Happy Birthday Mom!

Originally published on MySpace, Jan 28, 2009

Current mood:rockin

Mom turned 88 yesterday and I couldn't get out to go visit her. I seriously doubt she knew it was her birthday, other than for a few minutes around any mention anyone may have made about it. But I knew and I couldn't even go see her.

Today I googled her. She's had quite an amazing life in my opinion and I thought she might pop up on a google search. She did. More than once. But the most popular "Doreen Lewis" by far was Capt. Doreen Lewis of the "Private Benjamin" movie starring Goldie Hawn. (1980. Cpt. Lewis was played by Eileen Brennan)

The first two hits for Mom were Association for Women Veterinarians Records 1945-2003

"The Association for Women Veterinarians (known as Women's Veterinary Medical Association prior to 1980) began in 1947 as the idea of veterinarian Mary K. Dunlap of Kansas City, Missouri. It was her hope to form an organization of women working in a male dominated profession. A preliminary gathering was held in April with the first official meeting held in August. The first officers elected were: President, Lucille Dimmerling; Vice Presidents, Edith Williams, Elinor McGrath, and Patricia O’Connor; Secretary, Doreen Hatfield; and Treasurer, Josephine Brown."

Mom is front row, 2nd from the left.

and Guide to the Association for Women Veterinarians Records 1945-2003.

This second site is a listing of the associations archives by topic, box & folder. What it tells me about Mom is that she was also treasurer from 1962 to 1969.

I actually went through 50 google pages and found her again on page 50: Women Veterinarians in the Uniformed Services of the United States

This article will not allow me to copy the section I wish to, but the 4th paragraph is about Mom's military service. Sadly, it states that she was not allowed near the stables (wtf!?!) but not that it was due to discrimination against women. I believe she told me at one time the lead (male) veterinarian's wife objected to him working with her.

(Mom, bottom left)

My last hit, this time of her maiden name of Doreen Hatfield, produced the following: Veterinary Fraternities and Sororities.

Once again I cannot copy and paste, but paragraph 3 states that Mom was the secretary of the Kappa chapter of Alpha Psi at Washington State College (University now) in 1941. Apparently the all male requirement was waived or overlooked by the national officers and their constitution was not officially changed to accept women into the fraternity until 1974.

So, that is "Mom googled." There are many things that I think make her amazing, and I will write about them soon. Least of all, she raised three children alone after my dad died on Februrary 29, 1960. I was 3 years old. She never remarried.

(Mom today)

I LOVE YOU MOM!!!!!!

George W. Bush Presidential Library

Originally posted on MySpace, Jan 25, 2009 (I probably should have left well enough alone and not moved it over here, but it gave me a laugh even after all this time. My mom would have loved this one!)

Current mood:amused

Dear Fellow Constituent,


The George W. Bush Presidential Library is now in the planning stages and accepting donations.

The Library will include:

1. The Hurricane Katrina Room, which is still under construction.

2. The Alberto Gonzales Room, where you won't be able to remember anything.

3. The Texas Air National Guard Room, where you don't even have to show up.

4. The Walter Reed Hospital Room, where they don't let you in.

5. The Guantanamo Bay Room, where they don't let you out.

6. The Weapons of Mass Destruction Room, which no one has been able to find.

7. The National Debt Room, which is huge and has no ceiling.

8. The Tax Cut Room, with entry only to the wealthy.

9. The Economy Room, which is in the toilet.

10. The Iraq War Room. (After you complete your first visit, they make you go back for a second, third, fourth, and sometimes fifth visit.)

11. The Dick Cheney Room, in the famous undisclosed location, complete with shooting gallery.

12. The Environmental Conservation Room, still empty.

13. The Supreme Gift Shop, where you can buy an election.

14. The Airport Men's Room, where you can meet some of your favorite Republican Senators.

15. The Decider Room, complete with dart board, magic 8-ball, Ouija board, dice, coins, and straws.


Note: The library will feature an electron microscope to help you locate and view the President's accomplishments.


The library will also include many famous Quotations by George W.Bush:

1. 'The vast majority of our imports come from outside the country.'

2. 'If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure.'

3. 'Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and child.'

4. 'No senior citizen should ever have to choose between prescription drugs and medicine.'

5. 'I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom and democracy - but that could change.'

6. 'One word sums up probably the responsibility of any Governor, and that one word is .. 'to be prepared'.'

7. 'Verbosity leads to unclear, inarticulate things.'

8. 'I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future.'

9. 'The future will be better tomorrow.'

10. 'We're going to have the best educated American people in the world..'

11. 'One of the great things about books is sometimes there are some fantastic pictures.' (during an education photo-op)

12. 'Illegitimacy is something we should talk about in terms of not having it.'

13. 'We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur.'

