October 11: What We Leave

I've thought a lot about what we leave behind this week as I reflect on the memory of a kind, generous and proud matriarch and explore a new to me culture. 

Jean left behind a legacy of learning, family, and kindness for her family, church and community.   I could not help but think of her as well as other legacies that have remained for centuries as I traveled this week

SOL: Karma

Today, I am sharing thoughts with my Slice of Life community. 

It's clearly fall, I thought as I walked among the acorn debris left by aggressive squirrels into the brilliant sunshine peeking over the horizon leading my thoughts to the Buddha message, If you light a lamp for anyone, it will brighten your path," It's a bit funny that message and the bright sunshine should merge with my thinking about Karma, that ancient idea that our actions, good or bad, boomerang back to us over time.

It has happened multiple times this week. People using the actions of others (including me) for their own benefit, taking advantage of abundance of waste in business or over billing claims. Those in education likely have experience with people claiming ownership of your work or ideas; yet, it is far more a widespread practice that makes me sad as well as apprehensive for their future.  

Yeah, yeah yeah....everybody does it, maybe, but that does not make it right!  Even though I am headed shortly to visit the big boss, I sure do not need the dark side of Karma. 

 

• 
  

Oct 4: Spiritual Journey: Trust

The October Spiritual Journey's theme is Trust. Patricia Franz asks us to reflect on trust and patience with God’s interaction in our lives. You can read her post here.

I used to trust people, rules, this path of our journey easily. At times, I accepted even when I did not agree and embraced even when I was hesitant, trusting in the wisdom of others and trusting things would work out for the best in the end. At times, colleagues, family and a legal system I trusted used that trust to augment their own goals at my expense.

Yet, over time I have realized that I must trust in my creator, who is beside me even when I falter, and rooting for me even when my prayers are not answered. I am never alone even when I feel alone on this journey like that morning, not too many years ago when I could not see the path ahead as I sat on the end of the dock when that sunbeam reached down from above and touched my toes and my heart. I could not have planned or imagined the path out of that hole that morning; yet, I am very glad I trusted I was not alone.

O

End Sept: How Will I?

The usual crowd was making waves during aqua class this morning, I could feel the water warm with the release of diverse intense emotions as we pushed and kicked that forgiving water. There were those who scheduled their appointments to make the class as well as those heading out a bit early to fight a plethora of issues. There were several defying cancer themselves and even more fitting the class between care-giving of spouses, adult children, and grands. Some would be heading to work or volunteer responsibilities as soon as they were dressed and others would be off to look at nursing homes for loved ones or to face hospice decisions. As we exited the pool, the multitude of issues moved swiftly to return to their positions of power and as we dressed, thoughts became audible. 

I was still damp behind the ears when I left the locker room, but filled with reminders of the immense challenges that had warmed the pool moment before. 

She's rushing off for a scan, 

Praying its manageable, 

He's hobbling out to yoga, 

Hoping to keep going, despite aches and pains,

They're off to find help for an adult child,

Whose challenges were not anticipated,

She's is off to find a post retirement job,

He's off to fill the hole in his heart

They're filled with concerns:

Will the prices continue to rise?

How will the money last?

Can we afford to stay or to move?

Is there a solution to this problem?

• How will I deal with....?
  

Sept 28: Hamilton

Today, I am sharing an afternoon of my life with my Slice of Life Community.

We went through driving rain and massive puddles to get to the room where it has been happening for more than a decade in the big city. We saw a powerful storyteller's depiction of the characters whose revolutionary ideas contributed to the founding of our experiment in representative democracy.  Our feet were wet and the single ladies room for about 800 females resulted in a long and windy line through the entire theater; yet, it was worth the challenges for the masterful songwriting, vibrant storytelling and messages that stand the test of time.  

Those who tell the story,

Refine the memories, characters,

Choose the lens, lines reminding us 

Of the lofty ambitions, strong personalities

The drive of those long-ago immigrants

Like Washington, Hamilton, Jefferson, Burr,

Courageously defying the King, 

While not always in agreement with how to 

Integrate new ideas into a plan for a new nation,

Still needing reminders about immigrant drive, 

Working relentlessly towards goals, 

Active participation in determining our future.

