Groundhog Day et al!

Hey, are you thinking about Bill Murray right now?  Are you wondering what repeating a day might do for you?  Are you celebrating the thought of an early spring?  Are you frowning quizzically at the screen asking, "Groundhog Day, really?"?  Yeah, I know what you mean, but I love our little quirky traditions, especially those that hurt no one and bring commerce and a spot of fun to a tiny town now and then.  Punxsutawney Phil and his shadow indicate an early spring.  I'm thinking we'll take that and run with it.  So, what's next?  Well, February offers so many colorful and varied opportunities.  From the sweetness of Valentine's Day to the revelry of Mardi Gras to the self-sacrifice of Lent to respectful remembrance of Presidents' Day and sometimes its very own Leap Day (not this year), we've got it goin' on, so to speak.  Heck, if we choose, we might even have a Super Bowl Party planned.  Ahhhh, that's the key; we can choose.  Don't like a holiday?  Don't celebrate.  Don't even pay attention to it, but don't rain on our parade either.  Some of us are always looking for a reason to to be sweet, to stop and think, to give credit, to express our feelings, to PARTAY, as they say.  Yes, I know some "manufactured" holidays come with pressure, but you can handle that with a talk and an agreement on HOW to celebrate.  See?  Communication makes a difference (said the English teacher in me).  I'm always up for a holiday, and I know for a fact we don't HAVE to spend big bucks to honor the spirit, the joy, the emotion connected with any of our little festivals and memorials.  Break out the hearts, the beads, the flags, the cards, the snacks and music and gather our friends and family while we can...or at the very least give them shout out on various occasions.  Commercialism?  Pressure?  A Monday off for whatever the reason?  Hey, make it your own mini holiday.  Reach out to loved ones and the peeps that bring you smiles every day.  Phil and his groundhog buddies salute you with or without their shadows.

Holy absence, Batman!  I have fallen way behind on my blogging.  Life does happen, and I am having a plethora of fun.  Noneless, if I'm going to have a blog, I need to get with it.  Here we go with a blog entry about getting back to blogging.  Actually, this can serve as a metaphor illustrating the worth of picking back up rather than giving up.  Yeah, yeah...me and my metaphors.  When I created three blogs in one day (ambitious to say the least), I really believed I could keep up.  I've had plenty to say, but I haven't taken the time to organize my thoughts into a post.  Perhaps, I'm asking too much of myself.  No post requires a certain amount of words or even a deep philosophical point.  After all, I find joy and humor and vital lessons in everyday happenings and ordinary circumstances, so why not just talk about it.  Who knows?  Maybe people can relate or at least start looking harder for the positives all around us.  Lord knows some of the talking heads focus on negatives almost every day.  How miserable must they be.  I do understand being realistic and aware and prepared for problems and obstacles, but if we can face them all with a hopeful heart and an inherent knowledge that we can at least tackle each challenge with strength and possibility, isn't that beneficial?  Yes, I'm somewhat of a pixie in this crazy ol' sometimes troglodyte world, but I see evidence of generous hearts, caring spirits, and unfaltering optimists every single day.  Why not shine more light on them?  So, with that upbeat thought in this giddy little mind, I say, "Hello again, my faithful followers.  Thanks for staying with me."  Hey, perhaps I'll have a few more peeps take a chance on me.  (Are you singing the ABBA song?)  If I could leave people singing now and then, that would make me happy.  Welcome to February! 

 

My Book?

I think I'll write a book. I see people on TV all the time. They've written books and seem to be selling them, being invited to talk about them, enjoying people's commentary (good and bad). Oh sure, some of them have had amazing experiences to bring to the table, but others are just writing their opinions about things. From women's power or powerlessness to various incidents of success and failure to critiques of everything from war to table manners, I've seen it all lately. Do I have something to say and could I say it well enough that people might want to read? Heck yeah. With all the options in cyberspace, I've toyed with Facebook where I like to stay positive, created three blogs (ambitiously), and have now become quite the little tweeter. Yes, I have some things to say. I'm twisted and encouraged, troubled and inspired, moved and disgusted about a wide range of subjects. How do I capture that in a single book? How interesting might a book of essays be? I'd rather corral all my swirling, erratic, spontaneous ramblings into one continuous stream. I suppose I could just call it And Another Thing. Okay, off to see if anyone has used that title. (Official pause) Well, someone has used that, so I think I'll try But..., but I'd have to give a nod to Dr. Phil who says "What follows "but," is what you really mean." Exactly, Dr. Phil. That's what I want to say. Hey, this seems to be working out for me. So, I could keep talking and thinking about it, or I could just begin. I choose BEGIN, but first I'll get a warm up on my coffee. (Did you catch the irony there?)
(Note: I actually have started writing, and I'm posting some "chunks" in my blogs, especially in "Since When and Who Said...")

