Today I give thanks for the gifts I have been given and continue to be given and for the health and well being of my whole family, who have survived a few years of very bad luck.
For my part I continue to tiptoe around the sleeping dragon in my life, doing what needs to be done quietly, and complaining as little as possible.
Yesterday though, I was happy to receive an email from my sister in Edmonton who remembered that I had my medical tests that day. The day earlier she had sent me a quote from the Sufi poet Hafiz to help bolster my spirits although she didn't mention the tests the next day.
Sometimes we need to talk and although I don't like to complain, I let my sister have an earful (or more accurately, an email eyeful) of my experience at St. Paul’s Hospital yesterday, something I hope to be able to leave behind me in the near future.
However, there is a Sufi story that goes something like this:
Come up with me to the rooftop
And let’s look down at the village from there.
Now show me the house
Where there are no difficulties!
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Holy Guacamole Batman!
Thursday at work, I noticed Danny (my friend and one of our office Team Leaders) hovering by my desk in the periphery of my vision. As I had just started making a reservation when I noticed him I didn't turn to see what he wanted.
Normally, he would not stand there unless it was something urgent. I now understand completely the pressure he too must have felt.
When I finished he asked me to go on a meeting break and said he wanted to talk to me. I took off my headset, stood up and turned to follow him.
The kitchen area which is open to the office was full of executive and accounting staff and as many of the agents as could be mustered. There must have been 40 people standing there and all of them smiling at me. Our CEO was the MC and grinning broadly as he held a little blue Birks Jewelers box that I knew contained my silver 5-year pin, a token of appreciation bestowed by the company to those who stay on in the wake of many who come and go.
Everyone was smiling as I accepted and shook his hand and told all what a wonderful group of people I was fortunate enough to work with. I felt really honored that they were all present. Our manager Nooshi came over and gave me a huge hug, and several more came to shake my hand and congratulate me.
And that was that, or so I thought as I proudly showed off the little pin to several of my co-workers.
However, when I got to work Friday afternoon, after accomplishing the long put off task of cleaning my apartment, I met Danny on way in. We had a short conversation and entered the office together where Steve, one of our co-workers was waving heartily to me I thought, until I followed with gaze the direction of his pointing arm.
There on the wall was a huge black and white poster, nearly 4 feet square I think, of the cartoon Batman in an action pose, and the caption “Holy Guacamole Batman, Congrats on 5 years!”
Danny had designed it on the computer, and then printed it out on multiple letter-sized sheets, which were then carefully clipped, sorted, put in place and taped to create the huge blowup of the image (by Danny, Verna and Eddie).
I couldn’t have been more delighted if they had presented me with a new computer! It was the perfect touch. They must have worked on it all morning to get it right.
It all started about a year ago I think, when Verna got into the habit of addressing me as Batman. We’ve had a running office joke ever since, as Norm another co-worker protests every time she calls me that, “No I’m Batman! He’s my Robin.” A short argument always ensues between Verna and Norm about who is the real Batman. (I usually counter that if he is Batman, then they should probably call me Alfred!)
Of course the minute I spotted the image, I heard Norm's plaintive comment, “No, I’m Batman! He is my Robin!”
This event made my day, and it was a great day at work. After 5 days of rain, the sun even came out and flooded the office with a blinding golden light.
That night I brought the small letter size image home (lovingly placed in an envelope by Verna so it wouldn’t be creased) and have posted it above my table as a reminder of the loving friendship of the folks I work with, and the grace of Our Creator to place me there.
Links to the Poster:
www.dannydang.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/batman1.jpg
www.dannydang.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/batman2.jpg
Normally, he would not stand there unless it was something urgent. I now understand completely the pressure he too must have felt.
When I finished he asked me to go on a meeting break and said he wanted to talk to me. I took off my headset, stood up and turned to follow him.
The kitchen area which is open to the office was full of executive and accounting staff and as many of the agents as could be mustered. There must have been 40 people standing there and all of them smiling at me. Our CEO was the MC and grinning broadly as he held a little blue Birks Jewelers box that I knew contained my silver 5-year pin, a token of appreciation bestowed by the company to those who stay on in the wake of many who come and go.
