Judging Someone Else’s Life

June 9, 2018

Yes, it is beyond sad that two celebrities have chosen to end their lives. Yes, there will be more to come, mostly unknown as opposed to famous. That’s why we need to end the stigma around mental illness. I cannot judge someone else’s decision. I can’t say how deep their pain and hopelessness was. We might think that because someone is rich and famous that they are happy and without suffering. NOT TRUE. They just hide it.

My brother hid his pain and no one in the family knew that he was depressed or that he was planning to take his life. Even though we are told (and tell others) to look for signs of a person’s suicidal ideation or thoughts, you might not find them. And when a person has made the decision, he or she may even appear happy.

Trust your gut. Ask direct questions–Are you thinking of taking your life? What’s your plan? How would you do it? Then get them immediate help. Don’t wait. Don’t think someone else will do it. You need to step in and offer hope.

Winter Blues

Jan. 11, 2018

Where’s this month going? I can already tell it’s going to disappear fast and boogie into February. Well, that’s okay with me. I live in central Texas, which has pretty mild winters, but it’s still too cold for me and the sooner winter is done with, the better for me. I’m a sun lover, heat seeker. I’ll do anything to get warm.

Winter is often hard for people with bipolar and/or depression. The shorter days

and colder weather can bring on Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Appropriate acronym, don’t you think? There’s some info about it in my memoir, Through the Rabbit Hole, because my daughter suffers from it every winter. Here are some other sources:

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/seasonal-affective-disorder/index.shtml

9 Ways to Cope with Seasonal Affective Disorder

https://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder

I read that more women are affected than men and that light boxes, which you can buy online, are helpful for about 50% of SAD sufferers. For some, Seasonal Affective Disorder can be very intense.

Ramadan Dinner

U-U Chalice

Last night members of the Unitarian-Universalist Church of the Brazos Valley were invited to a Ramadan Dinner at the Islamic Center of College Station/Bryan. I/We had a wonderful time.

 

Ramadan Dinner

Warm, friendly people,

Shias, from India and Iran.

Women modestly covered,

men in summer garb.

Embraces and smiles.

Delicious food.

Ramadan–fasting, introspection,

cleansing the body and mind, self-control.

Discussion on prayer, beliefs (we shared our own),

segregation (or not) of the sexes in worship.

Dinner at 9.

Conversation.

More smiling faces and female hugs.

Getting late.

Hope we gather again.

Tragedy in Orlando

“Three of the most contentious questions in American culture and politics — gay rights, gun control and terrorism — collided in a horrific way in an Orlando nightclub early Sunday.” —Washington Post, June 12 “The New Norm: When Tragedy Hits, Americans Stand Divided”

The above quote from the Washington Post really struck me and I had to stop and think hard about the state of our country at this moment in time. This is 2016, folks, but I feel like we’re sliding backwards in so many ways. Violence, hatred, and intolerance get worse. I don’t think any of our presidential candidates have an answer. The answer needs to come from us.

I believe in a Higher Power and I believe we are all connected. The falsity is that we are separate from each other and from our Source. Separateness breeds us and them and that, in turn, promotes hatred for anything different or dissimilar. Don’t be afraid to reach out and connect with anyone you believe is different from you and you’ll discover our souls are the same.

A Surprise Offer

 

Farm ponies

How many places do you know where they call you on the phone and say, “Hey, do you want to come and pick our blueberries like you did last year?”

It’s a little family farm, 20 minutes from our house.I guess you call it a hobby farm  where they have chickens, turkeys, ponies, and BLUEBERRIES!

Sweet pony

 

It’s been a cloudy day. Actually perfect for berry picking. The blueberries are just getting started and will continue ripening until the end of June. Each bush had clumps of berries from green, to pink, to deep bluish-purple. My daughter, Diana, and our old Black Lab, Lucky, accompanied me and we (not Lucky, he just whined) picked about 4 pounds. Cost us a little more than $3 a pound.

Reaching high

 

Me with my blueberry stash.

Well, you know, one for the basket and two for my mouth:) I’ll take some to my sister-in-law tomorrow when Roberto and I go to Crystal Beach, Bolivar Peninsula for the first time to visit her. Texas is sooooo big and we know so little of it. Lots to look forward to.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overdue for Blogging

I’ve been very remiss about writing on my blog, mostly because I couldn’t think of anything to say and I hadn’t been feeling well for two months since I returned to Texas from Cartagena. But now I’m BACK on my blog.

Took a walk on my pleasant country road this morning. There are wildflowers still blooming.

Roadside flower

Roadside flowers

 

A patch of wildflowers

I walk up the road every morning to feed an abandoned dog who is very shy. Won’t come

Bentley

near me. His owner died a couple of months ago and my daughter was the one who discovered the dog was still there. I guess no one could catch him. We’re not sure of his name, usually call him Bentley, but no matter what we call him, he doesn’t come.

 

 

Roadside turtle

Walking further up the road after feeding “Bentley,” I discovered this sweet turtle by the side of the road. I thought he might want to cross to the pond on the other side, so I picked him up and saw that there was a deep round hole underneath him. Oops! It’s a female and she’s laying eggs into the hole. I put her back down immediately and apologized.

Ah, back at my front gate after a cool walk.

my front gate

my road

Trip to Panama

Recently I left my winter vacation in Cartagena, Colombia, for a little visit to Panama. I was in Panama last year at this time for a brief tour of the Canal and its surroundings. I liked the hotel we stayed in, so I thought I’d go back there. There are two museums in the area I wanted to visit. The Smithsonian Institution has a Nature Research Center nearby and then there’s the Biodiversity Museum, designed by Paul Gehry. I also took a day trip to Isla Taboga, a 45-minute ferry ride from Panama City. Got sunburned that day. Ouch! Here are my photos:

Bridge of the Americas
View from my hotel window. Channel for boats entering the canal.

One tank at the Smithsonian Nature Research Center

Cute baby sloth at Smithsonian Research Center

 

 

 

 

Along the walkway of the Smithsonian Research Center

 

 

 

 

Biodiversity Museum from a distance. Quite colorful.

On the Ferry to Isla Taboga.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Approaching Isla Taboga

Church on Isla Taboga. Do the priests play basketball?

 

 

 

 

 

 

The man next to me on the ferry was visiting Panama for the first time. His wife, who took the picture, grew up in Panama in the U.S. section. They live near Austin, TX, about 1-1/2 hours from me. Small world:)

Welcome, 2016!

Hail 2016

It’s going to be a GREAT year. I can feel it. I’ll be in Cartagena in just a few days, enjoying the sun and warmth until mid-March. I hope to post more photos of the Cartagena flavor and my in-laws.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!!!

A Bundle of Gratitude

It’s been so long since I’ve written anything on my blog but I’ll try to do better. Want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Past

Here’s a photo of a past family get together in Brooklyn at my parent’s house. Not sure of the date. Could be 2007? Missing from the photo are my daughter, Diana, my sister, Donna, and her daughter Aurora (and kids). My son is there, my husband, and ex-husband with his wife, my brother, Doug, and his wife, Natt. Happy times when my parents were alive. My mother loved when everyone got together.

Trip to Sedona, AZ

Roberto and I saw Sedona on our recent Road Scholar trip but missed the Grand Canyon when I got sick and left the trip early. Here are some photos of the area around Sedona and our one train ride on the Verde Canyon Railway.