Just read this today and felt it was worthy of sharing......
Nurse reveals the top 5 regrets people make on their deathbed
By Bronnie Ware (who worked for years nursing the dying)
1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people have had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.
It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.
2. I wish I didn't work so hard.
This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.
By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.
3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.
Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.
We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly,in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved.Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.
It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip.But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks,love and relationships.
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have sillyness in their life again.
When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again,long before you are dying.
I first read this in the Observer August 2010 but have since found a link to the post on her website: http://www.inspirationandchai.com/Regrets-of-the-Dying.html
LIVE LIFE FULLY : ) You'll have less regret at the end!!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxxo
Emma
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
LOVE & LIFE IN THE BAY
It has been just over a year since I moved to the bay area of California. I am doubtful that there is anyone still checking in to my blog, but just in case....
I am very happy to report that my love life is amazing. Never before have I felt relaxed and confident in a relationship to the point that I can honestly say that I'm with someone who is truly my best friend and mate. It feels so strange to me to know that a disagreement doesn't end a relationship. The maturity of being in a partnership is refreshing, not always fun, but then I'd be lying if I said otherwise.
What is also refreshing is to know that my love/work was not at all a hindrance creating our relationship. Finding a man who loved me and respected me and my choices was the greatest gift! I understand that he is secure w/ himself and he understands that our love cannot be destroyed by sharing physical love with others.
I have truly enjoyed making such wonderful friends and will always cherish my memories of this time & experience!! I have no regrets and will say that I understand not every man/woman/trans can share the same positive experiences I've had but when you venture into anything new with w/ open eyes & mind and with an open heart with a clear set of goals, rules & intentions in place beforehand I cannot see where failure & negativity would be an outcome.
LOVE TO YOU ALL WHO HAVE COME INTO MY LIFE AND HELPED ME BECOME A BETTER & WISER HUMAN BEING!!!
xoxoxoxoxo
Emma : )
Saturday, December 5, 2009
A Year Later
Well....here I am for those few of you who might still be checking out my blog in hopes that I haven't fallen off the face of this crazy planet. : )
Sometimes it is hard for me to believe I made it a year here in this economically depressed, yet friendly and lovely city, but I did!!!! Thanks to some very good friends and generous family and a very dear and loving man I am still here!!!
This year has been another great opportunity to learn and grow as a more confident and compassionate human being. Learning how to live without money and in survival mode has been a great classroom for me!!! Less than 2 years ago I was living in a lovely 2 bedroom, tastefully decorated oceanfront condo in Melbourne Beach without really anything of importance going on in my life or any personal challenges to deal with to learning how to survive without an income (I opted to not escort while I transitioned mentally and physically into the homeless community...safer for me this way) and this involved living in my van for a couple weeks and then moving into a trailer that is 13 ft. x 7 ft. with no real kitchen or bathroom.....being creative is key in making life liveable and enjoyable!!!
I am happy to say that this adventure was made possible by a very caring and loving man who entered my life on the trip out here...down in San Francisco (making my way up to Portland I stopped into SF for a few days). I am happy to report that come Christmas I will have been involved with this man for a year.....breaking my all-time relationship record by 7 months!!! Yes, that is right......I've only been with a man for 3 mo. ever in my life. NOW THIS IS PROGRESS!!!
What is great about meeting this man is that I told him what work/play I had been doing and he was totally ok with it. No, he is not some twisted, sick preditory kinda guy. He is just an older, more mature man who is comfortable in his own skin and knows that sex isn't what makes a relationship strong....but rather it is trust in yourself and your partner that sex is only one of many components to focus attention on. It also helps that my guy is an artist so he is very unconventional and very creative!!! We have made our long-distance relationship work over the past year and things are progressing to the point that after looking at each of our situations, I can afford to move down to CA and try living together and seeing where things are going. I am nervous, but I love this man and am willing to take a bigger risk for a committed relationship.
Wish me luck please!!!!
xoxoxxoxoxoxoo
Truly blissfully yours!!!
Emma : )
Sometimes it is hard for me to believe I made it a year here in this economically depressed, yet friendly and lovely city, but I did!!!! Thanks to some very good friends and generous family and a very dear and loving man I am still here!!!
