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

09/13/2021

Speaking of relationships . . .

My guy and I are 70, 71 in fact. It's

rather beyond interesting to look back 

and see the changes in that infamous

dance of conjugal bliss.

When we were kids and shared our

first kiss, we were allowed to kiss,

but not touch. Frenching was frowned

upon; make no mistake! Anyone who

knew anything understood that this

was where babies came from!

'Twas expected of me to marry as a

virgin, after a suitable courtship and

parental approbation . . . and to stay

married, no matter what!

Divorce was a big no no, and I get

it. There are so many things that

deserve serious consideration in the

breaking up of a relationship.

Now, a hundred years later, my guy

and I have been together for over   

20 and we actually chose to jump 

the broom rather than have a legal 

marriage ceremony. 

I recognize that it's not about right

and wrong, just different customs,

eras and expectations. Still I must 

say, the changes we've witnessed 

in our 70 year span are downright 

intriguing!

ever wondering

is it whats right or whats wrong

or just what it is

09/12/2021

Dreams are made of this . . . perhaps 

reading is the trigger, who knows! 

This time I found myself in a

Confederate camp in days of  yore.

I was obviously a nurse of some kind.

All around me, fighting raged.

I could sense, more than see, soldiers

falling where they stood, even as they 

fired. 'Midst the smoke, I found myself 

almost overcome by the scent of battle.

I remember the sense of helplessness

I felt, an actual knowledge of some 

kind that anything I could do would

never be enough.

I longed for a tent in which to tend

the wounded. I yearned for water for

cleansing. Yet, all I could do was

stitch with no sedative. Running out

of gear, I recall even using the hem

of my uniform to wipe away blood.

My heart is filled with sorrow. My

cheeks are wet with tears and my

brain whispers, "Why oh why do

we still engage in war?"

Not quite sure I'll ever feel the same

about red and blue . . . so glad I only

wear black!

wipe away my tears

erase my pain ere i die

pray sing me a song

09/11/2021

Sooooo love me some surprises . . . 

and today was one of them! 

Did NOT expect our friends to come 

by as they spent the day at the Estes 

Park Tent City!

Oh my God, what amazing treasures!

And, I cannot believe they shared a 

couple of them! Amazing, glorious, 

wondrous, and entirely unexpected! 

Bless them!

Another fun surprise has been a 

compendium of nine books that  

I just finished. Decent plots; quite 

intriguing. 'Tis rather wondrous 

to find yourself in another world, 

living quite differently.

A fab surprise, got a postcard in 

the mail. Today, we mostly e-mail 

or just message on FB. I just loved 

opening the box and finding the 

card rather than a bill!

And at supper time, I opened the

fridge to see what might fall out. 

This time, there were some boxes 

of food my good friend from New 

Mexico brought. Great food! . . .

What a day for surprises!

color me hopeful 

so love me my surprises

see what today brings

09/10/2021

Been planning a special trip to the

Bermuda Triangle come Samhain;

that's Halloween to you!

The surrounding islands would make

for fun visits, maybe even hitting the

local shops for interesting wares and

their cafes for unusual treats!

Alas, I made the mistake of going to

the dentist yesterday . . . walking out

an hour later with a $9,000 prognosis

in hand . . . guess my upcoming vacay 

will have to be canceled!

The entire prospect of everything the

dentist wants to do to me so smacks

of world war type torture that perhaps 

I should schedule the ruckus around

Halloween! 'Twould be ever so fitting!

Who know, maybe I'll come out of 

this ordeal with a ghoulish smile;

make that smirk and fit right into

said holiday.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ~!@#$%^&*()_+<>?/

so disappointed

how old did we say i was

color me pouting

09/09/2021

I'm of two mind here! Alarms going

off everywhere, scaring the bejesus

out of me . . .

Oh my God, the yard is full of elk.

Stunning creatures and the baby is

beyond precious.

They're wending their way up the

stone walkway, eating everything

in their path . . . Oh NO, NOT my

precious, precious sunflowers! 

Damn it all to hell anyway!!! My 

d) all of the above, encouraged 

me to cut them yesterday, but I

simply couldn't bear to and now

they're hors d'oeurvres for our

early morn visitors.

On the other side of things, love

my 130 year old cabin in the 

woods and all of the wildlife it

attracts. I'm ever so blest . . . but

do they have to eat my sunflowers?

so loving my woods

special creatures of all kinds 

wildlife galore wow