The Elegance of Life

[John and Janet Ruiz]

Greetings Internet Pardineros! Post-Thanksgiving afterglow is providing the kindling for some more warm, tasty times - Christmas! and New Years! We do enjoy this time of year and hope it's sweet and meaningful for you too.We finished up the tree a week ago. It takes about a week to do the whole thing. It's a time to savor and not rush. Ours is filled with memories. Right on top is a star, the classic "Star of Bethlehem".We've winnowed through our ornaments over the years and have a tidy collection - picture frame ornaments that have our family in them, taken from years past. Some of the flour and water dough ornaments we made one year we didn't have the cash dough to buy much more. (the remainder made some tasty sugar cookies that year!) That was the year we bought this plastic star and light we've put on top every year since. It cost two bucks and at the time was an investment. It's a keeper. Some the kids have made, some we've been given. A range of different types we've bought. It's more a history of years past than anything. Each year we add something new, as we did this year remembering it ain't the cash, it's the stash of love we have to draw upon that fills our stockings and trims our tree to overflowing every year. That and maybe a few choice items to go with them. : )Choicest was last Sunday - we went with my sisters to see Johnny Mathis! The man, the myth, Mr. Misty himself. He performed wonderfully and magically, for a man of 30. Not bad considering he's 72. He looks as good as he sounds and he sounds better than money in the bank. We loved him. He did a sprinkling of holiday favorites and all of his classics. The crowd was his - age wise mostly over "a certain age". Basically all young at heart and 100 per cent fans of his music. Nearly every song I could hear people around me - "Oh!! ooooh....yeah...." in recognition and appreciation as he began each song. Hanky time on "12th of Never". Two songs that bring out the kleenex for me - James Taylor singing "Carolina On My Mind" and that one. Great night. GREAT night.Which got me to thinking again how full of hope our lives are. Good times remembered, yes. Good times expected - ditto. The future's still as bright as the promises of God, and the future has a past. I'm in it and diggin' it immensely. I hope to remember these days well in times to come.Which brings me to "elegance". I like the word "elegance" and I think it covers "Life" very well: refinement, grace, and beauty in movement, appearance, or manners. Life at it's best moves with it, like a bird in the breeze - effortless, easy, sweet. "I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly..." More than a chaotic accumulation of stuff we can't take with us and then it's over when we least expect it. Meaning, purpose, cycles of God's grace moving like the tides in wonderful elegant motion.LIfe is very cool when it doesn't suck. Unfortunately it does for a lot of people on this planet. Would they will all come to know both the here-and-now and the hope of life in Christ. And maybe get a better leg up on everything else too. I'm very fortunate to have what I have and be where I am. I'm often reminded of that and that life sucks so bad when it isn't cool. A lot can go wrong and does for a lot of people. We can't fix everything in the time we have but in the time I have I hope to make a dent. This season is a strong reminder for me of that.Life is so precious. Elegant, so well put together there's clearly no alternative that comes even close. A sign of the pure creative existence of "God" if ever there was one. Who else could have come up such an idea? Never to be outdone in it's complete satisfaction as a state of mind. : ) It's definitely a cool thing if only (but not only) because it's so unique. Each one of us is the only one of us there's ever been, the only one of us that is, and that will ever be again. That's weird, considering the possibilities. Weird but very cool. We are the one-time unique instance of "us" and our life that there will ever be. After you - no more the same, ever. For some reason that's always given me pause since it first really hit me and when it did it hit me like a runaway train. Fortunately I survived to reflect on it, which I do from time to time, like now.The fact that "I' and "you" are non-repeatable is immense. In some ways that's probably good. : ) But in all ways it shows to me the incredible diversity and facility of God. We keep comin' on, one at a time, in pairs or quads but every li'l baby says the same thing "Hi! It's me!", never "Hi! It's me - again!" Each one loved for the simple fact that they're here, with nothing to give but the life they have."For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." An incredible statement to ponder. And in that, a future promised for each of us.Chistmas is a cool time to consider again all God has done and what He holds for each of us in our own future, one filled with His good gifts and blessings, all to be known in their own time and season. And as always, the future has a past...Our best to you and yours. Happy Merry Christmas and Stuff!

