A Great Day!

Today, I submit my 100th post. Yes, indeedy! A busy little blogger I have been and loving every minute of it. For those of you interested in humor, et al, please see link in comments to my post on Teacher violates France's Sharia Law. Gotta see it to believe it. I love our ingenuity. Can't be beat, any where, anyplace, any time. A whale of a tale! But true... Often when we are confronted we become defensive and draw in. We close the shades; build the fence; create the hedge of honeysuckle and ivy. And we isolate ourselves. I did that with my condo. Tried to protect my privacy. Came home one day and the neighbors had extended their deck so that they could look right into my living room. I felt violated! No privacy! So, after throwing myself across my bed having my tantrum of sorts, the idea came to me to walk down to the beach and look back at the condos. I did. What a revelation. Sure enough there was a gaping space. My neighbor's new deck was within inches of my living room window. My deck, meeting regulations, code, etc. was the requisite 10 feet or so away from theirs. Well, I looked at the gaping space and it came to me. Instead of withdrawing and playing the turtle in her shell, I realized that the only way to combat the "intrusion" (as I saw it) was to extend my deck so that the dividing set of railing would serve for both of us. It has worked out well. We both live side-by-side peacefully, with respect for each other. We do not have to use our energy to "defend" our space or our way of life. We have to live our way of life: voting, laughing, getting involved, and ever being alert to the seemingly little encroachments that are designed (by others) to end our way of life. Our way of life is great and deserves being lived and loved. So, happy 100th post anniversary to me and to you, my friends.