*Sober Thoughts*

Preparing for Incapacity

A New York Times article today about Alzheimer's disease is a warning to have your estate plan created or reviews. The article quotes the Alzheimer's Association estimates that there has been a 10% increase in Alzheimer's cases in the past five years.  Worse, that number will more than triple in the next few decades.

This news translates into a reminder to create or update your estate plan.  Statistics show that most Americans don't have a will or trust.  These vital documents provide instructions for how your property and personal affairs are to be managed after you die.  In addition, a complete estate plan should have documents drafted to prepare for physical or mental incapacity before one dies. 

Alzheimer's can lead to incapacity which means a person lacks the ability to make decisions for him or herself.  Without powers of attorney for asset managemet and health care, family members must turn to the court system causing unnecessary expense, delay and heartache.  The cost to create or update an estate plan is usually far less than the financial and emotional toll taken when one dies or is incapacitated without one.

As an estate planning attorney, I welcome your questions and comments.

Fake Peace

I am befuddled.  I just read that our president does not support an end to the violence in the Middle East if it's "fake peace."  I had no idea there was more than one kind of peace.  Thank you, Mr. President.  These comments were made while the U.S. sends arms to Israel in order to pound their neighbors in Lebanon into submission.

My interpretation:  We want Isreal to conquer Lebanon by force and establish "peace."

This world seems to live by the rules of the Old West....if you offend me, I will kill you.  Violence and death are the answers to every conflict.  It's looney to think that by eliminating one's foe, one has accomplished anything.  There are countless others ready to take the place of the fallen one.  They become stronger and things escalate.

This mess reminds me of the U2 song "Love and Peace or Else"  Goes something like this...

Lay down
Lay down your guns
All your daughters of Zion
All your Abraham sons

I don't know if I can take it
I'm not easy on my knees
Here's my heart and you can break it
I need some release, release, release.

We need love and peace.
Love and peace.

Baby don't fight
we can talk this thing through
It's not a big problem
It's just me and you
You can call or I'll phone
the TV is still on
but the sound is turned down
and the troops on the ground
are about to dig in

And I wonder where is the love?
Where is the love?
Where is the love?
Where is the love?
Love and peace.

Another Year Older

Well, I made it. Today is my 42nd birthday.  For 37 birthdays, I have shared this same celebration with my brother, Matt, who was born five years after me. Today, we shared the day on the golf course in the stifling heat.   We were joined by our step-father, Horacio.  Today's round and the BBQ we had here Saturday were more than enough celebrating for me. 

I have noticed that the older I get the more low key I want my birthdays to be.   I am most interested in sharing time with my family.  Hopefully, someday, that will include my children and grandchildren.  Birthdays formerly were yet another excuse to get drunk and stupid.  I'll never forget my 21st birthday which ended with a very sick birthday boy who was ejected from the bar.   Man, its good to be sober!

I have also noticed that the older I get the less my body cooperates.  The hints have been subtle but it's clear I am not a spring chicken.  I have tried to my part in furthering my longevity by getting off the booze and maintaining a healthy weight while getting regular medical exams.  A healthy and active lifestyle has come easy for me and I can say that, at 42, I'm probably in the best shape of my life.....physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

The best is yet to come.

Armageddon?

It is my imagination or are we having more disasters these days?  Maybe it just that we are more aware of these calamities due to our wonderfully connected world.  I wonder if someone is keeping track of the numbers of floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, etc.  What's next? Locusts?

I know the Bible has something to say about all this.  Others says it's due to global warming.  Whatever the reason, it reminds me how powerless I am.  It also reminds me how fortunate I am and that I need to help those affected by these tragedies.

Movin' Out

It's been an exciting and nerve-racking month.  Elicia and I have purchased a dream home in Carlsabd.  For those of you who have moved recently, you know what I mean.  Overall, this process has gone smootly and we should close escrow tomorrow then take possession of the new palace Friday.  It's quite a place in terms of location and floorplan.  We have some plans to customize it and make it ours.  Elicia's interior designer skills are amazing so I expect things will be spectacular.

Another move got me thinking about the state of locomotion I have been in over the past 10 years.  This will be the 10th move since 1996.  Before that, I was in the same place for 25 years.  Go figure.  My intention with this move is to STAY PUT for a good long while.  The right place, at the right time with the right person. 

Part of the fun over the past several weeks has been trying to lease and/or sell our properties.  The good news is that our purchase in Carlsbad has not been contingent on the sale of these other places.  We can thank God for that.  Neither place has received much attention in terms of offers which is obviously due to our softening real estate market.  The prospect of multiple mortgage payments is imminent and a smidge scary.  We're doing all we can and praying like crazy.

