04/30/2024 - Beltane Eve

May Day, or Beltane, celebrates

spring at its peak and the coming

summer.

May Day Prep . . .

   -Build a Beltane altar

   -Decorate your table

   -Light a Beltane fire

   -Make a maypole

   -Play music

Sooooo love this holiday! 

When I lived in Mexico, May 

Day celebrated Día del Trabajo.

Parades, speeches and no school

indicated its importance.

Still I would have to say, I find

the lighter side, Beltane, ever 

so much more fun!

Decorated my table, including

a miniature maypole. A fire this

afternoon is in my plans and I'll

think about the music to choose.

Funny, I've always enjoyed the

eve of any given holiday more

than the actual day. Might be

because my parents always did

x-mas eve and used the day for

dinner and fam . . .

Happy celebrations!

04/29/2024

"The highest form of knowledge 

is empathy, for it requires us 

to suspend our egos and live 

in another's world." ~Plato

Truly, I admire the emotion 

of empathy above all others.

To walk the path of another,

understand where they are

coming from, the whys and

wherefores of what they are

going through . . . priceless!

And, understanding what a

friend is suffering, is ever 

so helpful.

On the other side of the coin,

it's truly important to listen,

simply listen. Saying this,

perhaps the most important

thing is that the empath not

take another's feelings unto

himself.

The emotions of another are

NOT our emotions! Their

pain is not ours to steal, as it

were.

Empaths care so deeply; it's

perfectly logical to want to

share the pain. This is a two

part bad . . .

One, the empath that absorbs

another's pain is no good to

anyone. Secondly, as said 

above, taking on another's 

issues is a kind of theft.

Remember, listen, don't absorb!

04/28/2024

So love and enjoy dif days!

Snowed all a.m. Began to 

heat up in the p.m. and so

did NOT know what to 

expect!

The snow stopped, warmed

up and friends stopped by. 

Wow!

So love sitting by the fire w/

our neighbors, having beers

and chat . . . reminding us of

the universe in which we live!

I find myself thinking about 

all the things that matter in

our paltry lives . . . yeah, 

I get that this may be an 

exaggeration of sorts . . .

Having said that, so love

friendship . . . and all that it

involves! Getting together,

sharing brews, chatting about

all things important, or not . . .

Promise, cross my heart, I'll

cherish these moments forever

and a day . . . make no mistake!

04/27/2024

Sats most interesting! . . .

One of the most interesting

things that happened . . .

SNOW and NO internet!

One would think a couple

of things . . . living w/o the

internet for a few hours may

not have any perceptible dif

in anyone's life.

Still, we are accustomed to a

certain level of connectedness.

One might even call this the

internet! Right?!

Bottom line . . . we are who

we are and each of us have

our own issues . . .

Not quite sure where to go

from here . . . Sooooo hoping

I have the courage to endure!

04/26/2024

"I'm dancing as fast as I can."

~Barbara Gordon

My life might just be a tad

easier, a bit more do-able, a

jot, a tittle more successful,

if I could only follow in the

footsteps of Barbara Gordon.

She has been an amazing 

example! In her book . . . 

I'm dancing as fast as I can,

she tells of locking herself

into her apartment, and not

leaving 'til she had cleansed

her system of all addictions.

Such bravery!

As I find myself on the other

end of life, I want to grow, to

become, to know . . .

I so appreciate the inspiration

she is to me!

 - - -

Barbara Gordon is an American

documentary filmmaker and 

author. Wikipedia

04/25/2024

"My story is filled with broken

pieces, terrible choices and ugly

truths. It's also filled with a major

comeback, peace in my soul and

a grace that saved my life."

~Ravenwolf

Such a truth! And I would ask, 

why is it that we so concentrate  

on the negative rather than the

growth?

Perhaps it's simply human nature.

We must have a need to explore

our dark side with the intention

of fixing it . . . only we seem to

get bogged down there.

I swear, before I pass onto that

supposedly better life, I long to

learn to sweep away the negative

and focus on the positive.

Again, what's the draw? Why oh

why do we find the negative so

tantalizing?! Methinks we need 

to retrain our minds.

I swear, I'm going to work on this

if it kills me!!! Ouch! That's not

a very positive statement. Oh well,

que será, será . . .

04/24/2024

Ever have a sense that

something is missing? 

A deep hunger, almost?

I find it's a bit like an

unrequited desire you can't

quite put your finger on.

