It seems to me that lately every few weeks I hear that someone I know and love has been diagnosed with cancer. Mr. Blue, my principal for 18 years, has lung cancer and a spot on his brain. Today I learned that Mr. Capps, the assistant principal for 19 years, has lung cancer. My friend Sharyl is still undergoing treatment for lung cancer; Natalie O'Dell is again undergoing chemo for cancer in her stomach.
I have been a American Cancer Society volunteer for several years both in Tecumseh, OKC, and even at an event in Washington D. C. I know we are making great strides in research, so I will continue to raise money and volunteer, but I wish there was a way to speed up the research so that my friends could be helped now. The strangest thing to me is that none of these people were smokers. I'm not sure about Mr. Blue and Mr. Capps, but I know Sharyl never smoked. I do know that neither of the men have been smokers for the almost twenty years that I have known them.
I think our environment is killing us. My friend and I were talking about playing outside when the DDT truck used to come around to spray for mosquitos when we were kids. We didn't get a warning; we didn't run in the house. She said she used to ride her bicycle behind the truck.
When I think of all the chemicals we are exposed to, it is frightening. The wax stripper that the custodians use reeks. It couldn't be good to breath that stuff in; however, when I taught summer school, I breathed it in every day. I have seen some of the custodians wear masks, but not all. They should be required to wear them.
One thing that Ron Webb, who died of lung cancer this spring, James Blue, and Roy Capps had in common (besides the building that I work in) is that they all coached for many years. The herbicides and pesticides used on baseball and football fields can't be healthy for us to breath in.
Even when we go to the mall, we walk by the nail salons and smell that horrible chemical smell that permeates the area. I am sensitive to harmful chemicals because my sister, Phyllis, would still be alive today if she hadn't been exposed to barilium and asbestos at Tinker, so I try not to put myself in harms way. How do you avoid it completely?
Maybe someday we will know the source of all cancer and be able to avoid carcenogens, but until then, we need to use our good judgement.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Unexpected Blessing
I learned a valuable lesson today about unmerited favor. I went to my Ardmore class, left the house at 7:30 and arrived about 15 minutes before class was to start. I was tired already and dreading the fact that I would be doing this every Monday and Tuesday the entire month of July. When I got there, I found that there were only 4 students in the class. One drives two hours, I drove and hour and 45 minutes, the professor drove from east of Norman and two ladies were from Plainview, outside of Ardmore. Well, she gave us our syllabus, explained everything, and then told us we would meet once in two weeks and again in four weeks. What a thrill--a gift that was completely unexpected. Something that I was dreading is not going to happen. I have quite a bit of work to do for the class, but instead of being on the road eight hours each week, I can spend those eight hours in front of the computer doing the assignments that I would have had to do anyway.
July is going to be the first full month I have had off in at least five years because I have either gone to summer school or taught summer school. I'm going to cherish each day, and if I start griping about my class, I want someone to remind me that it could be much worse. Accountability partners out there, hold me to it.
July is going to be the first full month I have had off in at least five years because I have either gone to summer school or taught summer school. I'm going to cherish each day, and if I start griping about my class, I want someone to remind me that it could be much worse. Accountability partners out there, hold me to it.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Disturbing Movie
Last week I saw The Soloist with Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. Both are such terrific actors. In this movie Foxx played a real character, Nathaniel Ayers, who lives in Los Angeles. He is a gifted musician who attended Julliard for two years. During his second year he began hearing voices and could no longer play with the orchestra. At the beginning of the movie, he is homeless and playing a violin with only two strings. Robert Downey Jr. plays a reporter who tries to help him. He begins writing stories about him for the newspaper and gets a cello donated. He tries to help Nathaniel, tries to get medication for him, gets him an apartment, introduces him to musicians of influence in LA. At the end of the movie, statements appeared on the screen that told that there are 90,000 homeless people in Los Angeles. That's three times the population of Shawnee. This is America. That shouldn't be, but the movie pointed out that Nathaniel had family who had tried to help him. He needed daily medication, but there was no way to be certain that he would take it if he had it.
I haven't been able to get this movie off my mind.
I have heard that most homeless people are there by choice or because of mental illness. I am so thankful for the people like those in the movie that provide meals and services for these people, but it seems that we should do more.
