Wednesday December 2 2015  WHAT IS THE ANSWER?

Day number two of December and I am trying to live it slow.  One thing I have learned over the past several years is how to receive joy from all I do.  Today was one of those days.  How do I do it?  Well, for me it is going from one task to the next, slowly, enjoying everything as I am doing it, and maintaining a peaceful spirit.

My kitchen can become cluttered very easily.  Clutter, little things that aren’t put away because I use them often, or a pile of papers and magazines that I still yet want to read.  Perhaps even items of food that haven’t been put away after coming home from shopping.  Well, it gets to a point when I must just stop what I am doing and take care of the confusion.  I do not work well in clutter and confusion.  Believe it or not I much prefer empty, clear countertops and everything where it should be.  It just doesn’t always happen because Dave is the one that usually cleans up the kitchen when I have finished cooking, or when we finish dinner.  He says if I cook, then the least he can do is “clean” the kitchen.  He does a great job (for a man).  There are usually items left out that aren’t put away, some because he actually does not know where they go, and some at present, because he is not to bend or squat and he cannot put them away.  If I don’t get back into the kitchen for a few days some things get away from me.  Now, I am probably the most guilty of cluttering because of all the periodicals and newspapers I haven’t yet read.  So today after I woke up, three or four hours later than usual, I decided this was the day to reorganize the counters.  Now mind you, I did not say cupboards.  That will be at least a week’s job coming up next year (remember we are taking the month of December off).  I may be off but I still enjoy “piddling and puttering” around the house.  It actually seems I get more done when it is not planned and I do not think of it as a job.

Now back to my comment above, going slowly from one task to the next, which is just what I did.  I put no time restraint or expectations of what I could do in such and such a time frame.  I just started slowly, worked slowly and deliberately and loved uncovering my countertop and ridding myself of the unneeded, and putting all the little orphan pieces of the kitchen back where they belonged.  Most of it is my clutter because Dave really does not have a clue where to put it.  And the “where places” are becoming less and less available.  But, my kitchen looks pretty good again.  Now, let’s see how long it will last.  

I just want to bring you up to date about my movie watching.  After I finished everything that needed to be done last night I began watching a movie AFTER MY ACTUAL BED TIME.  So you can imagine how late I was up.  Well, this morning I had a surprise.  I woke up about 6:30 a.m., took care of the necessities and decided to get warm under the covers while I waited for Dave to wake up.  Low and behold, two hours later I look at the clock and it was 8:30 a.m.  Dave was AWOL and I was alone.  When he heard me stir he walked in fully dressed and was ready for the day.  That was an eye opener for me and a great disappointment.  I realized I borrowed from today by staying awake too late last evening.  I do not like that because even when I am up by 5:30 or 6:30 a.m. my day is still not long enough.  So, hopefully I will be able to start my movie earlier tonight.  I just never seem to have enough time during the day to take time out to turn on the television.  And today was no different.

Dave just arrived home and informed me about what took place in San Bernardino, California.  When I was leaving the bank this afternoon I heard a bit of it but had not time to listen to details.  It is so tragic.  Where are those three people?  Why did they do it? What are their beliefs that make it okay to do something so garish and unthinkable?  I told Dave that it is so sad.  We live in a “civilized” society, yet we seem to be at constant war and we know not who the enemy is.  I guess it takes a lot of courage to go into a group of people, heavily armed, and just shoot at random.  This is another example of a cowardly act.

My heart goes out to all the families involved.  I have tried to write a poem but it is not to be, for I have no words at this moment to express the depth of my sorrow.  So much evil in the hearts of some, and yet today, I still had a breath of fresh air.

While at the gym today I became engaged in conversation with a twenty year old woman.  She was well spoken, full of energy and life.  It is such a joy to meet young people like her.  I took this opportunity to ask her what her wisdom to the world would be and asked if she would let me record her so I could put it in my blog.  She said yes, to both.  Her name is Felicia.  She gives me hope for the future generations.  Here are her words:
“I WOULD SAY THE ONE THING I HAVE LEARNED IN LIFE IS TO LOVE AND TO FORGIVE. BECAUSE, WHEN YOU SPEND EVERY DAY JUST PUTTING HATE TOWARDS PEOPLE, AND SPEWING THAT VENOM, YOU ARE ONLY BRINGING YOURSELF DOWN, AND YOU ARE ONLY WASTING YOUR TIME ON LIFE.  YOU ONLY LIVE SO LONG, EVEN THOUGH OUR SPIRITS MAY LIVE FOREVER, WE ARE ONLY HERE IN THIS BODY FOR NOW, AND THE ONLY THING THAT WE CAN TAKE TO OUR GRAVE, IS THE PEOPLE THAT LOVE US, AND THE EXPERIENCES THAT WE WENT THROUGH. SO IT IS BEST TO DO THAT WITH LOVE AND KINDNESS.”

Thank you Felicia for bringing a bit of fresh air into this day.

WOW!  Such wise words from one so young.  What a different place this world would be if more people had her insight. 

Good night and God bless you.

P.S.  I have written a poem after all.  However it takes a stance on a topic you may not agree with.  I ask a question at the end.  Please give some thought to the question if you choose to read the following poem.  And I ask that you judge me not for the thoughts I share.  What are your thoughts?

WHAT IS ONE TO DO?

By Kathleen Martens

December 2, 2015

My heart so sorry for those in pain.

So much tragedy with nothing gained.

Families bereft with great sorrow

For many, many, many tomorrows.

Such senseless deaths of innocent ones

That their lives are now all done.

All because hatred dwells

Within hearts headed for hell.

Who are the enemy with such hate

That decide another’s fate?

We are at war, the enemy unknown

Who walk among us, faces shown.

We know not who they may be,

Because we live in a land that’s free.

You cannot guess who is the one.

Is the best defense, to carry a gun?

QUESTION:

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS?