Every family has traditions connected to the celebration of Christmas. The best thing about traditions is that they evolve over time. When we were kids we could discover what was in our stocking (laid on the couch with care) as soon as we woke up on Christmas morning but presents could not be opened until the breakfast dishes were done. We also don't put names on the packages which results in another tradition of at least two gifts getting mixed up. The early Christmas Eve service at our church was followed by oyster stew or potato soup. But once Grandpa died, the oyster stew fell away and an uncle's family joined us instead of our grandparents.
This year we broke many of our traditions. Due to some of my uncle's grandchildren being sick and Mom recovering from surgery, our Christmas Eve meal was just my family and for the first time in my memory, we opened some of our gifts that evening. Mom wrote names on some of the gifts because she didn't think she could remember. On Christmas we enjoyed meat fondu and homemade crème brulée. During the meal Mom asked us some questions about the Christmas story. So much of what we think happened at Jesus' birth is shaped by carols rather than what the gospels actually tell us. One thing I learned is that at the time of his birth, no one celebrated birthdays. As a result the early church did not celebrate Jesus' birthday either. As has often been the case, Christmas afternoon was spent playing games. I missed out on most of it since I needed to head back north.
Other Christmas week traditions include watching too much football while doing a puzzle, eating far more goodies than usual, getting together with Dad's side of the family close to New Year's and tonight we will be bringing in the New Year by going to bed at the usual time. I know I've been grateful for time with family and a slower week with no studies to worry about. The semester officially starts on Jan 3, but I'll get a head start on Wednesday.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Monday, December 24, 2012
Homeless memorial
In the last couple of weeks of the semester I wrote a couple of papers on people experiencing homelessness. One thing I learned is that my stereotype of the typical homeless person (alcoholic and/or mentally ill male) doesn't hold true. In fact in Minnesota, the largest group is children (34%). The economic difficulties have resulted in more families experiencing homelessness.
Last Thursday I participated in a homeless memorial march and service in Minneapolis. For the past 28 years, people have gathered to remember the homeless or formerly homeless who died during the year. At the invitation of a friend I joined in this simple event. We walked 28 blocks from downtown Minneapolis to a church that also serves as a homeless shelter. Each of us had a sign with the first name, age and hometown of one of those who had died. It was a cold night and by the time we were done I was even more thankful than usual that I have always had shelter. Once we were at the church there was a simple service where the 137 names of those who had died in the past year were read and a candle was lit for each one. The one that struck a deep chord was Rose, age 42 days from Duluth. Afterwards, there was an open mic for people to tell some brief memories of those they knew. These stories made it clear that each person has a unique personality and story. They may have spent much of their lives struggling with addictions, mental illness and the effects of abuse and trauma in ways that are not socially acceptable, but they are people, made in God's image and should be remembered.
Last Thursday I participated in a homeless memorial march and service in Minneapolis. For the past 28 years, people have gathered to remember the homeless or formerly homeless who died during the year. At the invitation of a friend I joined in this simple event. We walked 28 blocks from downtown Minneapolis to a church that also serves as a homeless shelter. Each of us had a sign with the first name, age and hometown of one of those who had died. It was a cold night and by the time we were done I was even more thankful than usual that I have always had shelter. Once we were at the church there was a simple service where the 137 names of those who had died in the past year were read and a candle was lit for each one. The one that struck a deep chord was Rose, age 42 days from Duluth. Afterwards, there was an open mic for people to tell some brief memories of those they knew. These stories made it clear that each person has a unique personality and story. They may have spent much of their lives struggling with addictions, mental illness and the effects of abuse and trauma in ways that are not socially acceptable, but they are people, made in God's image and should be remembered.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Praise and Thanksgiving
Yesterday our church had a service of celebration and praise. Our pastor began the service by reading from Psalm 29.
Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.
After we sang a few songs, there was an open mic for anyone who wanted to praise God for what he has done over the past year. There were some moving stories of renewed health, healed emotions, comfort in the midst of heartache, and answered prayer. A common thread was experiencing love, support, friendship, and community through house church.
Here's some of the things that I praise and thank God for.
- There is comfort in the midst of sorrow and hope in the midst of tears.
- My parents' living out their faith in God's loving and sovereign control.
- After two years of living in the Twin Cities, I am in a living situation where some of my needs for friendship and community are met.
- I have finished the 1st semester of the occupational therapy program and I've been enjoying it.
- There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. I often condemn myself and that can feel like God's condemnation. In reality, his conviction is gentle, gracious and kind. He invites me to repentance while assuring me that I'm already accepted, loved and a full member of his family.
- The message of Colossians (where we spent a lot of time this year as a church) is that Christ lives in me so I can be thankful, kind, patient, pure, humble, forgiving and loving. I'm slowly learning what it means to live that out.
Jesus, Creator, Sustainer
and the purpose of all things.
He is supreme, ruling in love,
preeminent over all.
He came into this broken world
crucified to bring us peace,
risen to conquer sin and death
the God-Man sets all things right.
This is Jesus living in us
Reconciling us to God,
Making us holy and blameless
As we put our hope in him.
Christ above all authority
Sets us free from guilt and shame.
Made alive by him who fills us
He is our hope of glory.
He came into this broken world
crucified to bring us peace,
risen to conquer sin and death
the God-Man sets all things right.
This is Jesus living in us
Reconciling us to God,
Making us holy and blameless
As we put our hope in him.
Jesus fills me leaving no place
for impurity, anger, covetousness or malice.
The old is gone, the new has come
Bringing kindness, thanksgiving, patience, forgiveness, and
love.
This is Jesus living in us
Reconciling us to God,
Making us holy and blameless
As we put our hope in him.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Snow forts
Snow is wonderful. It's whiteness covers all the brown left after the colors of summer and fall fade away. It makes everything brighter. It sparkles in the sun and night is not as dark with the light reflecting off the snow. Sure, snow has to be shoveled and scrapped off of cars. But that just means there are piles to clamber up and slide down. It slows down traffic but everyone must admit, that making some donuts is a lot of fun. And because the stuff is slick, skiing and sledding are possible with all the risk, speed and adventure one can handle.
Yesterday, it snowed all day. Judging by how little traffic was on the streets, most people stayed inside. Considering that there was no wind and the temperatures were right around 30, it seemed a waste to spend the day indoors. Instead I joined a family and spent much of the afternoon outdoors. The kids and I attempted to make a snowman but ended up with only one giant ball that was dubbed the monster. I pulled down a branch laden with snow and let it go and was delighted to see large amounts of snow fall off the branches on the other side of the tree right on top of the kids. Eventually we set to work making two forts in the front yard. I wish I had some pictures of our masterpieces. We worked on them for so long that I was concerned there would be no soft snow left to make snowballs with once the battle began. I needn't have worried. Together with some neighbor kids, we had an all out war which ended with the boys' fort being pretty much demolished. Ours may not have been as high, but it was stronger. I came home tired but also refreshed and ready to face the last week of the semester.
Yesterday, it snowed all day. Judging by how little traffic was on the streets, most people stayed inside. Considering that there was no wind and the temperatures were right around 30, it seemed a waste to spend the day indoors. Instead I joined a family and spent much of the afternoon outdoors. The kids and I attempted to make a snowman but ended up with only one giant ball that was dubbed the monster. I pulled down a branch laden with snow and let it go and was delighted to see large amounts of snow fall off the branches on the other side of the tree right on top of the kids. Eventually we set to work making two forts in the front yard. I wish I had some pictures of our masterpieces. We worked on them for so long that I was concerned there would be no soft snow left to make snowballs with once the battle began. I needn't have worried. Together with some neighbor kids, we had an all out war which ended with the boys' fort being pretty much demolished. Ours may not have been as high, but it was stronger. I came home tired but also refreshed and ready to face the last week of the semester.
Friday, December 7, 2012
An OT quote
In the midst of the 2nd-to-last week of the semester which requires more writing than I care to do, I came across the following quote from the 1991 Wilma West Lecture by Linda L Florey. It's a reminder of what occupational therapy is all about.
Children with sensory integrative dysfunction, neurological impairments, musculoskeletal dysfunction, conduct disorders and attention deficit disorders also have "Cub scout disorders", "playmate disorders", "kicking the soccer ball disorders", "getting dressed in gym class disorders", "best friend disorders", "no one to eat lunch with disorders". These are important disorders... with which we must ultimately concern ourselves. We must not lose our commitment to ordinary activities nor to the interpersonal context in which they occur."
As Pierre Teilhard de Chardin said, "What matters is not to do the remarkable things, but to do ordinary things with the conviction that their value is enormous."
Children with sensory integrative dysfunction, neurological impairments, musculoskeletal dysfunction, conduct disorders and attention deficit disorders also have "Cub scout disorders", "playmate disorders", "kicking the soccer ball disorders", "getting dressed in gym class disorders", "best friend disorders", "no one to eat lunch with disorders". These are important disorders... with which we must ultimately concern ourselves. We must not lose our commitment to ordinary activities nor to the interpersonal context in which they occur."
As Pierre Teilhard de Chardin said, "What matters is not to do the remarkable things, but to do ordinary things with the conviction that their value is enormous."
Monday, December 3, 2012
Group work
Yesterday (Sunday evening) our final group project of the semester was due. The first week of the semester we were told to divide into groups of four loosely based on geographic area since we would need to go together to interview someone. We didn't know each others names much less personality and work style so it felt somewhat like the Russian Roulette. At the same time, I figured that everyone who got into the program was a good student so it shouldn't really matter. I was thankful to have ended up with a good group who worked hard and well together.
Our task was to identify a community organization that promotes health and well-being, learn about it, interview someone in the organization and then develop a plan for how occupational therapy could enhance what they are doing. We chose the Wilder Foundation in St Paul and specifically looked at their Southeast Asian Services. Since the early 1980s Hmong, Cambodians, Vietnamese and more recently the Karen have been coming to the US and there is a large pocket that has settled in St Paul. They are more refugees than immigrants and many have been through significant trauma. Most have experienced an extreme lack of food, lost a member of their family, been separated from family members, and/or spent time in refugee camps. By coming to the US they may now be safe, but they have lost their country and have to adjust to a new language, culture and climate.
Because of all this trauma and upheaval it is little wonder that they experience a high rate of mental illness. Wilder is providing a unique service in that all of their service providers are also 1st generation refugees. They have been through the same horrors, understand the cultural gaps and speak the language of their clients. As we learned about their program, we wondered what we could possibly offer. They are already using many occupational therapy principles. I'm sure an experienced OT could look at what they are doing and offer suggestions that would make a big difference. We are not experienced OTs, but 1st semester students. However, we came up with an idea and got our 27 page paper (double-spaced) written by the due date. The true challenge will be going back to Wilder on Wednesday and presenting our idea. The supervisor who is our contact, has invited all the service providers to come as well. This part of the assignment made it more real-world than just turning in a paper to our professor. I hope we can be of some help to them and at least give them some resources that will enhance their work.
