Within the past six months I have had three wonderful people pass away from cancer. And as weird as this sounds i am glad that they did pass away from cancer because it gave me (and i am sure others) time to either get to know some better or gave me the ability to say good bye and to let them know what they meant to me. It maybe shocking for someone to say such a thing but if you really think about it passing like that is so beautiful and precious. Cancer is a horrible disease and not fun to watch but it is (to me at least) the most gracious way to die because (usually) it gives you time, and time is all we have. And just so you know no names will be given out of respect of those that have passed and their families but those of you that know me and my family (and when i say family i mean my friends too) you will know exactly who i am talking about.
The first to pass was someone that I did not know my whole life or even had much of a relationship with. However, that didnt make it any less hard having her go. She was so kind and warm and understanding. She would give someone the shirt off her back if someone asked for it because she knew she had another one at home but most importantly she made you feel like part of the family even if you had only entered into it for a short time. No matter how badly she was feeling she never refused your company and always made sure you were more than comfortable. She was a fighter her whole life and did it with such grace that I can not truly explain the loving feeling that you got from just being around her. She was my grad-school friends mom and an aunt by marriage but she was one of the greats in my eyes and an inspiration to single mothers and humanity in general. I am lucky to be apart of her family because they all have a piece of her in them and lucky to have known her, if only for a short while. Beautiful is the only word I can use to describe her.
The second one to pass may have been the hardest one for me and possible the most special. This woman took me in, trusted me with one of her most prized possession, gave me a job that helped me keep afloat in school, and gave me my heart back. She was like a second mother to me. The mother that never judged (well out load anyway), that you could be yourself around, and never had to lie to. Just knowing her made me a better person (and to many around her). She always believed that you never do something for someone expecting something in return. Not a difficult concept but hard to apply in real life...and she did it with such grace and perfection. I just thank god i got the chance to have let her know how much she meant to me within the 8 years that I was with her. She was the person that helped me develop into the last stages of my womanhood and I will never forget her grace.
The third is honestly what one would consider my idol. He was the smartest man I have ever come across so far in my life and probably will be the only. However, even though he was soooo smart, he had this ability to make you feel smarter than you thought you were just by talking to him. He never asked me a generic question even when I was a little girl and challenged and intrigued me as a person and a student that sitting down with him was much more fun than whatever the other kids and later on the other adults were doing. I would always know what kind of Christmas I was going to have depending if he was going to be there...if not I would be bored and quiet frankly ignored as the adults would talk about the same old stories...but if yes I knew that he would come up with some mind boggling question that would allow me to speak my mind and to show my opinion on worldly issues. He was the first person to treat me as a peer, an equal mind with its own thoughts and ideas. I will miss those conversations very much. He is the person that really got me into history but most importantly teaching because I want to be an inspiration like he was to me. He is my inspiration and i dare not disappoint him.
These are the things that I was able to learn from these people and was able to tell most of them. They each touched my life and lots of others as well. They say that the gods challenge those that are good...and in these cases they were the best. Suffering wasnt going to get them down and they were not ever going to give up without a fight and none of them ever did. At the funeral of my inspiration a quote was given: I HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT AT LAST I WOULD TAKE THIS ROAD. BUT YESTERDAY I DID NOT KNOW IT WOULD BE TODAY.- NARIHIRA (9th century). Like them, this quote will always stay with me because even before cancer entered there lives they never wasted a moment of it. And when the cancer came they new what was ahead but never lived it like it was there last. But what they did know before their last was that they in one way or another were inspirations. Greatness is hard to define and I dare not try to define these three beautiful, gracious, inspirational people.
This blog is about my life, your life and everyone else's life as I see it. No one is safe from what i see and what I may say about them. From the lonely homeless woman walk down the street, to that kid picking his nose, you could be next. So sit back and enjoy my ride.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
The Truth about Valentines Days!
Ah yes...February 14th is upon us and as i watch the tv and read and/or hear all of my friends talk about this time of year, i cant help but think about what a crook of shit it all is. Yes boys and girls i hate Valentines Day. Not because its a day dedicated to Love...no no i love love...but because it is a Day that is based on lies! LIES I SAY!
