Let's Be Sensitive

An old friend called me last night because she'd just seen my son on television. I laughed and said,

"Oh, has he been arrested?"

Once when I was younger and leading a large group somebody complimented my super achieving kids and I said, "Well, I'm just thankful none of them are currently in prison."

But I never did that again because it became clear to me in any large group it's probable that somebody's kid IS in prison.

While I was teasing about mine, all of us have feelings of sheer pride and stark terror regarding our children. Sometimes in the same day.

My old friend on the phone told me that, no, my son wasn't in trouble. He was telling us how to deal with our economic issues. Then she told me he was too young to be giving that advice. Then she ended up saying, "I see he has some gray in his hair!"

I guess we all need to be a little more sensitive, including me.

Besides, my kids may or may not be aware that, in our younger days, there were causes that their father and I would have been proud to go to jail for.

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Hot, Flat and Crowded

Thomas Friedman, the three times Pulitzer Prize winner, has written a new book. I know some of you find him a little hard to read. I know this because you've told me. I understand. He uses big words. So I'm here to help. The title says it all:

HOT, FLAT AND CROWDED

Still confused? I'll explain further.

1. HOT. Global warming is real. Our world wide need for energy is real. Saving the planet isn't just a slogan. It's a dire necessity. The good news is that we are fantastic problem solvers. We can fix this.

2. FLAT. While the world wide fast growth of the middle class is gobbling up resources, it's also instantly connected. Little tiny companies and individuals can get their ideas out - instantly. We can fix this.

3. CROWDED. There are way, way too many people in the world - and most of them are suffering mightily because of it. How can we fix this? (OK, don't get me started. You know how I feel about birth control!)

My plan would be for no female in the world to become pregnant - unless she WANTS TO! (This would also take care of another pesky social problem we have in this country.)

Now, what about our current crisis?

Following is a quote from Friedman's book:

Not only is America's leadership the key to the healing of the earth; it is also the best strategy for the renewal of America.



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In Times of Trouble We Need More Stuff

A lot of people are suffering right now. Some of them because their favorite Starbucks has closed.

These days I talk with people most every day who are scared they won't be able to make ends meet. But I also run across people who are totally oblivious to what's happening in the world.

Social scientists tell us that our teenagers are the most brand oriented and materialistic generation in history.

I have a young married friend who told me today that she "hates" going to friends' homes that are nicer than hers. It makes her feel "small."

What's the answer? She needs a better sense of self worth.

Hey sweetie, who you are has nothing to do with what you have.


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I'm 48 Years Old!

Today I took the True Age Test on Facebook. It seems I'm "truly" 48 years old. This is good news and bad news. On the one hand I feel good and am in great health but on the other hand I have these children who are in their 40s.

We can't all be in our 40s!

There's an article in my paper this morning titled "Want to live to 100? Then calm down and start moving."

I think this is excellent advice. It's how I dropped 20 plus years. Of course it took heavy B/P meds to calm me down.


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Taking a Break

Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy were one of the greatest couples on the American stage. Married for over 50 years, they were both stars prior to meeting each other.

Their marriage was based on love and respect.

Once, shorty before Jessica's death, Hume was being interviewed on "60 Minutes." At that time the phrase for celebs breaking up was "taking a break." When the interviewer asked Hume why Jessica wasn't there for the interview, he said (with a straight face) "We're taking a break."

The interviewer was momentarily stunned until he realized that Hume was kidding.

My Boyfriend has been here in Florida for six weeks. We've had a glorious time together. He's leaving today. Several friends asked, as always, why? I told them we were "Taking a Break."

They didn't buy it. They knew better.

Playwright Brian Clark once said of Hume and Jessica,

The way they play together is wonderful. The understanding, the bantering. Everything that comes with a lifetime of knowledge.

Even though my Boyfriend and I have known each other for only three years, we each have a lifetime of knowledge. And we know how to play together.

I'll fly to his home in a few weeks. So, after "taking a break," we'll once again be "Starting Over."

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A Dog Named Spot

I don't like labeling. As a wise friend of mine said the other day, a person can label you and then throw you away if they don't like the label.

There's an old story about a dog named Spot. When the owner was asked why his all brown dog was named Spot, he raised the dog's leg to reveal a tiny blond spot.

When I began teaching a class series a while back I asked the group of 18 people to introduce themselves this way:

Tell us your name and something about you that is "conservative" and something about you that is "liberal." After a little coaxing, each person was able to do it.

Please don't call me "Spot."

I'm way more complex than that. We all are.


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Universal Reconciliation

Universal reconciliation is a gigantic concept. It was also one of my husband's favorite themes. He believed in it. So do I. I guess the difference is that I don't see the whole universe holding hands and singing Kum Ba Ya thing happening in my lifetime.

But I agree with my late husband and the Apostle Paul that this is what we should be about. OK, let me rephrase that, this is what I should be about. I know we're all called to different things.

Night before last and all day yesterday many people across the world were celebrating. But not everybody. Many (close to half) of the people in this country were sad and disillusioned. Those of us who are happy need to be sensitive and kind about that.

I feel strongly that I need to look at all sides of issues that are important to me and to try to respect and understand where others are coming from.

I love to read George Will's columns. I don't always agree with him and I don't always understand him - because he's way smarter than I am. Like in this morning's paper he was all about numbers and I didn't really get his point.

But in a recent Newsweek article he talked about 3 "Axioms."

1. All news is economic news. That's because all news conditions the public mood, which shapes behavior, which has economic consequences.

2. All economic news is bad. Because any economic development can be construed ominously: Inflation is down? The economy might be slowing. the economy is growing: Inflation might be coming. Either way, woe.

3. Bad news always contains good news. The price of oil (hence gas at the pump) is down. Want to buy a house? Now's the time.

I do not believe that God brings terrible times upon us. But I do believe that we discover our strengths in bad times. I believe that people working together in this country and around the world can solve many of our economic problems.

And in the process we can be a step closer to universal reconciliation.


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