Death

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A short line on death.  People mourn the loss of a loved one as they finish life and cross the time barrier from the living to the timeless realm of death.

They often don't think of what it would mean to the loved one that has passed away, their thoughts turn towards what it means to do with them.  The loss they feel, how much they will miss the loved one and ultimately what they have lost.  When you look at it from the perpective of the loved one who has lived their life and reached an old age, they are being released from pain, lonlieness and the feeling of being out of place and a burden on those whom they love.  I am not speaking of the people who have had their lives cut short by a tradgedy I am talking of those who have lived a full life and time has and continues to take its toll on their body.



My grandmother recently died, and although most of the family was surprised she had made it as long as she had (she lived six years past my grandfather's death) the reacted as if she had died unexpectedly and/ or she was stuck down midlife.  My grandmother lived to be 90 years old and her last comment was she did not know why anyone would want to live to be thiat old.  She was an active lady and enjoyed reading, writing and children.  She had lost the ability to read or write due to failing eye sight, and becuase of the passage of time could not keep up with even the most considerate of children and knew children well enough to know it would be unfair to ask them to stop to spend time with her although several of her grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grand children had quite often stopped to visit with her.  It was not as long as she would like but she also understands that a child and teens life is full of constant movement.  She recently had been slowed down to a point of needing constant supervision to insure she wasn't falling and hurting herself and this was a blow she could not tolerate. 
She was the one who was meant to take care of her children and there families in her mind and not the other way around yet time had degenerated her to this point.  This broke her will to live and so she passed on.  She had had a full life of happiness and loving.  It had its ups and downs but her life had a purpose when that purpose was done and time had robbed her of the ability to perform her purpose she had no reason to live and expressed it several times in comments similar to the forementioned  comment.
Yet when she passed many off her children acted as if it were a surprise.  If they would step out of their own world or step outside of their selfishness they would realize that it was a release from misery for her.  There were some who expresed this but still they thought they had reason to grieve.  Personally I believe there is reason to celebrate for her life was a hapy life and she touched many live in a positive manner that enriched the lives of those sshe reached.

The memory of the part I know of her life is the thoughts that fill my heart and in doing so will keep her close to me as I walk the journey of life and will enrich my soul and strengthen it for its journey when my time on earth is done.

It is not the manner of our death that makes a difference.It is how we lived that will leave a mark on the world that changes it to a better place for all.

Death is only the beginning of lfe and will not only enrich the world.

Life's Lessons

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Life’s Lessons


This past week my grandma passed away. At the age of 90 years old it was somewhat expected. She had out lived her husband (my granddad) by 6 years. She has always has been a care taker so it has driven her crazy to have people caring for her these past two years. Her life had been that of a rancher’s wife and she was always happy with it, and had lived a full life. She had lived long enough to see both world wars and all that had come since. She lived through the Great depression and long enough to see several of her grand children grow up and have children and their children have children.

My fondest memories of her was sitting at a bar that separated the dining room from the kitchen and listening to her tell stories of life before the fifties, her childhood and things she had encountered in her life. These stories were interesting all though now all I remember of them are small tidbits here and there.

I have been reflecting on the past and the little time we had spent together and realize that she had affected my life more than I know and the time I had spent with her was all quality time. As I reflect on the time I realize through her stories she had taught me many things.

Some of the things she had taught me;

• When you have nothing you are richer because you are only who you are not a sum of material belongings or of monetary worth.

• Your soul only reflects who you are not what you own.

• Compassion and understanding is mightier than strength

• The power to change the world is within everyone and it is done not by politics but through the care you provide for your own family for it is the only thing you can leave behind to affect the world.

• It is only important how you live your life not what remains after you are dead.

• Acceptance is the key to a full life for the only thing you can change is yourself.

• To touch someone’s life one only needs to care and love, material things can not touch the heart and soul the way a few kind heartfelt words can.

These are only a few things that my grandmother has taught me and I had learned the lessons but hadn’t seen where they had come from. I realize it now and wish I could thank her for it. I had also realized she is one of a few that accepted me for who I am not what she or anyone else would have me be.

My grandmother was a teacher but I have to wonder if she knew how much she had influenced my life and who I am today. She is one of a very few who actually cared enough to touch my heart and soul and leave a mark of love and understanding upon it that will continue to influence and guide me through my journey through life.

For all of that I would thank her for she taught me more than any history book or any other book ever could.

The OS War

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The War of the Operating Systems




As the computer users of the world set back trying to move through life and use the computers for their purposes, the software industries is pumping out new operating systems claiming theirs is better and the IT world, corporate world and private users dealing with operating systems that have been moved forward to the forefront of computer operation. How is the business that the world uses the computers for suppose to get done if the people using them have to deal with the operating system?

An operating system is supposed to operate in the background and allow the user to focus on the applications and programs they use. With the battle of the operating systems the visual and interaction with operating system has increased. With increased interaction with operating systems there is less productive interaction with the computer.

The world wants to surf the net, write on their word processor, play their game, and design their web sites or a large list of other applications available. The companies that produce the operating systems should keep in mind that the sole job of an operating system is to make a computer work. Its purpose is not to interact or visually occupy the user it is to keep the applications available and usable by the user as well as to store the data provided by the user.

The users of computers need to open their eyes to the fact and start demanding that operating systems stay in the background so that the computers can be used for the purpose of running the programs that people use for their purpose.

There are reasons to interact with the operating system and many of the reasons are initiated by the user not the computer. The improvements that operating systems are undergoing that make the OS visible to the user are digression and should be avoided. With some hope I look forward to the release of Windows 7. By the articles written by those who have written unbiased reports on the OS give indications that Microsoft has done just that, moved the OS back into the background. On October 22 Microsoft will release the OS to the general public and has some promise of being an OS that can provide a modern version of a proper OS. I would recommend that it be reviewed with open minds and judge it on the performance and not bias against the company that released it.