It's been a trying couple of weeks around Rancho Juvat. As I was pondering them and the results the Lord was expecting from them, I kinda came up with a realization.
My new working hypothesis on Life? Thought you'd never ask, Sarge.
Life is like a Sine Wave.
WTF is a Sine Wave, juvat? Well, Beans (Had to change persons in the conversation. Sarge knows, he deals with them all the time.) According to the All-Knowing Wikipedia, a Sine Wave is:
"A sine wave, sinusoidal wave, or just sinusoid is a mathematical curve defined in terms of the sine trigonometric function, of which it is the graph.[1] It is a type of continuous wave and also a smooth periodic function.[2] It occurs often in mathematics, as well as in physics, engineering, signal processing and many other fields."
Isn't that a perfectly clear and understandable definition?
Because I was a simple Fighter Pilot once, a picture is worth (in this case) a million words.
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One of the functions performed by a sine wave is to make the Radar on my jet work. That was kinda important to me.
But...For purposes of this post, I think a sine wave kinda reflects life. Lots of ups and downs and one usually follows the other. If one refers to the peaks as good things happening and the valleys as less good, maybe even bad, things, then I think it makes sense.
Lots of good/great things happened around here over the past couple of weeks.
Having the family together for the Holidays is always a great thing. That particular Sine Wave covered about 5 months. Since July anyhow.
Birth of Second Granddaughter? Peak. At 27 weeks & 8" 1 lb 2 oz? Valley. Little J arriving before Mom woke up from the surgery? Peak. All the events in LJD's life progress since? Mostly peaks with some valleys.
However...And it's a big one...This past week the NICU Doc in charge of LJD's case told Little J and LJW that she would most likely be released from the NICU this week.
Mt Everest Peak.
Little J and LJW as well as Mrs. J and I will have to learn how to insert a nasal cannula feeding tube prior to her release. Very shallow valley. Little J has to report back to assignment mid-January. Bigger valley. LJD won't be able to join him (which means neither will LJW) until the tube is not required. So, sometime this summerish. Another Valley. But all doable.
MBD, The Rev and MG visiting for Christmas? Very nice peak. MG is 14 months, walking, starting to talk. Also a nice peak. MBD teaching her basic sign language? A very big peak. No, not needed. She'd read that babies can learn to use hand gestures to communicate basic needs faster than verbally. Seems to be working.
This past week, MBD and The Rev taking a little mini-vacation and leaving MG with us for 4 Days. Huge Peak, maybe not Mt Everest, but certainly Pike's Peak.
Had a blast!
The only downside to that visit is "Miss Rachel and Songs for Littles". (No, I will not accept any responsibility for loss of sanity incurred by clicking the link and watching the video.")
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But, as the above graph shows. Every up is followed by a down. A couple of days before Christmas, Mrs J and I were on our way to College Station when her phone rang. It was from our Niece, she's the daughter of Mrs J's older sister, and a registered nurse at the VA. She'd received word that her aunt's (Mrs. J's younger sister who lives very near her) house was on fire and could we go there and work with the Sheriff's deputy on station there.
The graph is definitely on the down hill side.
Unfortunately, it would take a couple of hours to turn around and get back, so not real responsive. We called Little J and he went over.
Called me back a bit later and told me to take the phone off speaker.
Mrs. J's sister didn't make it out.
Ahhh...Shit!
Praying for few dozen major graph upswings to come along soon, Lord!
That was pretty fast, yet good, reminder of the realities of life. Thanks, Lord!
Peace out, Y'all. Ya gotta roll with the flow. In other words...
Never give up...Never surrender!
Huzzah for LJD! My most sincere condolences on the death of Mrs. J's sister. Ups and downs juvat, all too true.........(sigh).
ReplyDeleteNylon,
DeleteYeah, the Granddaughters are definitely keeping my hopping (and young). Good for the soul.
Thanks.
I can't say how sorry I am on your family's loss... Definitely a valley.
ReplyDeleteRob,
DeleteThanks.
Juvat, I am trying not to let the bad news outweigh the good in your post. LJD out soon is wonderful, as is getting to spend time with your family and MG. But I am so, so sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteWe are indeed a day to day people, even though we do not think of it as such.
Look up on your departed servant with kindness O Lord, and grant her eternal rest.
THBB,
DeleteYeah, we are also. Lots of fun and laughter this past week with a bit of sorrow in the back of our minds.
Thanks.
Juvat, Regarding the loss of Mrs. J’s sister we offer our condolences to Mrs. J, her extended family, you and your family.
ReplyDeleteOften it’s difficult to remember that the ups and downs have been G-D’S arrangement for human existence since the beginning of recorded time. Also, the pattern of sine wave patterns certainly beat the pinball effect of randomness of being jolted from bumper to bumper.
Great news that LJD is about to escape and enter the world where there are fewer machine beeps and whirring noises and more hugs and loving attention from family members.
