FLYING HIGH

I've been thinking a lot about my purpose in life lately. I've also been reading other people's blogs lately and seeing a common link in some of them: they are also questioning what their purpose is. Is it to work every day at a job that we don't like? Is it to live in a house that we don't like just because it is close to that job that we go to every day? Or, do we live in a city or town just because it is convenient or close to our children or our parents? What has been our dream for ourselves and have we achieved these dreams? Am I afraid to take a long-distance trip because I am afraid to fly in an airplane? Am I following my passion in life?

I believe that there are no coincidences in life. I have come to realize that just what I need at that moment is provided to me. Yesterday I was thinking about my health and a friend called to meditate with me and guess what her topic was? You guessed it: healing! This happens way too many times to me for it to be a coincidence so I know now that what I am experiencing is just what I need at that moment.

Today, I was browsing a bookshelf and picked up a book by Wayne Dyer called: 10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace". And, finding that book was by no means an accident. I was meant to read this book. And, here is a portion that seemed to speak to me today, as I was pondering my purpose.

"Listening exclusively to your left brain will turn you ultimately into a pretender, or even worse, a commuter---getting up every morning going with the crowd, doing that job that brings in the money and pays the bills; and getting up the next morning and doing it all over again, as a well-known song implies. Meanwhile, the music inside of you fades almost to a point of being inaudible. But your constant invisible companion always hears the music and continues tapping you on your shoulder."

"That music that you hear inside of you urging you to take risks and follow your dreams is your intuitive connection to the purpose in your heart since birth. Be enthusiastic about all that you do. Have that passion with the awareness that the word enthusiasm literally means 'the God (enthos) within (iasm). ' "...Don't die with that music still in you."

So listen to that inner voice. Hop on that airplane, paint that picture, write poetry or a short story, sell your house and move if that is what you have always wanted to do, start a new job. Whatever it is, do it now. There is no time like the present. The only thing that can keep you from doing what inspires you is fear.

ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL

You might be thinking I was posting about a music group or the title of a song. Wrong! Last night, late, my son-in-law was driving up to northern California after a long day at work where he drives to and from different locations all day long. He arrived in Crescent City (almost) way after midnight but not before falling asleep at the wheel and wrecking his car. Fortunately, he was not hurt. We don't know if the car is drivable or not so the rest of my weekend is on hold until we find out if we have to make a trip up north to pick them up and bring them home.

This weekend, traditionally, is the start of the summer driving and vacations. There are always statistics when the weekend is over showing how many accidents and fatalities there have been. Fortunately, our family is not part of the latter. But, there are probably some families that will not be receiving such "good" news this weekend.

I hesitated writing about this, thinking that this wasn't "blog worthy". I did a search for "the meaning of the word BLOG" and basically, there were three definitions.

1. Web Log
2. Better Listings on Google
3. Big load of Gossip

I know for sure that this is not Number 2. And, it sort of fits into the category of Number 3 except that I consider gossip to be malicious. The definition says that "it is conversation about the personal details of other people's lives whether rumor or fact (this applies) especially when malicious (this does not). But yet there is another definition that says "informal conversation or writing about recent and often personal events (this applies). So, I guess this fits the category Big Load of Gossip too.

But, I like to think of it being most appropriately category Number 1: Web log. After all, that is what this is: a log. A log about things that we see, things that are important to us, things that we are interested in, things that spark creativity in us, etc. Often something that happens to a person will spark a piece of art. Art is basically an emotional response to something. Artists are usually on the forefront of what is happening in the world or their neighborhoods. Lots of neighborhoods that are derelict have been revitalized by artists who have moved in, staked their claim (so-to-speak), and have made a less desirable area now much more valuable and appealing. You can find examples all over big cities (and small). These areas were once places that no one wanted or wanted to live in. Now, you can find lofts, warehouses, storefronts, etc. that are high-end and highly desirable.

So, do I Blog just useless, senseless pictures that I think you might be interested in and you really are not? Probably! But, do those "useless" pictures and words contribute to something that I feel is for "the greater good"? Most definitely! It is the discourse that we, as a group, have. And, besides the discourse, there is a community of caring people that share unique ideas and thoughts with each other. These thoughts might lead to a collage. They might lead to a poem. They might lead to a photograph or even spark something in us that we had not previously been aware of.

