Nurses Most Ethical

This both surprises and delights me. This is a true morale-booster for nurses.

We went into this profession for some reason. It wasn't money. It wasn't glory. We each have our reasons that go much deeper.

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PRINCETON, N.J. (Nov. 24) - For the seventh straight year, nurses enjoy top public accolades in Gallup's annual Honesty and Ethics of professions survey. Eighty-four percent of Americans call their honesty and ethical standards either "high" or "very high."

Salute

"I'm desperate and lonely." That's how I ended a lot of my letters to my mother when I was 13 and in boarding school for a couple of months. (Mother was in the U.S. taking care of something and my father was traveling a lot at the time.)

I sat and read through so many letters that I wrote to her, both at the age of 13, and when I was in college here, in the U.S., and my parents lived in Singapore.

It's like reading someone else's stories. I have such a dim, sometimes zero memory of the events I wrote about. The person writing those letters is far-afield from the person I am today. Some letters make me cry, and some make me laugh!

At ripe old age of 18, I'm writing to my mother that I ache to have a baby. (?!) I'm talking about how hard it is to be a half-child, half-adult, and how I have so many ideas and plans for the future, but feel so confused.

I, as a 50 year old, am astonished at my raw and innocent honesty with my parents. I think about that young girl - lonely in America, so homesick. So much fear and and yet so much hope.

I wish I could go back in time, and change the course that my life took. I really do.

I'm so grateful my mother kept all those letters. It's difficult to explain the myriad of feelings about them. I have a chance to get to know who I was then. I like who I was.

From a letter I wrote to my parents in 1978 -

I'm listening to a Dylan song now which I really like. The lyrics remind me of you, Mother.

'She's got everything she needs, she's an artist. She don't look back.
She can take the dark out of the nighttime and paint the daytime black.
You will start out standing, proud to steal her anything she sees.'

You've got everything you need, Mother - you're an artist.

Just in case you're interested, another line of it goes,

'Bow down to her on Sundays.
Salute her when her birthday comes.'

Mother's birthday is tomorrow. She would have been 80.

I miss her terribly. I'm feeling desperate and lonely for her.

I'm saluting you, Mother.

Portrait

After my mother died last year, I brought home a drawing she had done of me many years ago.

She did portraits of everyone in the family. I like this one of me because it depicts more than a face; it captures something deeper. I see the essence of who I was back then. She knew.
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Every morning we must love what is lost in us
and begin again.

Beth Farris

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I live in eternity's light with those I love,
bound by the laws of Heaven, the laws of Karma,
the sense and beating of the heart.

Thank God for the here, and the hereafter,
I am part of both.

Judy Collins

Ming

When Ming was a kitten, I bought him a toy with catnip in it. He went batshit crazy over it! It was so deeply disturbing to me that I never bought him another catnip toy.

Now that he's older, and less prone to complete erratic hysteria, I decided to try another catnip toy. This one is a miniature grain sack full of catnip.



He fell deeply in love with it, as you can see. Played with it, hugged it, rolled around the floor with it....you get the idea. Eventually it just ripped from all that loving so I threw it in my waste-paper basket.

Not too long afterwards, I noticed my full waste-paper basket was tipped over and the ripped catnip toy had been gingerly removed and was laying aside on the floor. Now, Ming NEVER gets into the trash, but this apparently was an important rescue mission.

I'm going to have to get him a new one.

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Ming is his sink-bed. This is one of his napping spots and where he usually spends the night.



His cubby-hole basket.



The reluctant close-up.

Fly Away

How it began,
when it will end,
tiny specks, alone.
Sail on the wind,
in silence again,
fly away....home.

What Australians Say

It's interesting to see what some Australians are saying about our election. These are some comments in response to an Australian newspaper's article on Obama's victory.

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Wow, thats a landslide victory for BO....! Now he has to clean up the mess left behind the outgoing Bush adminsitration. I hope he can come up with a plan to fix up the economy and end all military action going on now. America has to fix up its problems in its own backyard before going into the wide world. He may very well be the man to broker peace amongst African nations and the middle east. Good luck to a man whom may be what the world needs.

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Thank god! America has finally looked past the divisive issue of race and all the negative stereotypes associated with it, to realise WHO the best person to lead their country is. At the core of it, that's what the American people want- a change for the better.

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OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA! OBAMA!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO YEH! NO MORE BUSH!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOO YEH!

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Congrats OBAMA..I've seen a lot of things..but I didn't think I would ever see this in my time...THE 'I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH' HAS COME TRUE...THIS IS HISTORY!!!

