I Knew It!

Exercise can be bad for you!  This stunning article from the New York Times states that in some cases folks who exercised actually got worse in at least one of the measures related to heart disease: blood pressure, insulin levels, HDL cholesterol and/or triglycerides. 

OK I admit it.  I have never, ever - at least since my college P.E. class - engaged in regular, "gym quality", aerobic exercise. 

I mean, why risk it?!? 

;-)

The Hatfields and The McCoys

I'm watching this series on the History Channel. 

What turned men who fought alongside each other in the Civil War and who saved each other's lives to vow to wipe out each other's families with ever increasing violence and hatred?

Small things. Misunderstandings and feelings that whatever went wrong was the other guy's fault.  So easily avoided if we step back, chill out  and remember the "good stuff".

I am waiting for the last episode tonight.  Wake up guys, come to your senses!  But come to think of it, we don't hear much about any living Hatfields and McCoys these days do we??

:-(





 

The PBS Memorial Day Concert

     A great annual tradition in the Gold household!  God Bless Them All! 

My Soundtrack

There is an expression - "the soundtrack of our lives".  I am definitely not a huge music fan but over the years there have been songs that gave me inspiration, encouragement or just got my juices flowing ;-)

On my wedding day, I sat on the front porch day-dreaming with Neil Diamond's Cracklin' Rosie.

When I was just starting my career in IT I'd get motivated with Bruce Springsteen's Hungry Heart.

In the 80s, when I faced obstacles at work I would crank up Crowded House's Don't Dream It's Over  for encouragement to go into "battle".

When I prayed for a friend there was Jeff Buckley helping me with Hallelujah.

Of course none of these songs were about anything at all to do with what I was going through at the time but somehow their words and melodies were spot-on.

Today there's Kelly Clarkson's Stronger  (as in whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger).  Yep, definitely my new theme song ;-)

Dying Young

We all know death is inevitable.  It is something that happens to old people, people who have "had a good, long life" and left the world with a string of accomplishments and/or progeny. 

I was rather unaffected when my grandparents died in the 70s and even accepting when my dear parents passed away at 84 and 89.  But I felt something different when my best friend, someone I had loved and shared my life with since I was 16, passed away.  It hit me in a different way: how short life is!  How very few are our days, our opportunities to fulfill our dreams and to cherish our loved ones.  Stopping to smell the roses held new meaning.

Tonight I will say Kaddish for a young person, only 26.  I did not know her personally but I know she brought joy to the lives of others.  A lifetime of possibilities awaited her. 

May her memory be a blessing.

Why Complicate Life?

Most things are just not that complicated.  What you see is usually what you get.  If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck chances are it really is a duck.  

More words of wisdom can be found on Facebook like this right-on picture posted by a FB friend who posts them by the dozen.  This one hit home today -->

I uncomplicated my life today.  I wanted to hear something said so I asked for it.  Something I had said to another wasn't understood the way I had intended it so I explained.  I missed someone so I called.  I had questions so I asked. And of course I never miss the chance to say I love you!
;-)

The Gateway

Yesterday gal-pal Terri and I saw "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" at the venerable Gateway Theater in Fort Lauderdale.  Not an 18 screen or IMAX marvel, or a huge mall Cineplex, no, the Gateway caters to those movie-goers whose tastes run to Foreign Film Festival and Independent offerings. Of course it will also feature the latest blockbusters, just to pay the rent I'm sure. 

The Gateway is a jewel in an older, upscale, quirky part of town that is frequented by gay couples, over-educated college graduates and women-of-a-certain-age out on the town together (such as Terri and I).  The theater has a coziness, warmth and charm all its own and incidentally, the best popcorn ever created. 

Aptly named, the Gateway is truly a portal to another time.

Armed Forces

Last Saturday was Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day will be celebrated on May 28th.  I watch the PBS Memorial Day Concert every year with tears in my eyes and my charity dollars go to disabled and paralyzed veterans (God Bless Them).  Even in the Viet Nam war years (and subsequent similar actions) when I was horribly conflicted about what-the-hell-were-we-doing-there, I strongly supported our military.  In my opinion there are few, if any, higher callings.

I think seeing my future husband in his University of Illinois ROTC uniform and envisioning a glorious future of travel, adventure and financial security quickened my girlish heartbeat.  I am happy he never became 2nd Lieutenant cannon-fodder in Viet Nam but to this day I wish my life would have included being a military wife.  I am not sure why because Lord knows, it is not an easy life and the separations can be brutal. 

The rabbi mentioned in Torah study class that military personnel have preference over all others in some Jewish practices or laws.  Rightly so, I believe.  They are ones who sacrifice to protect us all. 

A young Facebook friend asked for prayers today for her husband who just arrived in Afghanistan.  God Bless him and all our service men and women (and our service K-9s too!)

Losing a Loved One

Facebook pal Adrianne (a sweetheart) wrote today that her fiance Ken has passed away from a heart attack.  I believe this was very sudden as she gave no indication of his being in poor health.  I am verklempt at this and another sad story that has gripped my emotions.

On December 21, 2011, I blogged a piece called "Second Act".  I talked about how happy it made me to see Adrianne's new engagement ring on her well worn hand.  A symbol of New Beginnings, even in the autumn of our years.

The loves in our life are not perfect but of course, neither are we.  Their smile warms our hearts, their laugh is the most beautiful sound, and we marvel at their unwavering support whether we are right or wrong, happy or sad, richer or poorer.  Everyone we love, or have loved in the past, is unique, irreplaceable, and holds a special place in our heart no matter how our "relationship" is defined by society or even by us.

a sad day....

The Good Father

I am reading (listening to) The Good Father, the second novel I've read this month whose theme is a father's perspective of events when his son commits a heinous crime.  Just coincidence...

This wayward lad's crime is to shoot and kill a beloved Presidential candidate.  An interesting twist on the story is that the father intersperses the history and psychological analysis of similar, non-fiction events - the Robert Kennedy assassination, the attempt on the life of Ronald Reagan, the Clock Tower massacre at Austin Texas and other unfortunate events.  What caused the perpetrators  to cross the line from sanity to insanity?  From "normal" (albeit quirky) to deranged?

Do we all harbor a psychotic gene just waiting for the wrong set of circumstances to push us over the edge?  Scary!  But it makes for a very interesting story...

Thank you Noah Hawley.