I guess that's why I avoid movies like this, you know, movies that make us see the grim realities of genocide, poverty, homelessness, It took me years to get up the courage to watch Schlinder's List, and I have yet to watch Slumdog Millionaire. When I see stories that I know depict things that are still going on, I am so troubled that I can't get it off my mind. The thing that disturbs me is that I don't do anything about it. I just get distressed. I don't go to OKC or even Shawnee to see if I can help the homeless. I think I am afraid of experiencing what Robert Downey Jr's character discovered. Helping these people is frustrating, disappointing, dirty, eye-opening, and heart breaking because you become emotionally involved. That's what I avoid, emotional involvement. I will write a check, donate clothes, shoes, blankets, etc., but I don't go to the shelter.
This year my niece took some snacks and school supplies to a homeless shelter in OKC for the school age children who live there.
I have been too blessed in my life. I can't even imagine not being able to provide a home, clothing, and an after-school snack for my children.
I haven't been able to get this movie off my mind.
I have heard that most homeless people are there by choice or because of mental illness. I am so thankful for the people like those in the movie that provide meals and services for these people, but it seems that we should do more.
I guess that's why I avoid movies like this, you know, movies that make us see the grim realities of genocide, poverty, homelessness, It took me years to get up the courage to watch Schlinder's List, and I have yet to watch Slumdog Millionaire. When I see stories that I know depict things that are still going on, I am so troubled that I can't get it off my mind. The thing that disturbs me is that I don't do anything about it. I just get distressed. I don't go to OKC or even Shawnee to see if I can help the homeless. I think I am afraid of experiencing what Robert Downey Jr's character discovered. Helping these people is frustrating, disappointing, dirty, eye-opening, and heart breaking because you become emotionally involved. That's what I avoid, emotional involvement. I will write a check, donate clothes, shoes, blankets, etc., but I don't go to the shelter.
This year my niece took some snacks and school supplies to a homeless shelter in OKC for the school age children who live there.
I have been too blessed in my life. I can't even imagine not being able to provide a home, clothing, and an after-school snack for my children.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Thank you for the Rain
It rained here this morning. I don't have any idea how much, but it rained. I learned something about myself a couple of years ago when we had an extended drought. I need rain. It doesn't matter that we have plenty of water; I don't breathe well when everything is dry and cracked. When I woke up this morning, I heard a familiar little ping, ping on the vent over our air conditioner. It sounded so good, I wanted to stay in bed and just listen to it. I guess it was a hit and miss rain because on my way to church, it was obvious that not everyone got the rain.
Why is it that I can water my flowers and vegetables daily, and it isn't as effective as a little rain from above. Could it be because the rain comes from the creator of the flowers and vegetables?
We had a video this morning in church from a guy in Simi Valley, California. His sermon was about the power of the Creator. He made a couple of really funny statements that are so obvious that we shouldn't have to be reminded. God is the Creator, and He can do what he wants. We can't create anything, no matter how hard we try. Then he quoted an old preacher who continued that by saying, "It is God's Universe, He can do what he wants; You may think you know a better way, but you don't have a universe." I have so many times thought I had some control of my life only to find that God is in ontrol; I have questions for Him, but I don't have to have the answers while I'm here on earth. All will be clear someday.
Why is it that I can water my flowers and vegetables daily, and it isn't as effective as a little rain from above. Could it be because the rain comes from the creator of the flowers and vegetables?
We had a video this morning in church from a guy in Simi Valley, California. His sermon was about the power of the Creator. He made a couple of really funny statements that are so obvious that we shouldn't have to be reminded. God is the Creator, and He can do what he wants. We can't create anything, no matter how hard we try. Then he quoted an old preacher who continued that by saying, "It is God's Universe, He can do what he wants; You may think you know a better way, but you don't have a universe." I have so many times thought I had some control of my life only to find that God is in ontrol; I have questions for Him, but I don't have to have the answers while I'm here on earth. All will be clear someday.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Michael Jackson; Farrah Fawcett
Today marks the deaths of two celebrities--Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett.
Farrah has fought courageously her battle with cancer. Today they have been showing pictures of her when she was on Charlie's Angels. She was absolutely beautiful. I remember some of the kids in Tony's class bought him the famous red swimsuit poster of her for Christmas one year. He never missed an episode. Not very many people can claim a hairstyle, but we all had Farrah Fawcett flips at one time or another. Rachel (on friends) and Dorothy Hamil are the only other two people I know of who had such copycats all over the nation. She has been very open and public with her illness which is something I admire. I hope she encouraged every person who is battling cancer with hope and an example of bravery. She was a devout Catholic and is whole and healthy in heaven right now.
