margnorton's Xombytes

As February begins my thoughts go to Valentine’s Day and the true meaning of love. For much of my life I feel that true love has evaded me. And unfortunately many times I have been treated as someone who was unloved rather than loved. This month is the perfect time for me to announce that I have decided to make abuse the focus of my writing and coaching

The 2009 federal budget proposal has been released and the news is not good for those trying to fight the war on abuse. Funds from the Department of Health and Human Services have been frozen. This includes prevention, hot lines, and shelters. Public safety programs on the state and local level have been cut by nearly two-thirds. The report was approximately 2,270 words and the very last item to be mentioned was domestic violence. If the report was done in the order of importance, this would imply that abuse was the least important of all.

A recent guest on Oprah’s show told the story of how her abusive husband cancelled a life insurance policy on his life three months before he committed suicide. She had not worked in 12 years, knew nothing about their finances, and had three children still at home. The day after his death she discovered she did not even have enough money to buy groceries. This was after she had called the insurance company and learned he had terminated his coverage.

According to the U. S. Census Bureau, 34.9 million people were over the age of 65 in the United States in 2000. That number is expected to increase to 52.1 million by 2020 and 61.7 million by 2030. The current estimates are that one in every four individuals is now caring for an elderly person. The average caregiver spends 35 hours a week and $462 a month from their own funds caring for an aging family member, according to a recent survey conducted by Evercare.

If you Google Mad Cow Disease, you will see the video of the recent mistreatment of cows by the Hallmark Meat Company. If you can stand it, click on some of the other links to hear more animal abuse stories. I was appalled after watching and listening to this site for just a few minutes. Profit seems to be the motive in most of the abuse situations. The offenders have no respect for life or no concern over how the damaged animals will affect others.

If you like movies that make you both laugh and cry, Bucket List, with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman is a must see. The story revolves around two terminally ill patients sharing a hospital room. From the very beginning it is obvious they are the odd couple. The character portrayed by Nicholson owns the hospital. He has acquired financial success and is accustomed to having the very best life offers. Freeman’s character never got to pursue his dream of teaching history but instead works as an automobile mechanic. Whether looking for a comedy or a serious drama, this movie has a little bit of both. The acting is superb and the scenery is spectacular.

Lake County Road 61, in north-eastern Minnesota, also known as the North-Shore Scenic Drive, is known as one of the most gorgeous drives in America. The two days I visited this area in March 2006, snow and ice covered much of the landscape, but it was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. My visit started in Duluth, Minnesota. Growing up on the outer banks of North Carolina, I had never seen ice and snow in the water. From a large bluff overlooking Duluth, the St Louis River appeared to be multiple islands of ice and snow. In downtown Duluth, I discovered restaurants, shops and U. S. Coast Guard Cutters. Walking along the river front, I snapped pictures of birds sleeping and feeding on chunks of ice. Though the weather outside was very cold, the city was warm and inviting.

Yesterday at the mall, I watched a mother as she asked her young son to stop skipping between the blocks of tile and to walk beside her like a “little man.” I’m sure I probably did that with my children and my parents did it to me. As parents we want our children to be well behaved but we also want them to be like everyone else. I think we lose something in doing that – perhaps a part of the child that can never be reclaimed.