In the blink of an eye

It's amazing how quickly things can change-- and how lucky we are that they pretty much don't.

On Friday morning my older daughter and I were driving to the bagel store, basically to kill time after dropping the younger girl off at a before-school activity and before the older one needed to be back for the morning bell. La la la, sitting at the traffic light minding my own business and... SLAM!!!!!! Massively rear-ended. Back of my Honda minivan is a mess, thanks to a rather large Toyota pickup sliding into me, courtesy of a very icy morning.

Everything was and is fine (except the van, which drives but looks pretty bad and I can no longer open the back). And that is just the point. I have minor whiplash but the pills the doc gave me make me feel a lot worse than just stiff. BUt I'm fine. My daughter is stiff and sore too and was pretty shaken up but we are fine.

I am so grateful for our health and all that we have in life. This really drove that home for me (ha ha, get the pun?). A car is stuff, and stuff means nothing. It's the people in our lives that matter, it is our health, how we take care of ourselves and the others around us.

I know this sounds hokey but I have been so overwhelmed with gratitude the last few days I needed to share.

Ch-ch-ch changes

Wow is my life different than it was in October.

I used to have lots of free time. Now I'm not sure I remember what it is.

I used to not know any felons. Now I know lots of felons. And spend time alone with them in close quarters with the door closed on a regular basis.

I used to not know any people who had their kids taken away by the Department of Human Services. Now I lead a support group for them on a weekly basis.

I used to not know anyone who used heroin. Now I need to send a 28 year old woman to detox and inpatient treatment to kick the habit-- or else she will lose her kids, not to mention herself. Although I'm afraid for her that she may already be lost.

They say to count your blessings. I never realized how truly blessed I am. And I am grateful. Really, really and truly grateful. Wouldn't mind more free time... but still grateful.

Potluck for Felons is TODAY

The men in my Federal Probation Relapse Prevention group had the clever idea of each providing one ingredient toward creating burrito bowls for the potluck they (and I) have been told to attend tonight. However, upon reflection I realized that no one had actually coordinated who would bring what.

So my supervisor had the idea that we call them with a "reminder message" and give them each an assignment. And so I did. It went like this: "Hi Joe, This is Debby from HCH. I just wanted to remind you about the potluck this Wednesday at group, and ask you to bring shredded lettuce for the burrito bowls." I mostly left messages, but no one with whom I spoke protested. I wonder whether they thought we had already arranged this and they forgot.

I'll let you know how it works out.

Potluck ideas from Felons

They seem to think burrito bowls are the way to go, with everyone bringing one ingredient. Apparently, this is a popular prison treat.

Potluck ideas for Felons, anyone?

This is a call to help from you, my gentle readers. In two weeks the Wednesday night Relapse Prevention Group which I lead is joining all the other support groups at my office for a Thanksgiving potluck. This sent the men into a greater tizzy than the thought of returning to prison (which, frankly, many of them don't seem too concerned about). So I thought I might help them out by coming up with a list of suggestions of things they might bring.

They are always complaining about lack of cash, and since none of them seem particularly domestic, and since most of them have to take cabs or buses or get rides since a condition of their probation is having their license taken away, I think the main criteria should be:

*inexpensive ingredients
*no prior cooking knowledge required
*easily portable

Ideas? Suggestions?

Feeling Refreshed

What a nice feeling to rise on a morning after which my adopted home state voted for not one but two major democratic candidates-- Obama and Mark Udall, who won the Colorado State senate seat. What a difference from when I moved here in 1997, when the loudest voice on the local scene seemed to be that of Dr. James Dobson, head of Focus on the Family. I am so proud of our country and so proud of my state.

I only hope that we can learn from all that we have been through and that true change is not too hard a reality to bring about.

Workin' Stiff

I love my new internship. But it's a job. A nine hour a day job. A pack lunch AND dinner (twice a week) kind of a job. And I'm tired.

I think it's endemic in our society that we try to do it all and don't give ourselves credit for what we are accomplishing. I have tried to simply work this job into my schedule without giving up anything else. No skipped workouts. No pre-made dinners on the nights that I am home. No hot lunches at school- all still packed with love and lots of fruit and veggies.

That's not entirely true. I did buy pre-chopped garlic in a bottle to use while making dinner.

Anyway. Why do we feel we need to do so much all the time? And why can I not figure out what I would give up, if I were to give up anything? Maybe I just need to realize how much I am doing and treat myself with a bit of extra kindness because of it.