"Destiny's Pub"

Darrin and I are so proud of Carlin, who recently had his short story published in a book published by Young Writers of Canada, called Dreamscapes. Carlin gave me permission to put his story on this blog:

"Did I ever tell you about the time that old Nelson McNealy made his own homemade bio fuel? I finally was right, after years of telling him his truck was full of s---!" The crowd of regulars let out a hearty laugh. Kenneth Wallace leaned back and drained the last dregs of his ale. It was a good day. The sun was in the sky, a gentle breeze glided through the front door, making the air at the Orkney Pub a little less stuffy, and both Ken and the regulars were too drunk to notice that everyone heard the bio fuel joke on a regular basis. Ken always felt at home in this pub, surrounded by a "support group" of middle-aged Scots. They all shared the same mentality that they had fallen into the rat trap of boring, everyday life. Some blamed their wives, some blamed their parents, and some blamed the same alcohol that was knocking down their social inhibitions and freeing them to talk about it. It was in this environment that Ken realized he wasn't alone in his regrets. His father had spent most of his time in this very pub, telling jokes and reminiscing. Ken hadn't seen much of his dad, even in the moments when he had needed a father figure the most.

Ken had vowed that he would be an involved father. He would right his father's wrongs. Yet here he was at thirty-two, with young impressionable children who barely knew him, and an uncanny resemblance to his father. Despite all his fear, he had become his father.

Ken turned to his old friend Duncan. "Have you ever felt like you had no other option than to become what you are? Like it was your destiny?"

Duncan turned. "Well, I don't exactly know, Ken, but Angus over there believes in destiny, and that in itself was a choice."

Ken looked out the window on the quaint little town he called home. He couldn't pinpoint a choice that made him who he was, but he could make a choice now.

That day, he left unfinished ale on the counter.

written by Carlin Parkin at age 17.

The Older I get, The Less I know...

In working with people, and often in experiences in my own life, I am struck by circumstances in which there do not seem to be clear answers. We wonder why some people have had to endure certain circumstances, or others seem to never catch a break. We wonder why children get cancer, or evil acts are committed against innocent people. We wonder why we experience circumstances in our own lives that don't make sense and are not fair. I used to always look for the "why's" in life. I used to want the answers. Sometimes I still do. The not understanding or being able to make sense of things is unsettling at best, and devestating at worst.

But... I have realized that the older I get, the less I know. Sometimes there are not answers that make sense or that are satisfying. Platitudes and cliches don't cut it when people are in emotional pain. Maybe there are answers, but they are just outside the reach of our limited human brains... I don't know. But, that's just the point: I don't know.

Here is what I do know. It's not much.. but it's enough for me. I believe there is a God who loves me. And, I believe he gives me a gift in each moment I am alive. I am trying to live in each moment, and see it as a gift. Really, that's all we ever have. We are never guaranteed another moment past the one we are presently in. When you recognize each moment as a gift, the answers don't seem quite so pressing.

So... I just breathe....and live....and love, to the best of my limited ability. That's all I know.

A great thought for Thanksgiving:

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." Melody Beatty

To Brighten Your Day... :-)

A little something for you if you need some encouragement today...

www.blessyoumovie.com

It is my wish for you... :-)

Kids' Rock by Tim Hawkins

Darrin and I discovered the comedy of Tim Hawkins a couple of years ago.... love it! This has got to be my all time fave.... cracks me up every time... fer shizzle dizzle yo!

What to do with all your post-it notes!

very cool.... how does someone find the time to do this???

I found this on stumbleupon.com and got a real "kick" out of it.... haha.... I know, lame joke but I couldn't help it... =D