It's the little things...

My husband was relating something from a TV show to me the other day - a young woman was very sad at the death of her grandmother, but had been unable to cry even at the funeral. It wasn't until, at the wake, someone went to eat the last piece of the last pie her grandmother would ever bake that she finally broke down.

It reminded me of a very sad exchange I had with a greiving Dad a few years ago. I lost a dear friend suddenly in February 2004, just as our eldest kids were starting year 1. In early April I got a call from her distressed husband, who up until this point had really been holding it together, staying strong for their children and her parents. I met him for a coffee so that he could talk it out. I wondered what calamatous event could have caused him to crumble like this? It turned out to be one of the saddest things I have ever heard. He was packing away the kids' summer things into the garage locker - boogie boards and fins and buckets and spades, until he got to the beach ball. He couldn't let the air out to pack it away. He said despairingly "Jaye's breath is in there. How I can let it go?" At that point we both cried our eyes out, and did feel better for it because it sparked a long converstion about all the things we loved and missed about her. The little things.

So this week I hope we can all take a moment to think on the little things that make the people in our lives special to us - their funny sayings and mannerisms, their singing voice, the way they look when they're asleep, their favourite perfume. Make sure you tell them how special they are!

In the doldrums...

Hi all,

Am feeling a bit flat lately and it hasn't been a priority to blog. I have been recalling something learned at post-natal depression support group - "Achieve more by attempting less", which has helped.

I did make a birthday card for a friend who loves all things Japanese. The paper was beautiful with a pearlescent finish - the photo doesn't do it justice. Hope she likes it!

The whole work-eat-sleep-work merry-go round has been my lfe for the past few weeks, with not much fun to break it up. Am really looking forward to the scrapbooking retreat just before Easter to have something creative to think about.

Have had one child on camp for a week - what a difference it makes. Going back from 3 to 2 was a real blast from the past. Car trips were quieter, there was more play and less fighting and we even went out to dinner on a "family" pass - these are only ever 2 adults and 2 kids! Roll on next year.

Haven't seen much TV lately, but was really shocked to notice the ads for 60 Minutes on the nine network. Years ago this used to be a hard-hitting current affairs program, with journalists travelling the world reporting on conflicts or amazing scientific breakthroughs or never-before-seen natural wonders. Now it seems to be about celebrity divorces, movies, internet porn and successful TV shows. What the ?!

American journalist Edward R. Murrow said “If we were to do the Second Coming of Christ in color for a full hour, there would be a considerable number of stations which would decline to carry it on the grounds that a Western or a quiz show would be more profitable.” And he died in 1965! We haven't come very far, have we?

Oh no - seroius again. This is not the way to get through the week! So here's a joke:

A woman walked up to a little old man rocking in a chair on his verandah. "I couldn't help noticing how happy you look," she said. "What's your secret for a long happy life?" "I smoke three packs of cigarettes a day," he said. "I also drink a case of rum a week, eat fatty foods, and never exercise." "That's amazing," the woman said. "How old are you?'

"Twenty-six," he said..

Hope everyone has a great week! Till next time...PS.