Daddy might never survive

“…if we don’t do anything, …daddy might never survive the horrific Evin prison.”

~ Naghmeh Abedini

 

 

 

 

 

Learn how you can help be the voice for Saeed Abedini

Of Xbox’s, bones and the pen

Over the past few weeks I've been out of work because of an unfortunate accident, I broke my foot. Specifically, my left, 5th metatarsal. Every time I tell the story I get raised eyebrows of disbelief. Maybe it's because I begin the explanation with, "I broke it playing video games."

I know, how could someone break their foot playing video games? Well, it's not so hard as you might think in this world of ever advancing technology. Most of us have heard of Microsoft's Xbox game system. A few years ago Microsoft introduced an accessory to compete with the Nintendo wii called Kinect.  This device, connected to your Xbox, has a camera that observes you, applying data points to the image of your body and as you move your body, arms and legs translates that movement to the screen, essentially inserting you into the game.

Some of the most popular games are exercise, dance and sports oriented activities that encourage a lot of physical activity. That is completely out of sync with the traditional image of the video gamer sitting in front of a computer screen working keys and buttons on a keyboard/controller to direct an avatar on the screen.

So, I was playing a series of games with my 8 year old grandson from ping pong, to bowling, to soccer and finally he suggested we play track and field, all of which we have played before.  As we progressed through the various events, discus, javelin the sense of competition was intense with both of us trying hard to create the physical motions that would translate to the screen well and give us an advantage.

The sprints competition came next and we got ourselves prepared, settled in our virtual blocks and at the sound of the starter's pistol we were off. My grandson took off running and I was seemingly struggling through molasses, barely making progress on the track.  As the first hurdle arrived Bob coached me, "lift you legs higher and you'll go faster!"

So I lifted my knees and ran right through the hurdle.

"That's OK, I'll do better next time."

I raised my knees high and worked my legs fast trying to catch up. The second hurdle, I lifted my leg, and ran right through this one as well.

"OK, I'm going to nail the next one."

Off I went in pursuit of Bob who was leaving me in his virtual dust. Knees high, legs pumping the third hurdle looms into view. I gauge my approach, calculating the exact time to vault the obstacle in front of me. I raised my leg high and again ran through the virtual hurdle in front of me.

As my sock covered foot came down in contact with the carpet I, and my wife across the room, heard a loud "SNAP," the sound not unlike that of a Thanksgiving turkey wishbone succumbing to the forces of two hopeful gladiators.  I immediately sat down on the ottoman behind me.

I didn't know for sure what I had done, but I knew it wasn't good. A ligament or tendon? I couldn't know, but the thought of a broken bone never crossed my mind at that time. What I did know is that the pain was increasing in intensity and my foot was beginning to swell like a party balloon, my toes becoming tiny appendages to the bulbous mass that used to be my foot.

So, that began what will be a 3 1/2 to 4 month process including surgery, physical therapy and way too much idle time. That explains my sudden prolific writing and blogging over the past few weeks.  I've really enjoyed this time to muse and set my thoughts to prose, but I'm soon to return to work, at first limited in activity and time, but moving progressively to full time, full activity.

Since my bum leg keeps me from my normal quick pace, everything takes longer, each activity carefully thought through and executed with deliberateness.  Therefore my freedom to sit and think and write will become restricted and my activity on "flramblings" more sporadic.

I hope to keep contributing at a less frequent pace, but time will tell how that plays out. Even so, I've enjoyed the time I've had to write and hope those who've stopped by have found something to provoke thought and inspire to act in some way.

Until next time.

No one was left to speak up

Martin Niemöller 1892-1984

“In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.”
― Martin Niemöller

Learn how you can help be the voice for Saeed Abedini

I did not recognize myself

"I also got to see my face in the mirror of an elevator that was taking me to the prison hospital.  I said hi to the person staring back at me because I did not recognize myself. My hair was shaven, under my eyes were swollen three times what they should have been, my face was swollen, and my beard had grown."
- Saeed Abedini

Learn how you can help be the voice for Saeed Abedini

The Promise

Spring has come to Florida’s Central Highlands. Yes, astronomically it just began, but at these latitudes it’s been in full swing for quite a while. Our mild winters are punctuated with occasional brief forays into sub-30 degree temperature nights demanding sweaters and jackets but rapidly warm after sunrise to shirt sleeve and shorts friendly days. The humidity and moist air of summer produces cottony white skies that give way in winter to dry air and an amazing blue celestial sphere.

