Sunday, June 19, 2011

There are three stages of a man's life: He believes in Santa Claus, he doesn't believe in Santa Claus, he is Santa Claus. ~Author Unknown

Here I am about to get sappy again.

It is Father's Day and I want to do a little bragging about mine. He is an artist, musician, mechanic, woodworker, and once upon a time Santa.  To me he has always been a source of inspiration.

He started out wanting to be an artist and went to college to learn more about it.  That's where he fell in love with more than just art. He met and married my mom and, as such things happen, soon had a daughter added to his list of things to worry about.

Despite working several jobs to help support his family, he never lost sight of his dreams.  He continued to paint and even found some time to join a band.  Music and art continued to fight for my father's attention....though I never had to.

He even joined my mother in a few Community Theater productions.  Acting didn't take as strong a hold on him as it did me, but if you look in the background of The Tree of Life, you just might see him milling around.  The greatest acting role he ever undertook, though, was that of Santa.  He was Santa for many children in our little town....and he loved it! 

Now he spends most of his energy on making and playing flutes.  He still dabbles in art, but it ebbs and flows according to his mood.  Through it all, he has been there for me....inspiring me and giving me wings to fly with. 

Thank You Dad!

Sunday, June 12, 2011

It is foolish to tear one's hair in grief, as though sorrow would be made less by baldness. ~Cicero

Times are tough...but I'm not telling you anything you don't already know.  It seems life has no shortage of pits to fall in. 

I have been tight rope walking over those pits for years now.  Sometimes I've slipped and dangled by my fingertips; sometimes I had to retie the rope before it frayed and dropped me into the chasm below.

But there are also beautiful parasols that help me maintain my balance.  Occasionally there will be snippets of carnival music and cheers from the crowd offering encouragement.  And all the time I continue putting one foot in front of the other as I keep my eye on the goal at the end of the rope...firm ground.

I have friends who 'talk' to me about the good times that are long gone.  Back before the wars and the deficit and the lay offs.  A time back when we were all younger and full of hope and our future was so bright we had to wear shades.  They lament their current life and it frustrates me to no end to listen to them.  They forget the problems of their youth and refuse to acknowledge the good in their present. 

Yes, there are a ton of issues we need to deal with today.  I can't help but share in the stress of my friends who no longer have jobs or homes, or have ever increasing bills but ever decreasing income, or especially those who are touched by the terrible loss that war brings.  These problems are real, but giving up or wallowing in self pity does not fix these problems. 

We have to keep walking the tight rope.  Keep putting one foot in front of the other.  Our problems are just minor tremors in the rope.  You may have to step over a knot or two on your path...but that just means someone walked this same rope before you.  If they got to the other side then so can you.  I'll be there to cheer you on.