Bye bye Father Time Hello Baby New Year

Farewell to the old ways as I welcome the new. This is the photo I started my blog with last January. I think I was 38 here. I just turned 57, but I do not regret moving onward and upward, esp in consciousness. I open the book "Guide for the Advanced Soul" and stopped at this:
***
"Be realistic:
Plan for a miracle."
--Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh
(known now as OSHO)
..............and...................

This by Rainer Maria Rilke:

"I want to beseech you...

to be patient toward all

that is unsolved in your heart

and try to love the

questions themselves

like locked rooms and

like books

that are written in a

very foreign tongue.

Do not now seek the answers

which cannot be given you

because you would not be

able to live them,

And the point is to

live everything.

Live the questions now.

Perhaps you will then

gradually, without noticing it,

evolve some distant day

into the answer."

*****

Highest and best blessings for your year's ending with enthusiasm and anticipation of optimistic rewards in the new year ahead.

Mighty Fine

oh, isn't it about time?

isn't it just about time,

we all look to a mighty fine line,

that Path that takes us into the

Wondrous Unknown ahead

knowing, too, we can do best by

Being Here Now

oh, isn't it about time?

don't you want to tread that

fine line

waves whoosh over the sand

washing our prints all away

yet never forget, nothing is lost

we will leave them again

another day

isn't it about time?

to open that line of

communication

linked to your Soul

Father Time is tired

a spectral glistening as it

fades away

wide-eyed infant New Year

bursts forth with a gummy grin

oh, isn't it about time to forgive

the crimes against you

forgive yourself and then...

rise up and live more freely

inherently knowing, too,

that this Mighty Fine 2009

has lots of goodness in store

for You!

--with love from

Your SisSTAR Kylita

12/31/08 4:44 pm

***

be back with you next year,

Bloggie Souls! ;oD

**********

"Rest satisfied with doing well,

and

leave others to talk of you

as they will."

--Pythagoras

Whew! what a week...

Ahhh, peaceful slumbers amongst friends (photo credit ?) but thought it represented how I'm feeling right now. The kitty is me, of course, and Jeff's the hound. We are pooped out and yearning for some good rest. We wish all of you out there some restful, calming moments to rejuvenate, and should you so choose, some happy, crazy fun after the batteries are recharged. Ahhhhhh, Saturday at nearly 2 a.m. Goodnight, Bloggie Souls, and enjoy this holiday weekend...more to come down the road, but first take time to dream of good times and don't be afraid of what the future has to hold. Just a waste of time, you know! Listen to your Earth Mother here, heed my words, my friends. No fear, just courage, and knowing all will be getter ... mine and Jeff's motto these 23 yrs: "It's always getting better."
Sleep well, wake with excitement and enthusiasm for the day, and knowing you are blessed for wonderment.
p.s. I just fell asleep with my head nodding...time to hit the hay! (she says bleary eyed and like a bobble-head). Goodnight, now. xoxo

sorry...been hibernating

Jeffrey, Kyle & Tuffy Boy would like to take this time to wish all of you Happy Holidays--whatever it is that you celebrate at this time of year. We have single-digit temps and 2 feet of snow out in the yard, and life goes on. Blessings to you all and good wishes for a Mighty Fine 2009.

Thanks very much to all of you who have graced me with your presence on this blog...one I started last January with the gentle urging of a dear friend. I have met some of the most wonderful people on here and I want to express my gratitude.

Here's to another year ahead of blogging our little hearts away with Soul as the center.

Namaste xoxoxo

with love from Your SisSTAR xoxo

In Memoriam

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Survived the Full Moon and had a hibernatingly wonderful Saturday.

Tomorrow we go to the IMAX theater with our friends Becky and Michael to see The Day The Earth Stood Still--love that IMAX!!

Watched The Dark Horse Years DVD of George Harrison and his music--my favorite Beatle. Wish I had the fan letter I wrote to him when I was 13. I bet it was 10 pages long and gushing and heartwrenching and pathetically, hormonally adolescence and puberty all wrapped up in one embarrassing tome. Only fan letter I ever wrote. My Sweet Lord *=*

Our friend Gary came over to visit tonight and we had Alibi Pizza-yum! Was good to get together again--hadn't seen him in 6 wks or so. He disappeared before "hunting season". We gave him a big blue coffee stein with a gold large mouth bass on the front, and the handle is a naked woman. We decided it was a "Bass Ho" mug!

