Life/relationships:
We had a good trip to OK/KS with activities that made me think and reflect about different human relationships and their importance in our lives.
The 50th reunion went well - particularly for those 19 women who had spent 4 years on the same dorm floor during college and who had gotten together every 3-5 years for 50 years. It was interesting and gratifying to watch them appreciate, enjoy, and strengthen their relationships. Showing concern for those with problems e.g. a son dying of cancer, joy for those with particular achievements, and simply deep interest in what was occurring in everyone's lives. The conversations were continuous for 3 days. An outstanding example of what long-term relationships can and should be. Truly a wonder to behold for many of us spouses.
We also were able to visit briefly with a cousin of mine on my mother's side whom I hadn't seen for almost 50 years. It was good to reconnect and observe/discuss the commonalities we had even with such an extended absence. Blood relationships are often deep - even in absence - but distant - reconnection can result in a strengthened sense of relationship which will continue in some form.
The visit with my eldest brother was a stark and dramatic example of the strength of a partner relationship under very difficult circumstances as my sister-in-law takes care of my continuing-to-fail brother - even with her own difficulties of serious arthritis and high blood pressure. Their relationships with their daughters who stop by daily is an outstanding example of the importance of familial relationships. Also my deep relationship to them as extended family became apparent.
After our return, we were able to enjoy the 4 day visit of friends from Toronto whom we first met in Peru 30 years ago and had visited very briefly in Toronto 8 years ago. The commonalities and similar viewpoints/perspectives as we reconnected in long conversations was almost unbelievable. A truly enjoyable reconnection and strengthening of an important relationship.
And then the most important - personal relationships that I have with my family - as we plan to all meet together in December in San Juan for a few days to celebrate our 50th anniversary and strengthen our relationships.
For me a dramatic reawakening and recognition of the importance of very diverse relationships in my life. Continuing relationships with conversations, occasional lunches, and a remembrance of the relationships I have/had with all of you and the indelible impact on my life.
Please take time - now - to strengthen those relationships in your lives - life is relationships.
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Malpractice reform - insurance costs - save costs? - not - from a physician ---
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Still in the closet - mental illness - please - advocate for more openness, understanding, compassion - this by Glenn Close does it well - separate truth from misunderstanding - reality rather than entertainment - thanks L... ---
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Politics as religion - political fundamentalism - compromise doesn't exist - I thought there was much in this perspective that explains current politics - scary - progressives have to confront ideology and fundamentalism - thanks A... ---
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Expecting life to treat you fairly because you’re a good person is like expecting the bull not to charge you because you’re a vegetarian.
--- Mark Twain
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Sudan - Save Darfur? - new strategy - focus on causative issues - fix - not just react ---
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Apparently noone but Goldman has expertise for this Administration - incredible - Glenn Greenwald ---
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Some holdovers:
Obama's Peace Prize - there was a lot of controversy but I thought his return to more diplomacy was major and is also illustrated by his careful thought and analysis before just acceding to his General's request for more troops ---
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Succinctly ---
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To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.
--- Chinese strategist Sun Tzu, more than 2,000 years ago in The Art of War
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Another perspective on AfPak - reality - we loved them before we hated them - was the CIA actually talking to al Queda to use them in China? - conspiracy theories - I don't know ---
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And yet another perspective - Astore quotes Mailer regarding Viet Nam as advice to Obama ---
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Islands of inhumanity - I didn't know this history - our 'cleansing' - pay Brits to do it for us - we have the history but no shame ---
Guam
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Diego Garcia - this is where Gen Myers said they were returning some prisoners to Bagram Afghanistan because they had "better" facilities for interrogation there - as we all know now - a euphemism for torture - war crimes? ---
zzzzzzzzz
50s/60s - 70s tomorrow - enjoy the weekend