Compassion is at the heart of these blogs that I follow. I see poems by Brian Miller who tells of gut-wrenching feelings after coming up to an accident where a child has been thrown from a car. I see photos by M. Heart of a mouse that has been captured in a humane way and released into the woods, safe and sound and unharmed. I see poetry by Willow about a mocking bird and the feelings that this poem evokes in memories from a family history research project. I see pictures of like-minded artists who have done multi-media pieces that have been inspired by the same subject basically: seed pods and nature by Art Propelled.

So, what is my point here exactly? My point is that I feel that what we post is important, no matter how insignificant it might seem, as long as it tells a story and has compassion in it. I think another caveat should be that it isn't ALL about ME. In that I mean self-centered, self-aggrandizing. There should be some higher good or something to learn from what I post.

This is my own personal reason about why I Blog. Perhaps it is not your response to it and to that I say: to each his own. We are all unique and we all do it for different reasons. I just tend to analyze things. Is this wrong? Not for me. This is how I learn. This is how I grow. This is WHY I BLOG. And, I try not to be ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL.

I told my daughter this morning (when she was feeling guilty that she did not ride up with her husband because she was anxious to get there and didn't want to wait a couple more hours) that sometimes a few hours at one end is much more beneficial. Those couple of hours that she was not willing to wait, could have been the difference between her husband's accident or not. It could have happened to both of them too. There really is no way to tell which way things are meant to happen. That is the future and we can't predict that. But, it's something like this really wakes you up and makes you so much more aware of what you have to lose in life. And the importance of making sure that you say and do everything that you want to say or do so that you don't feel guilty later. Life is too short for regrets. Live life to the fullest, be kind to those you know and those you don't, and always send forth love.

These are important lessons for me today. This incident has made me keenly aware of the fact that I do not want to be ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL the rest of my life. It woke me up. Thanks Joel for the lesson. How does that saying go? "Into each life a little rain must fall". How true!

Here's a quote from a graduation card I picked up today. I loved the words!

WISDOM FOR A GOOD LIFE

AS YOU GO OUT TO REMAKE THE WORLD,

I OFFER THE FOLLOWING BITS OF WISDOM--

KEEP LEARNING,

STAY AWAKE TO AMAZEMENT,

BE KIND RATHER THAN RIGHT,

AND, REMEMBER,

WHILE YOU MIGHT NOT AGREE WITH THIS NOW,

BEING LOVED IS BETTER THAN BEING RICH.

Willow Street Greeting cards by Brian Burns

Written by Lisa Rice Wheeler

MAGPIE TALES

Dark room at the back of the house.

Cedar-lined closet along one wall

houses multi-colored boxes

filled with velvet, patent, suede

shoes in every color imaginable.

High heels (not just the name),

clip-clop along the oak floor

making me feel bigger,

making me feel important,

making me feel grown up.

45's and LP's line this

cedar-lined closet too,

singing sad songs,

singing "Blue Velvet, softer than satin in the night".

Singing take me back,

take "IT" back.

My little-girl mind wonders

why?

My little-girl mind wonders

Who?

My little-girl body wears

the shoes, hoping to

shuffle the sadness away.

That room still frightens me

in my big-girl mind.

Visit "Magpie Tales" for more wonderful poems inspired by Willow's prompts.

MISSING YOU SO VERY MUCH!!!

NO...NOT YOU!!!

THIS:

LIFE IS UNCERTAIN. EAT DESSERT FIRST. Ernestine Ulmer

STRESSED SPELLED BACKWARDS IS DESSERTS. COINCIDENCE? I THINK NOT!

author unknown

I'D GIVE UP CHOCOLATE, BUT I'M NO QUITTER!

author unknown

MY ADVICE TO YOU IS NOT TO INQUIRE WHY OR WHITHER, BUT ENJOY YOUR ICE CREAM WHILE IT'S ON YOUR PLATE. THAT'S MY PHILOSOPHY.

Thornton Wilder

SHADOW PLAY

"...since we are participating in the oneness of everything, we are liberating all as we liberate ourselves."

Lama Surya Das

IT'S ALL ABOUT HER

And, it is! They say that there is nothing like the love you feel when you have a grandchild. I guess they are right because what I feel for this child, I cannot totally express in words. We understand each other without even talking. There is a bond between us that runs so deep.

I felt this same way about my twins when they were young too. I loved looking at their little hands and feet and how innocent they were. Your children grow up and a bit of that fades in the background but when you have a grandchild, it brings that love right to the surface again. It makes you remember why that love is there and reinforces the fact that you can call it forward any time you want. I think the reason people say that there is nothing like the love you feel when you have a grandchild is because they have forgotten the possibilities that exist.

