like frankie goes to hollywood said...

(or was it george michael + wam! ? )," choose life."

it's been a roller coasting, yo-yoing few days.

i understand that we make choices every day. some are automatic and unexamined.

in the past week, since my parents have been back from russia, they have attended two funerals for men in our extended family and one fall festival day with reese and riley. one nephew of my aunt irene's, a former student at my mom's parochial school, was killed in iraq. the family and all were very concerned about the coterie of other "christians"-a-la-fred-phelps who would turn up at the wake, Mass, and interment. local members of rolling thunder stepped in and claimed the moral high ground in leather and denim with dozens of huge american flags.

the other funeral was today for the husband of one of my mom's cousins who killed himself. the remarks and the eulogy sound pretty powerful and sobering. as far as i know, no one was there to shield his brothers or wife, pam, or others.

sometimes, i forget that everyday offers the chance to act of courageously. i was reminded of it watching dana and melissa with their kids. it takes courage to have children. and it also takes courage to get out of bed and get dressed and to move forward. and on.

there are signs of hope all around and sometimes i -- especially -- forget this.
here are some signs i have seen:

• detroit tigers in the world series.
• reese can identify and count the penises on barnyard animals in a very loud voice.
• we are going to be together in florida in a month.
• i found a chart tonight from the 1930s that graphically depicts how beer makes jobs.
  
• the decemberists are playing around here on november 7.
• david and melissa think that there might be reason to take to the streets inthe castro that night.