Holiday Greeting

Hi everybody!

I was under some stress, and apparently it prompted me to do some deep thinking.  One result was a really cool "Holiday Greeting" which I sent to my Dad and Step-Mom.  But I think the messages are so interesting I would like to publish this letter...if for no other reason so that I do not lose track of it...

************begin letter**************

There are many ways to spend time.  Music, art, science, baking,…I am glad you have chosen to spend some time with us regularly.  It is not easy figuring out why we are here and what we are supposed to do.  Life seems to be amorphous in absence of habits and opinions and actions and thoughts and feelings.  But with these things life becomes yours and recognized as such.  And interactions with others are complex too:  there’s the mad rush to work, the anger, the occasional kind gesture.  There are misunderstandings, there are opinions, there is apathy, there is vindictiveness, there is kindness, there is lust, there is insecurity, there is envy,…

All these things are at odds with one another swirling like a tornado – just try to make sense of the delirium!  There is the whole mortality issue…what will our legacy be, if any?  Will the house that we have improved be considered by future people?  What will take our lives?  What will be our tiger in the tall grass?

And what about peoples’ opinions of us?  Do these matter?  Surely in some respects it does:  whether we get promoted, how we are treated, how pleasant our life may be may all depend on that opinion.  I would like to think that if we are nice enough we will get good things in life…but I am not sure it is that simple…what about how energetically we approach life?  What about how disciplined we are about doing the right thing?  What if our judgment of what the right thing is, is correct or not?  What about how funny we are?  Is it worth something to make people happy?  Laugh?  What about honesty?  Is it always good to be honest with people?  How about tact?  Is that good?  How about communicating clearly?

I have other questions.  Is there a god?  Is life pre-determined?  What is the right way to live?  Will my demise be scary?  What about my kids?  Will they live a happy, good life?

Daily these questions amaze me.  I am glad today we are here with each other though, sharing some time and food and conversation and music and laughter and discussion together.  I am glad that we are all more or less healthy. 

Thank you both for loving us.  Thank you for giving us your wisdom, your thoughts, for demonstrating good ways to live your lives, for being examples for us to consider and to factor in; thank you for the food, for the money, for the love and hugs, for the honesty, for the warmth and kindness and patience and the butt-kicking and the shelter.

May your days be great.   May your travels be fruitful and wonderful!

************end letter****************