OK, so those of you familiar with Buddhism know that the ultimate goal was Nirvana, which was the supreme state of peace of the mind. You probably also know about the Eightfold Path, which was a guide to the path to Nirvana. You achieve the eight steps, you achieve the highest form of peace and enlightenment possible.

I've obviously condensed this all, of course.

OK - so what does this have to do with anything? In my own life, I feel that I am well on my way to an enlightenment of my own. For the last month and a half, we have gone through the process of preparing for the purchase a minivan (I know, three kids and we haven't joined The Club yet - scandalous!).

This weekend, however, I feel we will finally achieve the state of supreme enlightenment known as "Minivana."

Let me describe my journey for you. I will present the Eightfold Path and how it has been achieved in my house.

1. Right View: To see and understand things for what they really are

Minivana: My husband and I have come to see and understand that our four-door Extended Crew Cab Chevy truck is not enough anymore. Our kids don't have enough room to spread out and constantly are in each other's physical space.

2. Right Intention: A commitment to improvement

Minivana: Over Christmas break, we committed to making a new minivan purchase, and buying it in the near future. It's no longer an idea, it's on its way to becoming reality.

3. Right Speech: Using words genuinely, kindly, and effectively

Minivana: We did a follow-up email to the minivan salesguy after we'd visited the lot one weekend, asking plenty of good, effective questions. We did this in a kind, respectful manner as well.

4. Right Action: Wholesome actions lead to sound states of mind

Minivana: Brent spent a week after the salesguy emailed us back crunching numbers and poring over financial records to find out when would be the best time to buy.

5. Right Livelihood: Wealth is gained in a healthy, legal, and peaceful

Minivana: Brent is a software engineer and I am a high school English teacher. Both are very peaceful professions.

6. Right Effort: Focusing the right kind of energy, making the right kind of effort

Minivana: We are exercising a fair amount of restraint, which is uncommon for us. Usually, if we want to do something, we'll just do it. However, this time around, we are truly making a great effort to not rush into the decision.

7. Right Mindfulness: An ability to conceptualize the "big picture"

Minivana: Because of our research, we are picking minivan models now based on future needs. Growing kids = more legroom = buy the bigger minivan now, etc, etc, as opposed to just getting something now that we'll be dissatisfied with later. This is not just an impetuous, "now" purchase, but one for the future as well.

8. Right Concentration: All mental energies are directed and focused on an object.

Minivana: This is where we are now. Brent and I will be focusing all of our energy on this one task; we are mentally, physically, and economically preparing for this event. For example, Brent entirely cleaned out the car we plan on trading in. This shows extreme concentration and foresighted preparation - a focus on making this one event happen.

Say it with me now...Ohhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmm.

"Sometimes I think
Life is just a rodeo.
The trick is to ride
and make it to the bell."

These lyrics come from one of my favorite songs ever..."Rock and Roll Girls." Every now and then, they pop into my head and I am reminded of life and its craziness in general.

So, having these lyrics in my blog tonight prompted me to locate my playlist and put this song on it...however, playlist.com did not have this particular JF song (bastards), so you will all have to do without it tonight, and listen to my same old playlist I posted way back in August.

You know, I do honestly think at times life is like a rodeo. We all get on, and hope for a fairly uneventful, yet fun, ride. We try to make it to the bell without getting bucked off and getting seriously hurt. If we're lucky, we manage to hold on for eight seconds (or eighty years or whatever) and then we move on.

What brings about these deep thoughts? Because these lyrics remind me how tenuous life is. How one moment things are going smoothly and we think we have the world on a string, and then the next, life crashes in on our heads and we don't know if we'll make it.

Our nephew (Brent's brother's son) is five years old. When he was a baby, he began having febrile convulsions/seizures. It's a genetic thing, on the male side, and the thought was he'd eventually grow out of it. Spencer had one when he was a baby also, but never again after that. But, Colin grew into toddlerhood and still the seizures occurred. He began taking heavy medications to stop convulsions, because the fear was that they would cause brain damage. When he was around three, the seizures tapered off, and his parents began gradually weaning him off the meds. This last Christmas, he took his last dose of medication. It had been two years since an episode.

Then, Christmas night, out of the blue, he had one. And since then, it's increased dramatically. There have been about three days when he's had several a day, and he's been making trips back and forth to Iowa City for the whole gamut of tests. This weekend, his parents are meeting with a specialist, and will hopefully get answers and help they desperately need.