There’s often a disconnect as we turn on the news and watch those who live in higher latitudes dig out of snowbound homes, their streets cleared by plows that bury sidewalks and parked cars as they pass by. The bone chilling deep freeze of the Minnesota to Maine northern tier often seems more fantasy than fact as reports of sub-zero temps come rolling in while we’re sitting on the lanai drinking tea and watching the stirrings of nature.

The dollarweed, crab grass, carpet weed and chickweed have all taken advantage of the cool winter months and dormant grass to stake out unprotected territory. They creep through the planting beds, along sidewalk edges and accentuate the brown carpet with patches of bright green. Occasionally offering up a token gift of tiny white and yellow flowers as penance for their crimes.

Eastern Redbud

But springtime, as the earth shifts on it axis to a southerly tilt, brings warmth again and with it, change. The tall southern pines surrounding Gracie Acres, our name for the little patch we call home, have already finished pollinating. Their dusty lime green powder has completed its task of coating everything outdoors, harassing the sinuses and propagating their species. 

The oak trees nearby, mostly Live and Black Jacks, wait expectantly for their turn while the brown, winter slumbering grass, littered with the detritus of last year’s Black Jack leaves, is rousing from dreams of summer rains and hot days.

The redbuds, responding to a few early warm days, have mostly completed their oblation of cherry rose colored blooms, giving us an early hint of springs promise. Clouds of bright azaleas begging for, and getting, attention to their riot of color even as the curtains fall on the pansies final act, the dogwoods waiting in the wings for their grand entrance.

Male Northern Cardinal

The birds have begun their return north, the honking geese drawing our eyes to search the skies for their distant, nearly invisible V-formations. Closer, on the ground, a bright crimson Cardinal has brought his life mate and last year’s young back to accent our feeder while Carolina wrens flit from trough to tree and mourning doves float to the ground to scavenge what’s fallen, filling the air with their soft, melancholy coos. Red-bellied woodpeckers cling to the trees waiting for the right moment to swoop down and hang off the edge of the feeder while in the distance their Pileated cousin cries and teases us that he might make a rare appearance.

On our lanai a new birdhouse early on attracted the eye of some Carolina Chickadees that started nest building.  The activity of humans was too much for them at first. They seemed to have left, their nest lying dormant, vacant, abandoned and lifeless, not unlike so many of the foreclosed homes in our area. More recently though, even as we've seen adventurous souls bringing new life to those homes, the Chickadees are back and seem willing to finish the nest and fill it with new life as well.

Eastern Bluebird

New to our back yard this year is an Eastern Bluebird.  This brightly colored critter seems to be unimpressed with our presence and dared to come up close.  Maybe he’ll take up residence in the birdhouse, he has been “kicking the tires” as it were.  But I suspect he’s going to need bigger quarters.

The fox squirrels are out in force, foraging and searching for the final remains of their winter cache, occasionally stopping and sitting back on their hind legs, front paws raised, appearing to be in prayer for nature to yield forth their food supply again. 

Meanwhile the pocket gophers, who suddenly burst on the scene in the fall seem to have moved on or given up, new mounds marking their burrowing have failed to appear in a while.

All of nature seems to have caught its collective breath and joyfully embraced the passing of winter and coming of spring. Even the crows seem to have a certain glee in their bawdy calls. Amongst all this activity, the darkness and death of winter, the new life and new beginnings of spring, we are reminded of the promise of Easter.

Silence in the face of evil is itself evil

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

― Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Learn how you can help Saeed Abedini, do not remain silent.

Forgiven

Iranian-born American pastor Saeed Abedini

 

 

 

“When we forgive…whoever stings us, we can take into our embrace and love them.”

~ Saeed Abedini