Do I Care?

Recently, a growing number of people in my family have expressed concern about one particular family member's health. I'm just gonna keep it real, the girl is getting fat. We're talking she is 5'9" and used to weigh 125 lbs, but now she is probably close to clearing 200 lbs. Now, we all gain weight as we get up in age but when you can't find a nice dress in your size, you are constantly shoveling food in your face, throwing temper tantrums like a 5 year old child when you think someone is going to take the last serving of your favorite desert, there is a problem. We all talk about it, we watch her in action and shake our heads in disgust. But no one will say anything to her because of her fragile mental state. She's easily offended and proclaims to be happy with her weight in one breath and then talks about how she lost 8 lbs. over the last 2 weeks in the next.
When my beloved overweight family member asks me to make her some more banana pudding after she ate the ENTIRE 6 servings within 24 hours the last time I gave her some, do I brush her off? Do I explain why I REFUSE to contribute to her problem when she doesn't think she has a problem? Do I try to get her to see that there is a problem? Or do I make it and let her eat herself into an oblivion?
The problem is she has some serious health issues and I don't think being overweight is helping them at all. She claims the doctor says she is a normal weight for her height but, to me, all of that jiggle and flab CANNOT be normal.
My mother used to tell me that people who care about you may tell you something that you don't want to hear but they are telling you for your own good so you can improve yourself. I live by that motto. If I said something out of the way, let me know. If I wore something inappropriate, let me know. But when the person you care about is EXTREMELY sensitive, do you still tell them something they don't want to hear? When you hear people talking about her all the time, does she need to know?
The question I ask is do I REALLY care about her if I don't say something in order to spare her feelings or should I expect her to understand that love hurts and I am only hurting her feelings temporarily so that she can better herself?

On the Commuter Train

Commuting to work can be very interesting on the MARC train Penn Line. I have taken on the hobby of people watching instead of reading in order to pass the time on the train. While watching random people and their actions, it causes me to ask myself, "Is this normal?"

1. Extremely pronounced arm swinging while walking at a fast pace. Does this make you walk faster? Or does walking fast cause this?
2. Pocket protectors attached to your belt. WTH?!?!
3. Waking someone up to ask if the seat next to them is taken. Does the pashmina over my head and earphones in my ear not communicate clearly that I don't want to be bothered? Do you not see the lunch bag, purse, AND shopping bag in the seat, indicating it belongs to someone who only left to go to the restroom? Do you NOT see the other 4 people sitting in this section? Couldn't you have asked one of them?
4. Cutting someone off only to stop in front of them on the escalator. Everyone is in a rush to get home or to work, please keep it moving or step behind people who are moving.
5. Overweight people. I don't want to sit next to one, as they ALWAYS spill over in to the seat next to them. They impede my commute time by walking slowly in front of me and I can't get around them. They stand on the down escalator. Please, PLEASE, do us all a favor and walk down the escalator. It can't POSSIBLY take THAT much energy.
6. Eating chips, candy, and other finger foods after touching all of the hand rails and buttons on public transportation. All I have to say is, EEEEEWWWWW!!!!
7. Crowding around the exit in order to be the first person to exit the train. Is the 30 seconds saved by doing that REALLY going to make a big difference? Do you think I, who have a seat by the door, want to look at your crotch or butt?
8. Loud cell phone conversations about personal business. Nuff said!
9. Loud conversations, period. Do you see all of the people with their eyes closed? Do you really think they want to hear you gab on about your kids, your day at work, your hairdresser, your plans for the weekend, etc? Please keep conversations between you and the other person involved, the whole train doesn't need to hear it.
10. Smells....the good, the bad, and the ugly. Do you think it is necessary to smell up 8 square feet surrounding you? If you leave car parked all day and smell your cologne/perfume when you return to it in the evening, you MIGHT be putting on too much. How do you think your fellow commuter train patrons feel? How do you think your co-workers feel? Please consider showering within 10 hours of boarding the commuter train-some people prefer to shower at night instead of in the morning. Body odor is unacceptable after the age of 7.

In general, I enjoy my commute on the MARC train. I can focus on anything I want to BESIDES driving. The pashmina over my head and headphones generally block out any nuisances, with the exception listed in #3. I know I'll have to do it for at least a year, so I'll just find the humor in all of the people watching I can do.

