Putting life into perspective

Recently, Markus and Jennifer watched the movie "Blood Diamond" on DVD. Amazing movie. In addition to all the discussion it provoked, we couldn't help but be reminded that the destination for most of those diamonds is Antwerp, where we occasionally go on a 1.5 hour comfortable drive in our luxury car to buy expensive chocolate for kicks (quite a different experience than had by people at the other end of the diamond route). Each day, we read the International Herald Tribune, which is conveniently delivered to our door. Lately it has been filled with awful stories of Kenya (the deadly election outcome readily contrasted by the soap-opera-style campaigns in the US) and goings-on in various places around the globe where we are blessed by birth not to live. On the back page of the weekend paper is the art exhibition section, where we find information about the safe haven in which we live: there are shows at the Mauritshuis (a 5 minute walk from our home) and at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, which we visited today on a whim. I'm not really sure what to say here or where I'm going with all this, except for the fact that every once in a while getting such a stunning reminder of how beautiful and doggone easy your life really is deserves at least a moment's pause, if not serious recognition.