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A Laugh While Waiting for Baby January 31, 2007

Posted by Ben in : Humor , add a comment

Here’s a funny video I found while waiting for the baby to arrive. The Montgomery Flea Market rap has quickly become an Internet meme almost overnight. Apparently, it was featured on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Death and Birth January 27, 2007

Posted by Ben in : Musings, Baby , add a comment

Yesterday my grandmother passed away (my mom’s mom). She had battled cancer for many years, and underwent chemotherapy treatments for a long time. Chermotherapy is just plain evil. It’s poison that’s meant to kill cancer cells. The problem is that it doesn’t target cancer cells, so it affects your entire body. It’s very painful, and it’s hard to watch someone undergo the treatments.

Several weeks ago, the doctors decided that chemotherapy wasn’t helping, and so the decision was made to stop treatments. When this conversation occurs, the inevitable is apparent: there’s not much more time. My mom has been making frequent trips to south Georgia, and yesterday, my dad, brother, sister, and nephew made the trip down to see my grandmother. Things were not looking good for her, so we all knew it was time to visit. Unfortunately, I was unable to go. Liz’s due date is Feb 2nd, which means the baby could come at any moment, and I have to be here.

Then, yesterday evening, while close family gathered round, my grandmother passed away. My sister called me at the very moment it occurred at 9:08pm. I was grateful for that because I was able to feel a little bit like I was part of the experience, but, still, I’ve not really been able to deal with it emotionally like I know I would if I were with my family.

Now, as one member of my family passes on, so, too, another member enters the world. Our baby could be born at any minute, and the death of one family member and the birth of another makes me think about how life is a sort of cycle with the older generation passing its knowledge and lessons learned on the next, giving them the charge of this world and it’s burdens, good and bad. While my grandmother is gone, I look forward to introducing my child to his/her grandfather and to my paternal grandparents, as well. I also plan to talk to them a bit more often and let them know I love them.

Not all those who wander are lost January 25, 2007

Posted by Ben in : Musings , add a comment

My cousin reminded me of this poem from The Fellowship of the Ring. It’s a poem by Bilbo, and he bursts out into it during the Council of Elrond. It’s about a character in the book (Strider/Aragorn), but I think it can also lend some inspiration to anyone who’s looking for magic / the fantastic / joy in the daily mundane but unable to find it.

All that is gold does not glitter,
    Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
    Deep roots are not reached by frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
    A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken:
    The crownless again shall be king.