The Universal Love Jones

Just when I think the world is becoming a place I have all but given up hope on, something wonderful and unexpected will occur to change my surly outlook. A bad day can be turned around by a simple gesture of kindness or a beautiful sunrise, or sunset. A visit from an estranged friend you haven't seen in ages but have been thinking about, suddenly enters your life and uplifts your spirit. I am always inspired by the kindness and generosity of others and am implored to "pay it forward" to enrich not only the lives of those I may touch in a positive way but to enhance mine as well. Enjoying an evening of solitude and reflection is often a gift to myself.

Today was a day of healing and enlightenment and now darkness has fallen and soon I will sit outside on this end of summer's eve and enjoy the serenity of the night. I love the sounds of all the creatures which create a symphony of music to entertain me as I look up and marvel at the beauty of the sky. There are no stars tonight but the clouds create shapes and patterns as if some heavenly creature is crafting artful sculptures from these billowy formations. There is so much more beyond the plane of our existence. Why can we not appreciate more, the simple gifts that we have been given? I fear materialism has made us less enamored of all the wonders of the universe.

How many great literary works were inspired by all of the above? How many colors inspired by the earth's hues? As my intuitive nature and spiritual awareness strengthen, I have become more appreciative of that which cannot be bought, or which no war could ever conquer and we cannot destroy, though sometimes it seems the inhabitants of this world are trying to do just that. It is time now for me to draw my attention to that which is most important at this moment and that is to just...be.

I have no great romantic love as such no longer interests me, instead I will save my affections for that which surrounds me as I enjoy the beckoning night and the "universal love jones."

Here and After

We all ponder our mortality at certain times in our lives. Children wonder what death really is and find it hard to believe it will ever touch them. There are also times when it does and we all wonder, why? Terminal illness lends it's own version of the art of passing from one world into the next. What would it be like to "know" this awaits you in the near future? Elderly citizens have the weight of impending death upon their shoulders. Some are ready and some are not.

If you do not believe in the realm of spirituality, you may believe that the end is just that. You live, you die and you are nevermore. For those who believe in a higher power, they strive to live as if they are preparing themselves for the next world, a better and more loving world. Do we, or do we not have what is referred to as a "soul"?

I cannot answer that question for anyone else but for me the answer is an absolute "YES"! I have never been one to try to force others to believe as I do and I respect their rights to believe as they wish, as I expect them to respect mine. I do not raise the Bible and make passive quotes and tell people whose lifestyles I may not agree with they will be forever damned, nor will I ever ask them if they have a "close personal relationship with Jesus Christ". Frankly, I don't think that is my, or anyone else's business. Do I believe in a higher power? Yes I do. I believe there are many entities who reside over us. I think spirituality has some gray areas.

I have had my share of saying goodbye (if I am lucky) to those I have loved in this life. We all have, or will, experience this difficult time. The longer we live, the more we lose. Some suffer more loss than others and some of us deal with it better. Whatever path the fates have chosen for me, I resign myself to. I cannot believe anything can be worse than the destruction and devastation of wars, the loss of a child or close family member, the hatred and hostility of humanity and the ravages of grave illness. I will appreciate the beauty of a moonlit night and beautiful sunrise and sunset. I am in awe of the vastness of the oceans and mountains. Nothing is more beautiful than the serenity of nature and the flight of birds.

For all the ugliness that sometimes surrounds us, we can still appreciate the joys of living.There are times when I have no hope for earth's inhabitants but then the unexpected happens and I believe in our purpose all over again. The least bit of kindness and giving, even in small doses could bring about a smile from whatever great power we believe in. For those of you who believe in nothing, I hope you find something to hold on to...for that is the foundation of our strength when we need it most. I guess, I wish for you and everyone, the gift of hope.

Living on the corner of Peace and Tranquility

A home should be our refuge from some of the unpleasantness of life. For some, this is not so but wouldn't it be bliss? The minute we step out the door we must deal with traffic, jobs, car pools, school and sometimes, inclement weather. There are days when I want to curl up and read a good book, watch a favorite movie, or, more often than not...write some thought provoking verbiage. I am not anti social, quite the contrary but I do not always feel like dealing with people, places or things in the world outside my peaceful sanctuary.

In the later years of my half century plus on this earth, I have come to appreciate the sheer pleasure of solitude and looking inward, which is very enlightening and comforting. I love my family and friends dearly and I enjoy their presence when I am with them. There are those who need the buzz of constant activity and interraction. I am not one for large crowds, much preferring a small gathering at my home ( or someone else's). Holiday celebrations are best when there is little fuss and lots of love and laughter.