I page through those pages

in my mind . . . Is it that I

need to lay eyes on my babes?

Perhaps, take a short trip?

Am I longing for a childhood

fave such as mac and cheese?

A grown up need for dark

chocolate? A chat w/a friend

whilst indulging in a glass or

two of red?

Is it something that hasn't

happened yet or a memory

out of yesteryear? Do I need

to sit by my fire and chat with

my dad? I do miss him ever

so much!

A nap? A rest? A special book?

A sunny day? A bit of warmth?

A letter? A card?

Alas, I ache with a longing 

so deep and simply cannot find 

an answer with which to soothe 

my soul . . .

I am sooooo hungry, starved for 

peace in my soul . . .

04/23/2024

"The world is full of magic 

things, patiently waiting for 

our senses to grow sharper." 

~W.B. Yeats

 

So love me the word magic!

Everywhere you look, it's all

around us!

Dew on grasses, sandwiched

'twixt and 'tween sunrises and

sunsets . . . ever a fave.

Clouds in the sky, telling their

own tales out of school. Stars

at night, overwhelming the soul.

An unexpected visit from an 

old friend. The gift of flowers,

a bottle of wine to share . . .

Above, I said something about, 

everywhere you look . . . The

problem might just be that we

look, but don't necessarily see.

We're so busy, rushing to the

next place we have to be, that

commitment we must attend to,

the job to be worked . . .

Perhaps 'tis the word busy that

amounts to blinders. And thus,

we miss all that beautiful magic

out there . . .

Alas . . .

04/22/2024 - Earth Day, 54 years

"Earth Day, observed annually

on April 22, was first celebrated

in 1970. Earth Day places a focus

on clean air and water, addressing

pollution and championing

conservation efforts." VOA News

Ever so pleased to have witnessed

this is my own lifetime . . .

I know there's a lot of sorrowful

happenings all around us. Thus,

it's somewhat easy to forget all 

the wondrous, the glorious.

Mother Earth gifts us so much . . .

Trees that surround us, gardens

to grow familial food, acres for

crops, streams, rivers and seas.

The list is endless.

Alas, I fear her righteous revenge

when she tires of the way we mis-

treat her.

On this Earth Day, it's time for

each of us to commit to doing a

better job. Let's remember those

three R's . . .

Reduce! Reuse!! Recycle!!!

Mother Earth, I promise, I

commit, to mind the three R's

more carefully each day I live . . .

04/21/2024

"Not all places of worship

have walls and a steeple."

~Zen to Zany

Methinks we're talking our

glorious Mother here . . . 

Mother Earth, Mother Nature.

When my docs gave me the

death sentence half a dozen

years ago, we moved into

this sweet little cabin, and 

I mean little!

I have to chuckle as looking

left, 'tis Mother. Looking right,

"It's a man's world out there!"

Rather speaks to my unbalanced

Libra, right?!

Still, I truly feel that my little

bit of paradise offers me a 

place of worship. Interestingly

enough, I find that my worship

of today is vastly different than

that as a child.

As a kid, 'twas of the "Now I 

lay me down to sleep" variety.

Nonetheless, fond memories 

of family prayer, readings and

discussions.

When it comes to the Christian

faith, my parents were the real

deal. So, how I honor my dad

for telling me when I turned 

13 that he believed me to be a

Pantheist as he himself was a

Panentheist. 

Speaking of real, doesn't it

come down to being real, 

no matter which path one

chooses?! Some simply drift

along; others walk their path

with absolute determination.

I love my path; I honor yours.

I do tend to believe that all 

roads lead to Rome, as it were, 

sooooo . . .

Happy journeying!

04/20/2024

"If I was ever accidentally

weird to you, just know I'll

be thinking about it every

night for the next fifty years."

Soulology

Sooooo owe this one to my

friend Joseph . . .

The bad part about this is it's

almost too true to be funny.

Obsession is the word we're 

looking at. I also hear the 

sages using the term letting go. 

Don't think I've ever let any-

thing go . . . I only have to be 

reminded and there it is all 

over again.

Approaching serious elder

years, rather wish I could go

having learned to ditch these

two particular enemies. Not

sure it's possible, but sooooo

needs to happen.

Advice gets handed out, books

and articles written, but these

particular maladies seems to

remain in place.

Just know, "I'll be thinking about

all this every night for the next

fifty years . . ."

