It All Comes Back to Springsteen

Lately I have been thinking if I had the opportunity to write a letter to someone who had a big impact on my life to whom would I write, or is it who would I write to? (I have never mastered my who's and whom's).

Parents are the most likely choice of course. I was blessed to be able to spend time with both of mine before they passed away and I am confident that I left no words unsaid. Next up is the teacher who mentored me. I am actually friends with said teacher, who is hopefully reading this, and I am confident she knows. I am ninety percent on top of my thank you note writing - I think I even write thank you notes to people who send ME thank you gifts and notes. I could thank my husband - if I were taking to him - just kidding! I thank him every day for merely putting up with me. I take time to thank God every day for my life, for life in general, for everything really. Plus I am saving Him for the big Oscar thank you, in case I ever get around to pursuing that acting career. I counted yesterday how many times I said thank you - 105! Those thank you's were for the door holder, bag packer, salad maker, water glass filler upper - I was thirsty so he got 6.  But these thank you's were to people who did not have a big impact - they just made my day better.

No, I have narrowed it down to the fact that I would send my thanks to Bruce Springsteen. I thought for awhile maybe I would write to Harper Lee or Jane Austen for writing my favorite books, or to Bill Cosby for making me laugh out loud as a kid. Why is there air anyway? Why did Fat Albert's friend wear that hat over his face? I thought I should write to one of my sisters. I have 3, well 5 since I like to include my sisters - in - law, and I know I can never pick one of them because they have all impacted my life in very different but significant ways. I have fabulous friends and they all deserve more than thanks for being my friend  - no easy task I am certain  - but I feel confident they too know how grateful I am for their friendship. So I am back to Springsteen.

Why the Boss? As long as I can remember his songs have been my favorite, the words poetic, the concerts epic. Most of my favorite memories are relived whenever I hear one of his songs. It seems silly to say his music is the soundtrack of my life - well then call me silly because it's true. Sure I listen to and love other genre's of music and other artists and groups, but none as much as him. I still go to his concerts, still blast his songs in my car and still remember all the fun times I have had with his songs playing in the background.

So here it goes:

Dear Mr. Springteen/Dear Bruce,

Thank you for your decades worth of music that have been the soundtrack of my life. Thank you for giving your all at every concert. Thank you for writing Rosalita so I could sing it at the top of my lungs all through High School. Thank you for singing Pete Seeger's songs for a new generation of listeners. Thank you for putting Nils Lofgren in the E Street Band. Most of all thanks for continuing to write meaningful songs that make us think about something other than ourselves.

You Rock!

Forever Your Fan,
Magda K. Mooers


To whom would you write? (Or is that who?)

If Everyone Jumped Off a Bridge

Did you grow up in a house where your mother or father used the phrase, "Well if everyone jumped off (Insert name of local bridge) would you follow them?" In our house it was my mom's way of saying, "Do you really always need to be a follower, stand up and think for yourself!"

This is one of those phrases I have repeated to my own children. I am certain a younger version of myself swore to never repeat it but my older self realizes the value of the lesson. I have to admit I still use it to check my own choices.

My most recent jumping off a bridge experience has to do with the little known (Ha!) book, "Fifty Shades of Grey." Just about everyone is reading this book, or has read it, or is planning on reading it. Everyone it seems but me.  For some reason I have no interest. I know it's steamy and naughty and if I want to be a part of conversations I should read it but I want to start a different conversation. My disinterest in the book is a gut feeling I have because I really didn't know that much about the story line - and I think I am using that term loosely.

I am usually one to jump off the bridge, metaphorically speaking of course, and not only when I was younger - In my adult life I bought beanie babies, stood in line for Harry Potter books and movies, have waited in lines and payed $2.75 for a cupcake and have wasted far too much time watching silly You Tube videos of people singing "Call Me Maybe."

But I cannot bring myself to read this book.  I am not adverse to reading steamy novels but I read a review that made me believe the relationship between the young reporter and Mr, Grey was obsessive, possessive and unhealthy. Who needs to read about that? So I am listening to my gut feeling along with my mother's voice inside my head and walking right past the bridge.

Feeling brave enough to join me?
Magda

Recharging

In daily life a person spends time recharging things. Recharging their cell phone, computer, IPad, camera batteries, etc., we even have the ability to recharge cars. How much time does the average person spend recharging themselves? Aren't we more valuable than our phones?

Daily life demands so much of our electronics that we sit them at bay for a period of time so they can reboot. Shouldn't we do the same for ourselves? As adults we demand so much of ourselves and our lives demand so much from us that we should take the time, daily, to recharge. It seems obvious that this would be ingrained in every person and we shouldn't feel guilty.

For most school aged kids summer is their time to recharge. It is their time to relax and switch gears from the grueling schedule of school and activities. Summer routines hopefully slow down the frenetic pace of life, or at least switch things up a bit. I think this is one of the reasons I chose to become a teacher. It's not all about shaping young minds...if I were being totally honest it's also about the schedule.

But it doesn't seem quite right to have to wait until the summer to recharge. If we make the time daily then summer, or vacations, would be bonus recharging time rather than a complete replacement of one’s batteries. Anything or anyone will burn out from overuse. I would rather learn to take it easy, recharge every day, and hope to make it past my warranty.

Magda 

Gone Fishin

When I think of the phrase "Gone Fishin" I think of a wooden sign hanging on the door of a market in a town that would resemble Mayberry. The sign would be hung to let people know that the proprietor was out on a boat or on the shore of a lake with nothing but their thoughts and nature with the hope of a nibble from a fish that may or may not become dinner. When we see those words now they indicate someone is taking a break or has gone on vacation.

Not too long ago my husband took a break while on a business trip and spent the night on Mt. Ranier in the fine state of Washington. He called from the cabin where he was staying. He had to use a pay phone because there was no cell reception on the mountain. He was surprised. I was grateful. It made be happy to think there may still be a place or two left on the planet where a cell phone would not work.  A place where someone could be alone with their thoughts and nature.  Studies frequently show that the benefits of complete down time are essential to a person's well being - thoughts can be fully processed, relaxation achieved and serenity restored.

It used to be a traveller could count on not having cell phone reception on an airplane. Some quiet time to read, talk to your travel companion, or sleep with the only unwanted noise being the cry of a baby. Virgin America is in the process of taking that away. I hope they will give passengers earplugs along with their free beverage service because the last thing I want to hear on an airplane is 200+ people's conversations.

As I write this I am a day away from a trip of my own - a well deserved week in Hawaii where I plan on sitting on the beach and by the pool, swimming, and hiking a volcano (or not).  I am packing my cell phone, of course, because it is the one accessory I can't leave home without in case there is a teenage crisis. As I daydream about my trip I am hopeful that I can unplug from the world and sit with my thoughts and nature. I am hopeful there will be at least one place, like Mt. Ranier, where cell phone service is non-existent. If that place exists I will be there...knee deep in the water with the blue sky breeze blowin wind in my hair wearing a big ole sign that says, "Gone Fishin'."

Aloha.
Magda