Sunday, December 26, 2010

Musings from a Journal of Yore

In my 20's I used to keep journals.  Though life is an ongoing educational process those were the first years truly on my own; out of college, out of the nest, and away from home. A time for testing the waters and finding out about who I was. This morning I picked a journal up and opened it to no particular spot. Here is what I found:

January 10, 1971

Clear light, clear energy
A very seeing day
There is time and no time
Eternities and brief moments
Find no distinction
Soft awareness, no edges
Lightness



Next to it was two quotes, the first from William Faulkner

"I believe man will not merely endure, he will prevail. He is immortal not because he alone among creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance..."

The second from Steve Miller
 
"You've got the power to open the door
You've got the power, it's been done before
Once you get there you're sure to see
You open your eyes and love will be easy"


 
Different philosophers, different eras, but meaningful none the less. Accept who you are and revel in that, but never stop exploring your boundries and the possibilities of your life.
 
Thank you once again to the talented artisans of Etsy who help me illustrate my thoughts.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Wednesday Wonders

A salute to the grace and beauty of wild horses and to my friend Trisha who now rides free with the clouds
Happy Birthday





Cherish what is important in your life, sieze the day and forget about the little stuff that always seems to get in the way.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

It Takes Two to Tango

My husband and I have been together for almost 30 years. We live in a small house and travel in a small camper. We noticed early on that we danced rather well together (literally and lyrically) in small spaces like the kitchen and love to be in wide open spaces.

19 Ought 80 Something


We also seem to share the ability to find what the other can't ~ the forest for the trees kind of stuff. We had Thanksgiving here for the first time in years and I pulled out my grandmother's china, crystal wine glasses for the table, the whole nine yards. I'd had almost forgotten how to set a table and had to borrow cloth napkins from my friend Nancy!

We decided to replace our old wooden salt and pepper grinder for the night and put them in the kitchen. After Thanksgiving neither one of us could find them. We looked in every cupboard, drawer, and pantry cabinet. We called our friends on the off chance they might have been put in one of the bags of leftovers everyone took home.

I came in from my studio the following Monday and Rod says "Where did you find them?" I give him this totally blank look and he pointed to the shaker and grinder sitting next to his knife rack on the center island. "I didn't find them anywhere, I guess they'd been there the whole time". We just fell in heap laughing.

This is known in our circle of friends as a Whippo and when one happens you must call and report it. It kind of keeps us all humble and provides great entertainment value as we age together.

"Blessed are we who can laugh at ourselves
for we shall never cease to be amused"


Friday, December 3, 2010

Little Did I Know

November 23, 2010

Little did I know a laugh filled conversation with my friend Trisha on the 21st would be our last,

Lost Coast

Little did I know that the email I sent today about plans for her birthday and what she was bringing for Thanksgiving would never be read,

Little did I know that I would never again hear her voice, see her face, share her laughter or another adventure.

The Great Benbow Adventure

We wake up each morning with the reckless expectation, born from our own experience, that the sun rises every day and with it, the illusion that we'll always be there to see it. Take nothing for granted and live each day to the fullest as Trisha did. She went mid stride doing what she loved to do: working her ranch, riding her ponies, dancing and traveling.

 Excerpted from Henry Van Dyke

"I'm standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength, and I stand and watch until at last she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come down to mingle with each other. Someone at my side says ‘There she goes!’ Gone where? Gone from my sight...that is all. And just at that moment there are other eyes watching her coming and their voices take up the glad shouts ‘Here she comes!’”