Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Photoblogging My Birthday

Gorgeous day in my city by the bay so I blogged my birthday, starting with the walk to school through lunch.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Reviewing My Mid-Century Mark

Last year at this time I thought the best thing about being 50 was that it was better than being dead. I know- disgustingly negative. Shame on me!

So I am happy to report that my mid-century year has been great- even though I have never upped my daily mileage (3), significantly increased my speed. (4 miles an hour- pathetic) or discovered a magic wrinkle remover.

Simply put I have made time for what is really important.

A friend of mine participated in a Facebook project that asked people to list the 10 most significant things in their personal lives during 08. Reading her list prompted me to make my own. Making the list turned into a joyful task. There is much to be thankful for.

1. I accepted a job that I love because it reflects my values. I also treasure the people with whom I work. I took a huge salary cut and this is not a step up on a career ladder but I have no regrets. Indeed I am ecstatic!

2. I began researching the lives of woman who started progressive schools. This has reawakened my love of history and helped to strengthen my progressive philosophy.

3. I stopped worrying about my son's extreme dyslexia. I put together an individualized learning program for him and engaged instructors who are highly gifted in their fields even tho they are not "official" teachers. He is much happier although managing his time and persisting with difficult tasks are still growth areas for him. He has plenty of friends, is physically fit and is figuring out his strengths and passions.

4. My daughter was accepted to a wonderful high school and is extremely happy. I did not make this happen but it is going on the list because her happiness brings me great joy.

5. I allow my son to take risks and make mistakes. He has come home drunk (once) and high.(at least twice) We talk and impose consequences but I do not go crazy with rage, worry or disappointment. He will make mistakes. We will survive. He is learning and making better choices.

6. I have stopped attending a Lutheran church - even on holidays. I have been a Lutheran for 18 years because I wanted to keep the family together at church. I never attended on a regular basis because I have never agreed with much of the religious and political dogma embedded in the Lutheran denomination. I have never, ever accepted the social conservatism of the Lutheran church which is demonstrated in policies and statements that endorse discrimination against women and homophobia. The promotion of of the Republican party does not belong in church. I am also deeply upset by anti-scientific thought. Life is too short to keep silent about important things like human rights and rigorous scientific thought. God is not a Republican or a Democrat. Rejecting dogma is not the same as rejecting faith.

7. I worked in my first presidential election. I made over 600 phone calls for Obama and articulated my thoughts in personal essays. We celebrated Obama's victory with friends and enjoyed several spontaneous dancing in the streets celebrations throughout the city. I almost cried when I saw a runner waving the flag as he dashed down Castro and when I heard the crowd on Fillmore break out into a spontaneous chorus of God Bless America.

8. I reconnected with old friends through email and Facebook. This is lots of fun and prompts reflection and laughter.

9. I started giving money to panhandlers. I have let go of the need to control what they do with the money. It isn't really giving if I have to control how it is spent. I still carefully research donations to charities to make sure their goals and means are aligned with my values but giving on the street is a whole new way of giving.

10. During the last three days of the year I became the legal, financial and health guardian for my father who is incapable of caring for himself. I have no idea how this is going to work out- I don't see a happy ending. I could not do this without Bill, Joel, JW and Claire.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

A Progressive's View of Violence

The past few months have been wonderful because I love my job, I am overjoyed with my daughter's happiness in school and of course delighted by the results of the presidential election. The past few months have also been very difficult due to family matters related to a remodel gone sour, my father's health and financial situation and now the death of my step-sister's son. My blessings and challenges have prompted me to re-read a favorite book by Ira Sandperl, A Little Kinder. It is no longer in print but it should be.

Here is a quote which is inspires my work with children and families.

We get what we do; not what we intend, dream or desire. We simply get what we do. Recognizing this and applying it would, in a generation, bring about the transformation that alone can put an end to the fear, suspicion, and misery which at present holds such terrible sway over all our lives.


I don't think we can expect politicians and governments to substantially change long standing conflicts. We can expect them to rise above torture and to act thoughtfully but in the end politics will never end war and bombs will never bring peace.

The only way to change the world is to change the way that people think about and treat one another. A school community is an opportunity to teach and practice fairness, self-reflection, compassion and non-violence. We need more schools who are authentically dedicated to transformation of civilization. I am lucky to be affiliated with such a school.

Ira's statement is a simple spiritual truth.

You can read more about Ira here.

Friday, January 9, 2009

लव लॉस life

My family has just experienced a devastating loss of a loved one. The loss was sudden and senseless. I don't think one can ever come to terms with a death like Adam's. I can only accept that it is incomprehensible and unfair. I know that this is the way of life sometimes.

I am reminded of Robert Kennedy's variation of the verse from Aeschylus's Agamemnon. Kennedy misquoted or intentionally tweaked the verse when he announced the death of Martin Luther King to a crowd of supporters in an Indianapolis African American neighborhood. It is also the epitatph on Kennedy's grave marker.

In our sleep, pain which cannot forget
falls drop by drop upon the heart
until, in our own despair, against our will,
comes wisdom through the awful grace of God

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Obama and the CIA

Spies and covert operations do not strike me as progressive subjects but after a long break from blogging my thoughts about the election I am ready to write and post again. Doing so might be a life preserver for my sanity which is seriously in danger since I became the legal, financial and health guardian for my dad, who is now living in my home. More on that later.

Like everyone else I arched an eyebrow when President Elect Obama announced his selection of Leon Panetta to head the CIA. I agreed with DiFi who is not crazy about the choice. The LA Times quotes her as saying,
"I was not informed about the selection of Leon Panetta to be the CIA director," Feinstein said. "My position has consistently been that I believe the agency is best served by having an intelligence professional in charge at this time."


But then I read my favorite blog, Andrew Sullivan's Daily Dish. The Dish is a great resource, doing what the best blogs do, surveying the web for news, commentary and humor, and dishing it up in well written, concise posts that keep me coming back for more several times each day. Today in this post Sullivan reports that the Panetta appointment has the support of neo-cons, Richard Perle, Chariman of President Bush's Defense Policy Board, and of Douglas Feith, who was Undersecretary of Defense for Policy under GW. Sullivan links to Ben Smith's post in POLITICO and to Michael Ledeen's opinion in NRO.

The take away quotes:
from Ledeen:
I always liked Panetta. He served in the Army and is openly proud of it. He seems to be a good lawyer (oxymoronic though it may seem). He's a good manager. And he's going to watch Obama's back at a place that's full of stilettos and a track record for attempted presidential assassination second to none.........I think it is a smart move.



from Perle:
Panetta is'a very smart, very capable guy with a lot of experience - I think he's the right sort of person to take a shot at improving the place.


Perle is a big critic of the CIA also said,
It's going to take somebody from outside to right that ship, if it can be done.


from Feith,
possible implication of appointing somebody from the outside is that the president recognizes that there are serious problems at the CIA and he wants somebody who is not a part of those problems,




Once again our President-Elect is demonstrating intelligence, political courage and skill in consensus building. Fingers crossed that water-boarding and illegal renditions are over. Then we can, once again, be authentically proud of the American tradition of dedication to human rights. Cool.