Reflections on Being "Too Busy"

Sometimes I complain about being "too busy." But, when I get right down to it, no one chooses what I do (well, for the most part) except for me. So, evidently I choose to be "too busy." Commitments to ideas and to projects and to dreams and to goals and to people that I care about may at times be overwhelming, but they are choices. Get on with it, Rosemary. There are a lot of things you really want to do. (Now, if Luke will just arrive.....)

Time Has Flown By & There is Much to Say - Here's a Start

Sometimes life gets way too complicated and I fail to stop to reflect & share what's going on. Now I'll try to catch up with comments on the super L.A. County FairKids Program; the shared enjoyment of an evening with friends while collecting (for the 2008 season at least) on an annual football game wager; the anticipatory pleasure in a baby shower; the joy of the "It's Cool in the Furnace" production at Claremont UCC; the fun culmination of an educational, creative, Spell-a-thon fundraiser for Allen Avenue Elementary School; the genuine taste treat of a Robek's Raspberry Romance smoothie; the shared "pain" of retinal detachment scleral buckling surgery; the concern about friends who are ill; the "can't wait to see pictures" of a grandson's 3rd birthday; and, the excitement about a soon-to-arrive grandchild.

All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena

Today I attended All Saints Church for the first time. While I'm a dedicated member of the United Church of Christ, I grew up in the Episcopal Church. From that time, interwoven in my life are many roots & family traditions & experiences that are an integral part of who I am. At All Saints, I experienced an exciting, vibrant, welcoming place of worship. Their witness of interest, concern, & action around the predominant issues in our society today is both inspiring & awe-inspiring. Thanks be to God.

Waiting

Today I find myself frustrated by the whole ethos of "waiting." We wait to go, we wait to get in, we wait to leave, we wait for people to arrive, we wait for people to leave, we wait for a baby to come (that's probably the primary key to this feeling - Maria's baby is due SOON, so we're all waiting for Luke's arrival.), we can't wait to get home, we wait for answers, we wait for information, we wait for a special call, we wait for an anticipated letter or message, we wait for "something," and often we only have the feeling of disquiet, but no answer.

"Disney employs more than 75 industrial engineers who help the company with queue management at its parks around the world," said Marilyn Waters, director of media relations at Walt Disney Imagineering. Is it comforting to know that our "waiting" is carefully programmed?

"Fair play -- or the idea of first come, first served -- is at the heart of most successful queues. It's one of the reasons most banks, airlines and fast-food restaurants have switched from several open lines that force customers to choose the line they think is moving fastest, to a single serpentine line, which guarantees first come, first served," an authority on waiting has said.

So, I guess the bottom line about "waiting" is that we simply don't want to do it because there is always that nagging posssibility that our waiting won't end. Or, perhaps we like the "waiting" for precisely that reason: we don't want this moment, this time, this experience, this relationship to end.

Hmmm, maybe I've answered why I'm "waiting."

Today is "National Grammar Day."

If you are fascinated by grammar and its use or misuse, then you will want to check out this website.

http://nationalgrammarday.com/

Martha Brockenbrough, founder of the Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar (SPOGG) and author of "Things That Make Us [Sic]," has declared today National Grammar Day. Visit her site to find exciting ways to celebrate. While you're there, scroll through her site for many connections to a wide variety of resources about grammar.

If you want a daily tip about grammar, subscribe to "Grammar Girl." Each day you'll get an email with a brief explanation in response to a question sent in by a reader.

Children's Books

For years I have collected autographed children's books. My interest was first captured by Michael Hague's illustrations and I have come to love the diverse approaches to illustrating books for children. I treasure my collection and am loving sharing it with my grandchildren.

The Henderson/Tucker Family Visit, Feb. 2009

The Kansas Henderson crew came to see all of us in Claremont for a fun week that included lots of playing, Claire’s 3rd birthday, a trip to the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific, wall climbing (of the fake rock sort), lots of playing, riding in Grandpa Butch’s Model A, lots of playing, running through the water at Victoria Gardens, lots of playing, and a ton of great family time for everyone. It was wonderful!

Check out the family pictures here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/r.henderson818/FamilyInCAFeb2009?authkey=Gv1sRgCM6T_IzClPum0AE#