Thinking about tomorrow . . .

In 1969, I was living in New York City. One of the best years of my life. A year of feeling freer and safer then ever before and, in some ways ever since. While those of my generation were losing their lives in the war in Vietnam, I was enjoying a feeling of complete freedom and safety. While I never have and never will support war as an answer, the men and women who are willing to take a stand for this country by going where they are told to go and putting their lives in danger for our freedoms will always have my absolute complete support and gratitude.

It's interesting what our minds hang on to that we may not even realize is simmering there. Along my journey to mental wellness, I've read and read and read anything and everything I could find to help me on my way. It's interesting that the books that I've read that have given me the most help were written by a Zen Buddhist Monk who was born and raised in Vietnam, Thich Nhat Hanh. During the Vietnam war, he attended the Paris Peace Accords and thereafter was refused entry into his own country for supporting the Peace Accords. Thich Nhat Hanh was nominated for a Noble Peace Prize by Martin Luther King for his commitment to world peace. His writings are about creating peace through mindfulness. Being mindful of your words, your actions and your surroundings. Peace begins within each of us. Has the war of my generation been simmering in my mind all these years? Is that why I've been so drawn to this monk for answers? Does it help to know that there were those in Vietnam who were taking a stand against a war that caused so many to lose so much? Maybe so. What I know for sure, I'm grateful for Thich Nhat Hanh, his stand for Peace and his willingness to share that stand with the world no matter what it cost him.

Yesterday, with Memorial Day on my mind, I watched one of my all time favorite movies. A Few Good Men . . . there is a line in that movie that, yesterday, brought tears to my eyes . . . Demi Moore is asked, about the 2 Marines on trial . . . "Why do you like them so much?" She responds "Because they stand on a wall and they say 'nothing is going to hurt you tonight, not on my watch.'"

And so, this morning, I thank all those who have taken a stand for Peace by being peaceful and those who have been willing to "stand on a wall and say 'nothing is going to hurt you tonight, not on my watch.'" Maybe one day, all the citizens of the world will choose the way of Thich Nhat Hanh and find their own peace within and there will then be no reason for anyone to "stand on a wall and say 'nothing is going to hurt you tonight, not on my watch.'"

Tomorrow will be a day of peaceful reflection for me. A day of respect for those lost in all the wars, but especially the war of my generation. A day of mindfulness about what Vietnam cost me and a day of gratitude for what Vietnam has brought me.

God Bless America. Have a safe and mindful Memorial Day.

Hmmmmmmm!

Man: Doc, my brother’s crazy. He thinks he’s a chicken.
Psychiatrist: Well, why don’t you turn him in?
Man: I would, but I need the eggs.

- Woody Allen

Mother's Day Reflections

This pretty picture is from the Mother's Day card that was sent to me by my Princess Daugher, Laran, her husband Greg, their soon to be Princess Daughter Rylee Claire and their two sons (their dogs) Doby and Yankee! The Princess and I actually celebrated Mother's Day last Saturday, a trip to the beauty salon, makeup by YSL and lunch at Neimans. It was a fun day! Thanks Princess for the day, for the card and for being a very special You!

Last weekend, at a baby shower given for The Princesses (Laran and Rylee) by some close friends of Laran, Laran gave all the Hostesses, Hostess Gifts and she gave me a gift also. Part of my gift was a beautiful, jeweled Peacock picture frame which contained a quote she had chosen to put in the frame. Here's the quote. . .

"First of all she is my Mother, with a capital 'M';

she's something sacred to me.

I love her dearly...

She is also a good friend, someone I can talk openly with."

-- Sophia Loren

The quote is absolutely correct, First of all, I am Laran's Mother! Being given the gift of being "Laran's Mother" is what I love most about being Me! While raising Laran, I was always her Mother First, she always had lot's of friends but she only had one Mother. I always wanted to be what every child needs most, her Mother. Along the way we became friends which I don't believe would have happened if I hadn't been her Mother First!

While sitting here this morning, my own Mother pulls up in front of my house and honks (which I've asked her not to do at least 10 times, it makes Sunny crazy). Usually her honking irritates the crap out of me. But, this morning, it kinda made me giggle! I found a part of my own Mother to love in that honk this morning! My Mother is going to be who she is, she's going to do what she does and she's going to honk her horn no matter what! (Maybe that's where I got the part of me that's going to be me no matter what!) I went out to see what she wanted and what she wanted was to give me my monthly supply of magazines, honking because she wanted to give me something. Hmmm, maybe I've been a little to hard on her all these years. I think I'll take a cue from The Princess, I'll accept that her "honking" is about My Mother being who she is, someone that's always wanting to give me something. When she appears, Sunny will just have to bark! Maybe Sunny is really barking because she's excited to see Baba!

When I came back inside, I started thinking about her and something she once said to me. Being me, as we were riding down the road one day, I was asking her questions about her life, the question? Is there anything you wish you had done differently? Her response "I wish I had been nicer to your Daddy." I loved My Mother in that moment more than I think I ever had before or have since and, I felt an ache in my heart for her, when she said that, my Daddy had already been gone for a while. It made me sad that she is carrying that regret with her.

My Mother's Day advice . . . Don't let that happen to You, think about it. Is there someone in your life that if they were gone you would wish you had been nicer to them? Is there anyone in your life that doesn't treat you the way you deserve to be treated? Is the person You need to be nicer to Yourself? If it's another person or Yourself, don't let regret stack up on You, be nicer where ever you need to be whether it's to someone else and most of all, if you need to be Nicer to Yourself, Do It!

Happy Mother's Day!