Today, we celebrate 5 years that this child has been on the earth, reminding us all daily of how insignificant we all are, of the unbridled love that exists, of the love that resides inside of each of us and is unadulterated. Children are so trusting, loving, innocent, and real. We all could take a lesson from a child.

Today, I thank my twins for being there for me through thick and thin, for bringing life into my life once again, for always doing the right thing. I can honestly say that my girls have always done the right thing. They never gave me anything to worry about; they always made the right choices in life. There were times in High School when other parents were worried because their children were smoking, or drinking or doing drugs. My girls were never in that category. And, I know, you are thinking: "that you KNOW of". Well, not so. They once went to a party where drugs were being smoked and drove all the way home because they didn't feel comfortable. We talk about everything. We have always been close. There have never been any secrets in our family. We are open and honest and I am proud about that.

They both live next door to each other now. And...they married brothers! So, to say that our family is "close" is an understatement! And, my Mom lives in a house just above them. So there are multi-generations there, enjoying the dream. I am happy for that too. I know that they will always be there for each other. They see each other daily and are best friends. The thought of not being close to a sibling is so foreign to me and to them. And, maybe it is because they are twins that the bond is so deep. But I really doubt it. Honesty and openness are key, in my estimation.

My twins are so health oriented that it makes it difficult to live up to THEIR expectations! But, they are constant reminders to me of what I should strive for in MY life. What a turn-around! A child inspiring a parent! I'm wondering if this happens all the time to parents or is it an anomaly? I tend to think that at different times in our lives we have different teachers. I only hope that I have made an impact on their lives too. I hope that I have inspired them to be (above all) honest, open, and willing to listen.

When we refuse to debate or talk about something important to one or another, we refuse that person. I am reminded of a quote by Kimmie over at "Words on Paper Scraps". She has a quote on her blog by Martin Luther King, Jr. that says: "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." Bravo Kimmie! I wrote this down because it is at the core of my existence. I refuse to be silent about things that matter.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU,

HAPPY "BIRTH" DAY TO YOU!

HAPPY EVERY DAY, DEAR NATALIE,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!

WILLOW MADE ME DO IT!

The other day Willow had a post about "Pink items of torture". I, too, remember most of the items she posted about, including Bobbie Pins, Spoolies, sponge rollers, even orange juice cans. These "items of torture" were common in my era. I don't even think it was uncommon to have your own personal hair dryer then. In this day and age, not many of us have these items any longer but I did do a colored pencil drawing using Bobbie Pins as my object. I even put in one of the "Goody" crimpers that my Grandmother used to use to put waves in her hair. I think that the Bobbie Pins look much better in a drawing than they ever did in my hair.

This drawing is owned by my daughter now and it hangs in her bathroom...probably to remind her to never be so vain that you need to "torture" yourself to do so. And, probably just because it is a fun piece of artwork to hang, especially in a bathroom. Even the most mundane object can be the subject of a work of art.

MAGPIE TALES TUESDAY

JUGGLING PLATES

Multiple plates

fly up in the air,

juggle the words,

make sense of the stares.

Play witty word games;

really: who cares!

FOUR PLATES AT ONCE

is all i can handle.

Any more

and i start to unravel.

Can i juggle the time,

the feelings,

the sleep?

The lack-of-thereof

as i'm falling, so deep.

Admire, contempt,

they're part of the spin.

Skill is expected,

in order to win.

Juggling's an art,

an artist, i am.

FOUR PLATES AT ONCE

i'm jumping through hoops.

i'm

J

U

M

P

I

N

G

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

00000 ( ) ( ) ( 00000) ( ) 00000000

0000 ( 0 ) 0000

( ) 00000000OOOOOOO OOOOOOO ( 0 )

ALL KINDS OF SKULLS

These are my new rain boots. I needed something to work in when it was pouring rain so I found these in the "little girls department" at Target for really cheap. I think that any bug that sees these coming will run for cover. Don't you?

Last Saturday night a friend I used to work with threw herself her own 50th birthday. This lady is TOTALLY into skulls. She has them everywhere (even a few tatoos) and of course, because she designed her own birthday cake, she made it skulls. A bit strange, but then, it takes all kinds to make the world go 'round, right? This cake was even complete with a pump that allowed red "juice" (read as: blood) to pour down the sides of the cake from the "mother skull" at the top! She hand made every one of those white chocolate skulls and then had to paint in the dark chocolate into the eye sockets. Labor intensive, I'd say. But, hey, you only turn 50 once, right?

