Removing the Bells and Shoring Up....

My visit to Pisa in 1970 was near the beginning of the 20 year investigation into how to stabilize the Tower while retaining the unique, identifiable, historic tilt.

What finally prompted its closure in 1990 was the collapse of the 72 m high Civic Tower in Pavia Italy, one year earlier, that killed four people and injured fifteen.

No one wanted to see the Tower of Pisa, at 55 m high, succumb to a similar fate.

So they made a plan.

Fiirst, they removed the seven bells--22,000 lbs-- from the belfry at the top.

Then cables were cinched around the third level and anchored several hundred meters away to provide support.

This seems to me like a wise thing to do.

Before you start digging around in the foundation and risking a total collapse, it is important to find ways to shore yourself up--to examine the heavy things you are carrying around in your belfry--to find help and support.

Having had a total collapse myself some ten years ago, I was well aware of the signs that I was headed for another one...I just couldn't seem to prevent it.......

How do you know when you are headed for a collapse? What are the things you start doing or stop doing when you are feel like you are carrying around too much weight on your shoulders?

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Shame is A Full-Contact Emotion (Brené Brown)

It is a cool outside this morning and I have on my fluffy red robe as I sit outside and watch the birds flit back and forth from the fence to the feeder----arrogantly tossing aside imperfect sunflower seeds to get to the good ones. The discarded seeds, some empty, some full, punctuate my deck, waiting for the squirrels, who will later claim this easy buffet. I am still reading Brené and The Gifts of Imperfection. Feels a bit like learning a new language ---I see the words---I hear the words---but the meaning is so diffuse...I need to read and reread and sometimes, even read out loud to make the words stick It is hard work. And while the smooth cover of her book lies balanced on my palm, seemingly weightless, many of the concepts have a density that knocks me flat on my ass ---like a large medicine ball. CATCH THIS ONE! Oooooooof! I am down. Eyes wide, trying to catch my breath, wrestling with the weight of hefty concept...

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