Suddenly Sunday

I open my eyes, peep over the covers, feel around for the remote, and click on the TV.  That's my normal wake up routine.  I exhale seeing no huge disasters have struck the world during the night.  Then, the headline flashes big and awful and not so surprising: Whitney dead at 48.  Now, I work to see celebrities as human beings who happen to have a talent or a gimmick at least that has launched into the public eye.  Yes, they make piles of money and enjoy adoring fans (and haters too) and often live in sprawling mansions and...well, you know the list.  As I remember Whitney and I hear her voice streaming in all its angelic beauty and watch the inescapable paradox of her misery, her very human struggles paraded across the screen, I do mourn.  Suddenly I realize that as much as we both envy and despise the very concept of celebrity, it serves (if we let it) to help us appreciate our humble little lives and what a blessing they are.  We enjoy the same loves and friendships and fight the same battles and win and lose and laugh and cry, all basically the same as the most celebrated person in the world.  The most striking difference?  For the most part, we control how much of all of it we MUST share with the world.  Yes, it's the price one pays for all the positives of celebrity, but oh the horror of having everything in your life splashed across all manner of headlines.  (I would argue that freedom of the press does not extend to hanging from trees and taking pictures over backyard fences, but that's a whole other blog entry).  So today, I'm just mindful of Whitney's family and closest friends and how they must be feeling as I did when my little sisters passed.  Just typing those words breaks my heart again.  So I embrace my humanity this morning and understand that people across the world have lost loved ones today, and Whitney just happens to be famous.

Fabulous February

Seems I turned around twice and a brand new month slipped onto the scene.  Little February packs quite the punch, especially in the holiday area.  From Groundhog Day to Valentines Day to Mardi Gras, this month rocks.  On top of everything, we have LEAP YEAR!!  Hmmmmm, perhaps that should be our theme.  Leaping sounds happy and energetic, even giddy.  We could leap toward improving conditions, a more positive attitude, volunteering time to the less fortunate, the spirit of compromise and forward thinking, self-improvement and gratitude, increasingly productive and intelligent discussions, real solutions for our problems big and small, national and personal...oh my.  Could we?  Would we?  You cannot tell me we're not capable of this sort of leaping.  I know better.  Do we need a special occasion, a declared holiday, a focused cause?  Well, I think Leap Year will work just fine.  Let's make it the moment we started leaping for the stars again.  We may not touch the sky, but how we could glitter this Earth of ours, especially our little slice called the USA!!  Attach your springs and let's leap into a new beginning, fresh and hopeful and promising for all.  There you go, February...

Simple Freedom?

I sit here this morning in a beautiful house, knowing I can go anywhere and do just about anything I want and not having to worry about a job or food or clothing or that roof over my head, and I am stopping to be pointedly grateful for so many reasons.  Not only was I lucky enough to be born in America, to have a fantastic family, to find my passion in life and do it for a living, to have a long list of wonderful people in my life, throughout my life, to be strong enough to work through difficulty now and then, and be able to find the bright spot in every, single day...and the list goes on and on, I must say.  If I tried to list everything, I'd never finish this entry, and people would stop reading.  What puts this all in true perspective is realizing how many people do NOT have what I have, not even close, and those people are surviving and working and believing and depending on those who do have to, at the very least, give a flying fig about them.  Oh, they don't usually ASK for help or for  recognition or for anything extraordinary.  All they want is a chance, a chance to work, to care for their families, to have a little nest egg, to feel secure about their future because they're doing the right thing.  I'm not being political here.  I'm just being a decent human being and stopping to think for just a moment, especially about those who are making the effort and still suffering.  I do my little part in my corner of the world.  I can do more, and I will.  Imagine the difference we could make if we all did a little bit to help.  Remember, moral support, compassion, and encouragement can change a life too.  I know I'm not telling you anything you do not know.  Most of the peeps who read my blog know and do and care.  Spread the word, my friends, spread the word.  