Everyone was smiling as I accepted and shook his hand and told all what a wonderful group of people I was fortunate enough to work with. I felt really honored that they were all present. Our manager Nooshi came over and gave me a huge hug, and several more came to shake my hand and congratulate me.
And that was that, or so I thought as I proudly showed off the little pin to several of my co-workers.
However, when I got to work Friday afternoon, after accomplishing the long put off task of cleaning my apartment, I met Danny on way in. We had a short conversation and entered the office together where Steve, one of our co-workers was waving heartily to me I thought, until I followed with gaze the direction of his pointing arm.
There on the wall was a huge black and white poster, nearly 4 feet square I think, of the cartoon Batman in an action pose, and the caption “Holy Guacamole Batman, Congrats on 5 years!”
Danny had designed it on the computer, and then printed it out on multiple letter-sized sheets, which were then carefully clipped, sorted, put in place and taped to create the huge blowup of the image (by Danny, Verna and Eddie).
I couldn’t have been more delighted if they had presented me with a new computer! It was the perfect touch. They must have worked on it all morning to get it right.
It all started about a year ago I think, when Verna got into the habit of addressing me as Batman. We’ve had a running office joke ever since, as Norm another co-worker protests every time she calls me that, “No I’m Batman! He’s my Robin.” A short argument always ensues between Verna and Norm about who is the real Batman. (I usually counter that if he is Batman, then they should probably call me Alfred!)
Of course the minute I spotted the image, I heard Norm's plaintive comment, “No, I’m Batman! He is my Robin!”
This event made my day, and it was a great day at work. After 5 days of rain, the sun even came out and flooded the office with a blinding golden light.
That night I brought the small letter size image home (lovingly placed in an envelope by Verna so it wouldn’t be creased) and have posted it above my table as a reminder of the loving friendship of the folks I work with, and the grace of Our Creator to place me there.
Links to the Poster:
www.dannydang.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/batman1.jpg
www.dannydang.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/batman2.jpg
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Chaya Takes On CBC's The National
A couple of days ago I received the news that my daughter Chaya was going to be featured on CBC’s The National, in a special on survivors of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
She didn’t tell me though, her mom did.
Chaya waited until a day before the broadcast and then sent me an email, which was far from descriptive but just mentioned that the program would be aired Monday night at 10 p.m.
I immediately emailed many of my family and friends in Canada to let them know. And on the night of the broadcast, I had about 45 minutes to hurry home from work so that I could view it. I imagined a celebratory newscast and was quite excited. After my long experience I should have known better!
I was quite disappointed when I got home, to hear a voice message from my daughter stating that CBC had bumped the broadcast up to the earlier 6 p.m. news.
Just in case they had made a mistake, I tuned into The National at 10 p.m. anyway, and the reason for the program move became clear. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, who had just delivered the national budget, had agreed to appear on air to be interviewed live and questioned by viewers.
Of course, the not-surprising news was that the Tory government, in their affluent wisdom had decided to ignore the problem of homelessness and poverty in Canada…again.
This is terrible timing and as far as I can see, a kind of reflection of the ostrich-with-head-in-the-sand approach to the rising problems in the streets and neighborhoods of communities across Canada.
The biggest disappointment for me was the spin the CBC put on my daughter’s survival. The program basically focused on the 25% chance she had of recurrent cancers after treatment, rather than a celebration of her courageous battle and survival.
Chaya is a warrior though, and although I am sure she was disappointed with the final edit, her spirit shines through.
I love her response to the negativity from the interviewer. Chaya, you are my hero!
Below is a link to my good friend Danny's website...he has posted a link to Chaya's CBC interview video:
Hi Ted,
I am still scavenging around the CBC servers for a higher quality video of Chaya's spot, but I got one converted into a Google video so its more easily playable. It is posted here
www.dannydang.com/blog/hodgkins-survivor/
Danny
She didn’t tell me though, her mom did.
Chaya waited until a day before the broadcast and then sent me an email, which was far from descriptive but just mentioned that the program would be aired Monday night at 10 p.m.