So, for a birthday present I made her this bag, complete with skull fabric. I'm not sure that she really liked it. I don't think the skulls were scary enough! Excuse the sideways photo. For some reason, blogger kept turning my photo on its side no matter what I did. You get the idea anyway, don't you?

SUNDAY'S AMGEN TOUR

The entire town of Meadow Vista came out for the race. Almost every business in town was holding an open house, having live bands play music, food was being sold on every corner and even the hula was being danced in front of the Pharmacy.

Here's my family perched on the top of the hill waiting for the race to come through town. We had a really good vantage point from up on high.

We noticed that there were so many people on bikes and also so many people wearing their favorite bike "brand" in the form of t-shirts and jerseys. This one says: Racing ahead. Cool logo, isn't it?

Here's what we saw when we looked down the road toward where the bikers were soon to be arriving from.

There were many, many vehicles to support the bike riders. I thought this was clever: Tourminators. They arrived right before the bike riders.

And here they come! So quick you barely had time to snap the shutter on your camera. There was no way I could tell you who was in the lead or where any of the top team members were because of that.

And there they go! Just as fast as they came, they were gone. And then the crowd dispersed and within less than an hour the entire town was devoid of people and you never even knew a race had been held. Incredible! But, it was fun while it lasted. The atmosphere of something this big is contagious and fun. I'm sure we'll be watching the rest of the race with a keen eye and a better appreciation for the incredible amount of organization that it takes to pull off something of this scale. Just the police force in attendance was phenomenal! Enjoy your Monday. We are expecting a bit of rain...again!

IT'S A BIG DEAL

Tomorrow, for the first time ever, the Amgen tour will be starting from Nevada City, California and will be coming within a few miles of where we live when it crosses the American River and comes down Historical Highway 49 and comes through Cool, California. (I know...weird name for a hot town!)
This is what Nevada City looks like. It's an old historical town and a favorite place of mine. The Amgen tour is the largest cycling event in America and the 2010 Amgen tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race. Stage 1 starts in Nevada City on May 16th and ends at Stage 8 in southern California on May 23. If you get a chance to watch it, look for me on the sidelines with my camera and my family. (Look for 2 six-foot tall identical girl twins and their short Mom). We'll be enjoying all the excitement in our small towns. After all...how often does something this big happen right in the town where you live? I have a feeling that my camera won't even capture Lance Armstrong as he zips past us in his yellow jersey. He'll be moving way too fast I'm sure. And Mary Ann (blue Sky Dreaming Mary Ann that is) he's headed your way too. Are you planning on trying to catch a glimpse when he passes through Santa Cruz?

If you want to look at some video you can go here. I think you might actually be able to watch it live from this link. We are taping the race on Versus. Maybe some of you have that channel with your subscriber.

Enjoy your Sunday everyone. I hope I don't get too sunburned!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

It's almost midnight on Friday, May 14th, 2010. Today was Mary Ann's birthday. Just because we are not friends anymore doesn't make it any easier to not have her in my life and to be able to say "I love you...Happy Birthday". This picture was taken last year on my birthday. We spent the day together. That was what my heart told me to do. My mother told me to "follow your heart" and that is what I did. But today, my heart is breaking and I can't/won't/don't follow my heart.

I sit here at my computer screen with tears welling up in my eyes but she'll never know. I don't think she knows or wants to know how badly I am hurting. That's fine. I know in my heart what I feel. For me that has to be enough.

The caged bird

sings

with a fearful trill

of things

unknown

but longed for

still

and his tune is

heard

on the distant

hill

for the caged

bird

sings of

freedom.

---- Maya Angelou

WHAT'S THIS?

Have any of you ever washed clothes in a machine like this?

Or cooked food on a stove like this? I have! We used to own a wringer washer and we still have our wood cook stove too. We don't use them any longer but, like Gay in Santa Cruz, I have mine on display in the greenhouse. She has hers here in her breezeway. Those are the iris' that she gave me. Incredible color, right?

Do you see this skeleton? Look closer...do you see what's in it's mouth? WARNING: NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART!

A gift from Gay's cat that was caught in the yard! That's what you get for digging in her garden!

MAGPIE TALES TUESDAY

I SEE YOU.

Not the physical

You

but the

YOU

deep inside.

The one who

doesn't think

that I know

what IS inside.

Can you see me?

I think that

you think

that you do.

Or can.