A new year, eh?

Where the heck have I been?  Well, I'm happy to report that I've been enjoying myself.  Oh, I have had plenty to say especially in the form of fun and gratitude and blessings and sheer amazement at my good fortune.  Did I inherit or win a million bucks?  Much better than that (although that would be very sweet).  I'm alive and kicking and already enjoying a new year.  The holidays were glorious, filled with family and friends and even the sights and sounds of Hawaii.  See what I mean?  Soooooo, I thought I'd just shout out to those of you who have been waiting patiently for me to post again.  Shall we take on 2012 with great relish and hope and belief in the opportunities it will no doubt offer us?  I know you guys.  You're already there, soaking it in and watching for the next chance to celebrate something, big or little, stunning or mild, grand or unnoticed by anyone but you.  Yeah, we have the secret of great wealth, the kind no one can steal, and now we have a brand new year to compound interest.  Can I get an "Amen?"

Faith and good cheer

As a die hard Ranger fan, I must shore up my loyalty and belief and take heart this morning.  Wow, that might just work with life.  For the most part, I've been lucky enough to embrace that philosophy in general.  I didn't even realize that until I started looking and seeing and feeling other people's attitudes, other people's approaches.  Rather than criticizing them for being negative, I tried to help them see the possibilities, the bright spots, their own ability to overcome their personal obstacles.  Needless to say, we must always realize that others are grappling with demons we do not know, we cannot imagine.  Never can we simply say, "Shake it off.  You'll be fine."  No, at the very least we must add, "Nothing worth doing is ever easy."  Encourage, inspire, cheer on, but never minimize someone else's struggles, however simple they may seem to us.  Human beings, like well-coached and managed baseball teams, emerge victorious despite incredibly daunting odds.  Fans who cheer, support, believe, and oh yes, demand the best play, the best behavior in return can make all the difference.  We do that for each other on a very personal level every single day of our lives.  The opposite is true, of course, but let's focus on our "better angels" today and every day.  Tall order?  You're dang right it is, but we're up to the challenge.  Amen?  Amen!!  

Rally hats

After watching the Texas Rangers (Woooooohooooo!!) burst back into the World Series with millions of fans in the park and around the world, I remembered we have the capacity to harness the same enthusiasm and energy for the common good.  Oh, we try already.  In various protest movements from The Tea Party to Occupy Wall Street, we see hints of that power.  Gathering and cheering and expressing ourselves comes naturally to Americans who enjoy the luxury of the right to peaceful assembly.  Heaven knows our history, the world's history verifies the efficacy of lifting voices in concert.  Naturally, simple rabble rousers show up for all protests, celebrations, gatherings, and their faces and less-than-noble actions often make the news.  Still, this shouldn't dampen our spirits or negate the true motivation and righteousness of those who gather in good faith.  Will we all agree with all causes?  Certainly not, but as Americans we must support that right to gather, and maybe, just maybe, decide to take a stand ourselves.  Must we pour into the streets to be counted among those rallying?  Again, certainly not, but expressing solidarity when we do agree puts our virtual feet on the ground and voices in the sound of the roaring crowd.  Maybe that's what America needs right now.  Not a protest AGAINST anything, but rather a rally FOR our country in general, a big HOOOOOOORAY for AMERICA and every positive we can find, and trust me, we can find PLENTY.  Sports often reminds us of our ability to put aside differences and don our team colors for, most of the time, healthy competition.  Perhaps, as we've done many times before, we need to pop on our RED, WHITE, AND BLUE rally caps, and cheer, cheer, cheer our way back to the unified strength most of us never lost.     