This year has been another great opportunity to learn and grow as a more confident and compassionate human being. Learning how to live without money and in survival mode has been a great classroom for me!!! Less than 2 years ago I was living in a lovely 2 bedroom, tastefully decorated oceanfront condo in Melbourne Beach without really anything of importance going on in my life or any personal challenges to deal with to learning how to survive without an income (I opted to not escort while I transitioned mentally and physically into the homeless community...safer for me this way) and this involved living in my van for a couple weeks and then moving into a trailer that is 13 ft. x 7 ft. with no real kitchen or bathroom.....being creative is key in making life liveable and enjoyable!!!
I am happy to say that this adventure was made possible by a very caring and loving man who entered my life on the trip out here...down in San Francisco (making my way up to Portland I stopped into SF for a few days). I am happy to report that come Christmas I will have been involved with this man for a year.....breaking my all-time relationship record by 7 months!!! Yes, that is right......I've only been with a man for 3 mo. ever in my life. NOW THIS IS PROGRESS!!!
What is great about meeting this man is that I told him what work/play I had been doing and he was totally ok with it. No, he is not some twisted, sick preditory kinda guy. He is just an older, more mature man who is comfortable in his own skin and knows that sex isn't what makes a relationship strong....but rather it is trust in yourself and your partner that sex is only one of many components to focus attention on. It also helps that my guy is an artist so he is very unconventional and very creative!!! We have made our long-distance relationship work over the past year and things are progressing to the point that after looking at each of our situations, I can afford to move down to CA and try living together and seeing where things are going. I am nervous, but I love this man and am willing to take a bigger risk for a committed relationship.
Wish me luck please!!!!
xoxoxxoxoxoxoo
Truly blissfully yours!!!
Emma : )
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Update on Life
Good afternoon my dear friends....
I hope all is well with you. I am hunkering down and weathering this economic storm that we are in the midst of. Of course not everyone is experiencing this economy the same way....so if you are one of the lucky ones.....I am sincerely happy for you!!!! I wouldn't want anyone to feel the turmoil I am feeling.
I have been struggling to find employment. This is the first time I have ever had so much trouble finding work. I used to go to one or two job interviews and be working at one of them the next day. This is my first recession experience....well, I think it's safe to say it is a depression for me....and I have a very strange feeling that we have a long way to go until things get better.
I think we are done with the never-ending consumerlifestyle that we were raised and conditioned to pursue. That is only part of this economic mess that I am actually happy about. I have long felt we have put too much importance on acquiring things and not enough time in engaging in meaningful relationships and experiencing life through adventures and personal challenges.
So, I am now one of the newly "homeless/jobless" in America. Yes, I am the first in my family, since the Great Depression, to be technically poor. I am sad for my parents. They had so many hopes for me and I was their last chance for a fourth-generation college graduate (and they are all women graduates). My parents were the first generation of "middle-class" Americans (both their fathers died when they were young children) to raise their children in a modest but well-provided for fashion.
We lived in a nice clean house, never went without nutritious, home-cooked meals and besides an occasional (but deserved) spanking, there was no physical or emotional abuse in our house. My mother worked at a local university so she could get a free education and when she turned 27 she received her Masters in Education. She kept the house clean, made our meals, did the laundry, occasionally sewed clothes for me (and herself) worked an outside job AND went to school. If that isn't the definition of SUPERWOMAN I don't know what is!!!! What is more amazing is that my father's work would occasionally involve taking trips all over the world. He could be gone anywhere from two weeks to a month or more. So, my mother had to handle running the house and dealing with whatever came her way, on her own!
So, my situation makes me feel worse in that I feel as though I have let my parents down. Not that I can control the economy and tell the government what they should do (if I had billions of dollars to lavish on the politicians I would have a better chance....but that isn't the case) but I feel bad that I didn't measure up to their expectations all the same. I am sorry I didn't want to live my life in a way that made them feel safe, comfortable and even in a way where they could brag about me to their friends.
I have been told by my friends that I should write a book. Lord knows I have lots to talk about...right??? The only thing I haven't done is commit robbery, kill or engage in crimes involving others as victims. I am not sure if it would be a best-seller without some grizzly-tabloid blood story...but I am willing to give it a shot.
