Memorial Day 2012

There are so many holidays that take place each and every year. There are well-known ones such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah as well as silly ones such as National Sandwich Day (which I did a post for!) and Appreciate a Dragon Day. Today happens to be Memorial Day. Memorial Day is most certainly one of my favorite holidays. Every year on Memorial Day my family goes downtown for the parade. My grandfather, a WWII Coast Guard Veteran, goes with us. Every year, he wears his Coast Guard hat. We bring flags, chairs, and blankets. We set up in the best spot we can find, and then my parents hand me a twenty and we go to the little bakery to get goodies! Mom likes anything custard-filled, my little sister tends to get cookies, and I get something different every time. Then we sit in the heat until the parade starts.

Now, I don't know if you are aware of this, but on Memorial Day during a Memorial Day Parade, you are supposed to stand as a veteran walks by. Needless to say, my family and I spend most of our time on our feet, applauding the veterans as they pass. I hate it when I see people (who are obviously capable of standing) remaining seated as the veterans walk by. This year, we had a man walk by at the beginning of the parade and inform everybody to stand as a veteran walked by to show respect. Even with this reminder, people still disrespectfully sat on the sides as hard-working veterans walked by them. I hate seeing disrespect like this. However, I digress.

Generally, if someone in the parade notices a veteran on the side watching, they find some way to specifically acknowledge that veteran. The best part of my Memorial Day weekend is always watching the veterans, police officers, firemen, etc acknowledge my grandfather as they walk by. This year, more people acknowledged my grandfather than ever. In car after car, the driver would spot him and point at him, often mouthing "thank you" as they drove by. People in the cars who could not make it to the side of the road made a point of getting his attention and thanking him for his service. But the best part was those walking on the road. There was one point where there were lines and lines of fire trucks and every single fireman who passed by my grandfather walked to him, shook his hand, and said, "Thank you for your service, sir." Every single fireman. Police officers came and thanked him. A lady stopped pushing her stroller and ran over to shake his hand. At one point, a little girl (probably around 8-12) saw her mother shake my grandfather's hand and proceeded to walk over to my grandfather, take his hand, and say, "thank you." So young, but still acknowledging what he did for our country. My eyes were full of tears for most of the parade. Each handshake, each "thank you" put me in danger of spilling tears over onto my face and into my lap. My grandfather made such a sacrifice for America - just as every single veteran has made. I love to see him and all the other veterans being thanked for everything they have done to keep our country safe. Because, you know what? They deserve it.

Thank you to all veterans, especially my grandfather, and all those currently serving in the army. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten.

Happy Memorial Day!

Shove it Down the Throat

Hopped on my blog today to check out how everything was going and I found 51 page views within the last 24 hours. Wow, guys. You are amazing. That's honestly so many more page views in 24 hours than I have ever had. Thank you for making me feel as though this blog is wanted. You guys make me think that maybe my writing is worth reading.

Today I think I'm going to write on a rant that I had this morning on twitter. Here I can say everything in a much clearer way - 140 characters doesn't always cut it!

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At least once a week I hear or read someone complaining about religious people "shoving their religion down people's throats." I'm honestly quite sick of the comments. I am a Catholic. I believe and agree with everything the Catholic Church teaches. I often tell people who are going through a rough period that I will be praying for them, and I will often make my opinion known in conversations - even my Catholic-based opinions. Regardless of what I say, though, I never push my opinions down anybody's throat. I will argue my points and explain where I am coming from, but I willl never force my opinions on people. I respect what other people believe and I in no way think that forcing someone to believe something is the right way to go about life. When I talk with you about what I believe, it is the same way others talk about their beliefs on gay rights or drinking. When you talk about what you believe, do you think that you're forcing it onto people? I certainly hope now. Religious people can have a discussion about religion just the way a homosexual can talk about being gay. There's nothing wrong with explaining why you believe something.

Guess what. I pray for all of you every single day. By praying for you, I'm not forcing my religion upon you. Rather, I am doing everything in my power to help you out. You believing that it won't work doesn't mean I can't try to do it to help you.

When a friend of mine has a headache, I offer her some sort of pain medication. Now, she could look at me and say, "I don't believe that medicine works! Stop trying to force it on me!" I would calmly reply that I wasn't forcing it on her; I was simply offering her an option that I believed would work. I was doing everything I could to make her life better for her. I may even explain to her the reasons I believe the medicine would work. At this point, she would still be free to tell me that she wanted nothing to do with my medicine, and that would be perfectly fine. She doesn't have to accept my help. The fact that I did my best is all that matters.

The same goes for religion. If you are having a tough day, then I will always offer up a prayer for you, because I feel as though the prayer will help. If you don't think that it will work, then so be it. I certainly did nothing to hurt you and also clearly forced nothing on you. I just did my best to help in a way I thought would make your life better.

Now, I'm not saying that no religious people ever shove their religion down people's throats. I'll be the first to admit that yes, some people do. However, what many non-religious people don't realize is that people who aren't religious shove their lack of religion down people's throats just as much as religious people do. Why is it "okay" for someone to shove their non-religious beliefs down someone's throat? It's not. People need to look at what they are criticizing and think about whether or not they do it, too. Yes, I know it's annoying to have something "shoved down your throat." However, people are doing it far less than one may think - and it's happening on both sides.

Next time you want to complain about someone shoving something down your throat, try to remember the fact that it (most likely) isn't their intention and that they are only trying to help - the same way you would help a sad person feel better or a child reach something.

Love always, Trisha xx

Lauren

Please ignore my lack of eloquence; I have not written in quite a while and I'm sure it will be obvious that I need some brush ups.

