A discussion about the origins of life on earth May 31, 2007

was had elsewhere online today.  Just wanted to copy and paste this here for posterity.

Here’s my own personal, totally pulled out of my ass theory, which reconciles my acceptance of evolutionary science as valid and factual with my acceptance of the likelihood of a higher power of some sort…

I’ve read that the oldest known galaxy to be discovered in the universe is approximately 3x older than our solar system. Given that, presumably any life forms that evolved in that galaxy would, potentially, be 3x more evolved than the highest life form here – i.e. us. (OK, I realize that certain people will make you question the premise that we are the most highly-evolved life form. But … work with me, here). In that case, the highest life form in that galaxy would be more highly evolved than us by a factor of 3 times the difference in complexity between humans and, say, a single-celled amoeba or whatever the earliest life form on earth was.

Such a highly evolved life form could well have evolved beyond a physical form. Let’s face it, doing without the limitations of our physical form would be evolutionarily advantageous. At the very least, it would do away with that pesky aging thing which couldn’t be a bad thing. It could have evolved to a pure energy lifeform. An omni-present one, even. Sounds a lot like the gods of most religions, no? If you want to take it one step further, I think each of us have good and evil in us. In another dozen billion years or so, when we’re pure energy, the good and evil might separate into opposite energy forces. Voila – God and Satan.

I think it’s fairly likeyl that I was under the influence when I came up with this theory.

Now, I don’t necessarily believe this. Just that it seems as likely as anything else which attempts to explain or establish the existence of a supernatural being / force / power / thing that sits on top the thing.

I further realize this theory isn’t likely to take the world by storm and end that pesky debate. The literal creation types aren’t likely to want to hear that God and Satan are really just regular old lifeforms who happen to be a coupla hundred laps ahead of us in the Evolution 500.

A well-lived life May 28, 2007

Grandpa F was my SIL’s husband’s father and the first grandparent my son knew.   He was one of the most delightful and remarkable people I have ever known.  He lived with SIL and BIL for most of the first 4 years of DS1’s life.  He was there the day we brought the babies home from the hospital and the inlaws brought the party to our house so that we could celebrate DS1’s 3rd birthday, just in time.

 Grandpa F would have turned 100 this August.  He lived a very long, productive and full life so in his passing today, there truly can be no regrets.  Still, I am so very sad.  He moved back up north over two years ago and had been in perfect health until recently.  DS1 has talked of him a few times recently.  I don’t have the heart to tell him that he died.  I suppose I will do that soon but I will wait till I can tell him without getting so upset myself.  I don’t think me crying when I tell him is going to make it easier for DS1. 

DS2 and 3 are too young to remember his.  They were almost 1 the last Christmas that Grandpa F spent with us.  I have wished numerous times since then that he’d stayed down here and that DS2 and 3 could have known him as “Grandpa F”, also.

Rest in peace, Grandpa F.  I can only hope to live my life as fully and well as you did.  I hope they have a good single malt scotch where you are.

A pleasant day May 27, 2007

SIL and neice came for dinner today. Neice recently turned 15 so we had cake.  DS’s were all so excited to see her.  (Well, and auntie D. And LL, the dog.   )  Neice has turned into a really lovely teenager, surprisingly enough.

 DS1 wanted to do a treasure hunt for her to find her cake.  He took his notepad and wrote out all these elaborate clues.  Neice did a great job of playing along and making it fun.  In the end, she found her birthday cake in the lazy susan cupboard.

DS3 played Sequence with us (and won.  With a little direction from Mommy).  He was so tickled with himself.  That boy just can’t wait to be big.

Neice is having some self-esteem issues – typical teenage stuff.  Weight and acne, basically.  Of course, she does not have a weight problem *at all* but expectations / societal pressure in this area is so wack that she sees it as a problem.  Appallingly, though, SIL is feeding it.  She said she “refuses to buy anything over a size 2″ (for neice).  Neice is 5′5″, at least.  And a competitive swimmer.  I just think that is so sad and completely counter-productive to fostering healthy attitudes about diet and body image.  It also reminds me that I’m quite happy to not have daughters and have that particular brand of tight-rope walking to look forward to. 

Just told to me May 26, 2007

Mommy, you have to come see our train track!  It is more than giant OR big.  It is giant, giant, giant and big mixed together.

Mr Literal May 26, 2007

For the past few weeks, DS1 has been on the ultra-literal (aka smartass) kick.  I find it simultaneously amusing and beat-my-head-on-a-wall-annoying. 

Examples: 

Driving to school, I’m trying to get him to eat something.  Just before dropoff, I say “DS1, is your banana in your tummy?”  I’m waiting for a yes, here since I saw him eating it.  DS1 “No”.  Me: “Huh? I saw you eating it.”  DS1 “Well, the peel is not in my tummy.  And the yucky part at the bottom is not in my tummy”.

2.  In my office (which resembles the aftermath of a natural disaster) I’m explaining that all the crap laying about is my stuff and “there’s nothing in the this office that you boys should be touching”.  DS1: “Nothing?” Me: “nope, nothing”.  DS1: “The air?  The floor?” 

This is the part where you could go ahead and visualize me beating my head on the desk / wall.  I think I’ll add to this post as he continues with it so that someday I’ll look back and find it amusing.  I guess this ability would serve him well in, say, cross-examination.   Although, the phrase “badgering the witness” leaps to mind.

Bootcamp – survived May 26, 2007

DS2 was in bed with me this morning.  I love it when I wake up and find that, unbeknownst to me, a child got up in the night, came to our room and climbed in bed next to me. 

 I love it because it means that I’ve re-learned how to sleep without always having one ear open.   As in, actually sleeping.  It’s just more evidence that I’ve survived parenting bootcamp and I get a little thrill out of knowing it every time. 

So, even though, I nearly fainted when I saw their preschool pics yesterday and wondered who these big, grownup looking boys resembling my babies were I do not for one moment want to turn back the clock.  Once was enough and I’m enjoying normal sleep once more.

Of course, waking up with a snuggly kid is wonderful, too.  Even if he’s way bigger than I think he could possiby be already.

Of all the things I’ve lost May 25, 2007

I miss my memory the most.  Given that I am rarely able to get to the grocery store and back home with everything I meant to get (even when it’s only a couple things) unless I write it down, it seems like maybe journaling the little moments that make up a life (well, specifically, *my* life) is a better idea than hoping I’ll just remember.  

Hopefully, for something new, my actions will turn up somewhere in the neighborhood of my intentions.