Glimpse of Truth for Which You've Forgotten to Ask

Musings about life's daily puzzles from an oldest of of 5, men's rowing team coxing, Argentine-American gal. “My task which I am trying to achieve is, by the power of the written word, to make you hear, to make you feel — it is, before all, to make you see. That — and no more, and it is everything. If I succeed, you shall find there according to your deserts: encouragement, consolation, fear, charm — all you demand; and, perhaps, also that glimpse of truth for which you have forgotten to ask.” --Joseph Conrad

[cgaldiz]

[cgaldiz]

[cgaldiz]

The Economy of Big Families

The holiday season is a time when big families are reminded, among other things, of the costliness that comes with their numbers.  Christmas lists peppered with wishes for the latest game system or Apple gadget, preparing sumptuous feasts for a packed family table, travel receipts, heating bills - it all comes at ya fast.  Today, however, I learned the true economy in having a large family with regards to home improvement.  Seeing that our basement needed a facelift, my father strategically (although he denies it) started picking out paint colors a few days before my arrival from school when his labor fleet would all be under the same roof.  His first draft pick was Julia (17) who he recruited to help with the initial spackle of wall number one.  The dark wood panels, installed in the 1930's were beginning to show their age, and so my dad decided to go Heidi Montag on them and infuse them with the some more material.  The whole process is lengthy and labor intensive, perfect for a family of 7 with jobs for every age range.  The two in our house under 10 years of age started us out by helping wipe down the walls before applying painters tape to the trim at the bottom of the wall.  The other helped move any potential obstacles i.e. furniture, pictures, toys, dust bunnies, away from the walls and suited up for the spackle.  We then laid down a tarp and had at it, filling in all the small holes in the texture of the wood paneling. After a quick lunch break, with one soldier at the helm of the industrial sized vacuum, two other strapped on some sandpaper strips and evened out the spackle from a few hours earlier. The paint job was spread out over a couple of days, culminating at 3am a week after we had embarked on the project, once the last stretch of ceiling had received its final coat.  Families that keep your small children away from chemicals and building supply, bring on the judgement, at this point, we welcome it with open arms.  This project infused us with a sense of pride at contributing to the beautification of our home.  Its these tasks that bind us, proving that each person brings value to a community, and that everything tastes just a little sweeter when its laced with your own sweat.  Having a goal, working as a team to accomplish it, and ending with a visible improvement are outcomes just as valuable as the hundreds saved in avoiding having to bring in "professional painters."

[usatoday]

Ugly holiday sweaters: When dorky is so, so cool.

[cgaldiz]

How to Make Sense of the Senseless

Yesterday in Newtown, CT 26 innocent people lost their lives.  These unsuspecting victims, ranging in age from 6 to 56, had no idea what awaited them when they first walked in to Sandy Hook Elementary School.  We NEED to pay attention to the failures in the mental health care system and gun control legislation.  It should not have taken the death of so many innocent children.  It should not have taken the desperation of a 20 year old young man.  This country needs to take the same steps as so many other civilized countries to ensure that our people are safe.  There is no reason why an 18 year old should be able to get their hands on a semi-automatic killing machine used in the Vietnam War.  Policy MUST adapt to meet the needs of society.  It has done so in other instances: giving women the right to vote for example.  Our fore-fathers wrote legislation in a political context that is no longer completely relevant to our own.  The second amendment was written at a time when you could take one shot, and then had to spend 5 minutes packing your next.  The tragedy that unfolded yesterday is testament to dangerous flaws that need to be addressed.  NO ONE should have access to something that can eliminate the lives of 20 children in a fraction of an instant.  My heart goes out to the residents of Newton in this time of unspeakable devastation. 

[cgaldiz]

My heart is warm with the friends I make, And better friends I'll not be knowing, Yet there isn't a train I wouldn't take, No matter where it's going.

