Shared Traditions and Sharing Traditions - October 30, 2011

It’s in the books.  Huskers win.  WOW!

From Big Ten Network commentators - Against the Michigan State Spartans, Nebraska came out and took charge and dominated the entire game. 

WOW!  I didn’t see this one coming.  Maybe the desire did weigh more heavily on the Nebraska side of the field.   Two talented and hard working teams, yet the outcome was unpredicted and one-sided.

Going to a Husker Football game is truly an exciting experience, no matter the outcome.  It is an unique and amazing experience, every time!  Games have been being played in Memorial Stadium for almost 90 years (in the U.S. that’s a fairly significant period of history....).  For the past 49 years, every game has been sold out, packed attendance.   Today that means that more than 85,000 people are in the same place at the same time for the same reason doing the same things. Every time I am in the stadium, I am in awe of these great truths!  And so it was again for this Michigan State game.

The number of people and their efforts that are dedicated to this same purpose and desired outcome and involved in this “experience” is staggering and mind boggling!  Think about it for a minute, players and their families, coaches and their families and acquaintances, the athletic department employees, the facilities staff, the event staff members,  Red Cross volunteers, the concessions workers, the cheerleaders, the student involvement, the band and their practices and uniforms and equipment, the pilots for the flyovers....  the list goes on and on and still we haven’t touched on the majority of the 85,000 people in the stands and parking lots and all of their stories and relationships to this tradition!  What about all the cooks preparing all the tailgate foods?  So many people, at so many levels, involved in the same tradition!  Overwhelming!

Yes, college football is a huge American tradition!  There were at least 60 stadiums for Division One games yesterday just like in Lincoln participating in this same ritual!  Then the other division games.....etc! What a huge tradition and connection throughout our culture.

I pause and wonder about the traditions in other cultures and their involvements as well. 

Today in Macedonia,  Jen is taking part in a family custom.  She is in a home baking for their preparation for their Saint’s Celebration.  I am eager to learn more about the family saint tradition of  Orthodox Macedonians.  The baking ritual sounds similar to some of our family baking traditions!  I don’t expect they are baking  our family’s tradition of runzas....  but maybe baklava.  Even though we have had no Macedonian connection prior to this year, baklava has been a part of our family traditions for more than a generation (and baklava originated in Macedonia - small world!)

Knowing and participating in each other’s traditions is a great way to make the world a smaller place and maybe a more peaceful one as well.  And that can be true across our regions in the U.S. as well.  Visit another stadium in another university and you learn new rituals and traditions!  Maybe we can grow together as well.  I hope Nebraskans are good hosts to their visitors.  And I hope Americans are good hosts to the international students who come to learn in our midst as well.

I hope this coming year, Vesna can make runzas and baklava in our home; just as Jen is sharing with her family today in Tetovo!

Here’s to peace among nations,  respect among rivals,  and the joy of shared traditions!

How Badly Do You Want It? - October 29, 2011

Sometimes, the difference between winning the football game and losing it is simply the team’s  level of desire.  They who want it the most, usually win!  Take a look back to last week’s Wisconsin - Michigan State Game.  In volleyball, take a look at the Nebraska - Illinois match.  All of these teams are talented, dedicated, committed and hard working.   But each of the games finished with a loser and a winner.   What made the differences?  Maybe, they who wanted it the most won the contests.

This may well be true for us in our own lives as well.  Desire is directly related to outcome.  Attitude is everything; well at least 80%.  Talent, skill, education are important but they pale in comparison to attitude and desire.  Maybe our outcome is greatly impacted by how badly we want it!

At times and in my own life, I know that to be a determining factor in my outcomes.  Planning, building and working toward a goal are all important.  But sometimes I just have to stop and ask myself, “How badly do you want this?” and then dig in!  That has been very true with the writing of this blog...  and especially carving out the time to start with posting the writings about Jen, winning the Fulbright, preparing and traveling!  It does take time, it does take effort to commit to writing.  But I want to do it; yet the demands of the other areas in my life don’t always leave me much time for writing.  So, how badly did I want it?

It can take staying up all night and giving up some sleep to get something important accomplished!  And it was worth it!

So as I,  look forward to the Husker’s game with Michigan State and its outcome, I wonder about the deciding factor.  How badly they want it affects so many aspects of the game, not only how they play but also how they prepare.  It also affects how  what is anticipated, what is visualized, what is expected.  I wonder who will want it more!

And so it is on our lives and our own individual goals.....  how badly do we want it?

The Last Rose of Summer - October 27, 2011

Here in Nebraska we enjoy the change of seasons.  Yes, I said enjoy.  The change of seasons sometimes is welcomed like a long lost friend, like a serviceman returning from Iraq, maybe even like winning the lottery!  That would be the change of seasons ushering in spring!   For me that is also true when we change into fall; well - early fall.  My favorite times of the year are when we change seasons from “furnace on” to “furnace off”  and from “air-conditioning on” to “air-conditioning off”.  The air is never more refreshing, comfortable and pleasant for me than those two seasons when we have no need for central heat or central air!  In Nebraska, those two seasons can be very short!  However, this fall it has been almost two months between air and heat.  Yes, we have not turned the furnace on yet.  That may make some of you shutter and shiver; but I love it! I can hear you saying, "Oh, my word". Looking ahead at the forecast we may have a few more days left in this season.

In Maceondia, Jen is crocheting blankets, gloves, and hats preparing for the Balkans’ change of seasons.  She is stocking up on water for the days she cannot walk to the store because of the winter elements.  She has even made her first batch of chili; literally her first batch!  Looks awesome, Jen.  Wish I could smell and taste.  Rachel Ray may wish for  “smellow vision” for her tv show,  I wish for  “sharing skype” for  four dimensional experiential sharing of what you show in your photos from Tetovo!

As I look out into the back yard, I do acknowledge that I am seeing the last rose of summer.  There are no others blooming, no buds waiting.  This one is it!  So, I know it is time to recognize that change is upon us; fall is fading; winter is near.  This change of season is not my favorite.  I do not look forward with a burning desire for ice and snow or for the gray, sunless days of Nebraska’s winters.  So, this rose is beautiful, symbolic and savored.  I know our days of short sleeves and flip flops are few and too soon will also be far between.

Not always are we given the opportunity to be so aware of looming change, looming struggle, or the nearness of the seasonal gauntlet.   Winter always closely follows fall; but life’s changes can catch us more unaware.  Sometimes illness, disease, loss, and challenges can happen in a split second without warning.  Our faith, hope, dignity, and tenacity can be challenged even though we live knowing that change is inevitable.  How will we respond?

Change is inevitable; growth is optional.  How will we respond?

I truly believe there are blessings within even the greatest burdens.  We just need to humbly seek them and learn to recognize them.

So, may we accept the change and determine it to be growth!

May we savor the last roses of our summers and the blooms on the basil, expect tulips and robins of the spring, and welcome winter’s opportunities for  hot tea, slower pace, snow days, jig saw puzzles and our holiday traditions!

