Focus on Friends

Last night I stopped at my friend Bill’s house for a glass of wine. Well, a bottle...
We talked and laughed about dozens of things—including how much we both liked coffee,to travel and our friends. Then we talked about his best friend who passed away last year.

Bill got out his friend’s eulogy book (why didn’t I ever put one together for my mother?) and as we drank wine and talked, I read him all the lovely, touching and funny pages from the book. Bill and I read out loud a lot to each other. It’s a gift to have a friend to read to... and if you’ve never done it, it’s not quite as weird as you think.

We went to Kent, England and stayed at Hole Cottage two year’s ago. It’s one remaining wing of a once-much larger hall house. It is hidden away in the middle of the countryside and is now owned by the Landmark Trust. You have to hike a bit to get there, but it’s worth it to be so far away from everything.

There's a pub about a mile away, which we walked to in the dark of night. We talked with the locals, had a fabulous dinner and a pint, and brought home brie cheese and bread for the morning. There is nothing better than the aroma of brie on warm crusted bread, served with French pressed coffee and savored while sitting at a 400 year- old kitchen table.

We made a fire one night and read to each other from the visitors’ log. No T.V, no phone, just the sound of the fire, an occasional fox bustling outside and our reading and laughter.

When we weren’t talking, we enjoyed the joy of complete and utter silence. Did you know you can actually hear silence? Maybe it’s more of a feeling, but it’s there... and it envelopes you like nothing else.

I’m lucky to have many friends. They all fill a different purpose in my life and seem to always be there when I need them. I hope I am there for them as well. I try.

Although I never personally met Bill’s friend (he was Italian and gorgeous) I had talked with him on the phone. I feel like I knew him. And I felt a bit of him in the room last night as I read the Eulogy Bill had written. Bill’s words invited me into their friendship and their experiences.

I wonder what my friends would write about me?

Things are Looking Up!

I’ve been going through a tough time caring for my father. The day-in-day–out of it all is exhausting. Although I speak on happiness, laughter and perspective, I was beginning to lose mine. And my mind. Which as we all know, is a terrible thing to waste.

I took steps yesterday to hire paid help and to give me more time for my home and my work. Then, as serendipity would have it, Michael J. Fox’s special was on and I actually had time to watch it! The documentary, based on his memoir, Always Looking Up, was the best TV I’ve watched in a very long time. His wide-ranging program "isn't prescriptive," Fox was telling a reporter earlier this week in his office on Manhattan's Upper East Side. "I just need to express myself, because that's what I do. It's the only way I can live my life: to embrace the possibilities, instead of fear the realities.”

What a great quote.

I encourage everyone to watch his show. To take time away from Fox (the news, not the person), CNN and the nightly shoot ‘em up broadcast that makes up our local news. Spend more time on positive messages, with positive people and surround yourself with positive energy.

See how you feel.

Watch Michael J. Fox’s documentary and I promise you it will rekindle your passion and make you think about how you see the world.

At the very least, it’s a show where no one gets shot.

Who knows, maybe this documentary will have a play-it-forward effect and we’ll start to see a new ripple of optimism.

Can’t hurt. Could help.

My Virtual Reality

Just yesterday I couldn’t do anything more technical than turn on the dishwasher, but today I am a member of Second Life. I have an avatar. And with the help of Gina Schreck, a friend and tech expert in Second Life virtual reality, I will be teaching a writing course in this format.

I know, it’s weird. But here is what I’ve learned about this unique other world:

(Straight from their website)

“Hundreds of leading universities and school systems around the world use Second Life as a vibrant part of their educational programs. Linden Lab works enthusiastically with education organizations to familiarize them with the benefits of virtual worlds, connect them with educational peers active in Second Life, and showcase their inworld projects and communities.

“A large, active education community—with hundreds of K-12 and higher education members—are engaged in Second Life. The Open University, Harvard, Texas State, and Stanford are just a few of the many universities that have set up virtual campuses where students can meet, attend classes, and create content together.”

How could I not be a part of that? Even though “that” was a bit undefined, since “virtual world” seemed a bit like the Twilight Zone, without the responsibilities of real world laundry.

So, armed with a glass of Merlot, two helpful and understanding trainers, and a sense of humor, I spent three hours setting up. I created an identity, clothing for my avatar, walked into people, and I flew. (I spent a lot of time doing this, because, seriously, who wouldn’t?) I learned gestures and became more and more excited to use this medium to teach some classes and connect in a new way. It’s a cross between Wii and Sims, but different.

Aren't you glad I could clear that up?

My parents always thought I was “in my own little world,” and now I can prove them right.

To learn more about my writing class or more about Second Life, feel free to shoot me an e-mail at Mcoxziton@comcast.net. Or let me know if you would like to receive my newsletter: Coffee talk with Molly. The newsletter I send out on a very regular basis, or …whenever I feel like it.

Cheers!
Molly Cox and Molly Batista (My Avatar)

Red Pens For Everyone!

Yesterday I went out with a friend and complained to her about the newsletters and updates we get from school that inevitably have misspellings. A misplaced comma or an apostrophe that screams: I never learned to write but was lucky enough to get a job in the school system!

Then she shared that the principal at her school sends out letters with misspellings. The principal! (Remember it's spelled with an "al" because the principal is your "pal." Not a great writer, but your pal.)

This really makes me mad. Mad enough to send red pens out to every single parent(who can spell and who knows how to use proper grammar) so that they can wield them on school letters, notices and strep throat alerts and send them back ...to be corrected.

I'm not perfect,(as though I have to point this out; I have children who do that for me.) But serioulsy, isn't there someone on staff who can proofread? This is communication coming from school. I don't think I should be using notices from school for English curriculm at home.

"Honey, we just received a letter from school! Now find the mistakes and show me." (Rustle of paper, scratch of pen.) "Wow, so many this time, good work!"

I do hope things improve once all the red pens are distributed and the notices returned. I hope we can find money in the budget for third grade English books for the administrators and principals to use, for you know, English as a second language.

And I hope that our next generation learns to spell, write and communicate. I know it's difficult. We have a nation of kids who think it's okay to send their holiday thank you notes in a text message. Dude, thank u for t GC. I used it.

I can't wait to see the letters that come home with children 10 years from now. We'll have a school system made up of teachers who grew up texting.

Thrs ben a cse of Strep @ schl.
Word.
The Principle.

Maybe it's not that bad and I should concentrate on the really important things in life-- like feeding the poor, taking care of the elderly, and finding a cure for cancer in the Rain Forest.

Or finding jobs! There must be thousands of proofreaders out there who need jobs.

Now there's a job stimulus plan.