Doing our part

Here I sit, watching my morning talk show, amazed at how people can talk so much about important matters and yet not DO a single thing to make that talk produce some results.  Yes, I know that's their job, but they seem so critical of just about everyone who is actually trying to do something, and yet, they offer no advice, no ideas, just criticism.  Meanwhile, a huge portion of Americans, you and I included, operate with what we have, do what we need to do, and hope that those who can make things better for us will ACT or at least work together so they CAN act.  Again, I will never give up or give in to the wave of negatives.  We're always  building to that positive wave that will leave us awash in decent, reasonable prosperity.  We'll adjust, think, plan, and rediscover (as we always do) that ever-present American spirit and let 'er rip.  Trust me, people are actually working quietly and steadily and already making a difference.  They don't have to talk about it.  They're DOING it.  We're doing it.  Nothing wrong with saying so, right?    

Go team!!

As we've moved through a very exciting weekend of traditional sports match ups, I've been struck by the various ways fans choose to express their enthusiasm and loyalty.  Heaven knows we need more examples of true commitment to a cause, to a belief, to a passion, but we also must remind our children how to express it with grace and dignity and respect for others and themselves.  Team spirit, economic theory, religious beliefs, whatever the position, what lies in one's heart deserves intelligence and wisdom in its public presentation.  Okay, sports might be less serious than other areas, but the concept is the same.  Wooohoooo for our team, our peeps are the best, we will win, go get 'em, I'm standing up for my colors, my school, my city.  That's healthy, of course, but I see no call for vulgar and nasty in healthy competition of any kind.  If our children learn the wrong way to cheer FOR a team (by only cheering AGAINST the other), then how can we expect them to turn into adults who can work together finding common ground for real progress and at the same time stand strong for what they believe?  I'm not trying to dampen anyone's spirit, but it's just something to think about now and then.  Good taste and good sportsmanship never got in the way of  a fired up, give 'em hell, play with all your heart and soul, take the big prize, in your face, hard-fought VICTORY.  That's what I'm talkin' about...yeah!

One Fine October Friday...

I logged on to my blog
And suddenly I sensed it
A thick, imposing fog

I shook my silly, sleepy head
I blinked my weary eyes
And oh and ah, what happened then
Flashed through me with surprise

The comfort of a friend's word
A twinge of promised strife
One golden ray of autumn sun
Lit up the stream of life

"I'll take it," squealed my soul
"I love it," hailed my heart.
Dispelling daily cobwebs, dear
Becomes a work of art!

Love ya, my America

Are we struggling a bit?  Do we have more than our share of problems?  Good heavens, yes.  Still, despite the talking heads constantly bobbing about, speaking of lost confidence and faltering worldwide respect, most of us in the trenches see through it all because we know the real America, the country of strength and compassion and ingenuity and sheer guts and grit.  That America will come through this rough spot, bolder and better and flying in the face of critics.  Those at the heart of this country, those taking care of business in their own homes and neighborhoods and finding ways to make life work, no matter the hardship, will once again serve as the unshakable foundation for recovery, will forge the challenging pathway back to true and fair prosperity.  The naysayers will not win.  Rose-colored glasses, you say?  Well, perhaps I'm more optimistic than most, but I speak from reality and fact and undeniable history.  Perhaps some of the talking heads need a review and a change of tune.  Obviously negative blabbering makes a difference.  Shall we let the positive have a go of it for a while?  Certainly, it couldn't hurt. 

A little goes a long way

Funny how life gets in the way sometimes.  Hey, I should be happy to say that, right?  Right!  Between classes, a wide array of entertainment, and mundane daily tasks, I've neglected my blog.  Oh, I've thought about it along the way, thought about losing my followers, thought about things I should write, thought about smaller points to make or tiny pep talks to give.  In short, I have not followed my own advice, my own philosophy that I usually follow in that life I celebrate every day:  "A little is better than nothing at all."  Soooooo, here you go.  Here's my little for this fine day in October.  Perhaps, my sweet friends, I can practice what I preach, and not be afraid to make a short post and be just as proud and happy.  Progress...gotta love it.

Labor? Yes, please.