Time for a Confession - October 23, 2011

Well, I think it is time for a confession; so here I go.

Laundry is not on my top ten list of favorite activities!  Not really sure why, maybe because it is one of those things that never seems to be finished.  Once you sort, wash, dry, fold, sort, put away, hang.....  there’s new material!

I do get a sense of accomplishment when things are fresh smelling, available to wear, clean sheets and a freshly made bed, but still laundry is kind of time consuming and a bit of a hassle.  I can think of lots of things I would rather do!

But the more sincere and heartfelt part of this confession is: I have a washing machine and a clothes dryer.  They are not top of the line or new.  They make noises, in fact every time I use the dryer it sounds like this might be its last load.  But doing laundry for me does include some conveniences.  Jen is now in Tetovo, washing all of her laundry by hand and air drying. 

So the confession, I feel awful about dreading my laundry process!  How dare I!  I have equipment!  I can hardly imagine the drudgery of doing all the laundry by hand!  I need to get over the sense that doing laundry with conveniences is a hassle!

And I guess that is true for many factions of our daily living; it is easy to dread and dislike until we look around and see how fortunate we are!  We have lots of wonderful people, conveniences, opportunities around us - we need to shake off the temptation to take any of them for granted!

Speaking of laundry, there is something that makes me smile......

If you want to know how important it is to do laundry....  lift the lid of the washing machine while it is in the wash cycle!  Check out that water!  YUCK!

Jen shared that she now knows how important it really is to wash your clothes, because washing by hand she regularly sees the water!  It is dirty!  I just have to chuckle and smile!  I asked her if she had ever looked in the washing machine on while it is on the wash cycle.  She replied, “No!  And I don’t want to!  It is so gross!”

It is amazing what one can learn when they travel abroad.

Step out of your comfort zone today!  I challenge you to lift the lid on the washing machine!

Maybe laundry will make me smile more NOW!

P.S.  It’s now official - I won’t mind laundry so much.

In today’s crossword puzzle I find this clue: One who doesn't have much laundry to do. 
ANSWER:  nudist 

That’s not a choice for me.  I will make laundry!  I will do laundry!

Doesn't Sound Strange At All - October 21, 2011

Just another form of me....
        voice,
        e-mail’s typing,
        chat exchanges,
        face on skype, and now
        from my hand - snail mail!

Oh my word - maybe snail mail does have value!  And maybe it is worth waiting for!

Jen received her first piece of first class mail from us today.  Her comments about its arrival included how great it was to see me....  my handwriting.  Yes, we all wear more than one hat and all project ourselves in more than one form.   Don’t ever take the voice of a loved one for granted.  Don’t ever take face to face interactions with a loved one for granted.  Don’t ever take moments of electronic communication for granted.  And now I add, don’t ever take the handwriting of a loved one for granted.

Actually, I can share a similar sense of connection to a loved one through their handwriting.  This past week while getting some batteries out of our battery inventory box I came across a meticulously hand written list of watches, their descriptions, and the number of the battery that was installed in each one.  This list was prepared by Tim’s dad, Gene, who died in 2007.  There was his handwriting.  There was his attention to what might seem like a minute detail.  There he was with me, all over again.

Even though Jen and I electronically communicate every day, seeing my handwriting must have touched her in much the same way as my seeing Gene’s.  So, when she commented that it might sound a bit strange, it was not a bit strange to me that she thought of my handwriting as another form of me.

The power, presence, touch and glory of God are available to us in much the same way, in many different forms.  If we look and watch we will see Him in many different forms.  From the offer of a lending hand, to a message of encouragement, to an answer long waited for; He is near in many different forms.

Be watchful!  Be observant!  Savor!  Be patient!
It isn’t strange at all!

Sooner or later the mail will reach her.  One piece at a time (7 more floating around....  plus the new ones I am sending!) she will receive small treats from home!

Back to the Post Office - October 20, 2011

Maybe I am a glutton for punishment.  But I am still determined to get some mail and packages to Jen.  In fact, I headed to the post office again today. 

With a large flat rate box packed full of gifts and treasures to send to Jen, and customs paperwork completed  - I set out to get a Priority Mail label and send this box off as a Priority Mail shipment (no Express Mail this time).  Supposedly this flat rate Priority Mail box will be delivered in 6 - 10 days and as long as it does not weigh more than 20 pounds the cost is $58.50.

So, away I went!

The clerk weighed the box; 12 pounds.  But he would not except it as a flat rate shipment, it was a bit “swollen”.   The box was well sealed with packing tape, sides and bottom square and fine....  but yes, the top did rise a bit in the center.  It was full, tightly packed, still 8 pounds under max weight; but its “swollen” look got it rejected!  I think he described it as the “integrity of the box is violated.”  WOW!  If he thinks this box is too full to have integrity, he should see some suitcases I have packed.

So, the clerk offered to accept the box as a non-flat rate box shipment.  It would only cost me about $15 more and lose its priority delivery “quickness”.  I thought for a moment, decided to buy stamps and told him I would just repack.  So much for getting the chocolates on their way to Jen and...... today.

But buying the stamps couldn’t even go smoothly!

Each year since maybe 1982, at Christmas we have given Christmas cards of framed Madonna stamps.  Every year, until this decade, there would be a new Madonna image.  However, more recently, there have been years where there was not a new release.  In those years I go buy some from a local stamp dealer that date back to before we started this tradition.  I always check with USPS in October to see what the current year’s Madonna will be.   When I checked a few weeks ago, there would not be a new Madonna this year, they were repeating last year’s.  So, I shared with Jen that there would not be a new Madonna this year and asked her if instead of an older Madonna stamp we should do something different for this different year.  After all, there has not been a year when one of us was out of the country for the holidays.  Let’s frame and give Macedonian postage.  So, Jen has been charged with the mission of procuring Macedonian stamps.  But there would still remain that obstacle of getting them to us to be framed ....  you know how successful we have been with the mail!

As I looked down at the stamp choices, there was a new Madonna!  WOW!  How can the USPS move so fast to change course and design, produce and distribute a stamp design in just three weeks?  We both know they can’t.  I was just given bad information three weeks ago.

So, I purchased some the 2011 Madonna stamps and some international first class mail stamps (I told you I was a glutton for punishment.  I am stills ending first class mail to Jen with none of it having yet been received.)  Having finished my transaction, I started picking up everything off of the counter.....  the unshippable package, customs paperwork, labels, stamps, purse, phone, keys..... and I made my way to the car.  Of course getting in was almost as clumsy as picking everything up off of the counter.

I arrived at work and immediately went in to show off the amazing new 2011 Madonna stamps.  No stamps.  I went through my stuff again and again. No stamps.  I went through the car.  No stamps.  How could I have lost the stamps? I just purchased them!  Two sheets of Madonna stamps..... gone.  Instead of feeling like a customer who keeps giving money again and again with out receiving any service from the USPS....  now I just felt like a donor.  The USPS may be losing money and near failure, but not because of customers like me who become donors!