Our task was to identify a community organization that promotes health and well-being, learn about it, interview someone in the organization and then develop a plan for how occupational therapy could enhance what they are doing. We chose the Wilder Foundation in St Paul and specifically looked at their Southeast Asian Services. Since the early 1980s Hmong, Cambodians, Vietnamese and more recently the Karen have been coming to the US and there is a large pocket that has settled in St Paul. They are more refugees than immigrants and many have been through significant trauma. Most have experienced an extreme lack of food, lost a member of their family, been separated from family members, and/or spent time in refugee camps. By coming to the US they may now be safe, but they have lost their country and have to adjust to a new language, culture and climate.
Because of all this trauma and upheaval it is little wonder that they experience a high rate of mental illness. Wilder is providing a unique service in that all of their service providers are also 1st generation refugees. They have been through the same horrors, understand the cultural gaps and speak the language of their clients. As we learned about their program, we wondered what we could possibly offer. They are already using many occupational therapy principles. I'm sure an experienced OT could look at what they are doing and offer suggestions that would make a big difference. We are not experienced OTs, but 1st semester students. However, we came up with an idea and got our 27 page paper (double-spaced) written by the due date. The true challenge will be going back to Wilder on Wednesday and presenting our idea. The supervisor who is our contact, has invited all the service providers to come as well. This part of the assignment made it more real-world than just turning in a paper to our professor. I hope we can be of some help to them and at least give them some resources that will enhance their work.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Celebrating
While Thanksgiving was the big celebration of the week for most Americans, in my family it was overshadowed by my parents 50th wedding anniversary celebration. Mom isn't one for a big party and did NOT want to celebrate their anniversary in a church basement. She prefers smaller gatherings where you can actually visit with everyone. So after much conversation she and Dad settled on two small parties, one on Friday evening and another on Saturday afternoon.
As I listened to the stories that were told, I was reminded of how much times have changed in the last 50 years. Weddings were always on Friday night back then and theirs didn't begin until 8 pm to make sure the farmers had time to finish the chores. When I consider how early my parents usually go to bed, it's amazing they were alert enough to remember their memorized vows. Aunt Mim brought a notebook with all of the music she and Aunt Barb had played at the wedding on the piano and organ. They had only one copy of one of the songs so Mim had copied it by hand. There were no copy machines back in 1962. The reception would be considered quite simple by today's standards, but for back then in NW Iowa, it was quite a spread. Not only was there angel food cake and ice cream but also turkey salad. Dad says he didn't remember much about the wedding, but he did say that they missed the reception since they were upstairs taking pictures. Most people were gone by the time they got to the church basement.
The purpose of marriage is to be a living illustration of the relationship between Christ and his church. How thankful I am to have parents (and grandparents) who are faithful to their vows no matter what the circumstances - in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in joys and in sorrows. Through their commitment to each other, Mom and Dad have shown me God's faithfulness and commitment to me. For that I am very thankful.
As I listened to the stories that were told, I was reminded of how much times have changed in the last 50 years. Weddings were always on Friday night back then and theirs didn't begin until 8 pm to make sure the farmers had time to finish the chores. When I consider how early my parents usually go to bed, it's amazing they were alert enough to remember their memorized vows. Aunt Mim brought a notebook with all of the music she and Aunt Barb had played at the wedding on the piano and organ. They had only one copy of one of the songs so Mim had copied it by hand. There were no copy machines back in 1962. The reception would be considered quite simple by today's standards, but for back then in NW Iowa, it was quite a spread. Not only was there angel food cake and ice cream but also turkey salad. Dad says he didn't remember much about the wedding, but he did say that they missed the reception since they were upstairs taking pictures. Most people were gone by the time they got to the church basement.
The purpose of marriage is to be a living illustration of the relationship between Christ and his church. How thankful I am to have parents (and grandparents) who are faithful to their vows no matter what the circumstances - in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in joys and in sorrows. Through their commitment to each other, Mom and Dad have shown me God's faithfulness and commitment to me. For that I am very thankful.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Living with Disability
This week one of our professors brought in a group of her friends so we could listen to their stories of what it means to live with a disability on a daily basis. Two of my favorite had cerebral palsy which is a group of disorders that impacts brain and nervous system functions. It affects people differently. Lori, a woman in her 50s was able to speak but it obviously took effort and her hands shook. She gets around in a wheelchair but is able to stand up and move short distances. Jim, on the other hand, was very difficult to understand, has the use of one hand and a wheelchair is his only mobility. Despite these difficulties they have lived with for as long as they can remember, both are full of life and have a great sense of humor.
Lori began by telling us that her favorite part of disability was the opportunity to be creative. She preceded to show us her creative solutions to some of the challenges she faces. She doesn't like winter in part because the waterfalls in the area where she lives are turned off. So she wanted to take a video of the waterfalls with her iPhone. For most of us that would be a simple task but for Lori it is a challenge because she can't hold the phone steady. Her creative solution: tape the phone to a yard stick that she could prop up. Her video didn't move at all. Lori has her own version of the serenity prayer, "Lord, show me what I can do, what I can't do and give me the wisdom to know the difference."
Jim is 76 and has been married for 23 years. His wife was also present and she too has cerebral palsy. One of her roles was to translate for Jim though she wasn't that easy to understand either. Jim wrote out his story in a power point presentation and we took turns reading it out loud. The first slide said a lot about how the way society has viewed those who aren't "normal."
Lori began by telling us that her favorite part of disability was the opportunity to be creative. She preceded to show us her creative solutions to some of the challenges she faces. She doesn't like winter in part because the waterfalls in the area where she lives are turned off. So she wanted to take a video of the waterfalls with her iPhone. For most of us that would be a simple task but for Lori it is a challenge because she can't hold the phone steady. Her creative solution: tape the phone to a yard stick that she could prop up. Her video didn't move at all. Lori has her own version of the serenity prayer, "Lord, show me what I can do, what I can't do and give me the wisdom to know the difference."
Jim is 76 and has been married for 23 years. His wife was also present and she too has cerebral palsy. One of her roles was to translate for Jim though she wasn't that easy to understand either. Jim wrote out his story in a power point presentation and we took turns reading it out loud. The first slide said a lot about how the way society has viewed those who aren't "normal."
a "crippled" child
a "handicapped" young adult
a "disabled" adult
a senior with abilities
Jim's parents were told to put him in an institution. They refused and took their 2 year old boy home and did the best they could. An uncle noticed how bright this boy was who couldn't speak so his mother began to teach him. Later she advocated for him and the school system provided a tutor. He did just as well as any of the others his age. As a young adult he took college level courses in accounting and opened his own accounting and tax preparation business. He soon became known as the man no one can understand but who can save you lots of money on your taxes. His life was revolutionized by the computer which made the accounting work much easier and allowed him to communicate so much more easily with others.
Jim ended his written presentation with, "Don't label a child born without some function 'disabled.' Rather call them uniquely challenged with all the possibilities of uniqueness." Then he turned to us and said, "I hope you understand more about how interesting it is to be disabled."
Monday, November 12, 2012
Missing John
It's been awhile since I've written. One reason is that my creative juices are gone by the time I'm done writing all the papers due by week's end. Another is that the events of the last few weeks that would normally make good fodder for a post here seem to pale in significance compared with the one-year anniversary of my brother's death on November 4. At the same time I don't really know what to say about that either. However, a few people are missing my posts so I figured I'd better write the few thoughts I have so I can move on to other things.
An article I read for class referred to some prisoners who talked about the things they missed the most about being on the outside. All of them mentioned everyday, simple things that we often take for granted such as eating breakfast with the family or taking a walk through the park. I feel that way when I think about John. I miss the everyday things.
My grief continues, and I suppose it always will. However, now I go for a run for the exercise and not to deal with my anger. I still don't know how to answer people who ask how many siblings I have. I'm so thankful that in the midst of the grief there is hope: hope of the resurrection, hope that Jesus will set all things right, hope that somehow all this will work out for the good of those who love God.
An article I read for class referred to some prisoners who talked about the things they missed the most about being on the outside. All of them mentioned everyday, simple things that we often take for granted such as eating breakfast with the family or taking a walk through the park. I feel that way when I think about John. I miss the everyday things.
- I miss the sound of the backdoor opening at my parents and hearing his footsteps coming down the hall.
- I miss hearing Elizabeth's enthusiastic, "Daddy!" when he came through the door.
- I miss the way he would get up from the table and help Mom clean up the kitchen.
- I miss talking with him on the phone and after about a minute hearing him say, "I don't know nothing" and then (usually) he would keep talking.
- I miss the fun he brought to parties and games. He was a tease but he would make as much fun of himself as he did of the rest of us.
- I miss him saying, "O my aching back!" when I complained too much for his taste.
- I miss his sarcastic humor
My grief continues, and I suppose it always will. However, now I go for a run for the exercise and not to deal with my anger. I still don't know how to answer people who ask how many siblings I have. I'm so thankful that in the midst of the grief there is hope: hope of the resurrection, hope that Jesus will set all things right, hope that somehow all this will work out for the good of those who love God.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13
Monday, October 29, 2012
Healthcare systems
I spent quite a bit of time this past week looking at different healthcare systems. For one of my classes I had to try to understand the Affordable Care Act (not an easy task). I also wrote a paper comparing the French healthcare system with the American one. I came to the conclusion that every system has negatives and positives.
The French system provides health coverage for every person living in the country at half the cost per capita of the American system. The negative is that 81% of the funds come from payroll taxes (called "dues" or "contributions"). About 15% of a person's gross income goes to "social security" which includes healthcare, retirement, disability, workman's compensation and family benefits. Most of the burden falls on businesses who pay an additional 30% of each employee's gross income to the government to cover the rest of the costs. As one might expect, this leads to higher unemployment.
The French are able to keep the costs down by controlling what healthcare providers can charge. It only costs 23 euros to go the doctor (about $30). From my experience in France, medical personnel have little risk of being sued, pharmaceutical companies aren't spending millions on ads in the general media, and aesthetics at the doctor's office, clinic or hospital are not a priority. These are small things that help keep overall healthcare costs down and also stand in sharp contrast to the American system.
One of the affects of universal coverage is that people run to the doctor far more often. I discovered that the French go to the doctor almost twice as often as Americans each year. On the other hand, Americans have about twice as many tests such as an MRI or CAT scan as the French. Maybe the French are able to keep their overall costs down because they are at the doctor more often so serious conditions are caught when they are easier to treat. And our extra tests costs more without really contributing to better health.
Whatever your view on the Affordable Care Act, the American healthcare system needs a dramatic overhaul. However, no matter what the system, resources are limited and decisions have to be made as to how to allocate those resources. Even more importantly, the health of the nation is far more closely linked to the lifestyle of the people than the healthcare system in place.
