No Easter Bonnet for Me.....

For years, I tried to "keep up with the Jones".  I have given it up.  I much prefer to be me and if 'you' don't like it, too bad.  For years I was afraid that 'you wouldn't like me'.  I have given that up.  Your opinion is not the measure I use to measure my success. 

I used to worry that my 'Easter Bonnet' was not as good as yours.  I worred that my clothes were not nice enough.  I worried that my kids would not be accepted by yours..... 

Not so any more.  I am too old for that.  My life is half over.  I can't do anything about the past, but I can effect the future.  I can be happy with what I am.  I will be happy and content with what I am.

My 'Easter Bonnet' is as good as yours.  I know it.

The forgiveness I have received for my past is the reason I am able to face my future. 

Thank you.  You know who you are.....

Tired. So tired....

Tired.  I must have been tired, but did not know how tired.... Today, the hospital hosted a screening for student (teen) athletes to look for heart (cardiac) problems.  I would bet that everyone knows, or knows of, a youth who simply 'dropped dead' from heart problems on the .....  football field, basketball court, baseball diamond..... from cardiac trouble.  These kids are the reason Automated Electrical Defibrillators were invented and have been so promoted, although these AED's also are effective in other people.

In any case, I was manning the Stroke Booth.....  did you know that the youth (and their parents) make a wide berth for a Stroke Booth, although, I will give them, they were very gracious when I approached them with the literature.

And when I was finished telling them that children were also at risk, they were much more attentive and asking questions.  To a man, every teen was surprised by the information.  One gentleman told me he had had three strokes.  I told him he likely knew as much as did I about strokes, but he still wanted the literature.

May is National Stroke Month.  I will be so busy..... but that is a subject for another day.

I came home, fell asleep on the sofa, and slept for 4 *yes, 4* hours.  I must have been tired.

Well.......  No good deed goes unpunished.

Building Bridges and Relationships

Have you eve watched kids on a playground or in the back yard?  There is a hierarchy of 'superiority'.  It is the same with a flock of chickens.  Leaders and followers.... and those poor *insert appropriate noun here* who have been marginalized.  You can always recognize them.... they are the ones with no feathers on their heads or between their wings....  Poor things.

People are the same.  We recognize the social hierarchy.  And those poor *insert appropriate noun here* who have been marginalized by societal requirements.  Those who are not attractive enough.  Not smart enough.  Not *insert appropriate adjective here*.

Yesterday, I spent some time people watching at the Mall.  (This is the BEST place to learn about human nature.)  Anyway, we were raising money for Autism Speaks and awareness about Autism and to publicize the Autism Speaks Walk on April 30th.  *Plug for Autism following:  If you are in the Permian Basin on April 30th - Come out to Mission Fitness around 0900 and join our walk.  Advertisement ends here.*

This couple with a young boy walked up, and asked about what we were doing.  I told them and the mother/wife told me.... "My son is autistic."  I said, "Oh, COOL!  You will want to come out to the Walk" -- and proceeded to tell her about the Walk.

Now, there is some question whether that was the most appropriate comment I could have made......  Was it COOL that this child has autism?  I think everyone is blessed (or cursed) with whatever it is that makes them --- them.  So, in a sense, it is cool that this child is autistic.  For whatever reason.... he is special.  Unique!  A one of a kind. 

And isn't that COOL?