Letter to Students 13 April 2009

Dear Reader

It feels really good to be sitting in front of the television, with my son on the couch beside me, writing to you.  I have had what is described as writer’s block, and have been unable to sit down and pour any thoughts out on the computer screen.  I keep thinking that the thoughts will flow, and it was only last night that I was able to write thoughts down again. For me, writing is a part of my life, and I felt like I had had an arm amputated when I was unable to write my thoughts.  Do you enjoy writing?  I have always loved putting words down on paper, and only wish I had more time to be able to indulge myself in this pastime.  I also love reading, but find I have little time for this as well.  One day, I will spend my days reading, and writing, enjoying precious moments alone.  For now, I love being with my family and friends, and this will never change.  I never take my friends and family for granted!  What are your top priorities in life?

Jan has a terrible headache, and has asked for a head massage, and a little “chi gong,” which I used to do for him when I worked at the Otago Polytechnic. At that time, I was taught the power of “chi” by one of my Chinese students, and when I used the power, it really helped Jan when he was ill.

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I have just returned to the computer, having given my sixteen year old son a back massage and used what little I know of chi gong to alleviate the pain of his headache. I hadn’t used this technique for over five years, but the technique came back to me immediately, and I could feel my hands heat up as I held them over Jan’s sore head.  He is now sitting up, feeling much better, and it is wonderful that I can still help in this way. It may all be psychological, but does that matter if it cures the headache?  Jan hates taking any kind of medication, and I am the same, so if we can cure our pains with some kind of homeopathic remedy, then it is all the better.

Easter is a reflective time for many people as in Christianity, it is a time when Jesus was crucified on the cross and then rose again on the third day.  It symbolizes hope for us all, and although I was brought up a Christian, I have become much more eclectic in my religious beliefs, taking the parts from the different religions to suit my belief system.  Basically, all religions are the same, I believe, and the most important thing is one of the Ten Commandments which is to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you!”

On Good Friday, the day on which it is claimed that Jesus died, we eat hot cross buns as a symbol of Jesus’s crucifixion on the cross. I heard on the radio today that Easter hot cross buns were traditionally baked on Easter Friday only, and eaten on that day as a good luck symbol by some people in England.  However, the frugal Scots didn’t celebrate Easter, nor Christmas to any great extent, as they felt that it was not necessary to hold such celebrations.  This probably explains why my mother, with Scottish roots, hated any kind of celebration. We seldom received Easter eggs as Dad said that it was a waste of money, and we were given a block of chocolate as it was better value!  It is interesting how we have the Easter rabbit, and my granddaughter Indi was very excited about the Easter rabbit coming with the Easter eggs this year.  When you think about it rationally, it is quite a bizarre event as how can a rabbit bring eggs?  However, it is a relic of the pagan festivals in which the harvest was celebrated in spring in the northern hemisphere, and the rabbit and egg were seen as fertility symbols. Over time, the Christians layered their celebration over these pagan rituals, and we have the amalgamation of the two belief systems.  I find this very interesting, and I hope you do too!  What special celebrations do you have in your country and in your family?

 I remember being very upset that I could never have a birthday party as Mum hated such celebrations. I am sure that Dad would have celebrated with a party, as he was very like me and very social, but my mother was so against parties, having had a very sad childhood where any party was associated with drunken people which upset Mum, as a little girl, greatly. My mother and father always took my sister and me to a restaurant which had wonderful pancakes, but it was never the same as having friends round for a real children’s birthday party.  I haven’t been for counseling for what could have been a traumatic childhood experience, (just kidding!) but I was determined that when I had my own children, they would always have great birthday parties with the friends they wanted.  Even now, the adult children have their birthday dinners at our home, and I love it!

After years of holding parties for all our seven children, tears came to my eyes last night when my second daughter (actually my step daughter but I brought her up from ten years of age, so I call her my daughter and she calls me her mother) told me that all the children are going to cook dinner for my birthday this coming Sunday.  It is the perfect gift for me, and I am feeling very humble.  Jan has decided that his contribution will be to make cocktails as pre dinner drinks, so our oldest son, who turns thirty five on Wednesday, has taken up my offer to stay over at our home that night!  I may not be at work next Monday!!