04/19/2024

"You know how some people 

become reclusive and weird 

as they get older . . . I'm just 

about there . . . and it's sure 

coming in handy." Zen to Zany

My dad was an eccentric and

often told me I was a chip off

the old block. Just might mean

he thought I was as well.

Had to laugh this early morn

when I saw the quote . . . One

of the best reasons to be nigh

on to a hundred years old is 

you can be an odd duck and 

no one gives a flying . . .

Wondering if oldsters really

plan their shenanigans or . . .

simply are who they are?!

Methinks might have some-

thing to do with energy. 

Might be only enough energy

to BE . . . forget planning 

already!

I find I'm somewhat intrigued

to see what my alter ego comes

up with for today. It's Friday

anyway, right?!

04/18/2024

"I got friends that are Witches,

Starseeds, Christians, Pagans,

Hippies . . . I got friends with

degrees, LLC's and felonies.

I've learned from all of them."

~Unknown

One of my dear childhood

friends sent me this today.

Wow! Just W O W !!!

So love that I've been gifted

with friends from various

arenas. Makes for interesting

and thumbs the nose at all the

isms!!!

I'm slowly coming to wonder 

if prejudice isn't the main issue

in today's world?! Hatred of any

given group is beyond heartbreak.

The price for which is paid in

war, strife, poverty, starvation.

When will we ever learn?! 

Perhaps the answer to that would

be in small, overlapping concentric

circles. Each of us; loving others,

acceptance, giving . . . leads to

example and courage for others.

Here's to these amazing circles

of acceptance . . .

04/17/2024

"Time on Earth is limited.

Don't try to age with grace,

age with mischief, audacity, 

and a good story to tell."

~Unknown

So love this bit of wisdom.

Even at my rather un-spritely

years, I can find a great deal

of naughty to get into!

Addressing this bit of wisdom

yesterday, simply placed the 

N-word in my mind. Obviously,

each era in one's life has dif

types of naughty.

I was such a school girl . . . only

ditched once and thought I was

going to die of guilt. Methinks,

I need to make up for it now!

Think I'll spend the morn in my

new book rather than doing any

housework. I already took the

trash out . . . doesn't that count

for something?!

Here's hoping we all have a fab

naughty day . . .

04/16/2024

'Tis an ornery thing when 

sleep is sought but not caught!

All the naughties I came up

with can only be imagined!

I find the closer I am to that

fateful one hundred years, the

closer I am to being seduced

by them.

I already eat ice cream for

breakfast in bed. To pay for

this particular sin, I only dip

into the coffee once a month!

We go to bed at 7:00-ish. Once 

my guy is out, I like to read 'til

midnight. I rather think the

occasional sleepless night might

just be its payment!

Third naughty? Fire, ever and

always fire. Fire is so precious,

so perfect, methinks needs no

payment in kind.

Can't help but wonder if there

is friendly fire in my future?!

One way or another I do know

there's plenty of naughty to be

 expected!

04/15/2024

Methinks I have found just 

the right fight to SAD

(Seasonal Affective Disorder). 

Praise God from whom all 

blessings flow . . .

Yesterday, was a particularly 

bad day. It was rather a do or 

die situation and as I couldn't, 

get the hell out of Dodge, I 

came up with the following!

Lit a fire, along with a few 

candles. One lamp only and 

a seascape jazz serenade on 

the machine. Don't think  for 

one moment that I forgot a 

summertime Margarita. 

Glorious! Truly glorious!

Might not be the be all, end 

all of SAD, but it got me 

through the day w/o slashing 

my wrists.

Will Spring ever come? 

Oh, I forgot this is Colorado. 

Never mind . . .

04/14/2024

"Quiet warrior

don't lose who you are,

you have the ability

to move mountains

with your stillness."

~janine tamis

Several days now, I have

found strength and courage

in Janine Tamis' words.

I recall, back in the day, when

I marched, spoke at forums,

wrote letters, gave opinions,

basked in the ole do-gooder

bit.

Alas, I find myself quite worn

out at present. 

Still, I get the concept that if 

we each moved the mountains 

in our own concentric circles,

we could indeed make serious

changes in the world today.

For now, since I can still walk

to the mailbox, I'll be on the

letter writing war path.

Pray, wish me well . . .

04/13/2024

"Storms splinter

the night sky, and

wild stars pull slivers

out of the dark."

~janine tamis

As one elders in life, storms

seem to appear more often.

I find myself seeking those

slivers of light Janine Tamis

refers to. Where might they

be found?