Well, I think this is enough for now. I hope I haven't saddened my readers. I am learning how to rise above adversity with my head held high. : )
Until next time....
Blissfully,
Emma : )
I hope all is well with you. I am hunkering down and weathering this economic storm that we are in the midst of. Of course not everyone is experiencing this economy the same way....so if you are one of the lucky ones.....I am sincerely happy for you!!!! I wouldn't want anyone to feel the turmoil I am feeling.
I have been struggling to find employment. This is the first time I have ever had so much trouble finding work. I used to go to one or two job interviews and be working at one of them the next day. This is my first recession experience....well, I think it's safe to say it is a depression for me....and I have a very strange feeling that we have a long way to go until things get better.
I think we are done with the never-ending consumerlifestyle that we were raised and conditioned to pursue. That is only part of this economic mess that I am actually happy about. I have long felt we have put too much importance on acquiring things and not enough time in engaging in meaningful relationships and experiencing life through adventures and personal challenges.
So, I am now one of the newly "homeless/jobless" in America. Yes, I am the first in my family, since the Great Depression, to be technically poor. I am sad for my parents. They had so many hopes for me and I was their last chance for a fourth-generation college graduate (and they are all women graduates). My parents were the first generation of "middle-class" Americans (both their fathers died when they were young children) to raise their children in a modest but well-provided for fashion.
We lived in a nice clean house, never went without nutritious, home-cooked meals and besides an occasional (but deserved) spanking, there was no physical or emotional abuse in our house. My mother worked at a local university so she could get a free education and when she turned 27 she received her Masters in Education. She kept the house clean, made our meals, did the laundry, occasionally sewed clothes for me (and herself) worked an outside job AND went to school. If that isn't the definition of SUPERWOMAN I don't know what is!!!! What is more amazing is that my father's work would occasionally involve taking trips all over the world. He could be gone anywhere from two weeks to a month or more. So, my mother had to handle running the house and dealing with whatever came her way, on her own!
So, my situation makes me feel worse in that I feel as though I have let my parents down. Not that I can control the economy and tell the government what they should do (if I had billions of dollars to lavish on the politicians I would have a better chance....but that isn't the case) but I feel bad that I didn't measure up to their expectations all the same. I am sorry I didn't want to live my life in a way that made them feel safe, comfortable and even in a way where they could brag about me to their friends.
I have been told by my friends that I should write a book. Lord knows I have lots to talk about...right??? The only thing I haven't done is commit robbery, kill or engage in crimes involving others as victims. I am not sure if it would be a best-seller without some grizzly-tabloid blood story...but I am willing to give it a shot.
Well, I think this is enough for now. I hope I haven't saddened my readers. I am learning how to rise above adversity with my head held high. : )
Until next time....
Blissfully,
Emma : )
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Update on Camper Trailer
Hello friends and loyal followers : )
I wanted to update you all on the outcome of my "house-on-wheels".....GREAT NEWS....I am the proud owner of a tiny 13 ft. camper/trailer! I have a few angels to thank for their generosity and support....one of which is a very kind man I had not met before who happened to read my blog and contacted me to offer a generous donation and invitation to lunch. I gratefully accepted both and really am pleased that there are people among us who are able to give without anything in return....just wanting to give from the heart!!! : )
I am blessed to have loving parents and a very dear female friend back in Florida who is also facing financially challenging times, but like me....has faith that her and her family's needs will be met if she practices the art of sharing. My fears subside when I remind myself that there have been tough times in the past (the Great Depression is a recent example with survivors still present to tell their stories and to give hope that the poor can rise up and make their government respond to the demands of their constituents when the pain becomes too intolerable...I pray our tolerance level is lower today than it was 70 years ago) and there always will be times of struggle as long as there is injustice in our world.
So, I have my little camper and a place to park it and will work on making my new home and parking space a work of art and inspiration to others. My desire is to make a social commentary that BIGGER IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER and a life of simplicity can actually lead to a more creative and liberating existence than the "tail-chasing" act of "living the American Dream"...a cycle of work and consume.
I will not be posting my ad on-line for now.....keep checking in on my blog to see what is happening in EMMA'S WORLD : )
HUGS & KISSES!!!!