Raise a glass to freedom
Something they can never take away
No matter what they tell you

Sept.27 The Show

On the eve of a forecast of a Nor'Easter, I watched the setting sunlight ricochet through ominous clouds after a week with more positive than negative even if I was still adjusting to the idea of drinking champagne next to my new French drains!

I smiled as I thought of my once tiny miracles who rocked my world a decade ago and that wonderful tea celebration of living where quiche settled perfectly next to raisin tea sandwiches to fill all the crevices in our hearts. And then, even if the forecast was dire, the show began....

Clouds whipped with amber residue

Floated swiftly through the sky,

Dancing effortlessly above treetops

Until the new cast infiltrated the skies

Dressed like phlox and amethyst

That made you look, appreciate the

Power of nature to put on a show.

Demand we notice.

SOL26: New Season

I'm sharing with my tens of readers and SOL Community today. 

This season is confused, 

Leading to drenching rains

During football, soccer games.

It's stressful, exhausted teachers 

Wrangling unwilling learners

Presenting the same old curriculum

Word smithed by think tank wanna-bes

Yet, I have always found joy in this season, 

Crisp mornings and sun-kissed afternoons,

Familiar sweaters retrieved from closet repose,

School jitters transitioning into learning,

A week filled with very special birthdays,

Plus, a message, "I'm home!"

Filling my heart with happiness, hope.

Sept 21 Ethical ELA: Confidently

 

Today, I am sharing a lagniappe as they say in Pnchatoula, a little extra, thanks to our Ethical ELA host, Leilya Pitre. She asks us to reflect on the last three (or two for me) days of drafting or to try something new a Gogyohka. This poem consists of five line, each with one breath/thought, and no syllable counts, It is about my first-born (by three days) grand who rocked my world!

These days, she stands tall, strong,

Ambitiously dreaming of the Olympics 

Confidently facing new challenges, 

Learning, friendships, Broadway shows,

Engineering marble runs before celebrating.

Sept. 19 Ethical ELA: I Hope

Today is the second day of the September Ethical ELA Open Write. Kim Johnson is hosting and asking us to consider what we are getting back to?  She suggests we consider: Back to the future? Back to school? I'm taking the prompt from where I am to where I hope to be.  I admit I am a bit of an optimist who wants to remain hopeful even when life and the news seems hard..

I have been reluctant to hope, 

Crammed with worry about my family, friends,

Anxious about aging, loneliness,

Distraught for our splintered nation, 

Nervous about gruff international interactions

Aggrieved by lying and self-centered behaviors.

I hope the see more signs of kindness where

We stop what we are doing to help others,

Signs of growing and changing family, friends plowing

Forward through storms and challenges of life

Glimpses of respectful disagreement, dialog, 

Problem-solving devoid of name calling, blame, 

Honor and respect for diverse ideas, philosophies, beliefs,

Kindness, honesty, compassion on at all levels.

 

Sept. 18 Ethical ELA

Today, I am writing and sharing with the Ethical ELA community. Today's host, Mo Daley, asks us to write a poem in tribute to those who came before us by writing a poem about the land around you. 

I read today's prompt on my porch after reading the newspaper on my phone thinking about those who built this home a century ago could never have imagined someone reading the news on a phone! 

Once,

Native Americans, Lenni-Lenape, traipsed 

Through my woods, headed for a Passic River 

Before Dutch immigrants bucked

The tide to create cow pastures and farms

Before naming their land after

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Before General Lafayette camped at the

Goffle Brook during the Revolution.

Before the early 20th Century when

Home building created a suburban

Community attracted by lighted streets,

Uniform sidewalks, and a public library

Where books could be read, friends greeted

From welcoming front porches!

That's the story the according to the old oak

Shading the porch shared,

He's been around a while !!!