Am I really just like everyone else?

I feel the need to ask this because I have always thought of myself as a truly unique person, an individual. No, I am not. And this has happened many times in my life, but more so in the recent days. I tell about something going on in my life--and someone has a story to at least match mine and usually will top my story. These days I hear a lot of "me too." I hate "me toos." It's like saying your current pain doesn't matter because I have also gone through or am going through this. My brain knows that this is not what they mean by "me too," but sometimes my brain short circuits. Is that really surprising? In times of high emotional crises, my brain goes a little haywire and instead of acting on thoughts from my brain, I act on feelings from my heart.

I am a listener. My career, my chosen profession is based on being a listener (you know, mental health therapist and all). So I sometimes have trouble cutting people off in the middle of their "me too" stories. I know (in my brain) that they are trying to reach out, to have a shared experience. After all that is a huge thing in life and something so powerful--a shared experience. Even if we weren't there at that exact moment, our brains still search for a similar example, something that helps us to wrap our thoughts around it and to understand better where that person is coming from. But I feel (in my heart) so frustrated and hurt that they just didn't let me talk. A "me too" has happened.

I am going through a divorce. And there are way too many "me toos" out there when it comes to this story. My husband doesn't love--really "me too." I never saw it coming--really "me too." My life is a cliche these days. I feel like it has boiled down to a simple "me too" story. The sad thing, I still love my husband very much. I still want to do what it takes to work it out, and I haven't gotten many "me toos" on this one.

School Days, She says with a Sigh

I have to say that working in an elementary and middle school there are many times when I look back at childhood and say, "Thank you Lord for my thirties." But I picked up one of my kids from gym class the other day and they were playing kickball. Do you remember kickball? Now I couldn't hit a ball with a bat to save my life, but there was something magical and wonderful about kickball. Kicking that ball as hard as I could then running with all fury and diligence around the bases. I realize now that a home-run in kickball wasn't such a big deal. But in gym class, in elementary school, if I got a home-run, I was on top of the world. So from kickball my mind wondered to other amazing elementary school games. Tag. Dodgeball. Even a little bit of square dancing. But my most favorite of all--the parachute.

We had names for the way we would do the parachute. The ripple--this is where you shake it as hard as you could. The mushroom--you would lift it high in the air and run to toward the center, then run back out before it came down over your head. And then you would walk in a circle, or all hide underneath it. A couple of years back (maybe three years ago now), I was on mission trip to Romania, working in the villages of the Roma (to say "gypsy" is a derogatory term). And they had a parachute and did the same things that I remember doing in gym class (that great time of day in elementary schoo). Kids are kids no matter where you go. And fun is fun, no matter what the language.

Boy, do I miss gym class. I go to the gym now and it is just not the same. Walking on a treadmill, riding a stationary bike. Not the same as kickball.

Don't I have the cutest niece?

Blogs on Dogs

I have to talk about the challenge of trimming a dog's nails. I am finding that a trick that will work for one dog will not necessarily work for another dog. My older dog, Miriam (Australian Cattle Dog), will not like getting her nails trimmed, but she will tolerate it. I have her lay down on her side in front of me and hold her feet close to her body. This eliminates any jerking back and keeps me from clipping too far down. (Anyone who has ever made the painful, bloody mistake of cutting a dogs' nails too far down knows what I am talking about). I trim all on that side, have her flip over and do all on the other side. Miriam will then get a treat for ALL the nails.

I tried this with Dodger, my little terrier cutie. He would have none of it. I couldn't even get him to lay down. The first trick I tried with him was successful--sort of. I would wait until he would fall asleep on the couch and then go after whatever nail was exposed. Dodger is smart--he started sleeping will all his paws under him. But I have found a new trick, hopefully this will continue to work with success. I actually got 4 of his nails trimmed tonight. I stand and hold him in my left arm, all four paws sticking straight out. Then with my right hand I trim one nail. After I am done with one nail and only one nail, I put him down clap my hands and say "Yeah Dodger, Good Boy." and then I give him a treat. Amazingly enough, he came back for more. So I did a 2nd nail--same way. When he had finished his Milkbone--he came back for more. So on and so on.

Dogs have such great and individual personality. It is amazing how they are so different. Trimming nails doesn't even scratch the surface. (Yes, Yes, I know--stupid pun).

Amazing Grace--a review

I just saw the most heart touching story I have seen in a long time. It is about the abolition of the slave trade in England and the politics that went into this decision. It is historical and amazing. It is always so important to remember the suffing of others outside of ourselves. I have been going through my own personal tragedy and it meant something to be able to sit in a theater and be reminded yet again how insignificant my life is. This man gave the best years of his life fighting for a cause of such nobility--human freedom.

I had thought to sit down and write this beautiful review of the movie, but I'm finding my words and my eloquence fading. Just go see the movie--you will learn so much.

Family Ties

I just recently bought the first season of

"Family Ties." As a kid I had a huge crush on Micheal J. Fox and always thought this show was hilarious. Still do apparently.

Here's the thought... I am having trouble thinking up any family sitcoms now that are not focused on the disfunction rather than the hilarity of an everyday, intact family. I am not saying that there are no good sitcoms out there. I am loving "The Class" and "My Name is Earl." "Rules of Engagement" is pretty funny too. Good, funny stuff. But no families. Do you remember "The Cosby Show," or how about "Growing Pains?" I miss the families.