We got holiday/bd/anniv gifts from our friends Kristine and CJ from the U.P. (that's Upper Peninsula for you not from this area--or Yoopers) across the Mackinac Bridge, a 5 mile long suspension bridge connecting our peninsulas. We are called Trolls since we live "under the bridge". But anyway, one of my gifts (yes, say what you will, I open gifts when I get them!) is silver earrings of the Bridge and they are awesome. I'm wearing them now, and for having two bridges hanging from my ears, I feel no burden of weight. Our state motto is: If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.

I also received a birthday card of a cat saying how great homemade gifts are, and inside is a little gross wad (cotton, I pray) of a coughed-up furball ... AND a gift certificate to a restaurant! Hmmmm.....good thing I have a strong stomach--but seriously, it was great! I still remember a birthday card from my ex-sister-in-law Susie on my 50th birthday of the Grim Reaper with his bony finger stretched out to a "come hither" at me ... and inside it said, "Come to Papa!" But I love the Grim Reaper, Spectre, Father Time, Saturn, you know what I mean.

Well, it's cold and snowy outside and all seems pretty peaceful. It's nearing 2 a.m. and I better get myself to bed to rest up to go to the IMAX and prepare to be dazzled--with a good message.

I also watched a movie recommended by SisSTAR Rhi ... August Rush ... I watched it by myself Friday night and it was so beautiful and I resonated with it immensely and cried myself some swollen frog-eyelids, but they were happy tears. I also hear music in everything.

*****

May you all be warm and cozy,

your Present Moment rosy

and may you make your precious

dreams come true.

Dream Well, Bloggie Souls.

With love from,

Your SisSTAR

xoxoxo

KLH - Keep Laughin', Honey!

