Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Life...........The Meaning of Life....

Here are some things to discuss:

Dave Freeman, co-author of "100 Things to Do Before You Die," a travel guide and ode to odd adventures that inspired readers and imitators, died after hitting his head in a fall at his home. He was 47 years old. You would suspect that if he wrote the book, he must have done the 100 things........... "This life is a short journey," the book says. "How can you make sure you fill it with the most fun and that you visit all the coolest places on earth before you pack those bags for the very last time?" Freeman's relatives said he visited about half the places on his list before he died...

Then we need to discuss the Ted Kennedy tribute at the DNC last night. There was footage of him enjoying sailing and photos of his famous brothers ........ and then there was Ted himself, promising to be around for the inauguration of Obama in January.

My two siblings have arrived in Vancouver (along with my sister-in-law and my niece) for the collective 2008 celebration of our 50th, 55th and 60th birthdays. I'm not disclosing my actual age, but I am the middle child (with all the baggage that that entails). Our mother (aged 88) is enjoying all the commotion and attention .... How lucky are we to be able to celebrate together? Speaking of celebrating - tomorrow we will head to the Okanagan wine country for a few days of wine tasting and water activities......... For my non-Canadian readers, you must visit the Okanagan one day - it rivals the beauty of the Napa Valley......

OK - one more thing - Michelle Obama......... She was stunningly eloquent and persuasive last night. Her speech was delivered in a conversational and heartfelt manner.... She was so impressive. The commentators last night talked about the historic moment - that a black woman (and her husband) could be running for the chief executive office.... This past week I had some visitors from Kansas and Nebraska (not relatives) and they voice their trepidation about Obama ("we don't know if we can trust him" - "we're not sure the country is ready for him"). I tried to hold my tongue (but I really couldn't).......For me, the real reason people are concerned about him is because he is black. Just say it - you don't think that you are ready to vote for a black man. Don't make other excuses - just admit it. Time to face the ugly prejudice head on........ This is a chance for Americans to show the world that they want change, that they are still a visionary and progressive country and that the horrid history of the last 8 years is over.........

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

It is in a way, too bad that a man as good as this, maybe as great as this, comes in a package that is such a challenge for so many. Those who have been taught that the paper on the package is crucial, that the color must be white. Hopefully those people will look hard at this man and see, maybe for the first time, that greatness comes in different colored packages. They might allow themselves to go beyond color and see what and who this man is. If they do that, they have a chance, maybe for the first time, to stop being the problem and start being part of the solution. For the sake of this country.