I did NOT fall off the planet!

Can you believe how long I've been away from my little blog??
I can tell you why - its called being a middle-aged college student. Academia has been eating all the words I could formulate, leaving nothing but a husk. *HA*
NO, I haven't graduated, but I will in May.
And that IS beautiful! I will be the first person in my family to earn a college degree, and though it took a while (ok, decades) longer than I planned, I say, "Better Late Than Never."

So today I share a beautiful piece by Rumi. It is what I strive for, and fall woefully short on most days. But, that is the amazing, juicy, incredible journey of life... try... fail ... rinse ... repeat as needed.

THE GUEST HOUSE.

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.


~ Rumi ~

Missing In Action

My goodness, I was MIA for a long time!
I'm still alive, but I got swallowed up by life. I promise to write more later. It has been an interesting year. School & life has kept me very busy ... but rest assured, I'm still alive!

Life is Rosy

A dear pal Lynne send this photo to me. It was taken at sunset, outside her window in Maussane, in Provence. She is currently enjoying life as a expat in France. Her letters share delightful photos of ancient buildings, gorgeous vistas, and quirky local characters -- human and animal. My mouth waters when she describes the heady wines, crisp dense breads and pungent cheeses that have crossed her mealtime paths. I think what impresses me the most is the absolute sense of discovery, peace and grace with which she walks through her days. There is not a trace of melancholy, anxiety or loneliness in her tone. She is content, and full, sucking the juice out of every single moment. She is happy, and this joy is reflected in the beauty of her rose-tinted sunset. I hope your days are similarly blessed.

Reminder Of Yesterday

I've driven on this little frontage street many times, returning home from my dentist. This building is also right next door to the neighborhood hardware store (yes, we still have one of those). In fact, it was my plan to snap a picture of the hardware store today. Yet, after living here for over a decade, I swear I never noticed this little shop next door to the hardware store before today! I can only assume this is due to 2 things: 1) I always travel north on this street, and today I was driving south, and 2) I just wasn't looking for anything interesting or new on my previous trips. Isn't it amazing what you 'see' when you actually are looking! I love the paint job on this building. It reminds me of old black and white television sets, and the 1950's advertisements for the new and revolutionary electronic products of the period. Check out those lightning bolts! Beautiful. So, maybe take a fresh look today if you're stuck in traffic, or you're on a walk. I bet you too will see something that has always been there, but somehow escaped your gaze.

Weirdness Makes Me Smile

Have you seen Isabella Rossellini on the Sundance Channel? Her program's provocative name is "Green Porno," and you can watch clips by clicking on the link. They are presently on season 2. According to their website:

"GREEN PORNO 2!
The critically acclaimed series from Isabella Rossellini is back with a new batch of very short films about the reproductive habits of marine animals. GREEN PORNO is scientifically accurate yet extremely entertaining. Produced by Isabella Rossellini, Jody Shapiro and Rick Gilbert."

I said I would list things here that make me laugh, and make me smile, and these clips do both. I've spent a lot of time around theatres and theatre-technicians so the props and costumes alone are mind-boggling. I must confess to also being a little ... shocked ... and I'm not really sure why. But, mostly I'm laughing and I realize that what Rossellini & company are depicting and the information they are imparting are being handed over in such a way that I won't forget it, and I am sure that is the point. So, if you have a good sense of humor or at least like ummmm innovative costumes and props, check out the link. I think it's beautiful & weird!

The Holy Birth Of A Tomato Plant

"You don't know what it is. You have only covered up the mystery with a label. Everything, a bird, a tree, even a simple stone, and certainly a human being, is ultimately unknowable. This is because it has unfathomable depth. All we can perceive, experience, think about, is the surface of reality, less than the tip of an iceberg. Underneath the surface appearance, everything is not only connected with everything else, but also with the Source of all life out of which it came. Even a stone, and more easily a flower or a bird, could show you the way back to God, to the Source, to yourself. When you look at it, or hold it, a sense of awe, of wonder arises within you. Its essence silently communicates itself to you and reflects your own essence back to you." Eckhart Tolle

I am set back on my heels by the timeless way that nature brings about life. While I organize, plan, celebrate, grieve, or worry my way through the passing days, she silently performed her holy miracle. I would have missed it entirely, but a bit of dried scrambled egg slowed the manic methodical moving of plates from sink to machine. Scraping with a thumbnail lit by streaming sunlight, I sighed and lifted my eyes. For days I have watched the bare soil, reckoning that the saved seeds had been a waste of time and refrigerator space. Nature had not been informed of my lack of faith, and continued to toil in creation. Tiny leaves on impossibly slender stems were glowing, positively throbbing with the energy of life.

Peep!

Yes, I'm back. You know, I have decided that I am a rather cynical person and a daily dose of beauty and happiness was a bit overwhelming (laugh). So, I'm putting myself on a news fast and trying to get out of the house again to enjoy things - and not get so lost in school work and worry. Whew.

So this is the beautiful image of the day. These are actually little candle melts that look just like the candy peeps. Ok, I don't like to eat peeps, but the colors ... who can look at a row of marshmallow animals and not smile?

I hope you are having a colorful, beautiful Spring.

Pillow Love

For any who have peeked in and not 'seen' me here, I have been battling a virus of some sort that has left me utterly exhausted. I've been sleeping 12 hours each night, and taking 4 hour naps. In between, I have been studying for midterms. I'm getting better and hope to be back here in spades very soon.

I've still been noticing beauty wherever I can. I am learning to appreciate my soft pillows, darkening bedroom curtains and cats who like to nap on my feet (laugh).

The wee bit of out of doors I have seen is just lovely. Are the trees blooming in your neighborhood? We have beautiful pink and white blossoms all over the trees on my street, and they are the most lovely sort of natural art. The dropped petals remind me of New Year's confetti ... its a Spring Is Coming party!

In the midst of all the bad news on television and in newspapers, it hasn't been really easy to find uplifting news. In fact, I've been on a sort of news fast, just to keep my spirits up. I did find this article about Holland Cruise Lines, though, that it so wonderful. They decided that tossing out all the tiny bottles of shampoo and little soaps at the end of each cruise, multiplied by every room and every ship, was a tremendous waste of resources. Now they collect, and sort through the products and then donate the goods to the homeless and needy through a program called Ship to Shelter. It started last year at Holland America's base in Seattle, Washington, and in January the program expanded to include Port Everglades, Florida. This is an example of good use of resources and beautiful act of caring for those who are suffering. Wouldn't it be wonderful to see more of this.