Disgusted with myself I decided to return to the parking lot and postal station to see if I dropped them and could find them.  No stamps in the parking lot, entry way or post office.  There was no line waiting for service, so I decided to just approach the clerk who had assisted me and ask if anyone had turned in Madonna stamps that had been found.  I knew better than to tell him I didn’t make it to my office with them, could he help me.  After all, they are the USPS.  There will be no compassion or discount for lost merchandise.

So, I approached the clerk.  Before I could utter a word he exclaimed with a gasp, “It is you!”  Well, yes, that was accurate.  It was me, but I wasn’t sure what that meant to him.  He then picked up and showed me the two sheets of stamps.  “Here are your Madonna Stamps.”  I was amazed to think someone had found them and brought them to him.  WOW!  Aren’t people just grand!

Before I could ask who found them he shared, “ I am so sorry I never got them out and gave them to you.  I was worried about how I would know who they belonged to, but then I remembered it was you, the Macedonian lady that bought them and now here you are.”

I was glad to have the stamps back and also impressed by the honesty and willingness to admit his mistake by the clerk.  Gosh...  customer service!  WOW!  But his comment naming me the Macedonian woman was a bit unsettling.  Of all the things to be remembered as.... why that?

On my way back to work I kept replaying his comments.  Better to have those thoughts running through my head than the ones I had on my way back to the post office.  On my way back to the post office in the 40 mile per hour speed limit of 56th street,  I was following a 25 mph driver with thoughts of desperation running though my mind.  Block after block after block, held hostage by a ridiculously slow driver on my way to be turned away one more time by USPS!

Sometimes discouragement can set in over the simplest and silliest of situations!

So, the clerk’s comment was a welcome reset of my mind set!

Patience and hope......  bring me some more!

Maybe I am a glutton for punishment but I will repack the box, find a way to reduce it’s swelling, and try again to get it on its way to Jen!

Surely this mail thing will get easier!

My Least Favorite Day of the Year - October 19, 2011

Fall is a beautiful season in the midwest.   Leaves change to beautiful colors.  The air is fresh and crisp. The sky seems to have an autumn shade of blueness unlike the other seasons. (Actually and scientifically it does....  help me out Curt and remind me what it is that makes the color different!)

So why is my least favorite day of the year in October?

Well, fortunately this year it is in October, which softens the blow a bit.  And it is even past the middle of the month,  denoting a mild fall.  Sometimes, however, it is in September and that is harder to take.   I am referring to the last day we can risk leaving the plants outdoors before they take a frost.

I like the 12 foot, 8 foot and 6 foot tall ficus trees much better when they are outside.  I also love the 6 foot hibiscus much more when it is living on the patio.

My “least favorite day of the year” is when all these magnificent horticultural marvels must come into the family room.  Silly I know,  maybe my dread of this day is more tied to the changing of the seasons because soon after the first freeze comes ice and snow.

We do joke about the harshness of winters; we do complain a bit about where we are headed.  Yet the truth of the matter is we need the change of seasons.  We will survive.  There is extreme beauty in what lies ahead.  Nothing is perfect.  But today, Jen cast a different perspective on my grumbling.  “Be joyful! You are one day closer to spring!”

Oh my word, yes, how true.  Not matter how much I dread this day.....  it does take me one day closer to spring!

The quotation, “spring always follows the winter” is a powerful reminder to me of faithfulness and the certainty of God’s loving presence.  Spring does always follow the winter.  Good does follow struggle.  Nothing worthwhile or worthy in this earthly life comes without effort, sacrifice, and some good hard work. 
(Dose #5)

And the truth lies in Jen’s perspective as well.    In this time capsule we are living in, in this time of adaptation, in this time of acceptance, we are one day closer to a more comfortable time!  We are one day closer to the warmth of spring.

There's a Lot More to learn About the Mail - October 18, 2011

The pieces of first class mail that I sent off to Macedonia on September 29 have not yet arrived.  The web site told me to place $1.82 postage on them.  The USPS postal clerk told me to use 98 cents of postage.  So, I followed the directions of the clerk staring at me with those eyes of “What kind of fool are you anyway?”   So, I bowed to the 98 cents and off they went.

We now have 8 pieces of first class mail out there floating around in the USPS space.  Maybe it doesn’t really matter how much postage you use.....  three weeks and they have not been delivered.

I keep thinking that using the USPS will be better  than playing roulette.  So far, I haven’t won a single roll.  But, if I continue to play, maybe the odds of the mail being received  by Jen will be slightly better than the odds of winning the powerball.  I have always nicknamed the lottery  “the tax on the mathematically challenged”.  Maybe our society has more than one form of this tax on the unfortunate!

Oh my word!  Patience is a virtue.  Perseverance is a virtue!  Maybe at some point Jen will receive mail from the U.S.

Thought for the day:  We have been told that mail outbound from Macedonia is less reliable than USPS into Macedonia.  Really?  Oh my word!

Cool Gear! But It's More Than That - October 17, 2011

 “Saving the earth one cup at a time”  is a noble mission!  Eco2go is a double wall insulated, environmentally friendly travel cup produced by Cool Gear International.  Since 1986, Cool Gear has been conceptualizing and developing ideas, turning them into products and bringing them to the marketplace.  They deliver innovative and imaginative products to the marketplace while providing a 100% customer satisfaction policy. (Oh my word, there may be hope for American consumers yet!)

Here is a photo showing Cool Gear’s Eco2go hanging out on my computer.   Great cup, great mission, great company - but there’s more to it than that.

As Jen was packing and storing her American home and belongings, preparing to move to Macedonia, one item kept staying out of a box.  It was her Cool Gear Eco2go.  As the final box was closed  and we finalized her storage;  there sat her Cool Gear.  Jen asked me to use her travel cup while she was away from home, there by taking her with me.  I was nervous about breakage or even worse, what if I lost it while she was gone?

I couldn’t bear the thought of losing or destroying this cup while I was living in my time capsule away from Jen.  Some how that seemed too risky!  It is just a symbol of Jen, but still!

So, I only agreed to take the cup home and leave it on display in our kitchen; talk to it daily; and protect it for her return!  That is what I have done this first month, but now I have changed my mind.  On the 14th, I decided to take her along!  So, she   is now daily (or almost)  getting e-mail photos of where we (Cool Gear Eco2go) went the day before!

The past few days, “Cool Gear Jen” has been seen at work, Wilderness Ridge, Wyuka Cemetery,  the Venue restaurant,  Lee’s Chicken, Runza. Valentino’s take out,  in a variety of vehicles,  and at the Sesostris Shrine Center.  She has been seen in the hands of friends, family and even the Waffleman!   “Cool Gear Jen” has traveled with humor and wise quips all weekend and it is a fun routine that I think we will maintain. So watch out....  the camera and  “Cool Gear Jen” may be visiting you so that you can send your smile and greetings to Jen!

As you can see there is more to the Cool Gear than initially meets the eye. And that is true for so many situations and so many individuals.  The relationships involved always add depth!  There’s more than meets the eye!

