10/31/2024 - Samhain

"Samhain is the third and final

harvest festival of the Wheel 

of the Year that signifies the 

midpoint between fall equinox

and winter solstice. Starting at 

sunset on Oct. 31st and ending 

at sunset on Nov. 1st, this day

marks the end of summer and

beginning of winter on the old

calendar. It was considered an

important time for giving gifts

to the dead and communing." 

Spirit Nest

Fam and friends often ask about

Samhain, hence the above. One

of the things I love about Latin

America as well as Samhain, is

that space in time for recalling

our loved ones who have passed.

Obviously, not everyone feels

this way; might even see it as

morbid. But for me, there is a

need to celebrate mine who've

passed before.

Wishing us a wondrous Samhain

and you a glorious Halloween for

sisters and brothers all are we . . . 

10/30/2024 - Samhain Eve

Samhain is a Gaelic festival

on November 1, marking the

end of the harvest season and

beginning of winter or the

darker half of the year. It is

also the Irish language name

for November. Celebrations

begin on the evening of Oct

31, as the Celtic day began

and ended at sunset. Wikipedia

Not exactly certain as to why,

but in all celebrated holidays,

I always prefer the eve over

the day. Might just be because

there's always a tad of mystery

to the dark of night.

This evening I see us sitting

by the fire, perhaps enjoying

a tad of eggnog and thanking

the divine for the gifts of love

from those who have gone

before.

Pray, may we each appreciate

and enjoy these next four days.

May our hearts and minds be

inundated with sweet memories.

Indeed, we are so blest . . . 

Happy Samhain eve!

10/29/2024

Celebrating my 75th,  

I planned seeing fam 

and friends every day 

of this month. Fun do's,

and some fun don'ts as 

well. Glorious eats, to 

say naught of secrets 

shared.

But, today 'tis the first 

day I have nothing on.

Can't help but wonder 

how the day'll progress. 

Will anything exciting 

happen?

I know one shouldn't 

plan every iota of life. 

Room must be left for 

surprises, for the un-

expected. 

I'll just have wait and 

see what happens . . .

10/28/2024

I know . . . perhaps I've ever

known . . . I am rich beyond

measure!

The first friend I made in US

when I returned from 20 years

in Mexico, came to visit from

afar last night. 

We talked, reminisced, laughed,

cried . . . sooooo glad we were

well into our brewskis as neither 

of us recall this early a.m. just 

how much we shared last night!

She comes not often as she hales

from far, far away. But, when she

does, she brings treats, I put forth

the naughties and we eat Mexican

food until we're speaking Spanish.

One of the things I most value

about a special birth year, is the

celebration of friendship. Frankly,

arriving alive and well at 75, and

living all over Kingdom Come . . .

leaves many a memory to share.

So, last night we solved all the

world's problems and this morn,

we started all over again. Alas,

methinks those in the upper

eschelon of our world today, never

think to ask our opinion . . .

Oh well, 'tis their loss!!!

10/27/2024

'Twas a most glorious day . . .

My annual mole making, at

last shared with a friend. 'Til

now, family only and sworn

to secrecy.

I remember my son asking

quite nicely, if he could 

share the recipe with his best 

friend and I said, "NO! And, 

don't forget you promised!"

Methinks, just might have 

something to do with being

at the other end of aging. A

tad closer to the other side,

as it were.

     Day 1: deseeding.

     Day 2: four hour boil

     Day 3: blending, sieving

     three times over

     Day 4: herbs and spices

     Day 5: eat, drink and be 

     merry

Make no mistake, I am so

looking forward to the whole

Day 5 part of this magic! I

just bet I eat myself sick!

Salud . . .

10/26/2024

Just keeps getting better and

better . . .

Early a.m. coffee w/two of 

my besties. Dressing up and

hitting an amazing restaurant

usually denied to the likes of

us. Unbelievable! No wonder

we only go ever five years!

Coming back for afters . . .

Two kinds of cake, two kinds

of ice cream. two kinds of

presents. If this b-day month

doesn't end soon, I'm going

to weigh 200 lbs and won't

fit in either the cabin or my

clothes!

Best gift ever though, is such 

incredible friendship. We talk,

really talk. Seems we never

run out of topics to discuss,

things to share, a comparison

of points of view.

I know not everyone has such

friendships. My heart bleeds . . .

Ever, ever so grateful . . .

10/25/2024

Best birthday ever, this whole

turning 75. I've so enjoyed

celebrating one special person

each day.

Last night, my bestie came in

from far, far away. We lit up

the place with candles, ate fun

foods, and talked so long and

hard that we were constantly

interrupting each other.

