The Fearless Blogger

To my knowledge, with all our technological advances, time travel is something mankind has yet to master.

Sometimes, however, a song plays and suddenly you’re whisked back in time: 8 years old, sitting in back of the VW mini-van, traveling from one National Park to the next.

I’d like to thank Jimmy Fallon and The Roots for loaning me the flux capacitor for a night.

Ryan – this post’s for you.

CHRISTOPHER CROSS + THE ROOTS PERFORM “RIDE LIKE THE WIND” WITH SURPRISE GUEST MICHAEL MCDONALD

CHRISTOPHER CROSS + THE ROOTS PERFORM “SAILING”

There are no extra pieces in the universe. Everyone is here because he or she has a place to fill, and every piece must fit itself into the big jigsaw puzzle. -Deepak Chopra

Although I consider myself a spiritual person, I don’t view myself as especially religious. My ties to Judaism are driven more by tradition and culture than by adhering to its tenets.

Tradition motivated me to continue to go to temple for the “High Holidays” after moving to Seattle.  It was at one of the Seattle services that I heard a sermon that’s stuck with me, nearly a decade later.  I’ll do my best to share the rabbi’s message here:

We each carry within us puzzle pieces. Some of these pieces belong to our own puzzle, some belong to other people’s puzzles.

As we encounter people throughout our lives, puzzle pieces are exchanged. Sometimes we give pieces, sometimes we receive them.

Often we may not realize the exchange was made until time has passed, more pieces accumulated to help identify where it fits into our internal puzzle.

Similarly, we’re often unaware when we’ve handed someone a piece to their puzzle. Exchanges can be made in the briefest of encounters.  Intentions or impressions don’t have a bearing on these exchanges.

Receiving a puzzle piece does not mean it’s yours to keep. Sometimes pieces remain stashed away, until we encounter the intended recipient after time has passed.

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I love this metaphor. It adds meaning to each person I connect with as I journey through life.

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The sermon was shared in a day that the internet was very young and social media was not yet part of the lexicon.  Today we have some many ways to make connections; opportunities to exchange puzzle pieces.

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Spread the message to “Enjoy Today” by sharing small ways you plan to enjoy your day. Consider tweeting or updating your Facebook/MySpace status with: I'm going to enjoy today by [fill in w/your response!] http://bit.ly/FB8Ih #enjoytoday

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My dad wrote this poem for my mother. She found it waiting for her on the kitchen table when she got home from work one day.  Years later, pieces of it were read as part of my dad’s eulogy.

I share it with you today, on the anniversary of his death, to ask you to join me in celebrating his life.

My request is simply to honor Mike’s memory by taking some time to consciously “Enjoy Today”.

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Enjoy Today
by Michael Zaklin, for his lady Lynne

Alarm, buzzing, ringing,
Radio on, listening to
What it has to say.
News, weather,
Enjoy Today!

Wash, get dressed,
Out the door,
Into the car,
On your way,
Meet the carpool,
Enjoy Today!

Traffic, bad weather,
Carpool companions,
Listen don’t answer,
Hear what they say,
Arrive at work,
Enjoy Today!

Noise from parents,
Students screaming,
Unhappy co-workers,
I must be dreaming.
Listen, don’t answer,
Hear what they say,
This is your profession,
Enjoy Today!

Time to leave,
Hurry, hurry, stand and wait,
Meet the carpool,
Someone’s late.
Ride home is comforting,
Only an hour,
Listen to the companions
Conversation is a little sweet,
a little sour.
Listen don’t answer,
Hear what they say.
Arrive at home,
Enjoy Today!

On the table set before you,
Cards and flowers,
From one who adores you.
Hugs and Kisses,
A beautiful bouquet.
Sweet caresses,
Words of endearment
and understanding,
From one who loves you,
No need to answer,
Enjoy Today

!!

Last week, Jennifer Van Grove (@jbruin) tagged me over at her site to share seven things you probably don’t know about me.  For those of you unfamiliar with this, it’s a variation of the “Five Things meme” (the difference being, well, sharing two more things).

So I now present you with seven things you may not know about me, in no particular order read more

faryl note: I wrote this on Tuesday with the intention of posting it in the “sidenotes” section, as I wasn’t sure it belongs in the blog.

I changed my mind for two reasons – First, the Fearless Blogger posts what she wants where she wants.  More importantly, Thanksgiving was my dad’s favorite holiday.  Without Mike, it’s different.  I realized without Mike, Thanksgiving is like the “new Becky”.

I have so very many things to be thankful for and blessings to count, my memories of my father are among those.  I’m sharing this today because Thanksgiving belongs to Dad:

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