The French system provides health coverage for every person living in the country at half the cost per capita of the American system. The negative is that 81% of the funds come from payroll taxes (called "dues" or "contributions"). About 15% of a person's gross income goes to "social security" which includes healthcare, retirement, disability, workman's compensation and family benefits. Most of the burden falls on businesses who pay an additional 30% of each employee's gross income to the government to cover the rest of the costs. As one might expect, this leads to higher unemployment.
The French are able to keep the costs down by controlling what healthcare providers can charge. It only costs 23 euros to go the doctor (about $30). From my experience in France, medical personnel have little risk of being sued, pharmaceutical companies aren't spending millions on ads in the general media, and aesthetics at the doctor's office, clinic or hospital are not a priority. These are small things that help keep overall healthcare costs down and also stand in sharp contrast to the American system.
One of the affects of universal coverage is that people run to the doctor far more often. I discovered that the French go to the doctor almost twice as often as Americans each year. On the other hand, Americans have about twice as many tests such as an MRI or CAT scan as the French. Maybe the French are able to keep their overall costs down because they are at the doctor more often so serious conditions are caught when they are easier to treat. And our extra tests costs more without really contributing to better health.
Whatever your view on the Affordable Care Act, the American healthcare system needs a dramatic overhaul. However, no matter what the system, resources are limited and decisions have to be made as to how to allocate those resources. Even more importantly, the health of the nation is far more closely linked to the lifestyle of the people than the healthcare system in place.
Monday, October 22, 2012
F2F
The occupational therapy program I'm a part of at the University of Minnesota has put everything online it can while still including face-to-face (F2F) sessions. This semester covers a lot of theory and involves reading and writing papers. As a result we meet together once a month for two days from 9 to 4 or 5. As time goes on and the course work becomes more hands on we will be going to campus more often. In our final semester we will be in class three or four days a week.
This past week was our October F2F. The Occupations as Therapy class requires analyzing daily things we do, identifying the specific skills needed as well as the specific steps involved. As part of our class time we played a game with our group and identified effective and ineffective use of specific motor, process and communication/interaction skills. We were also given our next two projects: working with copper and leather. At least there is one class where parts of the assignments can be done away from my desk.
We spent the rest of the day mainly with the professor who is the head of the program. She wanted to know how we were doing which gave us the opportunity to give some feedback on it would have been helpful to have orientation BEFORE classes started rather than during the first week when we were trying to figure out how everything worked in the midst of a normal workload. She was grateful for our input and I hope next year's class benefits.
Thursday morning was spent discussing the strengths and weaknesses of various personalities and how those can affect our relationship with our clients. We spent the afternoon listening to seven 30-minute presentations on various health related topics. We tried really hard to be a good participatory audience but by the end we were all fried.
One of the best parts was being able to interact with those in my cohort for two days. By the end I was able to put a name to a face with about half of the 25. After spending two years at a community college where I dreaded group projects because it always seemed that half the group didn't really care, it is great to be part of a group of students who are used to doing well and put forth the effort. That doesn't necessarily mean that group work is easy but at least everyone will pull their own weight. After class on Thursday about half of us went and got something to drink together and I appreciated the opportunity to get to know three of my classmates outside of the classroom.
My week ended with a drive down to Iowa on Saturday. The weather was beautiful and I got some good sleep. Best of all I got to help my niece celebrate her 10th birthday. She was thrilled with her gifts because 1) she drops generous hints as to what she likes and 2) she is easy to please. Her mommy is mourning the fact that Elizabeth will be in Junior High next year and a little girl party will no longer be cool. I hope the family party will still be cool for a long time.
This past week was our October F2F. The Occupations as Therapy class requires analyzing daily things we do, identifying the specific skills needed as well as the specific steps involved. As part of our class time we played a game with our group and identified effective and ineffective use of specific motor, process and communication/interaction skills. We were also given our next two projects: working with copper and leather. At least there is one class where parts of the assignments can be done away from my desk.
We spent the rest of the day mainly with the professor who is the head of the program. She wanted to know how we were doing which gave us the opportunity to give some feedback on it would have been helpful to have orientation BEFORE classes started rather than during the first week when we were trying to figure out how everything worked in the midst of a normal workload. She was grateful for our input and I hope next year's class benefits.
Thursday morning was spent discussing the strengths and weaknesses of various personalities and how those can affect our relationship with our clients. We spent the afternoon listening to seven 30-minute presentations on various health related topics. We tried really hard to be a good participatory audience but by the end we were all fried.
One of the best parts was being able to interact with those in my cohort for two days. By the end I was able to put a name to a face with about half of the 25. After spending two years at a community college where I dreaded group projects because it always seemed that half the group didn't really care, it is great to be part of a group of students who are used to doing well and put forth the effort. That doesn't necessarily mean that group work is easy but at least everyone will pull their own weight. After class on Thursday about half of us went and got something to drink together and I appreciated the opportunity to get to know three of my classmates outside of the classroom.
My week ended with a drive down to Iowa on Saturday. The weather was beautiful and I got some good sleep. Best of all I got to help my niece celebrate her 10th birthday. She was thrilled with her gifts because 1) she drops generous hints as to what she likes and 2) she is easy to please. Her mommy is mourning the fact that Elizabeth will be in Junior High next year and a little girl party will no longer be cool. I hope the family party will still be cool for a long time.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Elevator attendant
This fall I have once again been working security at the University of Minnesota football games and I've been an elevator attendant in elevator 12. The downside of this is that I have absolutely no view of the field and my only way of knowing what is happening on the field is from what people tell me. There are TV monitors in the elevator lobbies so when things get slow, I sometimes block the elevator and watch a few plays. Iowa didn't come to town this year so the positives outweigh the negatives. For one thing, my elevator is climate controlled. Earlier in the season I stayed cool and now I'm warm. This past week I also stayed dry. I also get a stool to sit on so I don't have to stand for 5+ hours like most of the other employees.
We are far enough into the season that I recognize many of the people who get on my elevator which is reserved for those who find stairs to be difficult. Those with wheelchairs or walkers are the most recognizable and I find myself wishing I could greet them by name. One man has a seat down on the ground level but he goes up to the concourse before kickoff to get some popcorn. He is usually back after half-time for a refill. I also recognize a 2 year-old little girl who is always dressed in her cheerleader outfit. But in general I see lots of gray hair. I'm not sure if there was more gray hair than usual this week since it was homecoming but one of the men quipped, "I come to a college football game and it looks like an AARP convention has broken out."
People are often surprised to see me and try to remember which store downtown used to have elevator attendants. In one sense it does seem kind of silly. Most people can push the right button and I'm not checking anyone's ticket. My supervisor says we are there to protect the elevators. However, I think the main reason is because by switching the elevators to manual we can get people in and out far more efficiently. The other two elevators in my area take people up to the premium levels so before and after the game they never stop at the concourse level while I just go back and forth between the ground floor and the concourse. After the game, we take a load of people on the 6th floor all the way to the bottom without having to stop at every other floor where people are waiting but there is no room to put them. It's all about efficiency.
One of the main reasons I like this position is because I can take a book. The gates open 2 hours before kick-off but I usually see only staff until about 45 minutes before game time. This is one of the few times during the week I can read something that isn't an assignment. During the last two games I've made significant progress on Pain: the gift nobody wants. The author, Dr. Paul Brand, tells the story of how he came to understand that almost all of the deformities that come from leprosy are because the disease destroys one's ability to feel pain. I've found it to be a fascinating story and highly recommend it. To whet your appetite here are a few quotes.
We are far enough into the season that I recognize many of the people who get on my elevator which is reserved for those who find stairs to be difficult. Those with wheelchairs or walkers are the most recognizable and I find myself wishing I could greet them by name. One man has a seat down on the ground level but he goes up to the concourse before kickoff to get some popcorn. He is usually back after half-time for a refill. I also recognize a 2 year-old little girl who is always dressed in her cheerleader outfit. But in general I see lots of gray hair. I'm not sure if there was more gray hair than usual this week since it was homecoming but one of the men quipped, "I come to a college football game and it looks like an AARP convention has broken out."
People are often surprised to see me and try to remember which store downtown used to have elevator attendants. In one sense it does seem kind of silly. Most people can push the right button and I'm not checking anyone's ticket. My supervisor says we are there to protect the elevators. However, I think the main reason is because by switching the elevators to manual we can get people in and out far more efficiently. The other two elevators in my area take people up to the premium levels so before and after the game they never stop at the concourse level while I just go back and forth between the ground floor and the concourse. After the game, we take a load of people on the 6th floor all the way to the bottom without having to stop at every other floor where people are waiting but there is no room to put them. It's all about efficiency.
One of the main reasons I like this position is because I can take a book. The gates open 2 hours before kick-off but I usually see only staff until about 45 minutes before game time. This is one of the few times during the week I can read something that isn't an assignment. During the last two games I've made significant progress on Pain: the gift nobody wants. The author, Dr. Paul Brand, tells the story of how he came to understand that almost all of the deformities that come from leprosy are because the disease destroys one's ability to feel pain. I've found it to be a fascinating story and highly recommend it. To whet your appetite here are a few quotes.
- Each of these groups of people--Londoners who suffered gladly for a cause, Indians who expected suffering and learned not to fear it, and Americans who suffered less but feared it more--helped to form my outlook on this mysterious fact of human existence. Most of us will one day face severe pain. I am convinced that the attitude we cultivate in advance may well determine how suffering will affect us when it does strike.
- We could not "save" leprosy patients. We could arrest the disease, yes, and repair some of the damage. But every leprosy patient we treated had to go back and, against overwhelming odds, attempt to build a new life. I began to see my chief contribution as one I had not studied in medical school: to join with my patients as a partner in the task of restoring dignity to a broken spirit. That is the true meaning of rehabilitation.
- And when we outfit diabetics in special footwear and teach them proper foot care, the ulcers tend not to recur. For a time the government considered issuing free shoes to needy diabetics, but, like other proposals that focus on prevention and not cure, that project never got approval. As a rule, I have found it easier in the United States to obtain good artificial limbs than good shoes.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
A day of refreshment
I felt worn down and tired most of the week. For various reasons I didn't get to bed on time all week. By Thursday evening I was tired enough to be asleep shortly after 7:30 despite hearing the conversations of over 20 people eating together downstairs. My cohort has a Facebook page and several people commented on their low level of motivation on Friday. The only thing that helped me push through on Friday was the promise of a Saturday with nothing I HAD to do. One of my housemates was gone and the other would be at work most of the day so I could look forward to plenty of time and space to myself.
