RIGHTWINGSPARKLE

I'm finally back home. I don't know if you have heard or not, but the Pope passed away.....;-)

I don't mean to make light of it, but I can't get over the 24/7 coverage of this. There is no doubt that Pope John Paul changed the world and brought the gospel to many. He was a holy and charismatic man and he lead this Church with deep conviction and morality. I was amazed to listen to so many media personalities gush over him, saying that when they met him they felt they were in the presence of holiness. You would think that if one felt they were in the presence of holiness they might listen to him a bit more.

I understand it is a big story, but showing graphics of where the smoke stack is that shows the white smoke when they have selected a Pope was amusing to me.

I will miss this wonderful Pope, but I am glad that he is no longer suffering.


My new little niece is a doll. It is much less stressful to take care of a newborn than a teenage girl, I can tell you that.

My brother is a lawyer and loves to play devil's advocate with me. Don't ever argue with a lawyer. We tried discussing the Schiavo case and I ended up having to find and print Judge Greer's first decision and then the 11th circuit court of appeals last decision. My brother didn't believe that Congress had issued a subpoena that Judge Greer ignored, so I had to find that too. We did find some interesting things but I think everyone is worn out on that case.

When my mom and I were walking into the airport I saw some soldiers who had just returned. The first one walked by and I said, "Sir, thank you for your service to our country." He smiled and said, "Thank you." I heard my mom, who is tad more reserved than I am, say under her breath, "oh my gosh." There were 3 or 4 more soldiers coming toward us and my my mom hung back. I guess I was embarrassing her...lol. But I just feel that we need to show our appreciation for all the soldiers do for us.

I told you something awful had happened while I was there with my SIL. A distant relative that I had not seen in years, killed herself Tuesday. She was 44 years old with a husband and two sons, 18 and 12 yrs old.

About a year ago, she disappeared for a week. They found her at mental facility she had checked herself into on the coast. Mental illness is such a difficult thing. I'm not sure if she was dealing with just depression or a more severe illness, but she just walked out in her back yard and shot herself in the head. She had left a note that her organs be donated.

There is a country music song titled, "How Do You Get That Lonely?" The chorus goes like this:

"How do you get that lonely?
How do you hurt so bad?
To make the call
that having no life at all
is better than one that you have."

When we were 17, her and I spent a weekend on the coast just having fun. I remember what a vibrant happy person she was then. What happens to cause this? Where does it all go wrong? I just can't imagine the pain. A pain so great that we forget those we leave behind and all that they will have to deal with.

So if you have time today say a prayer for her family. And take a moment to think about all the wonderful things in your own life. Nothing will ever be perfect, that is for sure. But still, life has so much to give us. And we have so much to give.