Faithful friends, beloved

children, fond memories, 

happy thoughts . . . all bright

stars in the darkest of nights.

I find myself inundated with

gratitude . . .

 . . . sans paroles!

04/12/2024

"The ghosts of all the women

you used to be are all so proud

of who you have become."

~Nikita Gil

Only just this early morn, I 

found myself pondering just 

how many women I have been . . .

Part-time jobber, college student

wife, young mother, teacher,

university prof, caregiver, retiree,

just to name a few . . .

I'd have to say though, my fave

station in life has been mother!

There's all that planning, hoping,

praying and finally, the doc says,

"Yep, you're preggers!" Right!

I always wanted a hippy doctor!

I loved being pregnant! I adored

my babes in arms. I felt blest to

be able to nurse. Watching them

grow, become, stand up and stand

out . . . wow! Just WOW!

I have loved and enjoyed my step

children as well. Seems to me, all

our children are the greatest of

blessings! 

I am ever so grateful that one of

women I got to be was mother . . .

04/11/2024

"Life becomes more meaningful

when you realize the simple fact

that you'll never get the same

moment twice." ~Unknown

'Tis absolutely so! Methinks we

all hope for tomorrow, heaven,

paradise, reincarnation . . . but

this must be taken on faith. It

is not a certainty.

Thus the gift of those sweet

moments in time are priceless.

And truly, aren't these the salt,

pepper and spice of life? Just

try eating with none of these;

it's that tad of spice that makes

the dish.

Obviously, we are all cautioned

to neither dwell nor live in the

past. Still . . . surely enjoying

those precious moments of the

heart from time to time is not

only not wrong, but very, very

right!

04/10/2024

"Some hearts are suns

in graying skies

that rise

to warm the world."

~A Shea 

Finding myself in the last 

quarter of my life, I still think 

about who I want to be when 

I grow up . . .

When we were kids, we all

wanted to grow up to be docs,

nurses, firemen, etc. 

But this early morn, A Shea

reminded me . . . maybe it's

not the career that's important,

but rather the soul.

I like to think about this . . .

becoming a bit of warmth in

someone's life. I'm serious!

Needs be the how?!

Perhaps a kind word, a sweet

compliment, a little chat, an

in depth conversation, sharing

silence.

Indeed, methinks this is the 

how! 

Street where I want to live!

04/09/2024

Oh, glories of glories . . .

the Solar Eclipse moved me

to tears yesterday.

The fun part was friends over

to watch with us. The more

serious side to the day was

the miracle we beheld. 

And maybe, just maybe, 

the best was being moved to 

realize that everything around 

us in the heavens and earth is 

truly a miracle.

The beauty of our surrounding

mountains, the ever-changing

palette of the skies, trees in

every shape and size, streams,

rivers and seas . . . how I wish

we cared for them more.

I pray we ever remember these

precious gifts from our Mother

Nature.

04/08/2024

"Hold fast to dreams,

for if dreams die,

life is a broken-winged bird

that cannot fly."

~Langston Hughes

Of late, I've noticed a tie in 

of the death of dreams and

depression.

Over 8%, 21 plus million, of

Americans suffer depression.

Rather startling when you

think about this being one of 

the most gifted countries in 

the world.

Methinks all we can do is for

each of us to begin with our-

selves. We have a responsibility

to strive for mental health.

Although I may be somewhat

broken, I will ever hold fast to

my dreams and learn to fly ere

I die . . .

 - - -

James Mercer Langston Huges

was an American poet, social

activist, novelist, playwright,

and columnist from Joplin, Mo.

One of the earliest innovators 

of the literary art form called

jazz poetry, Hughes is best 

known as a leader of the 

Harlem Renaissance. 

1901 - 1967 Wikipedia

04/07/2024

Amazing winds . . .

 . . . twists and turns, 

as I have so many different 

reactions.

I like watching breezes at 

play, but this is no ordinary

breeze. Frankly, just a tad

scary.

We're told of outages all 

over kingdom come, 

uprooted trees, five semis 

overturned at Vail pass. 

Did I say, "just a tad scary?" 

I don't think so. More than 

just a tad.

My more romantic notions

think of the gods running

amok and secretly laughing

as we scurry to safety. Is

Mother Nature angry with

us?

What's the prob already? 

We're only polluting the air,

all available water sources,

and filling trash dumps at

the speed of sound. So, why

would She be angry with us?