Once I got home from work about 7:30, the whole day stretched before me. I got out my guitar and played for awhile. I talked on Skype with a couple of friends. Around noon I decided it wouldn't be getting any warmer and went for a short run. My housemates often comment on how much time I spend at my desk. They leave the house, returning four hours later and are concerned to see me in the same position as when they left. While I have gone downstairs a time or two, I do feel the need to move. This week I decided that I must have time to at least go for a run three times a week. During the afternoon I watched some football, did a load of laundry, napped for an hour and talked to Mom. I did have to finish up a diagram for one of my classes but did that while watching TV. By the time evening rolled around, I felt refreshed and once again ready to face the world. As an added bonus I don't have to face my desk until Monday morning.
Once I got home from work about 7:30, the whole day stretched before me. I got out my guitar and played for awhile. I talked on Skype with a couple of friends. Around noon I decided it wouldn't be getting any warmer and went for a short run. My housemates often comment on how much time I spend at my desk. They leave the house, returning four hours later and are concerned to see me in the same position as when they left. While I have gone downstairs a time or two, I do feel the need to move. This week I decided that I must have time to at least go for a run three times a week. During the afternoon I watched some football, did a load of laundry, napped for an hour and talked to Mom. I did have to finish up a diagram for one of my classes but did that while watching TV. By the time evening rolled around, I felt refreshed and once again ready to face the world. As an added bonus I don't have to face my desk until Monday morning.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Birthday
After spending a week at my desk I was delighted to get out and enjoy the beautiful fall weather we had this weekend. My parents came on Saturday along with my niece, Elizabeth and my sister-in-law. While the others went shopping, Dad and I went to see Bethel's football game where one of my cousins plays. It was too close of a game for him to get in but it was a fun game to watch from our vantage point of ground level on about the 10 yard line. Bethel managed to pull out a one point win to remain undefeated. Afterwards we drove to Hudson, WI where we strolled along the St Croix River and ate at Pier 500, a restaurant with some really good food. It was declared to be a special event since we actually got dessert.
As I was planning the weekend, I did not at all expect for us to spend Sunday afternoon visiting an uncle in the hospital. Uncle Paul, one of my dad's brothers, was in a combine fire last week. Besides the burns on his back and arms, he has a broken leg from jumping out of the combine. It's quite a story about how he was able to roll away from the combine before it exploded and his trip on the hood of a car to get to where an ambulance could pick him up. He is being treated at a hospital in St Paul. For those of you who know him or want more info you can follow his journey at his caring bridge site. Recovering from burns is a long process but right now it is his leg that is hurting him the most. He was sleeping when we visited but we were glad to visit with his family members and meet his newest little granddaughter.
I ended my birthday celebrations Sunday evening by eating at an Indian restaurant with a good friend. Now it's back to my desk and my assignments for the week.
As I was planning the weekend, I did not at all expect for us to spend Sunday afternoon visiting an uncle in the hospital. Uncle Paul, one of my dad's brothers, was in a combine fire last week. Besides the burns on his back and arms, he has a broken leg from jumping out of the combine. It's quite a story about how he was able to roll away from the combine before it exploded and his trip on the hood of a car to get to where an ambulance could pick him up. He is being treated at a hospital in St Paul. For those of you who know him or want more info you can follow his journey at his caring bridge site. Recovering from burns is a long process but right now it is his leg that is hurting him the most. He was sleeping when we visited but we were glad to visit with his family members and meet his newest little granddaughter.
I ended my birthday celebrations Sunday evening by eating at an Indian restaurant with a good friend. Now it's back to my desk and my assignments for the week.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Birthday Bash
Awhile back my housemate, Jan, proposed that we have a joint birthday open house since we both have a somewhat significant birthday this year a week apart. I wasn't really sure how two students on a limited budget and with limited time could pull it off but thanks to the help of friends who brought food and helped with logistics, our back yard was full of people this afternoon. The weather was a bit chilly but it was pleasant in the sun. The menu was hors d'ouvres and cake and I was sure we wouldn't have enough food but it turned out about right. My caramel sauce was a big hit and we ran out of apples before we ran out of caramel.
Yesterday I was telling Jan that I'd be ready to find my bed when the party was over. She said that as an extrovert she'd be wondering why everyone was leaving so soon. That is pretty much how it turned out. A friend offered to take her to a movie so she continues to party. I declined the offer to join them being happy to have a bit of time to myself. The introvert part of me prefers smaller gatherings where I have time to talk with everyone more in depth. Two years ago I was still new in town and didn't know anyone to celebrate with. I invited myself over to a cousin's just to have something to do. I'm glad that I now have some friends to invite over and who gladly come. And the party will continue next weekend when my family comes to visit.
Yesterday I was telling Jan that I'd be ready to find my bed when the party was over. She said that as an extrovert she'd be wondering why everyone was leaving so soon. That is pretty much how it turned out. A friend offered to take her to a movie so she continues to party. I declined the offer to join them being happy to have a bit of time to myself. The introvert part of me prefers smaller gatherings where I have time to talk with everyone more in depth. Two years ago I was still new in town and didn't know anyone to celebrate with. I invited myself over to a cousin's just to have something to do. I'm glad that I now have some friends to invite over and who gladly come. And the party will continue next weekend when my family comes to visit.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
So what does an OT do anyway?
Over the past two years as I've told people that I'm going to school to become an occupational therapist, I've often been asked, "so what does an OT do anyway?" The question didn't surprise me. After all when I first thought of being involved in some type of therapy I thought of physical therapy and had to do some research to figure out what OT was. Most people haven't heard about it unless they have been on the receiving end of their help. One reason why it is hard to describe what an OT does is because they
work in such a variety of situations: in schools, mental health,
hospitals, nursing homes, rehab centers and in the community.
It also doesn't help that most people think of an occupation as a job. In my reading it seems that even OTs can't agree on what "occupation" means. After all, a publication put out by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) includes 6 definitions. Despite all that, there are commonalities. Basically an occupation is anything we do that gives meaning and structure to our days. It follows than that an OT helps people do what they feel is important to do. It's the patient or client who sets the agenda and occupation is not only the goal of therapy but also the means. Sometimes exercises and stretching are needed but for the most part an OT session is spent actually engaged in doing something, whether that is bathing and getting dressed or making something to eat in the kitchen. Besides those basic activities of life, occupation also includes rest and sleep, education, work, play, leisure and social interaction. That pretty much covers everything we do. No wonder one of the things most OTs love about their job is the constant variety.
It also doesn't help that most people think of an occupation as a job. In my reading it seems that even OTs can't agree on what "occupation" means. After all, a publication put out by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) includes 6 definitions. Despite all that, there are commonalities. Basically an occupation is anything we do that gives meaning and structure to our days. It follows than that an OT helps people do what they feel is important to do. It's the patient or client who sets the agenda and occupation is not only the goal of therapy but also the means. Sometimes exercises and stretching are needed but for the most part an OT session is spent actually engaged in doing something, whether that is bathing and getting dressed or making something to eat in the kitchen. Besides those basic activities of life, occupation also includes rest and sleep, education, work, play, leisure and social interaction. That pretty much covers everything we do. No wonder one of the things most OTs love about their job is the constant variety.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
First week of class
This morning at church a friend asked me what classes I was taking. My eyes immediately glazed over as I said, "I don't know. I have six classes and they all have something to do with occupational therapy," as my stack of books can attest. Evidently we will be using those thick ones for several semesters.
It's been an intense week. I got started on the online portion of my classes on Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday I was in class and orientation all day. Friday I studied until almost 11 pm and was up at 5:30 to work security at the Gopher football game. By the time I got home at 3:30 I was beyond tired but I still managed to work on one of my classes until I had to write something of substance. At that point I quit and headed for bed.
The students who are a year ahead of us informed us that this was a writing intensive semester. I don't even want to count how many essays or papers I've written this week but I did finish them all before the Sunday midnight deadline. I don't usually do homework on Sunday but I had no choice this time around. I was elated to find that the last list of things to do isn't actually due until Wednesday. In that case, it can wait for tomorrow. I hope to get all of next week's work done by Friday evening now that I have a better idea for how it all works. As the semester goes on I'll fill you in on my classes as I get a better handle on them myself. But since there is no word count on this blog post and nobody is going to comment on my critical thinking I can end here and head for bed.
The students who are a year ahead of us informed us that this was a writing intensive semester. I don't even want to count how many essays or papers I've written this week but I did finish them all before the Sunday midnight deadline. I don't usually do homework on Sunday but I had no choice this time around. I was elated to find that the last list of things to do isn't actually due until Wednesday. In that case, it can wait for tomorrow. I hope to get all of next week's work done by Friday evening now that I have a better idea for how it all works. As the semester goes on I'll fill you in on my classes as I get a better handle on them myself. But since there is no word count on this blog post and nobody is going to comment on my critical thinking I can end here and head for bed.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Vacation week
I had to decide before the beginning of March when I would take my paid vacation from UPS. I looked at the school calendar and decided that the week before classes start would be as good as any. So this past week my vacation destination was NW Iowa where my family lives. Besides not having to get up at a little after 4 each morning, my week of rest included reading two books just for fun, doing the daily crossword puzzle, taking a nap the first several days and catching up with family and friends. As always I enjoyed riding my bike on the quiet country roads. I find it refreshing to spend a few hours among the corn and bean fields under blue sky with the only sound being that of the birds and the wind and the tires on the pavement. I don't even mind the country smells as I pedal past a hog or cattle farm. I do find it interesting that it really doesn't matter which route one takes, there is always at least one farm place that looks like it is trying really hard to be the local junk yard.
The main outing for the week was to a piano concert at Glenn's house in Spirit Lake. Mom had heard about Glenn, a farmer from the area who gives an intimate concert each Tues and Wed evening on a donation basis. Each guest is served a glass of wine or lemonade as they come in and during intermission friends serve some type of dessert or small sandwich. He began the evening with some classical works and apologized for having to use the music since life had been a bit busy so he hadn't been able to get it all memorized. He ended the first segment with several ragtime songs. After intermission he played a few of the popular songs from 1922, 1942 and 1962. Then he sat down with a list of requests and played them most of them from memory or by ear. There were two he declined to play because they needed a whole band to do them justice. If you live in the area and like piano music it is worth checking out. http://www.pianoglenn.com
This week my classes begin. After spending two years working on prerequisites, I am looking forward to starting the actual Occupational Therapy program. I have a stack of books and syllabi and it's looking like I have my work cut out for me. Wednesday and Thursday I will meet my cohort and professors. More on that next week.
