Eeyore's Silver Lining

I have a problem always seeing the negative and letting it get in the way of the positive. (No matter how trivial the negative may be.) The thing that makes this my way of thinking is that I seem to be followed by a dark cloud most of the time. It hovers over me day and night. If something could go wrong it probably will. Murphy's law. (There is a chapter in Murphy's book devoted to me.) Well, I think its time to look for the positive. Start being more like eeyore. Yes, it's true, Eeyore looks to the positive.

"It's snowing still," said Eeyore gloomily.

"So it is."

"And freezing."

"Is it?"

"Yes," said Eeyore. "However," he said, brightening up a little, "we haven't had an earthquake lately."

Well, there wasn't an earthquake, but let me tell you of my trip to Philadelphia this past weekend. It was a great idea in the planning stages. Cathie was presenting at a conference out there and had a room for a few nights. Madeline and I decided we would go out for a couple of days and check out the sights.
     As an airline employee, I fly standby for the flights. Things were very tight for us when Madeline and I left on Friday, but thanks to a friend, we made it on our flights and got to Philadelphia.
     We took the train from the airport to downtown. I had studied the map over and over so I knew where I was going to go when I got off the train. Madeline and I left the train station and headed south. Wrong. After walking many blocks we realized (thanks to a phone call from my wife) that we had gone the wrong way. It was cold and rainy, great day for a walk. We got to the hotel and headed for the pool. I needed some hot tub time to wash away my frustration. Joining us were six of the noisiest kids the earth has ever seen or heard. Madeline and I both agreed to go back to our room because it was way too loud. (Sounds like I'm turning into a grumpy old man, "Damn noisy kids anyway")
     The next day we got going early and spent the day sightseeing, just Madeline and I. We got back to the room about five o'clock and I checked on the flights for the following day. I wanted to see if we were going to fly out of Newark or Philadelphia, and what time a flight left that had room for the three of us. Well, for those of you who watched the news last weekend, there were a lot of storms out east, (including one over my head.) Flights were canceling up and down the east coast. We had no way to fly back home. The only alternative was to rent a car from Philadelphia, and drive the 1200 miles back home so we could be to work monday morning. We rushed out of the room and grabbed a cab for the airport. In our haste I lost the bag of souvenirs Madeline had so carefully picked out at the gift shop. I forgot my toothbrush. Not a big deal until you realize it is a $100 Sonicaire toothbrush. My camera lens broke.($650 for that one.)
     We had to pay the cab driver a good chunk of money for the ride. Finally a few hundred dollars later we had a car. We could see it through the window. It was about a hundred yards away. Did I mention it was the heaviest downpour I have ever seen? We got to the car, I proceded to load it in the pouring rain, getting soaked down to the skin. I was tired and miserable, and now I had to drive twenty hours, overnight, in the pouring rain to get home. We did eventually make it back to Kansas. I caught a bad cold from the whole ordeal, but are no worse for the wear. One thing I wanted to reflect on is Madeline and my day together, because how soon we forget what we got to do because of what we had to do.
    I realized that I would gladly do it all over again. Madeline and I had the best day together. It is not often just the two of us get to spend time together. We rode around Philly in a double decker bus and visited all the sights. Her and I ran up the "Rocky Steps" and jumped around like a couple of tourists. We saw independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. We made a wish on Bejamin Franklin's grave. We ate Philly cheese steak sandwiches while checking out the Reading Terminal Market. Betsy Ross's house, a masonic temple, city hall, wonderful works of art everywhere were ours to explore. It was a wonderful day together that I wouldn't have traded for anything.
     My free trip ended up costing me plenty, but I got much more in return. A memory to last a lifetime. So I again will try not to lose sight of the good stuff because of the crap surrounding it. At least there wasn't an earthquake.

Chasm Jumper

As promised here is the first official installment of my blog ‘The Space Between’.

I have decided to take this adventure into my overloaded and often misguided brain, slow. Much like Dante’s adventure into hell, or on the lighter side, Donkey’s (Shrek) personality. My brain contains many layers. Each layer more confusing and often more frightening than the previous. That is why I have decided to ease you, poor reader,  one step at a time, starting with the outer layer. The one you see most often.  And today I will bring you a piece of that. One thing that makes me very happy.

