January 21, 2008 I, Too, Have a Dream

Yesterday was the memorial service for Les Traband.  He was important and I knew I would see many old friends and colleagues.  There was an overflow of people – packing the funeral home.

As I was leaving, I stopped and spoke with Lee (Les’s wife and partner) — “I had no idea”, I said, “who Les was.”  “Neither did I,” Lee said, “neither did I”

You would not think that a memorial service could be a transformative event.  It was.  I thought I was committed to the things I’ve written – to relishing life, to fighting for our planet and for justice and a spiritual life, to families and fun… Moreso is not transformative.  Perhaps living what I say is.  It feels that way. 

Coming home in time to see the 2nd half of the Giants remarkable victory was a capstone to an extraordinary day.  Waking up to celebrate a birthday is lovely.  I tell my clients that a Goal is a dream with a deadline – Thos kind of dreams turn fantasies into realities. 

January 14, 2007 A Day Off With Football

Sadie died and an old and good friend, — a great man, Les Traband, also died, all I wanted to do was disappear.  And it was a perfect football weekend to vej out.  I didn’t even journal.  Nancy and I went shopping and all was well until I asked her to pick out some sweet potatoes – and she completely broke down.  For the last few months, we fed Sadie sweet potato.  This “sweet potato moment” got to Nancy.

I was okay.  It was football that defied odds and common wisdom.  I’ve been studying team – remember writing a few weeks ago how Dallas was a superior team.  They still were yesterday.  They completely outplayed NY.  If statistics count, NY lost badly.  This game will be seriously studied, as will the Colts, Chargers.  It did not seem that either of those teams could or should win.  So it was delightful to space out into them while we cleaned and restored our house from the ravages of Sadie’s last days. 

An easy formula – keep the body busy with mindless chores and the mind occupied with mindless (but exciting) football and sorrow is put into the background… well, I had a hard time when I put the laudry away and it included her little winter coat… but otherwise, background.  Socks the cat has taken up her new spot on the bed – she didn’t need football; she just knew.

Las night we had our bi-weekly call with the Symposium leaders in our region.  We were able to be with our commitment to environmental sustainability, spiritual fulfillment and social justice.  We noticed, in the cleaning, that ity is unimaginably difficult to rid our lives of plastic — more prevalent than Chinese products.  Even whole foods now sells shopping bags made of recycled plastic.  Great that it’s not permanent waste.

December 29, 2007 Does great create great?

I keep thinking I hate football and should give it up.  I hate it because of off-field antics; the hypocrisy about drugs and because of the constant and serious injuries.  And I watch it because  I loved playing, beause of the grace and beauty of individual plays and because I study team.

Last night’s Giants vs. Patriots game had much of what I hate and love.  Hate? Injuries decimated the Giants.  Love – Replacement players were wonderful (In another sport, Lou Gehrig got his start as a replacement player)

It was one of the greatest games I ever saw.  Do we play to the level of our competition?  The Giants had no reason to play except pride and the love of the game.  And they forced the Patriots to show how great they are.  Each teatm played to the level of the other team.  I think that finally the Giant defense was tired.  And the injury to their center caused a critical fumble.  And also, though I won’t see the game films, I think the center’s injury resulted in just that much extra pressure on Manning so he lost just that much sharpness.

But they caused Brady to demonstrate his greatness – possibly the greatest overall  QB performance I’ve seen (and I’ve been watching for 50 years)- The Giants pushed them to the Giant’s limit and they were a match. 

This will certainly excited interest in the Giant’s playoff game(s) and, absolutely, for the Pat’s Games