The main outing for the week was to a piano concert at Glenn's house in Spirit Lake. Mom had heard about Glenn, a farmer from the area who gives an intimate concert each Tues and Wed evening on a donation basis. Each guest is served a glass of wine or lemonade as they come in and during intermission friends serve some type of dessert or small sandwich. He began the evening with some classical works and apologized for having to use the music since life had been a bit busy so he hadn't been able to get it all memorized. He ended the first segment with several ragtime songs. After intermission he played a few of the popular songs from 1922, 1942 and 1962. Then he sat down with a list of requests and played them most of them from memory or by ear. There were two he declined to play because they needed a whole band to do them justice. If you live in the area and like piano music it is worth checking out. http://www.pianoglenn.com
This week my classes begin. After spending two years working on prerequisites, I am looking forward to starting the actual Occupational Therapy program. I have a stack of books and syllabi and it's looking like I have my work cut out for me. Wednesday and Thursday I will meet my cohort and professors. More on that next week.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Last minute details
After two years of working on prerequisites I will officially begin the occupational therapy program on the Tuesday after Labor Day. I'm looking forward to getting started. This week my major goal was to finish all the-beginning-of-the-semester-at-a-new-school details. I managed to figure out what books I will need and used a great website http://www5.bigwords.com/ to find the best deals and ordered those. By Friday most of them had been delivered.
I also made two trips to the U of Minn campus. It is only about 20 minutes away by bike from where I live which is convenient. I managed to find my way around the corner of campus where I will be spending most of my time despite the major street through campus being completely torn up due to light rail construction. I was thankful that most new students have not yet arrived so I didn't have to endure any long lines (though I had taken a book along just in case.) I delivered my final prerequisite transcript and my immunizations record, obtained my student ID card, bought the one textbook that was actually cheaper at the campus bookstore than online and went through steps 1 and 2 of a TB test. Along the way I was given a Minnesota Gopher sweatshirt. I accepted it but I'm not sure I can bring myself to actually wear it. I wouldn't have an issue with any other school in the state but as an Iowa Hawkeye, I just can't imagine wearing Gopher colors.
I'm spending the last week of summer with my family in Iowa. Besides not having to get up at 4:15 for a week, I'm looking forward to riding my bike on the quiet country roads in the area.
I also made two trips to the U of Minn campus. It is only about 20 minutes away by bike from where I live which is convenient. I managed to find my way around the corner of campus where I will be spending most of my time despite the major street through campus being completely torn up due to light rail construction. I was thankful that most new students have not yet arrived so I didn't have to endure any long lines (though I had taken a book along just in case.) I delivered my final prerequisite transcript and my immunizations record, obtained my student ID card, bought the one textbook that was actually cheaper at the campus bookstore than online and went through steps 1 and 2 of a TB test. Along the way I was given a Minnesota Gopher sweatshirt. I accepted it but I'm not sure I can bring myself to actually wear it. I wouldn't have an issue with any other school in the state but as an Iowa Hawkeye, I just can't imagine wearing Gopher colors.
I'm spending the last week of summer with my family in Iowa. Besides not having to get up at 4:15 for a week, I'm looking forward to riding my bike on the quiet country roads in the area.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
One on One with Elizabeth
The day after I returned from the trip to the North Shore, I had the privilege of hosting my niece, Elizabeth (age 9 & 3/4), for a few days. We visited some friends of mine who have horses so she could ride and play with two of their daughters who are about her age, went to the Como Zoo and had a picnic with a cousin and her daughter, and went out for ice cream. She brought her bike and we went for one of the longest rides she's every been on. It was probably about 7.5 miles but she was a trouper. Once we got off the Greenway and she knew we were just a few blocks from home she was like a horse heading to the barn, eager to get off her bike and put her feet up.
Riding horses or the zoo was probably the highlight of the trip for Elizabeth. The highlight for me was doing the every day things with her such as going to the grocery store, cooking and watching the Olympics. Together we made some sweet and sour chicken that she declared to be "Very Good!" I had to agree.
In the midst of all these events, Elizabeth gave me her impressions of the big city. The roads with all the signs and overpasses seemed very complicated. "I don't think I could every drive here. It doesn't make sense." As we got into the car after buying groceries she commented on how the store was full of people speaking other languages and wearing unusual clothing. The next day she told me how she would go to the grocery store with Mommy and find an item on her own. "I didn't do that yesterday. I stayed right next to you." I couldn't help but smile at her uncertainty in the unfamiliar surroundings. In the end she decided she was not a big city girl. That's just fine since she is glad to come visit me wherever I happen to be living. Besides, after all these years I'm still not sure I'm a big city girl either.
Riding horses or the zoo was probably the highlight of the trip for Elizabeth. The highlight for me was doing the every day things with her such as going to the grocery store, cooking and watching the Olympics. Together we made some sweet and sour chicken that she declared to be "Very Good!" I had to agree.
In the midst of all these events, Elizabeth gave me her impressions of the big city. The roads with all the signs and overpasses seemed very complicated. "I don't think I could every drive here. It doesn't make sense." As we got into the car after buying groceries she commented on how the store was full of people speaking other languages and wearing unusual clothing. The next day she told me how she would go to the grocery store with Mommy and find an item on her own. "I didn't do that yesterday. I stayed right next to you." I couldn't help but smile at her uncertainty in the unfamiliar surroundings. In the end she decided she was not a big city girl. That's just fine since she is glad to come visit me wherever I happen to be living. Besides, after all these years I'm still not sure I'm a big city girl either.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
The North Shore
I've heard numerous references to the north shore during the two years I've lived in Minnesota. It seems to me that every lake has a north shore but I've learned that THE North Shore is Minnesotan for the north side of Lake Superior from Duluth to the Canadian border. I have been as far up the shore as Two Harbors (27 miles from Duluth) but according to Jan, my housemate, I have not lived unless I've gone at least as far as Grand Marais. So she planned a 4 day trip and off we went to explore THE North Shore and visit some of her friends who live in the area.
As we headed up the shore from Duluth, this girl from the prairie was thinking that all the trees along the road were blocking the view. I learned the beauty of the forest is most easily seen when you get out of the car and walk alongside one of the many rivers that drain into Lake Superior.
Most of our time was spent near Grand Marais. I wasn't sure what to expect since marais is a French word meaning swamp or marsh. But there was no swamp in sight. Instead we found a sleepy little town of 1300 that comes to life during the tourist season nestled on the edge of a harbor.
We arrived on the last day of Fisherman's Picnic, a yearly 4 day festival. Jan wasn't very interested in watching the parade but I was glad for the opportunity to compare this parade with a small town parade on the prairie. For the most part they are the same but there are some differences. Grand Marais ranks high enough to have a Shriner drum and bugle corps. (The school band sounded better.) The sheriff department had not only the usual squad car but also a boat. The Coast Guard also made an appearance. However, there was only one small tractor. After the parade we took a walk out along the pier and returned in time to get a glimpse of the fish tossing contest. I didn't see enough to understand how it worked but that is not something we do in Iowa.
We spent the night with some of Jan's friends and I learned that the North Shore is an area for those with the pioneer spirit. They told of their daughter's family who is homesteading a plot of land that is one mile beyond the end of the electrical grid and running water. They are currently living in a yurt with their two small boys and the husband is working on building a cabin before winter.
On the way home I asked Lorraine, a native of Duluth and soon to be the 3rd person in our household, what the South Shore was like. I was surprised to hear that she likes it better. There is plenty left to see on another trip.
As we headed up the shore from Duluth, this girl from the prairie was thinking that all the trees along the road were blocking the view. I learned the beauty of the forest is most easily seen when you get out of the car and walk alongside one of the many rivers that drain into Lake Superior.
 |
| The tranquil Temperance River that turns into a waterfall rushing through a deep gorge |
Most of our time was spent near Grand Marais. I wasn't sure what to expect since marais is a French word meaning swamp or marsh. But there was no swamp in sight. Instead we found a sleepy little town of 1300 that comes to life during the tourist season nestled on the edge of a harbor.
We arrived on the last day of Fisherman's Picnic, a yearly 4 day festival. Jan wasn't very interested in watching the parade but I was glad for the opportunity to compare this parade with a small town parade on the prairie. For the most part they are the same but there are some differences. Grand Marais ranks high enough to have a Shriner drum and bugle corps. (The school band sounded better.) The sheriff department had not only the usual squad car but also a boat. The Coast Guard also made an appearance. However, there was only one small tractor. After the parade we took a walk out along the pier and returned in time to get a glimpse of the fish tossing contest. I didn't see enough to understand how it worked but that is not something we do in Iowa.
We spent the night with some of Jan's friends and I learned that the North Shore is an area for those with the pioneer spirit. They told of their daughter's family who is homesteading a plot of land that is one mile beyond the end of the electrical grid and running water. They are currently living in a yurt with their two small boys and the husband is working on building a cabin before winter.
On the way home I asked Lorraine, a native of Duluth and soon to be the 3rd person in our household, what the South Shore was like. I was surprised to hear that she likes it better. There is plenty left to see on another trip.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Poultry judging at the county fair
It's been two years since I've been to a county fair and it is called the Osceola County Livestock Show rather than a fair. This past week I tagged along with some friends whose 15 year old son, Andrew, was showing some chickens. This spring they built a chicken coop and 30 or so chicks which have grown and begun laying eggs. It's been a great project for Andrew and now he had a chance to see how his chickens measured up with those of other 4-Hers in the county.
The judging began at 10:30 and finally finished at 3:00. None of us were expecting it to last quite that long but there were many breeds of chickens and age groups that kept the judge busy the whole time. I learned far more about chickens than I had anticipated. Andrew's 4-H entry was a pair of white egg-laying pullets. They looked very much like twins so it seemed he had a great chance. However the judge explained that his chickens had been laying eggs for a bit too long. Their legs and feet contain the pigment which gives the yolk it's yellow color so once they have been laying eggs for a month or so, they begin to look pale. Because of that, Andrew was 3rd. Once all the classes had been judged individually, the state lineup was decided. Andrew ended up 15th overall. The judge knew he was a first timer and told him he had done well and to be sure and come back next year. All week Andrew had been quite nervous but he had a big smile at the end of the day and I think he will be back next year with a stronger entry and more confidence to answer the judge's questions.
Between the times when Andrew was showing his chickens, I wandered around the rest of the fair. The exhibit buildings were filled with some good work. The baked goods looked wonderful and I thought it a shame that a whole blackberry pie was being wasted by sitting there for a week. The produce looked rather wilted from the heat but it had been judged the first day so it didn't really matter. There was some great food booths including a truck that sold only gluten-free fair food where I bought a bag of chocolate mini-donuts. Over in the horse barn I ran into two other families I know from church whose kids had entered horses. There were far more horses than back home but less livestock. In the swine barn I saw a pen of 3 sows with three early grade school aged children close by. The youngest boy (he looked to be 5 or 6) said all three of them were his and he preceded to kneel down and bury his head in the side of his favorite sow. It was obvious that he loved his pigs.
