Dogs, Drivers, and Skateboards

What I am writing here would appear to be common sense. Unfortunately, there are many people who do not use it, especially in the circumstances below.

I stepped out into this morning to walk my dog. One of the first things I noticed in the grass immediately in front of my apartment was a pile of dog poop that no one had picked up.

The next thing I noticed was a couple walking up the street. The woman turned and uttered to something behind her. A little white dog trotted to catch up to the couple - no leash.

Across the busy street, a runner began to cross the driveway in back of WalMart. It required the driver coming out of the drive way to put on his/her brakes, but the car almost hit the runner. The runner decided not to die today, so he ran in back of the car at the last minute. The driver evidently took offense that he/she had to stop at all and, despite the runner's accommodation, gunned the motor, squealed the tires, and took off down the street. Of course...the driver was on a cell phone.

I walked out of a grocery store a couple of days ago on to the sidewalk surrounding the store. A skateboarder came ripping off the street onto the sidewalk in front of me. The look on his eyes said "Oops, I didn't see you." - but he did not say that. Like drivers talking on cells phones, skateboarders think they are under control. They are not. I've seen too many trying to stop at a corner and watched their skateboards fly off into the street. Right, skateboarding is not a crime...unless you hurt someone.

What is wrong with people that they can't be respectful of others or that they cannot care enough to protect their animals?

To dog owners:

1. If you don't want to pick up your dog's poop, you shouldn't have a dog. It is against the law to not pick up after your dog. Always carry a plastic bag of some sort and dispose of it in a trash bin.
2. Walking your dog without a leash is also against the law in many communities. If  your dog sees something across a street or in the distance, you are taking the chance that the dog will run to where it is. Drivers entering or exiting a driveway are not looking for a dog so you are putting your dog in danger of getting hit. Another dog may decide to attack your dog - how would you extricate your dog from a fight if you don't at least have a fighting chance with a leash? Take responsibility for your dog's life or give it to someone who will.

To drivers:

1. Pedestrians (including runners) have the right of way. Look before entering an intersection. Save someone's life and limb.
2. Do not use cell phones in your car. You may think you're in total control, but you are not. Look up the statistics for cell phone users who have been involved in crashes, especially those involving fatalities. http://www.car-accidents.com/cell_phone_car_accidents.html 

To skateboarders:

1. Skateboard in a park built for skateboards.
2. If you use your skateboard on the streets, it is your responsibility to be aware of people and cars.

Whew...glad I got all that off my chest.

Worst Ads...

I understand that advertisements are designed to attract attention (hopefully); however, there are a few out there that just annoy me to no end. My rant here was provoked by Benetton's ads showing world leaders kissing. The idea was "Unhate," an idea I subscribe to. I lived through the '60s, so I'm fully in tune with love and peace, but Benetton's ads were bad on so many levels. They fail to address the gaps that lie beneath the images and overload the sensitivities of potential customers.

I know Carl's Jr. will not miss my piddly money, but I abhor their current blatantly sexist ads. Previous to the overly endowed young women advertising their greasy burgers, were the young men slobbering and drooling while gorging their mouths with Carl's Jr. food. Would I really want to have those pictures in my subconscious while eating anything from these restaurants? And...before that were the Paris Hilton ads with her slithering all over the place. I envision that Carl's Jr.'s advertising department is filled with arrogant, insensitive, boorish young men hooting with glee at some people's disgust at their work. I guess that's "just the way it is."

Another ad campaign that really bothered me was by The Limited - a store that appeals to young women. A few year's ago, I was walking through a popular mall and saw the large ads with the invitation: "Get into our pants." What were they thinking? Cute? I don't think so, but that's just me.

Catechism, Faith, Steve Jobs, and Andy Rooney

Tonight I am a little discouraged about the 11th grade Catechism class I'm teaching this year. They're all pretty good kids, but do not seem to embrace learning about their Church, their faith. They seem so half-hearted (at best) about spending an 1-1/2 hours in the class. I've baked brownies, cookies, cupcakes, and this week I'm offering a movie. Oh, yes, they do eat the goodies. If they come just for those things, then at least they come, although I'm not sure they're listening to anything.

I have also been texting a very short scripture to them once a week. Today one of them texted back: "Stop texting me." I thought that was rude. That student willingly gave her number and it was explained at the time what it was for. She really couldn't take 5 seconds to read a meaningful text? Was it such a burden for her?

I thought back into my high school years trying to connect with the feeling that I did not want to learn about the Church, about God, the Bible, or Jesus. I was always a seeker. I understand that not everyone is, but I would assume at least a modicum of respect.

There was an article in the paper today identifying a 16-year-old high school student who was shot in the head recently. He passed away yesterday, the day after his 17th birthday. I'm sure at least a couple of my students knew him. Do the students in my Catechism class not want to learn a way to process this boy's death? Do they just shrug their shoulders and move on?

I wish I could engage them better, but, in the absence of that, I will pray for them.

I've wanted to post some thoughts on the deaths of Steve Jobs and Andy Rooney, but I found myself overwhelmed when I began to consider their extraordinary lives. They were both such fascinating characters - Jobs with his documented arrogance and Rooney for his unique view of life. They will be so missed. My favorite tidbits on their passing include the report that Jobs last words were: "Wow. Wow. Wow." For Rooney, I loved the post from someone who wondered what Andy would say about where he is now. I can only imagine that would be his best perspective ever.

All Saints' Day. I stopped by Walmart on my way home from Mass this evening and was greeted by the familiar strains of "Jingle Bell Rock"; then came "I'll Be Home For Christmas." Halloween has been mostly stripped from the shelves. I am resistant to the rush. I want to savor Thanksgiving and not be yanked through November and December into a New Year that I haven't had time to think about yet. Being connected to a faith community helps because we are focused on what's important about this time of year. We are called to service more often and in different ways than the rest of the year.

Stopping the rush is one of the best things about retreating to a convent or monastery for a weekend at any time of  year. It is ordered and peaceful, and counsel is available if needed. No TV, but lots of books; a refreshing outside prayer walk, and the hushed silence of the sanctuary. There is no other time when I leave behind chaos, and fall exhausted into the arms of peace. That is what I seek at Christmas.

This is a place to pour out my thoughts that are normally stuck in my head. I will not be seeking agreement from others, but anyone is free to respond.

--------------------------------------------

On this All Hallows Eve, I've had only one "tricker-treater"; then I turned off my porch light. I am saddened that our world has become so scary that parents cannot feel that their children are safe going door to door on Halloween. It's hard to recall when that scariness began - razor blades in apples, LSD or marijuana in cookies or brownies. I think it might have started in the '60s.

When I was a child, Halloween was fun. My parents took my sister and I to costume parades in our small town of Whittier. We went door-to-door in our neighborhood with no problems. We had a white arbor woven with a pink rose vine in the backyard and a banana tree where next door neighbor, little Davey, kissed my sister on the cheek - images of a "Leave It To Beaver" existence. I wish we could all have that back, but it will never be.

Throughout this day I have been anticipating All Saint's Day - tomorrow. Long ago, I chose St. Joan of Arc - Maid of Orleans - as my personal saint because of her passionate faith and also because I've always felt we were both misunderstood. That's not a complaint; we just saw certain things in life differently from most people.

My family and I moved to Orleans, France many years ago. It was my freshman year of high school. Nothing like starting such a formative year in a different country on (what seemed to me) the other side of the world. St. Joan is revered everywhere in France, but Orleans has a special place in its heart for her. She invaded my soul at that time and has been with me since. Several years ago I became a Benedictine Oblate and took "Joan" as my Oblate name.