Independent of the weather, there are signs that motorcycle season is upon us. Tomorrow will find me at the Northeast Motorcycle Expo in Boston, an event that is sure to get the adrenaline running, and have me dreaming of warm sunny days with Jade.
Each year as the riding season comes into full swing, the New England Riders begin talking about riding gear, road hazards, (sand on the roadways after snowmelt) and safety. We have many lively discussions on the forum related to these topics. What is little discussed is the variety of trinkets worn, hung or otherwise displayed on their motorcycles as extra protection or insurance for a safe riding season. You’ve seen them, the gremlin bells to ward off evil road spirits, the skulls to prove you can defy death, and the angel pins and zipper pulls. None would consider leaving home without their totem of choice.
I am not exempt when it comes to safety superstitions. I have a few of my own. I have four angels to whom I pray for protection before any sojourn on Jade. Each offers me protection in keeping with their specialty. These four angels are listed in the following categories: Cherubim and Seraphim, Cerebrum and Cerebellum.
You’re confused? You say you are familiar with Cherubim and Seraphim but feel I’m mistaken with the last two? Well certainly we know that Cherubim means “to be near” which is certainly what I want when asking for protection against roadway dangers. “Dear Lord, send your angel to be near me and keep me safe from harm.” The angel most likely to be dispatched is the Cherubim. We also are familiar with Seraphim with means "to consume with fire" which in ancient times meant to purify. How can purification keep me safe? Consider being mentally preoccupied with troubles, having just had an argument, or any other emotion that would keep one from paying attention. On a motorcycle, inattention is the surest way to injury or worse. With this in mind, I want to be cleansed of any emotional upset that would result in harm. Therefore, Seraphim is there as well to purify my heart and soul for the journey ahead.
Angels work in teams, I believe, and although Cherubim and Seraphim are good at what they do, I can’t forget about Cerebrum and Cerebellum. The first processes sensory information, reasoning and language. The second, processes body balance and muscular coordination. Without these two intact and protected, riding a motorcycle would be impossible. Cerebrum instructs me, first and foremost, to wear my helmet. Jacket and boots added for good measure. All good reasoning. Cerebellum keeps me balanced and coordinated while riding. Motorcycles do, after all, have only two wheels. Balance and coordination are paramount.
You don’t have to be a motorcyclist to have these angels in your life. Angels often manifest themselves in the most unexpected places or people. If you think carefully, I bet you can think of a few instances where the Cherubim and Seraphim were with you, and if you failed to heed your own Cerebrum and Cerebellum, someone who loves you loaned you theirs.
Ride Safe!
Friday, February 8, 2008
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Lost
Lost Satellite Reception
I jump out of my skin at the unexpected voice saying, “lost satellite reception!” My quiet meditation, as I drive along, is shattered by the disembodied voice coming from the GPS. My skin prickles with the impression that an unseen entity is monitoring my private thoughts.
I certainly feel as if I have lost satellite reception and have temporarily lost my way. Another opportunity has yet again slipped my grasp. I feel relief and disappointment at the same time.
Recently I tuned in to watch the new episode of Lost. The survivors of Oceanic flight 815 are rescued and returned to the real world. Yet, their lives are in more shambles than when they were stranded on an obscure island in the middle of nowhere. In fact, while castaways, their existence had more meaning and their goals were more clearly defined. Like the survivors of Oceanic flight 815, could it be possible that I’m where I should be?
We all have feelings that we have not yet arrived, yet in the striving toward our destiny, we are actually attending to our true purpose. The world and its trappings are a distraction telling us what we should want. While stranded, the survivors realized their true greatness. When returned to the real world, the distractions of life made them fearful. There is a lesson here for me it seems. With the GPS, an adjustment of the receiver soon locks back on to the celestial orbiting vehicles and is on tract again. An adjustment of my expectations possibly? On the other hand, it could be as simple as being off course and needing to recalculate the route to my destination.
