09/26/2021

"National Daughters Day was created 

in India in 1936, where it is celebrated 

on the last Sunday of September. It was 

Archies Limited who invented National 

Daughters Day. They created the holiday 

to raise awareness and promote the 

imbalance that daughters in some parts

of India are considered a burden, and

inferior to sons." calendarr

Sooooo love that the US has truly put

National Daughters Day on the calendar

and celebrates it widely. It's simply fun . . . 

the phone calls, the e-mails, the letters, 

the cards and gifts . . . all honoring our 

daughters. 

As the world slowly arrives at the place

of honoring women in equality with men,

we can recognize the importance of

celebrating our daughters on this world

renowned day.

Whether you celebrated yesterday, US

style, or today, Indian style, remember

the vast importance of our daughters.

Not to forget, we women, we mothers,

are also daughters . . .

 . . . I applaud all of us!

girls daughters mothers

lets celebrate our being

we women so rock

09/25/2021

At o' dark thirty this morning 

we had a bear come to visit. 

The dogs started barking to let 

us know and we got to watch 

Mr. Ginormous amble up the

sidewalk, cool as you please! 

Without a doubt, he was the 

largest bear we've ever had 

come calling.

Seeing so much wildlife has 

been one of the perks of living 

in a 130 year old cabin in the 

woods, as it were. And, we do 

get bear every summer and early

fall. But, we also receive plenty 

of visits from raccoons, bobcats

and mountain lions. Not quite 

sure why the bear are the most 

exciting!

I find myself ever grateful to

Mother Nature for her beauty,

her wildlife . . . her moods that

gift us such different, amazing 

weather patterns. What a life!

Little Miss Goldilocks had

naught on us . . .

do come and visit

mama daddy baby bears

find im missing you

09/24/2021

"Alcohol is an excellent servant,

but a terrible master."

~Christopher Hitchens

Every now and again, make that most

always, I get to thinking about my sins.

My parents used to listen to a minister

who would talk about our 'darling sins.'

Alas, me thinks, drinking may be my

darling sin.

As I enjoy drinking, I have an assortment

of rules in place to keep me out of danger.

   *never drink alone

   *drink only twice or thrice a week

   *no hard alcohol, except occasional marg

   *choose small, low alcohol beers

   *three months off from drinking yearly

I had my first drink when I came back 

to the US at 37. Having had no prior 

experience with drinking, I had to wade

through experimentation. Being both

enthusiastic as well as a slow learner,

there were some embarrassments along

the way.

I have followed the old Mexican rules

of drinking as well. No drinking for two

years whilst grieving the loss of a mother,

one year for a father. I like the respect

indicated in this unwritten custom, most

probably Catholic.

Sooooo, 'craful, craful,' as my brother 

used to say. Let's enjoy carefully! 

Salud!

09/23/2021

I am not ashamed

to have known the touch

of madness

or to share the passion

it has gifted me.

~A. Shea

Me thinks 'tis a malady to which we 

don't often admit. But, just think of

the times we've been overcome with

grief. The death of a child, albeit 

one of our own children, a young

friend or one of our students. That 

loss of a special parent or a close 

friend. Living through this kind of 

sorrow,  you indeed know madness!

Certain losses show us the door to 

a bit of madness. Loss of reputation;

the mishandling of funds and all

that this entails, accidental or not.

The loss of a special friendship,

often over some minute detail.

The death of a fave pet, however

embarrassing we may find this 

grief to be.

Those of us who tend toward the

eccentric, understand the madness

experienced from time to time in

not being understood, much less

accepted. Not often perhaps, but

just once in a while 'twould be

lovely to be part of the gang.

So, what's this all about? What am

I asking? What needs to happen?

Perhaps, the first thing would be 

to accept that bit of madness in 

ourselves. It follows then, that we

can be more understanding and

accepting of this in others.

Madness is real, it exists. It rears

its ugly head from time to time.

We would do well to accept this

and look it straight in the face!

It is what it is . . .

what is this sorrow 

a certain kind of madness

mad with angry grief

09/22/2021

"Most nights are tough . . .

She lays there in the darkness.

Overwhelmed by the things

she wished she didn't think about."

~r.h. Sin

Most of us know a thing or two

about sleepless nights. Interesting

how those long hours are passed in 

negativity rather than happy thoughts.

I find myself reviewing my sins,

looking at various ways I could have

done better, seeing those wrongs

against hearth and home . . . a never

ending saga of my foibles and faults.

