. Chachi is too innocent for her so I moved him away from the window and the little guy put up a fight and turned his “snarl” on me. He got the riot act read to him last night.
He is learning some not so nice things from the other two. The once sweet and laid-back guy is twice the “macho” he used to be. Yes, I have my hands full but I have to say that they are fun to watch, their different personalities are interesting, and I am learning that cats are not as simple or as clueless as they seem.
Most of us are “control freaks” when it comes to controlling outcomes. I know I am. We want to take whatever comes our way, things of the unsavory nature and we want to change it or we spend time, sometimes lots of it, mulling over what we cannot control and instead of letting go or accepting it as a lost cause, we try to control the narrative.
“To find calm, let go of the need to control every outcome.” Unknown
I had a tough day yesterday and “calm” had flown the coop and was nowhere to be seen. I kept playing scenarios over and over again and no matter how many times I kept playing it over, the outcome was the same. It was done and dusted and there was nothing I could do about it but to let it go. The only thing I could do was to control my feelings and how I viewed the situation. The other thing that was staring me in the face was that I had no control over the events of the day, only in how I dealt with it. It was time to let it go and I did.
“When you release expectations, you are free to enjoy things for what they are instead of what you think they should be.” Mandy Hale
I spent most of yesterday getting angry, agitated, frustrated, and whatever else you could throw into the pot, I was ready to take it all and to run with it! Human nature is such that we love to entertain problems. Truth is, problems do show up when we least expect them and they throw us for a loop when we come face to face with them. More often than not, anger and frustration accompany problems. Not knowing how to deal with them is why they appear in succession. In my case, it is the opportunity to fall off from the path of self-discovery I was on and to VENT for all its worth! Ok, it’s alright for awhile but I see the toll it takes on my psyche and even then, I refuse to stop, hell-bent on wrecking havoc as I go along on my path of self-righteousness! The good part is, I’ve learned when to put a stop to it. It took me most of the day but when evening rolled around, I was ready to come to my senses and to look at it with a clear head.
“One of the most rewarding and important moments in life is the moment you finally find the courage to let go of what you can’t change.” marcandangel
Learning to let go of control is not easy because letting go of whatever it is means that you no longer have control over the situation. However, sometimes that is a good thing. You need to step back, view it from a distance and come up with solutions to break down the problem and to make it solvable. Yes, it takes time and it takes focus but it is better than going off the deep end as I did yesterday.
“Real strength isn’t control. It’s knowing when to let go.” Christopher Barzak
The day dawned bright and early. The three cats were in their element and I knew without a shadow of a doubt that Easter or not, I would be at their beck and call as and when they wanted!
However, all of that changed when I looked outside and saw the sun trying to put a bright and beautiful spin on the day and it was succeeding. It’s supposed to get really nice and that is something to look forward to.
Easter is going to be a quiet one. My son is in Berlin and has been there for several days. Starting a new career demands focus and guts. Berlin is a big city and it requires courage to see what is out there and how to navigate the unsavory parts as well. Being the helicopter mom that I am, it was hard to let go. However, his first move was to Munich where he will be working. Berlin is just a short excursion, as Trump would call it, just being facetious! Anyway, it is not an excursion, it is part and parcel of his new job, Berlin being the headquarters.
I couldn’t believe it when he sent me pics of his hotel room. This kid, he is no longer one, he is a young man who is standing at the edge of a new life. His new company had booked the hotel, a nice one at that, and he was going to be there for 10 days. Ten long days for me. I worried about everything. Will he get there alright? Would he know what to do when he gets there? How will he get to work and back? Things mothers worry about, helicopter moms anyway. He made it there safely, took a taxi there, checked into the hotel like a pro and made it to work and back the next day. He has also been checking out different restaurants and ENJOYING Berlin’s nightlife! He says he loves Berlin and might even consider moving there if he gets an offer. Hmm…..not going to say anything.
Last night, I got a pic from him. He and a friend were at a bar wearing big smiles on their faces and with blurry eyes. It was late, almost midnight when I got the pic. My first thought, “What is he doing out there this late?” I kept it to myself. Then at around one in the morning, another message. “Walking back to hotel.” I wrote back, “You do know that Berlin is a big city don’t you? Be careful walking back.” No reply. At two in the morning, another message. “Back in hotel.” You could hear my sigh of relief from here all the way to the moon and back!
The thing is, he is making his own way. That’s not to say that I won’t worry about him. I will always be the mother who worries about her kid but I’m also the mother who brought him this far. I must have done something right.
Today is another day. He has plans but he is not telling. Meeting another friend is on the agenda and perhaps taking in the sights and sounds of Berlin. I wished him well, although there is twinge of “fear” within. Just a normal reaction I guess.
I will preoccupy myself with the cats. They are a lot of work but when needed they help to take my mind off things, which is a good thing. The sunshiny day is definitely helping and I am going to sit out back in the garden and enjoy the sights and sounds of a beautiful spring day, insects included!
I wasn’t in a good mood yesterday so I went looking for something to lighten the mood and came up with these. It sure did the job so thought I’d share.
