Remember Me?

Yeah, I've suddenly been reminded that if I'm going to have a blog, I should probably make a post every now and then. Not sure why I haven't been as into blogging lately. I've been very busy, so that could be a part of it. I've also had some writers block in terms of what to blog about.

I'm here today because I know it's been awhile since I've stopped by. I also have laryngitis right now, so I feel a need to share my voice somehow. Before you ask (and I therefore have to kick your ass), I do NOT have Swine Flu. I have, however, been coming up with some very inappropriate Swine Flu/Pigs Flying jokes (get it, flu = flew) that I'll be happy to share with you if I hear any more jokes about me having Swine Flu.

So, what have I been up to recently? Well, lots, of course. One of the things I'm most proud of is the MS Walk I did with my family at the beginning of April.

Here's a picture of my Mom, brother, and nephew during the walk. It turned out to be a great day in Portland, and I know we all enjoyed getting out and walking for a good cause.

That's it for now, but I promise to be back soon with more updates! Before I go, here's a picture of downtown Portland during the walk. If you ever wonder why I love living in the northwest, wonder no more.

National Multiple Sclerosis Walk 2009

For quite some time, I have been feeling a call to action. Maybe some of it has to do with the message Barack Obama campaigned on, and maybe it has to do with personal experience. Either way, this feeling has been percolating inside me for quite some time, and I just had to act.

What am I talking about? Well, I created a fundraising team for the Portland, Oregon Walk MS 2009. What does this mean? It means I will be walking 5 kilometers on April 4, 2009 in an effort to raise money and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis research.

I decided to participate in the walk because of my mom. If you don't know, my mom has lived with Multiple Sclerosis since the early 1980s. My mom has had MS longer than they've really known what MS was, and consequently, was misdiagnosed for years. My mom is an inspiration to me daily, and I feel blessed to have her in my life.

Having spent my whole life observing my mom struggle with this disease, I felt it was time to do my part to support the cause. I had intended to just walk as an individual, but received overwhelming support from friends, family, and coworkers to create a team. Quite honestly, I was in complete awe that so many people wanted to join my cause. I think this provided the validation I needed to show this was the right thing to do. My team is coming together well, and we're even getting some monitary pledges! Amazing!

So readers, I have one request for you. Please keep me in your thoughts as I prepare for the MS Walk. I'm planning on doing some minor training to prepare for the walk, so I will need support in pushing me with this endeavor. And thanks in advance, because I know the people who truly understand me know how important this walk is to me. I will forever be humbled by your show of support.

Learning More from Disappointment than Success

Not sure what the title means? Well, let me explain. First off, I'm sorry that I haven't been blogging as much lately. I don't mean to be a once a week blogger. I just haven't really felt like blogging. Don't worry, this won't last long!

So, back to my topic. I've experienced some disappointment recently. I'm not going to get into details, but basically it was a life change that didn't happen. I was very upset when it happened about a week ago, but having spent time in reflection, I think I've learned some things about myself. Hopefully, these things will make me better prepared for when something good comes my way in the future!

This brings me back to my point. I really think we learn more from our disappointments than our successes sometimes. Surviving disappointment shows strength of character. Call it a cliche if you must, but I really believe this is true. How many people do we know who have overcome incredible odds, and have succeeded far beyond their means almost in spite of circumstance? I think Barack Obama is a perfect example of this.

As for me, I grew up in an affluent suburb of Portland, Oregon. I've seen how greed and success can jade people and make them not nice people. When everything in life is handed to you, what do you really have to show for yourself? I think there's something to be said for overcoming barriers to become successful. This is where learning from disappointment becomes important.

I'll stop my rambling now, but just wanted to post this, because it's been going through my head this past week. As I learn and grow through this current disappointment, I know a greater success lies ahead.

2008: A Reflection on a Year Gone By

As we welcome in the new possibilities of 2009, I want to take a moment to reflect on some of the significant events in my life during 2008:

• Reconnected with family in Maryland I hadn't seen in over a decade.
• Saw the election of our first African American President.
  