No matter what a few vocal folks may think and even say, the American people want to WORK!!  We've heard all the reasoning and all the criticism and all the finger pointing and the hand-wringing over deficits, but where are the plans, the real plans for creating jobs, the one sure-fire way to crank up this economy?  Might we have to spend a little to get things rolling?  Perhaps, but the benefits far outweigh the cost.  Companies talk about being on track, making record profits, wanting to produce more, but the demand is not there.  Well, put people to work, and they'll be out shopping in no time.  Ahhhhhh, the vicious cycle, the luscious, vicious cycle in this case.  Who will start it rolling, though?  Can we depend on those same companies flourishing through the American way to contribute to the recovery?  Well, some actually are and have been all along.  Despite hardships, many have refused to layoff workers or cut salaries.  They found a way to appreciate and protect the heart of the company, those who produce the goods, who keep the business machine running.  Bottom line?  We hear people talking about their ability to get our economy back on track.  Well, share that NOW, not if you get elected or if you get appointed or if you get the contract or IF anything.  Got real ideas, plans that will work?  Share, please, and I guarantee you'll win the hearts and minds of the thinking and caring majority.  Labor Day indeed.  Put us all back to work.  THAT will heal the economy.    

Keep the faith?

Needless to say, I was hoping to encourage my followers to stay with me, but as I looked at my subject line, I realize that needs to be a general mantra for us all.  How I wish we could join voices and drown out the loud clanging of negative tongues wagging!  Still, more noise will not change things.  Plus, arguing with those who thrive on the news of disaster (not the disaster itself) wastes precious energy.  Let them rail, let them rant, let them wallow in the darkness.  We shall shine a quiet yet brilliant light and turn our enthusiasm and vivacity into inspiration and action and results.  Guess what?  We only need to join the already teaming throng of good people who don't talk about what they're doing.  They DO!!  Open your eyes and see, my friends.  All around us lie progress and improvement and smiling workers making a difference never expecting lauds and laurels.  They revel in and celebrate what they do see, what they know inside, what makes them always hopeful.  So keep the faith?  Why yes, I believe we will because we HAVE.  We reap the rewards and willingly share with and help others.  See?  Grab your happy goggles and floaties and go with the flow.  Soon, as we recover from actual floods, we shall merrily wash up stream on the welcome, raging roar of growth and prosperity.  Come on in; the water's fine!!

Grappling with the heat

I started this entry several days ago, and I kept coming back and changing things as I contemplated not only the actual heat, but also the metaphorical heat of pressure on people to produce, to succeed, to do what's expected of them.  Then, last night as I settled into my bed, I heard a strange sound.  Wind and tick, tick, tick, plop...oh my goodness, RAIN!  I lay still for a moment, not wanting to scare it away or to be too jubilant over a few drops, but I could not resist leaping to my feet and running to the back door.  (Yes, I run in my house all the time.) I flicked on the porch light and glanced toward my three tomato plants, lined up and hopeful in the early darkness.  Suddenly, the trees and bushes started dancing wildly and down came that blessed liquid we have missed for so long.  Oh how I longed to share it with those who need it worse, but I was thankful, thankful we had the luck of the draw this time.  Funny how conditions beyond our control consistently put things in perspective for us if we'll just stop to appreciate, be grateful, and think of others.  Sometimes, in the midst of our own misery, serious or not, we forget, we lose track of that wonderful humanity we all have deep inside.  Yes, we're all grappling with heat in some way, shape, or form.  In the long run, though, we know we'll make it through and see brighter, lighter, cooler, sweeter days.  If we can just remember that as we're grappling, we'll be able to help those who can't remember.  The human race has proven it over and over and over again.  If you're down and out and feeling low, help someone else.  It is instantly uplifting, and though of itself it will not solve your problems, it will give you the spirit to keep working and hoping.  Now, that's what I call successful grappling.

Good faith...

