The chain of freedom, John Edwards, and Walking my dog

[The Straight Story]

As many writers do I pull my musings from real life. If you have read many of my posts you may see that (I mention that because some folks ask me where I come up with my drivel).

So I was outside watching my daughter today as she walked our dog wiggles (our other is buster). She decided she wanted to do something else and ask me to hang on to him for a few.

As I stood there holding him and watching him I began to see more than just a dog straining on his leash. When my daughter walked away he backed up, without looking, and then ran in hopes of breaking free. Now mad, he turned on the leash and chewed on it. That leash kept him from accomplishing his desires and goals.

Without it though, he may well have run out in front of a car.

Our freedom is like a chain, we give up some things to have a civilized society where we can all live together. At one point it time it was quite long, allowing us to do more, see more, pee on more trees :)

As time has marched on though, some have cut the links and shortened that chain. Sometimes it is life and our health that shorten the length of the leash.

The usual reasoning for making it shorter is that is good for others. We can't force you to make the decisions we think are best, so we claim it is better for the group and we all take a step back and give up another link. Until eventually we end up sitting at the feet of the person who was supposed to be serving our needs, our collective government.

Today, John Edwards talked about his wife, her illness, and his and their desire to press on.

The chain in his life has been choked hard, Elizabeth's even harder. Where they once saw a freedom to run about together, they now have to face that some things just cannot be as they once were - though they won't give up trying to make them that way.

Like my dog wiggles, they saw their dream walking away from them, and made a run for it. Instead of giving up, they turned around and took a bite at the chain cancer is trying to forge for them. Their life did not stop, their hopes of breaking free did not go away. Their hope of occupying the white house, a shared dream they have, did not simply translate into the removal of a link in their chain holding them back even more.

They did what anyone would do when their chained is pulled back as someone tries to shorten it, they fought back and pressed on.

Edwards is not my candidate of choice, just so you know. But I have seen things from where he is on some level. Some of our dreams are on hold with my wife's parkinson's. She cannot paint as she once loved to do with the clarity she desires, nor make beautiful beads to the level of complexity she once did as they are small and need a steady hand.

You don't give up, you adjust and work with what you have and gnaw away at what is trying to stop you. Sitting and staring at that chain won't make it go away, straining against it might break it though.

John and Elizabeth have dreams together. That they are fighting for them should come as no surprise.

(One might ask too, why do some people have a shorter chain than others?....)

[eleny]

1. Seems like they've been with me all day

[The Straight Story]

3. It reminded me of the day we found out the wife had parkinson's

Shock, then questions, then telling those you know about it.

I told my family, she hers, and I posted here on Du because this is a part of my extended family. \

Then - when people are done talking to you, when it all dies down, you are still there together as husband and wife to deal with the effects of it. Sympathy and kind words might soothe the soul initially, but then the each day kicks in and you are faced with the reality, and no words can make you feel better.

Some days are better than others, but the forecast still calls for a tornado and the skies are overcast. It doesn't always rain, but when it does you worry about what follows it.

They have hard days ahead, and shame on those on the right who want to make it about an election, etc. I would give anything for my wife to be better, and I am sure Edwards would as well.

[eleny]

5. Some things get set in stone in a heartbeat

You turn around quick to find out that the past security is gone. Then, every day you're really on your own in the new place. I feel for the Edwards' and for your family, too. This news of today is going to take some time to settle in.

Meantime, the bastards coast along in the country's driver seat. So I sent JE a campaign contribution. Fuck Hannity.

[The Straight Story]

6. Ya know, I think you hit the nail on the head with that

That is what I felt when my mom died, then again with my wife's diagnosis.

I was at a loss, seeing a shrink, and it is just the like the world I knew was suddenly a strange and scary place.

That past sense of security is something we strongly hold on to, and I hadn't always thought of it that way. Could fuel another op by me soon :) Thanks for the context!

[eleny]

7. That's exactly how it feels

I never realized how comfortable I was in my various "present tense" situations until I lost loved ones or even a job in one instance. A soft tunnel vision, perhaps. Or maybe just living happily in the moment.

Being an existentialist is hard work. Maybe they've got their finger on something, though. A need to at least be prepared. But I believe that no philosophy can prepare us for certain realities. Much of hard core life's experiences are "learn as you go" no matter what.

All I could do was drag through the bad times until one day I woke up, started feeling bad and then looked in the mirror to tell myself - "No more, not today!". That's how I remember it.

:hug:

[Horse with no Name]

2. As I said earlier

My choice is Gore. However, should he not run, my mind was made up today of who I was going to vote for.
Very nice post, btw.

[The Straight Story]

4. I don't have my mind made up yet

Edwards does not top my list, but he is not near the bottom either.

I think he can win the general election if he is chosen though. No one is perfect, hell - I am living proof of that over and over again :)