I jump out of my skin at the unexpected voice saying, “lost satellite reception!” My quiet meditation, as I drive along, is shattered by the disembodied voice coming from the GPS. My skin prickles with the impression that an unseen entity is monitoring my private thoughts.
I certainly feel as if I have lost satellite reception and have temporarily lost my way. Another opportunity has yet again slipped my grasp. I feel relief and disappointment at the same time.
Recently I tuned in to watch the new episode of Lost. The survivors of Oceanic flight 815 are rescued and returned to the real world. Yet, their lives are in more shambles than when they were stranded on an obscure island in the middle of nowhere. In fact, while castaways, their existence had more meaning and their goals were more clearly defined. Like the survivors of Oceanic flight 815, could it be possible that I’m where I should be?
We all have feelings that we have not yet arrived, yet in the striving toward our destiny, we are actually attending to our true purpose. The world and its trappings are a distraction telling us what we should want. While stranded, the survivors realized their true greatness. When returned to the real world, the distractions of life made them fearful. There is a lesson here for me it seems. With the GPS, an adjustment of the receiver soon locks back on to the celestial orbiting vehicles and is on tract again. An adjustment of my expectations possibly? On the other hand, it could be as simple as being off course and needing to recalculate the route to my destination.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Mistaken Identity
Yesterday, in a discussion at work about blogging for a living, a colleague mentioned his former manager, Bob. The company Bob now works for, Infoglide has daily blog posts at their website. Since Bob used to compliment my weekly newsletter, I thought I would check out the blog. First I stopped to check out Infoglide’s business focus. I read through the following:
Infoglide Software's proven identity resolution technology allows organizations to determine the true identities of their customers, vendors, and employees.
To my great amusement, I read the most recent entry entitled, Mistaken Identity Resolution.In this blog post, the writer has a number of examples of identity mistakes. Have you ever been mistaken on the street for someone famous, of worse, someone infamous?
I often have people approach me and say “don’t I know you?” They don’t. Back in my 20’s a friend of my husband’s often accused me of being a snob. He would see me drive by in my Volkswagen Beetle every day. He’d stand on the street corner and wave, and I would just drive on by. One day, I walked to the corner store, where I ran into the friend. “Well” he said, “now you don’t have any excuse to ignore me.” As he once again described how I continually drive by, how he’d wave and how I ignored him, along came a VW. He stopped short, pointed and said, “and there you go again!” Sure enough, there was a woman, who looked a lot like me, driving by in a black VW Beetle. In my teens, when I was much thinner and had long straight hair, people often said I could pass for Cher. Cher’s aged better than I have. Then again, she can afford a nip and tuck now and again. Why am I so amused at where Bob has found himself? Because Bob’s full name is Bob Barker. How fitting that he finds himself working to keep identities straight!
Infoglide Software's proven identity resolution technology allows organizations to determine the true identities of their customers, vendors, and employees.
To my great amusement, I read the most recent entry entitled, Mistaken Identity Resolution.In this blog post, the writer has a number of examples of identity mistakes. Have you ever been mistaken on the street for someone famous, of worse, someone infamous?
I often have people approach me and say “don’t I know you?” They don’t. Back in my 20’s a friend of my husband’s often accused me of being a snob. He would see me drive by in my Volkswagen Beetle every day. He’d stand on the street corner and wave, and I would just drive on by. One day, I walked to the corner store, where I ran into the friend. “Well” he said, “now you don’t have any excuse to ignore me.” As he once again described how I continually drive by, how he’d wave and how I ignored him, along came a VW. He stopped short, pointed and said, “and there you go again!” Sure enough, there was a woman, who looked a lot like me, driving by in a black VW Beetle. In my teens, when I was much thinner and had long straight hair, people often said I could pass for Cher. Cher’s aged better than I have. Then again, she can afford a nip and tuck now and again. Why am I so amused at where Bob has found himself? Because Bob’s full name is Bob Barker. How fitting that he finds himself working to keep identities straight!
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