How is it that we don't mentally

explore fun things to try, good things

to accomplish and even think about

the odd good deed or two?! I wonder

if we were born with an innate need

to critique and punish our wayward

selves?!

I wonder, is it too late to change the

habits of a lifetime? Can I at least

attempt a different approach? Practice

makes perfect? Or, some such!!!

I swear, there are times I would like

to ask Hitler himself about mind

control. I don't seem to be able to

harness my own!

having a bad night

bring on the fairy tales please

so tired of ugly

09/21/2021 - Autumnal Equinox

Mabon, otherwise known as the first

day of Autumn, the second harvest,

the Autumnal Equinox . . . 

This year, the Autumnal Equinox falls

on the 22nd rather than the 21st. Still,

I so love celebrating, me thinks I'll go

for both days, the traditional and the

actual. Let's take a look at what it is.

"The Autumnal Equinox is the moment

the sun crosses the equator from north

to south in September each year. The

equinox is the only time when the edge

between day and night runs perpendicular

to the equator, equally illuminating both

the southern hemisphere and the northern

hemisphere."

Sometimes I think I love the twice a year

equinoxes so much because of balance.

I've often commented that I'm the most

imbalanced Libra that I know. However,

on March 21st and September 21st, I

have that semblance of balance.

We'll celebrate the end of summer and

the beginning of fall. The leaves are

turning and the mountain tops show off

a light vesting of snow. Mornings and

evenings are chilly, warmth showing up

in the middle of the day. 

We have six weeks in which to enjoy 

this amazing season! Happy Autumn!

tis a bit chilly

already missing summer

enjoy anyway

09/20/2021

"Happy is when someone gives you

a big hunk of something wonderful

and it's too big to hold. So, you pull 

off a piece from time to time to hold

in your hand. That's being contented."

~Betty Smith, Joy in the Morning 

Somewhere in the American Dream,

we get all mixed up about happy. 

We tend to hold happy dear, almost 

to the exclusion of anything else.

Happy, happiness, joy, bliss . . . all 

are important. The searching for, 

the living for . . . all important. Still, 

I can't help but wonder the price we

pay for being so wrapped up in the

search for happiness that we miss

a great deal of life?!

The analogy of love making comes

to mind. Perhaps we are so intent 

on experiencing the end result that 

we don't even enjoy the beautiful 

path that leads us there. 

Bottom line, all experiences are

important. Lessons to be learned,

precious moments to be held close

to our souls, sorrow to be honored,

love to share . . . all important!

Let's live our lives to the fullest . . .

experiencing all those different

spices that make our lives both

interesting and delectable!

"Joy comes to us in ordinary moments.

We risk missing out when we get too

busy chasing down the extraordinary."

~Brené Brown

so living the life

joy to come from time to time

experience all

09/19/2021

Sabrá Dios lo que pasó?! Ni

siquiera yo tengo idea.

Será porque el diez y seis de 

septiembre acaba de pasar. Tal 

vez fue porque fui a escuchar a

mariachis el día de ayer. Pero, 

por equis o zeta, me senté a sus 

pies, escuchando su bella música 

y llorando a cántaros.

Les hice sentir muy incómodos a

nuestros anfitriones. No es lo que

quise, simplemente sucedió. El

caso es que probablemente nunca

debí me haber dejado mi lindo y

querido México.

Cuando uno es tan excéntrico, 

y por fin se halla cómodo en un 

lugar, más le vale quedarse ahí.

Gustando el país, amando a la

gente, adorando a las familias y

sus nenes . . . todo indica tal

respuesta.

Un día volveré. Tal vez sea en

cenizas para echarse al viento,

pero volveré. Quiero volar entre

nubes, descansar en sus brazos

y escuchar Cielito Lindo de lejos.

como extraño

añorando mis penas

yo quiero volver

*Dedicado a Doña Alicia Sueltenfuss

09/18/2021

 What is it about anger, rage, fury?

You never even thought you were

capable of it, and yet . . .

All your life you've known who

you are. You absolutely know

yourself. There are no secrets

whatsoever.

And then, you are angrily attacked,

out of the blue, for something you

know nothing about. Your mouth

falls open in surprise. Your face

turns red and ever so slowly, your

blood begins to boil. You explode.

You don't even recognize the person  

you have just become.

How does it happen? Unspeakable!

In a moment of clarity, you finally 

get a clue how violence happens. 