Now people have been celebrating what is now as Valentines Day for years for various reasons but not until the 20th century did the day really take off to what we see today...a consumer driven hallapolooza of reds and pinks and sometimes that bling bling created by the evil genius of the marketing warlords. Honestly people do you really believe that we celebrate V-day (as some companies would like you to believe) because of some historical religious reasons...like Christmas or Easter? And let me just say if you do...you will be horrible disappointed after reading what i have to say next. And a word to the wise dont take my word for it go research it yourself!
Now people let me enlighten you that when people say that Valentines Day was created by Hallmark it isnt some radical Hippie conspiracy theory nor is it because they are cold hearted people that dont believe in love...its because its the truth...give or take the Hallmark part (you'll see what i mean later).
ST.VALENTINE
Historically little is known about St. Valentine (some say they lack on information is do to the Medieval Ages*) or how many there actually were (yes boys and girls there was more than on St. Valentine) but Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred (see http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day).
Nevertheless, what is know about the Valentines are as follows:
- Valentine was a holy priest in Rome, who, with St. Marius and his family, assisted the martyrs in the persecution under Claudius II. He was apprehended, and sent by the emperor to the prefect of Rome, who, on finding all his promises to make him renounce his faith in effectual, commended him to be beaten with clubs, and afterwards, to be beheaded, which was executed on February 14, about the year 270...Since he was caught marrying Christian couples and aiding any Christians who were being persecuted under Emperor Claudius in Rome [when helping them was considered a crime], Valentinus was arrested and imprisoned. Claudius took a liking to this prisoner -- until Valentinus made a strategic error: he tried to convert the Emperor -- whereupon this priest was condemned to death. He was beaten with clubs and stoned; when that didn't do it, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate [circa 269].
(see http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=159) - Valentine of Terni[9] became bishop of Interamna (modern Terni) about AD 197 and is said to have been martyred during the persecution under Emperor Aurelian. He is also buried on the Via Flaminia, but in a different location than Valentine of Rome (however some scholars believe that the Valentine of Rome and Terni are on and the same). (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine's_Day)
- Of the third Saint Valentine, who suffered in Africa with a number of companions, nothing further is known. (see http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15254a.htm)
THE LEGEND
- One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. (see http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day)
- One legend says, while awaiting his execution, Valentinus restored the sight of his jailer's blind daughter. Another legend says, on the eve of his death, he penned a farewell note to the jailer's daughter, signing it, "From your Valentine." (see http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=159)
- Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured. (see http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day)
THE V-DAY BEGINNING
During the Medieval Ages, the beginning of courtly love began in Paris on Valentines Day in 1400. The court dealt with love contracts, betrayals, and violence against women. Judges were selected by women on the basis of a poetry reading. The earliest surviving valentine is a 15th-century rondeau written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife, which commences. At the time, the duke was being held in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt, 1415. And Valentine's Day is mentioned ruefully by Ophelia in Hamlet (1600–1601) (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine's_Day)
However, even though V-day as we know it started during the Medieval Ages, the celebration on love and fertility began with the Pagan cultures during the month, as we know it, of February or what they considered the first month of spring called the Lupercalia festival. In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification. Houses were ritually cleansed by sweeping them out and then sprinkling salt and a type of wheat called spelt throughout their interiors. Lupercalia, which began at the ides of February, February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus. To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at the sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would then sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification. (see http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day)
Nevertheless, Modern Valentines Day stems from the Medieval Ages where love note and courting for love began what we would call dating today. However, in the Medieval Ages on the actual day of February 14th was for the celebration of the death of St. Valentine...not what we see today.