-Edna St. Vincent Millay

[cgaldiz]

My Philosophy on Writing

Having been born the daughter of two Argentines, I would first experience and interact with the world through the Spanish language.  Curious and rambunctious, I would always excitedly ask my parents “¿Que es eso?” What is that?  Captivated by words and determined to bond with others over a shared knowledge of how to refer to different things, I wielded this question, among others, relentlessly and propelled myself into a love of language.  So on the first day of Kindergarten, when no one could understand me, I was frustrated to say the least.  There were so many things I wanted to confer over with my new friends.  But language stood in the way.  I did not have a way to express what I wanted to and they did not have a way to understand me.  Using this as motivation rather than getting discouraged, I quickly bridged this gap and began to take part in the joys of communicating with my peers.  Finally, I belonged.  The ability to convey my ideas and thoughts in a way that was understood by my colleagues brought with it an unparalleled sense of fulfillment and accomplishment.  I realized I could both take from and contribute to my environment, empowered with this influential tool.  Writing is a tool that facilitates belonging by creating community around meaning. 

[cgaldiz]

How to Enjoy a Beautiful Fall Day

Go on a hike with family!

Perks:

Get some fresh air 

It's free

Burn calories

Discover a new favorite get away spot

Also consider:

Bringing a field guide (or downloading one onto your smartphone) and learning about plants and animals

Packing up leftovers and making a picnic of it

Collecting leaves and starting a leaf scrapbook or using them for other fun crafts!

[cgaldiz]

How to Make Everyone Feel Included

So you're hosting the holidays at your house.  You've got grandma, cousin Ted, Uncle Billy and the whole gang coming over.  To keep yourself sane and make everyone feel needed, assign everyone food items to bring.  You can keep it open ended and assign them "a dessert" or specify that you would like a chocolate cake, etc.  Once you know what each person is bringing, craft a menu that gives credit where credit is due - don't be afraid to get creative!  If you have youngsters in the house that aren't able to cook, this is a great task to assign to them.  Here's an example of our menu this Thanksgiving...

Reading the menu out loud before the meal is another way to get people talking, especially if its family you haven't seen in a while.  You can also ask people to bring recipes and tack them up on a bulletin room or lay them out on the coffee table for people to snag!  Happy hosting!

[cgaldiz]

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures."

-Thornton Wilder

[cgaldiz]

How to Survive Family Vacation

So you're in the Bahamas Eleuthera, an island only the rich and famous, or native Bahamians have heard of.  Well, not just you.  You, and your four younger siblings, and your parents. And your grandparents.  Who made the vacation possible. You arrive on the island, you all run out to the beach, after you have tipped the man who carried your bags from the plane into the airport, the man who carried your bags from the airport through customs, and the man who carries your bags from outside customs to outside on the curb, and of course, the guy who has lifted your bags into the car.  All 18 bags your family brought with them on the 16 person jet from Miami to Eleuthera.

You're on the beach, lugging the chairs through the soft flour-like sand.  Everyone's sitting, the shock has finally worn out from your 7 year old brother puking on all 3 plane landings that day. The sun is shining. And all of the sudden.  clamps on to your mom's butt.  Suddenly a piercing scream, usually reserved for the perpetrator of an especially messy room, pierces and shatters the relaxation of the afternoon and panic ensues.  My point in relaying this now comical, at the time annoying, occurrence?  Vacations don't always go as planned - especially family vacations with a wide age range in an exotic location.  While we'd all like to picture ourselves laying on a beach lounger, piña colada in hand, with only the sounds of waves keeping us company, the reality is often screaming children, vicious wildlife, and rainy days.  All of these things being said, it is important to keep things in perspective.  The scorpion bite ended up healing when we sprayed it with internet recommended vinegar (yes, this actually happened) and my mom was right back at it whipping up cocktails hours later.  To survive family vacations, one has to be willing to let go of expectations and merely embrace the weird.  Whether it come in the form of an unanticipated anthropod or in the form of an unusual remedy, whatever you are doing is a change of pace and should be welcomed as such.  Namaste.