The Appeal of 101 Short Stories

The Marc and Angel Hack Life website put together 101 Short Stories that Will Leave You Smiling, Crying and Thinking and posted it. They all come from http://makesmethink.com/ and they are pretty beautiful. Here's some of the ones that I read that stuck with me:


Today, while I was driving my grandfather to his doctor’s appointment, I complained about hitting 2 red lights in a row. My grandfather chuckled and said, “You always complain about the red lights, but you never celebrate the green ones.” MMT

Today, as my grandfather (a military doctor, war hero, and successful business owner) rested in his hospice bed, I asked him what his greatest life accomplishment was. He turned around, grabbed my grandmother’s hand, looked her in the eyes, and said, “Growing old with you.” MMT

Today, I was in an accident that left me with a gash on my forehead. The doctors wrapped a bandage around my head and said I have to keep it on all week. I hate wearing it. Two minutes ago my little brother walked into my room wearing a bandage on his head. My mom said he insisted that he didn’t want me to feel alone. MMT

Today, I interviewed a woman who is terminally ill. “So,” I tried to delicately ask, “What is it like to wake up every morning and know that you are dying?” “Well,” she responded, “What is it like to wake up every morning and pretend that you are not?” MMT

Awesome #3 - Snow lighting up the night sky

There's just something about a snowfall that makes a dark winter night light up with sparkles and glow. In the middle of the dreary season when days are so short, a fresh snow at night makes going outside a magical experience. Awesome!

Awesome #2 - Riding in a Limo

Having a driver is cool. Being able to sit facing your friends is cool. The mood lighting is cool. The rows of glasses, snifters, and flutes are cool. Stretching your legs out is cool. Looking out through tinted windows is cool. The view outside is cool. Getting out of one is cool!

Awesome #1 - Getting your hair washed by someone else

Inspired by http://1000awesomethings.com/

When you go to the hairdresser, and lean way back in the chair, rest your head against the sink, you prepare yourself for a treat! The water is the perrrrrfect temperature, and your hairdresser's fingers are magic. Nothing quite like having someone run their hands through your hair, massaging your scalp and getting all those pressure points on your skull. Ahhhhhhh - it's so great. :)

Top Movies of 2010

In no particular order, here are my top 7 movies of 2010:

1. Shutter Island - I LOVE it when a movie isn't predictable. And this one sure wasn't.

2. Hot Tub Time Machine - Yes, I said it. Admittedly, it was not a theatrical masterpiece, but it had me laughing. If you suspend your logic and expectations, you are in for a good time.

3. Inception - Never seen anything like it before. And I loved the ending.

4. Easy A - Clever. Teen movie, yes. But quite clever.

5. The Town - A little cheesy. But I liked it. Ben Affleck does well, I think.

6. The Fighter - Gotta admit it, I am a sucker for sports-movies. Oh, and also a sucker for "based on a true story" movies. So this one was extra good.

7. The Social Network - Perhaps my overall favourite, and the most surprising. Upon seeing the trailer and groaning "oh no, not a movie about Facebook," I succumbed to the good press and was incredibly entertained. Very intelligent dialogue.


Looking forward to some great movies in 2011...

Reflecting on 2010

I was reading an article the other day called Seven Important Questions to Ask Yourself Before the Year Ends, and I thought I might do a little reflecting. My humble thoughts:

1. On a scale of 1-10, how satisfied are you with 2010?
I would rate it 6 out of 10. Maybe 7 out of 10.

2. Why did you score that way?
2010 was a year full of amazing experiences, and not all of them good ones. But, I have learned a lot about people, and a lot about myself this year. I can only hope to continue down the road of personal growth. Everything I have been a part of has served me, one way or another.

3. What are your biggest accomplishments this year?
I helped friends and family commemorate some epic milestones this year. I went to five weddings, celebrated many births, attended a graduation ceremony, helped colleagues finish a two-year program, was part of a championship team, mourned several losses, watched children grow before my very eyes, and shared in some very personal & some very public struggles. My biggest accomplishments are in supporting others.

I also did some travelling this year: Mexico, New Orleans, Portland, Las Vegas - and to some more local destinations like Harrison Hot Springs, Campbell River, Kelowna & Kamloops. I know that travelling isn't much of an accomplishment, but it's something I enjoy doing, and it helps me appreciate everything I have. I saw some amazing things, I did some amazing things. I wouldn't trade my experiences for the world, but the best thing about travelling is coming home. Although there aren't many places in the world that I don't want to go, I love coming home. BC is beautiful, and I am so lucky to live here. Home is where my family is. Home is where my friends are. Home is where my heart is. And there's nothing like sleeping in your own bed! Having said that, I am excited to plan my next series of adventures away from home.