Another twist to the story - this little boy's parents are both doctors. Can you imagine? Being a doctor and not able to cure your son?

Here they are, being bucked off that bronco with a vengeance they couldn't even have imagined or deserved. The bell they try to make it to is a day without a seizure. What they wouldn't give to have a healthy little boy?

What do you do? Enjoy the ride while you're steady atop the horse, I guess. And pray.

Because I would be feeling like poo right now for neglecting my readers. It's almost been a week since I've posted here, and what terribly urgent things have I done this week that would have legitimately kept me from posting here.....?

NOTHING.

In my own crappy defense, this is that time of the year where my blood slows to a near crawl. In fact, my systems shut down so completely that I register as catatonic. I sort of float along the stream of survival, doing just enough to keep myself alive. For example, I'll wash only seven pairs of underwear as opposed to ten, because I won't have the energy to change them but once a day. It's just too bad if I happen to soil a pair on, say, Tuesday. I won't be washing underwears again until Saturday. I just have to endure.

Although, to toot my own small, little, miniscule horn, I will say that I do still make reasonable dinners for my family. By reasonable, I mean, healthy, balanced, from-scratch meals. I honestly love to cook and bake, and actually enjoy preparing food for people.

OK, so I guess I'm catatonic in every other room besides the kitchen.

Ah. Well, now that I think about it...I've ran one to two miles on the treadmill every day since the day after Christmas, so I'm not comatose in that category either. Oh, and...I am pretty caught up on my schoolwork, lesson planning and whatnot.

Alright, dammit...but seriously, I am seriously lacking motivation in all other areas of my life. I don't have to justify myself to you people!!!!!!

OMG - did you all notice how I used 'seriously' twice in the above span of four words? WTH? I'm all of a sudden like a preschooler...with a seriously limited vocabulary. Seriously.

The glorious weekend.

I realize I am repeating myself. I think I always use the word 'glorious' when I am talking about the weekends. It's so cliche. I need to find another word.

So, I've been wandering out in the wilderness here at the Stream for awhile now...at some point, I entertained Delusions of Grandeur and figured, through my witty and poignant prose, I would become the most famous blogger here, which would then lead to multi-book deals from publishers who'd heard of me and read my online stuff. Then, I would quit my teaching job and write full-time, in addition to touring the country doing book signings and whatnot. Pretty soon, I would be approached by Hollywood agents and Playboy.

Alas, that future doesn't seem to be in the cards for me...yet.

I am on a couple of other Streamers' "Blogs I Like" (not thousands, like was expected). I also found out a couple of days ago that I do have an outside reader (a non-Streamer) who checks in every now and then.

All in all...I have a readership of about...four. Maybe. I have a couple of ideas that may remedy this problem.

1. Blog here more frequently. Good practice.
2. Respond to others' blogs.
3. Write about things my readers would like to read about.

Hmmmm...well, I think readers would like to hear about my Saturday so far.

Let's see. I woke up early this morning and made it out in the below zero weather to have breakfast with my parents at seven this morning. Kirby came with. Then, I had a 9:00 hair appointment, and I got the works. Cut, color, etc. I feel pretty. The rest of my day will be a combination of house chores and food preparation, because we are having friends over around 7:00 pm. Before that, though, we are eating an early supper at my mom and dad's around 3:00. I am also hoping to squeeze in some homework grading, but that may have to be done tomorrow.

So there. My Saturday. I fully expect readership to skyrocket.

Throat sealed shut,
tonsils size of rocket.
Looks like I'm going to need a sub,
the number's in my pocket.

Pull on stocking hat,
head off to school.
Sub plans gotta get done,
without them, he or she will look like a fool.

Back home, back to bed?
Nope, gotta call the doc.
Try to get in sometime today,
more precious hours off the clock.

The doc flits in, takes the temp
Gives me a prescrip like he should.
Out to Walmart, wait twenty minutes,
I ain't feeling too good.

Back home, sit in the bath,
hope to alleviate this ick.
Should take a nap, should drink some soup,
what a day to be sick.

Too ill to work,
too well to just drop dead.
Should I be doing a load of laundry,
instead of lounging in bed?

Ultimately, the lesson I've learned,
and I hope will point you the right way.
Really, seriously, truly,
I *could have* worked today.