The Mark of Family - October, 16, 2011

At times our lives move slowly, at times life flies by. 

Occasionally our lives stand still , even if it is just for a moment.

Oh my word, that was our experience with extended family this past weekend. 

Uncle Ed March has passed away and he was to be interned next to his wife, next to her parents and next to his brother-in-law (Tim’s dad Gene).  Ed never lived in Lincoln for longer than  summer vacation periods, but his wife Carol was born and raised here.  They lived their entire married lives on the east coast; they lived in Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Delaware and their last few years in Florida.

His daughters and their families, extended families, and cousins Lou and Debbie and Dennis, Judy and Bruce all gathered in Lincoln for this weekend of honor, respect, sorrow, joy and reflection.  Ed served his country during World War II as a seaman with the Merchant Marines.  Following the war he quickly earned the rank of Master Captain of all Oceans.  He was a top gun ship’s captain.  He loved the sea.  He went on have an illustrious career with the Department of Labor and the safety on all the seas.  Ed was an amazingly gifted, talented, and capable man. Only his love for his wife and children surpassed his talent and professional contributions.

As we gathered together to reflect on Ed’s life and the passing of his generation of influence over his children and their families (Carol passed earlier this summer), time stood still. 

Ed loved the sea, mastered her, and set aside her spell and charms to marry Carol and raise their family.  He did not leave behind the call to excellence and professionalism, he just served on land rather than away on the sea.  Thus time stands still, he brought immortality to his gifts and talents.  They live on in his children and grandchildren.  The priority of family and the coming generations brings your time to stillness.  Alone we are all temporary inhabitants of history and the universe.  When we commit to family and the birthing of new a new generation we become timeless!

Not only is Ed’s soul immortal; he lives on and on here on earth in our memories and in the coming generations!  His mathematical accomplishments, his desire for excellence, and his talents of art and  relational living go on! 

Yes, in flesh we are temporary.  But like Uncle Ed, Aunt Carol, Grandpa Albert, Grandma Ruth, and Gene, may time stand still as we live and relive their memories.  May their immortality shine in the loved ones they inspired, touched, and gave life to.

Even with Jen 5521 miles away,  I trust she knew she was with us all.  She too reflects in her living the powerful affects of the generations that have come before her.  She carries their gifts and is now sharing them with Eastern Europe.

Admiring Macedonia - October 14, 2011

As I view Jen’s photos of the country side, mountains, the architecture of Macedonia, and its people -  I am awed.  Beautiful!  Magnificent!

Oh my word, an ancient  culture whose people who have been in their land for thousands of years; but they have been an independent republic for such a short period of time.  The republic will celebrate its 20th birthday while Jen is there!  I have not yet completely wrapped my mind around their ancientness as a culture and their newness as an independent nation.  On a world stage where nations have historic experience in governing themselves, Macedonia stands in development and as a candidate  to join NATO and the European Union.  They are writing their new story, recognized as a nation with a history and legacy that dwarfs us!

We have been at this independence business for more than 200 years.  They are teenagers.

In reverse, look at the beauty of their land and it has been inhabited for thousands of years.  What will our land look like 2000 years from now?  I fear our lack of conservation and protection over the resources with which we live!

The Macedonians may be able to learn some things about independence and government from us; I hope we learn some things about sustaining a culture from them.  How do we build to last?

As Macedonia  grows and builds bridges among its ethnic groups; may we learn to build a culture of sustainability. 

Is This the Most Expenive Tea I Have Ever Had? - October 12, 2011

Oh My Word!  I hate it when I do stupid things!  And this one may be a doozy!

My normal routine of heading to work involves Iced Tea.  If Tim is in town he will offer to bring one to me from McDonalds or Raising Canes.  When I am in town alone, I usually just take some with me from home.  And so it was today.  I am not organized enough to have a container dedicated to the transporting of a daily iced tea, I just use whatever I can find on a given day.  Today’s choice:  the travel bottle from the individual blender.  It has a travel top, that I now know only is secure if UPRIGHT!  Into my bag went the tea, an envelope of postage and items ready to mail to Jen, and my lap top and its fan.

You can see it already.  I should have too, because I know liquids and lap tops do not play well together!  But all was upright and fine and I hit the road.  Stopped by the Post Office to have them weigh the envelopes I was preparing to send to Macedonia; after all I have gotten so many conflicting bits of truth from the USPS, I am not very trusting.  I want these weighed by them to make sure I have enough postage on them before I mail them.

Unknowingly, when I pulled the envelopes out of the bag to go into the Post Office, the travel bottle tipped over, the top dislodged and tea began to fill my bag.   Meanwhile, I am standing in line waiting my turn for a clerk and the tea is leaking.  After the ten minutes or so that it took to get my envelopes weighed and postage declared I was back in the car.  

After pulling out of the Post Office and stopping at the first stop sign, I decided to return the envelopes to my bag.  When I reached over to put the envelopes back anatomy bag my hand came back WET!  Quickly I pulled the travel bottle out and there I saw, almost a third of the 20 ounces of liquid was GONE!  I grabbed my lap top out of the bag and the guy in the vehicle behind me honked as in his opinion, I had stayed too long at the stop sign.  My computer laying on the still dry car carpet, I headed quickly to work.

What had I done?  Oh my word, how could I have thought it was safe to put liquids and lap tops in close proximity.  But it was done so just hurry to the diagnosis.  Every moment that went by I was getting more disgusted with myself.  I don’t have an extra $1k for a new mac laying around....  what have I done.  Living without my computer would be counter productive.  Any hope I have of producing income right now is in that computer.  The contact I have with many people, especially Jen in Macedonia,is in that computer.  Yes, I had backed up to my external hard drive last night.... but.....

So, I reach work and run in with the wetness and the computer and immediately took out the battery.   No moisture there... whew.  And began to examine and dry.  The tea contact appeared to be limited to the end of the lap top that is the home of the cd drive....  but no other openings, no ports.....  WHEW!
Inside the liquid looked to be minimal.  But one drop at the wrong place and at the wrong time.....  death to may beloved MAC!  My drying continued..... even into the cd slot.  And the waiting began.  How long do I wait to “try” and see what results from my stupidity.

In this period of computer drying and waiting I get a phone call from Macedonia.....  “Hi Jen”.  I share my debacle and with two hands drying the computer, I hold my cell phone to my ear between my hair and  my shoulder.  Of course, the balance is very delicate and pouf....  out from my shoulder flies my phone.  It hits the floor (cement of course) and flies into three pieces.  Obviously our call was abruptly dropped. Have I just pulled an act of stupidity that now leaves me with NO TECHNOLOGY surviving!  How could I be so careless with my only link to civilization?

I quickly reassemble my phone, it rings....  “Hi Jen”.  Thank God one communication appliance is working again!  We talk and I take her words of empathy and sympathy, “Be patient grasshopper and give it time to be really good and dry.  Don’t turn it on too soon. Don’t make it worse.”  The tears were rolling down my cheeks.

