This evening I attended a March of Dimes event honoring our local congressman. As a former employee of the guy, I'm a little biased, but I certainly can't ignore the work he's done--as a congressman, as an attorney and as a doctor--for children and families across this country.
There was an amazing video of a family whose son was prematurely born. It recounted the struggles, the surgeries, the healing and the way the March of Dimes was there through it all.
There was also a "Taste of the Town" with the best local chefs featuring their favorite dishes, and I ate my face off. It may surprise some of you, but there are quite a few nationally renowned chefs hanging about in this town, and they can cook some freakishly good food including several dishes featuring superbly cooked duck, my very favorite luxury.
The crowd was fun, young and drinking and betting on auction items heavily. I almost won a fantastic painting in the silent auction, but was outbid by Rhoda by $25. Oh, Rhoda. Why did you circle that table? That painting would have looked amazing in my dining room.
All the fun, good food and wine still didn't add up to the best part of the evening. As I was walking out of the nicest hotel in town, a woman was standing about 10 feet away from the valet guy with a load of aluminum boxes filled with what I assumed to be food.
As I walked toward her wondering if she had some of the amazing duck with Arkansas-grown greens and cranberries in one of her aluminum trays, I noticed a raccoon walking up behind her.
When I say "walking up behind her" I mean about a foot behind her...outside an extremely nice hotel...smack in the middle of downtown.
Seeing the raccoon, I said, "Ma'am, Ma'am". She didn't hear me. Louder I said, "Ma'am, there's a raccoon behind you". She turned, saw it, and moved away saying, "Shoo, shoo." The raccoon backed away for a second then came back up, jumped on top of the aluminum trays sitting on the ground and began pulling them down and digging in them.
I...am...not...kidding.
Cars were pulling up, people were walking by, a woman was yelling "shoo" and yet the raccoon was completely undeterred. It took my crazy mother walking directly up to it clapping saying, "Git. git" before it moved back a few steps.
I guess she did have some of that duck.
L.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
The Sound of Silence
My father would have turned 61-years-old today. Sixty-one. So young.
Some days it seems like it's been ages since he died, other days it seems like yesterday.
Today was one of those days that seemed like it was a lifetime ago. To realize that he'd just be 61 was a bit of a shock to me. It's such a young age, particularly for a man whose mother is still living at 92, and yet it's been 11 years since he died.
Just a few short years ago, I would have figured out his age by how long it had been since, and how old he was when, he died. This morning I recognized the date and honestly had to think about his birth year to figure out how old he would be today.
It's a strange feeling to realize how time can pass and how hearts can heal. I still yearn for the opportunity to talk to him, but my heart doesn't hurt for it like it once did.
I can't say it enough, so I'll say it again. My father was a truly wonderful man.
He loved his family. He showed us nothing but care, concern and love. He could look at you with the most shame-inducing "I'm Disappointed in You" look one night and the next day smile in that way that only a loving Dad can.
He worked long, hard farm hours to provide his children with all our wildest dreams, but never left us feeling like he didn't have time to play in the pecan orchard.
He once used Roundup to kill the backyard stickers, so that we didn't have to constantly pull them out of our feet. Not recognizing, or maybe not caring, that what he was really doing was killing the grass.
He burned wheat fields by standing in the back of a truck throwing matches over the side while one of the kids drove across the field.
He made swings out of old tractor discs and placed the tallest ladder at the rope's longest length, so we could climb to the ladder's top, jump on the swing and fly so high in the air that we lost our stomachs.
He drank Coors Light. He smoked the occasional cigar. He smiled as big and as loving as you can imagine.
He was depressed.
He suffered, like so many other people in this world, in silence. Afraid to admit his disease. Afraid to even admit that depression is a disease.
That terrible shadow-lurking disease lead to his death. And while the world is less interesting without him, it is better for him being a part of it.
If you are considering, or have ever considered suicide, please visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call 1-800-273-TALK.
Please. You don't have to suffer in silence.
L.
Some days it seems like it's been ages since he died, other days it seems like yesterday.
Today was one of those days that seemed like it was a lifetime ago. To realize that he'd just be 61 was a bit of a shock to me. It's such a young age, particularly for a man whose mother is still living at 92, and yet it's been 11 years since he died.
Just a few short years ago, I would have figured out his age by how long it had been since, and how old he was when, he died. This morning I recognized the date and honestly had to think about his birth year to figure out how old he would be today.
It's a strange feeling to realize how time can pass and how hearts can heal. I still yearn for the opportunity to talk to him, but my heart doesn't hurt for it like it once did.
