Kittens in the Subway

The news story reports that the New York subway system shut down 6 miles of track yesterday as personnel searched for two kittens who were reportedly loose on the tracks. The danger, of course, was that they would either touch the deadly third rail, or be hit by a moving train. 

Commuters were inconvenienced and the NY Police Dept was brought in for crowd control. As I watched the film footage from the local ABC affiliate in New York, I thought at first how adorable the kittens were. I am, after all, a cat person. But let's take a step back here. Is this a uniquely American attitude towards animals? To shut down the public transportation in THE major metropolitan center for hours, just to avoid the death of two homeless kittens? I mean, these animals are considered a food source in some parts of the world. And even here, hundreds of thousands of them are euthanized every year after being abandoned. Looking at the film footage, one can easily see that the subway system is a dumping ground for all sorts of refuse -- trash is piled up along the edges of the rails, and strewn along the pathways. Rats and mice can be seen scurrying in and out periodically...certainly no one is stopping the trains for them! 

Well, if they hadn't halted service, and rescued the kittens, the story could have gone one of two ways. Either no one would have ever known, or it would have blown up in their faces, and they'd have been vilified. So...August and Arthur, the rescued kittens, are now safely in the Brooklyn Care Center, awaiting adoption, the subways are running again....and here's a picture to coo over! 

Train Up A Child....

My very best life-long friend is going through a trial at the moment - a family situation that is breaking her heart. When I logged into my Facebook account at lunch today, I saw that her status read "Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me..." 

As I read that line, I immediately began to think of other scriptures that applied to her situation. Matthew 18:19 of course, since I've been praying with her about this. Psalms 138:8, which is a promise my mother clings to in any time of trouble. Romans 8:28 leapt to my mind...and then I began to think further. 

How is it that these scriptures come so swiftly to mind? 

The answer to that, of course, is that I was brought up in a household that serves the Lord. My parents took me (not sent me) to Sunday School. Reading the Bible, memorizing scriptures, even hearing my parents quote scripture to me, and to others...all of these served to hide the Word in my heart, so I would have it when I needed it. 

When I am afraid, when I am sorrowful, when I am in pain, there is an answer to those problems waiting for me. A promise, and He has never failed to keep a promise, if only I know where to look. My hope is that I have managed to pass this on to my children...that someday, if my parents are not here, if I am not here, they will still know where to turn for help. For His mercy? Endureth forever. 

Roots

Ok, the title? It's a trite, over-used phrase. I know this, but it is the title that fits this post, and my thoughts for the day. 

My husband has family visiting from out of town. Just to clarify, hubby is the youngest of 9 children (all of whom are now grown). One of their siblings, our beloved Ginger, has already gone on to her reward...But the rest of them? They, and their dad, seem to see each other...sporadically. Years can go by, and brothers and sisters haven't seen one another, sometimes haven't even talked on the phone. I don't understand this.

My mother is also one of 9 children, and only 5 of them are still with us. But when I was growing up, as long as I can remember, my Momma's family was my family. If you say the words family, or relatives -- my aunts and uncles, my 26 first cousins on that side -- that's who I think of. Multiple times each year (and almost every holiday), we gathered at the family home place in East Texas. There were certain fixtures that never changed...when my Grandma was alive, she would be in her rocker in the corner of the living room, and as a young child, that was the first stop - go hug Grandma's neck. I realize now that my parents must have trained me in those behaviors - part of learning manners as I grew! But...I would love to have another chance to hug my Grandma now...

At times over the years, various uncles or aunts lived far away - Virginia, Colorado, Tennessee, Alaska -- so if they were present for a holiday, it was a big deal! I can remember waiting on the front porch to see whose car would turn into the drive next - and there was great joy when the cousins "my age" arrived: Jessica Lynn, Kevin, Deanne and myself - all born the same year. 

Hours spent playing under the trees, building a "fort," waiting for dark to pop firecrackers (I can't remember who was so scared of them, but someone always cried!), and at Christmas we all wanted to go hunt that Christmas tree with Aunt Dorothy Faye. 

Sometimes we met in different places - there were reunions and graduation parties at Roseland Pavilion in Baytown, and as cousins grew older, there were weddings (the first one I can remember was LaVerne's - I can't remember the wedding, but the rehearsal dinner for some reason!), and occasionally, funerals. I was 12 when my Grandma passed away - and I will never forget it. We'd been at Aunt Ruth's house for several days after her stroke, and Uncle Joe was standing next to her, monitoring her blood pressure, and when she breathed her last, he looked up and said "Daddy's got her now..." 

Heartbreak? Yes, we had our share. Cousins, aunts and uncles taken from us too young, and they are forever missed. But we had the privilege of knowing them, growing up together, and we have memories to treasure. That's important! 

I'm blessed to have memories - good and not-so-good -- of all of my cousins. I recognize them when I see them, and conversations can pick up...like we've never been apart. No matter what happens to us in this world, each of us has people we can turn to - in an emergency, I don't believe any of us would turn family away. We share our roots. We come from the same tree. And that...that by itself is enough. 

So, if you're a Blackmon...and you happen to be reading this...as I typed this list, I just drifted through my memories of each person....I invite you to do the same:

Ruth, Marie, Paul, Rachel, Lois, Dorothy Faye, Mary Ellen, Lyndal and Joe. 