The judging began at 10:30 and finally finished at 3:00. None of us were expecting it to last quite that long but there were many breeds of chickens and age groups that kept the judge busy the whole time. I learned far more about chickens than I had anticipated. Andrew's 4-H entry was a pair of white egg-laying pullets. They looked very much like twins so it seemed he had a great chance. However the judge explained that his chickens had been laying eggs for a bit too long. Their legs and feet contain the pigment which gives the yolk it's yellow color so once they have been laying eggs for a month or so, they begin to look pale. Because of that, Andrew was 3rd. Once all the classes had been judged individually, the state lineup was decided. Andrew ended up 15th overall. The judge knew he was a first timer and told him he had done well and to be sure and come back next year. All week Andrew had been quite nervous but he had a big smile at the end of the day and I think he will be back next year with a stronger entry and more confidence to answer the judge's questions.
Between the times when Andrew was showing his chickens, I wandered around the rest of the fair. The exhibit buildings were filled with some good work. The baked goods looked wonderful and I thought it a shame that a whole blackberry pie was being wasted by sitting there for a week. The produce looked rather wilted from the heat but it had been judged the first day so it didn't really matter. There was some great food booths including a truck that sold only gluten-free fair food where I bought a bag of chocolate mini-donuts. Over in the horse barn I ran into two other families I know from church whose kids had entered horses. There were far more horses than back home but less livestock. In the swine barn I saw a pen of 3 sows with three early grade school aged children close by. The youngest boy (he looked to be 5 or 6) said all three of them were his and he preceded to kneel down and bury his head in the side of his favorite sow. It was obvious that he loved his pigs.
Friday, July 27, 2012
A Theater, a Field, and God's Sovereignty
I was on my way home from work when I heard the news that 12 people had died during the night as the result of gunshot wounds while sitting in a theater in Aurora, CO. The silver lining seemed to be that the police had first reported 14 dead but had revised the number down to 12. At that point not many details were known and I've done little to try and learn more. It struck too close to home. I can't help but think of 12 families going through what we did last November, the sleepless nights, the tears, the sense that none of what was happening was real, the decisions that had to be made, the questions... I hope they are also experiencing the support of extended family and their community with neighbors who rearrange their refrigerator to help keep all the food people bring, men who come with a bear hug because there are no words, and those who will sit and pray, not trying to give answers. And I know it won't be over for them in a couple of weeks even though the rest of the world will move on.
Petra's story is the only one I've read. She was in the theater that night. A bullet entered through her nose and went up through her brain stopping just before exiting her skull. Nobody survives trauma like that and if they do, they have severe brain damage. But Petra has a tiny "defect" like "a vein through marble" that winds it way through her brain. It so happens that the bullet followed that vein exactly, including its turns so it missed everything vital. Petra's pastor, writing the story, describes it as "God working ahead of time for a particular event in the future. It’s just like the God I follow to plan the route of a bullet through a brain long before Batman ever rises. Twenty-two years before."
It's a wonderful story of God's sovereign grace. But what does that say about the 12 who did die? Where was his preventive grace for them? And, to bring it closer to home, where was it on the afternoon of November 4th in an Iowa field? That question didn't actually come to my mind as I read that story. Instead it gave me comfort. As senseless as any event seems from our perspective, God is in control. He is working things out for the good of those who love him; he is reconciling all things to himself; there will be peace in the end.
One of the things Mom said to me shortly after John died was, "We have always said we believed in God's sovereignty. Now we get to live it." I have not lived it without pain and grief. I cannot pretend to understand. My brother's death still makes no sense. I read Job and the Psalms and I realize that I am not alone in my questions and confusion. I am thankful for God's grace and mercy that enables me trust him much as a child trusts her Daddy even when she doesn't understand what he is doing. I can trust because Jesus promises everything will be all right in the end. If it is not all right, it is not yet the end.
Petra's story is the only one I've read. She was in the theater that night. A bullet entered through her nose and went up through her brain stopping just before exiting her skull. Nobody survives trauma like that and if they do, they have severe brain damage. But Petra has a tiny "defect" like "a vein through marble" that winds it way through her brain. It so happens that the bullet followed that vein exactly, including its turns so it missed everything vital. Petra's pastor, writing the story, describes it as "God working ahead of time for a particular event in the future. It’s just like the God I follow to plan the route of a bullet through a brain long before Batman ever rises. Twenty-two years before."
It's a wonderful story of God's sovereign grace. But what does that say about the 12 who did die? Where was his preventive grace for them? And, to bring it closer to home, where was it on the afternoon of November 4th in an Iowa field? That question didn't actually come to my mind as I read that story. Instead it gave me comfort. As senseless as any event seems from our perspective, God is in control. He is working things out for the good of those who love him; he is reconciling all things to himself; there will be peace in the end.
One of the things Mom said to me shortly after John died was, "We have always said we believed in God's sovereignty. Now we get to live it." I have not lived it without pain and grief. I cannot pretend to understand. My brother's death still makes no sense. I read Job and the Psalms and I realize that I am not alone in my questions and confusion. I am thankful for God's grace and mercy that enables me trust him much as a child trusts her Daddy even when she doesn't understand what he is doing. I can trust because Jesus promises everything will be all right in the end. If it is not all right, it is not yet the end.
Monday, July 16, 2012
I've written a few times about a family in France who adopted me as Aunt Alice over 20 years ago. As most international families, they are scattered around the world and it's been several years since they were all together. Greg is married and lives in Dallas with their 1 year old son. Heather and her husband from Tahiti live in Minot ND. Geoffrey and his bride live in France and Jeremy, the youngest who just received his baccalaureate (i.e. finished French high school) still lives with Mom and Dad in France. All 10 of them gathered for several days of fun at Grandpa's house on the lake. The blessing for me is that Grandpa lives about an hour away from the Twin Cities so I was able to join them for a day.
None of what we did together really makes for a very good story. We just ate too much, took a snooze on the couch, told stories, were completely entertained by a one year old who can't talk, dropped Greg and his family off at the airport, spent several hours at the Mall of America where the main attraction was a few rides in Nickelodeon Universe. Then we ate some more with at least 3 conversations going on at once around the table. It was just an ordinary day (except for Jeremy getting sick from a lack of sleep combined with a Red Bull and too many amusement park rides). Yet I thoroughly enjoyed it and willingly stayed up past my bedtime to make it last a bit longer. Sometimes it's good to just catch up with what is happening in the lives of those we love, to hear where progress has been made and of future plans and dreams. I am currently in a situation where I'm meeting lots of new people and it was wonderful to spend a day with friends with a long history and nothing needs to be explained.
None of what we did together really makes for a very good story. We just ate too much, took a snooze on the couch, told stories, were completely entertained by a one year old who can't talk, dropped Greg and his family off at the airport, spent several hours at the Mall of America where the main attraction was a few rides in Nickelodeon Universe. Then we ate some more with at least 3 conversations going on at once around the table. It was just an ordinary day (except for Jeremy getting sick from a lack of sleep combined with a Red Bull and too many amusement park rides). Yet I thoroughly enjoyed it and willingly stayed up past my bedtime to make it last a bit longer. Sometimes it's good to just catch up with what is happening in the lives of those we love, to hear where progress has been made and of future plans and dreams. I am currently in a situation where I'm meeting lots of new people and it was wonderful to spend a day with friends with a long history and nothing needs to be explained.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Reading to Audrey
For the last couple of months I've been volunteering at a nearby nursing home. I was matched up with Audrey (not her real name), a 97 year old woman who is in bed all the time except for the evening meal. She wasn't very talkative at the beginning. My questions seemed to frustrate her. When I found she played the piano I tried to find out what kind of music she had played but she didn't remember. My question about who her favorite authors were was met with a similar response as if I was making her think too hard. The 2nd or 3rd time I stopped to visit she asked if I would read to her. I was glad to so I started in on a book chosen by her daughter. We are nearing the end of that book and have settled into a routine. I try to get there around 4 on Tuesday afternoon when she is awake after a nap. I ask how she is to which she usually responds, "Oh, about the same." I tell her a bit about my week and she usually remembers what I have told her before. Soon she asks if I'm going to read so I get the book and read until someone comes to get her up for dinner.
Once I thought Audrey had fallen asleep so I stopped reading. Her eyes popped open and she told me she was listening even though her eyes were closed. A few weeks ago she really did fall asleep as there was no response when I reached the end of a chapter. A few minutes later she woke up and felt bad for falling asleep. I asked her what was the last thing she remembered and picked it up from there. That reassured me that she really was listening and understanding. Since she is rather hard of hearing sometimes when we are talking she asks me to repeat something several times. Though she has never stopped me when I'm reading, I've wondered how much she actually understands. That little episode told me that she is at least getting the gist of the story.
This past week she declared that it was too hot to read. She'd fall asleep for sure. It was warmer in her room than usual and we discovered later that the AC had been turned off on her side of the room. Instead of reading we watched a TV game show and then the news together. She always has her TV on mute but her roommate on the other side of the curtain had hers tuned to the same channel so I could hear what was going on and fill in some of the details for Audrey.
Once I thought Audrey had fallen asleep so I stopped reading. Her eyes popped open and she told me she was listening even though her eyes were closed. A few weeks ago she really did fall asleep as there was no response when I reached the end of a chapter. A few minutes later she woke up and felt bad for falling asleep. I asked her what was the last thing she remembered and picked it up from there. That reassured me that she really was listening and understanding. Since she is rather hard of hearing sometimes when we are talking she asks me to repeat something several times. Though she has never stopped me when I'm reading, I've wondered how much she actually understands. That little episode told me that she is at least getting the gist of the story.
This past week she declared that it was too hot to read. She'd fall asleep for sure. It was warmer in her room than usual and we discovered later that the AC had been turned off on her side of the room. Instead of reading we watched a TV game show and then the news together. She always has her TV on mute but her roommate on the other side of the curtain had hers tuned to the same channel so I could hear what was going on and fill in some of the details for Audrey.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Estate Sale
(This blog is late since I do not yet have internet in my new home. It should be working by Thursday evening.)
I spent Friday and much of Saturday helping a friend with an
estate sale she was doing for Vicky, a relative who had moved to assisted
living. Vicky had been in the diplomatic corps so had lived in several
different countries including India, China, Turkey and at least one North
African country. As a result furniture, brass, clocks, artwork, linens, clothes, lead crystal dishes and much more from all over the world were for sale. I had a hard time imagining how all of the items displayed had actually
fit in her 2-bedroom condo. Most of the time I kept an eye on the jewelry and
helped with the cash box.