here birdie birdie

Hi folks, it's another chilly night in Mi Casa. Why did I ever have the lovely idea of keeping the thermostat on 60 degrees so we could lower our monthly gas bills (2 yrs ago!) and it worked great, really did lower them significantly. But I remember I used to say, "Why the hell freeze to death if we're paying this much money, anyway?" but that was then and this is now. I don't know how my beloved plants are flourishing as they are in this chilly house, but the Christmas cacti are blooming beautifully, and I have 2 blooms on the Peace Lily, the shamrocks are still rockin' and the Angel Wing begonia has about tripled its size this year. Who knew fresh soil and fertilizer would help so much? Some of my plants are very, very old. My Christmas cactus was my Grandma Haswell's and it's been in this house probably as long as I have. She would be something like 140 now. Mom kept it going and now I have 2 large ones since it was outside for the summer once and the wind knocked it over and it broke. I think that's a good analogy of seemingly bad circumstances turning out equitably better. My plants mean a lot to me and I can always tell when I myself am feeling poorly because they will reflect that. I guess I must be doing pretty darned good--perhaps the cold agrees with me?--but the plants are hanging in there in spite of 60-62 degrees. Bless them, because they can often bloom just at the right moment to lift my spirits, like how the cactus bloomed on what would've been my mom's birthday (11/26) and how I was sad the Peace Rose outdoors never put out buds this yr and then in the middle of October it put out the lovely yellow rose I'm using right now as my header photo at the top. That's why I took so many photos of it--to remember. I can look at it and still smell that heavenly scent.
I don't know how I got off on the "plant" tangent after posting Tuffy's photo in the snow, but I think it is good to know that if we are capable of adapting somehow to allow for unforeseen circumstances, there are ordinary, everyday moments in time when you can look around your surroundings and find something extraordinary that only appears to be run of the mill. In fact, I marvel often at this little home we live in...all the memories of a family's lifetime and now our lifetime. I know my family would be proud to know how we are hanging in there, keeping the home fires burning, albeit chillier than in the past, but we have lots of warm clothing and blankets (and Jeff has a nice warm waterbed!) We count our blessings all the time knowing that others aren't as fortunate as we are ... and we would pray that everyone would know the joy of having a place to call home, even if it is a very small place, even if it is one room, because what matters is what "home" is in your heart. Some hearts are warm and friendly and the fires are burning brightly, and others warm their weary bones there ... other hearts are chilled and sometimes frozen and need the nearness of some humanity and love and warmth ... to know life goes on and it's worth it. I am blessed with a best friend in my husband, Jeff, and we do our best to treat each other with love and respect, no games, no name-calling, no disrespect that crushes the Soul ... and we are blessed with a little furry companion who came here when our spirits were sinking, and all of us needed a lift. It was at that time that my nephew, named the same as my father and my brother, stayed with us for nearly 9 months. He got to be Tuffy's "cousin" for awhile and I think he lifted his spirits, too, from grieving the loss of his father. I miss him, though I am doing nothing any more to communicate with him because it is too difficult. One day I hope that he will have enough desire to let us know how he is, as well as his sister, and we can laugh and feel part of a family again. One day, maybe... but for now my family is Jeff and Tuffy Boy. I have some very nice friends spread around all over, and some of you I have met on here while blogging, and you feel very real and meaningful to me, and I thank you. It's been at a time when I needed the warmth of another Soul. It helps me to stay warm, even in a chilly house, even with the cold winds whipping around the little cinder block home, even when our front porch step, the main one into the place, fell right off on what would've been my Mom's birthday. That's never happened in my lifetime...maybe some heavy stuff ran off out the door, said, "Child-woman, you gotta lay your burdens down, you gotta let this heavy shit outta here..." and some Spectre took off, so heavy-laden that that old cement porch step toppled right over! That same day, as I went into the house, I heard the TV blasting in the "blue room" (here where I type) and I turned that off (Jeff admitted he forgot to turn it off--no problem) but after it was turned off, I still kept hearing a buzzing noise and I followed my ears to an old antique lamp of a woman with sunflowers all over, a big sunflower surrounding the face of an old clock which doesn't work... well, the buzzing was coming from that clock, the second hand was caught on the minute hand! I guess it was working all of a sudden? Lots of quirky stuff that day...but I am digressing so badly, I think I better get off here for now. Sometimes I think I shy away from blogging because, being someone who LOVES to type, I get on here and ratatatat forever. I keep thinking I'm supposed to appear interesting or fun or funny or poignant ... but then I remember, oh, yeah! I'm just supposed to do whatever I do! No one to impress here but me, right? And that reminds me, I'm real impressed with my cat ... and I think he's been out in the snow long enough so goodnight, Bloggie Souls, and thank you for being out there. I know you are, but what am I? ;oD
Love from your SisSTAR xoxo

Great phone call ;o)

It's nearly 3:30 am and I'm still up and wired, with very icy feet, but I just hung up with my SisSTAR Rhi in Oregon and I had to take the time to post this photo for her before I get to bed. It was great to finally speak with you and I'm sure we will have lots more conversations. Lucky for me I'm a nightowl since you are 3 hrs behind me out there.
I have this little book "A Guide for the Advanced Soul" and just opened up to these 2 pages which I think are relevant and hope you do also:
***

The fastest way to freedom is to feel your feelings. - Gita Bellin
***
Be aware of the reality of your feelings. As you become more aware of your beliefs over a period of time, you will see how they bring forth certain feelings automatically.
A man who is sure of himself is NOT angry at every slight done him, nor does he carry grudges. A man who fears for his own worth, however, IS furious under such conditions.
The free flow of your emotions will always lead you back to your conscious beliefs if you do not impede them. - Jane Roberts/The Nature of Personal Reality
***
Goodnight, SisSTAR, and other bloggie souls out there, and remember, your SisSTAR sends her highest and best blessings and prayers your way for Peace and Harmony in your lives.
Love,
Kyle xo

Simon's Cat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rb8aOzy9t4

these are so simple yet really funny and truly grasping
the real "cattitude" of Tuffy who owns us...from SisSTAR

