Love Thursday: March 20, 2008

“It is easy to halve the potato where there is love.”

 -- Irish saying

* * * * * * *

I came across the saying above while looking for a quote for Love Thursday that was specifically (a) about love, and (b) Irish in origin, what with it being the week of St. Patrick's Day and all.  My first reaction when I read it was to giggle:  to be honest, I can't say that I love potatoes so much that it would that difficult to halve them with anyone; but yeah, I get the point. 

Then I started thinking about it a little more.  And I realized that it speaks to me in more ways than I first thought.

Recently, a friend of mine who is in the hospital awaiting a bone marrow transplant asked me to register with the National Bone Marrow Registry.  It turns out that it is very difficult to find a match for those of us who are from the Caribbean, because many of us are multiracial; so she asked if I would go ahead and register.  While the entire concept of undergoing surgery to donate marrow sort of freaks me out, I agreed to do it without hesitation:  after all, it is easy to halve the potato when there is love, right?

I registered online, and within a week or so, the swab kit arrived at my home.  I did the test and returned the swabs to the mailbox within 10 minutes, before I thought about it too much -- after all, this is to help a friend.  But of course, since doing so, it's been on my mind a lot:  since  there's no way to specify for whom I'd be willing to be a donor, the truth is the phone could ring at any time, telling me that I'm a match for a total stranger in need.

Though I'm not proud of it, it scares me even more that I may be called to undergo surgery to help someone I don't know.  However, the truth is I'm not sure that I could possibly say no, you know?  So as I ponder the Irish saying above, I realize that for me, there's really a lesson to be learned:

It is easy to halve the potato when there is love -- the trick, I guess, is to love broadly enough so that halving the potato just becomes second nature.

* * * * * * *

Happy Love Thursday, everyone.  Please leave your links of love in the comments section, below -- and for inspiration, check out the great work left by Mrs. Eaves, Justmeagain2006,  and essaydoctor1 in our Shutter Sisters Flickr pool.

 And, at the risk of running this metaphor into the ground:  may you always find it easy to halve your potato. ;-)

Comments

[Karen (from Our Deer Baby)]

Happy Love Thursday! I had to take a few weeks off, thanks to family stuff, but I am back with a beautiful post about my 11 yo daughter baking a heart shaped cake for my birthday! Very special!

http://o-scientist.blogspot.com/2008/03/love-thursday.html

Karen

[vivienne]

For this love thursday I have an offering of SELF LOVE
and some thoughts on how photography can be a catalyst in healing our body image!

http://ladyvivienne.blogspot.com/2008/03/you-who-are-beautiful.html

[tracey]

i look forward to this all week!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/maypapers/2348270478/

lovely image and sentiment Karen.

[bonggamom]

What a wonderful way to commemorate love and St. Patrick's Day! And I admire you for your generosity and courage. You could save a life someday.

My tribute to love is here:
http://bonggamom.blogspot.com/2008/03/little-quid-pro-pro.html

[tuney]

This link is to a blog post that really explains everything. I haven't had anything to post for LT for a long, long time. It's nice to finally get a break. :) http://zobabe.wordpress.com/2008/03/20/im-a-gramma/

[Mandy]

my daughter picked these wildflowers from the field next to us, as well as the grasses. Thought they'd make a lovely Love Thursday photo......
http://mailboxes-etc.blogspot.com/2008/03/love-thursday.html

[LadyNorth]

http://wolfraingarden.blogspot.com/2008/03/ostara-and-march-hare.html
Not only does it show my love for all things chocolate but also is a symbol of the March Hare's Love for the Goddess of Spring, Ostara.
Which just goes to prove that Women and Chocolate and Love are inseparable.<g>

[Kelly]

My Love Thursday today is all about my little boy, who celebrated his sixth birthday on St.Patrick's Day. I took this series this morning of him waking up:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/momofthreewi/2347842464/

[Tammy]

An unusual love can be found here:

http://mylifeasawarrior.blogspot.com/2008/03/thursday-love-shutter-sisters_20.html

Happy Love Thursday!

