Plea For the Equal Treatment of Neanderthals

Is it really correct to use cavemen as mascots? Some people might say making fun of cavemen is funny and politically correct. They might say we aren’t hurting anyone, so what is the big deal? I don’t picture too many cavemen running to the ACLU to complain about slander or infringement of rights or anything. The poor neanderthals probably wouldn’t have the brains to do that anyway. Just because we don’t consider them to be people, like us, doesn’t mean they are nobodies. Come on, babies can’t always articulate their needs, but they aren’t nobodies.

We’ve come a long way from Homo erectus to Homo sapiens. We wear clothes, use tools, cook our food... the unlucky Neanderthals just popped out of the biological timeline, it’s not their fault they failed to evolve as gracefully as we have. They have a serious genetic deficiency that shouldn’t be overlooked in our enlightened, modern society. Just because they miss the boat sometimes doesn’t mean that anyone has the right to so blissfully and negligently demean them. It doesn’t matter if their constant use of old fashioned shirts only makes them stand out more. We should love them for who they are, and how they can contribute to improving our society and economy. They may be incapable of engineering, or computer programming, or flying planes, or performing surgery. However, their skills can be utilized in a variety of ways. They can make fire with sticks, and use long grass pieces to remove ants from ant hills, they can even hoot, sing, and dance. So, we have to ask ourselves: what can we do to make the lives of our lesser brothers better? What is so easy that a caveman can do it? Give them those tasks, allow them to contribute to the global economy, and you will satisfy the needs of our brother race.

Procrastination

I've decided procrastination is a powerful tool to get things done. Just not the thing you must get done. It's like when you lose something. When I lose something, I spend a long time looking for it, and I typically find a lot of the other things I have lost but never found. Procrastination motivates me to do a lot of things I wouldn't otherwise do because they are really good things to be doing. For example, today I visited with old friends, wrote a blog, brushed my teeth a couple of extra times, cooked my own lunch, packed a healthy snack pack... Ok, sounds great. Well, I guess I should get to studying for that pharmacology test coming up, but I just keep finding other things to do. Procrastination? Sure... but it's productive...

A Memory of Rome

The rain had fallen all day while we we rode the train through the Tuscan hills. In Rome, the stone city echoed with the sound of drips, wet footsteps on the pavement, and voices around every corner. If I close my eyes, I can still see it, hear it, smell it...
Whenever I think of it, I can't help but to sit back, and it takes me away. I can see the sight of the sheer, white curtains billowing in toward me, carrying the smell of wet stucco and the vine roses. I see the warm Mediterranean sunlight that must have just broken through the clouds before I stepped into the room slant through the opened old-world shutters, I can feel it spread across the top of my feet. The sound of a violin, echoing off the wet stucco, floats in from the piazza below, the baroque tune sealing this moment in my memory. Far away are the muted sounds of traffic and people, but in this moment, the sunlight, wind, and quiet violin still catch me in a rapture.

Dreams, Hopes, Wishes

It is raining outside, and summer seems like it will never come. Of course, by now in life I know that's a silly thought, but it's mid-May in Utah and my toes are cold as I write this. Has it ever happened that a spring has melted into autumn, skipping the long, hot days of summer? I think it did happen, in the middle ages of Europe, when there was a mini ice age. I recall hearing about it on the Discovery Channel, but don't quote me. Today, in 2010, I doubt it is an ice age of any sort. Just El Niño, and the associated weather tantrums.
I have been thinking a lot lately about dreams... and hopes... and wishes. My path is definitely not the one I envisioned half my life ago, yet I am not disappointed. I have begun to appreciate the places I've been, and where I might go. At some point, I realized I have to let go of trying to force my life to some predetermined, shortsighted plan, and instead accept what God has for me instead. It is turning into an amazing journey, and I love it.
I have always said that I want to travel, and help people, and get an education, and have kids, and, and, and. I never thought everything was possible, and I couldn't see what was in front of my face. I have done all these things and more, and I still have so much life to live. It's amazing how we can overlook the gifts of life all around us, compare ourselves to others, and feel worthless.
My brother, if you ever read this, do not despair. One day you will look at all the sweet riches life has given you, and you will think to yourself, "I did not plan this, or wish it, but I love it, and I am happy." Do not think religion is an empty cup that cannot slake your thirst. The spirit whispers quietly, and God works mysteriously, and when you can even sense the slightest bit of these gifts, peace will begin to fill your soul, and healing will begin. I read the words you write and my heart breaks, because I have stood in that dark place of despair. I know your pain, and I did not know the way out. But, like the prophet of old, Lehi, follow the angels through the dark mist and you will be led to the place of joy. It's true, just reach out and let go of all the brick and mortar that imprisons you.
I sit amidst piles of work, laundry, and dishes, surrounded by the soft breathing of my sweet children and loving husband, listeneing to the rain and hum of the fridge, and I know I am blessed. I know that I will journey across the earth, have many adventures, exhilirating moments, heartrending defeat, insurmountable sorrows and pinnacles of joy, and I just hope it doesn't pass so quickly that I cannot commit every moment with its smell, taste, angles of vibrant light, and the exquisite sounds that trap the memory forever so I can recall these moments of life for an eternity to come.

