The Family Table

Quite an interesting observation tonight....after work I stopped off at Sam's Club to pick up mass quantities of deli meat, celery, and a few other items. Yes, it's probably easier to go to the grocery store and get these things but I love roaming around Sam's. But, I digress....after I checked out I went to get a soda and noticed several people, customers, sitting at the little tables & benches. Once I clued in, I saw that at least three of these tables were occupied by families all having a dinner of Sam's snack bar food. This struck me as tremendously odd. I mean, there they were surrounded by their recent purchases and they are having a family moment at the steel picnic tables.
I certainly wasn't raised in the all-American, conventional family (but then again, was anyone?), but my parents tried to hold family-around-the-table-dinner as often as possible. We set the table, sat together, prayed, and devoured. Mom was always asking questions about school, dragging out the dictionary to look up words....My stepdad would turn on CNN and blare the news of the day or make me watch Moneyline (with Lou Dobbs). I guess I'm not trying to pass judgement on the families who eat their dinner at Sam's Club, but come on, doesn't that seem strange to anyone else? I don't know why this bothers me so much.

Oh yeah, you want a senseless topic that will really get me going? Ask me about milk trucks and how I feel about seeing them on the highway.

resolution

This is not a commentary on the Catholic Church priest abuse scandals....but, tonight i was reading a story in the New York Times on the recent 600 million settlement in Louisiana. One of the cardinals or bishops was quoted as saying they hoped this (settlement) would bring about a final resolution. I just don't understand how money will truly bring resolution??! I hear people saying how much they want to win the lottery, that it will make things so much better for them. Duh..money does not buy happiness. Money will not erase memories, scars, etc for survivors. It's a similar situation with the death penalty. Taking one life doesn't bring back the one that's already gone. This "eye for an eye" business is really over-rated.
So, what MIGHT bring resolution to a person? How about forgiveness? Reconciliation? Prayer? Faith? Hope? Love?
Those are all simple actions that bring forth a great response.
Let's resolve to be gentler to one another, to speak softer words, show a little more love, and give a lot more of ourselves.

A funny thing happened..

We had an amusing moment at work today. Once a month, my three co-workers and I meet with our supervisor to staff cases, discuss issues, whatever...We meet in the morning, have lunch, then do our monthly individual conferences in the afternoon. So, while at lunch we're gabbing and my co-worker Gaila pulls out some coins and is looking at the quarters. She hands a quarter to our supervisor and says "did you see the new Washington?" Supervisor is peering intently at the coin and says "yup, that's him." Gaila immediately blurts out TURN IT OVER GOOFBALL. After a slight pause, we all cracked up because hearing Gaila call the supervisor a goofball was SOOO funny. Of course, what Gaila was trying to do was call the attention to the picturesque scene of Washington STATE on the back of the coin, not Washington the President. We giggled for a long time about that one. Definitely one of the funniest moments I've experienced in a while. Gaila was horrified that she was going to get in trouble but thankfully our supervisor has a sense of humor. She found it funny! Way to go, Gaila! We knew there was a smart ass in you!

Commitment

I'm taking a class this summer on the Diagnostic and Statistics Manual of Mental Disorders, otherwise known as the DSM-IV. It's quite fascinating to read of the different mental illnesses and case studies/symptoms. Today, I have been working on a short paper regarding voluntary and involuntary commitment to a mental health institution. We had to research the statutes on commitment in the state we live in or plan to work in. I researched the state of Maine (because whether or not I end up in Maine, I don't want to stay in Oklahoma). What I find interesting is that if a person voluntarily commits themself, they can discharge after only 16 hours. Does anyone else think that number is a little low? I mean, I know it's voluntary but still---if you are putting yourself in a mental institution, what good is 16 hours going to do? Someone explain this to me. I had a client once who voluntarily admitted himself to detox. (Yes, I know drug/alcohol detox is way different than mental health, but go with it...) He mainly admitted himself to get his family, and me, off his case for a while. He didn't stay but maybe 24 hours then left, against medical advice, and of course was right back to using/drug seeking. Let's put the word "commitment" to good use and if someone enters treatment, let's COMMIT to a little more than 16 hours of care.
Yes, I'm rambling. No one cares what I say on this blog. And yes, if you must know, I'm procrastinating doing my next section of homework. Am I commited to my education? No, not today. :-)