Willie's On My Mind

Willie Nelson was in the paper today. He's facing jail time for pot possession. This makes no sense to me because Willie's been smoking pot every day for 60 years and everybody on the planet knows it.

But then I, myself, like to occasionally give Willie a hard time.

Yesterday I listened to one of my favorite Willie Nelson CDs while I trimmed the Christmas tree. One of the most beautiful songs he's ever sung is "You Were Always On My Mind." But the message is:

Sorry babe, I couldn't take you to your chemo treatment, 'cause I had a gig in Amarillo. But it's OK 'cause you were on my mind.

And don't get me started on "She's a Good Hearted Woman In Love With a Good Time Man."

But Willie's done some wonderful things in his long life and seems to be a congruent person. And I love his voice. So I hope he gets out of this latest jam.

P.S. Do you remember years ago when Willie had a line of clothes at K-Mart? Of course it failed because who in the world would like to dress like Willie Nelson?





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Why I'm Happy

Dan Buettner has written a new book called "Thrive." It's a study of ways people can achieve happiness.

By the way, Dan says the happiest people in the USA live in San Luis Obispo, CA. Bummer for the rest of us!


But when he listed the four most happiness-producing elements, I knew I was golden. Here they are:


1. Sleep - Happy people get a good night's sleep. As those of you who read this blog regularly know, I have suffered life long insomnia. But about five years ago I started taking sleep seriously. One of the many things I do now is sleep in a cool room. Tonight it's supposed to get down to 15 degrees. Yes, I will open the bedroom windows as usual. Yes, Dave has a sense of humor about this.



2. Money - Yes, money's important. But we don't need much, just enough to feel secure about our shelter, food and medical care. That's about $75,000 for a family of four. So if you have more, share it. That will make you happy as well.


3. Physical Activity - Walking's the best, and it's free. Dave and I never miss a day.


4. Social Activity - Dave and I love being with other people. We love being with friends and family - and friendly strangers.


So those are Dan Buettner's top four elements. As you know, I'm a spiritual person so I would put that at the top of the mix. Being grateful every day for what I have makes me happy. But that's just me.


I do agree with his best advice for unhappy people who want to get happy: "You have to work at it."

Seems crazy to even say that but I see unhappy people all the time who seem to wallow in it.





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How Scary Is the Inner City?

The other evening we watched the PBS special where writer and actor Tina Fey won the 2010 Mark Twain Award for American Humor. During the show they replayed one of the "30 Rock" segments where the character played by Tracy Morgan was having a flashback on his life in the 'hood.

Keep in mind that this was written for Tracy by Tina Fey, the self described "obedient white girl from the suburbs."

It's all coming back...I watched a prostitute stab a clown! Our basketball hoop was a ribcage!

I blocked all this stuff out for a reason.

Oh, Lord, some guy with dreads electrocuted my fish.

All my life I've tried to forget the things I've seen.

A crackhead breastfeeding a rat. A homeless man cooking a Hot Pocket on a third rail of the G train!...A puppy committed suicide after he saw our bathroom! I once bit into a burrito and there was a child's shoe in it! I've seen a hooker eat a tire!..A pack of wild dogs took over and successfully ran a Wendy's!

I, myself, grew up on the mean streets of inner city Indianapolis but I never experienced anything like this. Or did I just block it out for a reason? I think I'll call my brother and check it out with him.


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Those People in Wisconsin Are Crazy

Apparently a large number of Americans are surprised that Bristol Palin is still on "Dancing With the Stars". I've seen her on the show only a couple of times but she has really improved as a dancer - and isn't that what it's all about?

Some people have suggested that Bristol is getting votes because of her famous mom. But she was quoted a few days as saying that as many people dislike her mom as like her.

That makes sense to me. I'm willing to believe that Bristol is hanging in there on her own merits. And good for her.

In a related story in this morning's Minneapolis Star Tribune, a Wisconsin man, apparently fueled by several beverages, blasted his television with a shotgun, because (apparently again) he was enraged by Bristol's performance on "DWTS." Officers coaxed him out of his house after an all-night standoff.

When Dave told this story to the young lady who served us our lunch today, her only response was:

"Those people in Wisconsin are crazy!"


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Change of Scenery

Yesterday I went, with some of my girlfriends, to the Orlando Museum of Art to see the Festival of the Trees. Corporations and other sponsors produce glitzy elaborately decorated Christmas trees. It's a study in over-the-top- ness. It has nothing to do with the birth of the baby in the manger.

But I like it.

We had fun but I was a bit uncomfortable hoofing it across the park to my car because it was 82 degrees and the sun was blazing.

This morning Dave and I hopped on a plane and flew to his home in Minneapolis. As you know, it's been snowing in Minnesota. And I hope it snows some more before we drive back down south in Dave's car.

I know that thousands of people travel every day and a change of scenery is no big deal to them. But I'm still in awe of flying across the country and experiencing the opposite weather.

I hope I never stop being in awe of what's around me.

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The Meaning of Life

The theory that man is nothing but the result of biological, psychological and sociological conditions, or the product of heredity and environment is wrong.

We are not fully conditioned and determined but rather determine ourselves whether we give in to conditions or stand up the them.

There is nothing conceivable which would so condition a person as to leave him (or her) without the slightest freedom.

- Viktor E. Frankl, "Man's Search for Meaning," 1959

Dr. Frankl came to the above conclusions while he was a prisoner in Auschwitz during the Second World War. I read his book in 1962 and it helped determine the person I would become.

