daysoflore.com

Reality strikes, at best…

I want to begin this blog by offering my deepest and most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Heath Ledger, the young movie star found dead this week in his apartment. The point of view of this blog does not in any way intend to minimize the loss, hurt, and emotional suffering of those with whom he was close.However, the amount of media attention to this tragedy does seem excessive to some, while the heroically tragic sacrifices of other talented and brave young Americans go unnoticed. A “Blue Star Mother” (an organization of mothers who now have, or have had, children honorably serving in the military bluestarmothers.org) wrote to me:

“In listening to the recent press hysteria surrounding Heath Ledger’s death, I can’t help but contrast that with the ultimate sacrifice our troops make every day with no fanfare.

My son, a Specialist with the Army 25th ID, is stationed in Taji, Iraq. Last Friday he witnessed the death of his very good friend, Specialist Jon Schoolcraft, age 26, to an IED, not to mention the grievous wounds sustained by others in the same attack. I would ask your listeners to log onto the DoD website (defenselink.mil/Releases/ ) just once to see the names and ages of the brave young men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Better yet, turn off the gossip channels on the TV and Internet and write a letter or send a care package to the troops to let them know they’re not forgotten.

God Bless you, Dr. Laura, for all you do for our troops. I too am a Proud Mother of an American Soldier…Hoo-ah!”

I believe that a civilization is measured in great part by what it chooses to honor.

We’ve all been sick the past couple of days… Logan getting the worst of it with his fevers getting as high as 103.8°F (39.8°C) on Thursday and Friday night. He’d break his fever in the morning and then it would come back again. Last night though it didn’t come back and he’s happy as a clam so far today. Now we’re just a group of coughing, sneezing, kleenex clutching sickees.

All of You, is more than enough for all of me,
For every thirst and every need.
You satisfy me, with Your love.
And all I have in You, is more than enough.

-Chris Tomlin

Happy Birthday to the Loganator… who turns the ripe young age of ONE, today
I seriously am still trying to grasp the reality that a year has already passed by… it seems like I just came home from the hospital carrying this little dude in my arms, and now he’s walking around like a pro.

(I created these announcements and sent them out to everyone)

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I loved this movie when I first saw it and I love it with as much love as I felt when I first saw it even when I see it for the gagillionth time. I mean, I really love it on a deep level. Obviously, it’s gorgeous to look at and the convoluted narrative structure inherent in the plot is wild and weird and exciting and confusing and cool, but at it’s heart, this is a simple story.

To me, at least, it asks simply, what would you change if you could? Would you or wouldn’t you? If you could, would you wipe out the bad memories if it meant also wiping out the good?

And when it’s finished and the credits start rolling, I’m left with the conviction that my answer to that question would be a resounding no. And that’s something for my sometimes skeptical and cynical heart. Even if I’ve known that all along, it was beautiful to be convinced all over again while swimming along with this crazy ride of a film as it unfolded before my eyes with so much color and music and light.

It was beautiful, it was magical, and up to now I still hold my breath the entire time. It smashed my heart into little pieces and put it back together again over and over and over, which was, I expect, the point. Because isn’t that what memories do?

Ultimately, I can’t think about this story without thinking about how I felt when it’s all over, which was moved and stunned and still and alive… and lost… and found.