Sunday, February 14, 2010

MountainWings: Glide

MountainWings A MountainWings Moment
#1326 Wings Over The Mountains of Life
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Glide
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Jogging is a world of experience by itself.

After 3 miles or so, I felt a pain in my left leg.

Not a major pain, it just felt like the beginning of a cramp.

I began to limp. I didn't want to put any excess pressure on
the leg because I had over three miles to go even if I turned
around and headed straight back, and I wasn't at the halfway
point yet.

Something said, "Glide."

Glide?

I began to notice how I was running with the limping action.
My gait was uneven. It was awkward.
I didn't know the exact kinetics, but I knew the un-rhythmic
motion was putting additional strain on my leg muscles.

So I began to glide.

I focused on running smoothly.
I let my feet touch the pavement as light as possible.
Like a swan skimming over a lake, I concentrated to make each
step as graceful as possible.

Within a minute, my left leg felt fine.

It was a MountainWings Moment.

Often when pain hits us, we lose our grace and become awkward.

We shuffle, stumble, bumble, weave, wobble, hobble, and stagger.

If we just glide and stay smooth, often the pain goes away,
because the rough motion makes it worse, not better.

Someone criticizes us. . . OUCH!
We shuffle, stumble, bumble, weave, wobble, hobble, and stagger.

Someone offends us. . . OUCH!
We shuffle, stumble, bumble, weave, wobble, hobble, and stagger.

Someone has a difference of opinion. . . OUCH!
We shuffle, stumble, bumble, weave, wobble, hobble, and stagger.

Someone doesn't respond the way we think they should. . . OUCH!
We shuffle, stumble, bumble, weave, wobble, hobble, and stagger.

Instead of maintaining our peace, the smooth gait, we become
frustrated. That makes the pain worse, not better.

Instead of forgiving and forgetting, we retaliate and remember.
That often makes the pain worse.

Many of life's pains would go away if we'd just learn to glide.
Yes, it hurts, but the shuffling and stumbling usually doesn't
help.

While jogging (or with any exercise) if pain starts, it's
usually wise to just stop. This was more a spiritual revelation
yet, it applied to physical things.

If we can keep our movements, thoughts, emotions, and spirit
smooth, that often takes us right over the rough things.

Glide

~A MountainWings Original~

I have had several MountainWings Moments while jogging. For the
joggers (and non-joggers), below are a few of those issues.
First and Last mile, http://www.mountainwings.com/past/1064.htm
The Hill, http://www.mountainwings.com/past/1108.htm
The Second Hill, http://www.mountainwings.com/past/1109.htm
Until the Flowers, http://www.mountainwings.com/past/1114.htm

Petwarmers: Broken Heart

We have an unusual Valentine's Day story for you today. Cats are
pretty independent, but in today's story we find out about a love affair
that was quite remarkable in life, and death.
Better get out the tissues, you might need them.
Let us know if you've ever experienced of a similar story.

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BROKEN HEART
by Bobbi Hahn

They were an unlikely pair -- she, an adult Maine Coon, sleek and
dignified, elegant and graceful in all of her movements -- he, a young,
immature grey tomcat, large and boisterous, playful and quick moving.
When they joined our household a year apart, I had no idea what
was in store for all of us.
They nevertheless fell in love, and eventually it became obvious
that Griz was pregnant. I'd never had a pregnant cat, so I consulted
the vet for all the details on what I needed to know, and do, when the
time came for her to give birth. His advice was, basically, provide
her with a safe, comfortable place and then get out of her way, letting
Mother Nature take over.
Griz went into labor on a Sunday morning, just as we were preparing
to leave for church. I hoped witnessing a miracle might take precedence
over attendance at Mass just this once, so I decided to allow our sons
to stay home.
The area beside our claw-foot tub had been chosen by Griz as her
labor room, so we prepared a nice soft bed of fluffy towels for her. She
seemed uncomfortable, and I wished I could do something for her, but
the vet's advice stayed with me, and I resumed my role as bystander.
Gus, however, had not heard the vet's advice, and would not have
heeded it anyway. The love of his life was in pain, and he comforted
her as best he could. He'd go in there and lick her face as if to
say, "I'm here, Griz, and I'll be by your side every step of the way."
We've all heard of expectant fathers pacing the floor in Maternity wards,
and Gus did the same, checking in with Griz frequently, softly petting
her with his paw.
The hours passed, and finally the first kitten was born -- how cool
was that? Gus helped Griz clean the little creature, as he did with
the other three she eventually produced. I'd been hesitant at first
to allow him near the kittens because I'd heard of some males eating
their young, but he was always such a loving cat that I took the chance.
In any event, I don't think I'd have been able to keep him away.
Griz was exhausted from her long labor and delivery, as we all
were from keeping watch, so everyone slept.
Over the next few days, the extent of Gus' devotion soon became
apparent. He would curl up beside Griz when she nursed the kittens,
like he just wanted to keep her company and be close to her and his
little family. When it looked like Griz needed a break from mothering,
Gus would take her place, curling on his side and allowing the kittens to
cuddle up against him. He'd remain in that position for extended periods
of time, only leaving when one of the kittens tried to nurse. He'd stand
up quickly as if to say, "I'll babysit, but the nursing stuff is OUT!"
I'd often find them all asleep together, Mom and Dad curled tightly
around their babies, all snug and safe in a warm cocoon of feline fur.
Gus and Griz groomed the kittens together, washing those adorable
little faces and holding down a reluctant participant with a firm but
gentle paw.
When I took Griz to the vet for her checkup, I mentioned what a
great help Gus was with the kittens, and I asked if that was normal for
a male cat, since I'd never had experience with a cat "couple." He said
he'd never heard of anything like it!
The kittens eventually went to good homes, and their parents seemed
to accept their departures with a minimum of fuss, resuming the routine
that had been normal for them before childbirth (well, kittenbirth!)
Their lives were uneventful for a few years, until Gus became ill.
The diagnosis of cancer was a blow to us all, but I vowed that we'd
fight this thing with everything we had. On the days when he was feeling
low, Griz comforted him, as he'd once done for her. Gussie fought the
good fight, but we lost him when he was only four and a half years old.
Griz was inconsolable, and her pitiful cries could be heard all
over the house, as she searched for her faithful companion. She never
stopped looking for him, and would spend hours looking out the windows,
waiting by the door, peering into his favorite hiding places. She was
no longer interested in playing with their toys, and her shiny coat
became dull. When she began losing weight, I took her to the vet, who
could find nothing physically wrong with her. He said some cats just
give up when their companion dies.
Griz died a year after Gus -- the vet described the cause of death
as a broken heart. Although I was devastated, I knew she no longer
mourned for him. I believe they're together at the Rainbow Bridge,
joyous at their reunion, enjoying time with their kittens and grandkittens
and great-grandkittens.

