Could someone tell me how I managed to spend a month in the Mediterranean in January without getting so much as a tan, and yet, when I spend a few hours outdoors on the first warmish and sunny spring day of the year, I manage to quite nicely sunburn my face and neck.
I watched the movie "Dan in Real Life" this afternoon. I liked it. A happy, family sort of movie. Predictable, but happy. I need some happy in my life these days.
I'm incessantly hungry. Seriously. I've been eating nearly constantly all day.
I bought pork buns in China Town today. I love pork buns. (Did I mention that I've been incessantly hungry today?)
I'm going to see a movie with my baby brother, T., tonight. I'm looking forward to hanging out with him too.
Later.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Miracle
I'm flipping through some papers from a while ago, looking for something I wrote down about 5 years back, and I came across this quote from a favorite novel, "Peace Like a River" by Leif Enger.
Here's the lines...
Let me say something about that word: miracle. For too long it's been used to characterize things or events that, though pleasant, are entirely normal. Peeping chicks at Easter time, spring generally, a clear sunrise after an overcast week - a miracle, people say, as if they've been educated from greeting cards. I'm sorry, but nope. Such things are worth our notice every day of the week, but to call them miracles evaporates the strength of the word.
Real miracles bother people, like strange sudden pains unknown in medical literature. It's true: they rebut every rule all we good citizens take comfort in. Lazarus obeying orders and climbing up out of the grave - now there's a miracle, and you can bet it upset a lot of folks who were standing around at the time. When a person dies, the earth is generally unwilling to cough him back up. A miracle contradicts the will of the earth.
My sister, Swede, who often sees to the nub, offered this: People fear miracles because they fear being changed - though ignoring them will change you also. Swede said another thing, too, and it rang in me like a bell: No miracle happens without a witness. Someone to declare, Here's what I saw. Here's how it went. Make of it what you will.
(Peace Like a River, Leif Enger, pg. 3)
Here's the lines...
Let me say something about that word: miracle. For too long it's been used to characterize things or events that, though pleasant, are entirely normal. Peeping chicks at Easter time, spring generally, a clear sunrise after an overcast week - a miracle, people say, as if they've been educated from greeting cards. I'm sorry, but nope. Such things are worth our notice every day of the week, but to call them miracles evaporates the strength of the word.
Real miracles bother people, like strange sudden pains unknown in medical literature. It's true: they rebut every rule all we good citizens take comfort in. Lazarus obeying orders and climbing up out of the grave - now there's a miracle, and you can bet it upset a lot of folks who were standing around at the time. When a person dies, the earth is generally unwilling to cough him back up. A miracle contradicts the will of the earth.
My sister, Swede, who often sees to the nub, offered this: People fear miracles because they fear being changed - though ignoring them will change you also. Swede said another thing, too, and it rang in me like a bell: No miracle happens without a witness. Someone to declare, Here's what I saw. Here's how it went. Make of it what you will.
(Peace Like a River, Leif Enger, pg. 3)
Stopping In
I'm enjoying the second of three full days off in a row. This taking an extra day off work might actually pay off and see me sort of rested for the first time in months when I go back to work on Monday. Crazy!
I'm off to enjoy what may finally be weather that hints of spring by heading to the zoo and to China Town. I love both of those spots.
Then relaxing at home, and out with my brother later tonight.
I'm off to enjoy what may finally be weather that hints of spring by heading to the zoo and to China Town. I love both of those spots.
Then relaxing at home, and out with my brother later tonight.
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