A Different Scenery 

Can you guess where I am?

Yep - California here I come

Right back where I started from...

This was a very unexpected trip.

I shouldn't complain as I was able to miss part of Utah's winter.

Instead of -8 or even zero degrees,

I've been enjoying crisp 60 degree to nice warm 80 degree days.

I wish I could tell you that this was a joy trip,

well I suppose visiting your mother should bring joy into your life.

But this trip was out of necessity.

Anyone else out there caring for an elderly parent?

Roles certainly switch places. strength replaces weakness

and weakness replaces where strength once was.

But this is a time to cherish, this is a time to learn more about 

your roots, your parents and yourself.

I only had to begin at the refrigerator:

"Yesterday's the past, tomorrow's the future, but today is a GIFT. 

That's why it's called the present."

or

My goal in life is to weigh what my driver's license says I do!

or

A Prayer for the World

Let the rain come and wash away

the ancient grudges, the bitter hatreds

held and nurtured over generations.

Let the rain wash away the memory

of the hurt, the neglect.

Then let the sun come out and

fill the sky with rainbows.

Let the warmth of the sun heal us

wherever we are broken.

Let it burn away the fog so that

we can see each other clearly.

So that we can see beyond labels,

beyond accents, gender or skin color.

Let the warmth and brightness

of the sun melt our selfishness.

So that we can share the joys and

feel the sorrows of our neighbors.

And let the light of the sun

be so strong that we will see all

people as our neighbors.

Let the earth, nourished by rain,

bring forth flowers

to surround us with beauty.

And let the mountains teach our hearts

to reach upward to heaven.

Amen.

-Rabbi Harold S. Kushner