VENTURING OUT

I am sleepy today and eating a handful of left over Reese's Peanut Butter cups from Halloween hasn't cured it. I am usually a great sleeper, but lately I have often woken up at 2:30 wide awake. I don't think I am hiding any anxiety from myself. It is possible that I am anxious about the PET scan that is scheduled for the end of the month. That is a full torso scan that will determine if I am free of cancer. It is a big thing. I wasn't aware I had anxiety about it. Maybe I don't. Lots of people wake up in the middle of the Night. Let us hope for a good sleep tonight.

Now that my recovery has reached a greater ambulatory stage I am exploring my new environment. I could always drive but I didn't get out of the car if I could help it. Yesterday I ventured into a supermarket. I didn't walk around much, I found a bench and Jamie did the shopping. It was nice though watching the folks go by with their carts. All kinds of wonderful interesting people. I like those little kids steering those carts. They so earnestly twist and turn those wheels as their Mothers push the cart along. I always comment on their driving and they get great beaming smiles.

I realized that our car was past due for servicing especially with Winter coming up. Our daughter Naomi lives nearby so I asked her for suggestions on where I could go. She provided me with a list of places I could consider. Jamie and I took a little drive to check one out. We thought the place had good vibes so we made an appointment for Wednesday. I am glad we did. We turned a ten minute drive into a half hour or more venture.

The St Cloud metropolitan area is huge. We lived at our former home South of Oglivie for 43 years. Four of our children attended college in St Cloud. We did much shopping here. When Naomi and Noah were in college we often made a weekly trip. I, also, worked as a Family Therapist for Lutheran Social Services for two years. Driving into St Cloud proper and returning home does not give one any perspective on the size and complexity of the area. The Metropolitan Area is made up of several cities, towns and villages that are glued together and surround St Cloud. For a couple of aging folk who lived in sticksville for 43 years it might as well be New York City.

Well that is that. We will get oriented in time.

Today is the last day of those horrible political ads! What a relief that will be.

There is a discussion around our house. “Is the world really as crazy as it looks?” We think not as the medias bread and butter is sensationalizing all the violence and cruelty in the world.

We can see that much of the problem is the worship of authority figures. We are trained to do that through religion and education. We are trained to have cookie cutter minds rather than think independently.

Many of us can see that the awakening is happening, however the stubborn blindness of so many is striking. Soon, perhaps even Wednesday, I will write more about the roots of the worship of authority figures.

In the meantime select what is beautiful from the seeming chaos of the world. There is much love and beauty to be seen. Let your heart swell with the Love of the Universe. Let us fill our homes with love. Let us know Peace. Each of us can create our own paradise.

Love and Peace, Gregg