This is the perspective you need

We all do....

(this was recently posted on Thingamababy , a blog I enjoy.)



Below is a transcript of the Coke commercial, because the font is a wee bit small.

This is a true story. In these hard times we bring together the eldest man with the youngest baby.

[Images of a pregnant woman in car] Madrid. Aitana Martinez. Three hours before birth.

[Images of an old man at home] Mallorca Josep Mascaro. 102 years.

[Image of the man on a phone] Hello Aitana.

[Voiceover on a long car trip and plane trip interspersed with images of birth]

My name is Mallorca Mascaro and I am 102-years-old.

I’m a lucky guy. Lucky…

For having been born, like you.

For being able to embrace my wife.

For having known my friends and for having been able to say goodbye to them.

For still being here.

You will ask yourself what is the reason I’ve come to visit you today.

It’s because most people will say what a bad moment you’ve chosen to come into the world.

We’re in crisis, that’s not a good thing…

Well, it’ll make you stronger.

I’ve lived worse moments than this one,

but in the end, you’ll remember only good things.

[Image of the man now at the hospital visiting the baby]

Don’t waste time with nonsense, there’s plenty of it,

and go and find what makes you happy while you can,

since time slips away very quickly.

I’ve lived for 102 years and I’ll happily live a few more.

Because I promise you that the only thing you won’t like about life it that it’ll seem too short.

You’re here to be happy.

the violinist

A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin on a cold December morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that a thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.


Three minutes went by before a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace, stopped for a few seconds and then hurried on.


A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman, without stopping, threw the money into his violin case.


A few minutes later, a man listened to his playing for a moment, looked at his watch and walked on. Clearly he was late for work.


The person who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother dragged him along and the child walked on while turning his head from time to time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.


In the 45 minutes that the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk on. He collected $32.


No one took notice when he finished playing. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.


No one knew that the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the world's finest musicians. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, on a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.


Two days before playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theatre in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each.


This is a true story.


Joshua Bell's "concert" incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post newspaper as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?


If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to a virtuoso playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

Skillet days

Do you own a big flat electric skillet?

This is easily one of my favorite tools in the kitchen.

Generally when it comes out, there is a days worth of meals done quick and easy.

Today was one such day.

Breakfast - Bacon and French Toast
Lunch -Grilled Cheese
Dinner - (will be) Cheese Quesedillas

Stuff I love about it:

Big cooking surface - 6-8 pieces of French Toast all at once.
Grease catcher - a tray that hangs on the front - easy catch for all the bacon / burger grease.
Easy cleanup - nice no-stick, usually just a quick wipe and away it goes.
Travels well - we've taken it camping! (when there is electricity at the camp site)

You should get one.... I love mine.

P.S. on the subject of mine quirks:

I grew up eating jelly or jam on my grilled cheese sandwiches. Thank you DAD! It is a generational "blessing" that I have passed on to my children. Most people get grossed out at the mention, but it is yummy - you should try it.

My husband has, but today preferred plain.