Grrrrrrrrrrr ~!@#$%^&*()_+

Why don't we just grow up?

Grow a pair? Get over our-

selves?! We're like spoiled 

tots throwing temper tantrums

but we never outgrew them!

Truly, we're only specks in

a windstorm . . . One of these

days Mother is going to lose

her patience and blow us all

to hell and back again!

I do get it, but I'd prefer we

reform . . . Any chance of 

that?! Alas, not bloody likely!

04/06/2024

'Tis the weekend and no 

plans. Funny, might have

annoyed me in my youth,

and now I celebrate it!

The whole day is open . . .

read a fave book, watch

a movie, cook something 

special, take a nap, WOW!

I seem to recall back in the

day, if I didn't have every

minute planned, I would 

have thought something 

was wrong. Now, I just

celebrate!

Methinks I'll just have a

wait and see what happens!

I find the idea rather exciting!

04/05/2024

Today is one of those fab

days that just came together

one way or another . . . 

An early morn class on 

the heart chakra, a proper 

visit with my two besties, 

an afternoon FAC with my 

d) all of the above . . .

Wow! Just W O W !!!

I find I enjoy all three parts

of days like today. The

anticipation, the actual day

and the remembering. Frankly,

triple joy!

One of the things I love about

being nigh onto a hundred

years old, is the finding joy

in every little thing. Rather

wish I'd learned this in my

youth.

Never too late . . .

04/04/2024

Can't help but wonder if FB

realizes I'm aging at the speed

of sound?!

I get adverts for adult diapers. 

I get ads for women's facial

devices. Infomercials for

knee pain joint relief. Say

naught of hearing aids and

other elder toys!

Rather relieved most of these

do not apply . . . however, if

FB is not psychic, where the

hell do they get their info?!

Reading over my shoulder?!

Obviously, there exists some

kind of set up watching out

for code words . . . Still, isn't

this an invasion of privacy?

Thinking about it, might be

worse to be getting ads for

blond hair dye and red finger

nails. Maybe I should just

bit the bullet and ignore the

whole thing.

Bottom line . . . we exist in 

a world today with absolutely

no privacy. I find that more

a bit scary!

04/03/2024

"Day by day, what you 

choose, what you think 

and what you do is who 

you become." ~Heraclitus

I really hadn't thought about 

this in exactly this way. And

of course, it's our choices 

that render us who we are.

My choice to live in Mexico

for 20 years gave me my

beautiful children, the gift 

of the Spanish language and 

many friends . . . Had it been

Canada, I might be speaking

French instead.

My choice to degree in teaching

gifted me 40 years of enjoyment

in the classroom, fond memories

and the love of my students . . .

Nursing, my first choice, would

not have suited me at all.

My choice to live in a 145 year

old tiniest of cabins has bought

me the quiet time I needed to

survive . . . Now, if I can only

survive winter!

Methinks I best be considering

very carefully the next choices

I make . . .

 . . . I am nigh onto a 100 years

old after all!

04/02/2024

"Always be careful with your

words because you never know

how many times it's repeating

in someone's head." Unknown

I know this to be true as my

own head is very good at this!

It can be those few beautiful

words . . . and alas, it can be

the hurtful, harmful ones.

I like to focus on the beautiful.

In my 40 years of teaching, I

always made it a point to give

a dozen or so compliments in

each class.

Important not to make my kids

uncomfortable, say the words

and walk away. 

I find myself still doing it . . .

the supermarket for starters.

Makes me smile when I think,

"What must people think of

that crazy old white-haired gal?"

Bottom line, words are powerful,

choose carefully . . .

04/01/2024

April Fools!

I find myself recalling . . .

Grade school, most likely.

April 1st, we thought we'd

died and gone to heaven.

I recall a principal, a very

grave man. I pinned a note

on his suit coat, "I'm a gost."

I thought I was probably the

bravest kid on the planet.

He felt it, obviously, pulled

it off and said to me, "You

spelled ghost wrong." Wow!

I planned this one; walked

into the kitchen and said, 

"Eek a mouse." Mom jumped,

dad started pulling off his belt

and I shouted, "April Fools!"

Dad looked at mom and said,

"Are you okay with this?" She

said something along the lines

of, "As long as it's April Fools

and doesn't happen again!"

Lucky escape! Today, methinks

the joke's on us. Piles of snow 

everywhere you look and it's

supposed to snow all day. 

Can't help but wonder if the

gods aren't whispering . . .

April Fools!