Why so many tears?  One; I despise being stupid and reckless.  Two; I wish I had some more breathing room in my life right now.  Three; I miss Jen and hearing her console me brought that to the surface. Four; I was feeling overwhelmed. Five: That’s the age of my lap top and I know its days are numbered without my stupidity.

So there you have it.... the redhead’s dilemma....  how long to wait.

This thought kept running through my mind.....  my computer was sending power to the fan while resting in the tea (no sugar).  When I grabbed it out of the bag I disconnected the fan.  So, It might have fried before I had even grabbed it....  it was powered.  Everything appeared dry now....  but there is always the possibility of wet where I cannot see.  Thus the back and forth self talk.

So, I waited.  An hour and a half is a long time to wait in such a dilemma!  But I did.

Back in went the battery.   I turned the computer face up.  Standing there wondering if I had waited long enough, dried it enough, and growing in my disgust for myself.....  I pushed the button and waited.  Happy Macintosh sound!  If you are a mac owner you know the sound!  Now, lets see what follows.  Bit by bit.... byte by byte.....  my beloved mac came back to life, I am typing on it now!

Thank you Steve Jobs and all the power of the universe! 

Other than periods of tears and high blood pressure, the iced tea did not turn out be as expensive as it might could have!  So, I just bow my head and say thanks!  And oh my word....  I hope I can behave more intelligently the rest of the day!

In times of uncertainty....  cling by faith to hope!

Dreams Do Come True - October 10, 2011

Here are some great words from the 70’s:    “Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.” (from the Desiderata by Max Ehrmann )     “Mac Arthur's Park is melting in the dark, All the sweet green icing flowing down, Someone left my cake out in the rain, I don't think that I can take it,  Cause it took so long to make it,  And I'll never have that recipe again Oh, nooooo.” (from Mac Arthur park sung by Donna Summer)  “You've got to know when to hold 'em. Know when to fold 'em. Know when to walk away. Know when to run.” (from the Gambler by Kenny Rogers)

From the 1970’s came some great writings, recordings, and recitations.  Also one of my favorites from that era is:  A poem by Langston Hughes titled: Dreams

“Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.”

During the 70’s this piece of poetry was like a fresh wind, a writing using our style, using our imagery, using our words.  However,  at that time we did not realize these words were not from our generation or crafted in the 70’s; oh my word, they were written in 1926.  They were timeless. They are still timeless. And so are dreams.

Even for a 1982 born redhead from Nebraska, dreams do come true.

Jen is living a dream, a dream that may have seemed “nearly impossible” by some; “practically impossible” by others;” mathematically unlikely” by still others.  Jen applied for the Fulbright program as a graduate student at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.  The advisors and committee that assist Fulbright applicants from UN-L do an outstanding job of helping these bright and gifted applicants to put their best foot forward in this highly competitive selection process.   That is evidenced by their 2011-2012 Fulbright recipients. UN-L is home to 9 recipients, a record high number, in a year where total applications was up by over 40% nationwide.

In helping Jen prepare, the advisor shared with Jen that she was more likely to be selected as a Fulbright to Turkey than she was to Macedonia.  When applying as a Fulbright you select the country for which you apply rather than applying and then selecting where you go or being told where you will go.  The advisor shared with Jen her chances of being selected for Macedonia were much lower, maybe as low as 8%.  Jen had some time to ponder her application before finalizing it.  She had time to consider her dream.  Which was her dream .... to be a Fulbright or to be a Fulbright to Macedonia?

Against the odds, Jen embraced her dream of being a Fulbright in Macedonia.

Hold fast to dreams.

“You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. “ Desiderata 1920

Hold fast to dreams.

Children of the universe, no matter their age, have the right and blessed opportunity to dream!  Hold fast to your dreams, that’s their only path to be able to come true!

There are great American dreamers. There are great Macedonian dreamers.  Hold fast and move toward their fulfillment.  There are only two kinds of people in the world, those who think “I can” and those who think “I can’t”.  They are both right.

Still Learning About the Mail - October 9, 2011

It has already been said, but:

Oh my word!

If  the measurable effectiveness of our customer service is reflective of our state as  a nation, we are in trouble!

As hard as we have tried to learn how to mail to Tetovo and what to expect when we mail; there are some things that just make you shake your head and wonder about the sanity, logic, and competency of the human race!

You will never guess what came today?

The first and only response I have received from USPS customer service.  It was not a phone call, like I was told I would receive.  It was an e-mail. 

And here is what it says:

Thank you for requesting a Proof of Delivery letter on your shipment.

Your Proof of Delivery letter is included in a PDF file attached to this e-mail.

Results provided by the U.S. Postal Service.
“In response to your request we regret to inform you that we were unable to locate any delivery information in our records regarding your item.”

Well, there you have it.  The USPS has fulfilled their customer service role in investigating our packet not being delivered on time  - by declaring it not delivered!

Oh my word!

Thank goodness that Jen confirmed for me its delivery!  And if I go to track and confirm on the USPS web site, it declares the packet delivered.  I guess the customer service right hand just doesn’t know what the left hand has done.

Nothing is perfect.  Nothing is guaranteed. Those are not the expectations of most reasonable people.  But if our country is going to move forward I know a place we can start!  We could start with improving customer service effectiveness!

My search continues for “someone” or “something” that can answer my questions about international mail.  The USPS web site is not able.  The USPS clerks at post offices are not able.  The customer service representatives of USPS are not able.  Where do I go next for information and assistance?

While I ponder and search I do count my blessings.  IF I had to choose which ONE form of communication I had functioning between Jen and I ...  which would I choose?  Internet or SNAIL MAIL?

Enough said....  thank God for the invisible and the blessings we are enjoying through the internet world’s communications!  Thank God for e-mail, facebook, google voice, and skype!  Not that wifi and ethernet are perfect, but when compared to the USPS .....    Oh my word!

Stop for Just a Moment, Enjoy the View - October 8, 2011

    Do you ever feel overwhelmed, stuck in a deep rut, or maybe  you sense that you are banging your head against the wall?

    Stop right where you are and take a break for a minute.

    Turn around and look back....  LOOK WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED!

    Oh my word!

    Maybe too often we forget to look back.

    Give yourself a treat today....  take a look back .
    And I bet you will discover you deserve a pat on the back!

    In our current journey, we can identify a few adaptations we now have under our belts!  We are learning to live in two time zones,  contemplating what Jen is doing in relationship to our time.  When is it light there?  When is it dark there?  Is she in class?  Is she in bed?  Is she teaching?  We are getting into a routine of balancing our lives divided by the Great Pond.

    And , oh my word, I see the adaptations she has made:  finding food and water; learning how to use the transportation, preparing to teach in a new culture,  building relationships with her students, establishing relationships between her students in Macedonia and American students, establishing a role in the programming of the American Corner,  examining the history, culture and landscape of the Balkans.

    WHEW...  as we look back it is amazing how much has changed and been mastered in a relatively short time.  Oh, now - there have been individual moments that felt like eternity's!  But, the reality is: great strides in adapting have been made!

