An actual nice, non-ranty entry where I get a bit sentimental.

[apple_pathways]

My parents left yesterday for their cruise, but before taking off, my mother made me an Easter e-card to be delivered today. I opened it, viewed the ridiculous video of the talking cat with the bunny ears, and discovered that my mom had hidden an Easter surprise for me in the piano bench!



My mom is so sweet. :D

Also putting me in the Easter mood, my friend and I dyed Easter eggs last night:



Mine:


Hers:


And then, reading everyone's messages about Easter and Passover on their journals. Now, it's well-known that I am not a religious or spiritual person: but I will say, I am always touched by sincere faith. Not so much faith in a god, or any sort of supernatural force or presence: but faith that life is worth living; that every person is capable of redemption; and that love makes a difference. Perhaps this is not faith in the truest sense of the word, as it's not always blind: I can find proof of these things if I choose to look for it. Perhaps it's not faith, because just believing is not enough. Part of being an atheist is understanding that belief is inherently meaningless: that life happens the same no matter what you believe about it.

What belief does influence is actions, deeds, and the choices we make: and those things can change the world, if only just a little bit. I do believe this: that life is worth a shot. Sometimes it's horrible, but it's worth pressing on, so long as you can find something to love. Love is a choice you make everyday. I don't always choose it--sometimes I choose complaining, or sarcasm, or anger. But today, I choose love: and I choose each and every one of you. You make me smile. And if I've ever caused you sadness, or anger, or aggravation--know that I am truly sorry. I'll try to do better in the future. In the meantime, please accept my sappy philosophizing for what it is: a metaphorical stash of hidden chocolate, and a great big virtual hug. ♥

Comments

[ravelled-ribbon.livejournal.com]

How do you get them to go patterned like that?

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

To get the swirls and speckles on the ones I dyed, you use oil. Fill a cup with enough water to cover the egg and add 1 Tbsp vinegar and 1 Tbsp cooking oil. Add a couple drops of food coloring, then dip in the egg and swirl with a spoon. It takes some manipulating to get the food coloring onto the egg, and eventually all the colors mix in the water, which is why they have big blotches of brown on them. I changed the water a couple times while I was dying the eggs because of this. (My grandmother was much better at it. I'll have to find out from her how she did it.)

As for the ones my friend made, you add 1 tsp vinegar to 1/2 cup water, then add the food coloring to make the dye. Then she dipped opposite ends of the egg into different colors. The splotches came from dripping food coloring directly onto the egg, and the textured pattern came from dabbing the eggs with paper towel.

[jacknjill270.livejournal.com]

Those eggs are so pretty! I love the patterns on them. I was lazy and did all mine solid colors.

As a fellow atheist I agree with everything you said about faith and the choices that people make (though you said it much more eloquently than I would have). My grandma asked me to go with her to her church for the Easter sermon, which was primarily about forgiveness and redemption. Though I'm not a believer in God, that's certainly a message I agree with.

A great big virtual hug right back atcha! :)

Also: have you seen Doctor Who yet???? I finally got BBC America last month and I watched it when it aired. SPOILER ALERT: IT WAS AMAZING.

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

(((HUG)))

I did watch Who! It was great, but mostly: I WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT! Bah, cliffhangers are EVIL!!!

I loved the monsters, though: super creepy! I love super creepy.

Good for you, taking your grandma to church! I used to go every year before my grandmother passed away. I'm not big on church (obviously), but Easter sermons always seem to be especially nice and uplifting. :D

[tierfal.livejournal.com]

omg, your mom is so sweet. :D

Your Easter eggs are really avant-garde-y awesome. 8D And I love the pastels of your friend's, the striped ones especially. c:

but faith that life is worth living; that every person is capable of redemption; and that love makes a difference
Thissssssss so much. ♥

Love is a choice you make everyday. I don't always choose it--sometimes I choose complaining, or sarcasm, or anger.
This is just beautiful – and I think that's a really important distinction that I've never quite put my finger on. New goal for next week is to make a "Choose love" sign for my cubicle.

GREAT BIG late VIRTUAL HUG. ♥