4. What are the biggest lessons you learned this year?
Not to work so much. To eat dinner at home instead of at my desk. To go outside more instead of looking at a screen all day. That my time is valuable - for my health and general happiness. To spend more time with people that give back. To appreciate my success, but more importantly, to appreciate those who help me succeed. That I have a long way to go. That I talk the talk way more than I walk the walk. I have learned, again, that change is HARD.

5. What are your biggest goals that you want to achieve next year?
I want to participate in a No Impact Week. I want to drink more water, eat better, exercise more, get more sleep, don't let work run my whole life, and stay as mentally & physically balanced as possible. Literally too - I'd really like to be able to balance on one foot with my eyes closed. That would be great.

6. What new habits do you want to cultivate?
I want to be a better neighbour. I want to be a positive part of my local and global community. Before the Olympics began, I was caught up in the furor of controversy. I wasn't sure that it was going to be good for us, and I'll admit it - I was rather blasé about the whole thing. It just seemed like a bunch of hullabaloo. Boy, was I wrong. One of my colleagues said it best: "No matter what your politics are concerning these Olympic Games, they are here, and it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate with your compatriots in your own backyard. This opportunity will likely never happen to any of us again." It was the surge of Canadian pride that affected me the most. I will always remember walking downtown high-fiving strangers, singing 'O Canada' on the Skytrain with other commuters, seeing the torch amidst a happy Vancouver crowd, watching events alongside friends and family, and screaming my head off when Crosby scored the epic goal - a feeling shared by many and heard in the streets. It was this sense of community and pride that I take with me now. I'm so proud to be Canadian.

7. What are your immediate next steps to achieve them?
Well, I started by writing this post. Next I will look into some exercise options for 2011 and see who else I can get on board. I will put up a calendar and track how successful I am. And go from there. :)

Saying goodbye to a beloved pet

If the world is classified into cat-people or dog-people, I'd probably align myself with the dog-people. I love the unwavering loyalty of a dog, the affection & attention that they give you, their constant companionship, and their happy wagging tails. We had a family dog growing up, and she was the best pet. We never had a cat.

However, when I moved out on my own and into an apartment, having a dog didn't seem feasible. It seemed like having a backyard was rather necessary for a dog, and besides, a dog is pretty high-maintenance. So, I got a cat. His name was Katmandu. We found Katmandu from the local SPCA and took him home. Katmandu was a lovely indoor/outdoor cat, and it wasn't long before we wanted him to have a friend for company.

Camouflage and I were fated to be together; I found her at the local animal hospital and fell in love with her instantly. Her multi-coloured fur was beautiful, and I loved how a line down her face & nose divided her in half, one side grey & one side tan. Her patchy colours looked just like army camouflage. However, I couldn't take her home right away; I was moving, and I wouldn't be settled for 3 more weeks. I told the animal hospital that I would come back, and if she was there, I would take her home with me.

Three weeks later, and true to my word, I came back to get her. She was still there, miraculously. They told me that during the last three weeks, Cami had been taken home THREE times by people, and all 3 times she'd been brought back: a wife didn't get a husband's permission, someone found out they were allergic to cats, and someone decided that they didn't "have room." I like to think she was just waiting for me.

Over the years she has been a terrific cat. She was dainty, and didn't like to be picked up, but she was affectionate and loved to be pet. She was sweet, and often "talked" to you if you addressed her. She loved to perch up on high places or inside boxes, and she always greeted you in the morning. She purred like crazy. The vet said that she was so well-behaved that she should be a "model" cat and used as an example in vet school. She was pretty angelic. She really never did anything wrong or got into anything. She was no dog, but she definitely was a sweetheart of a cat.

A few nights ago, we had to put Cami down. She had kidney damage (this, we knew about), lung cancer (this, we didn't know), and for some reason couldn't stand up or walk. She yowled in pain and she could hardly breathe. It came on so suddenly. We struggled with considering other choices: waiting until morning, taking her home, getting a third and fourth opinion. But in the end I just couldn't bear to see her in pain. The vet was not optimistic, more test results wouldn't change anything, and waiting just wouldn't help. We made the call; it was her time. We stayed with her and talked to her and petted her until she was at peace. It was so sad.

Pets give us unconditional love. They give us their whole lives. We gain so much from them. And in return, we have to endure times when they are sick and can't tell us, in pain and need it to stop. If we don't make the hard decisions, they will try and try and try, just to please us. This is a heavy burden to bear, but worth it I think.

Cami will be missed and her memory will be treasured. She was a great cat. I made two picture slideshows to commemorate her. The first one is just photos with a sad song playing; the lyrics convey the sadness of her passing. The second one is photos interspersed with the poem "The Last Battle" and some classical music. They are both very sad, but I am glad that I made them. They really helped me to grieve and to honour her.

Sadness warning alert:
Saying Goodbye to Cami
Goodbye Sweet Cami

To all pet-owners out there: give your pet some extra affection today. And treasure your moments with them.

"I love cats because I enjoy my home; and little by little, they become its visible soul."

-Jean Cocteau