I know, I know, is Meg touting some headline she read in a back alley with an activist from Sweden? I swear, I’m not. Bill’s company recently distributed this award winning documentary that is one of the most powerful films I have ever seen. It has been a long time since a documentary has motivated me to spread the word and yes, do something about an injustice that to say the least, is one of the most horrific things I’ve ever seen. It is not just about the unbelievable acts that are carried out on a day to day basis in this cove, this film illuminated the system around it that supports it indirectly that you and I innocently patron. While I know you won’t need much convincing if you see this film, please, please, please sign the letter below and spread the word. We must save Japan’s dolphins.
P.S. The dolphin that played Flipper committed suicide.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Running With Mom
Last October I decided to start running 5k races every month in honor of my mother, Betsy McEnroe. She passed away December 24th 2008 from heart and lung disease. The event of her death was traumatic, but it is not what I want to remember when I think of my mother. Working to get beyond that traumatic event has been, well, work. As with those that have lost close loved ones, my grief lives and breathes when it wants to, not when I choose it to. Luckily, running has become my certain, cherished time with my mother.
In the months after her death I resorted to the pavement every single morning. What I discovered while running was the incredible power of my mother’s memory in nature. Outside was the place my mother was happiest. Every tree to her was a creature that deserved attention and admiration. So many of the afternoons/ summers of my childhood were spent outside with my mother exploring, learning and getting dirty. Many walks and adventures led us to encyclopedias and books in the evening poring over additional information about the things we observed. Spring and summer we spent helping Mom prepare her garden. I’ll never forget my mother standing over a giant bull snake in the middle of the road to save it from cars zooming by so my science teacher could come catch and release it safely somewhere else. Consequently, the most beautiful memories I have of my mother are those that remind me of her utter fascination and love of life itself. Naturally, running outside yields many opportunities to be with her through nature.
For months while running I would cry. By the way, crying while running is an interesting sensation and one I’ve gotten very used to. My tear filled running spats normally were triggered by something so beautiful in nature that I would hear the voice of my mother in her quirky way asking about what type of plant I had jogged passed or a tree that I know she would have adored in her singular way. One morning very early, I witnessed the twilight of the morning sunrise over a very rare empty lot in LA covered in green clover. The light lit this field in such an incredibly beautiful way that I had to catch my breath. After doing so, I asked out loud, “I wonder if Mom is here to see this?” Immediately after I asked, a car alarm went off right next to me. I looked around to see what could have triggered it, but found not one soul, human or otherwise. I truly believe that was Mom and only hope that one day I can confirm that.
Beyond feeling her admiration of the natural beauty that surrounds me, I simply hear her clearest when I am running. I am free to go down memory lane with the rhythm of my breath and feet guiding me. When I struggle with an issue I give it up to thought while running and inevitably I hear Mom telling me to listen to my heart. But mostly, the stresses of my everyday life vanish and I can devote my heart to listening to her tell me that she is with me. She is with me in every moment I recognize the beauty of a tree or a wave in the ocean or the courage of a friend. Her ability to admire and love all life that surrounded her, is what lives in me. This took me a year to realize through the sanctuary of running, within which I hear my mother’s voice. The next time you see someone running, please know, they may not just be concerned about their figure, they may be attending church.
In the months after her death I resorted to the pavement every single morning. What I discovered while running was the incredible power of my mother’s memory in nature. Outside was the place my mother was happiest. Every tree to her was a creature that deserved attention and admiration. So many of the afternoons/ summers of my childhood were spent outside with my mother exploring, learning and getting dirty. Many walks and adventures led us to encyclopedias and books in the evening poring over additional information about the things we observed. Spring and summer we spent helping Mom prepare her garden. I’ll never forget my mother standing over a giant bull snake in the middle of the road to save it from cars zooming by so my science teacher could come catch and release it safely somewhere else. Consequently, the most beautiful memories I have of my mother are those that remind me of her utter fascination and love of life itself. Naturally, running outside yields many opportunities to be with her through nature.
