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Musings: December 2003
Wednesday, December 10, 2003
Today, I mourn the death of a beloved friend and mentor. After months of struggling for her life, she mercifully passed away.
“I want you to keep a daily journal,” she had said. “Everyday, write at least a page worth of whatever comes to your mind. Just write out your thoughts without bogging yourself down with spelling or grammar or anything else. Put your heart and mind to the task.”
Everyday that semester, I faithfully logged in events, thoughts, observations, recollections, anything that came to mind. The daily exercise taught me to be more observant, inquisitive, analytical, even compassionate and humble. It was she who inspired me to strive to express myself by thinking straight from the heart.
That was several years ago, though it now seems like only yesterday. Today, I say my final goodbye to my dear and gentle friend.
posted by Leslie
Tuesday, December 09, 2003
There was a time when I was a full-fledged crotchety Bah Humbuger. And proud of it, I might add. But the years must have mellowed me some. This is not to say, however, that I have radically changed into the good Scrooge. The determining factor in these transformations has been the presence or absence of a child or children with whom I would share a Christmas. If there were no child, Christmas becomes a meaningless void for me and Christmastime meant little more than a can of pork and beans on the grocer’s shelf. And I don’t even like pork and beans.
If I were a religious person, which I am not, Christmas might stand on its own significant legs, child present or not. But for me, merely looking into a child’s eyes full of wonderment, excitement, expectation and joy, is all I need to make my Christmas a treasured and merry one.
posted by Leslie
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