LaVerne, Marjie Ruth, Richard, Lonnie Wayne, Jeffrey, Kenny, Rhonda, Jessica, Stevie, Martha, Jerry, Jonathan, Mike, Leslie, Fairie, Jackie, Marla, Janice, Karen, Kevin, Timothy, Lisa, Gina, Deanne, Kendra, and Mark. 

Revelations....

I love it when a revelatory thought hits me, like a meteorite from heaven! And I’ve had two of those “revelations” in the last 10 minutes – my mind is reeling, and the only solution is to get these thoughts on paper.

First – I am in the middle of reading a wonderful blog (http://www.pescadoamarillo2012.blogspot.com) about a 100 day cruise, which was actually ten 10-night cruises back-to-back. The blog is great – there are wonderful pictures, it’s full of detail, and the best part? Spelling and grammar is good. ‘Nuff said.

So, I’m reading along, and there is a quick discussion about why the couple chose to do 10 cruises to the same destinations, rather than one long World Cruise, which would have been amazing…right? Here is her answer:

“We've been to all the islands we're visiting many times. We know which beach is our favorite, which snorkel site is best, how to get to the local bus station and which bus to take to get where we want to go. We know whose brother in law has a boat we can hire for the day, and which taxi driver is our favorite… It's easy, it's familiar, it's comfortable. 

In fact, we've been on the Emerald Princess so many times that we say that boarding the ship on the first day is like coming home after a really long shore excursion.”

That’s it! That is the perfect answer to the question I am asked all. The. Time. “Why do you keep going back to Disney World?” “Don’t you want to go other places?” “Don’t you get bored?”

Well, no we don’t get bored, because we don’t do the same things every time. And we DO go other places, frequently! We cruise, we ski, we go to the lake…And yes, we plan other, longer trips too. But going to Disney World is like going to a second home for us. It’s like other people going to the river, or going to the hunting lease. We don’t have to plan every detail, because we know where everything is. We know how to get around, and if we want to just stay at the hotel for a day and sleep in, or lay by the pool? We can do that too…we’re not missing anything that won’t be there the next time we come back!

And on top of all of that? It’s my Happy Place. I can sit at the end of Main Street, late in the evening, and watch the fireworks over the Castle…and it’s just perfect. The last trip my hubby and I took, we laughed more than I can remember laughing in a year – which leads me to my next “revelation.” And that will be in the next post…

The Face We Show The World

What  face do you show the world? I was thinking about this the other day, as I was trying to remember yet another password combination for one of my "online identities." Most of us have the "work" face, or personality, and then perhaps another "face" that we use with personal friends and family. Those are often two very different roles, and they can require different facets of our personality.
But what if it goes deeper than that? I use my "real" name on Facebook, and I have friends from work, from church, my parents, my kids, and others who know the professional and personal sides of my life. But I also have a Twitter account with just  a username - and I use that account for most of my contacts with friends and acquaintances in the publishing world, who don't know me in "real" life. I wouldn't necessarily want my boss or my pastor (or my parents!) on my Twitter feed....
I have a blog (in fact, I have three), and each of them involves a separate facet of my life -- I use this blog to comment on random thoughts, politics, life, etc. Mousegal's Dreams is a family oriented blog, and I post pictures and personal thoughts. And StarryEyedTravel on WordPress is a travel commentary, leftover from my days as a travel agent. I should do more with that blog, and perhaps someday I will.
I have no problem keeping all of my "identities" straight, but it bothers me sometimes when I am commenting on someone's blog, and I realize that they only know me from an email (ladyb67) or Twitter (Mousegal) and now I'm leaving a comment with a Blogger identity, which will be completely different. I briefly thought that I need to create some sort of master signature, listing all of my sites and screen names...but wouldn't that defeat the purpose?

Chill

Quiet time is so important, and we get so little of it. There are moments when I thrive on adrenaline and chaos, accomplishing more when I'm busy, but if you live your entire life a lightspeed, you never have time for reflection. How do you know you are on the right path if you never take the time to listen to that "still, small voice" within?

At this, the traditional time for reviewing the year that has gone before, and preparing our plans (resolutions, if you will) for next year, I'm taking the time to decide what is really important to me, and what I want to achieve. There are some changes in store, but I believe that every aspect of my life will be better as a result.

Bus Etiquette

Observations from the front lines of American culture: Walt Disney World during Christmas break....riding the bus.

Rule #1: If there is a female passenger on the bus between the ages of 0 and 113, and you are a male over the age of 10, your butt should not be in a seat while the lady stands. If you are sitting, I am going to assume you are being (or were) raised by barnyard animals.

Rule #2: If someone else is a gentleman, and rises to give his seat to your wife and child, this does not mean that you plop your (male) butt into the seat. You idiot.

Rule #3: Just because you have paid for a theme park ticket or a meal for your toddler, when they are on a crowded bus they do not NEED a seat to themselves. You could hold them on your lap so that another adult could sit down. Do you not like your child well enough to hold them on your lap? And your child certainly does not need to be walking around into other people's seats while the bus is moving....

Common courtesy people...has it gone out of fashion? And why are so many men happy to let me (a lady) be the gentleman for them? Three times this week I've been the one to give up my seat so an older lady or child could sit down, while men stayed in their seats. Yep, barnyard animals. Somewhere Rhett and Ashley are turning over in their graves.