BLISSFULLY,
EmMa : )
I wanted to update you all on the outcome of my "house-on-wheels".....GREAT NEWS....I am the proud owner of a tiny 13 ft. camper/trailer! I have a few angels to thank for their generosity and support....one of which is a very kind man I had not met before who happened to read my blog and contacted me to offer a generous donation and invitation to lunch. I gratefully accepted both and really am pleased that there are people among us who are able to give without anything in return....just wanting to give from the heart!!! : )
I am blessed to have loving parents and a very dear female friend back in Florida who is also facing financially challenging times, but like me....has faith that her and her family's needs will be met if she practices the art of sharing. My fears subside when I remind myself that there have been tough times in the past (the Great Depression is a recent example with survivors still present to tell their stories and to give hope that the poor can rise up and make their government respond to the demands of their constituents when the pain becomes too intolerable...I pray our tolerance level is lower today than it was 70 years ago) and there always will be times of struggle as long as there is injustice in our world.
So, I have my little camper and a place to park it and will work on making my new home and parking space a work of art and inspiration to others. My desire is to make a social commentary that BIGGER IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER and a life of simplicity can actually lead to a more creative and liberating existence than the "tail-chasing" act of "living the American Dream"...a cycle of work and consume.
I will not be posting my ad on-line for now.....keep checking in on my blog to see what is happening in EMMA'S WORLD : )
HUGS & KISSES!!!!
BLISSFULLY,
EmMa : )
Monday, June 8, 2009
Reflection
Reflection (noun) 1. a fixing of the thoughts on something; careful consideration.
2. an image; representation; counterpart.
This word has taken personal meaning to me over the last few days (usually I am using that word in terms of me in a bigger context....my society, the world and life in general) as I try to evaluate what I need to do to bring stability back into my life.
On Friday I went to PCC Cascade campus to try to get into the Town Hall Forum on Health Care that my Congressman, Earl Blumenauer, and former VT Gov. Howard Dean hosted. This event was not newsworthy (no coverage of it either before, during or after by any news media outlet...even though a press release from Physicians for a National Health Program press release on 6/4/09 stated that 62.1% of all bankruptcies in 2007 were filed by middle-class and insured citizens) by either the television news outlets or the Oregonian. More important events like the Portland Rose Festival or someone losing their dog will get priority these days.
But I digress, so my Congressman announced over a week ago this health care town hall meeting and booked the event in a small venue holding something like under 250 seats and sent out emails to his list of interested people. Apparently there were so many requests that they had to hold a "lottery" (in my opinion it is like an election but done in secret...so it can be more selective of the winners) and secured an "overflow" room (in a building across the campus) where interested people could watch it on tv (might as well be watching it in the comfort of your own living room...what's the difference?).
Well, I was not one of the lucky few to get into the hall. I showed up to the event anyway and saw a lot of people who wanted to get in were left out like me. About 40 or 50 people were outside with signs requesting a Single Payer Universal Health Care Plan. This is not what any of the insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, their lobbyists, Wall Street operators & investors, advertising-dependent television stations and the campaign-dollar-seeking politicians want. And in the end...that is what matters, not what a majority of doctors, health-care providers, grandparents, parents, working and certainly the poor want.
I mean, if we get socialized medicine we might start socializing banks, auto manufacturers and insurance companies (ooops...that's right we did that already with the taxpayer bailouts...but this is different) and then Americans would demand services like fire-fighting services, police protection services and then they would demand a multitude of organizations to protect them from outside invaders and conquers with say a fully armed and funded military!!! Geez....what was I thinking??
Ok...enough of the humor. Health care is a serious issue. I should know, I lost my great aunt because Humana Health "Care" (her insurer) refused to keep her hospitalized for her pneumonia (after her second trip to the hospital for the same problem) and she was found dead in her apt. My 7 year old nephew lost his battle with Leukemia even after chemo/radiation and finally a bone-marrow transplant. And I won't bore you with the numbers of women I know that have battled breast cancer, had hysterectomies (without consulting more than one physician for an opinion) and the people I meet who are Diabetic, on depression/anxiety medication or who battle obesity.
