Well I heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do ya?
Well it goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall and the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
I saw Jesus in the desert
I was driving in southern california, somewhere between Joshua Tree & Palm Springs. I don't remember the name of the road, but I can picture it vividly in my mind. On the side of this busy, business-lined four-lane road, I see a man dressed in raggy grey clothing, carrying over his right shoulder ... dragging ... a wooden cross at least twice his size.
A religious demonstration is what I assumed. Or maybe a mentally ill man. Why would the son of god be in So. Cal.?
I didn't hear of any crucifixion's on the news that evening, so I think it's safe to say he wasn't actually Jesus.
But what if he had been. Not one car stopped. Not person went up to help him carry it.
Imagine how different that moment would have been ... if one ... two ... or three people went up to him, and helped him carry it a few yards.
A religious demonstration is what I assumed. Or maybe a mentally ill man. Why would the son of god be in So. Cal.?
I didn't hear of any crucifixion's on the news that evening, so I think it's safe to say he wasn't actually Jesus.
But what if he had been. Not one car stopped. Not person went up to help him carry it.
Imagine how different that moment would have been ... if one ... two ... or three people went up to him, and helped him carry it a few yards.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Total Meltdown
She's 4.
She insisted on wearing a heavy sweater to school that morning.
The afternoon heat, being a little tired ... and the sweater, were all contributing factors in what happened next.
We discovered we were out of formula so I ran to grocery store after picking her up from school. Parked the car. As we walk toward the door, she says she wants to ride in a cart. I said "OK".
We stood at the carts for at least 2 full minutes. She wanted the red one... but not THAT red one. She didn't want the other one I chose either. We tried the one red available one again ... no.
I weighed the options ... baby at home, needs formula. 4 year old here, needs to ride in a cart. Hmmm.
And I said:
"OK, that's it, come on, we have to go in now."
(INSERT 'Wrong answer!' GAME SHOW BUZZER HERE)
She starts getting upset, reluctantly walks inside with me, crying, starting to scream - not quite walking now - a few stares ... and we're at the baby aisle ...
oh crap, the formula's not here and she's escalating.
By the time we reach the service desk, she's in total melt-down mode. She's screaming like she's being beaten, and she's put herself on the floor. I'm so glad I know the lady at the service desk. I could barely think with all the screaming & people staring. She gets the formula for me.
That's when I have a flashback.
This hasn't happened to me in 18 years. It was K-Mart. It was the 4 yr old's mother. Shoe shopping. Couldn't decide. 20+ minutes. She had tried on every pair of shoes in the store, twice. My decision to say - OK, that's enough, we're leaving. My daughter had to be carried out by my partner at the time. Me following close behind. She was screaming: "I WANT MY MOTHER!!!!" all the way out.
This memory, of course, made me start to giggle.
My friend at the service desk tells me not to laugh. I realize I probably look rediculous ... crazy even. 4 year old on the floor at price chopper screaming, and me laughing.
OK ... time to leave.
Nope.
I struggle to pick her up off the floor. By the time we get from the service desk to the exit door, she's screamed & wiggled her way out of my arms and is on the sidewalk, screaming. I start laughing again. I can't help it. What would Nanny 911 do? Trying to speak calmy. I promise a time-out as soon as we get to my house. THAT just gives her new material to scream about. I can't think. I need her mother. I carry this flailing screaming tantrum-having 4 year old to the car & dial her mother as she again puts herself on the pavement screaming. All I can think about is how gross the ground is. I hope she's not rolling in some pre-chewed gum or spit or something nasty. Mommy is on speakerphone now. And that's all it took.
Within a minute she has gotten herself calmed down & into her carseat and is begging not to have to do a time out when we get to my house.
She did her time out.
It's the kind of thing that makes me want to have more children ... you?
She insisted on wearing a heavy sweater to school that morning.
The afternoon heat, being a little tired ... and the sweater, were all contributing factors in what happened next.
We discovered we were out of formula so I ran to grocery store after picking her up from school. Parked the car. As we walk toward the door, she says she wants to ride in a cart. I said "OK".
We stood at the carts for at least 2 full minutes. She wanted the red one... but not THAT red one. She didn't want the other one I chose either. We tried the one red available one again ... no.
I weighed the options ... baby at home, needs formula. 4 year old here, needs to ride in a cart. Hmmm.
And I said:
"OK, that's it, come on, we have to go in now."
(INSERT 'Wrong answer!' GAME SHOW BUZZER HERE)
She starts getting upset, reluctantly walks inside with me, crying, starting to scream - not quite walking now - a few stares ... and we're at the baby aisle ...
oh crap, the formula's not here and she's escalating.
By the time we reach the service desk, she's in total melt-down mode. She's screaming like she's being beaten, and she's put herself on the floor. I'm so glad I know the lady at the service desk. I could barely think with all the screaming & people staring. She gets the formula for me.
That's when I have a flashback.
This hasn't happened to me in 18 years. It was K-Mart. It was the 4 yr old's mother. Shoe shopping. Couldn't decide. 20+ minutes. She had tried on every pair of shoes in the store, twice. My decision to say - OK, that's enough, we're leaving. My daughter had to be carried out by my partner at the time. Me following close behind. She was screaming: "I WANT MY MOTHER!!!!" all the way out.
This memory, of course, made me start to giggle.
My friend at the service desk tells me not to laugh. I realize I probably look rediculous ... crazy even. 4 year old on the floor at price chopper screaming, and me laughing.
OK ... time to leave.
Nope.
I struggle to pick her up off the floor. By the time we get from the service desk to the exit door, she's screamed & wiggled her way out of my arms and is on the sidewalk, screaming. I start laughing again. I can't help it. What would Nanny 911 do? Trying to speak calmy. I promise a time-out as soon as we get to my house. THAT just gives her new material to scream about. I can't think. I need her mother. I carry this flailing screaming tantrum-having 4 year old to the car & dial her mother as she again puts herself on the pavement screaming. All I can think about is how gross the ground is. I hope she's not rolling in some pre-chewed gum or spit or something nasty. Mommy is on speakerphone now. And that's all it took.
Within a minute she has gotten herself calmed down & into her carseat and is begging not to have to do a time out when we get to my house.
She did her time out.
It's the kind of thing that makes me want to have more children ... you?
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