A few days ago Dave and I went with some family and friends to the Holocaust Center close to our condo to meet Helen Greenspun, a lovely 84 year old Holocaust survivor. She was taken from her home at age 14 and kept under Nazi control for 6 years.

Her story is as harrowing as you could possibly imagine. But it's also a story of triumph. I want to share with you what she called, "Three Miracles.'

1. The Germans came for all of the Jewish girls 16 and over. Helen's mother sent her to sneak a bag of food to her sister who was crammed, along with others, into the back of a truck. A guard saw Helen and forced her on the truck with the others. All the while she was screaming that she was only 14, but to no avail.

The miracle? All of the Jews who stayed in the village were murdered.

2. The job she was given was working with potatoes. The Miracle? She was able to sneak potato scraps back to the other girls in the barracks (most of the girls eventually died, many of starvation.)

3. All along the way there were a few Germans (very few) who bent the rules in order to keep these girls alive. Toward the end of her ordeal they were sent on a forced march with no food or water. As they traveled through villages some German women threw scrapes of food at them and a few of the guards allowed them to pick them up.

Helen was saved by American soldiers in 1945. She spent two months in a hospital and close to a year in a sanitarium.

Today, at age 84, she still speaks, as she has for all of these years, to groups of children and adults - so that we will never forget.


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Environmentally Responsible Cartoons

As you know, I'm green. I want to leave a small footprint when I go.

So I was delighted to see these cartoons in the latest New Yorker.

Most folks don't even notice when there's a theme running through the cartoons, but it happens often.

So hats off to cartoonists Farley Katz,

Paul Noth and Michael Shaw for being environmentally responsible in their tongue in cheek irreverence.

I don't even mind them inquiring about Jesus' "methods" in performing the loaves and fishes miracle.

Because, as you know, I'm a Methodist.

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SPANX for the Memories

Do you know what Spanx are?

They're what we used to call in the 60s - girdles. Only Spanx are a girdle on steroids. If girdles are your 3rd grade math teacher, Spanx are Albert Einstein.

One night, on one of our many trips, we had a glass of wine with two older, very overweight, very funny, lady professors. One was a frequent guest on her local NPR station. I asked what she usually spoke about and, before she could answer, her friend told us a hilarious story she shared on the air about trying to get into her Spanx the first time.

In some department stores they show a little video of tons of celebs jabbering about how they love their Spanx. Unlike girdles, they come in all styles. Your Spanx can cover you from chest to knees or any one of those special parts.

So guess what Dave bought me? Yes, he went, all by himself, to Dillard's where he and the male sales person got their heads together and, entering my height and weight on the chart on the back of the carton, came up with the Perfect Spanx for Cess. Yes, he loves me that much.

How romantic is that?

I wore my Spanx today. Those of you who saw me probably noticed.



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Jesus Hates Figs

A friend and I were talking yesterday about the clever signs at last Saturday's Rally to Restore Sanity.

Signs like "Somewhat Irritated About Extreme Outrage " or "Let's Do This More Often," or "Only Hitler Was Hitler," or - more provocative -"Jesus Hates Figs."


Does Jesus hate figs?


There is a strange story in the Gospels about Jesus walking by a fig tree. He was hungry but when he looked for figs he found only leaves. So he zapped the tree.


Most scholars agree that it was a motivational lesson for his disciples about what powerful things they can do if they believe.


I don't think Jesus hates figs. Most everything I've ever read about Jesus is that he loves everything and everybody on this earth.


For God so loved the world...





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Madeleine Albright's Pins

Hope you voted today. I also hope and pray that the new batch of leaders, no matter who they are, will try hard to work together.


Last night I read another article about Madeleine Albright's pins. As you may know, despite speaking six or seven languages, she often used her brooches or pins to make a "point" when she was Secretary of State. And she still does.


It all started with Saddam Hussein. When the first Gulf War ended she was depicted in the Baghdad papers as a "serpent." So she decided to wear her snake pin.


When the Russians were bugging the State Department in the 90s she wore her big bug pin.


One of my favorites is her Dove pin.


Also, on this voting day when I think the most important need is coming together - I love the story Madeleine Albright tells about her dad.


He was a brilliant professor. She was a brilliant student. But, as she says her dad told it, she wasn't his most brilliant student.


Condoleezza Rice was.




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Mammo Tales

I had a mammogram this morning. Just a regular procedure.

After getting undressed and putting on one of those glamorous gowns I was sent to the waiting area. I looked around. In one corner were three bald women. I sat with them.

In the next half hour I heard some amazing stories - about frustration, courage, pain and hope. All three of the women had difficulty getting their various cancers diagnosed. All three had been through months and years of treatment. When the first of us was called into the imaging room she said, "I don't want to leave until our conversation's over." But she did.

There's power in women telling their stories. I didn't feel worthy to share other than to ask questions and compliment them on their bravery and perseverance.

We all agreed that - when we know our bodies aren't functioning properly - it's important to keep searching for answers until a diagnosis is found. No matter how many times we're told there's nothing wrong. We've all been told "You're fine!" when we knew we weren't.

An irony was that when I was being checked in I complimented the intake person on the hospital's new information technology. She immediately volunteered that she was 26 years old and had suffered from cancer since she was 12 - so she was happy with it as well.

I left with my new pink health calendar and my new pink ribbon pin. I gave my pink candies to Dave.

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