This is where the word "reflection" comes in. So, I had my camera with me and took pictures of the few but courageous folks who came out to let our Congressman know that we want "Medicare for All"...not this private/public mandate crud that the people in Mass. are unhappy with. I had my picture taken with a very sweet older gentleman who is very patriotic and has suffered his own injustices (unrelated to health system) and when I got home and saw the picture I was really upset. I have worked very hard to lose weight over the last 4 years and in the last year have re-gained 35 lbs. which is just unacceptable to me! Yes, my genetics predisposes me to being heavy but I am not going to let my gene-pool win over my desire to be healthy and happy.
Last night I was at the gym on the cardio equipment and watched a program on CNBC "Dirty Money" about the life of an escort. I recall this program being taped when I was in Chicago last summer for a sex-worker conference. CNBC even came to an erotic bookstore to film, former escort, Amanda Brooks, give a talk on her latest book (a how-to become an escort book) and I was in the audience (though they did not film our faces). Anyway, I watched most of the program and felt sad. I love being an "escort" "private companion" "intimacy confidant" whatever you want to call it. I am a natural at it and I am one who takes extreme caution in selecting the people I want to see (to help guarantee that I have just as good a time as the generous-kind men I meet) and pride myself on looking as good as I can be to be sure not to disappoint.
Well, I think I need go into retirement and put my high-heals on the shelf for now and invest in a new pair of running shoes and get down to business of taking care of myself and maybe resurface more enlightened and refined gifts to share!
My Eros ad will expire in a few days and will only be available to my blogging friends. Hopefully, those of you who have enjoyed reading the blog will keep reading!!! I will continue writing as I continue evolving and transforming!!!
Hugs & Kisses to all you sweet men out there!!!!
Sincerely,
Emma : )
2. an image; representation; counterpart.
This word has taken personal meaning to me over the last few days (usually I am using that word in terms of me in a bigger context....my society, the world and life in general) as I try to evaluate what I need to do to bring stability back into my life.
On Friday I went to PCC Cascade campus to try to get into the Town Hall Forum on Health Care that my Congressman, Earl Blumenauer, and former VT Gov. Howard Dean hosted. This event was not newsworthy (no coverage of it either before, during or after by any news media outlet...even though a press release from Physicians for a National Health Program press release on 6/4/09 stated that 62.1% of all bankruptcies in 2007 were filed by middle-class and insured citizens) by either the television news outlets or the Oregonian. More important events like the Portland Rose Festival or someone losing their dog will get priority these days.
But I digress, so my Congressman announced over a week ago this health care town hall meeting and booked the event in a small venue holding something like under 250 seats and sent out emails to his list of interested people. Apparently there were so many requests that they had to hold a "lottery" (in my opinion it is like an election but done in secret...so it can be more selective of the winners) and secured an "overflow" room (in a building across the campus) where interested people could watch it on tv (might as well be watching it in the comfort of your own living room...what's the difference?).
Well, I was not one of the lucky few to get into the hall. I showed up to the event anyway and saw a lot of people who wanted to get in were left out like me. About 40 or 50 people were outside with signs requesting a Single Payer Universal Health Care Plan. This is not what any of the insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, their lobbyists, Wall Street operators & investors, advertising-dependent television stations and the campaign-dollar-seeking politicians want. And in the end...that is what matters, not what a majority of doctors, health-care providers, grandparents, parents, working and certainly the poor want.
I mean, if we get socialized medicine we might start socializing banks, auto manufacturers and insurance companies (ooops...that's right we did that already with the taxpayer bailouts...but this is different) and then Americans would demand services like fire-fighting services, police protection services and then they would demand a multitude of organizations to protect them from outside invaders and conquers with say a fully armed and funded military!!! Geez....what was I thinking??
Ok...enough of the humor. Health care is a serious issue. I should know, I lost my great aunt because Humana Health "Care" (her insurer) refused to keep her hospitalized for her pneumonia (after her second trip to the hospital for the same problem) and she was found dead in her apt. My 7 year old nephew lost his battle with Leukemia even after chemo/radiation and finally a bone-marrow transplant. And I won't bore you with the numbers of women I know that have battled breast cancer, had hysterectomies (without consulting more than one physician for an opinion) and the people I meet who are Diabetic, on depression/anxiety medication or who battle obesity.