I've never been one for saying, "You need to look that up in the dictionary."  That always sounded haughty and snobbish to me.  However, I'm thinking some folks need to revisit the basic concept of COMPROMISE.  No, I will not include the Webster definition here, but I will say that ordinary Americans effectively employ the practice every single day with family and friends and business associates.  From personal budgets to vacation planning to negotiating contracts to bargaining for a raise or a benefit to ending the myriad small arguments along the way, successful individuals realize that "having it your way and only your way" seldom leads to moving forward in a productive manner.  Oh, people might give in, but they won't be happy.  Unhappy partners in any situation stifle loyalty, creativity, and growth.  In the end, "the winner" loses more than he gains, although he rarely realizes that.  Ultimately, conflict continues to arise, and the enterprise, whatever its nature, either fails miserably or stagnates.  No matter what the subject, no matter what the deal, a middle ground exits, one that respects all feelings and standards but asks some sacrifice to benefit the greater good.  We can stand on principle all day long, and everyone will know our character, our values.  That's noble and admirable and necessary, and we are free to live our own lives according to those precepts without wavering.  However, when groups with varied values endeavor to cultivate and nurture a worthy common cause, all must seek a solution that works for the majority.   Ahhhhhh, sounds like democracy, sounds like AMERICA.  Again, "the little people" (doing most of the work that makes some people look "big") do it constantly because they must.  Those involved in the weighty matters of public policy need only pause and remember what took place at their own dinner tables and in their own conference rooms not so long ago.  We're trusting and waiting in good faith.  You can do it!! 

Our America

What an emotional day for me!  As long as I can remember, I've been a sucker for the American flag, for the National Anthem, for the Pledge of Allegiance, for all things USA.  Our family always celebrated the 4th of July with great zest, but I'm not sure what sent me over the edge with patriotism.  Just like any other form of love, it defies full explanation.  Just yesterday in church, as strains of "God Bless America" lifted to the arched ceiling, I found myself choking with emotion as I struggled to sing along through tears.  What a corn ball, eh?  Maybe, but I cherish that feeling, the uncontrollable devotion, that spirit that moves so freely, so joyfully, so purely.   Now, don't get me wrong.  My ultra patriotism does not include blinders.  Yes, America has her problems, and I exercise my precious freedom by voting, by writing, by speaking up when I feel moved.  Of course, I owe it to my fellow Americans and to the privilege of voicing my opinion to do so with informed intelligence, respect, consideration, kindness, and grace.  Nothing flies in the face of true American spirit like sarcasm and nastiness.  Anyone can come up with an empty,  stinging insult, but stating one's case with poise and logic and the willingness to listen to others...that takes time and effort and real concern for making a difference, for improving a situation, not just getting our way.  How about if we celebrate this INDEPENDENCE DAY with a pledge to cast our very valid and lively debates in the steady strength of American unity and the daunting challenge of reasonable compromise.  After all, as so many often point out, "This is America!"  Why yes it is, and that means everyone has a voice and should at least feel heard, whether we like the opinion or not.  Therein lies one of the most difficult yet vital aspects of democracy.  We've overcome so many obstacles in this storied history we honor  today.  No reason we cannot do it again and again and again.  Deep inside I know we will.  Much love, my sweet country.  Happy Birthday USA and many, many more!!     

Listening for silence

In this age of cell phones and cable TV and computers and MP3 players and streaming...EVERYTHING, a moment of peace and quiet comes at a premium, even when we can choose that moment.  Yesterday, I headed out the door to class, and just before I left, I heard it...SILENCE, well except for the random chirp of a bird or soft automatic buzz of something electric.  I paused and added my brain's grinding gears to the low-volume mix.  I've always been an "I have to have the TV on" sort of gal, but even in that brief moment, I felt a most amazing calming effect, and I lingered to let it wash over me.  Melodramatic?  I think not.  My life is way less hectic than it used to be, but I remember the mad dash all too well.  Heck, I still LOVE it and even need it.  Without moving and shaking and getting things done, we'd be in major trouble.  Nonetheless, perhaps taking a time out purposely now and then would refresh our spirits and make that moving and shaking even more productive and oh my, less stressful.  The beauty is it costs nothing, and the opportunities lie all about us if we're aware.  Ah, but there's the rub, as The Bard might say.  Ironically enough, all the noise around us obscures those precious points of possible pleasure.  Guess we'll have to FIND them, right?  If nothing else, start with that moment you shut down to leave the house for any reason.  Before you step out the door, stop and listen and enjoy what you don't hear and what you do feel.  As the old ad used to encourage, "Try it.  You'll like it."