Blogging Benefits

Two of the reasons I love to check out the blogs of others are posted below.  These were copied from others but both make me smile.  I love the quote because it reminds me of the woman who said it and she is a role model to me for how to age with wisdom and good humor.  The picture is of my niece and everytime I see her whether in person or by way of photo I can't help but smile.  So on a day when I woke up in a place of self-pity and did a bit of "cleansing" crying, reading these two blogs brought back perspective and even joy. 

What's in a Blog?

New York Pizza

Now you see it, now you don't. Yum!

Hudson River Miracle

This glimpse of the Hudson took on more significance than it otherwise would have done because we flew into Newark Airport just days after the incident of birds taking out the engines of an airplane, making it necessary for the pilot to land on the river.  The landing itself took place a few blocks from our friend's apartment.  This photo was taken from lower Manhatten, further south.

Rainy Day in New York

I love this photo because it is typical of New York City.  In mid-town everything is "in your face" whether it is a t-shirt shop, a place going out of business, a restaurant, or a so-called "gentleman's club" which is a euphemism for a place to view porn.  It is easy to go into sensory overload.  We didn't do that quite as much on this second visit to the city.  We rode buses a lot. Each time we approached this part of town, there was a recorded warning as to pickpockets and pan-handlers, so as to promote an enjoyable time instead of an unpleasant incident.  We had no pickpocket events but certainly were reminded of the reason why we had been advised to look straight ahead and keep on walking.  Folks are pretty brazen in their approaches, trying to sell something or engage you in their agenda.  This intersection reminds me of how common yellow cabs are and how you not only watch traffic lights but, more to the point, the traffic itself, so as to keep up with the pedestrian flow.  Folks rarely stop walking if no cars are nearby. To cross the street becomes an adventure in itself!   New York is a fascinating place, even in the rain.

Ground Zero

One of the places we wanted to visit on our trip to New York in January was the Statue of Liberty. We didn't get to do that--it was too cold while we were there. But another symbol of our liberty and reminder of how easy it could be to lose it, is Ground Zero. Heather took these photos from the window of a building across the street from the site. As you can tell, it is a construction zone now. We were touched by our tour given by a guide who was a former fireman, a man dug out from under the rubble. The visitors center had kleenex boxes strategically placed throughout. It was an emotional experience but one I am glad to have had. The hanging stone was part of a display honoring eleven American Express employees who happened to be in a meeting on that horrendous day--in the wrong place at the wrong time. The display was poignant. For days afterward everytime I talked about it I got choked up. The stone is a huge quartz. There were drops of water falling into the pool, alternating, spreading out ripples, overlapping each other. It represented the people and the tears shed on that day and since. Our experience here brought back a lot of memories of Sept. 11, 2001.

Elephant and Political Correctness

"The elephant in the room (also elephant in the living room, elephant in the parlor, elephant in the corner, elephant on the dinner table, elephant in the kitchen, elephant on the coffee table, and horse in the corner) is an English idiom for an obvious truth that is being ignored or goes unaddressed. It is based on the idea that an elephant in a room would be impossible to overlook; thus, people in the room who pretend the elephant is not there might be concerning themselves with relatively small and even irrelevant matters, compared to the looming big one." From Wickipedia

Everyone knows about a problem or circumstance but not one person wants to bring it up! How many times have I fallen into this trap in order to avoid conflict? More than I care to admit. I've also been thinking about this phrase lately as I hear various political factions spout their "talking points" with much glibness and little thought. Some things which seem obvious are denied, commonsense is uncommon and I am left feeling there is nothing I can do to change anything. But that thought is a denial of the power I do have. I suspect that one reason I like to listen to flamboyant commentators like Glenn Beck is because being tactful and not rocking the boat was a high priority for me growing up. In fact, it was a survival technique. I enjoy hearing others who are outspoken and in whom I sense truth and conviction. And what is this business of having to watch what you say in a way which is "politically correct"? Is it possible to be tactful and honest as well? I hope so. Maybe someday I will have the courage to express my opinions as openly as do some commentators and some of my friends. And maybe it will feel like freedom to me. Tactful, yes. Framing my words so as not to deliberately offend, yes. And speaking my mind. YES! (And thanks to Nae for using this quote on her blog. You inspire me!)