garage chair wisdom or Buddha Teacher Gil meets Bill

Good Morning,

It is not my intent to be "Debbie Downer" here or to solicit sympathy but rather to offer some perspective. Every time I turn on the news or pick up the paper we are bombarded with the message that it's (i.e. everything's) getting worse.

i've been reassuring myself with the thought that we now have a man of great integrity in power working to make things better.

in the last couple days it has also become ultimately clear to me that this declining world is the world of finances, lifestyle, and livelihood.

it is NOT the better part of life itself...our friendships, our families... being awake to feel things. The past couple months my Fishing Buddy Bill's cancer has taken a turn for the worse.

Bill has reached the tipping point--"the level at which the momentum for change becomes unstoppable."

or

the point at which death has taken over and announced it's going to land this body/plane on autopilot!...where all of those around you who have been dancing around the issue of death have to STOP as some significant event points out the pink elephant in the room (e.g. the doctor recommends Hospice).

it's harder to see Bill now...visually, his 210lbs. has dwindled down to an unstrapping 140. his gaunt and angular face...without his glasses it's like when you see a grandparent without glasses. he's suddenly more vulnerable but yet he's less character more of a whole person who might have existed in the world outside of your Sunday visits...and then there's Bill's return to nudity. (another alarming consequence of prostate pain and too tight underwear).

this weekend i consulted with Buddha teacher Gil about this (death not the underwear). he said, "the true nature of all things is emptiness and this emptiness allows happiness to bubble up."

all this did was make me think how my stomach was pretty empty before lunch and in this emptiness i think i should take Beano so gas doesn't bubble up.

i knew Bill would appreciate my pragmatism and what he really meant was to appreciate Bill while he is still here.

so...

here are some of my favorite Bill sayings- maybe you can work them into your day.

situation #1

you receive notice that your company is no longer matching your 401k...

"guess that’s one of them oh wells"

situation #2

a doctor diagnoses you with cancer

"say what now?"

situation #3

when answering [your] phone

"this is Bill..."

when calling me on the phone...

"what do ya say good-lookin?"

(hey no laughing i'm going to miss that one!)

situation #4

words for any occasion...

"Eggs over medium, bacon, potata...and all right give me some grits"

"That’s a cam shaft.

…you know what yous doin with that?" (the welder)

see above photo of my handiwork!

situaton #5

when you've gone on longer than you've intended

"guess I’d better let you get back to what you was doin"


Happy Monday,

Amanda
(it's a picture displayer!)