Loss

     Sudden or gradual, with or without warning, loss can prove minor, major, or complete.  We experience our own losses and witness those of loved ones and strangers.  Something is taken away often not of our own doing or our own fault.  Even though some losses are irreplaceable, we have to find a way to go forward.
     Flood, fire, and hurricane can wipe away a lifetime of possessions and life itself.  Man-made disasters and accidents can do the same.  Health issues may force us to lose physical and mental capabilities, which may or may not be followed by recovery.
     When you begin to pose the question, "Why me?" think instead, "Why not me?"  The amount of rain that falls on us is beyond our control.  What we do afterwards is what determines our survival.
 

THE BIG PICTURE

 
     Your plot of land, your domicile, your life span from birth to death, your immediate family, compare all this to the immense universe, planet Earth, home to all of nature, in endless time back into history and forward into the future, people both living, dead and yet to be born.  How often do you think about the big picture?
     Your place in time and space may monopolize your thoughts which is natural but can be short-sighted.  Any one person's perspective can be very narrow, limited to their own needs, wants, and opinions.  Out of necessity, however, we must focus on our own life, but we need to take the time to see the big picture.
     Sometimes in order to understand the big, we must look at the very small, the microscopic world we can only see with magnification.  In addition, technology helps us see out into the immense universe.  We also need to widen our perspective to understand the people of the world, those that agree with us and those who don't.
     Many people believe the biggest picture must include God, the creator and provider.  Others believe that this idea has been created by human beings.  We all need a way to be sure we don't cause harm to our planet or it's inhabitants.
     As we identify our place in the world, we can value our life and help improve the lives of others.  Scientists can show us how to discover and invent.  Scholars can add to our knowledge.  Leaders can help us organize to increase our effectiveness.  We all need to expand beyond our own existence and become a part of the big picture.

Streetcar

     Our desires transport us throughout our lives until we reach the cemetery.  These instincts propel all of nature along a life cycle through many seasons.  We yearn for happiness with someone to share our journey.
     In order to satisfy the need for a personal loving attachment, women try to attract the male while men try to overpower the female or so it seems in "A Streetcar Named Desire."   These sexual desires, these animal instincts fuel emotions and create behavior.  Blanche DuBois believed she was "just obeying the laws of nature" which say "the lady must entertain the gentlemen - or no dice."
     When desires aren't satisfied, the view of life may turn blue, the vibrant sun may be hidden by dark disappointment and depression.  Blanche advised her sister Stella: "Pull yourself together and face facts."  Blanche, however, was not able to do this for herself.
     Clinging to youthful expectations, insisting on an idealized version of life, and refusing to revise goals cause individuals to stunt their maturity and impede their survival.  Blanche and Stella grew up in very different circumstances from the men and women in Stella's working-class neighborhood.  Blanche claimed she was "very adaptable to circumstances" especially to men, but her downfall was that she didn't adapt successfully.
     Nature's life cycle has seasons of youth, reproduction, withering, and death.  Blanche commented that in the spring it was touching to notice young people "making their first discovery of love."  She felt that she now no longer had the necessary appearance of youth.  In the summer, Stella had her baby.  After the birth, she continued family life while Blanche was manipulated into institutional care.  Her youthful expectations, her tragic losses, and her inability to adapt caused a lonely ending to her journey.      
    

Pie

  
      Everyone wants a piece of the pie, a share of the good things in life.  Some people seem satisfied with a small slice; some are concerned when others don't get their fair share; some want to consume as much as they can get.
     A fruit dessert or a complete meal surrounded by pastry, pie satisfies our hunger.  It may remind us of days gone by or inspire us to try something new.   Sweet or savory, from scratch or already prepared, traditional or not, this food is one of the good things in life.
     Just be sure you don't pin your hopes on a pie in the sky, an impossible dream full of false promises.  Create your own recipe and share the good things in life.