Random Thoughts

I think about death a lot. Not in a macabre way, but in what I think is a practical way. I guess it is because I have been around quite a lot of death in my lifetime.  But I experienced death from a strange angle this week. Four big bins of clothes were donated for the next Kindness Yard Sale (coming in September). They were given to me by a friend, but they were not her clothes. They were clothes taken from a house where the owner died, and the home was being cleaned out.  I suspected to find “old lady” blouses and blankets, but instead the bins were filled with really pretty, stylish ladies’ clothing. I think the clothes were from the daughter of the deceased, not the woman who died. I took them out piece and piece and admired them as I put them into the washing machine. I hung load after load of clean, fresh, cute clothes.  Then I opened the dryer after starting a load of winter items. I already knew the girl whose clothes there were was very athletic from ot...

As an interpreter, I think about language a lot – about WORDS.   And the phrase I have been pondering for about a week is this:   ONCE IN A LIFETIME. People often use it to describe big, grand, amazing things.   ·          “Visiting the Grand Canyon – oh, that is a once in a lifetime experience!” ·          “Skydiving?   A total once in a lifetime experience!”   ·          “Front row tickets to a Lady Gaga concert?   Once in a lifetime, man!” ·          “A trip to Iceland to see the Northern Lights – wow, a once in a lifetime experience!!” The use of that phrase relating to positive events like those rubs me the wrong way.   Because here is the thing – if you invest your money and time in an experience or event, and it is fabulous and you love it – THEN DO IT AGAIN !!!!   Jumping ...