• Elected a President I trust.
• Learned the joys of Rock Band and Guitar Hero.
• Forged stronger friendships with people who truly care about me.
• Reminded myself that family is valuable, even if they are imperfect.
  
• Remained gainfully employed in a profession I love, working with amazing people.
• Became a Mac user.
• Survived a week in Texas.
• Met a personal hero.
• Watched a country I love host an amazing summer Olympics.
• Started this blog.

Certainly there were more things that impacted the 365 days (and one second) of 2008 that have come to pass, but the ones listed above helped shape me to become the person I will be in 2009. I think it's important to pause and reflect before leaping into what is next in life. This is how we learn and improve.

So tell me, what is on your list from 2008?

Losing Sucks, but it's How You Handle it that Matters

The reason I'm blogging is to vent the Beavers losing to the Ducks. How in the HELL did we lost that game? Where the frak was our defense? GAH!!! We had the chance to go to the Rose Bowl for the first time in over 40 years, and it's GONE! How do you get over that?

I guess what you do is figure out what went wrong, and move past it. I think Sammy Stroughter showed us exactly what we need to do in an inspiring display of sportsmanship. When you are losing big time, and get tackled on your way to making a touchdown, you have two choices: 1. shove the guy who tackled you, or 2. help the guy who tackled you get back on his feet. Sammy chose to help the guy who knocked him down, and I think he is an inspiration to us all. When life gets you down, you shouldn't let it defeat you. Doing good things for others, when you don't have to shows true character.

So, losing sucks, but I really do have to congratulate the University of Oregon on playing a fantastic game.

Oh, and I really have to hold on to hope that UCLA beats USC next week so we have a shot at the Rose Bowl. It could happen people!

YES WE DID!!

Readers, I can't even say how PROUD I am of all of you! We did it! We proved to the rest of the world that the United States is ready for CHANGE! We elected a President who personifies hope for all generations. I cannot wait until January 20, 2009 when Barack Obama takes the oath of office.

YES WE DID!

Blog the Vote!

Okay readers, it's officially November, and this means 2 things:

1. I am old.
2. It's time to vote!

Let's focus on #2, alright? Cool. This Tuesday, November 4th is election day. This year is quite possibly the most important election in recent history, and will certainly be epic no matter how the vote turns out: either a black man or a woman will be in the White House. Sort of cool, when you think how long this took.

Now for a plea. Four years ago, George Bush was reelected on my birthday, and I haven't really gotten over that. Therefore, I beg of you: please, PLEASE, don't vote for McCain-Palin! Look at all the facts, and what each campaign platform represents! If that doesn't sway you, then just do it for me! Please people! I can't take 4 more years of the same rhetoric.

Wow, blogging the vote is really cathartic.

Meeting a Personal Hero

Tuesday was Convocation on campus. For those unfamiliar with the Rites of Passage of a university, Convocation is the welcome to the university that is meant to mirror Commencement at graduation.

In my tenure at this university, I have seen many Convocations come and go. As a Freshman, I remember asking my RA what Convocation was, and she replied that she didn't know, so I didn't go. As a staff member, I have never felt like Convocation was a big deal, and I've even helped organize it a bit.

Well this year, things changed. A colleague of mine decided to be more intentional with selecting a Convocation speaker, so she thought back to her own college career, and wanted to bring someone to campus who had inspired her to think differently about her life. Turns out the woman she invited had a similar impact on my life. Who is it I am referring to? Peggy McIntosh.

Now, if you don't work in higher education, or if you have never done research on white privilege, you may not know who Peggy McIntosh is. If that is the case for you, I implore you to look her up on Google and read some of her papers. The woman is amazing!

I have known about Peggy McIntosh for over a decade. Once I heard she had been confirmed as our Convocation speaker, I started reflecting on my own experiences with her work. My Freshman year of college, I took an Ethics class in which I was required to read McIntosh's famous paper: "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack." In this paper, McIntosh lists some privileges she has simply because of the color of her skin. Reading her list of privileges made me rethink my own privileges as a white woman. Some of these things I had never really thought about as privileges. I just knew them as truth, and had no idea others did not have that same opportunity.

