Words from The Crone

For weeks now I’ve been listening to those who don’t want the “the mosque” built at ground zero. For weeks now I’ve been listening to those who want “the mosque” built near ground zero. I’ve even heard the President’s viewpoint on our principles of freedom of religious worship. And, the mayor of New York, and my FB friends, and my spouse, and on and on. It is a complicated situation.

On the one hand we do have the right to worship as we please, or not. We have the right to build a place of worship on privately purchased property. We have many freedoms not found in many other countries. Thanks be to God! But, along with those rights, goes the responsibility of every American citizen to see that they are upheld and honored, even when, or maybe particularly when, we disagree. If we don’t, we’ll lose those rights and then where would we be? Next time it may be where your house of worship is going to be built to which many people will be object.

On the other hand, while “the mosque”is not being built on ground zero, but some two blocks away from the site, it is uncomfortably close for those families and friends who lost loved ones in that terrible terrorist attack by Islamic radicals. They grieve still as does our country. We must remember however, that it wasn’t the Islamic religion that flew those planes into the towers, but a small group of sadly misled, irrational, Muslim terrorists. Remember that word “Terrorists.” Other faithful Muslims are being labeled and discriminated against because of those few terrorists. We have become an Islamophobic country and this is so sad because this great country was founded on the principle of religious freedom, but our attitudes no longer seem to reflect that basic tenet.

The question of what is appropriate to build at, or near, or close by, any place we consider sacred ground is never answered by a simple, yes or no. All parties involved need to consider not only the facts but the feelings associated with such decisions. I pray that those involved in this decision are doing just that. But, the best answer that I’ve heard to “the mosque” dilemma is to build that huge community center two blocks from ground zero and within its walls put a Christian chapel, a Jewish synagogue, an Islamic mosque, and perhaps even some sacred space for all the Shintos, Hindis, Buddhists, Confucians, atheists, agnostics et al to sit and meditate. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? It might even make God smile!

Last week I bought an e-reader. I am a gadget freak anyway and this was just a natural addition to my vast array of gadgets. After doing my research and talking to friends I decided to buy the Barnes and Noble “Nook.” So far it has been a good choice, but I have also spent over six hours learning all the machinations of what touch-screen to touch and what button to push and where to go for what. I am still learning. I am told that I can get my email on it, but so far I have only figured out how to get Google “Search.” I have also downloaded free e-books, bought two e-books, and transferred a PDF file from my laptop to my nook. A friend downloaded our lectionary readings, the prayer book, and the book of occasional services for me. Not bad for six hours, I figure.

At any rate, my “Nook” comes with a plug-in-the-wall adaptor so I can connect it to my USB cable and charge the gadget. A nice little piece of crafted hardware but mine didn’t work. So, rather than read the instruction booklet I called the nice lady who sold it to me and asked her what to do. Here is what I heard:

“Just call 1-800-The Nook, and tell them your problem and they’ll take care of it.” How simple, I thought. Well, I dialed 1-800-The Nook and was I surprised. This sexy woman’s voice began telling me which buttons to push to hear whatever type of kinky sex talk I wanted to indulge in at the moment! I couldn’t believe that this would be Barnes and Noble. I was so shocked I even put it on speaker phone and said to R, “Listen to this!” He did. I think he liked it. I hung up!

Rather than call my nice Barnes and Noble lady back and ask what was going on and/or humiliate and embarrass myself, I decided it was time to delve into the instructions (not my forte). Sure enough, right there under the heading “Technical Support” was the instruction to call 1-800 The BOOK! I did, I got my replacement adaptor thingy sent to me and hung up. I am now off to get a hearing test!

Some days I have what I call “To Do” meltdown. I think it is a mini-panic attack, but I don’t really feel panicked or even attacked, but I do feel overwhelmed and out of control. Now being out of control for me is worse that a panic attack. I have been called a control freak and I call myself a recovering control freak, but I suppose, given my past life that I will always want a modicum of control over my life – who doesn’t? And, according to R, over him too! Well, yeah, that’s where the expression “If momma ain’t happy ain’t nobody happy” comes from. Because “Momma” controls and is therefore, “happy!” Every man, married or in a relationship, should know that.

But, back to my meltdown. In my early twenties I learned to write everything I needed to do down in my appointment book. When I graduated to my PDA and now my Smartphone, I still had to write down my “To Do” list in a modest 5” x 7” spiral bound notebook. I carry it everywhere and every time I think of something I have to do I write it down. If I don’t, I forget. I’m old. When I complete one of my “Do” things, I check it off. It is a system that works for me. You must have something like it too or else you have one of those photographic memories that I either envy or hate depending on which day it is.

Yesterday, I checked my “To Do” list. It was three pages long and this sudden wave of hopelessness and despair washed over me. “How will I ever get all this stuff done?” I lamented. I thought I was going to cry and, eventually I did when R asked me to drive him to one more meeting this week. It has been two plus months since I started doing all the driving and, according to the doctor, it will be four more months into the future. Meeting two schedules has put me on “Overload.” For every hour I have to drive Mr. Daisy (See blog of 5/26/2010) it is an hour I don’t have to accomplish those three pages of things to do. But, rather than soaking in my misery, I collected myself, wiped off the tears, and forged ahead with preparations for a party I was giving that evening for a departing colleague.

This morning however, I still feel somewhat overwhelmed and so, I am going to take my own advice. Slow down. Prioritize. Breathe. Sort out what really needs to be done today. Put those “I would like to do” items at the end of the list, and put those “Better be done or else” things up front. Finally, relax and take one thing at a time. Breathe.

Realistically, if I were to drop dead today the really important stuff would get done, or not, and the planet would not stop turning. In fact, even if I weren’t to drop dead today, the planet would survive if I never got them done! WOW, what a great idea! I’m going to go and cross off some items on my list right now and I’ll bet I can get it down to one page and have enough time to go see a movie and eat dinner out this week! It’s all a matter of perspective. I feel better already!

Sometimes getting blogs can be tiresome and well, not quite user friendly. I used to hate having to open my explorer, type in my favorite blog URL and then wait for it to download. Not so anymore. I sign up for email delivery.

I’ve hear the same complaint about this blog. So, if you like to read my stuff (and I sure hope you do), but just don’t want to keep checking it every so often to see if I’ve written any new stuff sign up for email delivery.

It’s easy. Look over at the top right of this screen and see where it says “Pages” and then click on the third entry down “Get my blog my email,” and sign up to receive any new stuff by email. Then you don’t have to check anymore and you’ll only receive an email which includese my blog when I post (write) a new piece!

Oh, how I wish that all of my life was that simple. Thanks for reading my stuff – I love to write it! Peace and have a cool summer if you can.