America is old enough, isn't she?

I was watching The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert as they broadcast the results of the 2008 USA Presidential elections that came to an end tonight. Their take was very funny and creative. Without warning, at that decisive moment, Jon uttered, "I would just like to say, if I may ... that at 11 o'clock at night, Eastern Standard Time, the president of the United States is Barack Obama."

A quick toggle over to CNN showed an extensive expression of jubilation.

The USA has finally caught up with so many other countries. Whether the outcome was the first woman Veep or the first African-American Prez, there is a sense that that shouldn't really be news, here in 2008. CNN had a quick fact earlier: "If elected, Barack Obama will be the first president born in Hawaii."

When I saw that, I thought, at this point, that should be one of the main ...distinctions, if you will. But, we know why it isn't; why Obama's win is so significant. It's historic; something the world has never seen before. And so, the world has, tonight, changed in some way, shape or form.

The victory is not just his. It heralds - while confirming, if you will - a change in the psyche of other African-Americans; of (insert origin here) -Americans; of so many people around the globe, where, as the saying goes, 'geography is now history.' The kind, or extent, of the change? We shall see, shan't we?

Still, there's a lingering sense that America should have got here already.

After all, she's old enough, isn't she? I dunno. I do know that in these elections, she displayed social, political and democratic maturity.

And so, on this day, Tuesday, November 4, 2008, Barack Hussein Obama, born August 4, 1961, has become the 44th President-elect of the United States of America.

My parents were married on November 5, 1969. Tomorrow is their 39th Anniversary. Happy Anniversary guys!!!


Claudia
www.cyopro.com
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Dnafcnatgada: Only for the poetry

I've decided to share poems from my tweens to the now, right here. I'll try to resist the temptation to edit them prior to posting them. However, I shall also reserve the right to reproduce them in other media and edit, as I deem necessary. I learned much about writing while writing, over the years. The argument may be made about 'raw honesty'. But, there's something to be said for learning the right...well, on second thought (and you can tell I've started having second thoughts), we'll see.

Just about the time I'd started writing - poems, short stories, diarya-into-journal entries - I assumed the pseudonym "Dnafcnatgada". Lying in bed one night when I was about fourteen, it just came to me. Like, it was there for only me to take. And I took it. I still don't know what it means, and it still doesn't matter.

I use it only for the poetry.

Leafing through my (rather worn, yellowing and spineless) notebook tonight, I found this one I'd penned twenty years ago - give or take about two weeks. It's dated Saturday, October 15, 1988. Was I in love? I think so.

When I see you again

I came to see you today
And again, you were not at home.

When I see you again
I'm going to cry in your arms
'Cause I missed you so much.
And I'll tell you how much
I longed to see you.

But first
I will demand to know
Just where you were
And what you dared to place before me.
I would like to know
Just how much you value your time with me
How much you loathe the time without me.

But, after that
I will forgive you
As I always do.
When I see you again.

-Dnafcnatgada

New life: "Babies are a great way to start people."

Today, October 18, 2008 is a special, wonderful and blessed day! It's the birthday of the new baby in the family! Amazing!

Who would've thunk it? My sis and her husband became first-time parents today! New baby was born at 7:07pm (their time) weighing 6 lbs 6oz.

I'm an aunt! OK, so, writing it doesn't make it any more or less real.

We are filled with joy so intense, it undoubtedly overwhelms the (albeit, inkling of) anxiety that was, I imagine, secretly shared by all of us.

So, our mom and dad are grandparents for the first time. They are positively grinning, I tell ya!

In under fifteen minutes from the time sis went into the labour room, there were the cries. The sound of new life: "And you're slapping me, becaaause?" LOL!

My other sis said she, along with our other sis - do the math :) got a quick peek at the bundle of beauty. There she was looking around like, "Soooo, I'm here. Let me take this all in. Ahm, what do I do now?"

Sis said our mom came out beaming to announce that the new born looks so much like her (now exhausted) mother.

Of course, I've been in touch since they were on the way to the hospital. Thankfully, my sis has been facilitating (almost) step by step reports. I also talked to our dad who'd stayed home - a bit too nervous is my guess :)

I finally got to talk with the new mom. She related what she felt and what it felt like and how she felt and what she did and how many times she did it... I was just as excited to hear it.

Our mom was with her the whole time (hers was the hand she held), wiping her face and encouraging her throughout. Her hubby was taking the pics and vids.

Thank God, all is well. Mother and baby are doing fine, with baby now enjoying her first meal.

They've promised to send the pics and vids until I get to meet her. Hopefully, that's in another couple of months.