Christmas Morning... Another Year Wanes

It's 1:30 am Christmas morning... I haven't been asleep yet, but for many parents that isn't a new thing. I am looking at my tree that we finally put up two days ago and am wondering where the year has gone. This year was crazy, with school and one child starting Kindergarten right when the new one arrived... not to mention how living in an area with extremely competitive undergraduate and post-graduate degree programs makes for a stressful education process.

This is a more personal sort of blog than I usually post. It's for anyone who might actually still read it!!! It's cheesy to do an annual form letter on a blog and invite everyone to read it, but this is the best I can do to update things and there are a lot of people that I think about and hope to stay in touch with. This, however, will be short, since I have a lot to do and am very tired!!



This year has been a busy year for our family. In addition to work, school, and a new Kindergartener, our little one arrived in September, his name a nod to a favorite movie character of my husband's. My energetic 5 year old still loves to dance and sing, so I've posted a pic of the cave dance he did while we visited my husband's family in Phoenix during Thanksgiving.



Otherwise, we are staying busy. I am lucky to work at an amazing place where I hope to stay for a long time. I am continuing to go to school, eventually I'll have my bachelor's degree, and I'll take a break for a time before I go back for my master's! My husband is also starting school again, so 2010 looks like a challenging, but exciting year. I always like a challenge, however...

A Little Good Advice

"Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment." -- Benjamin Franklin

Posting this a second time will never hurt.

Piel Bronceada en Diciembre

Cuando era joven yo tenía siempre mi propio dormitorio. Tenía cuatro hermanos, pero no tenía ninguna hermana con compartirlo. No hay más muchachas en mi barrio, así yo jugaba con mis hermanos la mayoria del tiempo. Nos gustaba cavar hoyos y zanjas en el jardin. Nos escondíamos y cuando el tiempo estaba bien, nos salimos de escondido y nos rociamos con armas aguas. También, hacíamos casas de árbol y las guardábamos como casteles, protegiéndolas contra nuestros hermanos enemigos. Pero, para la noche, éramos amigos de nuevo.

Los días de verano eran largos y perezosos. Pasábamos todos los días afuera de la casa, en el calor del sol. En esos días, era seguro que los niños saldrían de la casa y montrían las bicicletas por el barrio todo el día. Los madres no preocupaban nunca si los niños decían -¡hola!- cada dos o tres horas. ¡Teníamos tareas, aunque! Arrancábamos plantas malas del jardin y teníamos que limpiar la casa con nuestra madre. Nos levantábamos temprano en la mañana para hacer las tareas. Las hacíamos tan rápido como posible así que podíamos salir a buscar a nuestros amigos, para tener aventuras.

Pasábamos mucho tiempo en el sol, tanto tiempo que teníamos piel bronceada en Diciembre en las fotos de Navidad. La Navidad era nuestra temporada favorita. Nos gustaban las luces y los dulces que nuestra abuela nos enviaba en un caso grande. En nuestra escuela, aprendíamos a cantar "Feliz Navidad" y "Noche de Paz".

Esos dias pasaban rápidamente, y, a veces, deseo que tuviera la libertad que tenía en aquél.