14. 'It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it.'

15. 'I stand by all the misstatements that I've made.'...George W.Bush to Sam Donaldson

PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY!

Sincerely,
Jack Abramoff, Co-Chair
G.W. Bush Library Board of Directors

The Best Lesson

Jan 24, 2009

Current mood:blessed

I recently had lunch with a very dear friend in Utah. It was fabulous!! We met at Red Robin at 1:00 and left the restaurant sometime after 5:00. I don't remember what I ordered but I know it was delicious. But nothing was as rich & filling as our conversation. Rose is amazing!!

We talked about so much, catching up on the last six months. But eventually, somehow, I got into whining about an injustice done to me a couple of years ago. Rose's face went blank & I knew she had tuned out. But somehow I just had to keep trying to explain how badly I was wronged.

"Did you really want to be there?" she asked me.

"No, but that's not the point. My feelings should have been considered!"

"But you got off so easy, what's the problem?"

She was so right and so wise and yet I kept wanting to hang onto the injustice I felt. I was getting annoyed with her for not understanding, and yet she really understood much more than I did. I might have been much simpler had she just slapped me!

She told me she didn't want to spend our short visit together re-hashing the negative things we may have felt in our pasts. Our visit was about celebrating each other and our lives.

There was so much wisdom wrapped up in those 4 hours. I understood myself so much better as I went on my way. Then an email came that also reinforced that particular lesson from Rose.

The gist was to really give my problems over to God to handle. Write them on a piece of paper and then put it in the God box, a box my issues which I have turned over to God. Once I have truly given it over to God I have to let go. If God is to handle it, I have to get out of His way and forget it. There is no opening the God box and pulling my problems out to revisit. They are now totally in His hands. My mission is to be forward looking and leave the rest behind.

God really wants us to live happy. Why do we work so hard to resist His wish?

Rose is so smart!

1:24 PM

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  Jeannie Corby Becker

  I too love the God Box. I put things in there on a daily basis. I have yet to figure out why it is not packed to the top but some how there is always room for one more issue I would like God to handle.
  
  Your Rose is one very smart lady. As you are to me!
  
  Hugs!

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  2 years ago
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  Connie

  Lovely thought to start the morning with! I've tried the "let go and let God" route with things in my life, and have frequently found the solutions that manifest to be better than what I've come up with on my own. Regardless, I still have trouble with the "let go" part...the obsessive side of my personality wants to keep going back over and over things ad nauseum!

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  2 years ago
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  Betsy Gully

  So tempting, isn't it? I wish I had recorded parts of my conversation with Rose, but I do remember that I really don't want to hang onto my garbage any more when there are tulips to hold instead.

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  2 years ago
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  Kari Fisher Williams

  I love "God Boxes". I just wish I would remember not to rip the top off and grab out all the stuff I have put in there. Hugs!

Finding God

Originally posted on MySpace, Jan 8, 2009

Current mood:curious

This is something I wrote as a comment on someone's blog. It may sound vain, but I wanted to keep this thought and therefore I am making it into its own blog.

Many years ago my cousin and I were racing toward a beach to watch the sun go down. It was an amazing sunset. My cousin, who is (or was-I don't know her current status) an atheist said, "If anything could make me believe in a God, it is this sunset, right now." I have never forgotten her comment over 30 years ago.

There is a large tree which grows very close to my bedroom window. In these winter months it is naked of leaves and this morning its branches drip with rain. Every day I wake up and watch the tree in amazement, as even as it slumbers, it is filled with the wonder of life. Some days squirrels are racing through it, chasing each other and tumbling over themselves. They are amazing acrobats, virtually flying from branch to branch at times. This morning tiny little birds were playing leap frog in the rain, flitting over and around each other from branch to twig. How can I watch these shows and not believe in a higher power?

In Christianity we believe that 'the only path to God is through Jesus.' I am I Christian, but I think this statement is not true. God may have sent his son to lead people to him, but I think if this is the case, he also sent Buddah and Muhammed and many other ways to find him/her.... if God can be regarded as a 'being.' No single way is "the" right way, and probably no one way is wrong if it leads you to God. I believe it's a matter of discovering how God is trying to reach us individually and allowing all others to find God in their own way, without judgement.

Who is God and in what form does God reach out to us? It's a subject that I find fascinating. I have two people very close to me who are very near the end of their lives. I think it's important to know what you believe in a time like this.

9:18 AM

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  Kari Fisher Williams

  Amen.