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I found this amazing girl on twitter within days of creating my first account. She struggles terribly with self image and has both eating disorders and depression. I have made sure to pray for her often because I know her pain. It's terrible to look in the mirror and hate what you see. This girl looks at herself and thinks that she is ugly and fat. I've never agreed with her, and I've tried to make this known to her in the best way I could. I know that she deserves so much more than she gives herself, and I hope that she overcomes her struggles.

Today, she posted this on Instagram: http://instagr.am/p/K7EufDQfY2/

A picture of her in a bikini. With the following caption:

"so um this is a test to myself to see if I can do this so here goes; I haven't worn a full bikini in about 6 years since my eating disorder wouldn't let me, so this is kind of like a milestone in my life, lol. yep my thighs touch and are so out of proportion compared to my stomach, yes my stomach isn't as toned as it could be and yes I have scars along the tops of my thighs but all in all, right now, I'm not that bad, right? I mean a little bit more toning up and losing a couple of lbs and maybe I could even pass for decent. but idk I've realized that it's not about how other people look at me anymore, it's about how I look at myself and about being good enough for me. I probably won't ever be good enough for me but idk yeah I just wanted to see if I could do this. maybe one day this summer I'll find the courage to actually wear this on the beach in public, for the first time in 6 years. but idk. we'll see. so yeah, this is me, the real me, no breathing in, thighs touching and scars. it's all I'll ever be and maybe one day, it will be enough."

I teared up while I read this. I am so proud. It would be terribly hard to post a picture of yourself like that if you had been in her shoes - I, of all people, know. She is an absolutely beautiful girl - beautiful inside and out - and I was so proud when I saw this. My eyes were full of huge tears and I was in my room clapping and smiling my head off.
his girl took such a big step toward recovery. I've watched her struggle for years and now I get to watch her head burst through the water into the beautiful light. She is so brave.

I very much hope that this is the first step of many to complete recovery for her. God knows she deserves it.
I hope that those around her take strength from her act of defiance against her eating disorder. I will continue to pray for her in the hopes that she will continue to find this strength inside herself, just as I will pray for every single person with an eating disorder or depression in the hopes that God will lead them to the light they deserve.

You are stronger than whatever may be troubling you. You can overcome it. Lauren is just one example of a girl who defied her troubles and showed her impeccable strength. People do it everyday, and you can do it, too. You are stronger than your monsters.

"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."   - Christopher Robin

And with that, I leave you. Love always, Trisha xx

Welcome Home?

So, did you miss me? I've decided to get going on my blogging again. Hopefully this turns out to be something worth reading. My goal?

Or, ya know, some of the things, because do you really want me to blog everything? I didn't think so.

The above, by the way, is an internet meme from the blog http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/ which, by the way, I have been reading for quite a long time and love with all my heart.

Anyway, I hope that something good comes of this.

Love you all. Trisha xx

DATE A GIRL WHO READS by Rosemarie Urquico

I carry a copy of this piece with my in my purse everywhere I go. I love it with all my heart.

DATE A GIRL WHO READS

by Rosemarie Urquico

(In response to Charles Warnke’s You Should Date an Illiterate Girl)

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Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on books instead of clothes. She has problems with closet space because she has too many books. Date a girl who has a list of books she wants to read, who has had a library card since she was twelve. 

Find a girl who reads. You’ll know that she does because she will always have an unread book in her bag. She’s the one lovingly looking over the shelves in the bookstore, the one who quietly cries out when she finds the book she wants. You see the weird chick sniffing the pages of an old book in a second hand book shop? That’s the reader. They can never resist smelling the pages, especially when they are yellow. 

She’s the girl reading while waiting in that coffee shop down the street. If you take a peek at her mug, the non-dairy creamer is floating on top because she’s kind of engrossed already. Lost in a world of the author’s making. Sit down. She might give you a glare, as most girls who read do not like to be interrupted. Ask her if she likes the book. 

Buy her another cup of coffee. 

Let her know what you really think of Murakami. See if she got through the first chapter of Fellowship. Understand that if she says she understood James Joyce’s Ulysses she’s just saying that to sound intelligent. Ask her if she loves Alice or she would like to be Alice. 

It’s easy to date a girl who reads. Give her books for her birthday, for Christmas and for anniversaries. Give her the gift of words, in poetry, in song. Give her Neruda, Pound, Sexton, Cummings. Let her know that you understand that words are love. Understand that she knows the difference between books and reality but by god, she’s going to try to make her life a little like her favorite book. It will never be your fault if she does. 

She has to give it a shot somehow. 

Lie to her. If she understands syntax, she will understand your need to lie. Behind words are other things: motivation, value, nuance, dialogue. It will not be the end of the world. 

Fail her. Because a girl who reads knows that failure always leads up to the climax. Because girls who understand that all things will come to end. That you can always write a sequel. That you can begin again and again and still be the hero. That life is meant to have a villain or two. 

Why be frightened of everything that you are not? Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop. Except in the Twilight series. 

If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are. 

You will propose on a hot air balloon. Or during a rock concert. Or very casually next time she’s sick. Over Skype. 

You will smile so hard you will wonder why your heart hasn’t burst and bled out all over your chest yet. You will write the story of your lives, have kids with strange names and even stranger tastes. She will introduce your children to the Cat in the Hat and Aslan, maybe in the same day. You will walk the winters of your old age together and she will recite Keats under her breath while you shake the snow off your boots. 

Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you’re better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads. 

Or better yet, date a girl who writes.