I am amazed at how much time some people can spend looking and re-looking at everything being sure not to miss anything. I identified more with the practical folk who looked through the kitchen things for something they needed and made a quick tour through the other rooms. At the end of the first day I spotted a couscousière on the floor in the dining room. I told the women in charge that if it didn’t sell I would take it. They responded that since I knew what it was, I could take it right then as long as I promised to invite them over some cous-cous. The fulfillment of that promise will have to wait until the weather cools down
Saturday, June 23, 2012
A Lesson Learned From Moving
A couple of months ago my flatmate told me she wanted to get a place on her own. I couldn't afford to live by myself and didn't really want to either so I faced the task of finding not only a place to live but also someone to live with. At times it seemed rather daunting. The first person suggested to me graduated from HS last year. There's nothing wrong with being 19 but I go to school with people in their 20s and the same is true for most people in my church. I really wanted some maturity in my life but it seemed that everyone who wanted/needed to live with someone else was under the age of 25, young enough to be my daughter. I checked out a couple of places I found on craigslist but I didn't like the idea of moving in with strangers. On the days I was anxious God would remind me that he would take care of me.
For about a month I thought I had found a solution. It was somewhat open ended since it depended on a couple from my church being able to buy a duplex. In the end that didn't work out and I was back to worrying again and being reminded that I'm to be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer make my requests known to God. As I did that I put an "ad" up at a large church. Within a couple of days I got an email from Jan. Long story short, she is a few years older than myself, has spent time living overseas, is back in school and wants to rent out two of the three extra bedrooms in her home that just happens to be across the street from two good friends of mine. Once we learned that we have some mutual friends, it didn't really feel like we were strangers. I am very thankful for the place and the people God provided in this great situation.
This past week as moving day approached God had to remind me once again that he is taking care of me. I was anxious about the actual moving process. My church talks a lot about being family to one another but it felt like my appeal for help in moving was falling on deaf ears. There was no need to be anxious about it. I should have remembered that I don't have lot of stuff (some of which is going back to my parents). And the help God provided was just what was needed: a family with their horse trailer and 3 hard working kids, a young man who is like a little brother to me and looked at it as his workout for the day and the two friends from across the street. Despite breaking the glass that covers the vegetable crisper in the fridge and spilling fruit salad in my car, I had a few minutes to put my feet up before everyone arrived a little after 6 yesterday evening. We had everything unloaded, the bed put together and were finished eating by 8:45.
I now have a guestroom and a housemate who is glad for the company so come visit!
For about a month I thought I had found a solution. It was somewhat open ended since it depended on a couple from my church being able to buy a duplex. In the end that didn't work out and I was back to worrying again and being reminded that I'm to be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer make my requests known to God. As I did that I put an "ad" up at a large church. Within a couple of days I got an email from Jan. Long story short, she is a few years older than myself, has spent time living overseas, is back in school and wants to rent out two of the three extra bedrooms in her home that just happens to be across the street from two good friends of mine. Once we learned that we have some mutual friends, it didn't really feel like we were strangers. I am very thankful for the place and the people God provided in this great situation.
This past week as moving day approached God had to remind me once again that he is taking care of me. I was anxious about the actual moving process. My church talks a lot about being family to one another but it felt like my appeal for help in moving was falling on deaf ears. There was no need to be anxious about it. I should have remembered that I don't have lot of stuff (some of which is going back to my parents). And the help God provided was just what was needed: a family with their horse trailer and 3 hard working kids, a young man who is like a little brother to me and looked at it as his workout for the day and the two friends from across the street. Despite breaking the glass that covers the vegetable crisper in the fridge and spilling fruit salad in my car, I had a few minutes to put my feet up before everyone arrived a little after 6 yesterday evening. We had everything unloaded, the bed put together and were finished eating by 8:45.
I now have a guestroom and a housemate who is glad for the company so come visit!
Monday, June 18, 2012
HS class reunion
This past weekend as full of family events. Friday evening I attended the third wedding in four weeks where the toasts were done with milk and cookies. Saturday I played with my niece who still doesn't like it when I win. Sunday I attended an aunt and uncle's 50th wedding anniversary celebration. My aunt had saved all the cards she had received and one of her granddaughters modeled the pink bride's maid dress. My uncle remembers being on time to the rehearsal while bride showed up late. At that time on the farm, it was impossible to start the wedding before 8 pm. The farmers had to have time to finish their chores. Uncle Wes remembers looking up at the clock as they cut the cake and seeing that it was already after 10 pm.
The other event of the weekend was my 26th high school class reunion on Saturday evening. I guess we weren't organized enough to do it last year and in the end it grew to include the classes of '85 to '88. There were 11 in my class and 19 in the '87 class so even though four classes were included we all knew each other. Most of us haven't changed a whole lot. I recognized all but two people, though I must admit that the name tags helped remind me of the name that went with the face. A few weeks ago I dug out a paper I had written as a senior for English class that described our class. Reading through it brought back memories of events and personalities I had long since forgotten. And I noticed the other night that though we may be a little grayer or a little rounder, our personalities haven't changed. I also noticed that thankfully, my writing has gotten better over the years.
Here's the opening paragraph to my paper describing the class of 1986.
During the last four years our class has developed its own personality. As a class we tend to be on the lazy side when it comes to school work. We would just as soon not have to take notes. We would rather sit around and talk which is something we are very good at. Since we are such good talkers we can get into good discussions if the subject seems to interest us. If not then we just get the teachers off the subject. We are just an average class in most areas. We are average students, musicians, and athletes. We have different individuals who are stronger in one area than another, but on the whole we are just an average bunch of kids. If we put our minds to it we can do just about anything. One of the reasons is we get along fairly well. It helps when there is more girls than guys. That means the girls can overrule the guys which of course makes everything work more smoothly. There are times when “majority rules.” We are also very good at having a good time. We had all-night parties our freshman and senior years and had a great time. We were just a little tired the next day. We are also a rather creative bunch. We were a wedding party our junior year during homecoming week. As seniors we came up with the awesome idea of dressing up like crayons. Our one problem is we forgot to bring a color camera to record the event. Only our class could think of something as interesting as those two ideas.
The other event of the weekend was my 26th high school class reunion on Saturday evening. I guess we weren't organized enough to do it last year and in the end it grew to include the classes of '85 to '88. There were 11 in my class and 19 in the '87 class so even though four classes were included we all knew each other. Most of us haven't changed a whole lot. I recognized all but two people, though I must admit that the name tags helped remind me of the name that went with the face. A few weeks ago I dug out a paper I had written as a senior for English class that described our class. Reading through it brought back memories of events and personalities I had long since forgotten. And I noticed the other night that though we may be a little grayer or a little rounder, our personalities haven't changed. I also noticed that thankfully, my writing has gotten better over the years.
Here's the opening paragraph to my paper describing the class of 1986.
During the last four years our class has developed its own personality. As a class we tend to be on the lazy side when it comes to school work. We would just as soon not have to take notes. We would rather sit around and talk which is something we are very good at. Since we are such good talkers we can get into good discussions if the subject seems to interest us. If not then we just get the teachers off the subject. We are just an average class in most areas. We are average students, musicians, and athletes. We have different individuals who are stronger in one area than another, but on the whole we are just an average bunch of kids. If we put our minds to it we can do just about anything. One of the reasons is we get along fairly well. It helps when there is more girls than guys. That means the girls can overrule the guys which of course makes everything work more smoothly. There are times when “majority rules.” We are also very good at having a good time. We had all-night parties our freshman and senior years and had a great time. We were just a little tired the next day. We are also a rather creative bunch. We were a wedding party our junior year during homecoming week. As seniors we came up with the awesome idea of dressing up like crayons. Our one problem is we forgot to bring a color camera to record the event. Only our class could think of something as interesting as those two ideas.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Rugby fun
One of the things I missed when I moved to France was American football. There was plenty of soccer and some basketball but I missed football on those perfect fall Saturday and Sunday afternoons. To help compensate, I discovered rugby. It's a team sport that France is actually pretty good at and games were often televised. It is a rather simple game. The basic rules include: stay on your side of the ball; pass backwards; kick forwards; and the ball carrier must let go of the ball when tackled. But as with most games, there are plenty of other rules and strategies are far more in depth than I could understand from my armchair. But thanks to come good commentators who explained the nuances of the game, I learned to enjoy it and missed it when I returned to the US.
I was delighted when some friends of mine, told me that their son plays on the JV rugby team at Edina high school. I made it to one game during this spring season which actually ended up being a scrimmage since it is hard to find teams that want to play a JV team. But yesterday I was able to watch Esteban and his team play in the state semi-finals. They were playing a team from Duluth that had beat them badly in the first game of the season when (to quote one father) "we didn't know what we were doing." The boys have figured it out since then and on a windy hot day the teams played a hard fought game. Edina scored the first time they got their hands on the ball. Then Duluth took the ball and marched the length of the field into the wind completely dominating the rugby equivalent of the line of scrimmage. They continued to dominate in ball possession and it looked like it might be a long afternoon for Edina. But their defense stiffened and they got more serious about protecting the ball in the rucks. And Esteban, from his fullback position (similar to a safety in football), stuck his nose in there and helped turned the tide of the momentum. In the end Edina's defense stiffened and they pulled away in the 2nd half. It helped to have a strong and fast runner who gave some viscious stiff arms to break away for some tries and who was able to chase down one of the Duluth break-aways right at the goal line. I had other obligations today so I didn't see the finals today but they won and Esteban was named the MVP. Well done! I look forward to watching Esteban play varsity next season.
I was delighted when some friends of mine, told me that their son plays on the JV rugby team at Edina high school. I made it to one game during this spring season which actually ended up being a scrimmage since it is hard to find teams that want to play a JV team. But yesterday I was able to watch Esteban and his team play in the state semi-finals. They were playing a team from Duluth that had beat them badly in the first game of the season when (to quote one father) "we didn't know what we were doing." The boys have figured it out since then and on a windy hot day the teams played a hard fought game. Edina scored the first time they got their hands on the ball. Then Duluth took the ball and marched the length of the field into the wind completely dominating the rugby equivalent of the line of scrimmage. They continued to dominate in ball possession and it looked like it might be a long afternoon for Edina. But their defense stiffened and they got more serious about protecting the ball in the rucks. And Esteban, from his fullback position (similar to a safety in football), stuck his nose in there and helped turned the tide of the momentum. In the end Edina's defense stiffened and they pulled away in the 2nd half. It helped to have a strong and fast runner who gave some viscious stiff arms to break away for some tries and who was able to chase down one of the Duluth break-aways right at the goal line. I had other obligations today so I didn't see the finals today but they won and Esteban was named the MVP. Well done! I look forward to watching Esteban play varsity next season.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Wedding Fun
Weddings are all pretty much the same. A joyful bride and groom say their vows, exchange their rings and a pastor says a few things that nobody really listens to - least of all the bride and groom. Top it all off with some cake and voilà, you have an American wedding. There is more to the ceremony than that and most people serve more than cake but there really isn't a lot of room for variation. Yet somehow the personalities of the bride and groom show through.
