Sometimes I wonder how US Presidents used to get around. Before the invention of the limousine, the private jet, or even the car, what exactly set the President’s mode of transportation apart from the mode of the regular citizen? Did George Washington and John Adams ride on a fully armored horse, complete, of course, with tinted windows? Did Thomas Jefferson and James Madison ride in a carriage as secret service agents ran beside, ready to receive any urgent telegrams warning them of trouble up ahead? However the Presidents used to get from place to place, the present Presidents travel in one major mode: a Presidential Limousine.

A Presidential Limousine has become virtually synonymous with the word “Armored Car,” in essence, it is a vehicle of hardcore protection. It is also quite a spectacular site to look at. Distinct and unlike any other automobile around, the Presidential Limousine is a car we’d all like to take for a drive. Unfortunately, prison gets in the way of that desire.

The recent 2006 Presidential Limousine is a handcrafted version of the Cadillac Deville Touring Sedan. It features leather interior, a foldaway desktop, an entertainment system, massaging cushions, and a communications panel. In other words, it will make all of the Toyota Camry’s and Honda Civics we drive feel very insecure about themselves; drops of wiper fluid will fall from their windshields when they think no one is looking.

When it comes to being armored, the Presidential Limousine can withstand all sorts of attacks. The outside of the car is five inches thick with ballistic armor, and is rumored to be able to sustain an attack from a grenade launcher. Not to be upstaged, the underside of the car is also protected. The windows don’t open at all and the doors don’t open without the engagement of an automatic system. The Presidential Limousine also contains a run-flat tire system, which allows to car to, quite simply, continue to run when a tire is flat (although at a slower pace). It is also sealed with a repellent that would keep it safe against chemical and biological warfare.

The Presidential Limousine always uses the call sign “Cadillac One.” Cadillac One goes wherever the President goes and is distinctive, branded with Presidential seals. On national and international trips, it is airlifted to the President’s destination. Cadillac One typically flies the US flag and the Presidential flag. However, when visiting a foreign nation, the flag of that country replaces the Presidential flag.

The Vice President also has a presidential limousine, or rather, a vice presidential limousine. It is similar to the President’s except it flies the Vice President flag and is branded with the Vice Presidential Seal. Like Cadillac One, the Vice Presidential Limousine also travels wherever the Vice President goes.

In the motorcade, the Presidential limo is followed closely by several other vehicles. These include an ambulance (filled with bags of blood of the President’s type), policeman, reporters, staff members, and a secret service vehicle that houses communications. All in all, the motorcade usually involves 35 vehicles for the President, and a lot of traffic for local citizens.

People often buy Jade gifts to express their feelings. Because it is not only material goods, but also is the spirit of the product. Since ancient times, the Jade has the meaning of energy, health, wealth and long life. All the more, it is a symbol of the stable love between husband and wife. More and more young person use the Jade as gifts to express good wishes and hope

Let us tell two stories about presenting Jade gifts. Mr. John is a manager of a big company. with the birthday of his father coming, he got worrying. That is because he did not how to choose a gift for his father. Since he got married last year, he and his wife moved out to live in a new house. As he is very busy in company, and had less holidays to visit his parents. Even sometimes, he must travel in foreign countries for business. Occasionally, he read a essay of a magazine, and got some suggestions about gifts. Jade gift is a good way to present gifts. At the birthday of his father, Mr. John showed a Jade gift to all guests. Everyone was attracted by it. The Jade gift just expressed the love of Mr. John to his parents. They smiled happily.

Another story happened in the bridal couple. Because of different personality, Mr. Mike often argued with his wife in daily life after wedding. When he come back home, the air was tense. In order to get a harmony of family, Mr. Mike always wanted to buy a gift for his wife. So that he can apologize for his impolite words. One day, when he went to shopping in a downtown. He saw a petty Jade ornament between a lot of gifts. He picked it up at once. At a romantic supper with candles. Mr. Mike presented the Jade gift to his wife, and then said some warm words. From that time, they seldom argue with each other.

From two stories above, we can learn that maybe it is right to choose a Jade gift. Every good Jade gift is carved out by hand, it stands for a meaning of real love.

It is fairly common to avoid what we experience, specifically if we don’t like what the experience brings with it. Often, dare I say always, it is the emotional component that is disliked, unaccepted or denied.

I don’t like anger

I am aware of this right now. Today marks what would have been my mother’s 70th birthday, if she had not chosen to end her life prematurely in January this year. Today is a heavy day for me and I struggle with the mixture of anger at her decision to leave, her not being physically present and celebrating with her and her one year old grandchild, the feeling of missing her and on the other side the desire for me to be compassionate, accepting and seeing the positive in everything. Right now, the anger is much more prevalent and in my head I hear the screaming voice saying: ‘What the hell is there positive in this???’

I just want to feel better

I’m reminded of one of my client’s session this week where my client said: ‘I want to feel better, I don’t like feeling the way I’m feeling and it doesn’t make sense anyway.’

As a starting point, the desire to change isn’t wrong. It might just be premature to want to change from anger to joy in one step. There is a good reason for the emotion in the moment, whether we like it or not. There must be, otherwise why were we as a human emotional being constructed this way? Beside the obvious, the release of the various emotional responses help us deal with what is and release tension. Tears help you heal. So do the emotions that are present, with or without tears.

Charge versus memory

If you look back along the timeline of your life you will notice that there are memories that have little or no emotional charge. These are the events that you have dealt with and emotionally released. No matter how far back in time, those which still hold some negative emotional charge have not been fully released. These are the topics for therapy or self-awareness and processing.

Present situation, past charge

Often we are reminded of past charges when something happens in present daily life that is somehow connected. This does not have to be logically understandable. All that matters is your awareness of the past memories coming up and relating to the present situation. This is your invitation for release and allowing.

I feel so bad

The other end of the scale from avoiding the emotional experience is prolonging it. If you enjoy ‘feeling bad’ or have some secondary gain attached to drama, then you’re living the other extreme. It’s not better than avoidance; it’s just another strategy to get what it is that seems more desirable. In the case of a drama queen it might well be what others avoid.

What to do in the present moment?

Coming back to my present situation of the emotional components of my mother’s 70th birthday – what shall I do? I don’t like the anger as it alienates people, I’m short tempered and impatient with my daughter and husband. These are behavioural projections of the anger, whereas I’m reminding myself to stay with it, without needing to express it beyond informing my husband: ‘I’m angry today and if I might project please don’t take it personally.’ His response, knowing of the effect of the date: ‘It is totally understandable that you’re angry’.

There again, I’m reminding myself that acceptance of what is, is paramount. Not just from others, but from myself first and foremost.