    As humans, we are blessed with the gift of adaptation.  From one stage of life to another; from one location to another; from one circle of influence to another; from one opportunity to another; from one set back to moving forward with another opportunity - we maneuver through change.  We adapt.  We pause.  We savor.  We accept.  We adapt.

    Be sure to stop for a moment today and give yourself a pat on the back for your own adaptability!  What changes have you embraced?  How have you adapted? 

    Celebrate your growth!

Not to Be Taken Lightly - October 6, 2011

          Distance of thousands of miles and the transition of adapting in a new world should not be taken lightly!  The impact of reaching a dream and living it should not be taken lightly!  The encouragement and challenge to those around Jen  as she lives this great opportunity should also not be taken lightly!  Inspire those around you!

         That was the motivation behind orchestrating a surprise skype experience at the Nebraska Masonic Youth Leadership Conference in Kearney featuring Jen and giving her the opportunity to remind each of the youth participants to “dream big dreams”.

          Technology and its invisible elements can be challenging, uncontrollable, and at times just plain frustrating!  Skype uses a wide band for transmission, so we were venturing into a realm that is even more unpredictable than the mail service!  But, we felt it was worth a try.

          Yes, it was definitely worth the try!  It worked!  And up on the big screen in the Loper Ballroom came Jen and her message of encouragement and the reminder of “all things are possible” even for Nebraska youth!  Live your dream!  The gasps from the youth and their adult chaperones as they realized they were seeing one of their peers from 5500 miles away was LOUD!  ALmost as loud as the “Go Big Red” chant she left them with!

            Our youth are our future.  They are capable, valuable, and inspiring!  Let me share what  they accomplished that day:

         A donation of 3500 pounds of food and non-pershiable goods should not be taken lightly.  Actually it can’t be.  It is more than 3400 items whose collective weight becomes a ton and three-quarters.  That is more weight than the Husker Offensive Line could press!  It is a contribution that would take almost 400 grocery bags to deliver and thousands of dollars to procure!  In addition to the donation of food and items, more than 1000 hours of hands on assistance left its mark on the central Nebraska agency.

          This is the scope and magnitude of the donation that the attenders of the Masonic Youth Leadership Conference left with the Mid-Nebraska Food Bank on Saturday, October 1

    The flood of food was part of the fourth triennial Masonic Youth Leadership Conference in Kearney, funded and directed by the Nebraska Masonic Youth Foundation and its supporters.  Twenty-four Jobs Daughter Bethels, Rainbow for Girls Assemblies, and DeMolay Chapters brought donations of food with them to the event.  These donations totaled 1500 pounds of food, more than 1400 items.  These donations were generated by the efforts of the youth groups’ members.  Weeping Water Assembly #5, International Order of Rainbow for Girls led the efforts and donated 460 pounds of food!  Second largest donation came from Plattsmouth Bethel #24, International Order of Jobs Daughters.  Lincoln Assembly #6 (Rainbow) and Bethel #63 Lincoln (Jobs Daughters) were the third and fourth largest donations.

    During the afternoon conference sessions, attenders each spent time procuring more donations for the Food Bank by shopping at the Apple Market grocery store, delivering food to the Food bank, assisting in sorting and stocking at the Food Bank. 

           Each of the youth attenders is committed to serving individually in their home communities and as groups of members; however the impact of all of them working together in one place, at one time, with the same goal is powerful.  To experience what can be accomplished as a large group serves as a reminder of the strength that comes from unity and is found in the larger group.

    Thank you to all who supported this service project!  The Nebraska Masonic family has again left its mark on the 23 Nebraska counties that are served by the food bank.  Together, we can make a difference!

    Let us never take lightly the possibilities that lie ahead in the coming generation!

What Should I Have Done Differently - October 5, 2011

Willingness to learn from mistakes is an important trait to successful living.  At least that’s how I feel.  So, I was eager to learn from my Express Mail mistake and find out what I should have done differently to reach the desired outcomes I had for the birthday shipment I had mailed to Jen.

So first thing on Wednesday morning, I headed back to the Gateway Post Office to find the answer.  What should I have done differently?

I doubt I need to repeat my three desired outcomes, you’ve got them in mind.

I doubt I need to define how far from these desired outcomes the reality of the mailing experience was.

I think I have been clear; just as I was in asking and researching and determining this was the USPS’s best choice for me.  Express Mail was assured to me as the way to ship and attain  my desired outcomes.

But, when my turn in line came at the window of the USPS - I shared what my desired outcomes were and what the reality was that I experienced.  The clerk had no suggestions for me as to how to achieve my desired outcomes.  I shared that it was the advice of the USPS that the Express Mail option would meet those desires and it had not happened.  The clerk’s response was unimpressive.  She reminded me that sometimes things just don’t work.  She then sought out a supervisor to give me some more advice.  His advice was even less impressive.  He talked about how unprofessional and slow and ineffective the customs agency is and so the postal service can never guarantee effectiveness with international mail. I was appalled at his throwing custom officials under the bus. Deaf ears...... no response of what I should have done differently or why this method (Express Mail) was recommended to me or why nothing had happened as I had been told it would!

I left the post office discouraged and disappointed.  This was the same post office window  where a clerk had told me, “It doesn’t get any better than we have it here in the U.S.”  And now  instead I learn  we have no control over the mail or how or when it gets delivered.

My how a tone can change!  I don’t really feel like the expectations of product and service from the USPS should be similar to buying a used car, but so has gone my experiences.

So, I am still searching for some sort of understanding about how to choose sending and mailing to Jen with some sort of dependability and matching results with desired outcomes.

If the measurable effectiveness of our customer service is reflective of our state as  a nation,
we are in trouble!

I close with this tone of humor, yet the painful truth is: Americans are forced to waste ginormous amounts of time, energy, and money on poor customer service and dealing with customer service representatives.  Often we are left in numerous computer menu choices, unending recorded responses, and left circling with unheard questions, errors and shortcomings.  We receive no explanations and no hope for a different outcome next time. The USPS is not alone at this level of effectiveness;  unfortunately as Americans we face these same failures  and attitudes with cell phone companies, internet service providers, credit card companies, health insurance companies,  Fed Ex, UPS....  the list goes on. 

Whoever it is that learns how to change this course and pattern will win the game, save our economy, restore civility and maybe even bring about world peace and cure hunger!

Let the “space race” for improved customer service begin!

She Got It! - October 4, 2011

If the measurable effectiveness of our customer service is reflective of our state as  a nation,
we are in trouble!

Hallelujah!  Oh my word!  The lost is not lost! 

Day eleven and the 3 - 5 day delivery made it’s way to Jen!  Yeah!  She has her “no longer a surprise” birthday surprise.  Or, maybe I should rephrase that a bit.  She did get a birthday surprise - against all odds-  the packet came!

What a joy to see Jen post her opening of the packet!

What a joy to see Jen savor each simple birthday card, each printed greeting, each hand decorated envelope!  She even welcomed the flat mylar balloons as new wall art!  Yes, there were a few treats a bit more unique and exciting; but by and large this was just light weight and fun stuff from home and the people who are still on this side of the pond and wishing Jen well!

