"laestadian, apostolic, gay, lgbtq, ex-oalc, ex-llc, llc, oalc, bunner" LEARNING TO LIVE FREE: Hope, bliss, gardens, mutts, life

Friday, November 07, 2008

Hope, bliss, gardens, mutts, life

Wow. The past 3 days I've been fighting a cold but enjoying the most ebullient feelings about our country and our future. "Bliss it was to be alive" is the Wordsworth line making the rounds, warming English-major hearts everywhere. Check out Judith Warner's "Tears to Remember" column (unless you are still weeping for McCain).

This morning at the grocery store, heading for the tea aisle, I nearly ran into Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA), who looks JUST like he does on TV, with white hair and rosy cheeks. He was radiant, seemingly walking on air, and smiled broadly at my greeting, no doubt more at my Obama button than my mush-mouthed gee-willickers greeting. I was so flustered I read and re-read all the tea boxes, several times over.

He was gone in a flash (the cashier said the congressman joked about not being a good citizen because he forgot his tote bag) before I could ask him for tickets to the inauguration. Apparently tickets are free, and Congress gets a bunch to give away to constituents. Of course, getting to Washington, DC and back is not cheap. Sigh. I'll be at home on January 20th glued to the tube, and be glad I'm not freezing among the hordes on the Mall.

Yes. But I do so hope to get to DC at least once in my life. Our son is studying the Constitution in his 4th grade class, and next summer his school is leading a tour group to DC and Colonial Williamsburg. How I would love for him to go, and for me to go with him! But $2,200 per person is not chump change. (Business has been super slow, but if the stimulus package stimulates, we're on that plane!).

Later this morning I got a phone call from our local paper, asking for my reaction to Prop 2, the city's parks levy that just passed overwhelmingly. It includes $2 million for four community gardens (my bailiwick). Again, alas, I was gee-willickers inarticulate and giddy. I distrust most reporters, having been misquoted a lot, but this guy was really nice, so I found myself extemporizing about the economic, ecological and health benefits of urban food gardening, and recommending we go back to calling them "Victory Gardens" like our grandparents did during the Depression WWII, and in general, enthusing about the "can do" grassroots spirit that drove the Obama campaign and will continue to drive positive community change. And by the way, did you know seed sales are up and organic food sales down? Thank goodness I got another call or we'd still be talking!

The next call was from a dear friend, a former OALCer and very wise soul, who is just as elated about the election results. After catching up, I asked for advice about something that has been weighing on me lately: how should one advise folks to deal with OALCers?

I get emails from people who have found this blog and want advice, either in dealing with a romance, job or school conflict, or other situation that involves Laestadians (usually OALC).

I hesitate to give advice, because (1) the details are always scant, and (2) I'm no expert. So I usually offer vague recommendations (the kind I give to my friends): talk directly, set clear boundaries, model respect for differences.

Is this enough? I asked if I had a duty to learn more, or to call OALC leaders and let them know what I was hearing (even though that would cause more strife to me and my family). Well, I was relieved when he did NOT encourage that, and gave me props for taking the high road. Such as it is. What do you think, readers?

During that phone call, I missed most of Obama's press conference this afternoon. Apparently he was boring, except where he talked about the new First Puppy, saying that he prefers mutts "like me", but they need a hypo-allergenic dog as Malia has allergies. That made me laugh, as it hit home:

Yesterday for his homework, our son had to write a letter to the new president, advocating for an issue. He chose education, and encouraged "more schools" in order to reduce class size, so "teachers and students can have more one-on-one time." He also mentioned, "by the way," that his dog is a great kind of dog.

As a cocker/bichon, Bodhi is a mutt AND hypo-allergenic. As I write this, Bodhi is sleeping beside me, dreaming of chasing squirrels. His paws and tail are twitching. While there are moments I'd be happy to give him away (he gets carsick and he chews on sofa cushions), the Obamas will just have to find their own.

Okay, back to work, everybody!

6 comments:

  1. That is such a sweet photo of your Bodhi.. we have a shih-poo named Lucy who is all black. They are great pets, just the sweetest personalities. And non-allergenic!

