Wounded Warriors – Thank you – Faith of the Heart

I volunteer at our local Veteran’s Hospital.  It has been my privilege and honor to be of service to our service personnel who have been wounded in the line of duty.  It has been heartbreaking and heart lifting.   I can do so little and really, it is they who have helped me.

We all have our journeys and wounds – some wounds take longer to heal than other.  But I have learned from these courageous warriors, it is your attitude that is what is important – how you define your pain and suffering and healing rather than letting the wounds define you.  They encourage each other and when necessary, tell one another to get off their pity pot and start going forward.  Wow.

Several years ago, a new saga in the Star Trek mythology came on TV – Enterprise – the pre-history of the original Star Trek most of us know.  I was immediately captivated by it and not just because the luscious Scott Bakula (a long time favorite) was the star of the show.  The theme music, when first I heard it in the opening credits, brought tears flowing down my cheeks.  Faith of the Heart….the words said it all to me about my journey, pain, hard times, renewal, faith, healing.  A few Sundays ago, it was my time to do the special music for church service.  After much thought of so many other songs, I chose this.  I chose it because it is a true song. It says much about my journey of faith as well as my journey of life.

One day on one of the wards, one of the guys was having a hard time with his physical and emotional healing.  He had lost both legs below the knee and one arm at the shoulder.  He had been working so hard and today, he was so tired of it all.  I was sitting, helping a young man with his lunch when one of the other men, began singing this song.  In just a moment, it was taken up by the others.  Obviously, this song rang true to them all.  I sat there awed and humbled by these men – they were wounded for us and now, they were at their most vulnerable and yet, also at their strongest.  The young man was encouraged and began to sing along.  Afterwards, they all applauded and cheered and continued on with their healing process.  No whining, no blame, no holding back –

The video with the words is below.  As you continue your journey in life, remember these words, remember these heroes, remember: it is your choice how you heal or don’t. It is your choice how you move forward or stay stuck.  They were wounded for us, but they were healed for themselves and those they love.

Thank you again to all our service members, wounded, healed, whole, deployed, at home, retired…God bless and keep you every one.

Ch-ch-ch-Changes

Thanks to inspiration from June Buggie on Rumpy Dog, I took the great leap and made a change to my site appearance.  I’m not happy with the header but am still working that out.

I am not changing my gravatar.  I’ve noticed lately, a lot of folks changing appearance and their gravatars.  Making this appearance change has caused me to reflect on the changes in my blog from my initial idea of “what” it was to be, to what it is now.

I think of blogs I have followed, unfollowed, commented on….changes I’ve seen in those I’ve been following as long as I have been blogging.

My husband and I went through a rough patch recently because I was making changes in me – actually, reverting to what I enjoyed before I met him.  So I guess, not really changes but recycling.  I’ve found a new depth in that reversion.  It frightened him because I was “not the woman he married”.  We’ve weathered through that and he realizes, that in 13 years, he is not the man I married.  We celebrate our 13 years of marriage today and based upon a long conversation last night, we are comfortable now with our changes.  I finally pulled out my wazikashi a month ago and showed him.  I literally had to pick him up off the floor and when I showed him that I actually knew how to use it, he was astounded.  But as he said, it finally solved the mystery of why I was so good with the totally rocking Luke Skywalker lightsaber he gave me for Christmas.

He did ask why the wazakashi rather than the katana. I just gave him “the look”. Hello, I’m 4’10” tall. He went, oh yeah, you’re a little short for that long blade. Or as my samurai more elogquently put it, “Misosazai, by the time you draw the katana, your head will be on the ground at your feet. this sword is more in keeping with your height. It is unworthy of your valor, but, we must be realistic.” and so saying, he put Minamikaze (South Wind) for the first time, in my hands.

My husband isn’t as afraid Minamikaze anymore or me or changes – as as afraid.  He’s 10 years younger than I so it is harder for him to adjust – ironic, yes?

I imagine there will be changes of all kinds.  If you ain’t changing, you aren’t growing and if you ain’t growing, you’re dead.

Here’s to life, growth, future blogging, and 13 lucky more years with my husband.  Y’all live long and prosper and the Force with be you.

 

Starfleet Academy vs. VA Tech

Huh????   Those of you who aren’t into BBT, SciFi, fantasy, anime, manga, comics, all things geek, just please bear with me here.

