Grandpa

Sixteen years ago, today, my dad passed. I like to say passed, because I think it serves as a better description. Our soul or spirit passes into another phase of life. The body dies, the spirit lives on forever. To be later resurrected like Jesus was. In some ways, we follow his example without even trying.

A funny thing happened, though, sixteen years ago. We went to the funeral with our one year old daughter. All the people were sitting in folding chairs in the center of a large room. In the front was the casket. The sides of the room had couches and chairs and tables and lamps. I sat in the front row with immediate family, and Don sat back a few rows with Kelly. Sometime during the service, she pointed to one of the couches and waved.

I'm not sure who Kelly saw that day. I watched her for awhile afterward, to make sure she didn't go around waving at inanimate objects. She didn't. I like to think she was waving to grandpa. I know he loved her alot, and would have been there if he could.

Move It or Lose It

I'm always interested in new information about dementia. Two family members have symptoms. One is 92 years old, so that's not so surprising. The other is in her fifties, and that was quite a shocker.
The things I have been reading on the subject are very hopeful. I was looking at a magazine article about having a sharper brain. The number one thing you can do is exercise.
From August 2006 Reader's Digest:
Arthur Kramer (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) and his colleagues have proved two critical findings: Fit people have sharper brains, and people who are out of shape, but then get into shape, sharpen up their brains.
It was suggested by Mark McDaniel (Washington University in St. Louis) to use a combination of aerobics and weight training. Studies show the best outcomes for those engaged in both types of exercise.

Dancing in the Streets

I've never forgottern how the Palestinians danced in the streets and gave out candy after the 9/11 attacks. I told myself I would do the same when they got Bin Laden. Well, I got the news last night. But it was dark out and raining. And no one is ever out there on our lonely country road anyway.
Chris Matthews said it's a day for going to church rather than going to a bar. I agree. I don't really feel like chanting "U - S - A", but rather feel like thanking the Lord for our world being just a little safer.