The resistance path

I will not write too much about my dad yet. I tend to be fairly careful about what I say on this 'blog-candid yes, but also protective. Some deep feelings should not be shared with strangers, even in this age of exhibitionism. All I will do tonight, before talking tomorrow about some of the stories from "Mommy Wars" is to say that in spite of my many imperfections, much regretted now, I do believe my dad always loved me. And forgave me. Even when I'm not sure I deserved it. Kinda like our heavenly Father. Not that Dad was a saint. Not at all. But a parent's love for a child, while sometimes critical, is profound. A mystery. Thank you for loving me, Dad-sometimes in spite of what I was. Hopefully more often because of it.

Goodbye, Dad

My father died today. He was ill a long time. Now he is at peace. I can't believe he is gone. I told him last week, that in that room, there was nothing but love-no unresolved arguments, no bitterness, nothing unsaid. Just love.

I believe he is with my mom and my brother and my awesome grandmother and great aunt and a host of others who now know as they are known.

I don't dare imagine what that must be like because it can't be like anything I can envision.

I'll always love you, Dad. May you rest in God's loving arms.

The price of non conformity

This year Mr. C has found himself at school-and he's really invested in it. It shows not only in his grades, but in the way he talks about his interactions in the classroom. When we see the teacher next week I want to ask her if he gets overly exuberant. He told me that a few kids called him "teacher's pet" in math class. I advised him that it's smart, not to mention right, to let other kids answer. I have memories of boys who, simply by dint of the fact that they were bolder and more obnoxious, got the teacher's eye first. Very annoying.

Meanwhile, our 12 year old is having a tougher year. She's not at all a conformist, and most of what goes on in school seems to bore her. At the same time, she grapples with attention issues, which means that even when she does want to take notes or write down those assignments, it's hard to focus. She's also a very self-directed young woman. There are things she cares about-and things that don't seem to matter. When she is older, she'll be able to focus on doing the things she really cares about. For the moment, our challenges as her parents, teachers and counselors is to help her realize that, for right now, school is her job. It's her ticket to get to where she wants to be-movie star or waitress. I really don't care much as long as she bring zest and passion to what she does. It bothers her that so many people don't have the material wealth she has. I told her we can not change the whole world-but we can help take on a piece of that change.

Yesterday I saw that some folks in our congregation were going to Philly to feed the poor on Thanksgiving. Shrieks of protest from the kids, but I found some folks who would take them. We're having a very quiet Thanksgiving this year-appropriate in the circumstances. Nonetheless, it may help them understand how blessed they truly are.

He's Melting...he's melting

A cyclone in Bangladesh killed at least 1,700 people-and destroyed the homes of many more. You didn't see the corpses-after all, CNN is not out to shock you. But we did view the empty eyes of children as they sat on trees in the road or in the pieces of their homes.

Although at this point it's not evident that global warming had anything to do with the cyclone, Bangladesh is one of the countries that often has to cope with damage from flooding and cyclones. They are much less able to contend with these floods than we are-and look at New Orleans to see how well we do.

If you look at the link above, you will see a piece on growing mandate from the courts for the government to pay attention to the economic and humanitarian cost of climate change.

Their excuses have been unbelievable. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has no authority to regulate carbon dioxide.

Shall we allow the American automobile industry to regulate carbon dioxide instead?
We see how well they are doing keeping up with Japan.

The Transportation Department argued that there is no economic benefit to controlling emissions.

Except for the human cost in health and productivity-but what are a few thousands more black kids with asthma or older workers with lung problems?

When we look back in ten years (perhaps in a year) at our Administration's obduracy on the plain facts about global warming, will we be astonished at how the Congress lay down and played dead?

Or will we be ashamed at how the automobilemakers and their buddies in the Administration sacrificed our health to their profits?