The day will soon come, when a welcome addition to the family will appear and I will cherish the increased social stimulation that will follow the birth of my first grandchild. There is nothing quite like the sound of a laughing child and yes, sometimes there will be tears to wipe away. I am willing to happily relinquish some of my days as a hermit for some quality time with my growing family.

May our homes be a place where we feel safe and secure as if the very walls breathe a sigh of relief when we walk in the door as if to say"Welcome Home!" Of course it is always nice to extend the courtesy to those we are closest to and invite a new friend or two over for an occasional dinner party. When they ask where I live, perhaps I will direct them to the corner of peace and tranquility, near the intersection of serenity boulevard.

Pathway to the Garden of Enlightenment

Community gardens are a wonderful way to engage in an activity which benefits urban neighborhoods, by careful tending and quenching the thirst of flora and vegetation with much needed H2O. The garden even has plots to produce edibles for the local food pantry. Such is the Meadowood Community Garden and so much more.

The Meadowood Community Garden was established in 2008 with assistance from the Community Action Coalition, providing start up funding as well as direction needed to launch a community garden.

Plot fees from neighborhood gardeners provide funding for items needed to maintain a successful and productive garden. Former garden leader and artist, Sheri Rembert, developed a plan for a children's garden, which included a pathway to make the garden inviting for neighborhood youth. This year the plan was put into action by present garden leader, Leslie Stephany, who then enlisted local mosaic artist, Marcia Yapp, to facilitate the implementation of the pathway.

With Marcia's mentoring, neighborhood youth created individual mosaic stepping stones, which each child (and a few adults) created to reflect their personality and present a colorful, meandering pathway to beckon young gardeners to enter. Two concrete columns have now been added at the entrance to the children's garden and each column will be covered with mosaic tiles.

Wooden fencing was partially donated, the rest purchased with grant funds and has recently been placed around the garden perimeter, which will be treated and painted to further improve the garden's visual appearance, as well as protect the fruits of gardener's labors. This space is not only pleasing to the eye but a symbol of community working together, to create a sacred space which children and adults alike can take pride in. The children's garden has an established strawberry bed, a variety of vegetables and flowers and will soon include blueberries. Children assist in planting and harvesting and are educated as to the value of growing their own food. Seedlings for the children's garden are generously donated annually by the Oakhill Correctional Institution.

There will be an upcoming storytelling in the garden featuring Patsy McKenzie and Kevin Wery who are fellow gardeners and Co-Founders of the "Fairness Awareness Foundation". Scheduled date is pending.

Congratulations fellow gardeners on a job well done, for great leadership and much appreciated volunteers, adults and youth alike. There is no better way to build
community and honor mother earth than to create a place of beauty and provide delicious fruits and vegetables as well as lovely flowers in this urban "garden of enlightenment".

Why Happy Hours aren't always so happy

For those of us who like to partake from time to time of the occasional (or not so occasional) alcoholic beverage, the term "Happy Hour" can send us in a tizzy at the end of a long, hard day.
If you really stop to think about it, some of us use this escapism at a discount price, as a means to forget about our problems. I thought I would bring up a few examples of some situations we may want to medicate (or lubricate) ourselves into oblivion to forget.

• My wife doesn't understand me but the pretty blond at the end of the bar might.


• My husband doesn't appreciate me but the hot guy sitting next to me looks promising.


• My boss is a bitch or bastard (or both) and who do I have to" bleep" to get a raise!


• I love my best friend even though she is a size 4 and I'm a size...none of your business!


• Credit card bills, mortgage, cell phone bills, car payment, utilities..."Hey bartender!"


• My husband is having an affair/ my wife is having an affair, So I"M going to have an affair!


• "What would Jesus drink?" "Bartender, may I have a red wine...for my next trick I will turn wine into water....where's the restroom?"

Silliness aside, we do live in a society in which we often look for ways in which to forget about what is bothering us but as you may observe from the above witticism's, we can't quite make our problems go away with a drink or by popping a pill or whatever legal or illegal form of medication we use. I have come up with a few solutions which are a bit healthier in mind and in spirit.

• Bubble baths are deliciously relaxing.


• Massages are God's work!


• Reiki heals the body and soul.


• Meditation relaxes the mind and changes perspective.


• Drink lots of water to detoxify your body.


• Spend time with people who love you.


• Hate others less, love yourself more.

We all have problems and we must face them eventually but choose a better way to deal with them from time to time and keep your "Happy Hours" at a minimum. I am one who enjoys them once in a while because I simply like a good bargain in this disastrous economy. I however, do feel the need to be of sound mind in order to deal with my occasional demons. When I say "cheers" I am referring to the hope that we all can be happy without the "Happy Hour".

