Last Update on Max

remember that neighborhood dog around the corner that I was blogging about early in the year?  I haven’t given an update on him for so long so this posting is long overdue. 

Around June, I saw Max outside of the stairwell for the first time.  He was on a walk with his owner and I could tell his arthritis had gotten really bad.  I have been in touch with another dog-lovin’ woman,  who visited Max everyday to feed him, give him glucosamine for his arthitis, and say hello.  I felt so much better knowing that other people were also watching out for him. 

About a week after my dear Sequoia passed over to the other side, Max also passed away.  Someone told us he was put to sleep because he could barely walk.  I thought it was the right thing and right time to do it.  For the last few weeks of his life, he couldn’t even get up to say hello to me, like he usually does. 

I am so glad he is free from pain and in a happier place, where he can roam free and where he is surrounded by love whereever he goes.

My Brad Pitt Parade

I apologize in advance: I need to indulge in writing this posting, in hopes that my Brad Pitt party will end soon.  For those who know me, I am clearly not a fan of Hollywoodies or have the slightest interest in the lives of these amazingly beautiful people we see on the movie screen.  I’ve never been a huge fan of Brad perhaps because I don’t want to add more attention to his stardom but ever since I watched Benjamin Button, I became interested in knowing what this guy is all about and his coupling with Angelina.

What I find most interesting about him and Angelina, beyond the fact that they are one of the most beautiful couples in Hollywood (beautiful people dating other beautiful people is actually a little disturbing to me), is that she has awakened in him the energy to perform humanitarian and environmental work.  I’m not sure what his history of charity was before Angelina but it clearly never radiated as it does now.  I think that is what is truly beautiful about this pair, that they really bring out the best in eachother.  This is the energy that I feel when I hear about them, not the information that I gather from magazines.

I just saw him on the Chronicle today with Nancy Pelosi to promote his new foundation to sustainably build New Orleans (www.makeitrightnola.org). He’s partnered up with William McDonough, the brain behind Cradle to Cradle design, to build eco-friendly and sustainable homes for those displaced by New Orleans.  This is only his most recent work; he’s contributed to many other causes previously.

I think it’s so inspiring to see people use their power for good causes, rather than to promote themselves or what I call celebrity materialism.  And doing a little bit of research on him makes it easier for me to reconcile my natural discomfort with movie stars.  Disregarding their personal power and the circle of paparazzis that they carry around, celebrities like Brad are perhaps just normal people like the rest of us.

Looking for some inspiration

I just found out about this research opportunity a few days ago– and it’s due on March 9th!  $25,000 to carry out whatever project you would like, in your field of study.  Mine is Environmental Science and Southeast Asian Studies.

I am trying to build a proposal on environmental work in Vietnam– but confused and perplexed by the many possiblities (ie. wildlife trafficking, water quality, coal mining, etc).  I have also lost touch with the few contacts that may have been helpful in generating some ideas– so I need your input if you have any.
Gerard has agreed to be my mentor for the project and would like me to incorporate his EAP students to help out with it.  Any inspiration to offer me?

Stronach Award: http://ls.berkeley.edu/?q=node/212/

Update on Max and Family

Hi everyone,

Sorry it took so long for me to update what’s been going on what Max.  The truth is:  not much has happened, despite the organized efforts between a few people to help him and several dialogues with his family in the last month.  It’s been made clear that the family does not want anyone to take their dog out for walks, even when someone from Animal Control has offered to give names of volunteers.  What’s also evident but more subtle is that the family does care about Max and probably would not give him up, if someone offered to buy him (like I have done before).  The family claims to take Max out for walks “sometimes in the morning” (although I’m not convinced) and feels that this is appropriate.

There really has been efforts from different people to open up a more honest dialogue with his family, but nothing apparent has changed.  I have ideas of how people can continue pressuring the family to provide daily exercise for their dog, which is required by Berkeley law…but wanted to hear what you have to say first!  Please send suggestions and your thoughts my way.