Then there's Michael Jackson. I remember when I was a teenager and The Jackson Five came back onto the scene. He was the cutest, most talented little guy. Watching him turn into what he has become in the last twenty years has been so sad.
This year I used his videos from when he was in his prime, "Beat It" and "Thriller" to teach my students a lesson about an Edgar Allen Poe poem called "The Haunted Palace" The poem describes a palace that was once beautiful, with clear blue skies, trees, and flowers, beautiful music, and happy times. Then evil things take over, and the palace becomes haunted. Everything dies, the atmosphere reflects nothing good or beautiful, and the music is discordant. The poem is said to be an allegory of the human mind that starts out beautiful and pure, and evil things take over. The high school students of today only know Wacko Jacko, the strange, physically distorted man who was accused of child abuse. They are shocked to see him as the beautiful, talented dancer in the video.
Today has made me think about the day Elvis died. I was in college. As soon as I knew Phyllis was home from work, I called her and asked her if she has heard the news. She was already crying uncontrollably. She had been a fan of Elvis since he first became famous. My best memories of movies when I was a kid were Elvis movies. We would see them as soon as they came out. I was a little too young for the Elvis mania, but having an older sister had its advantages. We owned all the albums, saw all the movies, and Phyllis even took Mom and Janna to his concerts.
A couple of years before Phyllis died, Fred and Phyllis went to Graceland. She fell on the sidewalk and broke her arm, but she went ahead and went on the tour. Every picture of her has her holding her arm and smiling.
Michael Jackson's life has reminded me of Elvis. Both were too famous. They couldn't just put on a ballcap and go out into to community. They were swarmed everywhere they went. I remember that Elvis used to rent a theater and watch a movie at midnight because he couldn't go without causing too much havoc. That's no way to live.
Farrah has fought courageously her battle with cancer. Today they have been showing pictures of her when she was on Charlie's Angels. She was absolutely beautiful. I remember some of the kids in Tony's class bought him the famous red swimsuit poster of her for Christmas one year. He never missed an episode. Not very many people can claim a hairstyle, but we all had Farrah Fawcett flips at one time or another. Rachel (on friends) and Dorothy Hamil are the only other two people I know of who had such copycats all over the nation. She has been very open and public with her illness which is something I admire. I hope she encouraged every person who is battling cancer with hope and an example of bravery. She was a devout Catholic and is whole and healthy in heaven right now.
Then there's Michael Jackson. I remember when I was a teenager and The Jackson Five came back onto the scene. He was the cutest, most talented little guy. Watching him turn into what he has become in the last twenty years has been so sad.
This year I used his videos from when he was in his prime, "Beat It" and "Thriller" to teach my students a lesson about an Edgar Allen Poe poem called "The Haunted Palace" The poem describes a palace that was once beautiful, with clear blue skies, trees, and flowers, beautiful music, and happy times. Then evil things take over, and the palace becomes haunted. Everything dies, the atmosphere reflects nothing good or beautiful, and the music is discordant. The poem is said to be an allegory of the human mind that starts out beautiful and pure, and evil things take over. The high school students of today only know Wacko Jacko, the strange, physically distorted man who was accused of child abuse. They are shocked to see him as the beautiful, talented dancer in the video.
Today has made me think about the day Elvis died. I was in college. As soon as I knew Phyllis was home from work, I called her and asked her if she has heard the news. She was already crying uncontrollably. She had been a fan of Elvis since he first became famous. My best memories of movies when I was a kid were Elvis movies. We would see them as soon as they came out. I was a little too young for the Elvis mania, but having an older sister had its advantages. We owned all the albums, saw all the movies, and Phyllis even took Mom and Janna to his concerts.
A couple of years before Phyllis died, Fred and Phyllis went to Graceland. She fell on the sidewalk and broke her arm, but she went ahead and went on the tour. Every picture of her has her holding her arm and smiling.
Michael Jackson's life has reminded me of Elvis. Both were too famous. They couldn't just put on a ballcap and go out into to community. They were swarmed everywhere they went. I remember that Elvis used to rent a theater and watch a movie at midnight because he couldn't go without causing too much havoc. That's no way to live.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
June classes are over! Yea!!!
