About to go to the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville (FUUN) for the 4th time. Still wondering if this is the right fit for me. I guess I am still a Catholic but until there are big changes in The Church I don't think I am going back (accept for weddings, funerals and such).

It was a great Fourth (except for the death of Steve McNair....sad). Kids had a blast, especially at our friend's farm-pool. Camille is swimming like a fish. Oh how far she's come in a year. She used to be down right scared of the water.

Adam heads out for two weeks to YMCA over night camp later today. Camille starts her first day camp tomorrow at WIDJIWAGIN.

HOT

Damn, it's hot. Approaching the middle of the year and so far, so good for the Nashville Brinson clan. We are all healthy, happy and having a great summer. Adam has just gotten back from two camps in two weeks. The first was Scout camp and the second was Camp Horizon (for cancer survivors). He had a ball at both. It was great to see him be able to return to Horizon in such healthy form. Ironically we just came across a public service type deal he did when he was still in chemo. The difference is night and day. Check it out on my facebook profile page. Or click on this link. http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=91414951558&h=TSXbx&u=dB8_h&ref=mf

Camille has finally decided that she loves the water and is very close to actually swimming. She is getting individual lessons this week in preparation for her first day camp at the YMCA Widjiwagan in two weeks. I will be spending every morning this week with her to take her to her lessons. Should be fun.

Our favorite festival, The Music City Hot Chicken Festival, fast approaches. It is on July 4th in East Nashville and is sure to be hot in more ways than one. Martha's sister Mary and bro in law Ben are taking the train to Memphis then driving over here; all to take part in Hot Chicken.

Martha and I saw Elvis Costello for the upmteenth time last week. He was playing with some really great musicians who call themselves the Sugarcanes. The band included Jim Lauderdale and Jerry Douglas. They played for three hours at the Ryman. We've seen EC so many times it 's hard to say which was the best performance, but this ranks way up on that list.

My friend John Shelton and I are taking our kids for a canoe ride down the Harpeth this Friday. Hopefully the water will be high enough to make it fully enjoyable.

As for me, my private practice seems to be doing well. It's still a novelty for me not to have to go in to a 'real' job every day and I am learning that I have more discipline than I thought but continue to view self discipline as my biggest challenge. I can where jeans to work, 'nuff said. Father's day was great. The kids gave me a turntable that can record vinyl to MP3s. Neat!

mindfulness journal

854-903:   Counted breaths, 1 to 10;  mind tended to wonder to how I would use mindfulness with clients this week,  brought attention back to breaths.  Remembered what Kabat-Zinn said about awareness and ‘proprioception’ and how I ‘know’ where my body is in space.    Also thought about not trying to breath deep but just breath and observe how my body knows to breath.   Kept on coming back to breaths.   Went a little longer than usual today.

 

Proprioception — from Latin proprius, meaning "one's own," and perception — is one of the human senses. There are between nine and 21 in all, depending on which sense researcher you ask. Rather than sensing external reality, proprioception is the sense of the orientation of one's limbs in space. This is distinct from the sense of balance, which derives from the fluids in the inner ear, and is called equilibrioception. Proprioception is what police officers test when they pull someone over and suspect drunkenness. Without proprioception, we'd need to consciously watch our feet to make sure that we stay upright while walking.

mindfulness journal

 

804-808:  with client:   focused on awareness of body in space; in contact with chair or couch, in addition to breath entering and exiting body.   During the practice I began a ‘body scan’ from feet on upward and lost focus on breath…..but that’s ok.    Some of my clients have found this a useful way to begin our sessions.   I think it’s useful for both of us.

mindfulness journal

948-954:   Counted breaths 1 to 10.   Attempting to focus on the awareness of air leaving and entering my body.   Interrupted by outside sounds and thoughts of today’s business.   Attempted to gently refocus on breaths.   Lost count and went back to 1 on a couple of occasions.   Also considered my body in space, in the chair, but detached as well.   Kept eyes closed mostly as a way of reinforcing focus on breathing.    Attempted awareness over thinking.   Still having a problem with this  concept.

Kaddish by Marge Piercey

Look around us, search above us, below, behind.
We stand in a great web of being joined together.
Let us praise, let us love the life we are lent
passing through us in the body of Israel
and our own bodies,
let’s say amen.

Time flows through us like water.
The past and the dead speak through us.
We breathe out our children’s children, blessing.
Blessed is the earth from which we grow,
Blessed the life we are lent,
blessed the ones who teach us,blessed the ones we teach,
blessed is the word that cannot say the glory
that shines through us and remains to shine
flowing past distant suns on the way to forever.
Let’s say amen.

Blessed is light,
blessed is darkness,
but blessed above all else is peace
which bears the fruits of knowledge
on strong branches, let’s say amen.
Peace that bears joy into the world,
peace that enables love,
peace over Israel everywhere,
blessed and holy is peace,
let’s say amen.

something I read today and wanted to pass on

FRIENDLY WISHES
May I be filled with happiness
May I filled with love
May I have a good life
May I have wonderful dreams
And may I live in peace.
May the world be safe
May the world be in peace
May the world be a wonderful place
And may the world be a better place
-Afsafu

all clear

All clear according to the nurse practitioner filling for Dr. Kutesch today. Adam's CT Scan and MRI look fine. He will have two more imaging tests days this year. Next year he will get one every 4 months. The same the year after that and then it's just 1 every 6 months. After 5 years he goes to 'survivors' clinic once per year.

B-Clan Update

It's been a long time. For anyone still following this blog here is the latest about the B clan.

Adam had his second post treatment imaging tests today. He had a CT Scan of his orbital socket and an MRI with contrast. The CT Scan goes quickly. The MRI takes about an hour. It's not as awful as when he first had to have one because now they have this virtual movie contraption that he can view and listen to. Apparently it blocks out much of the incredibly annoying sound that the MRI makes. He did fine. I did notice as we entered the hospital that he slipped back into his 'treatment zone' mood. Flatter than a pancake. This contrast with what Martha and I have been noticing lately. He seems to be much more out of his shell. Martha thinks this is because he only recently began to feel mentally 'free from treatment' despite the fact that he looks 'normal' as can be. Well, for whatever reason, it's a welcome development.

Adam is pretty busy. His soccer season recently started up, he's going to saxophone practice once per week and has scouts once per week. He goes on monthly scout outings. His next one is May 1st. He'll be going on a two day hike.

Camille is pretty busy too. She's playing soccer and goes to dance every Wednesday.

Spring is definitely back and that mean a lot more on the go. Adam is actually wanting to ride his bike and had a major wipe out last week. He needs a new bike. The other is busted up pretty bad. Camille screams when I try and put her on her bike with training wheels.

We are headed for D-World in a few weeks. It's our 'guilty family pleasure' and this year's birthday gift from me to Martha. We are taking cousin Kira with us this year. Should be a blast.

My new practice is developing nicely. It's both liberating and scary being in charge of your own shop. A unity of opposites I guess. I am really enjoying it.

Martha is still working hard for SJRI. I think Dr. Christie knows what an asset he has in her.

Spiritually speaking I am still a wanderer. Have not been to church much lately. I am re-reading Following Christ in a Consumer Society. I read this book 22 years ago when I was in the JVC. It impressed me then but I think it's even more impressive now. Very challenging book. I highly recommend it. I am still trying to practice breathing meditation as regular as I can. I pray. I take celexa. Great combination.

For those who are still keeping up, thanks again for all your support. See you on Facebook!

I know I'm her pop, but don't you think my daughter is beautiful??