07/13/2023

Heading to the hills, even 

though I already live there . . .

I cannot go up these byways w/o

being absolutely wowed! Mother's

gifts to us are never diminished 

by her . . . alas, only by us.

We reach s summit and see yet

another valley flooded in beauty

without par. Everywhere I look

I am touched.

I look at her palette laden with a

variety of greens with those odd

bits of color thrown in . . . I feel

the tears coursing my cheeks.

I long to stop and pick up a rock.

Best souvenir  E V E R !!! Then,

I see roadside trash someone has

thoughtlessly dumped and I feel

my face redden in anger. How is

it possible that we could spit in

Mother's face in this manner?

I will pick up bits and pieces of

garbage when I can, but I must

set it aside and immerse myself

in this pure glory . . .

07/12/2023

"Sometimes you have to make

a decision that will break your 

heart, but will give peace to 

your soul." ~Unknown

Obviously, we can see ourselves

in these words of wisdom. We

each have been brought to our 

knees with these necessary pesky

decisions. Perhaps, it's all in the 

little things . . .

Do I honor the speed limit? Do I

give the odd shekels to beggars?

Can I help my old aunty with her

housework once in a coon's age?

Can I buy my clothes at the 2nd

hand store so I have leftover cents

to share?

Of course, we each have our own

decisions to make regarding the

above and other issues. I have no 

prob with driving a tad over the 

speed limit. On the other hand, my

aunt needs me and I'll be there

come hell or high water.

Maybe we all actually quell our

own naughties by doing goodies.

Whatever works! For me, it's

about having one's own code of

ethics and following it to the letter.

Rather has something to do with

being able to live with oneself

comfortably . . . and I sooooo 

need that!

Quell the conscience at any cost?

07/11/2023

"My toxic trait is telling people

I'm down for anything when in

reality I mean not after 8 pm,

food should be involved, and it 

also depends on the weather, the

parking situation, and how tired 

I am." Teacher Nation

Make that 7 p.m. and I could've

written this myself. I suppose 

it's completely natural for all of

us to look back at our younger 

selves and remark on those many

changes.

I actually had my first drink 

when I came to the US at the

age of 37. So, there I was just

learning to drink when my

peers were most likely already

tapering off.

I have to laugh at myself. I'm

only down for partying, as it

were, a couple of times a week.

My friends will gladly tell on

me that I enjoy myself until I

don't and then I simply go lie

down. Crazy!

All told, I love being 73 instead

of 37. I get a kick out of looking

back and seeing what was vs.

what is. I like memory hunting,

as I tend to think of it. And, tales

told out of school with my peers

are absolutely hilarious. 

So, in order to honor the above

curfew, mimosas must be had at

brunch and the odd beer or margs,

early afternoon.

Come on over for a cold one. 

Just know I'll be leaving the 

party when I'm tired.

Salud!

07/10/2023

I knew there must be something

wrong with me the moment I

realized just how much I like

Mondays!

I always loved school, both the

learning part and the teaching

part. Mondays used to be the

beginning of an entire new week

of just that.

Alas, today is a Monday and 

I have no classes to teach and

none to take. Dare I pray for

the universe to send me a new

student or two?!

Or maybe, I can learn to enjoy

Mondays just as they are . . .

"Wake up every morning with

the thought that something

wonderful is about to happen."

~WWS

07/09/2023

Today, a brand new day, a brand

new week. What can it possibly 

hold?

I heard on the news that Colorado 

has reached its water quotient so I

ponder, Would it be unduly selfish

of me to hope for just a few sunny 

days?

Can't help but wonder, what will 

I do if granted my wish?! I see a 

few  short walks coming on. Praps,

sitting outside with the neighbors

and enjoying a marg or two. The

sun on my shoulders . . . I feel a

John Denver coming on.

One way or another, it's a new day

and I'm remembering life is a gift.

I must enjoy it and use it well . . .

 . . . Maybe stop bitching about the

weather and get on with living life!

Now there's an idea . . .

07/08/2023

"Speak from your heart

not from your pain . . .

but never silence either."

~A. Shea

It matters to me . . . this whole

staying positive thing. I actually

do more than just make a stab

at it. Sooooo not happening just

now.

Anxiously awaited spring, never

came. Then thought we just might 

have summer. Doesn't seem to be

happening either. I'm grateful for

the rain, make no mistake. But,

feeling I may not make it this time

around. Desperately need some

proper summer.

Fam and friends are not to worry.

I've weathered SAD for 73 years.

It's just that this time I've been hit

especially hard. 

Will summer never come?! Will

the sun finally shine again?

07/07/2023

Today is 07/07. It's 7:00 a.m. 

It's 70 degrees and 7% humidity.

Methinks I should quick run to

the store and buy a lotto ticket!

Alas, I save those pesky shekels 

allotted for tickets for my wine

fund. See, in all my years in the

US, I've never won, so I think

I'm ahead buying wine instead . . .

both conciliatory and delish!