I immediately emailed many of my family and friends in Canada to let them know. And on the night of the broadcast, I had about 45 minutes to hurry home from work so that I could view it. I imagined a celebratory newscast and was quite excited. After my long experience I should have known better!
I was quite disappointed when I got home, to hear a voice message from my daughter stating that CBC had bumped the broadcast up to the earlier 6 p.m. news.
Just in case they had made a mistake, I tuned into The National at 10 p.m. anyway, and the reason for the program move became clear. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, who had just delivered the national budget, had agreed to appear on air to be interviewed live and questioned by viewers.
Of course, the not-surprising news was that the Tory government, in their affluent wisdom had decided to ignore the problem of homelessness and poverty in Canada…again.
This is terrible timing and as far as I can see, a kind of reflection of the ostrich-with-head-in-the-sand approach to the rising problems in the streets and neighborhoods of communities across Canada.
The biggest disappointment for me was the spin the CBC put on my daughter’s survival. The program basically focused on the 25% chance she had of recurrent cancers after treatment, rather than a celebration of her courageous battle and survival.
Chaya is a warrior though, and although I am sure she was disappointed with the final edit, her spirit shines through.
I love her response to the negativity from the interviewer. Chaya, you are my hero!
Below is a link to my good friend Danny's website...he has posted a link to Chaya's CBC interview video:
Hi Ted,
I am still scavenging around the CBC servers for a higher quality video of Chaya's spot, but I got one converted into a Google video so its more easily playable. It is posted here
www.dannydang.com/blog/hodgkins-survivor/
Danny
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Free Betty Krawczyk
This morning I received an email from my friend Csaba, who had written a great letter to Premier Gordon Campbell protesting the 10 month jail sentence imposed on environmental activist Betty Krawczyk.
The front pages of several local newspapers showed a picture of this shining elder and 78-year-old great grandmother, with her upraised fist.
If you would like to communicate your thoughts to Premier Cambell via email you can do so via this link:
premier@gov.bc.ca
Thank you Csaba for your heads up on this issue which is really a huge mistake, in my opinion, on the part of the Liberal Government and our court system.
Below is a copy of my letter:
Dear Mr Premier:
Betty Krawczyk should not be in jail.
She is a community activist and no criminal.
In fact, she is a local legend to many who have supported environmental and green activities long before such a thing was politically correct.
By putting her in jail you send the wrong message to many in this province.
She is elderly and a jail sentence will do nothing to make her change her mind and only hurt her health. And, as a wise elder, it is her civil right (and duty) to be speaking out, imparting her truths and lessons, and we should not be inflicting a punishment on her that will do nothing to "rehabilitate" her.
She is not a danger to society but a shining example of what it means to stick to principles that are honorable.
What if something happens to her while in custody? It would be a slur on the Liberal Government and one that could be difficult to forgive or forget.
As it is, our Government will have a hard time living her incarceration (and at her age) down.
The front pages of several local newspapers showed a picture of this shining elder and 78-year-old great grandmother, with her upraised fist.
If you would like to communicate your thoughts to Premier Cambell via email you can do so via this link:
premier@gov.bc.ca
Thank you Csaba for your heads up on this issue which is really a huge mistake, in my opinion, on the part of the Liberal Government and our court system.
Below is a copy of my letter:
Dear Mr Premier:
Betty Krawczyk should not be in jail.
She is a community activist and no criminal.
In fact, she is a local legend to many who have supported environmental and green activities long before such a thing was politically correct.
By putting her in jail you send the wrong message to many in this province.
She is elderly and a jail sentence will do nothing to make her change her mind and only hurt her health. And, as a wise elder, it is her civil right (and duty) to be speaking out, imparting her truths and lessons, and we should not be inflicting a punishment on her that will do nothing to "rehabilitate" her.
She is not a danger to society but a shining example of what it means to stick to principles that are honorable.
What if something happens to her while in custody? It would be a slur on the Liberal Government and one that could be difficult to forgive or forget.
As it is, our Government will have a hard time living her incarceration (and at her age) down.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