And yet, you have never credited 

yourself for being capable of such 

a reaction.

I doubt very much that life lays

awake at night, dreaming up ways

to teach us these lessons. Still, 

things happen and we might as

well learn something!

So, where does one go from there?

Does one demand apologies, exact 

revenge? Seek forgiveness from self? 

From the accuser? Can one's own 

capability of rage be accepted? 

Understanding helps. Taking time

is essential. Healing awaits and

lessons are indeed to be learned. 

Most likely, I'll be learning right 

up until the moment life ends for

me. Most remarkable!!!

my heart hurts just now

wheres daddy when i need him

want to be consoled

09/17/2021

I hark back to the words of 

old wise men, something along 

the lines of what you fear is far

less than you figured.

The trip, which was supposed

to be along the lines of an hour

fifteen to an hour thirty, turned

out to be a dead hour. And, we

drove straight to the address.

I think of the worry in the back

of my mind, my concerns for

our ability to follow a hand 

drawn map . . . which wasn't 

on our pro map nor the GPS.

Once I opened and read the

directions, I saw that I should

not have worried quite so much . . .

like maybe I should have read 

it when the invite arrived.

I find, as I'm about a hundred

years old, that first of all, I 

tend to make mountains out 

of molehills. Second of all, I

search for that special hidden

lesson.

I've heard my entire life that

we should live in the moment

and not make the unknown

into something it is not. Face

the unknown when it comes

and deal with it then.

I've heard the lesson over 

and over! I've experienced 

the Can't lesson time and 

again!! help but wonder if I'm

finally capable of learning it,

following it?! ~!@#$%^&*()_+

where are we going

does it really matter now

seems i need to know

09/16/2021

What is it? Fear of the unknown?

Never been there; done that???

Each day we sally forth and 

conquer . . . or meet defeat. 

What of it? Does it really matter 

which? Isn't it experience that 

life is all about?

I find myself more fearful as I 

get older. That may be as is, but

I want to face life and experience

it anyway. Obviously, I have to

give myself a good talking to 

from time to time! I just need it!

Today, we face a new challenge.

We are to meet friends in a place

heretofore unknown to us, at a

given time. We have to leave at

o' dark thirty and travel a couple

of hours; it's a bit scary.

I think, were we taking a journey

on our own, with no time limits

or expectations, it would be less

worrisome. Still, we're up for

the adventure and hoping for the

best.

As my childhood buddy used to

say, "Lord willing and the Devil

doesn't intervene," we'll make it!

tis an adventure

but i don't know where that is

so go anyway

09/15/2021

 "She walks in beauty." ~Lord Byron

When first seeing her gardens, you

instantly have a glimpse into what

the heavens must look like. 

In walking around the stone path 

intertwining the beds, you find 

yourself with wantings . . . wanting 

to stay there, wanting to pick some 

posies, wanting to curl up for an 

afternoon nap amongst such glory.

And then, she serves a repast . . . 

Again, each an every item is choice. 

Many from other lands, some she's

made herself. I'm torn 'twixt and 

'tween just sitting there enjoying,

and the actual eating.

Her lingo is beautiful. She has a

way of making the luncheon chat

all about you. She not only queries,

but she truly listens. So many of

us don't even really understand 

the art of listening.

And then, she treats you to her 

paintings. Telling tales out of 

school, she explains the nuances

behind each. I find myself much

moved with such longing. 

'Tis the sound of her melodious

voice, the gestures, the sharings.

She is an artist in every fiber of

her being . . .

She walks in beauty!

*Dedicated to . . .

Marilyn Stannie Wells, Ph.D.

09/14/2021

Where is September going in such an 

all fired hurry?! I swear, life is soooo 

getting away from me!

We all know that time flies whether

you're having fun or not. Yet, I'm

nigh onto a hundred years old and

still this long known scientific fact 

wows me!

Being somewhat nearer the end of

my days rather than at the beginning,

I find myself wanting to have a chat

with Mr. Time.

Couldn't he slow down just a bit,

especially during the glorious day.

I wouldn't even mind if he hurried

through those rough ones. But, he

won't budge an inch . . . so like

the male species, per se!

Guess will have to be me making

the odd change. We all enjoy a

good sleep-in, but I think I should

actually get up earlier and go to

bed later. To quote John Wayne,

"Time's a wastin'; get up and get

going!"

enjoy whilst you can

lets live we can sleep later

death is a long nap