I'm celebrating in my head tonight. My June coursework is completed; I have to go to class Monday one more time, and then my days in Ada are over. I realize that two days a week in Ardmore in July are still ahead of me, but I am still celebrating. The worst part is that it is so hot that it's miserable just going from the car to the building. I'm going to the movie tonight at 9:40 to celebrate.
I also went to the library to pick up some book to read FOR PLEASURE. The irony did not escape me that I have not been able to read for pleasure because I am studying to be a reading specialist.
I don't know who is reading this, but one of the most interesting things I studied this month was an article about people who were struggling readers as children but became successful adults. I expected to find that all of these people found ways around reading, but that was not the case. They have all become very good readers because at an early age they developed a passion for some subject. The people she studied have become doctors, lawyers, physicists, scientists-and all have become experts in their field.
How can we get kids today to read about their passions. If their passion is politics, they will watch CNN; if their passion is animals, they will watch the discovery channel.
Reading has been such an escape and a pleasure for me for my entire life that I can't imagine not wanting to read. I have a reading vocabulary far beyond the vocabulary that I speak because I read. That is one gift I wish I could pass on to my students.
I also went to the library to pick up some book to read FOR PLEASURE. The irony did not escape me that I have not been able to read for pleasure because I am studying to be a reading specialist.
I don't know who is reading this, but one of the most interesting things I studied this month was an article about people who were struggling readers as children but became successful adults. I expected to find that all of these people found ways around reading, but that was not the case. They have all become very good readers because at an early age they developed a passion for some subject. The people she studied have become doctors, lawyers, physicists, scientists-and all have become experts in their field.
How can we get kids today to read about their passions. If their passion is politics, they will watch CNN; if their passion is animals, they will watch the discovery channel.
Reading has been such an escape and a pleasure for me for my entire life that I can't imagine not wanting to read. I have a reading vocabulary far beyond the vocabulary that I speak because I read. That is one gift I wish I could pass on to my students.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
God's love for us
Today's sermon was about God's love, but it was the comments Aaron Baker made before the sermon that triggered my thoughts for this blog. Aaron told us that God enjoyed watching us enjoy life. The only thing I can relate that to is how much fun it is for me to see my kids enjoying themselves.
All three of my children were active in school activities, so active that we were constantly on the go, but I loved every minute of it.
Jason had three loves in high school: He loved basketball, cuttting, and ag. All you had to do was spend time watching him participating in any of these activities, and his enthusiasm was contagious. My memories of watching him compete in cutting horse competitions are some of the best. Jason was one with the animal-which is what you want to be-and put his all into the two and a half minute ride. His focus was unmistakable. The days were long, and I had two younger kids, but when he was competing for High School Rodeo, I would go and sit all day to watch him for maybe ten minutes total. Of course, this led him into his career. He was humble when he showed as a kid and as an adult. He trained one horse who went on to win two World Championships, but I didn't know it until I received a sympathy card from the horse's owners. They told me that they gave credit to Jason for their horse's success. He love basketball and some of my best recent memories were from my sister Phyllis's house when Jason, Jeff, Marty, Monty, Carson, and Evan would get a game going and knock one another around. I was always afraid one of the older guys would get hurt because they held nothing back. As for his ag experiences, Jason love his ag chapter, and made friends from all over the state through that organization. When he went to Connors, he called me after the first week and said, "Mom, I love it here; everyone here is just like me." I didn't know if that was good or not, but I do know that he made some life-long friendships there.
Allison also had three passions. She loved watching and playing sports, cheerleading, and just hanging out with her friends and cousins. I was blessed to get to observe her in all three situations because I taught at the same high school. I always felt bad for Tony because he didn't get to see our cheerful daughter interract with her classmates. She laughed (probably too much) at the antics of her friends and was a true friend to all kinds of people. She loved and still loves to watch sports. She never missed a game from her freshman to senior year. She even went when she had mono and when she had just had her wisdom teeth cut out. Puffy cheeks and all. The most fun thing to watch her do was cheer. She was a natural--since she went to her first cheerleading camp at age three--she didn't really have a choice. The best thing for me to watch was the way she worked so hard to improve. She was a very strong base and was dedicated to prefecting stunts, her jumps started out as average, but by the time she was a senior, she had the prettiest toe touch of all the girls. She truly enjoyed herself.
