Tag: Rosh Hashanah

A Rose is a Rose is a Rose . . .

Published on by Cecelia Futch19 Comments

 

I shot these photos yesterday morning while the dew still lingered. Wish I had time to write, but with only two weeks left in the quarter, my time is spent researching and writing papers, developing presentations, etc. Crunch time! THEN, three weeks of break and high holidays!!!! The adage “A picture speaks a thousand words” works for me today. So enjoy the three thousand words and have a fabulous weekend. 😉

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And the Good News Is . . .

Published on by Cecelia Futch20 Comments

I really tried to write a substantive post today (this was late Thursday night) but life keeps on ticking and responsibilities are . . . well . . . responsibilities.  This is good, but at times I, being a somewhat responsible person, don’t get to do what I want to do. Someone once told me that I could do/be/have anything I wanted, I just couldn’t do/be/have everything I wanted. In a nutshell, I have to make choices. I am not talking about earth-shattering, life-changing choices today, just the everyday, run-of-the-mill choices we all have to make. For instance, I really wanted to go to the lake this evening to shoot some sunset photographs. Instead I washed clothes. . . four loads to be exact. Another for instance, I wanted to venture out with my camera to take a long walk at a nearby park. Instead I worked on resumes and actually submitted two. The entire day was like that: dishes washed, clothes washed, dried and folded, carpet vacuumed, furniture dusted, silver polished (yes, I polish silver.)

Our western culture (USA) strongly encourages us to do what we want, don’t let mundane responsibilities get in the way of enjoying life; make big bucks and retire early, etc. There are certainly times when the healthier thing to do is to leave the clothes for another day, or postpone the vacuuming until the evening. But today was not one of those times. I missed out on some fun activities~my choice. No one forced me. I didn’t write the beautifully profound post that I had hoped for. No lake. No park. But the good news is that I accomplished a lot of things that make our lives more orderly and manageable.

Generally, if given the choice, I opt for the more free-spirited adventures (well, “adventure” is overstating a bit). But when the free-spirited, do what you want activities rule our lives, left unchecked, chaos ensues and stresses mount.

The good news is that clothes are clean, resumes submitted, apartment neat, a lot accomplished. A load of mini-worries was addressed and are off my agenda (for a bit). This is good because scheduled activities for the next two weeks are daunting. Courses for the next quarter open tomorrow (so I’m back in classes for 10 weeks!). Yom Kippur begins at sunset tomorrow (Friday) and continues for 25 hours. The Festival of Booths (Succot) begins Wednesday night and goes through Saturday night, followed by the same next week.

This maddening schedule for the upcoming days presents a dilemma. Blogging has become part of my life. I thoroughly enjoy it. I enjoy reading your blogs and getting to know you. I enjoy seeing you at my site and reading your comments. For the next 10 weeks though, I will have to make choices. My proclivity is to blog everyday (I have two blogs in addition to this one) and to spend hours reading what you have to say at your sites. On the other hand, I have a responsibility to others (and myself) that will require a great deal of time and energy. In the long run however, I have a dream and for the past year and a half I have made strides toward fulfilling that dream. Blogging fits into that puzzle, but so does becoming a licensed professional clinical counselor. The daily grind gets old, and frankly a bit boring at times, as does washing clothes or working on resumes. But the vision of reaching my dream and accomplishing my goals motivates me to keep engaging the not-so-fun activities because anticipation of the fun to come when I reach the prize is priceless.

So, the good news is I accomplished a lot today by being responsible and doing boring chores. Things got done. The good news is tomorrow another quarter begins that, while it may be trying and even boring at times, will move me closer to my goal. The good news is tomorrow evening begins Yom Kippur and next week more holidays as we make atonement for the mistakes of the past and plan to do better in the future. The good news is, this is all good news.

No beautiful sunsets tonight, but there will be others to see on another day. No profoundly wonderful or spellbinding post for this blog now, but that, too, will be written another time. Tonight my eye is on larger, life-enriching goals. My presence, as in quarters past, will be more sparse for a while depending on the rhythm of my classes, but I’ll still pop my head in and try to keep up with what’s going on in the blogging world and with my blogging friends if not daily, then hopefully weekly.

Y’all have a great weekend, and I’ll see you soon! 🙂

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Five Question Friday: September 23, 2011

Published on by Cecelia Futch31 Comments

Good morning. Another Friday has arrived so this must mean Five Question day! But before I go there, I am taking a moment to update you on what’s going on here. As many of you know, Dad had an abdominal aneurism rupture earlier this week. He did make it to the hospital~in the nick of time I was told last night~and a procedure was performed to fix the many leaks of blood into his abdomen. We thought all was fine, but he continued to lose blood so last night another procedure was performed to fix more leaks that were discovered via CT Scan. The surgeon expressed concern that there may be even more leaks that he was unable to reach. Dad is resting now but if he continues to lose blood, surgery will have to be performed, probably on Monday. As my brother relayed to me last night, “Dad is in a fight for his life.” ~Those are not words a daughter wants to hear. The next days will be telling and there is a real possibility (probability) that I will be heading to Louisville on Sunday. If I disappear from the blogosphere for a while, you will know why. Blogging is therapeutic for me so I may stick around anyway, who knows. . . At any rate, if you are a praying person, or believe in a higher power or the power of positive thinking or nothing at all, I would appreciate positive thoughts, well-wishes, and sincere prayers on behalf of Dad, Mom, too. This is extremely hard on her. They have been together just shy of 60 years. Thank you Thank you Thank you.

