Now I've Seen (or Heard) It All

Under the category of, "I've-lived-in-NYC- 22 years-what-haven't-I-seen?' I am pleased to announce that it happened last night on the Amtrak home. Train travel this week has not been pleasant. It began with the horrible commuter train crash in Washington DC, a 4.5 hour trip home Tuesday night (30 minute delay on Amtrak and no-signals on the "F" train), and ended up with what I had hoped would be a quiet ride home last night.

I was on the 5:55pm (Washington to Boston), which moves a bit faster and has more of a 'business suit' crowd. I was able to find a seat to myself and comfortably settled in with my Subway tuna sandwich and Cool Ranch chips (recommendation: put the chips in the sandwich...it's noisy, but yummy!)

Footnote for my techie friends: at least 1/3rd of commuters are now using netbooks on the train, versus full-scale computers.


About 30 minutes into the ride the woman ahead of me, who has been on the phone since I got on the train, begins shifting the conversation. To phone sex. Interesting. Not quite as interesting when you can only hear one side of the conversation. Still...interesting. Now...she was speaking quietly and using an appropriate phone voice, still....

I'm not sure the guy she was talking with (yes, I figured it was a guy through the types of questions she was asking!) was any more comfortable than I was. I learned he'd never done this before ("your first-time, huh? That's ok, I'll help you through it") and I think his comfort level was about equal to mine because after ten minutes to talk she couldn't get him to go any further (for my sports friends: I'd say they were stuck between first and second and he was caught in a run down).

It eventually ended with her saying things like, "so you don't want to tell me that," "why can't you say that?" and "fine, I'm ok with that," then the call ended. I guess she wasn't so 'ok with that'. Poor guy.

I must say...commuting life does have its' moments!

A Letter from Dad's Sister

I received a letter from Aunt Betty today. She's dad's sister. At age 78, she's still been working full time. However, the firm she worked for shut its' doors last month and now she is home. Can you imagine spending all those years working, then suddenly having nothing? She feels so lost. I'm not sure that, at that age, I'd want to be re-inventing myself, trying to figure out my role, how my days will go....

She also gave me an update on her tree in the backyard. Some of dad and my Uncle Allen are scattered under the tree. Aunt Betty says there have never been so many flowers on the tree! I believe it. Dad loved to be out in the garden and yard: he trimmed the grass almost every night. Aunt Betty has a gorgeous yard, right at the foot of a big hill.

It's father's day this weekend. And the anniversary of dad's death in a couple of weeks. Am I ready?

Up On A Roof...

I'm reminded of the early days of my 'break'. I came and sat up on the roof a few times to write, think and reflect. Today is such a gorgeous day and there's a little piece of shade up here, so I had to take advantage! There's a great breeze coming over from Coney Island, not too warm.

Today's mass reflected on change. How nothing in life stays stagnant (thankfully) and not all change is good, or quick enough for our liking. Yet, change is how we see the Spirit at work. Calling us, moving us (sometimes, maybe, pushing us) to keep going.

Today a little baby was baptized (full immersion in the font!) and as his daddy held him up high, one couldn't help but feel both hopeful and called. We all have a chance to bring around change. Change for the better, if we try hard. We all have an obligation to do so. If not for ourselves, then for the future. Some change is bigger than we are; and we have to call in reinforcements. Most changes are small, but significant in the context of the world within which we live. It takes commitment, passion, and a willingness to try...no matter how small or how big the change may be.

We get tired, uninspired, fed-up and worn down. And then you see something like a little baby being help up high, to the sky, and you realize that you aren't that tired. Or uninspired. Or fed-up. Or worn down. No...the future is dependent upon us. Yes, change takes time. But it has to begin. And we have to stick with it. And keep challenging ourselves and others. And supporting one another to be better at what we do and how we do it.

Most of my life decisions have been about change. I don't prefer to live in a stagnant world, or work in a stagnant environment where everyone thinks/believes that everything is fine. Where's the fun in that? Or the challenge? Or the growth? Or the living?

Baby Noah, welcome to the world. Welcome to change.