I can't say it enough, so I'll say it again. My father was a truly wonderful man.
He loved his family. He showed us nothing but care, concern and love. He could look at you with the most shame-inducing "I'm Disappointed in You" look one night and the next day smile in that way that only a loving Dad can.
He worked long, hard farm hours to provide his children with all our wildest dreams, but never left us feeling like he didn't have time to play in the pecan orchard.
He once used Roundup to kill the backyard stickers, so that we didn't have to constantly pull them out of our feet. Not recognizing, or maybe not caring, that what he was really doing was killing the grass.
He burned wheat fields by standing in the back of a truck throwing matches over the side while one of the kids drove across the field.
He made swings out of old tractor discs and placed the tallest ladder at the rope's longest length, so we could climb to the ladder's top, jump on the swing and fly so high in the air that we lost our stomachs.
He drank Coors Light. He smoked the occasional cigar. He smiled as big and as loving as you can imagine.
He was depressed.
He suffered, like so many other people in this world, in silence. Afraid to admit his disease. Afraid to even admit that depression is a disease.
That terrible shadow-lurking disease lead to his death. And while the world is less interesting without him, it is better for him being a part of it.
If you are considering, or have ever considered suicide, please visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call 1-800-273-TALK.
Please. You don't have to suffer in silence.
L.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Still Kicking
Don't worry, I'm not in rehab after an election celebration bender. I was traveling the second part of last week and have spent most of this week catching up with a friend who has been knee-deep in Obama campaigning for the past six months.
I hope to be back in business tomorrow, but at this rate if I were you, I wouldn't hold my breath.
L.
I hope to be back in business tomorrow, but at this rate if I were you, I wouldn't hold my breath.
L.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Always a Party-Pooper
I hate to be the one that points to bad news, but it continues to look like Initiative Act 1--the ban on cohabiting adults adopting or fostering children in Arkansas--will pass. With 73 precincts reporting, the tally is 56 percent "yes" and and 44 percent "no".
For the record, a "no" vote would indicate that a person is against a ban on single, unwed couples adopting or fostering children.
If this act passes, it's a shame for the many children in Arkansas awaiting loving foster and adoptive homes.
Closer to home, it means that I and a man with whom I have shared my life and has been a member of my family for six years will be unable to adopt my nephews or his nieces.
To get it off my chest, I just have to say that marriage isn't the end all, be all definition of love. I love his family as much as I love my own and the same applies to him. Most importantly, while we choose not to have children of our own, I know we could offer a loving home to a child.
Unfortunately for many foster and adoptive children across this state and country, unless we have them ourselves, we will now be unable to rear children in our home.
L.
For the record, a "no" vote would indicate that a person is against a ban on single, unwed couples adopting or fostering children.
If this act passes, it's a shame for the many children in Arkansas awaiting loving foster and adoptive homes.
Closer to home, it means that I and a man with whom I have shared my life and has been a member of my family for six years will be unable to adopt my nephews or his nieces.
To get it off my chest, I just have to say that marriage isn't the end all, be all definition of love. I love his family as much as I love my own and the same applies to him. Most importantly, while we choose not to have children of our own, I know we could offer a loving home to a child.
Unfortunately for many foster and adoptive children across this state and country, unless we have them ourselves, we will now be unable to rear children in our home.
L.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
President-Elect Barack Obama
I'm physically and emotionally exhausted, but I can't quite imagine going to sleep just yet.
What an amazing night. I knew this morning that Obama could do it, that we could do it, but I was unable to make myself too hopeful.
But, it's done. In January, we will see a young African-American man with an Arab-origin middle name be sworn in as President of the United States.
While we have a long road ahead of us--an economy in the tank and a war that doesn't stop for election night--tonight we started down the path of healing.
I believe the world will see America through a new lens. A lens of hope and change, but most of all, a lens of seriousness to confront global problems with a temperament that's meant for the greatest free nation in this world.
There's a new face of America tonight. A face of the Obamas, yes, but also the face of you and me. It's a face that shows the belief that we can be better than we've been before. A face that says we can move further ahead than we have before. A face that sees we are all apart of this country, no matter your religion, your race, your socioeconomic status. We are America.
I believe this new face will shine across this globe as the America this country was intended to be. Although our forefathers never dreamed, and maybe never wanted, a black man in the highest office in this land, our forefathers did dream of a place that presented the best opportunities this world has to offer.
America has seen this opportunity before, but never so much as tonight. As a country, we can never, and should never, forget the past, but tonight we showed that we are beyond the racial boundaries that held us down. We are beyond the ideologies that so seemingly divided us.
