So often, parents succeed in pressing their wills on their children and then have to find yet other things to be critical about. That well is bottomless, tragically.

The church I've been attending this summer did a series about "good people" in June. In the Good Man sermon the pastor addressed Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

The pastor made a VERY big point that the Proverb is saying to train the child in the way he or she SHOULD go, not the way you want them to go, how you think they should go, how the world wants them to go, how your church wants them to go, etc. Instead, it means to train the child to find his or her own way, and then they will be just fine--if you teach them to find their way.

I absolutely adore that interpretation. It is quite different than any other interpretation I've ever heard, but it also makes the most sense.

Oh, Pix, I'm so glad they're making some progress! How scary. Much love to you both.

Quick return to health ~ma for Drew, and surgery ~ma for Trudy's aunt and amyth's brother. Too many good folks sick.

P.-C., I'm glad you and your brother have each other, and glad your sister has you both! "Closed-minded" means "you refuse to see and accept my point of view!", of course.

My brother thinks she was trying to be the moderator; every now and then she would sum up someone's point in an attempt to generate a proper response, but it was ineffective.

yeesh, this was me when I was living at home. Sometimes still, when my family really gets going at each other. Never works, though.

Tons of ~ma heading towards Pasadena. May the docs figure it out quickly, may their hands work with skill and precision in fixing the problem, and may the pain subside.

Equal tons heading to NY Sloan Kettering. Not the type of Buffista party any of us would have in mind.

P-C, amazing. You. Are. Amazing. It's good to hear your sister was trying to be a moderator. I sense that means she's more likely to see the writing on the wall, and sympathizes with her brothers. Alas, living under the roof of your parents does make it difficult.

wrt to cleaning books. I think I found one for my Mother. [link] She is queen of clutter. So bad, last time I went down to visit her, we didn't make it past the rec room in the lobby. Her apartment was too messy to invite me up. My place is ok, some clutter areas, but plenty of open spaces, and a living room that folks can gather in. She was amazed at how immaculate my apartment was when she visited. Even if you remove some of the exaggerated mother factor, it still points at how messy her place has to be. Of course, that got her wanting to get more stuff for the apartment "because it's so sparse". Um. Yeah Mom, that's the idea.

ION - I was going to head down to work today. But am waiting on the apartment maintenance guy. In theory, he will fix my dishwasher (again). But couldn't give a firm time. Or an eta time. Just "this afternoon". Ugg. Hate that.

{{{Noise and Pix}}}

healing ~ma to all that need it!

And family ~ma to those that need it, too!

Adding to Omnis's book suggestion: [link]

I like the way the book addresses sentimentality. It really helped me get things out of boxes in the garage and either up on my walls or off to Goodwill. We do not honor objects, or our memories of them, but having them hidden. That was so important for me to understand.

ND, I hope you get a solid diagnosis and treatment plan soon. I am sorry you are in such pain. Pix, my thoughts are with you as well. It's hard to have loved ones in pain and be unable to fix it.

Trudy, we will bombard S-K with ~ma, yes we well.

Weird, I have a bite that doesn't itch. I don't recall ever having a bite that doesn't itch.

They just wonder what they did wrong.

I truly feel sorry for them. You and your brother (and, I imagine, your sister) are a parent's DREAM. No joke.

While I feel very sad for the way that P-C and BroCow are being treated, I can understand how his parents aren't happy. They are dream children for parents in an purely American culture, yes. And that is absolutely where they chose to raise their kids. But clearly their Indian culture is still very strong and very important to them. And these kids? Are not following those rules.

I just think it's a complicated situation. While fully supporting their right to find mates of their own, I see where this is inevitably going to lead to extreme and possibly unworkable conflict.

Hey, look! I finished our bathroom!! [link]

Ooh, nice, Aims.

I just found a pack of pictures at IKEA that I really want for my bathroom, [link] but the nearest IKEA is in Pittsburgh, and there isn't anything else I need in Pittsburgh, and I am so not driving there just to get a $5 package of rubber duckie pictures.