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No matter who won in the election, they managed to get rid of that war monger George Bush. Hopefully Obama will concentrate on getting America back on its feet and not try to resolve the rest of the world' problems. Hopefully Obama will look after the home front first then diplomatically assist other countries in need rather than simply declaring war on them. This man appears to have the intelligence and integrity to do the right thing by his country. George Bush just wanted to be "King of the World!"

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This is an exciting time that effects each and everyone of us, Definitely history made today!!! I just hope Obama keeps to his word brings USA out of recession and brings our troops home!!! The fact this is both a political and racial issue only confirms how far we as people have moved forward, yes there still is racism but it is definitely a step in the right direction :)

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The Yanks have finally got it right, it only took 8 years a war or two and a resession to realise they picked the wrong leader.

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Martin Luther King Jr Dream has become true!

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I think it's great thing to see a black president, it looks cool. He dresses smart and is good looking, he make amazing speeches. Hopefully they will take the troops out of iraq and afganistan.

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What a great result! Considering 80% of Americans are white, it is clear race did not place a major part in this decision (that everyone had expected). My faith in Americans has been somewhat restored!

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Thank God. It's about time America voted for someone who uses their common sense.

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I am happy for Obama!!

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I wanted Obama to win, no doubt. But I am sick of it being a black and white issue. Many many white people voted for Obama, many many white people wanted Obama to be the next President, not because he is black! because of the man he is and what he can bring to his country.

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Thank God and please let Him bless America. Obama has a mountain to climb with the mess he has been left. Let us hope that the last 8 years can be polished clean, and America loses its very poor image attained by the Bush administration. When power, greed and tricks are perpetrated, eventually it comes back to roost. The people, for a change, have spoken. What clearer message can be given that the type of behaviour that has existed from Wall Street to Washington has to, and must change. Hooray!!

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I hope more Americans realise now that when they use their right to vote they empower themselves and reduce the power of the corporate elites who have trashed their economy and livelihoods.

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I am very happy for Obama. Unfortunately though, Australia is so far behind, i do not anticipate a non-caucasian prime minister until 2089!!!

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I rejoice in the outcome of the US election. Barack Obama is a young well educated articulated African American who offers change & a new direction.This outcome is much more than just another result, its a promise of change & new directions, at a time when the world really needs new & fresh leadership, not just the US but all the world. Lets hope this bright young man can weld together all peoples of all creeds & beliefs for the much needed common good. God Bless Obama.

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No longer the United States of un-consciousness, maybe the giant can again awaken?

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Well done America. This is the best news for the whole world. Peace at last.......

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The World has - once again - changed. This time, for the better. I, for one, am so glad that America has finally matured. What she does with that newfound maturity remains to be seen. This will, without doubt, go down as one of the most defining moments in history that we will see in a long time.

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We are witnessing history. There has been a black American secretary of state, A black American 4 star general, chief of staff and now a black American president. Abraham Lincolns' signature on the edict of emancipation in the dark days of the War Between the States has run full circle.

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None of us know what the outcome of Obama's election is going to mean we are all just guessing but I do know this. The USA used to stand for something that has been completely lost particularly in the last 8yrs. They cannot talk about freedom and liberty on one hand and continue to foster an ideal that supports Guantanamo Bay and fights wars for money. If they want to regain respect in the international arena they have so much work to do which requires DRAMATIC change.
Obama if nothing else represents a willingness to accept that change is required. I say good luck to him.

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Thank you Sarah Palin for your great service to USA - I dont think Obama could have won without your input.

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Hallelujah - it's finally over. Congratulations to Obama - the best man won. Now can we get back to normality (somewhat). There are more important issues to be covered in the news.

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It's the best news for the world and America.

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C'mon Obama! America needs something new and i think you will be the President to do it! America needs to step out of their comfort zone and try something new! OBAMA!
I cannot believe that I am going to WITNESS the 1st AFRICAN AMERICAN american president in HISTORY .. what an amazing journey !
It's about time the african/american community had a FAIR GO .. who would have thought back in the days of slavery that many, many years down the track an african/american would be the PRESIDENT of the USA ...
OBAMA - WELL BLOODY DONE MATE ! .. I take my hat off to you !

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Was kinda hoping that Sarah Palin would become VP, we haven't had a really entertaining VP since Dan Quayle. (Although George Bush was pretty amusing). Does Barack do funny?

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Be sure, Americans are flavour of the month here in Australia. Americans come on down. We love you!

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Change Has Come

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He said We Can, and We Did.

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Welcome to the White House, Mr. President!!!