Wife: “How would you describe me?”
Husband: “ABCDEFGHIJK”
Wife: “What does that mean?”
Husband: “Adorable, beautiful, cute, delightful, elegant, fashionable, gorgeous, and hot.”
A lady comes home from her doctor’s appointment grinning from ear to ear. Her husband asks, “Why are you so happy?” She says, “The doctor told me that for a forty-five-year-old woman I have the breasts of an eighteen year old.”
“Oh yeah?” quipped her husband. “What did he say about your forty-five-year- old a**?
Wife: “Your name never came up in the conversation.”
That’ll teach him to be quiet the next time around.
Why did I get divorced? Well, last week was my birthday. My wife didn’t wish me a happy birthday. My parents forgot and so did my kids. I went to work and even my colleagues didn’t wish me a happy birthday. As I entered my office, my secretary said “Happy Birthday boss!” I felt so special. She asked me out to lunch. After lunch, she invited me to her apartment. We went there and she said, “Do you mind if I go into the bedroom for a minute?”
“Okay,” I said.
She came out 5 minutes later with a birthday cake, my wife, my parents, my kids, my friends, and my colleagues all yelling, “SURPRISE!!!” while I was waiting on the sofa…..naked.
Obviously she wasn’t that kind of secretary but he obviously was that kind of boss!
I woke up to Chachi, the cat, having dry heaves! It doesn’t happen often but it did seem that way this morning because Shiro, the Persian cat, had a problem yesterday. She threw up and had a slight case of the runs. Galli, the British long-haired cat, was alright and keeping a watchful eye on everything.
I spent most of yesterday doing the wash, cleaning up behind them, and taking care of Shiro who seemed to be out of sorts and spent the day sleeping and looking poorly. Stressful? Absolutely.
This morning, Chachi decided to get in the act and had me up at 5 a.m. and after cleaning up, I noticed that he had been eating too much of the dry food so I removed it and decided that I must be doing something wrong as far as these three are concerned. Just as I suspected, the other two were waiting outside the door looking at me like I was manna from heaven or rather, it is where their manna comes from!
ME: “Cool it guys! I have some cleaning to do before I can get to you two.”
SHIRO: “How come Chachi gets to stay with you all night and we have to be outside. It is totally unfair!”
GALLI: “I’m not saying anything but she has a point there.”
I wasn’t in the mood for small talk! I ignored them and got what I needed to clean the mess up. Then I removed the dry food and gave him just wet food until his stomach settles down. Not too happy with the situation, I took a deep breath, piled my hair on my head, and decided to go get my cup of coffee. Just then I noticed that the litter boxes needed to be cleaned up! The day was taking off and leaving me behind. Okay, it was something that needed to be done so I did it. I disinfected it and added some deo to it. As I was heading downstairs, I noticed that Shiro had jumped into the litter box and was lying in it! The girl has a problem. She looked up at me with googly eyes like she was thoroughly enjoying it.
ME: “What’s the matter with you?”
SHIRO: “It smells so good here! I can sleep in it.”
GALLI: “She never used to do that when we were with daddy.”
SHIRO: “That’s because daddy never kept it this clean!”
CHACHI: “Mom, what are they up to?”
SHIRO: “Would it help if we called you mom?”
ME: “Nope!”
GALLI: “I know what your problem is. You need to let your hair down. Piling it on your head like you do is not a good look for you. If you want the guys to come calling, wear it down.”
CHACHI: “Thank you Galli. I keep telling her the same thing but she never listens. We should talk about the creeps who come calling! I can go on and on.”
ME: “Enough! Don’t worry about me. Stop throwing up, having the runs, and expecting to be fed all the time. You’ve had breakfast and now you’ll have to wait for several hours before you get more food. Is that understood?”
GALLI: “Bummer! I was enjoying the all you can eat buffet! Anyway, that attitude doesn’t suit you as well. Try being nicer, things might just change for the better.”
Ignoring the three, I headed for the kitchen. I NEEDED my coffee real bad. Shiro and Galli followed.
SHIRO: “We need to talk.”
Galli looking wise with his orange eyes took a seat on the stairs.
ME: “Guys, we are not talking. It is way too early and I don’t want to hear it!”
Them in unison.
“We want to go back to daddy! This is no fun and that little guy up there hasn’t been brought up too well. He growls and hisses all the time and you never say anything. Instead, you kiss him all the time and keep mommy’s boy protected from us. This is a no go!”
“Okay, we will have a pow wow later and I promise we will come to a solution. I need my coffee now.”
SHIRO: “What about Easter?”
ME: “What about it?!!”
GALLI: “Give us some special food and if you do, I will grant you a wish. One that brings the right guy into your life. You will be very happy, I promise.”
ME: “What are you?!! A fairy or rather a genie in disguise?”
GALLI: “I am more than meets the eye.”
ME: “Oh Lord, have mercy. Chachi thinks he knows everything and now, I have a budding lord only knows what on my hands!”
Coffee made, I headed back upstairs. Walking into the bedroom Chachi pipes up.
What was that about?
ME: “Don’t worry about it. Come give mommy a kiss.”
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