There is an old Ojibwa legend that says when God created the earth, He created all the animals and then he created man. In order to show man’s dominion over all of the animal kingdom, God created a wide chasm. Only the dog tried to find a way across to join man. He tried to jump the huge chasm but only his forepaws reached the far edge. Man reached down and pulled him to safety, saying “you shall be my companion forever.”  This is the story of my Chasm Jumper.

A few years ago I lost my dog and faithful companion, Mulligan. A beautiful Samoyed who was indeed a true friend. I marked this day as a turning point in my life. Everything seemed to run downhill from there. Nothing was quite right in my world. A series of disappointments followed, too numerous and mundane to mention. (They did not seem mundane at the time, but it is all a matter of perspective, isn’t it, reader?) I felt like I was being punished for something and that day. I remember the day very clearly; it was July 4^th, 2008, the day the dam broke. I will save that story for another day; this is supposed to be a happy story.

Well, hearts mend, sadness fades and we learn to go on. He was a dog, for goodness sake. We know we are going to outlive them. It’s inevitable. We enjoy them while they are here with us, and we should be thankful each day we get to spend with them. The story of a dog never has a happy ending, just a happy middle. Take ‘Old Yeller,’ ‘Where the Red Fern Grows’, not happy endings, but wonderful middles.

This brings me to my best buddy, a true mamma’s boy, Truman Kalel. (I don’t blame him for loving his momma, I happen to feel the same about her.) He came into my life two summers ago and I look at him as if he jumped the chasm just for me. I realize that he is a dog, and that I anthropomorphize way too much, but for those of you who have a loyal companion such as mine will know the love and strength a dog can bring you.

Truman is a blue merle Australian Shepherd.  A very smart and loyal breed. He is a constant companion who never judges, always listens, and is there for me regardless of what I need. If I need to just go for a walk to shake some things off, bounce some ideas off him for a project, or if I just need some quiet time on the couch he is there with me. In fact he is here by my side now watching me type this up. I am concerned he might be offended by the fact that I called him a dog on numerous occasions, because he is way more than that.

People have a hard time achieving happiness in their lives. They tend to get wrapped up in their own little world. People get confused because they do not know what they need or want, and then depression sets in. Dogs do not have this problem. They know exactly what makes them happy---doing something for someone.

So if you see me with Truman, know that we are doing something that makes us both very happy, spending time with one another. Not complaining, judging, whining or criticizing, just hanging out, and what could be better than that. So thank you Truman for jumping the chasm when I needed you most.

He is your friend, your partner, your defender; your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours faithful and true to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.

A moving testament to a dog’s loyalty was found in the ruins of Pompeii: A dog had thrown himself over his young master’s body as the volcano erupted in AD 79. Archaeologists discovered the pair almost 2000 years later.

Steve……………………

First post

    Inspired by an old friend in Minnesota, I have decided to begin writing a blog. It is more for me than anyone, so I won't be offended if you don't care for it. I came to the conclusion while stuffed in an MRI the other day that I was going about things wrong, and that things needed to be changed. I needed a new focus in life. (A lot of strange thoughts go through your head when your stuck in a tube for 40 minutes with no possibility of escape.)
    I decided that I was spending way too much time and energy in the pursuit of happiness. One of the things entitled to all Americans along with life and liberty. Instead of spending my life pursuing the thing that may make me happy, I thought I should be doing the things that make me happy.
    One thing that I enjoy doing very much is writing. I have no formal skills at this, as you have probably decided by this point, but I find it a good way to get the tens of thousands of ideas that are constantly swirling in my brain, out. I need to purge these constant observations that I mull over and that keep me awake at night.
    As my wife will tell you, even the smallest fact, observation, or idea can bother me so much that I can't seem to move on.
    So, reader, this is where I plan to purge. Let my thoughts flow free. Some things may be positive and inspirational, other posts may just be about something that is bugging me at that time. I look forward to feedback to prove or disprove that I am indeed going crazy, or hopefully, changing my life and attitude for the better.
    For those of you who are not Dave Matthew fans, The Space Between is a song that describes a person dealing with a lot of crap over here, and a lot of negativity over here. "The space between is were you'll find me waiting for you." I will refer to this song on other occasions, reader, so you may want to check it out. 
    For those friends who have shown some concern, I am not depressed or losing it. I am fine. There has just been a barrage of crap thrown my way over the last year, that enough is enough. God, if you are indeed testing me, though it is not for me to decide, I think I passed already.
    So reader, give it a chance. You might find something that you have thought about as well. You may totally disagree with me, which is fine. But give it a chance.
    Thanks for reading reader.