And remember: If you do pass by Sacramento and Prince St, please say hello to Max.

Update on Max

Thanks for all of your words of advice and concern.  I found someone who is helping me with this situation.  I will update you as news comes!

The story of Max

To my friends who are particularly animal lovers,

Here is a short story long on a neighborhood dog who I love and is asking for some attention and help.  Do you have words of counsel on this situation?  Do you have ideas on how I should be approaching this?  Or most importantly, do you want to help me in anyway to help this dog?

Time to vote!

FINALLY- tomorrow is the day millions of us have been awaiting.  I thought I should take a few minutes to share some of my views on tomorrow’s ballot.  My opinions are a result of many months of newspaper-mongering and radio talk-obsessing.  I’ll just highlight the ones that hit closest home.

PRESIDENT- “IT’S OBAMA TIME” -a daily recitation of my neighbor, Oliver.  No words can express my genuine trust in and admiration for Obama….so I’ll stop here.

US REPRESENTATIVE- BARBARA LEE.  I had the opportunity to chat with her in Washington DC a year ago.  I think she is an amazing woman with lots of experience and a commitment to bringing justice communities such as Darfur.

BERKELEY MAYOR- TOM BATES.  Honestly I don’t know much about Shirley, I’m sure she’s a wonderful woman.  But Tom’s been the mayor for a long time and has been working on really important sustainability and development issues in Berkeley.  I’d like for him to continue his work.  I also met him at an awards ceremony in SF and didn’t know he was the Berkeley mayor–so maybe I’m just voting for him cuz I feel guilty.

EB Regional Parks- “DOGS FOR WHITNEY DOTSON”!  Dog lovers are showing full support for Dotson so I decided to do the same!

PROPOSITIONS

1A: YES FOR 2 HOUR TRAIN RIDES TO LA

2: YES, YES, YES FOR GIVING ANIMALS MORE SPACE AND SOME HINT OF HUMAN DECENCY!!!

3: undecided, I have one more day…

4: NO NO NO ON PRIOR PARENTAL CONSENT

5: YES FOR DRUG REHAB

6: NO

7: NO, NO, NO!  ON A BADLY WRITTEN ENERGY POLICY

8: NO, NO, NO! ON TAKING AWAY SAME-SEX COUPLES RIGHTS

9: NO

10: NO ON ANOTHER BADLY WRITTEN ENERGY POLICY.  THIS ONE IS FULLY SUPPORTED BY THE NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY.

11: NO

12: YES

Check out SF Bay Guardian for information on the ballot and their endorsements:  http://www.sfbg.com/elections/fall2008/

‘Wherever there is love…’

Michael’s mom forwarded us an email today. I read it and it touched my heart so profoundly, I thought I would share it with everyone. It was written by a woman named Becky:

There is a beautiful soul working in the dead letter office of the US postal service.

Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month.? The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey.??She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

Dear God,

Will you please take care of my dog?? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven.??I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.

I hope you will play with her.? She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her. You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.

Love, Meredith
_________________________________

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven.? We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps
on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, ‘To Meredith , ‘ in an unfamiliar hand.? Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, ‘When a Pet Dies.’ Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:??

_____________________________________

Dear Meredith,

Abbey arrived safely in heaven.

Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.?

Abbey isn’t sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart.?
Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don’t need our bodies in heaven, I don’t have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.

Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you? have. I picked her especially for you.

I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.

By the way, I’m easy to find, I am wherever there is love.

Love,
God

What a beautiful reminder for us all- to love, love, and love unconditionally.