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  2 years ago
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  Connie

  I have long felt that the concept of "God" is best found in nature, whether it's the ocean, sun, stars, earth, rocks, rivers, trees, flowers, birds, furry little creatures or what have you. I often feel that my cats are the most eloquent argument there is for proving the existence of God. How can such precious little beings have been created by anything less than a higher power? :o)

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  2 years ago
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    Betsy Gully

    God in Nature or as Nature is exactly what the blog I commented on was about. I think it's very true. We can't possibly understand who or what God is with our feeble little brains, but I think while human-kind is seeking God out, God is coming at us in millions of forms. It's up to each individual to 'see' and become aware of it. Therefore, no religion is wrong as each is God's way of seeking us, albiet man has screwed around with it too much and incremented far too many 'rules.'
    

Pet Peeve 017

Originally published on MySpace, Jan 5, 2009

Current mood:crazy

... and this one is truly a "pet" peeve.

Every time I sit at the computer in our office my cat, Zori, comes and starts pawing at the plastic garbage bag under the desk near my feet. This makes a rather annoying crackling noise. She can go at it for minutes on end. I have no idea what she's trying to do. She just sits and paws and crackle, crackle, crackles!!!! argh!!!

She doesn't look like she'd have an annoying bone in her body, does she?

Wishing you the best in 2009

Originally posted on MySpace, Jan 1, 2009

Current mood:cheerful

I've had bits and pieces of a "new year's" blog floating through my head for several days now. But now that I find time to sit at the keyboard my mind goes blank. I have lost all the profound thoughts I that were inspiring me just a little while ago.

Tomorrow is new years day, the first day of 2009. In reality it is the day after Wednesday, the day before Friday. There is no magic that happens tomorrow that will make the next 12 months any better or any worse than the past 12 months. If there is any change for better or worse, that is up to me. It's my attitude and mindset that will determine what the next 12 months hold for me.

A couple of days ago my daughter and I were shopping at a book store and I looked at a book by Masaru Emoto called "The Miracle of Water." I'm not sure if Mr. Emoto is a quack or not, but his research did offer some interesting things to ponder. He photographs water crystals that have been exposed to words and he believes the meanings of the words cause a resonance that is evident in the water crystals. Positive words create beautiful crystals and negative words create crystals that are misshaped, irregular and deformed.

I have no idea if his research is valid, but I do believe that what we think has a bigger influence on our lives than anything outside of ourselves. We can blame others for our troubles or others can blame us, but I believe that each and every one of us can only be responsible for our own self. I may have done something that 'hurt' someone else, or I may have done something that made someone else very happy. Either way, I am taking way too much responsibility or credit for the other person, as it is entirely up to that person to choose to be hurt or happy. And like Mr. Emoto's water, when I expose myself to happy thoughts and actions, I actually feel happy. It is a choice I try to make every day, despite the circumstances I wake up to each day. I believe the sun is out whenever I say it is, whether it's overcast or nighttime, I make the choice to let the sun shine in my life. Likewise, I am sure there are those who have only cloudy days no matter how hard the sun shines.

Tomorrow I'll turn the page on my calendar to 2009. It'll be another day watching my friend slowly die. It'll be a day I answer my mother's questions over and over again and regret that I can't take her home. It'll be another day I don't have a job and one day closer to my daughter returning to school. My body will be one day older and less forgiving of my negligence. I will decide it's a good day. I am in control of nothing except my attitude.

Don't misunderstand me. I have bad days. I cry. I scream. I have tantrums. But they don't do me any good. Nothing changes except I feel worse. So I try to make every day the best day I can. It's my choice and the only thing I truly have control over.

Have a wonderful new year. Make it a happy one!

10:05 AM

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    Peter Doyle

    Have not heard of Emoto, but most interesting since we are mostly made of water it seems, and we know what effect words have on us. All the best Bets.

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    2 years ago
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    Corinne Spranger

    Thanks for sharing, Bets! i find the crystal reactions to be totally believable and accurate a theory. Being the self-professed wordwhore that I am, I know the power to hurt and heal with 26 little wiggly characters strung together and targeted.
    
    Much love, and Happy Happy Joy Joy 2009! Corinne

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    2 years ago
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      Betsy Gully

      I certainly do know how much words can hurt!! And I believe my thoughts can either enable me or disable me. I choose to be enabled. My life is much more fun to live when I do that!! It appears from your blog you are choosing the same!!
      
      High five, Corinne!! Love ya!! And I am REALLY glad to see you stopped by! =)

      2 years ago
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    Kari Fisher Williams

    I have heard of Emoto's research too. Profound for sure. I believe in the "Choose your Attitude" philosophy... it works most of the time.
    
    Love ya girl. Happy New Year!

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    2 years ago
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      Betsy Gully

      I was so tempted to buy the book. I have looked at it for years, having worked in the book store. It was a hard cover marked from $22 to $6. A bargain I chose to pass up, dang it!!
      
      I opened your blog but since you said not to skim I decided to save it for later when I have more time. Have a wonderful new year, Kari!!

      2 years ago