All In One Peace

So for all of you who have been worrying about my lack of writing in this blog- don’t worry I am alright. I am deeply sorry that I frightened some of you- and thanks for calling me out on that. I have been so busy- it’s all good stuff but I haven’t had time to think of anything other than the task at hand- let alone to write an entry. I have been trying to gather things for two fundraisers for my upcoming trip to Bosnia, and one for adopt-a -landmine’s ” Night of 1,000 dinners.” I have also been trying to tie up loose ends as I am- as of today- a full-time nanny for the family I live with as the parents are in Europe visiting their eldest. So you probably won’t hear much from me in the next two weeks either. Then I’m doing the 1,000 dinners with UPC and then I’m off to Chicago- so it’s a whirlwind tour of craziness for me. I’d appreciate prayers/thoughts, etc. too as things have been rather crazy at work. I am trying to get things done as I am finishing up my time there as well as planning the office move, and all the other extra tasks I’ve started. I haven’t had time to have a proper lunch- more like an eat and work for 5 minutes thing… but I think I’ll need to actually take it these next two weeks as that will be my only long period of time to read and pray.

Anyway so I’m busy… and now I’m a nanny. But it’s been funny because already people have assumed that I am the Wood’s mother. Someone today told me “You have beautiful children.” The kids are definately beautiful (I’ll ask their parents if I can post a picture here)- but I have to say that it is weird that people think I’m their mother! That hasn’t happened since my brother was a toddler- which was eerie as I was 12 when Steven was born. But the oldest here is 7 and the youngest 2! I haven’t thought about the fact that people I went to high school with are in fact parents of children these ages. I’m old enough to have kids? A family?

No matter what, these next two weeks will be a good test of how ready I am to raise children for when the right person comes along (which I assume will be a while)… and a good reminder of how precious we all are and that we’re all beloved like children.

Last night I went to a meeting in Seattle about focusing on a specific social awareness issue- nuclear weapons. For being someone who has studied war and genocide, I left it very sad, confused, and sullen. BUT- it’s not for reasons that had to do with the A-bomb or the movies exactly, but the reactions to the movies.

I felt so alone in the church where this was held- because I felt like the only one there that was not full of anger or fear. It wasn’t a fear or type of anger that I could relate with- like when a child gets a scratch and you hug and console them until that fear or anger is gone- the pain is still there but they are no longer upset. It was more the kind you had to join in the loathing or leave; It was not inclusive- but exclusive, wanting recognition that their fear/anger was justified but also to build to it.

I left feeling ever part of a polarized world. Extreme left and extreme right. And where is the middle? It seems more and more scarce these days. I’m too left for the right and too right for the left. But really I’m neither. (My opinion now) I feel that both are right and wrong- all at the same time. Personally, it seems to me that both sides are acting/reacting in fear and anger and that can never win. Like winning is the issue at hand and not finding the best solution! As long as things are polarized it will alwas be a win-lose situation- for one side will have to lose for other to win.

Why don’t we seek a 3rd way, a less travelled path? One where we can see the strengths of both arguments and pick an option that will best seek all those strengths? One where fear is not apart of the equation, but where love conquers? Wouldn’t that be the best mutual decision?

Comments/thoughts greatly appreciated…I need to ponder this more…

Y’all in Seattle…Go see Mae in concert October 26th! They’re a great band- and I bet the next time they come they’ll be big. Mae . I can’t go- full time nannying that day- but that dosen’t mean you can’t go!

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet.

Yup, names can be funny that way. My brother, who I had the honor of naming him, sent my sister a very interesting email about names…. Short version of how I named my bro. : I thought we were getting a dog (my sister wanting a cat) and we found out we were getting another sibling (being in 6th grade, that was terrifing and the only thing I could handle was helping name him).

Anywhoo, my brother sent an email with the subject:” steven to spenser”. And in the body: “Hi name is spenser.”I laughed and laughed- I can call him that. He’d still be the sweet, quirky boy I know and love. But I did email him, asking if I can still call him by his nickname of “Love button”…

My sister responded differently, with:

BUT I LIKE THE NAME STEVEN!!!!

you are very silly steven. i can’t start calling you spencer now after 11+ years!!! Sorry, but steven it is!
you should get a dog and name it spencer.
yes, that is the best idea here….

LOVE,
ROBYN …..

It all goes back to a dog. My brother got cats after my Robyn and I left… Hmmmm.