Remember I had purchased what I understood to be  “3-5 day delivery, delivered to Jen’s office, no fees to be paid by her” shipping via the USPS?

    Even in America, guess which of those desired outcomes came to reality?

    None! 

    11 days for delivery

    She had to go to the post office to receive the packet.

    She had to pay about 200 denars for it to be released to her.

    I will just smile and be delighted she got her packet! 

    I will just enjoy the fresh air I breath!  I will just savor my iced tea.  I will just count my blessings!

    But, oh my word!

    There are times when research, preparation, and strategic planning do no bring you the reality of your desired outcomes!  Get over it!  And just pray the sun will still come up tomorrow!

    Even in America, things fall short and we can lose a football game!  In fact, every weekend 50% of us do lose the football game.

One Plus One is Two - October 2, 2011

This is a fairly simple concept...  one we learn mathematically when we are young; one we can try any time we need concrete proof.   Simply take an apple... it is one.  Go get another apple (one), place it beside the first apple. What do you have?  Two... right? An apple setting beside another apple is two apples.  Always!  You can count on it!  Sorry about the pun.

     That’s the easy proof of one plus one is two.  Difficulties arise however, when you throw humans into the equation.  Oh, I don’t mean if you stand one human by another human that it is difficult to analyze that you have two humans.  Humans count just like apples.  The difficult part comes when humans are involved in moving toward a desired outcome; in making observations; in finding the common ground. The difficult part comes when humans have to engage in information, sharing, and production.

    Oh my word, one plus one can seem like it is a foreign concept when we are dealing with customer service representatives.  Outrageous and ridiculous conclusions leave us examining the very basics of our mathematical knowledge.  Apples are apples; oranges are oranges; one plus one is two - except when you are trying to make plain your needs, ask your questions and share their company’s shortcomings to the customer service representative.  Fewer things can raise our blood pressure faster or make us ready to pull out our hair more quickly than a  Discover's “Peggy style” customer service representative!

    We must find a calming mantra and chant, “I can endure this momentary mathematical set back.  At some point I will return to the world where one plus one is two! I will endure this moment and its craziness!”

    On the contrary, sometimes one plus one can be synergetic and the result is greatness beyond our expectations or comprehension.  When two ideas come together to solve a dilemma; when two passions converge for an invention; when two levels of energy combine for a sudden burst of accomplishments; when the lights combine for an epiphany - oh my word - life is grand!
   
    Sometimes in the midst of the contradictions and "Discover Card  Peggies",  I beg for the patience to reflect upon and the focus to hold on for an epiphany!  Wait for the synergy!  Let us be “I can” people!   Let us cling to: “I can” survive the sum total of one plus one, even when it is less than two!”

    Even in the face of a frustrating customer service relationship, I refused to let this minor frustration detract from observing and enjoying a unique synergetic experience.  This weekend was the Nebraska Masonic Youth Leadership Conference in Kearney.  Great presenters and entertainers infused us with hope, encouragement, and a desire for excellence.  Patience would allow frustration to be replaced with energy, excitement, accomplishment and just plain fun!

    There in lies one of life’s greatest blessings.......  frustration replaced with joy!

    When one plus one is not two...... demand that it is TEN!

Even in America! - September 30, 2001

Over and over we have been reminded - and we have done some of the reminding - things are just better in America!   And I am not just referring to ice, iced tea, coffee, and  chocolate!   When you compare our standard of living to the rest of the world, when you compare our health care to the rest of the world,  when you compare our food supply to the rest of the world, when you compare our infrastructure, when you compare our efficiency, when you compare our work ethic, and in many cases when you compare our education to the rest of the world - we in America fare pretty well in the comparisons.

    Is that part of the reason that Macedonians long to come to the United States?  The unemployment rate of Macedonia currently runs over 40 percent.  That factor alone should make the U.S. look fairly desirable!

    The broader truth is:
If you woke up this morning healthy, you are much better off than the million who will not survive this week.
If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the fear and loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pain of starvation, you are better off than 500 million people in the world.
If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep, you are more comfortable than 75% of the people in this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, spare change in a drawer, you are among the top 8% of the world's most wealthy people.
If you can read this, remember that there are over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.

    So yes, life in America by most standards of measure is exceptional.  However, to the hungry children of America these statistics don’t have any flavor or nutritional value.   To the jobless father of four,   these statistics may feel like a free pass for others to merely look the other way and ignore his needs.  To the blue collar workers that have seen Wall Street flourish and their 401k’s dwindle; life in America can feel very unfair. To the health insurance premium payer who sees their premiums and deductibles sky rocket year after year,  corporate America may seem greedy and out of control.

    We have our ups and downs - even in America!
    We have our justices and injustices - even in America!
    We have our victories and our losses - even in America!
    We have our joys and sorrows - even in America!

    We are not guaranteed utopia - even in America! 

    But hopefully, we do not accept the status quo in America!  Hopefully we do not rest on our laurels in America!  Hopefully we yearn for equity, opportunity, and excellence in America!  In America, hopefully we dream, serve, care, and achieve!

    Therefore,  we must focus on effectiveness, truth, justice.....  the American way!

    With tongue in cheek I share my “Oh my word” of this day:

    Today is September 30th and TODAY a September 25th scan appears for the first time in the tracking of Jen’s birthday mailing!  The Chicago facility had scanned her packet on 9/25.....  it just didn’t show up in the computer scan report for FIVE DAYS!   Go figure, even in America - some things don’t work like they are supposed and nobody can figure it out.   And so far I have had no responses from USPS customer service representatives regarding the mailing.

    So with an “oh my word” I smile and remember like the post office clerk that assisted me on  September 22  had assured me - “everything in the U.S. is better.  We don’t know how good we have it here!”

    I hope the majority of Americans are willing to commit to - “let’s give our best” for the U.S. and to the rest of the world too!  Don’t stand for mediocrity.  Stand for excellence, fairness, and compassion!

Every Day Is a Gift, No Matter How Tough It Is - September 29, 2011

Celebrating a birthday is great joy and fun!  Celebrating the birthday of a child you have given birth to is amazing.... each and every year.  This never wanes.  Most years when we celebrate the girls’ birthdays I shed a tear.  I am taken back to their day of birth and I relive the outrageousness of the miracle of life; holding them for the first time; the exhaustion that follows.

This birthday would be different.  There would be no face to face family time.  There would be no physical hugs.  There would be no group singing.  This would be a birthday filled with remembering having shared those moments; because on this birthday we would be 5521 miles apart.

Yet,  it was a birthday we were be able to accept.  It was easier to deal with because Jen was living her dream.  She was not in the hospital or in quarantine; she was not being held hostage.  She was just across the globe seizing an amazing new opportunity!  We were not together for all the right reasons!

So as the day of September 29th  was only minutes away in Macedonia (5 pm September 28th in Lincoln), I hit the computer, facebook, and e-mail.   Sent the first of the birthday greetings, two dimensional but greetings none the less!  A happy birthday song followed!  She would know for sure we were celebrating with her, the only way we could....  in the two dimensions of electronics!  Oh my word, her birthday would not go without observance!