Cletus
Cletus,
DeleteThanks. Hadn't thought of the alternative options, but you're right. Patterns are better than Random, IMHO.
Sorry to hear about your loss.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I find myself at one of the peaks, I make sure the brakes are working properly (just my paranoia), and I thank H-m for lifting me up there.
Whenever I find myself in one of the clefts, I look around (fast) for the toilet fill valve, and I thank H-m for giving me the opportunity to look upwards.
Boron,
DeleteThanks, Yeah, I'm starting to understand those lessons a lot better than earlier in life. As well as appreciate the tops as well as the opportunities provided at the bottoms.
Words can't express the sorrow one feels for a loss, my condolences to Mrs. J and your whole family.
ReplyDeleteExcellent news on LJD!
Thanks Boss, we appreciate it.
DeleteYes it is, very much looking forward to seeing her running around the house without a lot of "attachments" adding drag.
Condolences, especially in this season... And yes, for every up, there is a down. The 'key' is to keep them relatively balanced...
ReplyDeleteOldNFO,
DeleteThanks, Yeah...balance is good!
Cheers for the peaks, and condolences for the valleys. We are all just along for the ride, and He controls the ride for each of us. Hang on, and enjoy all you can, and know that you have no choice but to cope with the unpleasant experiences.
ReplyDeleteJohn Blackshoe.
John B,
Delete"just along for the ride". Yep, wish it were a bit smoother at times, but...one doesn't get a big vote on that.
Hugs for Mrs J...it is so hard to lose a loved one, especially in this season, especially in that way.
ReplyDeleteWant to see pics of LJD without blue gloves holding her up---fingers crossed it's very soon!!!
Suz
Suz,
DeleteThanks,
Yeah, looking forward to a lot of pictures in a different setting. I gotta re-comment though. The Folks in the NICU were (are) fabulous. They took a lot of worry away. God Bless 'em!
Such a tragic and deep valley there with her sister, which is a sadness in mourning that can't be easily erased by those LJD peaks. I will say this prayer for her.
ReplyDeleteEternal rest grant unto her, O Lord,
and let Your perpetual light shine upon her.
May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed
rest in peace.
C'mon LJD, get home and add some joy to that house.
Tuna,
DeleteThanks and you're right. They had settled their differences, but weren't particularly close. The probate thing is becoming problematic.
On the LJD front...Little J and LJW came home from their daily visit a couple of hours ago and said she could be coming home on Thursday depending on some equipment (O2 stuff) being delivered. Her presence will indeed bring joy.
Thanks
A +1 to Tuna's prayer. My joy to you on LJD. My condolences for your sister-in-law.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bill, I appreciate the thoughts.
DeleteSorry to hear of your tragic loss... My mother had brush with death in December, she had broken arm after slipping in the bathroom, and had to undergo surgery, and anesthesiologist had been grim in his prediction that there is 50 percent chance of her not waking up after... but today she is at home already and well recovering.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile I am sending another episode of Ewok report on Ukraine war. Have fun with it!
Pawel,
DeleteThanks. Glad your Mom pulled through. Mom's are special, needed and missed when gone.
I gotta say. I find your posts on the War VERY interesting. It's nice to have an explanation of the situation from a different viewpoint. More data means better decisions (Usually!). Thanks and keep up the good work.
Such good news about your LJD! My condolences to you and your wife on the loss of her sister. May she rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mary. We appreciate both.
DeleteI was out of town for a week, just catching up with my neighbors (you). I'm praying for your family. That is a tough place to be. Man....
ReplyDeleteAnd happy day for the arrival of the little one. That is a great place to be. Maybe the sine wave is traced by the circle of life as time goes by.
Nice sine wave example: https://media.giphy.com/media/F5rQlfTXqCJ8c/giphy.gif
STxAR, hope your trip was for good reasons and uneventful, yet satisfying.
DeleteMonday's post will have a "good news" feel about it, I promise!
Peaks, and valleys, joys and sorrows, successes and failures, the turning of the worlds ... onwards we go. My cheers, and condolences.
ReplyDelete--
Part of me whispers "it looks like noise"; a bigger part replies "you are not watching the components, decompose the appearance and you'll see the peaks and valleys arriving in their own time, not yours."
htom,
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Yeah, much like radar waves, they ARE just noise. Until they hit something and return carrying critical information. That having been said, the peaks and valleys DO arrive at their own time. It helps to realize that "Feces occurs" but that will change also. We have had a bit of good news & less bad news. More to follow.
I agree, juvat..."life is like a Sine Wave... Every up is followed by a down." That graph is a a perfectly clear and understandable definition.
ReplyDeleteI can relate.
I'm late in reading this post, but hope I'm not too late in saying I'm hoping your Sine Wave is up again by now.
bbc
BBC,
DeleteThanks, Sneak peek at Monday's post. Yes, the biggest sine wave is upward bound. The next biggest is crossing the line upward, but it's been a pretty deep valley.
Hope you had a great Christmas and New Year's Holiday. Love the Eagle pics.