Week 15- No Black Friday ads around here!

Week 15 Nov. 10^th- I need Target!

It is Sunday morning and I have had two cups of coffee, a piece of raisin toast (who would have thought!) and have been serenaded by the lady behind me as well as a party in the street playing gingham style through a very loud speaker. I am still in my pajamas, yet need to get going so I can go up to school and grade a few papers and plan for the week. I have been putting this blog entry off because I have not had anything significant happen this week of which to write.  So, I think I will write about writing a blog. 

Many people around me are reading and say they wished that they too had started writing about their experiences and are amazed that I have kept this up. I, too, am amazed that I have been disciplined enough to write weekly. You see, discipline is not one of my strengths.  I start many things I do not finish and I set lofty goals that I do not accomplish.  I procrastinate on chores that overwhelm me and I do not prioritize well. I have many journals that have one or two entries from significant times in my life and I have told a few people I would write their stories if they ever wanted to sit down and do it. This blog however, seems different.  I want to document this time in my life, because I do not want to forget it.  This is one goal I set for myself that I actually accomplished.  No, it is not the version I had in my mind, but sometimes life throws one a curve ball and how one reacts to that determines much.

Currently, I am up to 109 pages on a word document.  I do not know how that happened and I am amazed when I sit down with nothing to write about and end up with an entry that seems somewhat significant.  Taking an hour each week to reflect on what has happened to me that is new or unique, helps me to keep things in perspective and count my blessings.  I have slowed down a bit on checking how many page views I have on my blog, but when I first started that part gave me encouragement and motivation.  It reminded me of the feeling I had the three times I tried online dating.  I would get home from work and immediately check to see if anyone had viewed my profile.  I got that little feeling in the pit of my stomach when I had a message to view and the excitement of a child on Christmas morning when I had a “match”. I became obsessed to view the website, but then never followed through.  The caution part of my brain kicked in and I became a voyeur of my own profile rather than an active participant.  With the blog, there is no risk involved (except that I might make an error in grammar or spelling and the grammar/spelling Nazis among you will judge).  With the blog, it is just my thoughts and I.  Sometimes, this practice of weekly writing motivates me to get out and do something worth writing about and other times, it forces me to think.  I do agree with the old adage that we all have a story to tell. Most never do anything with that story but get old and have their grandkids hear it over and over.  I am so glad I have some stories from my mother’s Italian family written down so that they can be shared for generations. However, I have nothing from my father’s side. With them both gone, the chance is lost.  He would never talk about the war in which he fought, growing up with a single parent because he lost his dad early in life or going to college on the GI bill.  All I remember of his stories was that he hitch hiked home from college and that the experiences from the war turned a wonderful peaceful soul into a person who craved alcohol to mask those memories.

My point is whether a person feels they are a good writer or not, all should try to record their story in some way- by documenting pictures in a photo album (I am so scared for this generation of digital picture takers- does anyone ever print them??), by writing a poem, a journal or a blog. It is good for the soul.

A brief accounting of the week:  Tuesday was book club.  We discussed Lean IN and for some reason at one point of the evening, the conversation goes to bashing America.  I am starting to get a little defensive.  It is almost like the “I can call my sibling a name but don’t you even think about it (I cannot tell you how many times I write “abou tit”- one of these days I am going to not see my mistake and let it go through!!) mentality.  I get defensive.  Oh well, next month’s book is lovely and I do not see a way for it to turn into an America needs to.... discussion.  It is The Art of Hearing Heartbeats and so far the writing is beautiful. 

November is donation month for the monasteries.  A big metal “tree’ has been erected in our school’s foyer and students bring in item to hang from it or stack beneath it. Thing like towels, monk fans, school supplies, food baskets are all around the tree.  There is also a money jar.  What a wonderful way to teach charity.

Because the rain has stopped (OMG- I have not even mentioned that—THE RAIN HAS CEASED!) we had a happy hour on the rooftop of one of the apartment buildings. It is nice to get together and just listen to people’s stories.  This however, stifled my writing material this week.  I had planned to “go out” to 50^th street so I could stick to my cultural activity month goal; However, when going out means not starting until 9:30pm that gives me five hours to talk myself out of the experience.  One of these days I will find my inner youth and take the trip downtown.

I am still trying to decide if jewels are in my future.  See the pictures and look at the lure.

I am homesick.  Friday night I had to tell our host that he needed to change the music because I could not take anymore James Taylor.  You see James Taylor’s Fire and Rain was one of our favorite CD’s to play on road trips and Dylan’s rendition of Carolina was absolutely the cutest thing in the world with his little Texas twang twist on the lyrics. I found myself singing one moment and then teary eyed the next. I also found out that one of my best friends is going to have to go back and have a tumor removed (for the third time) from her brain.  I have been with her through this for the last 28 years and feel so bad that I will be half way around the world and not able to help.  She has a strong faith and is a miracle in human form with all she has been through.  I will pray for fast healing and for her doctors at MD Anderson to have wisdom. With readers from six countries, I ask that you do the same.  Her surgery is the day before Thanksgiving, Nov 27th. her name is Trish (I know- confusing but true). 

It will be good to get home, get kisses, get bored and then get back. I am also in need of a few things and desire the one stop shopping ease of Target. What I do not miss is being bombarded with ads for Christmas.  My gifts this year will be unique and probably ones that my sons, siblings, as well as my nieces and nephews will say- "What was she thinking?"  However, when you get right down to it, don't we really all buy what we need and if we want it bad enough, don't we find some justification for the purchase?  I rest my case- they will love the stories behind the purchases.    

That’s all for now.  Next weekend I go to the Shan State to participate in the Lighting festival in Thadingyut .  I imagine there will be great pictures to share and if I can take pictures and protect my hair from catching fire- you know I will do it.  remember- if you click on the picture, they get bigger.

 Great example of juxtaposition

 We found a grew little textile shop that does custom orders and has wonderful light weight material

 All hand done

 Look at the little bolo shirt (is that what you call them?) Who wants one??

 Precious and semiprecious jewels.  I wish I knew more about how to buy them.

 White pearls, black pearls purple pearls- all kinds.  Below- I like this design.  I think I need one. :)