How I See It: Reflections on spirituality, technology, and the art of everyday life

Dear Friends, It is my custom at this time of year to celebrate with my friends by giving them the gift of self — to share some of what the last year has brought for me. This year I am celebrating Christmas for the 51st time in my life, still hoping for a white Christmas like my first year at Heathway in New York, or like the one a few years ago (when I was much too sick to enjoy it). And yes, I still wish I had someone to share it with. I do, however, have a bikini hung by the chimney with care in case Saint Nick wants to fill it. It has been another interesting year — and as the Chinese pointed out, that can’t be good. The biggest news of the year, as most of you already know, is my service dog Phoenix. I got her in April when she was eight weeks old. It has been challenging, but we are doing great, and it’s wonderful to have her here. She is a service dog in training, and the training takes about two years to complete. When we’re done, she’ll be able to help me walk when I’m hav...

Caring Copyright 2008 by Odell S. Hathaway, III Before my late wife became my late wife, she taught me a painful but important lesson. The word “CARE” is a verb. For my sake and for hers, I wish she could have learned that lesson. I think if she had, she might have found the ability to defeat her demons and still be my living wife instead of my late wife. I, on the other hand, will never forget this lesson. You see, the English language is extremely poor in one major way. We possess so few words to express the different meanings of the single word “Love.” Because of this, we have attempted to cram that meaning into words already so full that finding their true meaning becomes almost impossible. This allows us to hide behind these now-meaningless words—like CARE. My wife used to tell me that she cared about me. But the fact is that she seldom, if ever, cared for me—not even after my cancer surgery. Most of the time she treated me like a servant—or as I sometimes told her, ...