be-musings

Check out this van:


Wait a minute...is it a mirage? Is the sign in the window about the van, or the person whose reflection shows in it? Maybe the sign "Chick magnet" makes more sense now? $400.00...maybe I should sell him on ebay! Any offers?

Please be patient with me while I'm working on the blogskin. The font is now too light, but if you put on those glasses you refuse to wear things might be more legible. (Did you wonder how I knew you needed glasses?)

Earlier tonight I was lamenting not having anything to blog about. Things are getting busy with managing two job locations, the club, packing, slowly "helping" Scott make room at his place, and planning the wedding. Last week I realized there are 6 weeks left and so much isn't done. I haven't been too worried about it, because one of us knows what to do at weddings. That isn't me. But now the many items to craft, sew, and things to figure out are building and causing me to start list writing. That can be a good thing...and a bad thing. I'm not losing any sleep over anything yet though, which is awesome.
Okay, I digressed. Here's what just happened.
I got a call from Scott's place and was greeted with "he put soap on my toothbrush". Way to go Matthew! A little welcome to the family initiation. The thing about Matthew is he thinks a joke is funny over and over again. So Scott, it's time to start sniffing the toothbrush daily, like I have to. Maybe I'll get a reprieve for a while!

This post is also on our wedding blog site. Thought I would put it here too, for those who don't visit the other site.

Some people have asked me what I'm wearing, and if this is a casual versus semi-formal event. I thought I would attach photos of what I'll be wearing, as a guideline. My taste in fashion is varied, and I couldn't decide what I like best, so I'm going to change during the reception. Like a going away outfit, but a bit earlier in the evening.

Here is the outfit for the ceremony:



















And for the reception:






















Not to be outdone, this is what Scott will be wearing:

While walking with Matthew through the field at former St. Mary's Residential School I took the opportunity to talk about history - specifically the residential school.
The onset of the schools in Canada, though perhaps originated for noble reasons from the viewpoint of those who established them, were the home of abuse and disintegration of first nations traditions and culture, as well as separation of the family. In my opinion, they were formed out of a zealousness that was not backed by humility. I didn't say it this way to Matthew, but talked about the children who for the sake of traditional education were taken from their homes, villages, language in order to pursue the education which was considered acceptable and superior. I'm not a history buff, so I know it is more complicated than that. There were undoubtedly people who loved the children and who nurtured them, so I can't paint all those involved as bad.
The First Nations people were not the only ones forcibly removed from their families when leaders decided educational standards were not being met. I have a Russian friend of Doukhobor ancestry who was taken from her family and moved to an education "commune" in Kaslo. This commune had previously been used to intern Japanese Familes, as a "precautionary" measure to eliminate dissidence after the bombing of Pearl Harbour. It was easy to spot the features of the Japanese, and with their homeland attacking the United States, everyone living near quick access to the ocean was considered a threat to the nation. Can you imagine the prejudice of the nation, where those with Asian features were all taken as potential enemies? Their belongings were all removed from them for no compensation (until at minor attempt in 1988), plus many of them were forced to pay for their internment. It was at such a place that my friend spent part of her childhood, surrounded by the history of prejudice and fear, imbedded into the deteriorated facility.
As Matthew and I talked on a level he could understand, he would make comments about hating some of the cultures who had done these things. I would point out that he is part of those nationalities. He said he didn't like Germans because of the acts of the Nazis. But he is part German. He didn't like Japanese because they bombed Pearl Harbour. Yet, the North Americans dropped the horrible A-bomb that melted people into being unrecognizable, like aliens, and annihilated huge cities. How can we say any one is better than the other? I came to two conclusions...two morals of the story.
One: many things are done with religion instead of Christ as the motivator. For those who do it, perhaps there is the belief that they are one and the same. Two: Fear makes bad decisions. The Japanese were interned because of fear...without foundation. Of the two morals, that is the most powerful.
Are you paralyzed by something, and frantically feel you need to just move anywhere to get unstuck? Moving is good, but don't make your decisions out of your fear. Don't think of the worst thing that can happen and try to respond to what you imagine. Don't imprison anyone...including yourself.

A father asks his 10-year-old son if he knows about the birds and the bees. "I don't want to know," the child says, bursting into tears. Promise me you won't tell me." Confused, the father asks what's wrong. "Oh, Dad." the boy sobs. "When I was six, I got the 'There's no Santa speech.' At seven, I got the 'There's no Easter Bunny speech.' When I was eight, you hit me with the 'There's no tooth fairy speech.' If you're going to tell me that grownups don't really get laid, I'll have nothing left to live for."