Why Me?

Kris Kristofferson recently surfaced on Sundance channel's Spectacle hosted by Elvis Costello.


For me, he still represents a person who embraces ALL that life has to offer. The good, the bad, the ugly.


Above he's pictured with Rita Coolidge, second of his three wives. The year was 1972 when "Help Me Make It Through The Night" won him a Grammy and a third single "Why Me?" boosted his then most recent album's sluggish sales.


The song begs the question: "Why me, Lord? What have I ever done to deserve even one of the pleasures I've known?"


Regardless of our beliefs or faith, the song's message seems to hit a chord with many.


Watching Kristofferson now, in his 70s, he's likely come to terms with the pain he's endured and caused in others. Humble, happy and with that twinkle still in his eyes, only a man who has lived such a life could have written another classic lyric: "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose."


Thanks, Kris, for your gift of language and for posing an age-old question for the end of any day...


Why me?

Why We're the Way We Are...

(Drum roll please.) Uh-hum...Attention, please! Attention everyone...

Finally, the age-old question has been answered. Why each of us is the way we are. And the answer is... (Enough with the drum already!)

I'm only going to write this once, so pay close attention.

Ready?

How about now?

Now?

I don't know. (Hey, I didn't say it would be a good or correct answer!)

The point to having you read this? Taking your valuable time? It's hard for me to say those three words "I don't know." I think I have to have the answer you need and/or want to hear.

And even more difficult to say? That one-word complete sentence, "No."

Okay, so I don't know why I'm the way I am. Why we are the way we are. But I do know this, I'm working on those parts of who I am that I'm not so crazy about and learning to embrace the aspects of me that, well, make me quirky enough to write a post like this.

At the end of the day, does it matter why, or how we're the way we are?

So this is why...

I ran across this in a file of emails I saved, emails that were circulating a few years back, and thought it worthy of posting... Okay, the test is:

1. 
   Name the ten wealthiest people in the world.
2. 
   Name the last ten Heisman trophy winners.
3. 
   Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
4. 
   Name the last ten Academy Award winners for best picture.
5. 
   Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

So, how'd you do? I didn't do well either. With the exception of you
trivia hounds, few of us remember the headliners of yesterday too well.

And the above are no second-rate achievements. These are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten.

Here's another quiz. Let's see how we do on this one:

1. Name three people you enjoy spending time with.
2. Name ten people who have taught you something worthwhile.
3. Name five friends who have helped you in a difficult time.
4. List a few teachers who have aided your journey through school.
5. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.
   
   Easier? It was for me, too.
   
   The lesson stated in the email was this: The people who make a difference in our lives are usually not the ones with the credentials, but the ones with concern.

So perhaps this is why, at the end of the day, those people nearest and dearest to us touch us the most...

I'd love to hear your thoughts...

Give me one good reason WHY!

The above picture is my daughter, Jennifer, at around 2 or 3 years of age. Gee, wonder why we nicknamed her Spunky?!

This is Jenn now...An amazing woman, daughter, wife & mother.

Just like today, it too was a Monday morning when I first saw her, at 11:13, dark, thick hair and big, brown eyes from the get-go.

Happy Birthday, dearest daughter...

And nope, can't give you one good reason why I love you so much...

Because the list is endless...

Mom