Knock Knock

It's funny how God has a way of getting your attention. You know, He sends little hints or unavoidable gestures to tell you something when you have been out of communication with Him or you have gotten a little bit out of hand. To avoid a knock out blow, please take heed to the hints and gestures. When we do that, it can only result in the best for us, which is what He wants anyway.

God's Providential Hand

As I reflect on the most recent chain of events in my life, I can't help but see God manifesting Himself in it and I can't help but thank Him as profusely as I laugh at the people who try to steal my joy. Most recently, God has put me in several situations that tested how deeply instilled His ways are in me.
I have had to ask myself, "What would Jesus do?" when I was treated unfairly and had to make a decision as to whether or not I was going to act as ignorant and inconsiderate as the wrong doer or flip my hair "Fancy-style" and do the right thing with a smile as I have been raised to do. I have selflessly given to people in need without thinking twice about it even though I didn't think I could really afford to do it. Something that I viewed as a tragedy has turned out to be what I think is a blessing.
While I like nice things, I do not hoard and hold fast to corruptible things, like money. If I have it and someone I care about needs it, it's theirs, no questions asked. My husband and I decided not to stoop to our wrong doer's level and do the mature thing. Since then, an unbelievable deal on something I really wanted has fallen into my lap and things have been working out for my investments.
So, the moral of the story is, your mother was right and so is your Bible. When your hand is open to give, it is also open to receive. You are blessed so that you can be a blessing. Do what is Godly in all situations, no matter how badly you don't want to. Revenge is the Lord's. God has a wonderful plan for your life, enjoy!

Do I still have it?

While my husband lavishes me with as much attention as he can, I sometimes wonder if the recent lack of attention from the opposite sex if because I'm not as attractive as I was in my bachelorette days or the obvious sign that I'm married....the rings. So, every know and then I may flirt with a guy, just to see if I still have it. Totally innocent, I swear.
After a weekend with my very single younger cousins, I realized that I still have it! The lack of attention, well, I guess some men can be intimidated by the fact that I'm young, fun, fabulous, AND married. I discovered that the married part means that you REALLY have it going on 'cause someone has tied you down. LOL!
So, honey, if you ever read this...I was just checking. LOL!

Nostalgia

nos·tal·gia [no-stal-juh, -jee-uh, nuh-] a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time: a nostalgia for his college days.

Nostalgia can make us want to go back and live in days that have already past us by. Beware, nostalgia may give you a false sense that things were better when....you were in that other relationship, when you had that other job, before you moved out of your parents' house, etc. We tend to forget about the chain of events that made us.....get out of that relationship, get a new job, move out on our own, etc. When reminiscing, remember not to be nostalgic but realistic and most importantly, enjoy the moment you're in. The present is a gift and you will not be able do it over. If you're so stuck in the past that you cannot enjoy life today, maybe you need to make some changes so that you won't be so inclined to want to go backward.
Remember, change is good. Holding on to the past can potentially blocking blessings. Time never moves backward, always forward. And so should you....

What the....?!?!?!?

Do you ever wonder why people have aneurysms? Well, Kim Possible, a good friend of mine once suggested that people have aneurysms because they see something that catches their attention and they wonder did anyone else see the same thing. This catchy site is so mind boggling that they find themselves wondering for years and years if anyone else was able to witness this incidence. You know, things that make you saw, "What the...?!?!?!".
For fashionistas, it may be someone wearing white boots in the dead of winter in a non-fashionable way, because it can be done when done correctly. WHAT THE....?!?!?
It could be a crazy man walking down the street BUTT NAKED in the middle of the day. WHAT THE...?!?!?!
Or it could be the plumber or roofer, in my case, not just revealing his crack but his whole behind hanging out of his pants while he is working. I mean really, do you not feel your entire behind being exposed to 37 degree weather? WHAT THE...?!?!?!
Some of these aneurysm causing moments can be avoided with the advancement of technology and the invention of camera phones. I, myself, have been able to avoid several aneurysms by taking pictures and emailing them to my friends so that I can be assured that someone else has witnessed the same foolishness that I have. However, aneurysm causing moments cannot be totally avoided with the help of technology but you can rest assured that someone else saw the exact same thing that you saw and uttered the exact same words...."WHAT THE.....?!?!?!"