Now, the groceries are bought, 

the cabin clean, bills paid and

it's TGIF . . . 

 . . . let's party! Hey, do we have

to wait until 7:00 p.m?

07/06/2023

Yesterday was a gift . . .

Old teachers coming by, bringing

with them bits of joy, memories, 

life.

It's so interesting the things that 

come to mind when you see people 

from the past, a kind of awakening. 

Fun times  recalled, stories abound, 

laughter . . . oh the laughter.

So loved the sharing over margs; 

I felt I was in a kind of heaven! 

And then, the music began. How

this man could play, and I loved

the singing, the singing of old 

songs.

Life is so interesting, complicated,

wondrous . . . rather like a patchwork 

quilt. I would add, it seems to be

divided into segments, again the quilt

idea. Each segment of life bestows

its moments and memories.

Old friends spending time and I am

immediately cast back into those 

precious years in the classroom. I 

so loved my 40 years of teaching.

The students, loves of my life!

Indeed, I enjoyed yesterday . . . 

but the gift of memories brought

to the table is one of the most 

precious ever.

Bless you all for this . . .

07/05/2023

"Growing old is mandatory.

Growing up is optional."

~Walt Disney

Obviously, I'm in the "Growing old

is mandatory" stage! Praise God and

Walt Disney I've just been reminded

about the "Growing up is optional"

part!

I can't help but wonder if one of the

counter parts to aging is this freedom

to be oneself . . . as well as, along the 

lines of just a bit crazy?!

I find myself longing to . . .

    sit by the fire and read,

    sit under my fave tree and sip margs,

    spend time in my vardo a wondering

        and a wandering,

    go to an antique store, find a treasure,

Hey, I just realized . . . those may be 

more adult play than child play . . .

Still . . . let's party!

07/04/2023 - 4th of July

"Do not grow old, no matter how

long you live. Never cease to stand

like curious children before the great

mystery into which we were born."

~Albert Einstein

There's something about the 4th of

July that brings out the child within.

Expectations, gatherings, bursts of

color on a warm summer night . . .

all part of the usual celebrations.

I doubt there's much thought about

the actual meaning of 4th of July.

Eradication of entire Native tribes, 

the deaths of hundreds, thousands

of ill trained soldiers, confiscation

of a land not ours . . .

No, I don't think so! Better to watch

the parades, the fireworks, eat the

picnics, drink the beer.

History hurts! Heads in the sand . . .

here we come . . .

07/03/2023

"I'll tell you what hermits realize. 

If you go off into a far, far forest 

and get very quiet, you'll come to

understand that you're connected

with everything." ~Alan W. Watts

Being a Libra with absolutely all

in my life divided into twos . . .

Yes, no! Black, white! Eat, fast!

So of course, I live in the forest . . .

with the thick of the trees on one

side and the racing of car engines

on the other . . . go figure!!!

Maybe I should take a peek at moi!

Love solitude; adore people. Love

thin; adore food. Love movies; 

adore books. Methinks there must

be a clue in there somewhere!

I keep coming back to that old

rhetoric of self-acceptance. Stop

analyzing and simply enjoy! 

Mi ole dad used to say, "Don't 

pay to think too much!" I get it 

now; maybe a walk down the

road and hearing the traffic will

clear my brain . . . or what's left

of it anyway!

07/02/2023

"The secret, Alice, is to surround

yourself with people who make

your heart smile. It's then, only

then, that you'll find wonderland.

~Lewis Carroll

I only just made the commitment 

to find that long awaited joy of 

summer . . . and it seems even the 

gods are in collusion. 

Yesterday, we decorated the gazebo

and celebrated with margs at the

end. Talk about a perfect beginning

to summer joy . . . I can hardly wait

to take photos there.

July brings sun's warmth, fam and

friends to visit, margs most delish,

and tales for telling out of school.

Not to forget the b-days of my three

favest men . . . daddy, bro and lover!

One really has to love July, right?!

Having said that, I'm with Lewis 

Carroll on this . . . "It's the people

who make your heart smile!"

07/01/2023

"July is tender,

Part nostalgic and

part wild.

The raw flesh

of the summer."

~Victoria Erickson 

There is naught in this entire

world such as July . . . the 4th,

full and new moons, my dad's

and bro's b-days, a couple of

celebrations most important 

to me. Feels like it never ends.

By the time July gives up the

ghost, I'm about to as well!

This July, I'm going to take 

a slightly different approach.

Might the that perfect time 

to learn to live in the moment.

Yes, there will needs be time

for planning . . . But this time

around, I want to celebrate ea

waking moment . . . ideas,

plans coming to fruition and

the days as they march their

way across the calendar.

Heretofore, I've gotten so 

wrapped up in prep that I've

either been too exhausted to

enjoy those July celebrations

or too busy making things

happen. I swear, sooooo NOT 

this time!

July, here I come; let's party!!!