Last weekend I attended Janelle and Jared's wedding and there were plenty of things that showed their personalities (and that of their mothers). Jared and his groomsmen entered to Star Wars music led by his pastor who fought really hard to keep a straight face. Janelle grew up in France so there was some French thrown into the ceremony. But the thing that stood out to me was the obvious joy on Janelle's father's face. I have never seen a more happy father of the bride. I think his smile was bigger than Janelle's as he walked her down the aisle to give his precious daughter to Jared. And if you know Steve and weren't there, you missed your one chance to see him dance.
A great side benefit for me was getting to see my "French nieces and nephews." When I arrived in France over 20 years ago I worked with 2 families whose children called me Aunt Alice. Actually those first few years it was Aunt Allie since the younger ones couldn't quite get out "Alice." Janelle was one of those little ones along with her two brothers, Stephen & Nathan and their four "cousins" from the other family, Greg, Heather, Geoffrey & Jeremy. The love they showered on me helped make my adjustment to France go more smoothly. Over the years they gave me the excuse to decorate cookies, play games, attend all kinds of sporting events, go to the circus, River Dance and a live performance of Beauty and the Beast. I don't have many opportunities to see them any more so it was a special treat to catch up with Janelle's two brothers and meet Greg's 11-month-old son as well as Heather's husband. For this aunt, it will be too long before we are together again.
A great side benefit for me was getting to see my "French nieces and nephews." When I arrived in France over 20 years ago I worked with 2 families whose children called me Aunt Alice. Actually those first few years it was Aunt Allie since the younger ones couldn't quite get out "Alice." Janelle was one of those little ones along with her two brothers, Stephen & Nathan and their four "cousins" from the other family, Greg, Heather, Geoffrey & Jeremy. The love they showered on me helped make my adjustment to France go more smoothly. Over the years they gave me the excuse to decorate cookies, play games, attend all kinds of sporting events, go to the circus, River Dance and a live performance of Beauty and the Beast. I don't have many opportunities to see them any more so it was a special treat to catch up with Janelle's two brothers and meet Greg's 11-month-old son as well as Heather's husband. For this aunt, it will be too long before we are together again.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Work continues
This week was much like last except I wasn't so tired. I guess my body adjusted to the extra hours of work. The temp work at a title company continues to be pretty monotonous. There are 25 to 30 of us in a large room taking boxes of files from one wall, processing the files, putting them into another box and stacking along another wall. I'd like to know how many staples I've removed in the last two weeks. When we first started there wasn't much talking. The last few days there is a steady hum of conversation. For a couple of days I sat next to a young man who liked to talk to pass the time - not that he worked very hard otherwise. I've also listened to quite a few podcasts including some talks by Os Guinness and Radio Lab, a radio program that explores different topics from a scientific point of view. It is almost always interesting and the banter between the two hosts can be quite humorous. I have several meals prepared for this week so I'm hoping I can do something besides work, fix food and sleep.
I'm looking forward to a trip to Indianapolis next weekend for a wedding so I need to be well rested for the drive and the opportunity to be with friends I haven't seen in a while. More on that story in a couple of weeks.
I'm looking forward to a trip to Indianapolis next weekend for a wedding so I need to be well rested for the drive and the opportunity to be with friends I haven't seen in a while. More on that story in a couple of weeks.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Summer Schedule
I know; this is late. Life has suddenly gotten very busy. I started work last week. It's not at the job that I wanted, but it is work. A title company is facing litigation and put a call out to a temp agency for help in getting files sorted through and prepared according to the judge's wishes. The group that started with me on Tuesday was responsible for 800 boxes of files and I could get through 3 or 4 a day. We finished them up this morning and moved on to a new project which ended up being much easier since we only had to find two specific documents in each file and toss the rest. I also learned today that this position will continue through the week after Memorial Day. So for the next few weeks I'm working from 5 to 7 at UPS, have an hour to get to work by 8 (and at this time of the year I must have a shower). I get off at 4:30 if I make it on time in the morning. Once I'm home I catch my breath and start in on supper and lunch for the next day. So life during the week is pretty much work, fix food and sleep.
Some tidbits from the week.
Some tidbits from the week.
- My family wasn't the only one thinking Mankato was a good half-way meeting spot to celebrate Mother's Day. We ran into one Worthington family and heard of another doing the same thing we did.
- Mother's Day provoked the heaviest volume at UPS since Christmas. As we were loading the umpteenth box of flowers onto the plane headed from Grand Rapids MN someone commented, "They love their mothers up there." Someone else piped in, "The kids all moved away."
Monday, May 7, 2012
The beginning of summer
I often think of summer as that time of year when school is not in session. By that definition my summer has officially arrived since I finished Physiology on Thursday morning. I'll take an early summer this year since last year I was crazy enough to take two summer school classes at the same time. I am glad to be finished with the prerequisites and to know that in September the real studying will begin at the University of Minnesota.
While I do have some weekend events planned for the summer, I'm hoping that most of my time will be spent working. I've been signed up at temp agency since February and though I've had a couple of interviews for a part-time job, I wasn't able to land either of them. Last week I had an interview for a full-time job that should last all summer. The main plus in my favor is that I can speak French which is something they are looking for as they do business in Quebec. I'm still waiting to hear if they will offer me the position.
My summer will once again involve moving by the end of June. My current roommate wants to get a place of her own and I can't afford to stay put without someone else sharing the expenses. I've been rather stressed about it at times but I do have a couple of possibilities. The one that sounds the most appealing may not materialize for several months which would mean finding a transitional solution and moving twice. I don't like that idea but if it results in a more permanent situation and not having to move next summer I think it will be worth it. It will all work out, but I'll be glad when there is a plan. In the meantime I'm often reminded to "be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known to God..."
While I do have some weekend events planned for the summer, I'm hoping that most of my time will be spent working. I've been signed up at temp agency since February and though I've had a couple of interviews for a part-time job, I wasn't able to land either of them. Last week I had an interview for a full-time job that should last all summer. The main plus in my favor is that I can speak French which is something they are looking for as they do business in Quebec. I'm still waiting to hear if they will offer me the position.
My summer will once again involve moving by the end of June. My current roommate wants to get a place of her own and I can't afford to stay put without someone else sharing the expenses. I've been rather stressed about it at times but I do have a couple of possibilities. The one that sounds the most appealing may not materialize for several months which would mean finding a transitional solution and moving twice. I don't like that idea but if it results in a more permanent situation and not having to move next summer I think it will be worth it. It will all work out, but I'll be glad when there is a plan. In the meantime I'm often reminded to "be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known to God..."
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Culture
I always defined "culture" as how a particular group does something or the idiosyncrasies of a particular people. On a Florida vacation over Christmas break we learned that, unlike in Iowa, everything there was open on Christmas Day. It was like the 4th of July in Okoboji. Culture has the Dutch washing their windows every day since they want their neighbors to see what is inside their homes and it has the French closing their shutters so no one can see in. It wasn't until I was in language school in France that I discovered that most of the rest of the world defines culture in a different way. They use the word to refer to the arts. This weekend I was fortunate to participate in a bit of both kinds of culture.
On Saturday I went to an Indian cooking class taught by two women from India. They were delightful women, full of stories of growing up in India where the kitchen is considered the most sacred room in the house. As a little girl, one of the women had to take a bath before an aunt would allow her into her kitchen. Then she would sit on the floor next to her aunt and watch and learn. Indian cooks don't taste their food before it is served. Cooking is a labor of love and to taste the food before the family or guests did would break that spell of love. The way the Indian culture views food oozed out of these women and the food they fixed was very good.
On Sunday afternoon I went to the Minnesota Varsity Showcase concert in St Paul featuring the five best high school musicians in the state. I had heard a couple of these musicians on the radio and knew that it would qualify as "culture" even for my French friends who had looked at me with a blank stare when I had described the high school band and choir concert as the cultural activities in our town. In addition, the price was right for my budget - free. I was not disappointed. All five of them gave excellent performances. You can listen to the top 15 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/radio/services/cms/features/ongoing/minnesota-varsity/player/.
On Saturday I went to an Indian cooking class taught by two women from India. They were delightful women, full of stories of growing up in India where the kitchen is considered the most sacred room in the house. As a little girl, one of the women had to take a bath before an aunt would allow her into her kitchen. Then she would sit on the floor next to her aunt and watch and learn. Indian cooks don't taste their food before it is served. Cooking is a labor of love and to taste the food before the family or guests did would break that spell of love. The way the Indian culture views food oozed out of these women and the food they fixed was very good.
On Sunday afternoon I went to the Minnesota Varsity Showcase concert in St Paul featuring the five best high school musicians in the state. I had heard a couple of these musicians on the radio and knew that it would qualify as "culture" even for my French friends who had looked at me with a blank stare when I had described the high school band and choir concert as the cultural activities in our town. In addition, the price was right for my budget - free. I was not disappointed. All five of them gave excellent performances. You can listen to the top 15 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/radio/services/cms/features/ongoing/minnesota-varsity/player/.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
On the Inside
This is one of those weeks where I wonder what to write about. Most of my posts have been about a particular event or different spheres of my life. Little has occurred in recent weeks that makes a good story. What is happening in my life is more internal. Right now my life seems to be full of figuring out what it means to grieve well, dealing with anger and unfulfilled longings. Stir in the effects of still being in transition and at times my emotions and thoughts seem like a ball of yarn that a cat has played with until it is a tangled mess. At times it feels that I have far too much time on my hands but that has allowed me extended time to read, study, pray and journal. And when I'm stuck with my thoughts going around in circles, there are a couple of women in my life who challenge my thinking and get me going in the right direction again.
I've found much of what I'm experiencing to be mirrored in the Psalms. I'm thankful that God included so many laments in his songbook even though we don't sing them in church. (We need more laments in our repertoire, but that's another topic.) I've memorized Psalm 16, 27, 42 & 43, and 63 and manage to review them each day as I get ready for work at 4:30 AM. It's been a great way to start my day and has oriented my prayers.
My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
I've found much of what I'm experiencing to be mirrored in the Psalms. I'm thankful that God included so many laments in his songbook even though we don't sing them in church. (We need more laments in our repertoire, but that's another topic.) I've memorized Psalm 16, 27, 42 & 43, and 63 and manage to review them each day as I get ready for work at 4:30 AM. It's been a great way to start my day and has oriented my prayers.
Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!
You have said, "Seek my face."
My heart says to you,
"Your face, Lord, do I seek."
Hide not your face from me.
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
I say to God, my rock:
"Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?"
My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
There are many things that I desire and would like to see happen in my life. I'm also grieving losses that change everything for the rest of my life. As I've wrestled with these things and allowed God's word to work in my mind and heart, I find myself knowing at a much deeper level that God is the only one who can satisfy the deep needs of my soul. He's the only one who provides exceeding joy. My other desires seem less strong, less important, and my desire for him is deeper and more intense. And the process has probably been helped by the relative dullness of many of my days.
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