Now, on to our questions of the day:

1. Dream job…realistic and completely unrealistic.

Realistically speaking, my dream job is what I’m preparing for right now: Mental Health Counseling. Sometime in 2013 I will become a Licensed Clinical Counselor and then will start working on certification in Art Therapy, Spiritual Direction and Counseling, and any other creative arts that will enhance the counseling aspect of what I do. These are exciting (and draining) times as I pursue my dreams! The unrealistic dream job is to become a world-traveler/photographer writing about and photographing exotic places, cultures and people for National Geographic. 🙂 Now wouldn’t that be fun!

2. Do you fart in front of your significant other?   I don’t know where they come up with these questions, but some of them are crude and I choose not to do crude. So let’s try this one from “Reflections of a Wild Artist” at HeronDance.org: When you consider your life in the overall context of the tendency of species to come and go, and the distinct possibility that humans too will someday disappear, what is important in your life, your accomplishments?

I am once again reminded of the importance of family and close friends in our lives. Relationships form the threads that bind the experiences of our lives into a tapestry. Relationships are not necessarily accomplishments, but that which helps mold the person we become, the conscience that guides us, the spirit that compels us to love, to care, to create, to do, to be. As for accomplishments, I am tempted to say raising my children. But somehow that is not “my” accomplishment. Rather that is also about relationships and cultivating a parent-child relationship in which we both work toward growth, maturity and accepting personal responsibility and accountability in adulthood. In that sense, my children and I have done a respectable job! What have I accomplished? I will have to think about that one. Everything I “accomplish” is done in relationship. So maybe that’s my accomplishment: cultivating wonderful relationships with many people of many backgrounds. …… The response to this question could go on and on, but I think it’s time to stop for now….I would love to hear your responses, though.

3. What’s the furthest you’ve ever traveled from home? How far and where was it?

Hmmm…. My first thought is Nicaragua. I really should write about that experience. Maybe I will work on a blog about my travels to that country in the future. It is certainly the furthest culturally from my home. Miles? I’m not so sure. I’ve been to Hawaii and that’s a lot of miles (also distant from my cultural home~go to the Polynesian Cultural Center for a fascinating look at the many cultures of the Pacific Islands.)

4. How do you celebrate birthday for your kids? Family only or friends? … Alternate for those without kiddos: How did you celebrate birthdays as a kid?

When the kids were young, it was usually birthday cakes, gifts and maybe a few friends. We never did the over-the-top children’s parties. As a twin, we primarily had family gatherings but when we did have friends over, we celebrated with two cakes, a boy cake for him and a girl cake for me. 🙂 Richard and I don’t do a lot for birthdays or special events. I have discovered that the daily affirmations of respect and love outweigh~by far~occasional cards that express what we express to each other daily. Having said that however, we do remember those days, and wish each other a “happy birthday” or anniversary. We have made a point of giving donations to special charities on birthdays and anniversaries. In a matter of weeks we will be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary and we are planning to do a few special things for our religious community and certain charities in celebration.

5. Fave thing about fall?

Undoubtedly my favorite thing about fall is the vivid colors! I enjoy the air becoming crisper and brisk(er) with the fall season, but the colors are a feast for the eyes and as a visual person, I love it, despite the fact that autumn ushers in winter.

Soooooo. . . That wraps it up for this week. 🙂 I look forward to your responses. Have a great weekend and week!  Next Friday I will be celebrating Rosh Hoshannah so I won’t be around for Five Question Friday. That holiday begins the Jewish New Year, so to all my Jewish friends, L’shana tova tekaseiv v’teichaseim l’alter l’chaim tovim u’l’shalom ~ may you be written and sealed for a good year, for a good life and for peace.

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Five Question Friday: September 9, 2011

Published on by Cecelia Futch16 Comments

It’s that time of the week again.  Since last week I’ve unpacked most of our boxes, a task that has proven to go faster as a result of moving into a tiny apartment.  The rest of our stuff was given away, thrown away or stored until we decide what to do with it.  To be honest, I think I’m going to like the “downsized” us a LOT!  Also, this is the penultimate week of the quarter; I just completed my last discussion post and now all that is left to do is complete the final project.  If all goes according to plan (yes it will, don’t be negative) I will submit that by the middle of the coming week and then I will be done for the quarter!  Woohoo!! I will have three weeks before I start up again. Of course in that three weeks we also have Rosh Hoshana, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot….actually the next quarter will begin before the last days of the last holidays.  Busy but happy times!

Now on to the five questions.  Here they are. Feel free to answer if you so desire, then share your answers with the rest of us.

1. What ringtone do you have on your cell phone?

Nothing special.  Just a ring tone.  I don’t fool with the songs and cutesy stuff.  My phone rings and that is all I need for it to do. 🙂

2. What is your favorite memory from this summer?

Our wonderful vacation in July!  It was glorious glorious glorious. Those of you who followed my daily blog at that time can attest to just how awesome and glorious that vacation was.

3. Paper books or ebooks?

Both.  Paper at home, ebooks on the subway or elsewhere when a hardback or paperbacks are too cumbersome to carry.  I downloaded Kindle onto my ipod and so I drop my library into my purse when I go someplace.  I always have a book to read no matter where I am.

4. If you could have one home upgrade what would it be and why?

We rent now so that is not a consideration.  When we buy however, I will want a fully loaded kosher kitchen and tiled bathrooms. 🙂 Why not? I plan to be in our own home before this time next year.  Make note of that. 🙂

5. When was your first serious boyfriend/girlfriend?

Oh my goodness…. That was too long ago.  I didn’t date that much, and really wasn’t serious about anyone until I met the man I would marry.  That proved to be a bit of a problem, but at the time it seemed like a good idea.  25 years later we divorced.  At least I can say I tried.  Now however, I am married to the love of my life.  Our tenth anniversary is coming up this fall. 😉

Ok, your turn.  And next week I will break a bit from the norm and substitute questions of my own. . .unless the 5QF folks come up with some really awesome questions!

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