Of course I again checked the USPS tracking  - no scan since 9/25 in Omaha!  If I type the colon and parenthesis that makes a frown.....  I will be understating my disappointment.  But, we were all alive and well, so no frets!  No complaints, only smiles.

Jen and I were able to talk by phone about 8 am Nebraska time (remember the math.....  that’s 3 pm Tetovo time).  I decided to spoil the secret surprise mailing and ask if she had received anything.  She had not.  I was sorely disappointed....  but knew we had tried the best we knew how to get some treats to her on her birthday!  I shared that the USPS customer service for international mail had filed a claim and maybe she would receive a packet....  maybe she would not.

She was excited that we had tried...  and would eagerly look forward to its coming, it’s potential coming!

Transition and adaptation can come in small simple strides!  And this was one of those days.  We were adapting to being separated on a family holiday.  Jen was adapting to a new world and new culture and new surroundings.  It is a birthday none of us will soon forget!  I did wish she had received our packet, but that was not to be.  And then the gift arrived!

No, of course not our packet.  The gift  she received was one given by a new friend in the new world!  Vesna had driven to Skopje and returned to Tetovo with Cassidy (a fellow Fulbrighter) and they took Jen out for her birthday!   What a wonderful surprise.  What an awesome birthday treat. And so it was,  the thoughtfulness of a new friend made all the difference.

Sometimes there is nothing more valuable in our lives than the thoughtfulness of a friend....  new or old friend, it  doesn’t matter.  The greatest gifts on the toughest days are our relationships!

Day Three - September 28, 2011

At least by my count!  I checked again the USPS tracking sight to see the progress of our joyful packet.

Oh my word!  By their scan report, the packet did not show any new activity. 

How could this be?  The 25th in Omaha was still the last scan.  What  to think?  Could my bundle of birthday joy really still be in Omaha?   It was just a birthday packet, but it carried so much more.  And Macedonia is a long, long way from Omaha!  Why had the package been scanned twice over the weekend, but now not at all for three business days.

I decided to try USPS customer service.  After the rotating menu selections, holding, and being transferred several times - I was with a live person whose specialty was international tracking and tracing.  The customer service representative informed me that by their count  this was day five and since it had not been scanned leaving Omaha, and had not been delivered in Macedonia, she was filing a report with Macedonia and they had five days to respond with where the packet was and why it had not been delivered on time.

Wow!  Action! Response!  Oh my word!  And a bit of a surprise as I was only counting Wednesday as day three....  but we were moving forward to trace the packet! 

Sometimes the thought of action on your behalf brings a lift to your spirits!
Sometimes hearing a live customer service voice can keep alive the hopes of the universe!

Maybe Jen would get her birthday surprise on time, maybe not - but encouragement was present!
Hope was alive!

How true it is in our daily living, a small act of encouragement or support can lift your hopes!  A positive voice can keep our hopes alive!

I challenge you to give the gift of hope to at least one other person TODAY!

Tracking the Surprise - September 26, 2011

Monday arrived and that is a USPS business day, so out of anticipation and eagerness I decided to go online and take a look at the tracking number and see what progress had been made on our journey to Tetovo via the USPS!

Oh my word!  There is was....  right before my eyes!  The package had been scanned in Lincoln on the 24th and then in Omaha on the 25th!  WOW!  What an exciting development....  IT HAD MOVED on days I didn’t even count as days! 

YEAH!   Oh my word!

My joy continued to fly by faith!

Surely all the research and questioning and trips to the post office were going to pay off!

The birthday treats were well on their way!

In most of life’s situations, preparation is one of the keys to success.  Just like in the game of football, preparation is a key.  I know this little packet traveling by USPS to Tetovo is no Super Bowl, but just like a great coach during the first quarter of the game and watching their team perform beyond expectations - I was pleased to see my team perform successfully against huge odds!  Jen would hopefully have birthday greetings and treats from her family and friends.

Invest in preparation.  It always pays off!

Time to Send Some Mail - September 24, 2011

With Express Mail large envelope packed, addressed, customs paperwork, and check book in hand I headed to the Gateway Postal Station, USPS.  I had done the research, followed up with the “in-person” information gathering, and felt  ready and capable of getting this envelope to Jen for her birthday.  I had followed the postal clerk’s instructions, but  knew that my estimated weight might not be accurate so I was anxious to see how close to the 2 lb. estimate we had come!

Went into the station, got in line, waited my turn, and began the transaction to ship internationally.  What an experience.  Nothing, well at least very little of the information I had gleaned online and been given for Express Mail service and a 3-5 day delivery by the postal clerk I had worked with two days earlier was confirmed by today’s clerk.  In fact,  this clerk voiced her disgust of my using an Express Mail envelope for the shipment.  I shared I was using for the Express Mail and its 3-5 day delivery serve. She disagreed that I needed to use this Express Mail envelope for Express Mail, but allowed me to go ahead and use it.  Weighing the envelope we found out that I was 4 ounces over 2 lbs; so the $38.95 fee would be $42.70.   I pondered for only a split second, because at this point only four additional dollars to get these birthday wishes to Macedonia in time for Jen’s birthday seemed like a small hurdle!  Everything that was in that envelope I wanted her to have!

So, sealed and paid - off went the envelope to Tetovo for Jen’s birthday!

My desired outcomes and expectations were:

1) 3 to 5 day delivery
    Now, let’s do the math together.  September 24 was Saturday, so I didn’t  count it as day one.  September 25 was Sunday, so I didn’t count it either.  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday counts to three for me.  I actually hoped the package did not arrive on the day three, the day before her birthday, so Thursday (day 4) her birthday seemed feasible and Friday (day 5) the day after her birthday also seemed acceptable!   This “priority” form of USPS mail service came with a tracking number and I could track online to watch the progress of this birthday mail.

2) Package would be delivered to Jen’s office
    As opposed to Jen having to leave campus and go to the Post Office to pick up the package, I had selected this form of mail so that it would be delivered to her office.  Jen had not yet been to a post office and did not have her own transportation, so it was very important to me that the packet be delivered to her at her office.

3) All fees for the shipment had been prepaid, so that Jen did not have any charges to pay to receive the package.

Those were my desired outcomes and why I selected Express Mail service, the envelope used was an Express Mail envelope, and the $42.70 was paid to mail the envelope. 

Oh my word, how exciting to have the packet on its way!  How awesome to be able to select the form of mail that would produce my three desired outcomes!  Now, all I needed to do was muster up the patience to stay quiet, to not share with Jen that there was a packet coming!  It would be an awesome birthday surprise!

The package did not contain anything valuable, irreplaceable, unique, or rare but it did contain birthday wishes from friends and family and a few birthday treats.  Her room in the dorm is very white and has an institutional look, so the package included a few light weight things from home that might bring color and cheer to her white walls.

The package contained our connection to share her birthday!  My joy was abundant!