On this date: Facebook memories

It’s probably not the first time you’ve heard me say that I do love Facebook memories.  I enjoy the reminders of what has happened on this date, silly or profound thoughts I was thinking as well as cool tidbits that I've come across.

Today is no exception.  In fact, I guess today is a special Facebook day for me - because it was 11 years ago today that I joined Facebook.  They even produced a cute little video just for me.  Makes me feel so important and valued.  Hee-hee!

So maybe it’s a good time to enjoy the memories I’ve posted on this day during those 11 years.  

...

2011

Setting: My baby girl was in Cairo - living just 6 blocks from Tahrir Square which was kinda’ the epicenter where the Arab Spring began - that very week.  Yikes!  

Some of my posts that day remind me of the tension we were all feeling about what was happening there - especially since the usual communication routes were totally unpredictable.

…

Sometimes you just have to trust and choose not to worry.

 ...even when one of your kids

is in the middle of one of the world's hot spots...

It's very weird to sit in my living room

watching world news footage from Cairo

and know that my daughter is sitting in her living room

so close to the action that she can hear the chaos
and smell the tear gas from her window. 

And not be able to contact her because the internet

has been shut down in the entire country.

...

2014

"A little kingdom I possess,

where thoughts and feelings dwell;

And very hard the task I find of governing it well."

– Louisa May Alcott

…

2015 - living on Dauphin Island, Alabama

Sting rays, 
bonnet-head shark, 
baby alligators,

soft-shelled turtles, 
horseshoe crabs...

We got to see them all - and touch some of them!

What a great little aquarium at Sea Lab

right here across the street.

Wonderful exhibits.

Friendly docents.

Very, very educational.

...

2016 - living in the Dominican Republic

Missing the grandkids today...  *sniff*

...

Bob posted on my wall:   

Here's to intestinal fortitude. 

We are eating street food regularly.

It's a lot cheaper than restaurant food. 

(30 pesos for an empanada - which is 65 cents)

Remember how we would buy like four at a time and then have them for the next day or two? 

What was the combo one that we liked for breakfast? 

Was it chicken and cheese?

An evening stroll along the beach...

2017

“Writing in a diary is a really strange experience

for someone like me. 

Not only because I’ve never written anything before,

but also because it seems to me that later on

neither I nor anyone else will be interested

in the musings of a thirteen-year old school girl.

Oh well, it doesn’t matter. I feel like writing.”

—Anne Frank, June 20, 1942

...

2018

"Sometimes I cry on the way to the set... Still. 

There is something that happens when you are grateful: 

You continue to keep receiving blessings.

So I will always be grateful." 

- Chrissy Metz, a.k.a. Kate on This Is Us

...

So there they are, the memories and photos from this date along with some note-worthy quotes from wise people.
I am inspired to:
- Be grateful
- Keep writing
- Govern myself well

The opposite spirit

The excerpt below from Micah Murray kinda' reminds me of something I used to hear in my church days - about living in the opposite spirit.

• That I don't have to focus on the things that are wrong around me - either to complain about them or to join in the bad attitude.
• That instead I could respond with the opposite spirit.

I guess it also reminds me of an ancient prayer of that famous guy:

Where there is hatred, let me bring love.

Where there is offense, let me bring pardon.

Where there is discord, let me bring union.

- St. Francis, Make me an instrument of peace

Or the quote from that other famous guy:

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

- Ghandi

Yep.
And now the aforementioned excerpt from Micah Murray - only slightly redacted:

And what is the opposite of (... )?

• Loving my neighbor.
• Tearing down walls.
• Reading books.
• Listening to the voices of the marginalized.
• Looking for opportunities to show extravagant generosity.
• Working to undo oppressive systems of racism and patriarchy (starting with me).
• Saying beautiful words that bring hope, joy, and peace to those who hear them.
• Using proper spelling and punctuation.
• And most of all, being kind.

That should keep me busy for the next three years or so. 

2018: a year of welcome and of farewell

A year of settling in

Putting down roots again

Of feeling welcome in our new place

Feeling like we belong

A year to welcome others

New friends from all over the world 
Helping them feel welcome here

Welcome

We welcomed new opportunities 

New beginnings

A few new adventures
Local adventures

Much to explore right here in our own backyard!

Local eateries
STILL haven’t made it to all of them.  
Not even the ones within walking distance! 

…

Also a year of letting go.
A time of farewells

Farewell to my big brother.
A good big brother 
Someone to look up to
Someone I've known my entire life
An old friend

Also good-byes to some new friends
We love welcoming students
We don't so much love the farewells

Other farewells
Letting go
Farewell to some unhealthy patterns
Letting go of expectations

...

A year of appreciating

Cherishing

Reflection and gratitude

Farewell to 2018
Welcome 2019

Best day ever

Met up with brand new friends.

Already learned several new things from them on Day One

What a delight!

Also hung out with dear friends of 30 years.

Have been learning from them for all that time.

Still learning on Day 10,950.

What joy!

Old friends, new friends, learning together.

Dang; I love my life!!!

My big brother

Remembering my big brother...

Dave D'Arcy, 1942-2018

My earliest memories include my big brothers...

…Coming home from the barn together on the garden path as they held my hands until they were running too fast for me so I just picked up my feet and let them carry me.

…Getting to stay at school all afternoon to walk home with them rather than leaving at the early dismissal time for younger students.

…These big boys teaching their little sister how to play ball and taking time to play catch with me and eventually admitting that I was pretty good. For a girl!

I remember when Dave headed off to college. It felt like a big change to have him gone. But I also remember it as sort of my first chance to become acquainted with little bits of the outside world - because I was so enamored by what all he was doing.

I remember when he brought Becky home to meet the family and when I found out that I was finally going to have a sister!

I also remember when he brought the quartet home and I suddenly had three MORE big brothers!

I remember when he brought me a cuckoo-clock from Switzerland!

I remember being in Shupe Hall when I got his phone call congratulating me on becoming an aunt - when Carmen was born...

I remember standing by him in his grief when Becky died and wishing I knew how to help.

And I remember when he brought Joyce home to meet the family and I learned that I was going to have another sister!

More recently I remember how Dave encouraged me to follow my calling and to use my voice and my words to influence people. He treated me with respect and valued my thoughts while some men seemed to ignore my contribution because I am a woman.

I’m thankful that I had Dave as my biggest big brother.