But

you've never gotten

to know

THE REAL

ME.

The REAL me

REAL-EYE-EZ

what used to be,

what is,

what shall be.

THE EYES

(have it).

THE AYES

HAVE

IT!

Does anyone else see Willow in this eye? She's there, in the reflection. You're always with us, aren't you Willow.

FOSSILS IN ROCKS---HEARTS OF STONE

"The whole universe is our home and all residing in it belong to our family...Instead of trying to see God in a particular appearance, it is better to see him in everything."

------ Neem Karoli Baba

FROM KRISHNA DAS "HEART AS WIDE AS THE WORLD":

My foolish heart

Why do you weep?

You throw yourself away again

Now you cry yourself to sleep.

Cry yourself to sleep...

My foolish heart

When will you learn?

You are the eyes of the world

And there's nowhere else to turn.

Nowhere else to turn.

MOSAICS FROM SANTA CRUZ

All of these mosaics were made by Gay's mother. Gay has them hanging outside on protected walls. I'm not sure what year she made these but I think that she did an incredible job. They are really heavy and mounted on wood with a frame all around them. Gay gave me one of them years ago and I still treasure it. It, too, hangs outside on a wall of the house in a protected place. Her Mom made all the clay pieces individually, glazed them, then placed them in position. I really love them; I hope you do too.

SANTA CRUZ

Let me share with you my friend Gay's yard in Santa Cruz. Here is the welcome sign you will find just to the right of her front door. And she means it too! Welcome to her beach house.

This wonderful Buddha is sitting on the upper deck, facing the house and all the windows so you can see him at the same time you are looking at the ocean. He is surrounded with crystals. Incredible!

This Buddha sits under a tree (a Boddhi tree?) and holds offerings that Gay has placed in his hands. Many blessings abide in this yard, you can be certain.!

Here Buddha hangs on the fence with his serene face looking down at all those who sit and enjoy her yard. I think that Gay told me that this is her favorite.

Another Buddha tucked right in all the plants and enjoying the warm rays of the sunshine. Her yard is magical as you will see in the next post. There were so many things for me to take pictures of that I want to share so I categorized them a bit. Gay herself has much wisdom and each time I visit her I leave feeling refreshed, enlightened, and well-love and taken care of. She has an artists eye in what she collects and how she displays it. And, a quirky sense of humor which I adore! She is very environmental too. She collects rain water to help with the watering of the yard. And, she rides a scooter all over town (and around this country and others) which saves of gas usage. She is deliberate about whatever she does and the impact that it will have on the environment if she chooses something. An awakened being!

WEDNESDAY IN SANTA CRUZ

This is looking north toward Capitola and Santa Cruz from a cliff overlooking the beach at Aptos. Our friend, Gay, lives on the cliff to the right of this pier and the cement boat. Mary Ann of Blue Sky Dreaming most likely recognizes this scene, right Mary Ann?

Here is a closer shot of the cement boat (that is what Gay told us it is called). We ate our lunch here, overlooking this scene yesterday before we arrived at Gay's house for a visit. It was a beautiful, sunny day with a moist breeze blowing the entire time we were there. The day could not have been nicer.

Here's a shot looking toward Capitola and closer toward the cliff where Gay lives year 'round, watching the ocean from her wall-to-wall windows. Tomorrow I will take you along with me through some of her garden, house and patio area if she approves. I do not want to post pictures if she does not give me approval. Let me just tell you that she has the most incredible taste, the greenest thumb, the most generous heart and spirit, and a deep love for animals. I am always happy to call her my friend. I am humbled in her presence and generosity. Thank you for the iris, Gay!

DINNER WITH MY SISTER

THE TABLE WAS SET

WITH WONDERFUL FOOD

DISHED OUT ON MY PLATE.

DESSERT--YUM!

WHICH COW WOULD YOU WANT?

MY SISTER LOVES COWS SO I BROUGHT HER A BOTTLE OF WINE FOR HER BIRTHDAY THAT HAD "COW SPOTS" ON IT. I GAVE HER THIS MUG A FEW YEARS BACK. (THE COW FOR HER--THE CHICKEN FOR ME. IS THERE SOMETHING FREUDIAN ABOUT THE CHICKEN BEING ON THE COWS BACK? I AM THE OLDEST YOU KNOW!)

DOWN THE (YELLOW BRICK) ROAD

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW,

SKIES ARE BLUE

AND THE DREAMS THAT YOU DARE TO DREAM

REALLY DO COME TRUE.