What's that quote? "Babies are a great way to start people."

True that!


Claudia
www.cyopro.com
www.twitter.com/cyopro

Smile

Someone said something nice to me the other day. It was empowering, too.

She said, "You have leadership written all over you."

I smiled.

The annual kind.


Claudia
www.cyopro.com
www.twitter.com/cyopro

Platonic influence

Not sure whether you've ever heard this Platonic quote: "Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something." Plato, (c. 428BC - c. 348 BC) that most influential Classical Greek Philosopher, was really on to something there, wasn't he?

Anyway, this is one of those times when I'm kinda torn between having something to say and feeling totally obligated that I have to say something ...now.

Now, however, is not a good time. And I certainly do not want to be perceived as being in Plato's latter category.

So, until a good time, more anon...


Claudia
www.cyopro.com
www.twitter.com/cyopro

Educate, Enlighten and Inspire

Sometimes, you just need to be inspired.

I have been invited to speak for, well, just 4-5 minutes at an awards ceremony to be held on September 30, 2008. Mine will be part of an Assistant Deputy Minister's (of the gov. of Ontario) presentation, recognizing a couple of organizations that have made memorable contributions to immigrant success here in Canada.

Of course, I am looking forward to the occasion and have humbly accepted the invitation. Prior to being invited, my testimonial regarding the positive experience I've had with the Career Bridge/OPS Internship for Internationally-trained professionals, preceded me. I shall be speaking to that.

More importantly however, I believe, is the opportunity I will have to make a real and positive difference in the lives of newcomers to Canada. My hope is that I will educate, enlighten and inspire.

And sometimes you just need to be inspired.

I'm preparing accordingly, in order to "fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run." After all, as Kipling continues, mine will be "the earth and everything that's in it..."

Claudia
www.cyopro.com
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"If you wish to be a writer, write!"

When Epictetus penned (or said) those words, little did that Greek Stoic philosopher of the first Century know that they would come to mean so much to me. Within, there is a tight-rope woven by the sanguine mix of love and reverence, for the art of perfect writing; this is what separates me from, and yet, connects me to home. Like Frost said, "Home is the place where when you have to go there, they have to take you in." Ahhh. That belonging.

There is so much to write; so much to write about things known and almost completely. As a former professor once told me, "The last word has not been said on anything." True dat.

So, ok. Fine. I know, the whole "perfect writing" thing is a tad elusive. But, you do see where I'm coming from, right? Or, at least, where I'm heading? Each of us sets out to do something remarkable, great, incredible, noteworthy, memorable, extraordinary with our lives. Whether we know it when we are young, or not, that's the journey upon which we embark. Perhaps it's not until we are in our late teens or twenties (for some), thirties or forties (or even later, for others) that we come to recognize the God-given talent or the passion or the zeal or the yearning or the knack or the gift or or or ... But, when we do recognize it, we also come to understand that everything in our lives, up to that point, played a valuable role in getting us there. And everything before that point was a part of the journey toward doing that thing extraordinary and memorable.

Here's the thing (and I do love Monk, yes). Recognizing the it, is one thing. Understanding the value - the life-saving value - of the it, is quite another. It must be life-saving value that is inherent in the it. You know the saying, "Good intentions die unless they are executed", right? The it is kinda like that. Actually, the it is exactly that. Have you never felt like you're suffocating? Just running out of live-saving air? All because you are just not doing that which you should be? In order to live, to the fullest, you need to do it.

And, understand completely that this it needs to be executed by you - the only person in the history of mankind who was ever born to do it. Then, go right ahead and do it, with everything that is in you.

Do it!

That's the tight-rope I've been walking. At some points in my life, I've balanced pretty well; covered some ground. Other times, I've got distracted by doubt. And doubt is slippery stuff. Other times, I lose my footing because my eyes are looking on at others achieving the extraordinary and immediately I begin to wonder whether I could really achieve that; they're doing what I want to do and already are doing it so well...what's the point? Even if I could, do I have the time? Enough time? Time. Time. Oh, the thoughts that occupy my mind.

Clearly, it has taken me a while to realize that that which I was born to do is only mine to do. So, there is no 'perfect writing'. There is, however, my writing. And, when I write what I should write; what is mine to write; what I was born to write; and, what is more, write to the last drop of this wonderful, amazing, hilarious, fantastic, enigmatic, beautiful, incredible, glorious, fragile, virginal, kaleidoscopic adventure of my life, I would have, without doubt or fear - not even a little bit - done the extraordinary and the memorable (and all I mentioned before and then some!)

And I'd have made it home!

Claudia
www.cyopro.com
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