Picture This:

I pulled this picture off of the Fox News website. It's from the uReport set of photos, meaning they are posting pictures of regular folks at the scene. I would encourage anyone to go there and view them. It will give you a good sense of what many people in Southern California are going through right now. It's heartwrenching, to say the least.

Too Hard for Words

You know, I've always admired the strong, quiet type. The people who are strong beyond words, but you never know it because they are so humble and don't seek to draw attention to themselves. I just like that quality in people. However, there are times when they do need to share, and need to talk about the struggles they are facing. But I've learned: when these people talk, I listen.

I have a friend in the blogger world who is speaking now, and I'm listening along with the rest of her friends. Her words are always well thought out and worth hearing, but this time I think all who know her are speechless.

She is someone who has commented on this blog occasionally, and who's blog I love to read. She is wise, fun, and always full of insights. I have come to know her through her writing. Yesterday, she posted about a valley she is going through, and I must say it took many of us in her vast circle of blogging friends by surprise. She has cancer. In the last two weeks she has been through a major operation, a glimpse at her mortality, and all of the major struggles that news like this brings about. To me, her words during this time of her life will be like gold. I look forward to her insights, but not her pain and struggle. She's not so introspective that she thinks everything is about her, but she's introspective enough to impart some great thoughts. She has that rare ability to take herself out of a situation and see it from God's point of view. That's what wisdom is, isn't it?

Charity is at Wide Open Spaces. While she still has a tough road ahead, and she's waiting for test results and a plan of action from her doctors, she sees this as a journey and is willing to share as she goes along. I'll wait for her words. They will be gold, and worth waiting for.

Ignorance Not Necessarily Bliss

I remember my dad talking about walking into my room when I was small and finding me on the top bunk of the bunkbed. I was 2, and there was no ladder. He said he wondered for a long time how I made it to the top of that bunk, so when I went in the room one evening, he ran outside and watched me through the window. Seems I climbed the post like a monkey, almost falling a few times, but I finally made it to the top. He said he was better off not knowing how I got up there. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.

That's how it was for me tonight when T and I were out walking. A few years ago T climbed a big mountain in China called Haba. It's just a few feet short of 18,000 feet, and is pretty steep at the top. He's climbed it twice, and summited both times. The second time he called me from the summit. I swear he sounded like a kid on Christmas morning. It was so fun hearing his voice then, and it's something I'll always remember. But tonight, he actually divulged some of the details of that trip: steep ice walls, cloud covering, sliding and catching himself with a pick, ice caves..... I completely understand my dad's view from back then. Ignorance is bliss.

But it's also good to know the struggle. It gives you a little more insight into the character of your loved one. We don't know everything about our special someone, but sometimes we get little glimpses that are surprising and fun, and tonight was one of those. I've always known Big Dad was a hard worker. I've always known his sense of adventure and love of just about everything outdoors. Tonight I got a little glimpse of those two elements of his character converging to a point in time that he then shared with me through a phone call. That was a great moment, and I feel privileged that he shared it with me. Love you, Big Dad!

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

Erma Bombeck. You have to love her. I remember mom had her book "If Life was a Bowlfull of Cherries, I'd be Stuck with the Pits." I would pick it up for the title alone. Her love of life, her observational humor, the way she didn't take herself too seriously no matter how famous she got.... It's something that's missing in the world lately. I miss it. Anyway, here's Erma talking about priorities:


IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck

(Written after she found out she was dying from cancer).


I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have sat on the lawn! With my grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.' There would have been more 'I love you's'; more 'I'm sorry's.'
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it... live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!
Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what
Instead; let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.
Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with, and what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, and emotionally. I hope you have a blessed day .

Typhoon KROSA

Introducing Typhoon KROSA. It's heading straight for Taiwan. It's supposed to turn north a little bit, but we'll get some strong winds and rain. It is a super typhoon at this point.

I'll let you guys know how it goes!

The Dentist

Going to the dentist is such a strange experience. I've never been comfortable with it. No matter what they do to a dentist's chair or room, it's not going to make anyone feel at ease. There are weird gadgets and scary looking and sounding tools that just make people cringe.

Then there are the strange sensations to deal with. Mr. Thirsty hanging on your cheek is just weird, then when they stick the suction in your mouth and accidentally hit your lip or tongue....how are you supposed to handle that gracefully? And speaking of the tongue, what are you supposed to do with it? I just try to keep it out of the way, but I'm sure it looks weird. Then there's your eyes. Do you stare at the ceiling or close them? I'm afraid I'm not trusting enough to close them.

Well, anyway, here's my tribute to dentists. Enjoy.