Reflection

There has been a lot going on in my mind the last three days, well actually the last month. Last night I decided to be friendly toward a person who doesn’t really deserve my friendship. Its that whole Karma thing again, but I will get into that in more detail at a later date.
I was looking back through my blogs today, reflecting on the past. Four of them really stood out. New Years Resolution, Life is Long, New Years Resolution part 2, and Three Weeks. I was almost uncanny to read over my own words. When I first wrote them, people told me how good they were, filled with emotion and wisdom. I didn’t really think much of it at the time, but today I got chocked up as I re-read them. If I hadn’t written them myself I would have never believed that those words were from me.
Life is Long and New Years Resolution part 2 were both written with a specific person in mind. This blog here is written to a different specific person, who is still very similar, so a lot of the same implies. This person is going through a lot because of her own personal mistakes and bad decisions. We have all been there. I hope “you” read those 4 previous blogs and seriously consider your life and how it could turn out.
Life is changing for me as well and I have been thinking a lot about how its going to turn out. For the better im sure. So I will probably spend some time re-reading all my blogs and looking in the mirror.

Karma

Karma means "(the result of) action", generally taken as a term that comprises the entire cycle of cause and effect. Karma is a sum of all that an individual has done, is currently doing and will do. Individuals go through certain processes and accompanying experiences throughout their lives which they have chosen, and those would be based on the results of their own creations: "karma". Karma is not about retribution, vengeance, punishment or reward. Karma simply deals with what is. The effects of all deeds actively create past, present and future experiences, thus making one responsible for one's own life, and the pain and joy brought to others. In religions that incorporate reincarnation, karma extends through one's present life and all past and future lives as well.
Karma is simply the golden rule: what you give out is what you receive - either in the same or in similar form. You reap what you sow - your actions create that which you do live out now, whether this relates to a past/future life situation or to the present date.
Karma is not fate, for man acts with free will creating his own destiny.
Not all karma rebounds immediately. Some accumulate and return unexpectedly in this or other births.
Buddhists believe that the actions of beings will affect their own future, and because of this there are no private actions: all actions have a consequence. The emphasis of karma in Buddhism is on cause, not on effect.
If an individual sows goodness, he or she will reap goodness; if one sows evil, he or she will reap evil. Karma refers to the totality of mankind's actions and their concomitant reactions in current and previous lives, all of which determine the future. However, many karmas do not have an immediate effect; some accumulate and return unexpectedly in an individual's later lives. The conquest of karma is believed to lie in intelligent action and dispassionate reaction.
Unkindness yields spoiled fruits, and good deeds bring forth sweet fruits. As one acts, so does he become: one becomes virtuous by virtuous action, and evil by evil action.

For more info that includes a little to much reading for me or things I'm not concerned with here, you can go to Wikipedia, which is where I got all of the above information.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma

Don't Make Mom Anrgy!

Ya, that pic kinda surprises me to. I went home last weekend to see my "Younger Brother" (cant call him Little Brother anymore) play football. He Just turned 15 on the 17th but is 6'6" tall and weighs 220 lbs. He is only in 9th grade but is one of the 2 biggest kids on the team. I didn't have much trouble picking him out even though I didn't know his number. I am very proud of him & I know the Old Man would be to. Not many 9th graders get to play varsity football.

On Saturday Colton came over, so did my cousin Tim, his son & brother-in-law. We spent the entire day tromping through the woods and shooting guns. We especially had fun shooting my new toy, a Glock .45, it was a rush. Even mom fired off a couple of rounds, which I was very surprised. She seemed to enjoy it. It was a good time of male bonding for the Alter Boys. We are definitely going to make this a more regular event. Maybe even change it up a little bit. Maybe shooting bows or throwing axes? Some Pennsylvania Hillbilly fun :)

I definitely wouldn't mess with mom though. On second thought I wouldn't mess with any of us. 15 year old Mikey is a deadly shot with the .45 & 9 year old Shawn had a blast with his BB gun and shooting the Old Man's .22 pistol. Kinda scary lookin, aint we!

9/11

I think almost everyone remembers where they were and what they were doing 5 years ago today. It doesn't seem like so long ago.
I was at the Administration Building in State College to fix a users printer. When I got there someone had said that a airplane had crashed into the World Trade Center. We naturally assumed it was just a accident. We listened to the radio reports as I worked on the printer. It was a shock when it came over the radio that a second plane had hit the other tower. Than it became obvious that there was something devious behind the planes crashing into the buildings. I finished with the printer and called into our dispatch to close out the call. As I was finishing closing out the call I was talking to the one dispatcher Len. We were talking about the World Trade Center. All of a sudden he said "I have to go, they just crashed another plane into the Pentagon". Then there was no doubt that we were under attack. We crowded around the radio and listened as the first tower fell. Some cried, I think we all said a little prayer for the people in the tower and that the second tower would hold. By the time the second tower fell we were silent. I had to go to Altoona for another call. It was a eerie ride. I kept looking at the sky, but there were no planes, no jet trails, nothing but an uncanny emptiness in the sky. I was listening to the news and trying to remain calm. I have 2 sisters and their family's that live near Washington DC. I tried to call them, but the phone kept saying that all circuits were busy. On the way to Altoona I heard on the radio that a 3rd plane crashed in Somerset county, which is less than 65 miles from where I was at. When I got to the branch they had a television on. We all just stood around and watched the news. They had not yet heard of the plane crashing in Pennsylvania. Around 12:30 they told us all to go home. I drove home as fast as I could. I still couldn't get a hold of my sisters, but I did talk to my mother and other family.
When I got back to Tyrone I stopped at Mario's pizza. There were a lot of people there getting out of work early and getting some food to go. As I stood in line waiting for my pizza, watching the replay of the towers falling, I could not hold back the tears. When I got home someone had contacted one of my sisters, I don't remember who it was though. The rest of the day was spent watching the news in shock and disbelief.

The next day the world wept with us. This country became closer than it has been in a long time. There were long lines to donate blood. Everyone had the Stars and Stripes flying from their house or yard. We were united. That seems like it has been so long ago. Sometimes it seems that over the last 5 years many people have forgotten. Forgotten that we were attacked. Forgotten the hero's that gave their life that day to help rescue others in the WTC or the Pentagon and the hero's that saved many other lives by bringing down flight 93. Today we remember, but what about tomorrow. 5 years ago was a day that changed our lives and our country forever, but will September 12, 2006 be just another day. Will we forget we are at war, just because we have not been attacked in over 5 years? Will we forget the humanity & compassion that was shown after that day? There are still people who want to murder us & there are still people in this great county who can make a difference for someone.
God Bless America!