Living in San Clemente has been a dream come true.  Living in Carlsbad will no doubt be a continuation of living the dream.

Meditation

I think the concept of meditation is misunderstood.  Most probably conjure visions of head-shaven monks sitting for hours in some Tibetan, candle-lit enclave.  Well, that's one way to meditate.  For me, meditation takes many forms.  I actually enjoy the candle-lit peaceful space and have managed to find one every Friday night at my church Palisades United Methodist Church.  I highly recommend it for those of us seeking a place to quiet one's mind.

Another form of meditation I use is listening to music.  The music on XM's Audio Visions channel 77 or the Soundscapes Channel on cable's Music Choice are my favorite. The music rarely includes the human voice but when it does, it's, well, meditative. 

Yoga is a great meditative practice.  Heck, where else can you be in room with a group of people for an hour or more and not speak to them. Try that just about anyplace else on the planet.  I already mentioned in a previous post the many benefits I found in yoga practice.   Give it a try.  I promise you will see results and it may change your life as it has for me.

For me, meditation is the practice of establishing and maintaining conscious contact with God.  The distractions of daily life tend to interfere with this so it's become imperative for me to seek times and places to practice meditation.  Ultimately, I believe it's possible to be in constant meditation....in the now.....always.

That's what I'm shooting for. Wanna join me?

Yoga

Yoga has changed my life.  It's a spiritual practice that has changed me from the inside out.  I first tried it as a remedy for chronic lower back pain.  I learned that the pain was due to tension and stress.  The movement with breath from yoga has alleviated this pain and given me strength I never knew I had.

I am grateful to my yoga instructor Jessica (www.universalyogis.com) and my fellow yogis.  While it truly is a personal practice, it is great to share it with others.  Elicia and I enjoy the opportunity to practice together.

Yoga has taught me how to breathe.  Something we all think we know how to do takes on a different meaning when practicing yoga.  Yoga is amazing in its simplicity.   It's just me and a mat in a room with a few others taking part in something that is centuries old.  It has been a huge gift.

I also thank my mother for suggesting it. Thanks, mom.  I love you.

Liar's Club

Unless you're in a cave spending time with Osama bin Laden, you probaly have seen the newest members of the liar's club.  Barry Bonds and Andrew Fastow.  Liars.  The latter is testifying against his former superiors at Enron and it admitting his lies.  The former is the Giants outfielder who is perhaps thinking that cave along side ObL is looking pretty good right now.

I think it's great that our "heros" get humbled.  They and we get remided that they are not God.  Their pursuit of money and prestige is ultimately misplaced. 

We reap what we sow.

Spirit of Life

My uncle Bill just went through prostate cancer surgery.  During the first few days of recovery he became full of fear, gave up his faith and hope, and wanted to die.  He  made it through those most difficult hours with the help and love of God and his wife, Arline.   Sometimes I guess even when we throw in the towel, God has other plans.  I told him he has a purpose here and that God was not through with him yet. 

I just know that there is more to life than what we see, hear, touch and taste.  There is a spirit of life that is intangible.   This spirit connects every living thing which includes everything.  Even a rock is made up of billions of atoms.  I'm no scientist (my brother, Matt, is) but I doubt I'd get much argument from many about that fact.

The book "The Power of Now"  by Eckhart Tolle (www.eckharttolle.com) is a great read that might just change your life.  Mr. Tolle has written a few other title since "The Power of Now" which continue to reinforce the concept of the Spirit of Life.  I have an extra copy. Let me know if you'd like to borrow it.

I am grateful that my uncle is still here and lived to tell about it.  His spirit is alive and well even if his body has been slowed some.  I love him.

Team USA?

I watched some Olympic speed skating last night.  It's been a rare thing so far to see some events during these Olympics.  It's been a busy time for me and I have not seen much TV.   Normally, that's a good thing considering the garbage called entertainment on the tellee these days.

After the speed skating event last night, the "on the ice" reporter interviewed a skater who took a disappointing bronze metal.  Apparently, there is some ill will among this person and his fellow American skater.  The reported stirred this up by asking how it felt to finish behind the other guy, who took silver.  The response was dipolmatic and cordial and make through clearly gritting teeth.

During the interview with the silver medalist, there was only minimal reference to being teammates and skating for country.  Later, during the now ubiquitous press conference, both skaters spoke and more controversy ensued.

I see this as media manipulation to create stories.   We give the media power and they distort the truth.  We buy into it and support it as consumers of the advertisers who spend billions.

I have not seen the Team USA spirit from past Olympics.  I am sure there are examples.  Let me know if you catch one.