One of the points McIntosh makes that stuck with me through college and after was her statement about being able to buy "flesh" colored bandages, and have it match her skin. I think the fact that I had never even thought about someone with a different color skin not knowing this privilege really honed in the injustices of racism for me. Some of the other privileges McIntosh itemizes cut much deeper, but for some reason I related to this one the most.

I studied McIntosh again at least twice in grad school, but still, I remembered my reactions to this paper my first time reading it my Freshman year of college. Needless to say, when the opportunity presented it self to have a private session with her before Convocation, I made sure to make time in my schedule to see her.

The meeting exceeded all my expectations. Peggy McIntosh speaks in a very calm and easy going tone. She does not claim to know all the answers, she just continues to state that she speaks from her own experiences. Somehow, she comes across as someone who is easy to relate to, and makes you think about your own experiences and unearned experiences. I think it helps that she has no expectations that everyone will see them as privileges, because she is simply telling her story, and how she couldn't sit idle and watch injustice happen.

I left that meeting (which, to quote my colleague, was the quickest hour ever) feeling revitalized in my need to point out my unearned privileges as a white person. Does this mean I'm a racist or bad person? Of course not. I just need to do everything I can to ensure that these unearned privileges do not continue in further generations. For helping me to see this at such an early age, I consider Peggy McIntosh a personal hero. I am honored to be able to say I have met her.

The Olympics

As I sit here and type this (and eat some cookies, if you must know), I am watching the closing ceremonies of the Olympics in Beijing. Once again, I am in awe of the sheer brilliance and beauty of this show. Over the last two weeks, the Chinese people have really shed a light on their culture to the rest of the world, and now I think people have a little better understanding of just who the Chinese people are.

I've really enjoyed the Olympics this year. More so than any other Olympics, I think. It's not because of the U.S. team, or Michael Phelps (well, maybe a little about Michael Phelps. Come on, not only is he hot, he's the most decorated Olympian EVER!), or the U.S. women's gymnastics team. No, I think it proves to the world that even with all the strife and war in the world, we can all pause for two weeks (well most of us, thanyouverymuch, Russia and Georgia) and unite as a world in an effort to embrace all the qualities of good sportsmanship.

How amazing is it that so many countries can come together, and cheer their heads off as world records are broken, dreams are made, and hopes are bolstered? In some respects, I wish that we'd have these games more than every four years. Maybe if we did, we'd all learn how to let our petty differences aside to embrace a sense of team spirit and celebrating the good things in life.

And maybe we should elect Michael Phelps as the ruler of all things awesome.

Random Musings with Friends

Last night was one of those nights where I was on the phone with a couple of friends for the whole evening. I'm not talking an hour or so, I'm talking four hours and change. Now, I'm not usually one for talking on the phone to friends. This is partially due to being a visual person (I play off the non-verbal queues of others, so I prefer talking in person), the fact that I am constantly on the phone at work and feel the need to banish all phones when at home, and that my family has never been big on talking on the phone.

Why was I on the phone so long? Well, for many reasons. First being, I was watching the movie Stop-Loss with some friends, and we don't live in the same state. By the way, I do recommend the movie, but I caution you that it will make you think ill (or worse) of our current government.

Another reason I was on the phone so long was that it was ridiculously hot last night (and today, grrr), and I knew sleep would not come easily. How better to spend my time than by talking to some really great friends about everything and nothing?

Mostly, I was on the phone last night so long, because I could. I wanted to see the movie, and I wanted to talk to my friends, so I did. It's really nice to know that I have such great friends out there - wherever they may be - that I can talk to about anything. That's true friendship.

The Value of Life

I just had a conversation on the phone with my brother. Every now and then, my brother and I talk, and no matter how brief the conversation, we connect on many levels. Today was one of those days.