[Dan Haas]

A peeled eyeball, I will have

[John and Janet Ruiz]

*mlky way* Yeah, that's two * two * two JR's in one. Blog topic for 2009, #321: "The Proposal for the Existence of a Dual JR". I already have drafts drafted, and anticipate quite a bit of hot debate to follow. It has to do with some very involved historical data and some restructuring of well, just about everything you ever thought you knew about JR. Sure to thrill, you'll want to keep any eye peeled for it. (figuratively speaking).

[Linda Zinn]

*snicker* Hi John. :) Love to you and Hope.

[John Richeson]

Why thank you, Linda for your compliments.
JR

[Linda Zinn]

JR, you're a poet, my friend. Your thoughts on elegance are elegant.

That stuff about the uniqueness of each of us has always boggled my mind. How God did that is beyond my comprehension. No one on this earth, and no one ever to walk this earth in days to come, can replace any one of us. God sure has a plan!

Mmmmm concerts. I think I told you a few years ago that a James Taylor concert back in the early 70s was probably my all-time favorite. His a gentle soul reaches out to those he's singing to and soothes and brings smiles and, yes, tears. Janis Joplin--pure energy and gutsiness and spunk. In more recent years, a Crosby, Stills, and Nash concert was even more fun than I expected it to be.

And Christmas...it makes me think of my grandmother. We'd all gather around the tree in her big living room and laugh and relish being together. I think of her often, but especially at this time of year. In my memory it seems like she always was wearing an apron except when she was going to church or shopping. There was an opening from the stairway that looked out over her living room. My cousins and I would use that opening as a stage for puppet shows and silliness. I wonder what memories we're storing up for our kids and grandkids? I trust they're precious, sweet ones.

Merriest of Christmas to you, Johnnie and Janet, and the next generation of exquisitely unique Ruizlettes. God bless us every one.

Love,

Linda

[Dan Haas]

I'd like to see Boz Skaggs some day, and I don't care if he does any of his hits... I do hope he does "Some Change" and his cover of the classic "Love Letters."

Yeah, Johnnie, life is great when it doesn't suck. There is an elegance to your voice, my friend.

Above all, I count my blessings in my relationships, and in particular, my family. Nothing like humans getting together and loving one another!

May all of you enjoy this season and the coming year (it will come either way, if Christ returns or not!), in union with your family, your friends, and perfect strangers.

[Mike and Lisa Tracy]

What a wonderful posting and great comments. This was fun to read and re-read.

Mike

[John Richeson]

"I am bit older now.
Barry Manilow is still one of my fav's."
Yeah, Davis. You are a "bit" older.


That's OK, I still like Simon & Garfunkel and they predate Barry. And I admit, I just don't get Rap and I know none of my 18 year old's music or groups at all and I have never owned an Ipod. I am with ya, bro.

We saw The Eagles in their last Hell Freezes over Tour. Had seats up close. It was one of my most memorable concerts. (John, off topic but what was one of your most memorable concerts?)

John - nice writing. "And as always, the future has a past." Now that is just cool.
Elegance of life is enhanced by elegant people like you guys. Like Davis, we have managed to also rekindle some past friendships with some people we never thought we would ever see or hear from again. Can't place a price tag on that.

Some of what you wrote reminds me of another song from our "a bit older" days, Carole's "These Ae the Good Ole Days". I learned most of my optimistic ways while in TWI. It (optimism) was a foreign concept to me until I was surrounded with it in the persona of the group. It was not bad, not bad at all. I, too, think good days are before us.

[Davis Crowell]

It was truly a "delight" to read your words. Kinda brougth "tears to me ole' eyes"!

I have bin' on this site for a little over a year now. I have bin' able to connect w/ people who are "near and dear to my heart", Hell! I even went to Hawaii to see Lisa Iozo Badder her husband and the folks she hangs with on the "big island" and also made a trip to the "wine country" in Napa/Sonoma and met up with a gal and her husband who back in '74 told me about God and through alot of coaxing, convinced me to sit through a class on the Bible.

Yea! This is a cool time of the year!

I am bit older now; I have experienced much, I have hurt few people asking for the forgivness of those I've hurt, I smile so much more and I awaken each day actually not regretting what I did the day before.

This upcoming year '09 has the "makings" of another great one. The "Eagles" will be touring, and I intend on attending. Oh Yea! I like many others here like those guys like Johnny Mathis too. Barry Manilow is still one of my fav's.