What a gift of life I have been

given! Such shame in thinking

of the times I gave up, didn't

wish to live any longer. I'm

ever so grateful I'm still here.

It's going to be fun actually

finding out just how long I'll

be given. Must be time to 

start telling tales out of school.

Well actually, my friends tell

me that I'm not already doing

that, but I'm telling some of

them over and over. Damn

embarrassing if you ask me!

So, here I am . . . loving life,

adoring my fam and friends

and finding myself somewhat

overwhelmed!

10/24/2024

Sooooo loving my age

and some of the things

that go with it . . .

Exercise - up and down

the stairs all hours of day

and night.

Groceries - once a month

or so; don't like to go out

much.

Meals - open the fridge

and see what falls out.

Oddities - ice cream for

breakfast, living in the

bedroom, no phone. 

Time spent - books and 

movies, visiting w/friends, 

writing e-mails and letters.

Trips - none of late; most

likely, it'll stay that way.

TV - good for watching

old movies. Don't watch

it otherwise.

Almost wish I had been

born this age . . .

10/23/2024

We were gifted a sweet

surprise last eve. Friends

from the neighborhood

surprised us with a visit.

A tad chilly, so my guy 

lit the fire. Not only did 

it add to the ambiance, it

truly warmed the cockles

of our souls!

We talked and shared a

couple of brewskies. Best

of all, our kid came home

from work and not only

brought a fab b-day gift,

he dressed up for us in 

his Halloween costume.

Taken several weeks to

put it together, 'twas

phenomenal. Scared me

just to look at him.

It's been so cold here at

night. To think we were

able to sit out by the fire

for a couple of hours is

simply incredible. Still,

'twas just what the doctor 

ordered!

Methinks I need to adjust

my attitude regarding fall.

I'll enjoy the days I can

and just have issues with

winter. Ha!

10/22/2024

I awoke this earl morn with

sweet thoughts of yesterday.

The gods blest me as I was

able to spend time with one

of my dearests and bests.

I can only imagine the smiles

our angels must have shared 

as we sat and talked, talked

and talked.

Obviously, there is much to

share when getting together

from afar only once a year.

Then, slowly but surely, once

the news is caught up on, true

conversation begins.

There is naught in this world

to compare to this kind of

friendship and sharing. My 

heart is full, my mind reeling 

and I feel fulfilled.

Alas, at one point, I needed

rest and thus ended our sweet,

perfect day. I will admit, I

wept as she drove away . . .

10/21/2024

I believe in the magic of 

each new day; absolutely 

essential in order to keep

going on!

The days are shorter, 

the dark longer. Not quite 

sure how I'll survive or

even if I will.

I pray you do not suffer

from SAD, Seasonal

Affective Disorder. Not

something I would wish

on my worst enemy if I

had one.

It's like being taken out

of time and place. All you

can see or sense is dark.

Cold and dark. It's much 

like being caught in a child-

hood nightmare and there's

no way out. And, there's no

daddy to come to the rescue.

Already taking precautions;

time outdoors daily, meds,

meditation and prayer . . .

Oh my God . . .

10/20/2024

Oh my God . . . I don't think

I've ever had so much fun in 

my life as turning 75 . . .

I'm just about partied out.

Didn't even know that could

happen. 

Five friends showed up

yesterday with picnic in tow

and I just sat there . . . felt

about a hundred. 'Twas a ball.

Best part, Michael serenaded 

us with both a six string and

a 12 string. He is phenomenal.

You've probably heard him at

one of my guy's Gypsies in

July.

Today, I'm blest with a visit

from my past. Old friend and

student coming over for Sun

margs after church. Now a 

PhD, a bigwig in education,

one my favest people ever!

One of the greatest gifts of

being a teacher, would be all

the incredible students one is

blest with. Watching the adults

they turn into is pure magic!

Methinks 'tis one of the best

b-day pressies E V E R !!!

10/19/2024

'Tis morn of the day after and

I'm feeling my age . . . I don't

know if it's psychological or

maybe I've partied too hardy!

For me, the day after has to 

do with gratitude. Before I 

was diagnosed with SAD, 

Seasonal Affective Disorder, 

I wasn't long for this life.

Knowing the issue, meant

being able to cope. My guy

has been phenomenal in

helping me deal with those

dark days of fall and winter.

Hard to believe I was born

in my own time of undoing!

Go figure . . .

So, I am grateful . . . 

 . . . for sunlight that staves 

off SAD, for those who have

loved me in spite of my ills

and woes, for reaching this

incredible age, for glorious

years of teaching and the joy

found in loving my students.

I am grateful . . .

 . . . for coming to understand

those things that never made

sense, for learning new ways

to love and live, for life itself.

Indeed, I am grateful . . .