Notes from today's walk

I justified my recent iPod purchase with "I'll walk more". Ah, guilt....

Today I managed - without planning - to get outside for my walk as a light rain began to fall. So I stopped by the espresso stand for a handwarmer mocha. The wind was a bit cold at first, but after I walked uphill for a few blocks it was a rather pleasant coolness.

At one point there was a moist smell of rain that was rather enticing. Then I got back to the road, and it went away....

Integrity service

I stopped in for the Integrity Puget Sound service at St Mark's on Sunday. Father John Ruder from St Columba's had the service. His 18-month-old terrier Tate really tried to patient, which was really cute to watch. There were about 20 of us at the service; after we went over to Leffler House for coffee and conversation. It's quite a mixed group - some clergy, some monastics, lots of layfolk; some singles, some established couples.

One gal I wish I'd exchanged emails with - she came out to her folks while at university and they freaked. Currently she's living at home, and it's stressful. She's moving out on her own soon, which should help.

Quality of life vs Length of life...

It's a question that many have to wrestle with.

In Vailia Dennis' and Art Buchwald's cases, it was a conscious choice. That's probably better than skipping check-ups or ignoring a possibly cancerous lump because you don't want to know...but it's still a choice.

And I know quality and length are not always either-or. I'm told that treating my sleep apnea increases the chances that I will live longer; I know the better sleep I get improves my current quality of life.

Either way, choosing to put quality or length of life first is a valid choice to make for one's self. I doubt it's always easy ... but maybe it sometimes is.