-- Bobbie Hahn <bobbi at bobbihahn.com>

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Bobbi is a freelance writer who lives with her husband, John, and
two cats, Mozart and Annabelle, beside a lagoon on a barrier island
off the coast of South Carolina. She is a frequent contributor to
Heartwarmers and Petwarmers. More of her work can be seen on her website:
http://www.bobbihahn.com
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Heartwarmers: Southern Hospitality And Love

The best thing to happen to mornings since the Sun!

Your morning thought for the day:
Trip over love, you can get up.
Fall in love and you fall forever.

Sunday is Valentine's Day!
You never know how or when Cupid's arrows will strike! David
shares his story today on how modern technology, and a little time
mixed with friendship and Southern hospitality, brought happiness to
an unsuspecting couple.
You'll love it!

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SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY AND LOVE
by David Welch

The story of how I met, and then fell in love with my Valentine
might be what some people would say is an odd way of meeting, but in
our case it has worked for us.
God has a plan for all of us though, and we understand we are
together because God brought us together for a reason. I have never
questioned God for the health troubles I've had to deal with, and try
an live in the present. I look forward to the future, but never blame
God for what troubles I've had during my past.
My name is David Welch, and I've been a diabetic since I was
four years old. Since I was 23 I've had many health problems --
blindness, loss of my kidneys, open heart surgery, and now I'm in a
wheelchair.
The one thing I have enjoyed doing since my health has declined
is to use my computer with a screen reading program for the blind.
One evening, I downloaded a program I had heard about called
Freedom Chat, which was for blind people. Chat programs are
something I really never enjoyed, but I'm so glad this time I tried
it out. I didn't call anyone when I got online, but I received a
private message from a young lady asking who I was. We started
chatting and we both had health problems and felt comfortable with
our conversation. Come to find out she was legally blind in one eye
and completely blind in the other, along with being deaf in one ear.
She had Lupus which had created many of her health problems.
We chatted several times as the weeks went by, but neither of us
thought much more of it than just a friendly conversation. I found
out that she was from Thailand, but had become an American citizen
nearly twenty years earlier. Her name was Nualanong Pumyam, but
wanted to be called an American name, Nicole.
Nicole mentioned to me that she was in school still working on
her English, and computer skills using JAWS, the same screen reading
program that I was using, and I thought I could help her out with her
school work. We spent many evenings on the phone, with free long
distance service, working on the computer skills, and her English. I
had no problem helping her with her computer skills -- but hey, I
probably need a little help at times myself with English!
The one thing I kept telling her, was she should never trust
anyone that she chats with. I told her many times she should go out
and enjoy her life, but never agree to meet some guy that she was
talking with over the Internet. I wanted Nicole to understand that
meeting someone she had been chatting with over the computer could be
very dangerous!
As time went by the two of us started feeling much closer, and
she said she would love to see what Kentucky was like. We managed to
arrange for a plane ticket so she could visit Glasgow, Kentucky,
where I live.
Yes, we did exactly what I had been preaching for her to never
do, and brought her to my hometown.
With help from my brother driving me to the airport in
Nashville, we picked up Nicole. It didn't take her long to notice a
big difference between the people in San Jose, California, and the
southern hospitality of the people that she would meet here in
Kentucky. She said the people in Glasgow all seemed so friendly, and
she fell in love with the town.
The visit turned into a move to Glasgow, and she has never
returned to California since.
Actually, as I mentioned, Nicole fell in love with Glasgow, but
we fell in love with each other as well. We have been together now
for four years, and we have built a good life with one another, and
on July 5, 2009, Nicole became my bride.
I may not have the ability to always provide her with material
things, like other men might give their girlfriend or wife, but we
certainly give each other loyalty, respect, happiness, and most
significantly... love!

-- David Welch <dwelch at glasgow-ky.com>

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