Finally

For those of you who may be fellow Lost fans out there, I offer this "Final Episode" that aired at the Consumer Electronic Show CES in Vegas. The joke about CES is in the beginning, but my favorite part is when Henry Gale reveals to Sayid what it has all been about.

Bt Sft, Whit Lit Threw Ynder Wndw Br8ks?

I absolutely had to share this.

I Know This Much Is True

I sank up to my chin in the hot tub and let the bubbles foam around me. From my view on the cabin deck all I could see were the tiny lights on the mountains that jutted up in the distance. Wispy tendrils of steam danced on top of the water and, for the first time in days, I was finally alone.

I had a long, long talk with God. I argued, I made suggestions, I outlined possibilities. Everything remained silent.

I stared at the tall mountains across from me. They sat there and offered no inspiration. In exhaustion, I rested my head against the edge of the tub and confronted the real question about the matter – Do I trust God with the outcome?

I do.

Well, then.

And the Stars Above

Lately my mental state has resembled a junkyard of randomness – the flotsam and jetsam of fragmented thoughts and ideas. The main thing on my mind at the moment, the idea that consumes most of my waking hours, is that little piece of advice Mom gave me from the last post. You know, the one that asked, “Is this something worth fighting for?”

I’ve been mulling that over a lot. I’m not trying to be coy about the situation or ultra-mysterious, but it’s something I’d rather keep private for now. What I decide to do with it could make a major impact on my life or destroy some things I hold very dear.

I’ve taken to looking pensively out of windows, and I’m not the kind of person pensive looks good on.

Anyway, that’s what has been going on. Also, I’m heading off to Gatlinburg this weekend for a singles retreat. Except this year it’s mostly just a girl’s retreat, but we intend to have fun. Maybe it’s just what I need to clear out all this mental wreckage and start off with a fresh slate. Perhaps startling insights will fall on me like thunderbolts from heaven. Then again, that sounds a mite dangerous. Maybe they’ll just gently land on my head and provide clear direction.

In other news, this apparently is National De-Lurking Week. And if you’re still reading along after all that nonsense above, I urge you to De-Lurk! Let yourself be known! I’d love to know that I’m not just writing into the ether. (Note to self: Do most writers have narcissistic tendencies? Explore theme at later date.) My comments are set to moderate so there will be a delay in them showing up, but don’t let that deter you.

And have a wonderful weekend.

Mama Said

As my relationship with my Mother has moved from a strictly Daughter/Mom role to that of friends, I've discovered that her advice resonates a little bit more than it used to. For example:

At age 15:
"Those shoes are going to cause blisters."
"What? No way."

At age 18:
"Come here and let me show you how to reconcile a bank statement."
"What? No way."

At age 22:
"Don't you think that it's time to just call this relationship quits?"
"What? No way."

At age 28:
"Moving to Scotland is going to be hard."
"What? No way."

And so on and so forth. The great thing about time, however, is that it gives you a chance to start to look back over the garden of your life, examine the flowers, pull out the weeds, and take note of which plants are better suited to your climate. You pay attention to which ones should not be planted in certain seasons and others that need a little extra effort and care. It's also helpful to speak with an expert gardener.

So when I had a chance to use Mom as a sounding board this Christmas regarding some things in my life, I actually listened to her. She has common sense in spades, and I can certainly use a little more of that. She said two things in particular that I plan to take with me into the New Year:

1. "Is this something worth fighting for?"

And,

2. "You're over committed. Pick three things you love and drop the rest."

See, very simple yet sage advice for this harried little chick.

And I got a bonus from Grandma Sugar:
"Those heels are going to mess up your feet - look at mine."