In search of "Three Cardinal's"

Sometimes life gives us messages for a variety of reasons. For instance, we may get messages from dreams, some recurring. We may think a random thought which brings us to ponder the reason behind it. One does not need to "hear voices" in order to receive a legitimate source of information which some might call "intuition". We all have that ability. If you get a feeling that something is wrong or that feeling in the pit of your stomach which precedes a life changing event, or maybe a clear and precise decision we may make at the last minute as we "just know" that this is the right thing to do. All of the previous are intuitive thought processes.

I find the human mind and all of it's intricacies to be very fascinating. I learned a great deal when working with individuals with brain injury and behavioral disorders, autism, alzheimers and dementia. However, there is so much more to learn. Our psyche is what I like to refer to as a kaleidoscope of physical and mental reactions, emotions and contains a power that many of us have yet to understand. Some consider those with some of the above "disorders" to have a disability, yet I have found that much like one who is physically blind develops a keen sense of hearing and touch, those with "impairment" seem to develop strengths in other areas that they have yet to be in tune with.

I no longer question my intuitions and look forward to, in anticipation, delving into the meaning of my random thoughts, especially ones that are repetitive. The phrase "Three cardinals" has been a repetitive thought process lately, in which I have been seeing these birds
regularly, especially when I question my direction in life. Then there are the cardinal qualities of the zodiac in which my sign is in possession, the meaning of which is one who accomplishes, sets forth and does not derail from a determined task. I walked into a friends house and the room was filled with cardinals (not real ones) as they happen to be a St. Louis Cardinals fan. The list goes on and my confusion is greater than my clarity, yet there is a mystery to unfold.

For those who find me dotty, you may think as you like. I however, am determined to find the answer to my questioning mind and I hope the answer is worthy of my efforts but something tells me it is.

Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee for President.

I am a bit concerned about the upcoming presidential election. It is fraught with those who want no government involvement, too much government involvement, some who put you to sleep whenever they speak and some who make you wonder if they ever took a history class or even follow current events. These, my fellow Americans, are what we have to choose from to hold the highest office in the land. May God help us all! I am unimpressed with the lot of them but the biggest offense for me as a woman who has been voting for almost forty years, is the thought of the possibility of the first woman President, to have the wits of a cow in the pasture. Yes, I am speaking of both women, Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin. It shocks me that some very nice people whom I truly respect seem to be one of their greatest cheerleaders and I have to ask...Why?

Both women are what you might call...I will try to be polite... okay, "Media ( second word rhymes with S'mores). I would strongly suggest that the lovely to look at Ms. Bachmann spend more time attending her district in Minnesota and less time trying to make headlines. She is an adept fundraiser and is degrees more intelligent than Ms. Palin but who isn't? I have a problem with someone representing our country very strongly opposing the rights of certain groups of citizens , mainly those in the gay community. It also disturbs me greatly that her husband, who is a christian counselor (nothing wrong with that) takes it upon himself to convince said community that this lifestyle is sinful according to HIS beliefs. Noting the high pitched ,lispy lilt of his voice, I fear Mr. Bachmann doth protest too much. I also find it interesting that Ms. Bachmann commented that "All cultures are not created equal". I could go on but I really, really can't wait to move on to the next female candidate.

Let's chat about Sarah Palin fer a spell. There are some who think that people are mean to dear Ms. Palin but I am here to tell you this woman is about as helpless as a shark in a tank full of sardines. I can appreciate that she likes huntin, fishin. shootin and guttin as well as the next gal from the tundra. Hell, I bet she can harpoon a whale if she sets her mind to it. My question is:
Is she capable of leading this country? Uh, let me think about it...NO! When I say these things it is not out of malice but you have to admit that she is so much fun to make commentary on.
What bothers me is how many people actually buy her down home, you betcha, deer in the headlights (when you ask her a question which requires a contemplative thought process )demeanor.

I do not hate these women, as I truly do not hate another human being. I do not dispute everything they say, not really and I fully believe they have every right to state their views and I am sure they truly believe what they say and I do admire their conviction. I am a fan of neither but I am not a fan of any potential candidate at this time. My pick isn't running in this election and I mourn that she did not win the last one. I want anyone who represents the office of the Presidency to do well, as when they do not, we as a country do not as well. Lets face it fellow citizens, we all succeed together and we fail together and we can no longer afford any more failure. Let us hope that whoever sits in the oval office will bring hope, peace and prosperity for all who reside in this great country we all call home. Even those who can see Russia from their backyard.