In the next week, my brother and his lovely wife are headed to Hawaii for a week with my dad and step-mom. Now, before you go and pity me (actually, go right ahead), it should be stated for the record (this is code for: they will be reading this, so I'd better be historically accurate) that I was invited to go to Hawaii too, but would have to pay my own airfare. In an effort to make fiscally responsible decisions (yes, I am kicking myself as I type), I opted out of the trip this year. Like clockwork, my dad and step-mom will be returning to our favorite beach on Kona, Hawaii in two years, and I will go then. Hopefully.

Anyway, back to my point (there is one, I assure you). My brother was telling me that before he and his wife leave on a trip, they make sure to have a plan in place for their two beautiful children in the event something happens to them. My brother wasn't trying to be morbid. Like any loving and responsible parent, he wants to make sure everything is covered before he leaves on his trip, so he can fully enjoy his retreat into paradise for a week. It's just something you have to do in today's world.

Today on the phone, my brother asked if I would be willing to raise his children if anything were to happen to him and his wife. Now, I must admit, just knowing that my brother would trust me to raise his two most precious assets makes me tear up a little. After I got over the impact of that sentiment, I was forced to face the realization that in addition to raising two small children, I would also be faced with caring for my mother who has multiple sclerosis. Not a decision to take lightly, no matter how honored I feel to have been asked.

Going from taking care of myself and my admittedly spoiled cat to caring for two young children and a parent would be quite a shift. That being said, I did not hesitate to answer yes to my brother's question. I would be honored to raise his children if the need ever arose.

But while I appreciate the sentiment in being asked such a responsibility, I set aside any thoughts of this coming to fruition, because I know my brother and sister-in-law will have a safe and luxurious trip to Hawaii, and will return home safe and sound. I simply demand it be so.

Aloha!

Time with family

This past Sunday was Easter, which for me, means time to head north to spend some quality time with the family. Now, in case you hadn't noticed from my previous post, I sort of overdid things at the Obama rally on Friday, so I felt like crap over the weekend. I rested all day Saturday, but still wasn't feeling well when the time came to head up to see the family on Sunday. I weighed my options (I would hate if I got either me 4 year old niece or 20 month old nephew sick), and still decided to go see the family. I hadn't seen everyone since Christmas, and was really needing some quality time with the people I care the most about.

The day started off with brunch with my Sister-in-Law's family. Now, it's important to note here that the number of kids under 6 at this brunch was almost equal to the number of adults in attendance. Not exactly a restful celebration for someone feeling under the weather. That being said, it was great to reconnect with everyone. My Sister-in-Law put a lot of time into making a wonderful meal for everyone, and I know we all appreciated it. It was great to see how we all took time out of our busy and vastly different lives to come together in celebration. Sometimes it takes a holiday to make you appreciate the things that matter most to you, like family.

My day ended with dinner at my Dad's house. I got there a little early for dinner, and was amused to see my step-sister going all out to create a fantastic potato dish for the meal. For someone who didn't care much for cooking growing up, my step-sister has really refined her cooking pallet as an adult. I must say, she is quite good at it too. It's great to see her so relaxed, and in an element that agrees with her. I hope she continues to learn what really ignites her passion for learning in life.

Naturally, dinner was delicious (seriously, you can't go wrong with Prime Rib where I'm concerned), and again, it was great to spend time with family. I was also proud of myself for following through with going to visit everyone, and not rushing to leave at the end of the night, even when I was feeling sick. Family is family, and they are important. It's good to reevaluate that every now and then, so as to ensure you are fully appreciating all that they represent for you.

Paying my respects

It's been a busy few days around here. It's not even Friday yet, and I have already attended two Memorial Services this week. As I have done what little I could to honor those who passed, I realized just how important that is to do. I wasn't particularly close to either person, but that did not stop me from feeling a deep sense of loss for the families. Life is such a beautiful (and all too often short) gift, you know?

Attending a Memorial Service makes you reevaluate your own life path. What will people say about me when I pass? She made us laugh? She knew the lyrics to every Beatles song recorded? She was a compassionate woman who cared about the world? I'm not sure, but I do know that I plan to do whatever possible to live life to the fullest from here on. I think this may be the best way to honor the memories of those who are now lost.