Carson's passions were just as varied. He loved sports, especially football and baseball, and music, and he was extremely dedicated to being better at all three. I loved watching every football game he played, but my favorites were the ones when he obviously had to get out of his comfort zone to play above his ability. When he was a sophomore, he had to play linebacker against Ada, and he did a wonderful job. We won that game, and the joy that boy exhibited was so much fun to watch. Carson has always been reserved, quiet, so seeing him celebrate after a game was a joy for me.
He was a natural leader and received the leadership award from both the baseball and football coaches when he was a senior. They both told me stories of Carson giving fire-up speeches in the locker room or dugout.
Although I loved watching him play sports, my most joyous moments was hearing him sing and play the guitar. I didn't realize how much I missed it until recently he played for a friend's wedding, and I heard him again. He has such a talent.
Now I say all of that to connect back to my opening comment. If my children can give me joy when I watch them do the things they love, don't you think it brings God joy to watch us do the things we love? I don't think he enjoys us going to church any more than he enjoys watching us do the other things that honor Him with our lives. Jimmy says often, "Do whatever you do as unto the Lord." I am going to try to remember that when I'm gardening, reading, cooking, studying, making a portfolio, shopping. If I am enjoying myself, God is glorified.
All three of my children were active in school activities, so active that we were constantly on the go, but I loved every minute of it.
Jason had three loves in high school: He loved basketball, cuttting, and ag. All you had to do was spend time watching him participating in any of these activities, and his enthusiasm was contagious. My memories of watching him compete in cutting horse competitions are some of the best. Jason was one with the animal-which is what you want to be-and put his all into the two and a half minute ride. His focus was unmistakable. The days were long, and I had two younger kids, but when he was competing for High School Rodeo, I would go and sit all day to watch him for maybe ten minutes total. Of course, this led him into his career. He was humble when he showed as a kid and as an adult. He trained one horse who went on to win two World Championships, but I didn't know it until I received a sympathy card from the horse's owners. They told me that they gave credit to Jason for their horse's success. He love basketball and some of my best recent memories were from my sister Phyllis's house when Jason, Jeff, Marty, Monty, Carson, and Evan would get a game going and knock one another around. I was always afraid one of the older guys would get hurt because they held nothing back. As for his ag experiences, Jason love his ag chapter, and made friends from all over the state through that organization. When he went to Connors, he called me after the first week and said, "Mom, I love it here; everyone here is just like me." I didn't know if that was good or not, but I do know that he made some life-long friendships there.
Allison also had three passions. She loved watching and playing sports, cheerleading, and just hanging out with her friends and cousins. I was blessed to get to observe her in all three situations because I taught at the same high school. I always felt bad for Tony because he didn't get to see our cheerful daughter interract with her classmates. She laughed (probably too much) at the antics of her friends and was a true friend to all kinds of people. She loved and still loves to watch sports. She never missed a game from her freshman to senior year. She even went when she had mono and when she had just had her wisdom teeth cut out. Puffy cheeks and all. The most fun thing to watch her do was cheer. She was a natural--since she went to her first cheerleading camp at age three--she didn't really have a choice. The best thing for me to watch was the way she worked so hard to improve. She was a very strong base and was dedicated to prefecting stunts, her jumps started out as average, but by the time she was a senior, she had the prettiest toe touch of all the girls. She truly enjoyed herself.
Carson's passions were just as varied. He loved sports, especially football and baseball, and music, and he was extremely dedicated to being better at all three. I loved watching every football game he played, but my favorites were the ones when he obviously had to get out of his comfort zone to play above his ability. When he was a sophomore, he had to play linebacker against Ada, and he did a wonderful job. We won that game, and the joy that boy exhibited was so much fun to watch. Carson has always been reserved, quiet, so seeing him celebrate after a game was a joy for me.
He was a natural leader and received the leadership award from both the baseball and football coaches when he was a senior. They both told me stories of Carson giving fire-up speeches in the locker room or dugout.
Although I loved watching him play sports, my most joyous moments was hearing him sing and play the guitar. I didn't realize how much I missed it until recently he played for a friend's wedding, and I heard him again. He has such a talent.
Now I say all of that to connect back to my opening comment. If my children can give me joy when I watch them do the things they love, don't you think it brings God joy to watch us do the things we love? I don't think he enjoys us going to church any more than he enjoys watching us do the other things that honor Him with our lives. Jimmy says often, "Do whatever you do as unto the Lord." I am going to try to remember that when I'm gardening, reading, cooking, studying, making a portfolio, shopping. If I am enjoying myself, God is glorified.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
