"The Goodstuff" - V.P.Fagan, Jr. feb 6
My late husband was literally a dream come true. I saw him in my minds eye one day and was committed to him from that moment on. When we met, I seemed to win the same response from him. Never a qualm, we paired better than APPLE peripherals and did well till his passing. I have that memory as food and fuel and glow and giggles and goodness in every way even when all else fails, like my angel.
He had a wonderful heart and soul and was a fine match for me - like me, he loved the serious work, so , no matter pressing he could be found always with a happy disposition about it. “The Goodstuff” was one of his favorited catchphrases when were young. In college days, he felt it spoke volumes:
My late husband was literally a dream come true. I saw him in my minds eye one day and was committed to him from that moment on. When we met, I seemed to win the same response from him. Never a qualm, we paired better than APPLE peripherals and did well till his passing. I have that memory as food and fuel and glow and giggles and goodness in every way even when all else fails, like my angel.
He had a wonderful heart and soul and was a fine match for me - like me, he loved the serious work, so , no matter pressing he could be found always with a happy disposition about it. “The Goodstuff” was one of his favorited catchphrases when were young. In college days, he felt it spoke volumes:
Growing up in Connecticut - the goodstuff state above all.
The wonderful schools teaching "the Good Stuff" well and happily.
Then living a few "else-wheres" - the Good Stuff was put to very Good Use.
We liked, at day’s end, to survey our life and its trappings and its people - yessss the goodstuff we were making was taking hold and doing a nice job for life.
And we did not defer from Celebrating the rewards won by proper application of the Good Stuff in every scenario!
"The Right Stuff" about early super-aero and NASA breakthroughs, was similar. But it was more than fanship - he used it a lot: according to him, The Good Stuff was a classification and praise from the heart - for his people, his class, his scouts, his USACE/Black Diamonds team, his Wellcome team, the good wine and good friends, at a good table, and ...me.
But it was later that the importance of “the Good Stuff” was made clear:
when widowed way too young with two teens at home and the recession of the 80s destroying our money more violently than I could win over, in a broken-hearted state, and scrabbling about to help the children thru to their majority, anyway, without harm to them, at least.
Lost without him, but filled with the years of “The good stuff” created together, the the children and I achieved fine recovery!
In later scenarios, we were able to be saved over and over, remembering “the Good Stuff” from parents, teachers and friends and most of all , our fallen hero.
And once again it is Time to share “The Good Stuff” and make plenty for colder days ahead.
And this Valentines Day I remember him in my life and whisper , “ Peter you ARE the Good Stuff” !
Lucky me…..you have similar stories or sentiments - NOW is the time to share them….Share them here or among your own, but do not remain silent till it’s too late!
Comment welcome.
E.
Compassion & Intellect feb 20
Someone sent the card to me as an artshow ad, and it started my own thought on the subject of such a basic dichotomy. I took it off my postings board and began to carry it, then folded and glue-stick-ed it, so that it worked like flipping a coin. I left it in my wallet/datebook, loose, so that I could not predict which side would show itself to me in the course of a day. It has been a moment's help, over and over again. May you will find it useful, too!
FEBRUARY 2
Compassion & Intellect for this day of commemoration in my home state Connecticut, for the Sandy Hook slayings of children, and its aftermath.
Compassion & Intellect for this time of refugees and illegal aliens and transgender issues. My copy of the "coin" to flip stays on my desk or nearby - then I put it away for a while and bring it back out again and start over, with the clarity it brings and power to do better!
Someone sent the card to me as an artshow ad, and it started my own thought on the subject of such a basic dichotomy. I took it off my postings board and began to carry it, then folded and glue-stick-ed it, so that it worked like flipping a coin. I left it in my wallet/datebook, loose, so that I could not predict which side would show itself to me in the course of a day. It has been a moment's help, over and over again. May you will find it useful, too!
Instructions for use of Compassion & Intellect
Copy or Print Image from this page - to 8.5x11inch card or photo paper
Cut to make four cards, fold at midline, gluestick to make four double-thick cards
Use and share with friends - a basket of them on your desk is fun!
If you are handy, cut them in rounds to make a coin to flip, but not necessary.
NOTES ABOUT IT ALL AND A MISSION
It is odd to many people to try to understand martyrs and those who sacrifice. What intellect could take compassion to the lengths of the saints? Saint Damien the famous leper colony saint of Molokai Hawaii said , "I make myself a leper with the lepers, to gain all for Jesus Christ. " - Saint Damien Joseph de Veuster
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father_Damien#Canonization
It is interesting to note that his work came to the world at the same time as The Red Cross, and other international compassion projects reacting to the horrors of the American Civil War.
I am just an artist / redcrosslady / happy wife and later widow / happy mother now empty-nested I cry when I am asked to make ANY sacrifice - I like to make art, and cranberry sauce and happy days and nights - and everyone growing and thriving - and yet we all deal with the duality of the intellect / compassion balance and pray to make the right choices when it is our turn at it.
The Syrian refugee issue is top news today - and that is why this posting at the holidays. My plea for thought on this dynamic that rules this moment.
Or on this Sandy Hook Massacre memorial day - so many ways we could go when reminded of the children lost that day here in Connecticut and on other days in losses all over the world to mindless hate. We must act with compassion and intellect to gently but firmly at least keep our children safer.
Where is the conflict when it is clearly right
to secure the perimeter of a school
to recapture decency in every way in the school environment
to act to prevent repetition of murderous attacks of all kinds
to drop deadly force altogether, for effective modern technological ways?
to make the pods for ALL the planes not just a few VIPS?
to install the affordable, no-brainer elevator-car-like escape pods in the skyscrapers?
These tasks are key and it's been there to do and no one is even talking about it - not even after Sandy Hook or Nineleven, and the agony of the scores of those who are permanently marred by the loss of three thousand on that day because safety issues were NOT considered. Someone is stonewalling it - lobbies for those who would have to pay to get it done? It took me a total of maybe 4 hours to get my insurance company to pay for Silver Sneakers fitness subsidies in our county.....but no one will spend even that much time to send around notes and quick emails and work for fifteen minutes getting an online petition begun. Why, do you suppose? Hmmmmmmm.....and the Compassion/Intellect coin is handy again to have nearby.
We ARE at a funnyspot in evolution - we forget that so much of our goals were to secure the safety of the populace, always, in all leadership - the path for it changed and updated and we did not, so we are lost. But we can do it - it's not so difficult.
Happy Holiday and may both Compassion and Intellect in your level of healthy balance glow till next holiday! ...and lots of happy moments to empower our best work.
! Elle Smith Fagan December 14, 2015