MODERN VALENTINES DAY
In 1797 a limited amount of printed Valentines became available and in the 19th century in England Valentine became factory produced. Fancy Valentines were made with real lace and ribbons, with paper lace introduced in the mid-19th century. And In the UK, just under half the population spend money on their Valentines and around 1.3 billion pounds is spent yearly on cards, flowers, chocolates and other gifts, with an estimated 25 million cards being sent. (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine's_Day)
In The mid-19th century Valentine's Day trade was a harbinger of further commercialized holidays in the United States to follow. In the second half of the 20th century, the practice of exchanging cards was extended to all manner of gifts in the United States. Such gifts typically include roses and chocolates packed in a red satin, heart-shaped box. In the 1980s, the diamond industry began to promote Valentine's Day as an occasion for giving jewelry.The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately 190 million valentines are sent each year in the US. Half of those valentines are given to family members other than husband or wife, usually to children. When you include the valentine-exchange cards made in school activities the figure goes up to 1 billion, and teachers become the people receiving the most valentines. In some North American elementary schools, children decorate classrooms, exchange cards, and are given sweets. The greeting cards of these students sometimes mention what they appreciate about each other. The rise of Internet popularity at the turn of the millennium is creating new traditions. Millions of people use, every year, digital means of creating and sending Valentine's Day greeting messages such as e-cards, love coupons or printable greeting cards. An estimated 15 million e-valentines were sent in 2010. (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine's_Day)
CONCLUSION
So after all of that what happened to Valentines Day??? I will tell you...it went form a celebration of life and fertility...to a celebration of a Saints death...and ending in a multi-million dollar industry that is instilled in us as grade school students to promote unnecessary gift giving and spending on a holiday that has turn love into materialistic fantasy of love. Valentines Day went from a celebration of life and new beginnings to card and candy and even worse forced confessions of love. If you want to celebrate life and new beginnings and even love on February 14th then do so without the lame ass gift, cards and candy. Money is easy...feelings are hard...dont take the easy way out. So for all you out there that dont have a Valentine dont let if get you down just celebrate your life and remind yourself that life is good...love life. And for those of you that do have a Valentine remember that no gift is great than just knowing that you have someone that is there for you everyday not just on Valentines Day!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
A WANNA BE
I dont know about you but I love to people watch...and out of the most ridiculous things I ever see is when I see a WANNA BE. It cracks me up...for a minute...and then really pisses me off. I know that people should live there lives the way that they want...and dress the way that they want...but really when you are trying to be something you could never be it is just annoying. I see people trying to portray a life that could never pertain to them. For example...today I saw a young man in what is known as a "rice rocket" bumpin some sort of hard gangsta music wearing what would be described as "vato" style clothing...and the boy was white. Now diversity is just fine...but really how ridiculous does it look for that guy to be driving something that is primarily an Asian ride...listing to music that primarily is about ghetto life...and wearing clothing that is distinguished by Mexican gangsta's while driving though a residential neighborhood where mostly families and old people live...WTF! Now dont get me wrong there is nothing wrong with a suped up ride that is intend for street racing, and yes i do enjoy some gangsta rap and listen to it and bump it myself at times, and there is nothing really wrong with the "vato" style but come on all intertwined by a white boy that lives in the "suburbs"! You dont see me in a hoopty bumping country with my eyebrows drawn on with a sharpy wearin a wife beater with a flannel tied around my waist in baggy ass pants do you....no you dont because i would probably get my ass kick for being such a lame ass! There is something wrong with this picture...
Now why would someone do this to themselves you might ask...because some people obviously want to be something that they arent because they are embarrassed or scared to just be themselves and (sorry guys) most guys want to be hard asses (and some girls too...but mostly men) and try to achieve the persona of being a hard ass by identifying themselves with what society sees as threatening. But really is what you see above threatening to you? Now some may say...oh what does it matter if someone wants to dress like this or that and listen to this and that or drive this or that? Let me show you what happens:
And this is where I get pissed off. Back in the day a kid would look up to a cowboy, a cop, a fireman, an astronaut, a soldier, and etc. Now-a-days I see kids that (not all) look up to these gangsta rap artists, these "ballers", these "outlaws of society" and think that they have it all figured out and that kind of life is the way to go because they have there fancy cars but most importantly these "outlaws" have "respect". What they dont realize is how hard these "outlaws" live is/was because of where they came from and how their reputation that they have built for themselves follows them for the rest of their life because they "lived the gangsta life". These kids also dont realize that the majority of these people wish there lives could have been different. But no they are cool because they hit bitches, shoot mother fuckers and sell drugs but most importantly they have respect because people are scared of them. And I totally blame parents...yes im a parent and if my kid turns out that way...it will be my fault. I dont care what you say or what excuse you have...it is the parents fault for not instilling moral values, common sense, and in general just not paying attention and letting your kids get away with murder (sometimes literally).