It has been a couple of months of birthdays, and last weekend we celebrated two grandchildren’s birthdays, and Jan’s sixteenth birthday.  The weather has been so wonderful in the weekends, and we have been able to celebrate outside.  I love waking up to a clear, blue day, and looking out over the trees to a still harbour.  I walked down to the harbour early every morning, and looked out over the water, as still as a millpond, to the island just offshore.  Early morning is a good time to contemplate one’s life, and I am especially blessed to be able to reflect on my life in such a vividly clear, beautiful environment.  I am sure there are better adjectives to describe the scene, but I seem to be bereft of descriptors tonight.  It is very important that you are in a good space when you write, as thoughts can be difficult to articulate if you have many thoughts on your mind.  I have had a particularly difficult month, and hence why I haven’t written my usual weekly letter.  However, I feel I have resolved some issues today, and feel back in control of my life. 

Life is never easy, and I have enjoyed reading a book called Women run with the wolves, which has described the emotional lives of women very well.  I don’t usually take time for myself, but I did sit down on Saturday, and read most of the book.  The rest of the time has been spent with the family, but I have spent a lot of time thinking about the meaning of life.  As I said before, Easter is a time when Christians not only eat hot cross buns, and children hunt for Easter eggs (as was part of the Pagan ritual around harvest time), but also a time when the reason why Jesus died on the cross and then rose again are considered.  I find it hard to understand the Bible, but I do love being given time to chill out, and take time out of what is a very busy life. 

This Easter was the first Easter holiday that we didn’t spend in Central Otago as a family.  We used to go to either Clyde and stay in a caravan with our friends from Christchurch many years ago, but recently, we have spent the time in Glenorchy.  In both places, I always awoke at about five o’clock in the morning to go outside to hide all the Easter eggs. It was always frosty, and I felt like I would freeze to death! However, it was always worth it when I saw the children’s excited faces when they went hunting for the eggs and then found them!  I always baked my own hot cross buns, and we ate them for breakfast during the Easter break.  When I heard that hot cross buns should be made on Good Friday, and these are the ones that bring good luck, I realised that mine were made earlier in the week, and probably didn’t bring the same luck!  The ones you buy in the supermarket are certainly not lucky, as they are baked well before Easter, but they taste delicious nevertheless. I always thought the buns were baked solely to symbolize the body of Jesus Christ, but of course, they are tied up in old pagan rituals as well.

It is now late, and I must get to bed.  As I so often say, we must never take our good health, and the life we lead in Dunedin, for granted.  I know I push the boundaries sometimes, working a little too hard and having very little sleep.  However, I have always lived this way, and I have been extremely blessed with good health. I do not take my good health for granted, and as my birthday looms this weekend, I know that I have to be extra careful!  I shouldn’t use the verb “loom” when talking about my birthday as it is a negative word to describe something unpleasant. I am feeling very positive about turning another year older, and very happy with my lot!  I hope you are too!

What did you do this past weekend?  Did you do any shopping? The highlight of my shopping expedition was buying some nice rugs for the school, and buying a wonderful juicer which Jan and I tried out and loved.  Fresh fruit juice is so healthy, and I look forward to drinking fresh apple juice with apples from our own trees.  This is the perfect way to start the day!!  I love picking vegetables from the garden, and foraging for fresh vegetables is the best way to select vegetables for a meal.

I was feeling very relaxed till I started watching a television programme which Jan suggested I watch, but which I find very disturbing. I don’t like watching many television programmes, and I far prefer reading to watching television. I am going to turn off the television and go to bed, knowing that I have a big day at school tomorrow.

There is so much to talk about, but I feel in need of sleep. I average four hours sleep a night, and sometimes the lack of sleep catches up with me as it is tonight.  It is after ten o’clock, and by the time I have a spa to relax me, it will be time for my head to hit the pillow!

I look forward to seeing you tomorrow and spending some time with you. I hope that you return to school feeling very rested, and ready for a positive week ahead.  I await your reply to my letter with anticipation!

Love

Sharron