Up and Away - Travelling Time

February 12, 2011 -  A bit nostalgic theses days as Heather gets ready to graduate from college.  Seemed appropriate to put together two pieces I wrote - one upon her graduation from high school and the other as she turned 21.

Up and Away

How does one look forward while longing to go back?
There is something comforting in the known, the familiar.

Especially when it comes to offspring.



Who decided they should leave the nest anyway?

Are we birds – don’t they have to shove those babies out?

Mine is ready to fly – no pushing necessary.

Everyone keeps telling me this is good – this is what I have been working towards all along.

Isn’t good supposed to feel – well – good?

It doesn’t!!

Yet it does. Watching her fly makes my heart soar.

Yet, I can’t seem to squelch the desire to check the sky for

Storms,

Dark clouds,

Hail,

Vultures.



As she flies I note,

She is strong,

She is able,

She will get a little wet, but weather the storms,

Lose her way at times, only to avoid dark clouds at others,

Move through the hail, but learn when to seek shelter

And

Encounter vultures, only to truly recognize doves.

And hopefully she will always know that warmth, shelter and unconditional love

Can always be found in the safety of the nest.




“Enjoy her now because she will be grown before you know it”.  Cliché?   Maybe.  True?  Definitely.  My sweet little girl turns 21 today, and I truly don’t know where all of the time went.  It is a bittersweet day.  I so miss my little toddler, but I am so very proud of my young lady.  Bittersweet because I cannot be with her today, but she has good friends who will be.  Bittersweet because she doesn’t need her mom any more and because she doesn’t need her mom anymore.  On the day that she “legally” becomes an adult, I wish her the very best along the journey to come.  I hope that she will allow me to accompany her along that journey periodically (maybe even a little more), and I pray that her travelling time will bring her the wonderful blessings that she has brought to me throughout the last 21 years.  Travel well, travel safely, travel bravely, and leave beautiful memories to travel back to.

Blessings

It takes time to grow solid friendships, weathering storms, enjoying the sunshine, bending in the wind, swaying with the breeze.  Your roots become so entangled that it is difficult to imagine any separation possible.  But it happens,circumstances change, the roots must be disentagled.  The growth continues but a piece feels missing.  In my case, two. 

It is hard to be so far away, but I know, and am forever thankful, that those roots are solid and will be forever in tact.

Stories, Shyamalan, and Symbols

A friend of mine loves to read as long as she doesn’t have to look for symbols, themes, meanings.... Yet between this conversation earlier this week and another Shyamalan movie tonight (Devil), I begin to realize that my love of reading comes from just that – any aspect of a story that moves it from the literal to the abstract (hard to believe I decided to teach English).

And I am a great fan of all things Shyamalan (ok – The Happening really wasn’t “happening”). I adore his “stories”. I admire the imagination and courage to put “out there” something that many people are going to complain about because just maybe it takes to much thought (or the fact that the beast in The Village wasn’t a creepy, scary make-believe monster). I love any story that not only makes me think but often begs the necessity of a second (or third) read or watch (Inception would definitely rank high on that list). And Shyamalan does that for me most consistently (at least with movies).

His stories touch on universal questions and ideas. Reflect on human behavior, both good and evil. Leave us pondering more about ourselves and those around us. And most importantly, at least for me, with the realization that good can win out in the end, even if it may not be exactly the way we might wish.

I will always be thankful for the true story tellers, those who are willing to share their imaginations with us, taking us to places we may never have been aware of, or showing us that their ideas are not that far from our own. Even those who simply allow us to enjoy a wonderful story, escaping reality for a bit - “temporarily suspending our disbelief”.

And the truth is I believe all readers take something away from the stories they read, be it symbolism or not.

History and Scriptures

New Bible for my birthday!  Have been looking forward to this for several months, ever since I first found it on the shelves at Hastings.  Not only are the scriptures organized chronologically, but it includes extra historical information throughout the pages.  So very interesting to learn even more about the events and people recorded there.  Looking forward to this journey, hope to get lost within the pages.  Oh and thanks to my other gift (thanks mom and dad) - Garmin- I should be able to avoid getting lost on my actual journeys. :)

Reviving Ophelia

Having finished THE GIFT OF FEAR, I begin yet another book delving into the psychology of humans and humanity - this time examining the psyche of adolescent girls.  I once found this topic (psychology that is) quite fascinating, but life moves on with its twists and turns, and my interest found its way into a corner. 

Interestingly enough, it has been brought back to the forefront through my daughter.  Her interest has peaked mine once again.  As a high school teacher, I am hoping that it will make a difference in my understanding of others, especially those young minds that I come into contact with daily.

When to Read

Every time I assign this book, I have at least one student come back the next day and inform me that his/her mother/father "hated that book".  I will concede that it is a dark read, but also an educating read, eye-opening read, thought provoking read.  As I begin this novel for the umpteeth time, I am still awed by the diction, imagery, and symbolism of Golding.  The story unsettles my spirit each time I peruse it, but maybe our spirits are a little too settled, a little too often.

The Gift of Fear

I love reading books that alter how I live - ok, I love reading books - but especially when they can be life changing. THE GIFT of FEAR by Gavin deBecker is just one of those books!

One comment reads: "True fear is a gift. Unwarranted fear is a curse. Learn to tell the difference." And a difference there truly is. I find myself looking at the world, people, actions, and attitudes surrounding me in a much different light. A much more positive and educated light.