This is where the word "reflection" comes in. So, I had my camera with me and took pictures of the few but courageous folks who came out to let our Congressman know that we want "Medicare for All"...not this private/public mandate crud that the people in Mass. are unhappy with. I had my picture taken with a very sweet older gentleman who is very patriotic and has suffered his own injustices (unrelated to health system) and when I got home and saw the picture I was really upset. I have worked very hard to lose weight over the last 4 years and in the last year have re-gained 35 lbs. which is just unacceptable to me! Yes, my genetics predisposes me to being heavy but I am not going to let my gene-pool win over my desire to be healthy and happy.
Last night I was at the gym on the cardio equipment and watched a program on CNBC "Dirty Money" about the life of an escort. I recall this program being taped when I was in Chicago last summer for a sex-worker conference. CNBC even came to an erotic bookstore to film, former escort, Amanda Brooks, give a talk on her latest book (a how-to become an escort book) and I was in the audience (though they did not film our faces). Anyway, I watched most of the program and felt sad. I love being an "escort" "private companion" "intimacy confidant" whatever you want to call it. I am a natural at it and I am one who takes extreme caution in selecting the people I want to see (to help guarantee that I have just as good a time as the generous-kind men I meet) and pride myself on looking as good as I can be to be sure not to disappoint.
Well, I think I need go into retirement and put my high-heals on the shelf for now and invest in a new pair of running shoes and get down to business of taking care of myself and maybe resurface more enlightened and refined gifts to share!
My Eros ad will expire in a few days and will only be available to my blogging friends. Hopefully, those of you who have enjoyed reading the blog will keep reading!!! I will continue writing as I continue evolving and transforming!!!
Hugs & Kisses to all you sweet men out there!!!!
Sincerely,
Emma : )
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
A New Home
More than a month ago I left my little studio apartment and found another one for the month of May only. I have been trying to figure out how to survive in this economic downturn since I arrived here in November. Things have not worked out as I had predicted they would. It is as if I went from the frying pan into the fire, so to speak. I thought I was leaving a major economic disaster (Florida) for Ecotopia. Well, I was half-way right.
Portland is a vibrant, civilized and most "green" city I have ever visited (and lived in for 8 mo. in 2003). There are a number of things to do on any given night or day in this city. The list of active organizations here are too many to count but you can find them (one way is through Craigslist under the "community" listing) on just about any local coffeehouse bulletin board or front door window.
This city is so civilized. I know that is an unusual term to use, but it fits in this case. You rarely hear people in their cars honking at other drivers in traffic, for some stupid reason like not flooring the gas pedal after the red light turns green to race to the next stop light. Also, as a bike rider I don't experience car drivers getting impatient with me as I maneuver down some narrow streets. It is virtually impossible to go hungry in this city. There are numerous soup kitchens and food pantries to help the homeless & poor. And if I ever become physically handicapped, this city is extremely friendly with services & mobility options for people with needs. I recently watched a movie called "Music Within" (2007) which documents a man from Portland, OR (Richard Pimentel) who, after suffering his own physical disability, worked to craft the "Americans with Disabilities Act" and worked for the Governor of OR to teach employers how to hire & work with challenged people.
As far as "going green" is concerned I am very impressed with the continued efforts people in this city go to to cut their carbon foot-print and become more self-sufficient (especially when it comes to food). There is a huge push right now to grow food gardens and the City Council just passed an ordinance to allow a food garden to be grown on the City Hall property (around the rose plants). People are building chicken coops in their yards to produce their own eggs and an event is coming up in July "Tour de Coops" for a guided tour through a neighborhood to see some spectacularly built chicken coops. Pretty cool I think.
Now, my housing situation is not so good. I am trying to scrape together enough money to purchase a really sweet, but small, camper trailer. This way I can travel more and take my little home with me wherever I go. I am hoping to secure $1,500 (the camper price plus tag fees) in the next two weeks (I have until 6/14 to pay the seller). If you are interested in helping me acquire my little dream home please call for an appointment or if you wish to pre-pay for a meeting at some point in the future I am happy to keep you on my list of friends to thank properly ; )
Anyone who would like to contribute...please feel free to send your contribution to the following address: M.S. PO Box 1132, Portland, OR 97207. I hope you can help : )
Thanks!!!!
xoxoxoxoxxoxoxoo
Blissfully yours,
Emma : )
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