I think I may take Joanna's advice and stop watching the news. She says she enjoys living in her "Happy little world" and the news just makes her depressed. She's right. But I can't do it. I must watch it all, like a train wreck in slow motion. This is the 1st time in my 52 years that I am really fearful for my country. It causes anxiety and worry. I do not have confidence in our current administration, that they know what they are doing. Even worse, that they do know what they are doing and are selling us down the river. Today Geithner said he is open to the Chinese suggestion of a world currency...WHAT THE....? Is he serious? Billions, trillions, so many numbers, so many zeros. I watched President Obama yesterday, I don't feel better, I don't feel confident, I don't fell like he gets it. I think Americans all over the country are beginning to understand the importance of experience. The presidency of the United States of America is not the place to learn on the job. It is becoming very apparent that Obama is in over his head. If the president of the US is in over his head then the rest of us are crab food on the bottom of the sea.

I like Capitalism.
I like the rewards of working hard.
But...
I'm afraid that the people getting the rewards may not be the ones working hard.
I'm afraid the those who understand personal responsibility will be responsible for those who don't.
I'm afraid that as we lower standards and take away the incentive to work hard and do well more people will do less and expect more from the gov't.


I read a quote from a protester in San Francisco this week. She said: "Jail the rich, help the poor..." I guess she thinks it's a crime to work hard and be successful. I guess she doesn't understand that successful people have businesses that employ other people, they pay salaries, they put dollars into retirement accounts, they help pay for health insurance, and they pay lots and lots of taxes. Taxes that fund food stamps, subsidised housing, Medicaid, Aid to Dependent children, WIC, subsidised bus passes, state operated job training, GED classes...the list goes on and on. They also are responsible for much of the charitable donations to non-profit agencies in the country. Agencies that feed the hungry, house the homeless, give free clothing, furniture, household items...
Do recipients believe there is just a big room somewhere in the government? A big room just filled with money? Money that just magically appeared?
I got news for them...
There are people who work hard for that money!

I'm glad there are rich people. I wish I was rich. Back in the day most people had goals of being successful and making enough money to live well. Why is that a bad thing?

It's not a bad thing! It's a great thing!
It's the American dream.
It's the reason thousands of immigrants still come to the US every year.
It's the reason that millions of people have entered the US illegally as well.
It's a great country.
Still.
It's our country and we need to work and pray hard to keep it that way.

My life in 2 words...

I came across an awesome phrase this morning. It explains my life, maybe life in general. It makes sense. It is "SYNCHRONIZED CHAOS". I know this is not a new term within the scientific community, but it is a new term to me. It makes so much sense to me in some weird random, chaotic way.

It turns out that if one couples chaotic systems in a smart way, then it may happen that they 'lock'. They oscillate in exactly the same way.

They will eventually return to their chaos and perhaps syhcronize again...

Synchronized chaos... Life!
We all go about our daily lives and sometimes feel like we are alone. The only one who feels sadness, the only one who feels overwhelmed, the only one who has questions, worries, doubts. Then, wonderfully, magically, we find out we are not alone, but in a world of people who feel all these things. We are comforted, loved, happy. Then chaos again...

Chaos when I don't pray enough, when I forget that God is right there waiting for me. Chaos is thinking I am the center of it all.

Imagine all of us, billions of people in this world, all independent, thinking life revolves around us. All of us on a seperate path to...? Like tops spinning wildly, crossing paths, barely missing each other, some hitting each other. Then imagine some begin to spin together, at the same speed toward the same goal. Then more and more spinning together. All the energy moving together. The synchronization.
That's what God does for us, if we let Him. Unite us, focus us, move us together towards Him.
How wonderful it would be to have less chaos and more syncronization.

