From the Oscars to...anything but...

Well, everyone is blogging about the Oscars tonight, so I figure I better chime in. I guess, from my perspective I am somewhat dismayed at the Worldwide fascination with the Red Carpet and the associated glitz and glamour of it all.

Don't get me wrong. On a lot of levels I respect what actors and actresses do very much. They are true artists in so many ways and the passion that many of them bring to their craft should be the envy of anyone aspiring excel in their work lives. Their work can make you laugh, cry or even carry you away for a time, allowing you to get wrapped up in a different world, just as most good art can. The fact that many actors can feign passion so well is also an interesting irony that I see in the craft, but I don't have a bone to pick with that either, I think it's amazing. It doesn't surprise me that sometimes it transposes to real relationships and ends others, a la "Brangelina." Didn't they get together on the set of Mr. and Mrs. Smith? (...pulls hair dramatically near both ears...shrieks loudly, "Why why why do I know that?")

It is the over the top commercialization and fascination with celebrity by us humans has that dismays me. This is not new by any stretch, we have often been amorous of popular celebs since at least biblical times. Actors and performers were "Rock Stars" in Egypt in the days of the Pharaohs; Gladiators were practically Gods in Rome and certainly film and TV has had it's share of beautiful train wrecks over the years and we have continually been glutinous consumers of it all. Now, it seems to me that the speed at which everything, especially information, moves in this day and age has accelerated this fascination not with talent, but with fame, and I don't think it is a healthy sociological phenomenon.

I have no issue with Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie...it's "Brangelina" that I despise. And, you know what? I think they despise it too.

OK, what does this have to do with anything? I certainly am no celebrity blogger with any cred. I suppose it has to do with the fact that when things get "real" like they have in our house, that the superficial things fall away from you. I honestly could not care less who is wearing Valentino tonight (even though I hate to admit that I now know he's the "luckiest" designer for actresses wearing his stuff at the Oscars), but I do care that I see our girls captivated by the whole scene and wonder: "If they aspired to be there, winning an Oscar, would it be because they craved fame or because they strived to be the best at their craft?" I certainly will try to emphasize importance of the latter as the days go by. I'll add this: "Care about things that are worthy of your attention, because your attention makes them stronger in some way."

I bet that a lot more people know how many kids Brangelina have adopted than know even within 10,000 how many people die from ALS every year. is it 10,000, 20,000, 100,000? Any idea? The answer is: Trick question: not that many. It is estimated that 4000 - 5000 new cases are diagnosed every year in the USA. Worldwide, an estimated 100,000 people's clocks are ticking as we speak. Statistically speaking, this is a miniscule percentage of the population. 1 or 2 people for every 100,000 will get this horrible disease. Not a very "exciting" number if you are a drug company or research facility. Here's a statistic that might surprise you. Out of that 100,000 or so, how many will die from it in one way or another? Pretty much all of them, most within 3 years.

This ends my Oscar rant. I'm sure you are glad. I hope I did not offend you.

I continue to hear from people I do not know. I am touched by this. Some people share resources that they think might help...emotionally, medically, metaphysically, whatever. It's all good because it is all coming from a caring place. I sometimes wonder "why do these people care about me, about us, or about our situation?" They don't know me or us, so why? What is their agenda?

Well, mostly, it is a human agenda. It is this agenda that gives me hope and helps me keep my faith in mankind and the natural, core, essential beings that we are. People are really trying to help us. I am not foolish enough to think that everyone means well, I've learned that lesson the hard way many times. I am faithful enough in people to listen, learn, and hopefully not make the same mistake more than once or twice. ;-) I can't blame myself for trying to believe though, and neither should you, because no one can take anything away from you that really matters. Remember that.

I am blessed to KNOW so many AWESOME people, and by going through this, I know even more now about people I have known for a very long time. You see my heart bleeding on the sleeves of this blog with every post and many of you have shown your heart to me as well, and I thank you for that. Your hearts, bloody as they may be, are beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

I will reach out to you when the time is right, I promise. I will tap your energy when I need it, I promise. I will also pray for you when you need it, I promise. The greatest thing about Love is that the well does not run dry no matter how much you give. There is always more if you want it. You drop the bucket back down and it comes up bursting every time in colors so bright, so luminous and amazing that it is amost too beautiful to look at them.

The paradox is that You can't keep the love you wind up from that well, you have to give it away. The good news is that You can accept the love that is sent your direction and it is yours to keep forever. It is, without a doubt the most awesome thing, the most awesome gift that we, as humans, can give and this eternal spring is the most awesome gift that we humans have been given. Give it...accept it...give it back...pass it on.
Peace (& Love, of course)
B.

PS, the only word left in yellow after my spellcheck is "Brangelina." Apparently, this word has not found it's way into Google's Blogger dictionary. I find some solace in that for the time being.
;-)