Thanksgiving

Tonight before dinner, Tara lit a candle to remember all those who couldn't be with us. Sarah said some wonderful things to help us remember. It brought tears to my eyes, a lump in my throat.

I REMEMBER you Andrew, for your sweet smile and flashing dark eyes.

I REMEMBER you Andrew, for the way in which you touched others hearts, especially mine.

I REMEMBER you Andrew, for the ways in which you impacted so many other lives.

I REMEMBER you Andrew, for the natural talents you had in sports and music.

I REMEMBER you Andrew, for the excitement when you approached a new experience.

I REMEMBER you Andrew, for the compassion you had for all living things.

I REMEMBER you Andrew.

I'm thankful you have been in my life. Miss your hugs and miss you being with us tonight. But I will remember sweet one.

A Call for Empathy

This beautiful 2 minute video shot entirely on a cell phone with a budget of $57! Titled "Mankind is No Island" recently won first prize at Tropfest NY. Directed by Jason van Genderen.

Stand By Me - International Video

A friend sent this to me and I just have to pass it on. Think of it like a visual "have a smile" card from me to you.

It's about 4 min. of Stand By Me (the song), and it looks like it was done by the same people who did "One Giant Leap" (the dvd").

It's A New Day!

Please Stop The Violence

I've been watching on the news for the last few days the election issue demonstrations taking place, in the name of freedom. Violence is already happening here. A friend with a NO on 8 bumper sticker, had to stop at a light where there was a YES on 8 demonstration going on. The demonstrators came up to his car and yelled at him through the windows and beat on his car. All he could do was drive away. And this has been going on for weeks here. It's being sensationalized on the news. I don't care what your position is on this subject, we have fought for the right to have different opinions and to be protected.

I hope that people stop and think that we all have choice in how we behave. That we should be here for one another, not fighting one another in our own backyards. We're all going through difficult economic times and will be faced with some tough personal decisions. I heard about McCarthyism with it's blackballing people from their work/lives from many of my elderly patients, seen the tatoos on the arms of those who went through the Holocaust, lived through civil rights, women's rights, gay rights, wars from the Cold War to Vietnam to our current wars in Afghanistan & Iraq. I'm hoping that we don't throw away the rights and freedoms we as a country have chosen.

I understand the passion and emotionalism that comes from feeling very strongly about issues. But does it have to divide us? I think there are more pressing local issues to deal with that have to do with our food & water supply, medical care for our children and the elderly, people being out of work and losing hones. It's not all going to be solved by one election or one administration. It's all a process that takes time.

If you've watched any youtube videos after a World Series win, you can see the violence that comes out in a group. Cars get overturned, property gets burned, people steal signs, even trees get torn down. This is in the name of celebration. What do we do when there are crowds and there is divisiveness. You can watch youtube videos of post-election riots in many countries. I'm hoping & praying that we don't have to go there.

I have an incredibly sweet grandson. A friend just had a new grandson born over the weekend. Many of my work friends have young children, and my friends have young grandchildren. I hope they will never have to deal with violent times.

Please stop the violence now.

Some funny videos about the election

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbEwKcs-7Hc Sarah Palin pranked by Canadian Radio show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUfGYa-CxNg Bill Maher show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BbyEbozR7g Mr. Whitekeys, an Alaskan comedien who made up skits about Alaska and it's politicians, comes out of retirement to make this video.