Last Farewell

Adam's funeral was this morning. 18 priests concelebrated the Mass. It was awesome. So many friends and family. Lots of tears and still unbelief that Adam is really gone from us. But what a beautiful way to say goodbye. The guys did so well. They all seemed to make it through the Mass with much composure. But at the grave site they seemed to realize that this was the final time they would be with their good friend. They let the tears flow and everyone knew how much Adam was loved and how much he will be missed. I have been so very impressed at this group of young men. They really do love each other and take great comfort in each other's company. Bede and I stood with parents of some of the boys and we all wept with them and for them. It is so hard to see their hearts broken. To know death at this age is unusual and I think very painful, more so than for those of us who have lived enough years to know that we are not long for this world. At 21, 22 years of age, life is forever, you are invincible, or so it should be. These good friends have been slapped by reality. No 21 year old should die. No child should die. Sadly life is not made up of what should be, but what is.
Next time you read in the paper or hear a news story on tv about a child who died, or a young man or woman who died, remember they were someones son, daughter, someones brother or sister, someones best friend. They were loved, and someone is full of sorrow. Pray for them, pray for all the souls who have died. Pray for those left behind. Then thank God for the great gift of family and friends. The great gift of life. Thank God for his love and mercy. Hug your children, your spouse. Love your neighbor and friends. Value the relationships we have been blessed to share. Every word spoken, every moment spent with another may be the last, so speak well and with love.
To have so many people feel such sadness speaks well to a life well lived. Even such a short life.

Bede and I just returned from the funeral home. Visitation for Adam was today. We sat and prayed and said goodbye. What I came away with was an overwhelming sadness. Death is the only thing we are sure of, and yet it always so difficult to come to terms with. The death of such a young man is so shocking. I struggle to find the words to express what I feel. I have felt it before, and I know I will feel it again. It is so physical. Sorrow hurts. Sorrow for a life so short. Sorrow for his family.
Sorrow for his friends.

Many friends,

many tears,

much sorrow.

I see how hard it is for Andrew and his friends to understand, to believe. They are man/boys... grown up, yet still kids in school, and until now untouched by such sadness. They have done some wonderful things to deal with this tragedy. Adam liked to wear t-shirts with a tuxedo type shirt printed on the front. He had a few. We have several photos of him in one. His friends decided to have some made up, and on the back it says Adam McCabe!!! (Adam evidently signed his name with 3 exclamation points). Under his name it has the year '09. Adam's mother saw Andrew in his and asked for one for herself. She also asked Andrew and 2 other of his friends to be pallbearers.
She asked if they would wear the t-shirts.
Adam's favorite band was the JV Allstars. They held a concert in his memory on Friday night. The band is a local one, with members from high school. They have known each other for years. That's how they have been dealing with the sadness. They have been sharing it with each other. They have been sharing stories of good times with Adam. They have been spending time together. They have been doing the things that Adam would be doing. I am impressed...I would consider myself blessed to have such friends.

Goodbye Adam

“Love is stronger than death even though it can't stop death from happening, but no matter how hard death tries it can't separate people from love. It can't take away our memories either. In the end, life is stronger than death.”









Adam E. McCabe
Adam E. McCabe 21, Lincoln, died Monday (3/2/09) in Oklahoma City, Okla. Adam was born April 23, 1987 in Lenexa, Kan. He graduated from Pius X High School in 2005. Adam had many close friends including: Travis, Andrew, Matt, Josh, Kelli, Greg, and many more. Adam loved his friends and was loved by all. Adam also loved all animals, most especially his pet dogs: September, Chloe, and Mac. He loved the JV All Stars Band.
Survivors include his parents, Patrick and Beth McCabe, Lincoln; brothers and sisters, Kevin, Leo, Maggie, Madeleine, Tim, Joe, all of Lincoln; grandparents, Pat Burling, Bob and Pam McCabe, Marge McCabe, all of Lincoln; Martha Watkins, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; aunts and uncles, Joe and Maureen McCabe, John McCabe, Jill McCabe, all of Lincoln; Paul and Amy McCabe, St. Louis, Mo.; Allan and Mary Nelson, Omaha; Steve Watkins, Des Moines, Iowa; special friend, Fr. John Copenhauer, Cedar Bluffs, Neb.; many cousins. Preceded in death by two grandfathers, Norm Watkins and Vern Burling.
Mass of Christian Burial 10 a.m. Tuesday (3/10/09) at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 1940 S. 77th Street, Lincoln 68506. Monsignor Liam Barr will celebrate. A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Monday (3/9/09) at St. John's Catholic Church, 7601 Vine Street, Lincoln 68505. Visitation 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sunday (3/8/09) at Butherus, Maser and Love Funeral Home, 4040 A. Street, Lincoln 68510, In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Adam McCabe Memorial Scholarship Fund at Pius X High School.

Beautiful Baby...

Just arrived home from St. Louis. Bede and I were lucky enough to attend Sophia's baptism. She is adorable. Bede is her Godfather. The baptism was wonderful, Fr. did an excellent job. It was great to spend time with Paul and Lori, and Pete & Joleen too. Here are a few photos of it all...