Thursday, August 03, 2006

Geoff gave me a digital camera as an early Christmas gift, December 2002. I looked back at the thousands of images I've captured and pulled out just a few of Max. I guess I need a scanner, if I'm going to share the earliest memories.


May 20, 2003. Max and Diego were inseperable friends.


July 22, 2003. You might say 'Max and Legos are inseperable' as well.


December 14, 2003. Sledding at the Wild Animal Park has become a favorite winter tradition. I think this was our second year on the slopes.


Max isn't always in a red T-shirt with Denim shorts. For Deanne and James' February 6th, 2004 wedding he looked quite handsome in his vest suit.


December 8, 2004. Max is a wonderful big brother.


March 1, 2006. Time is passing quickly. I'm glad we can enjoy the memories of simple pleasures.
Anne, I keep having a mind conversation with you about "Path to Freedom." The conversation has not left my mind, 'cause *duh*. You know how it is. I found "Path to Freedom" years ago and loved it, and envied the whole scene and I meant to become a faithful devotee, then lost track of it, so I am glad you have been waving it at me. Today I am quiting PopCap online games, I mean it, so now I can devote more time to family, home, and reading "Path to Freedom."
"Happy breakfast to you, happy breakfast to you...!" That was the song I was greeted with this morning, when Max brought me breakfast in bed. Yes, my now eight year old boy brought me breakfast that he prepared himself. The breakfast was entirely his idea and effort. He cooked turkey sausages and set them on a plate next to a bowl of cereal and a glass of milk.

Today is Max's birthday, and how awesome is he? He is very awesome indeed. As I reflect on our journey, the good and the rough, I am thoroughly impressed, blessed and delighted to have Max in my life. Life challenges him in uncommon ways. He has done more than overcome obstacles; he is exceedingly thoughtful, intelligent and dear. I keep thinking of the day he was born. I held his small head in my palm, his body in my arm, and I can still feel the softness and warmth of it, and I relive the sensation and the wonder and the wish that I never forget the sweetness of that moment. From that day to this... life is good.

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

I guess the answer is: I should quit the diet coke. Yea, I am feeling deep and moody.

Personal dreams are not as important as daily responsibilities. I think dreams can be the inspiration for facing and meeting our responsibilities. For instance, I want a home of our own. I could get a house by signing a 50 year mortgage, but that only jeopardizes our security and compromises our peace of mind. I can't deny the sensibility of waiting, and while I wait, saving, planning and anticipating. My responsibilities successfully fulfilled will, hopefully, hasten a dream coming true.

Freedom is not a right, it is a privilege and a gift. There is no inherent, cosmic promise for freedom, though I wish it could be so. I wish we could all take off and see the world from a bicycle, or glide along tranquil rivers in green canoes. I wish there were no hunger, disease or war. By fortune or by effort I enjoy a great deal of freedom, and it's a daily struggle to balance in my heart and mind what freedom I am entitled to and what freedom I am accepting at the expense of others. I have worked for an hourly wage, and paid my own way. I have traded my skills for food and shelter, and I have been dependent on my parents, and friends. When we are dependent I think we must be aware that our freedom is compromised and that we are infringing on the freedom of those who support us, so in exchange we must nurture and support, show interest and care for our benefactors. It's not enough to expect our needs to be fulfilled, to insist on freedom and to demand of others what we are not willing to earn for ourselves. When we are able we must share our skills, our hearts and our time, so that all can enjoy the prospect of freedom.

Sunday, July 30, 2006

If you weren't here, then you missed the party. Okay, the party wasn't actually Here, because it rained here, so we moved to one of Max's favorite restaurants to celebrate his 8th birthday. Holly and Isabella were there and so were Rich and Nick, and Adam and Alex and William, Geoff and Maria and Me. We feasted, and Max opened his presents, and then we went to a park to light up the volcano cake and play the grabby game. It seems that when we plan a party and decorate the night before it causes climatic changes, but fortunately Max was able to overcome his disappointment and go with the new game plan, so I think we can call the event a success.

In a few days, when it is Max's actual birthday, Alex plans to make a second volcano cake... our volcano cakes are original and quite impressive, but we accept that there is room for improvement. We like the dry ice effect, but we need to adjust the natural disaster look. And later this month, when Tutu and Grampa Corm are here, we will make another attempt at having a Mt. Tiki-Soki sprinkler party with tiki bar and pizza... just for the thrill of it.

I enjoy sharing family news, but I am once again confronted with the two-headed beast of frustration: 1. I don't feel like I am reaching very many people, because I am either boring, or people don't care, or people don't know about Chickenblog. 2. I feel like there are some very strong subjects I want to address and I am not really opening up about a number of key topics affecting us. I realize not all subjects should be discussed over the internet. I had hoped that there could be more feedback, more dialogue, more reader response at Chickenblog... and thankfully there are a few people that exchange comments with me. I'm just thinking outloud... life is opening a lot of new and unsettling truths and maybe I just need to go find a couch and talk to someone. Sorry if I've made you uncomfortable, I'll post pictures later.

Questions...

1. Are our personal dreams more important than daily responsibilities?
2. Can a person live *freely* if they depend on other people's resources?
3. Should we be true to our own needs at the expense of others?
4. Does Diet Coke have more caffiene than regular Coke?