    The Victory Gardens are a great idea, and that's wonderful that money is put aside for parks and that people are interested in gardening again. I think we're in for "Victory Garden" times.. And I'm sure you did well in the interview.

    I feel like a 'Chatty Cathy' cuz it seems I've always got an opinion.. but as to approaching the elders..hmm, not sure that would be profitable. There comes a time when people have to come to these decisions and choices and they know the options open to them. A wise woman once told me that we honor others by not solving their problems for them, but by giving them the tools and the encouragement and hope - and I might add our example. I've read a lot about 'Boundaries' - and recommend the book.. setting boundaries is a work in progress for me. When to say Yes and when to say No. And NOT feel guilty when we say NO :-)

    Have a great evening, and I hope someone else has an opinion besides Cathy here...lol

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  2. LLLreader here: Hi Free, I suggest you just hit yourself slowly in the head with a stick for awhile rather then talking to the elders. Just as productive. Went to a funeral awhile ago and had a brief talk with a cousin who I have always admired. He was philosophical about things that were said during the funeral(that he could have chosen to be angry about). His attitude was simply that it is what it is. I found the old tired threats sort of pathetic this time. So sad that people are ruled by their fear of losing their salvation "in the blink of the eye". I thought Victory Gardens were during WWII when people raised their own food because of rationing and such. I think our standing in the world has been raised with the outcome of the election--and I'm elated.

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  3. LLLreader here: Hi Free, I suggest you just hit yourself slowly in the head with a stick for awhile rather then talking to the elders. Just as productive. Went to a funeral awhile ago and had a brief talk with a cousin who I have always admired. He was philosophical about things that were said during the funeral(that he could have chosen to be angry about). His attitude was simply that it is what it is. I found the old tired threats sort of pathetic this time. So sad that people are ruled by their fear of losing their salvation "in the blink of the eye". I thought Victory Gardens were during WWII when people raised their own food because of rationing and such. I think our standing in the world has been raised with the outcome of the election--and I'm elated.

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  4. Thanks for the comments. Norah, you'll like this effective boundary-setting aphorism: "Fix oneself and help others, not the other way around." The details are what mess me up. Check out the comments at How to Leave the OALC wiki and tell me what you think.

    LLLReader, you are right, it was WWII that fostered Victory Gardens! I too am encouraged by the international response to the election of Barack Obama. Our "soft power" in the world has increased substantially, and may help overcome the myriad obstacles to peace and prosperity, here and elsewhere.

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  5. Free, I like that aphorism. But isn't it so much easier to fix others than ourselves? ha. I did check out the Wiki site, it's very depressing. I think my comments about that subject were way too simplistic and I shouldn't have written them that way. It is a difficult problem. My conclusions on boundaries comes from a rather secular perspective. Malignant narcissism (the problem of evil) is something I've been learning about, and there may be some of these kinds of traits in controlling churches, as well as controlling - and sick individuals. In fact, as I read and learn about this personality disorder, many of the principles of healing come from the Bible. I don't want to indict any church or person, but I think we all encounter these situations in life. There are times we need to walk away - "flee" as the Bible says.

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  6. I woke up this morning thinking about raised bed gardening, and a man named James Underwood Crockett who hosted a PBS program called "The Victory Garden" back in the 70's. I bought his book and used it all the time. He was a very sweet and gentle man. I checked Wikipedia and was shocked to find that he passed away in 1979 - I can't believe it's that long ago - Yikes, I'm getting OLD lol. I remember that 'other guy' who took over for him, who I gradually grew to like, but Jim Crockett was the best.

    Anyway, there was interest in gardening in the 70's because of rising fuel prices - it was a tough economic time. That's when there was a lot of talk about solar panels, greenhouses, alternative energy. They even offered tax credits if you installed solar panels if I'm not mistaken. It's too bad those ideas fell out of favor, and consumption and consumerism reigned for so many years. (Which has contributed to our current mess, I think)

    So anyway, I'm wondering how I can get back into gardening when my knees and back don't cooperate any more. Maybe raised beds, next year..

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