Hear No Evil

One day when Brittany and Stephanie were here they came into the office where Art and I were talking. They sat down at my desk, on a rolling office chair, Stephanie on Brittany's lap. For some reason, they began the "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" thing. I took several photos until they got so rambunctious with each other that it stopped being fun for them (and for us as grandparents!). Watching them, then reviewing the photos later, made me think of my own childhood in California. I remember being at my grandparents after my uncle came home from the navy in WW II. I have a glimmer of a memory of a set of little monkeys on a shelf . I think they were sitting on their haunches, one with hands covering eyes, another covering ears, another his mouth. Someone told me that these three little characters represented a good way to think about things. As that fit right into the family pattern of denial, I accepted the belief quite readily. As I ponder today, I wonder about finding a balance. Surely there is wisdom in the avoidance of snap judgments which so often turn out to be false judgments. And just as surely, in a world where evil is evident all around us, there is wisdom in seeing, hearing and speaking up about what is wrong and about what we can do to change it. So maybe another time when Brittany and Stephanie are a bit rowdy and feisty, I will try to find another way to redirect their energy rather than shutting them down. After all, it takes strong women and men to face the world we live in today. As it always has.

Mother and Daughter

This photo was taken in the mid 40's. My mother was adjusting either the scarf, my hair or the sweater I was wearing on what must have been a somewhat cold day in Big Cottonwood Canyon. My father's sister, Lucille, had a cabin there and we had been invited. I don't remember if it was for a family activity or an overnight stay. My father must have taken the picture. I had an ambivalent relationship with both my parents. I like this picture because it shows the tender, loving side of my mother. She was basically a good person. I hope that I have carried on many of her positive qualities. At her best, she was spiritual and insightful. She must have been burdened by a lot of unspoken pain. She was probably clinically depressed as well as having asthma. I find that now I can't judge in the same way I have done in the past. I know too much of the circumstances which make people choose as they do. I am painfully aware of my own deficits. My plan is to continue on with life, moving toward healthier choices for myself. And I hope others will "cut me a lot of slack" as I muddle along. I like the scriptures which tell us that when we judge (as we must) the judgments need to be righteous ones. Clear-eyed and truthful. Full of truth.