For months while running I would cry. By the way, crying while running is an interesting sensation and one I’ve gotten very used to. My tear filled running spats normally were triggered by something so beautiful in nature that I would hear the voice of my mother in her quirky way asking about what type of plant I had jogged passed or a tree that I know she would have adored in her singular way. One morning very early, I witnessed the twilight of the morning sunrise over a very rare empty lot in LA covered in green clover. The light lit this field in such an incredibly beautiful way that I had to catch my breath. After doing so, I asked out loud, “I wonder if Mom is here to see this?” Immediately after I asked, a car alarm went off right next to me. I looked around to see what could have triggered it, but found not one soul, human or otherwise. I truly believe that was Mom and only hope that one day I can confirm that.
Beyond feeling her admiration of the natural beauty that surrounds me, I simply hear her clearest when I am running. I am free to go down memory lane with the rhythm of my breath and feet guiding me. When I struggle with an issue I give it up to thought while running and inevitably I hear Mom telling me to listen to my heart. But mostly, the stresses of my everyday life vanish and I can devote my heart to listening to her tell me that she is with me. She is with me in every moment I recognize the beauty of a tree or a wave in the ocean or the courage of a friend. Her ability to admire and love all life that surrounded her, is what lives in me. This took me a year to realize through the sanctuary of running, within which I hear my mother’s voice. The next time you see someone running, please know, they may not just be concerned about their figure, they may be attending church.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
BC Free!
Wait, what?? Is this Meg's annual post to her very popular blog? So popular, that everyone waits for the ONE post every year with so much anticipation that there are circles of betting pools that are worth hundreds of millions as to when she will post. Well, it may be. For me to share with the world wide web that shellacs my words for thousands of years to search engines that are easy enough for the entire Fox network to use, it HAS to be worth it! Think of the next Jon Stewart (he will be cloned btw) reading this in 2100.
Well Jon, in case you ARE reading this, the reason I post today is to tell the world how happy I am to be off of birth control! (I think Jon will stop reading at this point, but...) I am literally happier than I've been in six months. I have ruled out all other possible factors, such as the sunshine outside, an absorbent amount of expensive lotion in my bathroom, the fact that I intend to eat horribly this weekend, or any kind of stimulant that I have consumed this morning. Nope, none of that. My amazing team of personal doctors, aka WEB MD tells me it is my hormones (specifically testosterone) being produced by me in the good ole natural way! Not a pill, not a MAN made hormone derived from god knows what in a factory, shipped to me via a nice little neat plastic package that promises i will only have a two day period in exchange for a mind numbing, mood altering, body bloating experience for the other 26!
I suppose this was God's way of telling me just how lucky we are to have our OWN hormones and how they make you feel great even if you are in the midst of a career change and you only have thirty bucks in your bank account (kidding, i have millions). Thanks God. And thanks to the many thousands of you for reading this, your only MegMac post of 2010.... most likely, perhaps, i can't promise anything with this happiness!!
Well Jon, in case you ARE reading this, the reason I post today is to tell the world how happy I am to be off of birth control! (I think Jon will stop reading at this point, but...) I am literally happier than I've been in six months. I have ruled out all other possible factors, such as the sunshine outside, an absorbent amount of expensive lotion in my bathroom, the fact that I intend to eat horribly this weekend, or any kind of stimulant that I have consumed this morning. Nope, none of that. My amazing team of personal doctors, aka WEB MD tells me it is my hormones (specifically testosterone) being produced by me in the good ole natural way! Not a pill, not a MAN made hormone derived from god knows what in a factory, shipped to me via a nice little neat plastic package that promises i will only have a two day period in exchange for a mind numbing, mood altering, body bloating experience for the other 26!
I suppose this was God's way of telling me just how lucky we are to have our OWN hormones and how they make you feel great even if you are in the midst of a career change and you only have thirty bucks in your bank account (kidding, i have millions). Thanks God. And thanks to the many thousands of you for reading this, your only MegMac post of 2010.... most likely, perhaps, i can't promise anything with this happiness!!
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