My mother occasionally slips into...
...what I call a "contemplative zone" in the morning or when awaking from a nap. If, as today, we have 'places to go and people to see' I have to jog her out of it. I have a routine involving a short series of questions that always works and usually yields an extemporaneous comedy routine. Today, though, her answers to the last few questions gave me reason to pause and do a little of my own contemplating:
    Me: What are you contemplating?
    Mom: Life.
    Me: And what have you decided?
    Mom: Yes.
    Life. Yes. Good idea.
    I'm glad she is still contemplating life from a "yes" perspective. I know, someday, the answer will be "no". At some point, for a variety of sub-reasons and one master reason, we all finally (pun not intended but appropriate) say "no". We have an automatic "no" built into us and as yet have not figured out how to short circuit it. It's possible we never will, because the structure of this existence appears to be built on a yes/no axis. When my mother reaches the opposite pole I intend to face it with grace and magnanimity. But until we get there, hearing her say "yes" to life inspires my spirit.

    I'll be spending the bulk of this afternoon posting and uploading past test results. I may not get them all in today but I'll keep at it over the next few days until I'm finished. Then my intention is to finally address the last issue with which I am still concerned in regards to the previously mentioned Beliefnet article.
- posted by gail rae @ 13:32   email...this post