Sorry this is a bit of a non-post because I had homework to do. It’s from the course I’m doing – Foundations for Lay Pastoral Ministry.
I’m really enjoying the course and I’m feeling positive about taking this small step towards a career change. I’m not even sure if it will lead me down the path of paid employment but I’m giving it my best shot.
Homework is done and I also have an early start tomorrow so that’s all from me for today.
I used to take a lot of selfies for all kinds of reasons. One year, I took a selfie every day and turned it into a video. Another year, I just took a photo with some part of me in it every day. I wanted to do the Everyday app video again last year but kept forgetting and I gave up. That was a real pity because in October I shaved my head to raise money for cancer. The dramatic change and then regrowth might have made for interesting viewing.
Since the birth of Snugglepot I’ve taken fewer and fewer selfies. I still take the occasional one but not nearly with the same energy or enthusiasm as I did before. I also buy fewer things for myself. I used to be a mad keen shopper. I’d buy clothes at the drop of a hat. I’d even buy hats at the drop of…something.
These days, I’m more likely to take photos of and buy clothes for Snugglepot. She’s my world!
Does that mean I’ve lost my identity? I have given way to her?
I don’t think so. I do think less about myself and more about her…but I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing.
I’m still here. I’m still a person in my own right but I love her and put her first…like most parents do for their children.
Woke at 4. Tired ever since.
There has been some confusion amongst my church friends as to whether or not I have died.
I have not.
The difficulty with having a name as common as mine is that I share it with a number of people. Sadly, one of these people passed away recently and her death notice appeared in our parish bulletin. Fortunately, it was not me.
To clarify, I am not any of the following:
…you get the idea.
I have had my Facebook business page even tagged as being a guest speaker at events overseas. I would have gone had they paid the airfare.
To avoid all confusion, please contact me if you are interested in knowing how I am, what I do, if I’m interested in speaking at an event or anything at all about me. I’m probably the best informed person on that topic.
What does it say about a person when they win Cards Against Humanity?
Probably nothing good.
Today I went to Chermside Shopping Centre. It is huge. Yesterday was the grand opening of it getting even huger.
An acknowledgement of the traditional owners – the Yuggera people.
I remember when it was the poorer cousin to other shopping centres on the north side of Brisbane. My mother remembers when it was built.
My first job (which I spoke about a few days ago) was right across the road from this centre. At that time, there wasn’t even a food court! There was a café and a Chinese takeaway. Now, there are 2 separate food courts plus 2 additional dining precincts!!! There are now over 80 places that offer something to eat!!
I enjoyed seeing the newly opened dining precinct which also has a village green style area and a children’s playground. The layout for part of this development resembles the shopping centre that was closest to us when I was growing up. It was a village style layout with little streets and laneways. These days it’s all modernised and lost its charm. It’s interesting to see the old style coming back again. I think this means I’m officially old.
Today I attended the funeral of someone who died far too soon. I wasn’t working at this funeral. This one was someone I knew.
His death was not at the end of some great illness. It was unexpected. It was a death that would make you think that it was desperately unfair.
In my line of work as a funeral organist/singer, I see a lot of grieving people. I have seen a range of emotions at funerals. I don’t think I’ve seen happiness but certainly there have been many who are contented and accepting. Those are usually when the deceased has lived a long and fulfilling life. There are those who have been sick for a long time and death is somewhat of a welcome relief.
Then there’s the other end of the spectrum. The middle aged. The young. The couple that died suddenly together. Those that mourn them are usually somewhere else in the stages of grief. One mourner put it very well her eulogy for her father, “I am annoyed with him. He went before I could say goodbye.”
Say it.
Say all the things you need to say to a person. 
“I love you.”
“You’re my world.”
“Thank you.”
“I owe it all to you.”
Don’t let your last words be ones you regret. Say it now.