We are again the greatest country in the world. We are the face of the United States of America.
L.
What an amazing night. I knew this morning that Obama could do it, that we could do it, but I was unable to make myself too hopeful.
But, it's done. In January, we will see a young African-American man with an Arab-origin middle name be sworn in as President of the United States.
While we have a long road ahead of us--an economy in the tank and a war that doesn't stop for election night--tonight we started down the path of healing.
I believe the world will see America through a new lens. A lens of hope and change, but most of all, a lens of seriousness to confront global problems with a temperament that's meant for the greatest free nation in this world.
There's a new face of America tonight. A face of the Obamas, yes, but also the face of you and me. It's a face that shows the belief that we can be better than we've been before. A face that says we can move further ahead than we have before. A face that sees we are all apart of this country, no matter your religion, your race, your socioeconomic status. We are America.
I believe this new face will shine across this globe as the America this country was intended to be. Although our forefathers never dreamed, and maybe never wanted, a black man in the highest office in this land, our forefathers did dream of a place that presented the best opportunities this world has to offer.
America has seen this opportunity before, but never so much as tonight. As a country, we can never, and should never, forget the past, but tonight we showed that we are beyond the racial boundaries that held us down. We are beyond the ideologies that so seemingly divided us.
We are again the greatest country in the world. We are the face of the United States of America.
L.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Go Vote
Vote.
Really, if you haven't already, take some time tomorrow to vote. I promise, even if you vote the exact opposite of me, it will be worth your time.
It's a secret ballot, but consider a few things:
1--For Obama/Biden. You may be a Republican, or you may be a Democrat, but you can't deny that Obama has the temperament, the courage and the all-around smarts to be President. But, being from a bipartisan household I won't hold it against you if you vote McCain. I'll just know you were wrong.
2--Senate races are important, because, really, there's only 100 of them. So choose the person you believe will work hardest for you.
3--My soapbox (you've been warned): If you're an Arkansas voter, vote against the adoption ban. Really. You may not want homosexuals to be married under the law, and you may not think homosexuals should be allowed to foster or adopt children, but do you really think that unwed single parents are bad for foster and adoptive children? Do you really think so? If so, please take some time to think about the single parent down the street. Or maybe your single mother or father. Were they so bad simply because they weren't married?
Or consider the adopted child who now lives in a loving home. Or your adoptive parents. Or the thousands of children just hoping for a good, loving foster home that happens to have one parent taking on all the responsibilities that come with raising children. They're doing it with full knowledge of the challenges they face and the difficulties ahead. Then think about the children who will stay in orphanages if a large segment of loving homes are suddenly excluded from the foster and adoption rolls. I hate to say it because it's so cliche, but think about the children.
Those are my thoughts on the election. I intend to be so fully hungover come Wednesday that I may be unable to post. And, who knows, the detox facility I check myself into may not allow blogging.
I'll be back when my liver can function again.
L.
Really, if you haven't already, take some time tomorrow to vote. I promise, even if you vote the exact opposite of me, it will be worth your time.
It's a secret ballot, but consider a few things:
1--For Obama/Biden. You may be a Republican, or you may be a Democrat, but you can't deny that Obama has the temperament, the courage and the all-around smarts to be President. But, being from a bipartisan household I won't hold it against you if you vote McCain. I'll just know you were wrong.
2--Senate races are important, because, really, there's only 100 of them. So choose the person you believe will work hardest for you.
3--My soapbox (you've been warned): If you're an Arkansas voter, vote against the adoption ban. Really. You may not want homosexuals to be married under the law, and you may not think homosexuals should be allowed to foster or adopt children, but do you really think that unwed single parents are bad for foster and adoptive children? Do you really think so? If so, please take some time to think about the single parent down the street. Or maybe your single mother or father. Were they so bad simply because they weren't married?
Or consider the adopted child who now lives in a loving home. Or your adoptive parents. Or the thousands of children just hoping for a good, loving foster home that happens to have one parent taking on all the responsibilities that come with raising children. They're doing it with full knowledge of the challenges they face and the difficulties ahead. Then think about the children who will stay in orphanages if a large segment of loving homes are suddenly excluded from the foster and adoption rolls. I hate to say it because it's so cliche, but think about the children.
Those are my thoughts on the election. I intend to be so fully hungover come Wednesday that I may be unable to post. And, who knows, the detox facility I check myself into may not allow blogging.
I'll be back when my liver can function again.
L.
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