Now i could go on and on but like i said i am parent and have better things to do...like pay attention to my kid and start instilling good life lesson in him while he's young. Till next time.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
MOOCHER!
1. Moocher: Someone who always asks for things and favors constantly and will never leave you alone. They will ask for money, rides to places, for you to do simple tasks they could do easily but they think the whole world should cater to them, basically just a leech to everyone around them, a parasite to the community.
2. Moocher: 1. A stoner who uses you offten to get high on your own personal supply. he/she will smoke you stash, eat your munchies, drink your koolade and never ever return the favor. 2. Some who always "borrows" things that are not normally borrowed. 3. Some one who uses you there own good but never returns the favor
3. Moocher: Someone who survives off anothers income. Someone who believes that they are owed something for nothing. One who even if they have their own money, food, clothes, etc. will still use someone else's first. Even if that someone else is more poor.
4. Moocher: One who always begs for free things and won't ever go away, even if you do give him stuff.
5. Moocher: Someone who won't leave you the fuck alone until you give them something for free.
6. Moocher: One who asks or takes from someone's food or money I.E. french fries, money, pretzels
7. Moocher: A massive leach on society. always trying to get something for nothing, usually unemployed. and in most cases excessively obese.
Now that you know what a Mooch is and what there basic character traits are...sit back and ask yourself if you have a moocher in your life or are you the mooch??? It could be that unemployed brother (that even though he doesnt take money away from you directly) he does take money from you and the rest of those in our society that wake up early every morning to get to work, bust our asses for 8 long hours, and by the time we are getting back from work they are just getting up as they roll out of bed smoke their bowl and then play endless hours of video games until the next morning. Or it could be that friend that always wants to spend money via on cloth, food, groceries, and etc. and always invites you to come along and somehow you always end up "having to" spend more, lend more, or put more in to cover the bill and no matter how many times they promise to pay you back and you know you will never see it in full. These people need to be stopped. Honestly if I could really ever say that there is one thing wrong with this world it would be that there are too many Moochers.
So Cara whats the whole point??? Well boys and girls the point is that maybe you havent look hard enough around you and maybe you didnt know what constituted someone as a Mooch but now that you have a better idea of what these creeps that are glued to their couches or beds are really doing, thinking, and wanting....what I want you to do is quit buying into these sob stories about poor me and start kicking those Moochers to the curb...because if we keep letting people and our children Mooch off of us and society by abusing the "system" then what we are really leaving behind is a bunch of couch potato's that think the world should be handed and given to them on a silver platter. So tell that friend that they are a Mooch...tell that brother/sister that they are a Mooch...and tell that Government that we will not take care of the Moochers of society....tell them that we will no longer be taken advantage of or played like a fool!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
FIREWOOD?
Do you ever have those days where you wish you had a camera on you at a particular moment? Well that is almost everyday for me out here in Cal City. Yesterday as i was sitting out side talking to my friend on the phone, I turned my head and noticed something strange passing by. Now being an Orange County girl i don't get this alot...but what i say was a beat up old truck, blue infact, driving down the unpaved desert road that passes my house, and inside where two men with their unshaven faces and their three day old unwashed hair laugh and waving to me as they drove by. However, that was not the superprising or unnormal part about it...I have had white trash drive there beat down pick up truck waving and smiling at me before...no no...it what the 10ft tree stump that they were pulling behind their truck that baffeled me. It was my own person white trach parde. The two men knowing how rediculous they looked as they were draging their firewood (just a guess who knows what they are going to do with it) down the road managed to make fun of themselves by waving and laughing before any words came out of my mouth; and at that moment I could do or say was nothing but just wave back and laugh. Nevertheless, what really baffeled me is that I have no idea where they got this massive tree truck concidering WE LIVE IN THE FREAKING DESERT! Trees aren't that big around here and if they are they have been planted in someones front yard. WHERE DID YOU GET THAT TREE MY WHITE TRASH BOYS? Oh the joys of living in Cal City...brings a smile to my face at the stupidity of the locals and there crazy ways.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)