This all came about because of a Big Bang Theory episode.  Sheldon’s parting shot to Leonard’s girlfriend after an argument was:  “You may have gone to Cambridge, but I went to Starfleet Academy”.  My husband states, “There is no such thing”.  At which point, I came out of my Kindle fog and told him, oh yes there is and I’ve taken courses there.

“Well, they can’t have anything to do with the real world”.  Fighting words.  Real world?  REAL WORLD??  Excuse me, but Star Trek is the real world.  I told him the courses I took have certainly done me more good in the “real” world than his BS in Theatre Arts.  I mean, how often do you use “How to stage Medea’?  He stammered and stuttered and said,”I learned lighting and wiring”.   My left eyebrow raised several inches as I sardonically sneered at him.

“So, why did I have to install the dimmer switches, the motion sensor lights at the ends of the house, and the ceiling fans throughout the house?”  No answer.  Silence from the Hokie Alumnus.  “I learned such things in the Science & Technology (Physical sciences,  technology and engineering) degree I earned from Starfleet Academy.

“I know several physicists and engineers who work(ed) on the CERN Accelerator.  How many actors, actresses, and plywrights do you know?”  Still silence from the Hokie Alumnus.

He would not admit defeat, but he did admit I had a point.  I reminded him I had several points.  I then told him “Good night” – in Klingon – Maj rahm, yIQongchu’!   Dujeychugh jagh nIv yItuHQo’!  “There is nothing shameful in falling before a superior enemy”.

He was not amused.  I just held my 4’10” self as tall as possible and bowed to him.  “haisya”.  He growled,”now I’m getting stabbed in Japanese”.  I smiled and went to bed.  BAZINGA!!  Bit I turned to him with these last words: ” And that is why I have Commander pips on my Star Trek uniforms and you have a ragged VA Tech tee shirt.”

Starfleet Academy 10   VA Tech Zilch.

The official logo of Starfleet Academy, circa 2375. The Roman numerals refer to its founding year of 2161. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Post 102!!!! Yowzer Y’all. Answers to Questions

This is post 102 and I must say, I never thought I’d come this far. To those of you who have followed and liked and commented, I truly thank you. You all have made my day many times with your kindness and interest. And so I have decided to answer some questions that have come up so you all can read them.

1. Yes, the Samurai and the Wren series is all true. At this point, I have not decided if I will go past Part III.
2. How did I guess Dr. Ken was a forensic pathologist? Well, he went to University of Medical school and obtained his medical degree. When he said he went to Duke, I logically concluded it was for a specialty since he was already an MD. Now…..When he mentioned U of Tennessee, this clinched it. Now UT is a fine school – excellent medical school (which he didn’t need), good law school (which he didn’t want) but – an excellent anthropology department and……The Body Farm. That was the only reason he would have gone and because he was so good, he was accepted and obtained his PhD. When we met, although the Body Farm was fairly new, it had obtained and still has worldwide fame for its research done at the Body Farm.
3. I am proud to a Southern woman. A friend crossed stitched for me: American by Birth, Southern by the Grace of God.
4. I am really a nerd – love my sci fi, fantasy, manga, anime, Star Trek, Star Wars, comics.
5. Someone said it was interesting to meet a real Southern belle with Japan in her heart. I think that is accurate. And yes, in the good ol’ old southern family tradition, I was a debutante. But the deal was, the summer before I went off to university, was mine. No questions. I went to Woodstock, camped out in the desert, and sat on the hood of my car the night the first man stepped on the moon, gazing at the sky in wonder and amazement.   I love Japan, the art, the food, the culture and Dr. Ken.
7. No, I don’t think I’m going to take pictures of me cooking. I’ve said it before, you all are grownups (sort of) and probably know how to cook already from what I have read on your blogs. You don’t need help from me because you all are accomplished and knowledgeable.
6. The 11/16 Society is real.
8. In The Walk Series of haiku, the man is a good friend. A nuclear engineer from Japan who is here working for awhile. No romance in the works. He is delightful, handsome, extremely intelligent, and humorous. He and I have a special connection and enjoy each other’s company with much delight.
9. There are several poems about Ken and I scattered throughout the blog.
10. there is more info on the Who is KanzenSakura? page

and finally, kanzen sakura means, perfect cherry blossom. Watch The Last Samurai to find out more.

Good night Y’all. Sleep tight and don’t let the bed bugs bite!!! and as my grandma Ninny always used to tell me: Sweet Dreams.