What Buddhists call “Ego”

I went to Kevin’s yoga class today after not having gone in a while. The class let me practice what I call “Ego obedience”–a practice of keeping my eye on it and checking that it does not poking its head into my daily life situations. My yoga practice used to be dictated by my Ego: it praised me on how skilled I was in my poses, how focused I was in my savasana, how I practiced so diligently everyday. And most importantly, it reminded me how I was so much more of a yogi than others. It wasn’t until this year when I became aware of what I was doing when practicing yoga: I was merely feeding my Ego. I’ve gradually developed a new practice where Ego plays no role–where it’s okay to fall, it’s okay not to perform the most advanced pose, it’s okay to struggle (especially when people are watching). Yoga practice can reveal much about your true self, when you allow that gate to open. When you stop being enamored by the physical elements of yoga, a much deeper practice comes to life.

My yoga practice today allowed me to meditate on an instance that has been rattling me for a few days. Several days ago, I found myself in a very uncomfortable situation with someone I know. I wasn’t even certain of how this event arised but nonetheless, I tried to change the situation so that the discomfort would disappate, even if it meant letting myself get treaded on. The unresolved feelings ended up consuming me, my mind trying constantly to get a grip on what happened. I had to consult a guide of mine to figure out what was keeping me from letting go. He showed me that this is another game that the Ego likes to play–where it seeks self-preservation and therefore cannot let go of any situation that was threatening or uncomfortable. He let me know that although I still needed to resolve the feelings with this other person, I was capable of letting go. But my pride kept me from doing so. Instead my Ego chooses to play back the memory over and over again until I’m driven to near insanity! After I became conscious of my Ego’s role in this discourse, it became much easier for me to forgive and forget. The resolution, however, is pending.

Our Ego will keep on coming up again and again in everyone’s lives. Are you aware of it when it snarls its fangs? When life is getting difficult, is Ego playing a role? Can you go about life with humility but still maintain dignity (which is very different than pride/Ego)?

Keep in mind, Ego is only your enemy when you let it off its leash. When tamed, perhaps it can be a companion or most preferably, it will transform into a completely different energy that can actually bring positivity into your life.

The Five People You Meet In Heaven

Last night, I watched the film ‘The Five People You Meet In Heaven’ after reading the book last month.  It was the perfect novel to take with me during  my BART commute–until I reached the ending of the book and ended up in tears on a crowded train.  The movie made me cry for about an hour. 

I’m not a huge fan of realistic novels and this book started off a little dark and depressing, reminding me of how bleak people’s lives can really become.  It didn’t take long for me to sink into the story and pretty soon, it had a pretty tight grip on me.  I couldn’t relate much to the main character’s life story–he was an old man who couldn’t past through the hurdles of memory that he accumulated from a war.   He couldn’t pluck himself out of his life situation and dwindled in his despair.  On one hand, I have deep sympathy for people who find themselves in these deep pitholds; at the same time, I’ve become such a believer in taking control of your own fate, that I find myself wallowing in apathy, as I observe it. 

Eddie, the main character, dies early in the book and this itself is a profound teaching. Any of us can just die, disappear from this world any minute now–but we all plan our lives as if we are going to live as old as our 80-year-old grandmother.  Death is so real and it happens every second but to the still living, it’s an event that’s so far removed and too frightening to become intimate with.  The story made me remember how scared I am of dying and of the loved ones in my life dying.  I’m scared of dying in pain and fear; I’m scared of my family dying in pain and sadness.  I don’t want anyone to die, sad, hurt and lonely, but it happens.  My fears doesn’t seem to have reflected my experiences, however: I’ve had several close friends and family vanish from my life very suddenly–and for some reason I’ve never felt a lot of grief or sadness.  I’ve felt like they are still around but just in another form–and I guess it’s true.  Death is just a passing of the spirit from body to the heavens, their love and memory will always remain with those on Earth.  Maybe this lack of grief is not a sign that I am ungodly or unloving; but simply that maybe I can cope with death a lot better than I think I can. 

I like the idea that after passing over, you get the chance to resolve the kinks and knots of life.  I can only imagine that a small handful of people pass to heaven, with a clear and enlightened understanding of their life and its meaning.  I assume many people die, unclear about their life on Earth, with anger, sadness, pain.  It is assuring to think that for many spirits, passing over is a journey towards understanding and complete acceptance.