[Crystine]

I have not done this before so hopefully I am doing the links correctly. I chose 2 of my kid Lovin Me. One from last month and one from a few days back.
Lately he has been telling me what he will do for me when I am old. So far my favorite is that he will pull me around in the bikecart...he will also take me to a colored house filled w/cats, pour me a bath, hold my hand, find me when I am lost, make me food, feed me w/a fork and, when my teeth are all gone, he will get me new ones!

http://flickr.com/photos/23187215@N07/2339449587/
http://flickr.com/photos/23187215@N07/2348314998/

[Leah]

http://lakelinesthoughts.com/?p=595

I'm late to the party but it's still Thursday!

[Christina]

Beautiful and inspirational!

http://momology.blogspot.com/2008/03/laughter-joy-and-love.html

[carie]

everyone should register to be a bone marrow donor. as a pediatric oncology nurse i have been there when a family finds out there is no match for their child. i've also been there when a tiny little brother or sister has been the match and bravely does he needs to do. the procedure itself is not as bad as it sounds. thank you for stepping up. you are helping your friend by lifting her spirit and getting the word out there. i have been on the list for years and pray that someday i will be blessed enough in this life time to truly help another soul by receiving my call that it is finally time to donate...
for others out there check to see if there are any drives in your area, it there are then the process of registering is usually underwritten and you can sign up for free!

[krystyn]

I just had to say your words really hit home with me. In my case, I'm sometimes scared if I share it, someone's going to run off with the whole potato.

Recently, the universe has really given me a big kick in the ass, and I've finally learned it's worth sharing the potato even if it means risking losing it.

Then along comes this post from you encouraging me to love broadly enough so that halving the potato just becomes second nature, and I have goosebumps from head to toe.

You do that a lot, you know. ;)

[Brené Brown]

Love the quote! I've been "halving my potato" with this guy for a long time! Happy LT!

http://ordinarycourage.squarespace.com/

[sperlygirl]

the biggest lesson motherhood has taught me so far -- is how full my heart can become. i don't know if anyone can prepare for that. happy love thursday!
http://sperlygirl.typepad.com/sperlygirl/2008/03/sandy-love-note.html

[Wendy]

Love and food between two who have been friends since infancy and will soon be separated by a 1000 mile move.

http://dillonsday.blogspot.com/2008/03/love-thursday-is-back.html

[Paige]

This was a beautiful and thoughtful post. To quote one of my favorite movies, "What wouldn't I do for love." ...But what would I do for a stranger? A vastly more difficult question, but one I'm certain will be easily answered when the need arises.

Love Thursday as illustrated by me here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cartwheelsatmidnight/460457321/

[Secret Agent Mama]

I wasn't able to get around last week to see all the "love", but I'm gonna do my best to do so this week! My apologies for dropping the ball last Thursday.

Best wishes to all and to all that celebrate...Happy Easter!


http://secretagentmama.com/blog/2008/03/20/love-thursday-6/
or
http://www.flickr.com/photos/secretagentmama/2347322337/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/secretagentmama/2348148772/

[Sara]

Thank you so much for reviving this, Shutter Sister! I couldn't play before now because of a big medical deal, but today I can and I sort of have to.

Be forewarned. This post is political, and the picture is not for the squeamish. But it is about love. Oh, yes, big love. And gratitude.

Your Tax Dollars at Work!
http://movingrightalong.typepad.com/moving_right_along/2008/03/your-tax-dollar.html

Cheers, all.

[Kim]

It makes me feel great when I see kindness and sacrifice for a stranger. Thank you.

My photo is about loving a stranger- a new brother.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9032846@N03/2348007005/

[Tracie]

The love at my house today.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/morning-tea/2348150141/

[snicketyone]

With so many days of school canceled due to winter weather, my children have had plenty of time to practice getting along, or to practice fighting, as the case may be. I love it when I catch them just being magnificently silly together, thoroughly enjoying each others' company.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/snicketyflick/2349209632/

[ascenderrisesabove]

Just found you here from andrea (wifemotherpainter) and looking forward to joining in next week. :)

[Knight Online]

Thanx

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