Gotta love 'em

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s13dLaTIHSg

Those Were the Days My Friends

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siLcSl2nmqA

And these are the days now, my friends!
SisSTAR Kylita xo

Angelique Kidjo-Voodoo Chile

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9ACprQXFwI

I'm learning from my buddy, Dancin' Fool, how to post a video from You Tube. I hope this one works. This one's for you, Budette!
SisSTAR ^;^ prrrrrr

Happy Full Moonbeams Smiling on You

It is NOT easy working for 2 psychiatrists during a Full Moon. Hell, it isn't easy functioning at all for me during a full moon, I guess, especially when by some chance I believe I got poison ivy from my beloved cat, Tuffy Boy. Yep! I love to pick his pumpkin butt up and sling him over my shoulder and snuggle him next to my face and head. Well, one day this week I thought I had a big spider bite on my forehead. My first thought was, AHHH! what huge spider was walking around on my head as I slept? ICK ICK ICK!!! so I scratched it and itched it and put my can't live without lavender oil on it, and it did calm it down, but it seemed to keep getting larger. I figured the poison was just spreading around and it would eventually settle down, as I scratched and itched and, well, hell yes! I spread that "spider bite, a/k/a POISON IVY" all over! It is a huge blotch on my lower cheek, on my neck, on my left thumb, on my groin, really spreading around on belly and waist ... all places that, while taking diuretic herbs, I get to pull my pants up and down and up and down all day and night, if you catch my whiff, and, I'm about going out of my mind with the itching and fear of spreading it even further. I roll around on my pillow and think, AHHH! it's on my pillowcase and it'll get all over my face, in my eyes, on my head! It's the little things, folks, that's what I keep saying! It's the little things, like the 2 tiny little dots of it on my left breast (I know, TMI "too much info") and all the Kleenex I keep stuffing here and there to try and protect my clothing from having to be washed everyday. I remember when my brother was little, he was peeing down in the weeds and got it all over his wang-doodle and etc. and he must've been one miserable little boy, esp if mom had to put calamine lotion all over him there - yikes! I can only hope it'll settle down soon with all the care I keep trying to give it. Did I ever tell you that Tuffy comes in the house and rubs his scent on everything material ... the walls, the lamps, the stuffed recliner he's shredded for scratching post material, the stove, refrig, anything EXCEPT ME! so I gotta wonder, he sure seemed to puuuurrrrrrrrr very loudly the last time I picked him up and flung him over my shoulder and just snuggled and snuggled. I think I caught a little smirky smile on his face when I caught a glimpse of him in the mirror. That little tabby cat needs to stay out of the poison ivy, that's for sure! But he roams pretty much where he wants and tonight with that full moon out there, he'll be padding his little paws lurking and skulking all over. I know most of you won't be able to wade through all this, but I just had to write it. It helps me to stop thinking of how much my hip itches, how I'd love to just sit around bare naked with narry a thing to touch the rashes ... but it's only 62 degrees in here, it'd be hard to tell the rash from the goosebumps. I'll go find the biggest caftan/muu muu I can find and slink into it and, too bad I don't have a bottle of wine, I'd drink that baby! AHHHHHHHHH! Please send me some itch-free prayers and wishes, Bloggie Souls! And thanks in advance. (So metaphysically, what must be irritating me, eh? ;oD
Love from your SisSTAR Itchy/Scratchy
xoxoxoxoxo

Thank You, Voters, Amen from your SisSTAR

Exercise your right to vote

God bless America with intelligent people getting out there and making good choices!

As for me, it's Obama/Biden. I pray it is so.

Amen, SisSTARS.

***

It has saddened me to learn that Obama's dear

grandmother had died on Monday. What a sad burden to carry on the shoulders of someone on the eve of this historical moment in time. Perhaps this is her way of being with him even more so.

And please, no more "Joe" anythings, unless, of course, your name really is "Joe" or "Jo", OK? Let's be real,

people!

God bless you all!

Love and peace from

your SisSTAR Kyle xo

Peace Always and Forever

Peace Arrived in October

For T Fedak-He's Been Everywhere Guy

Tonight I happened upon an interesting blog with some dry humor and amazing photos from on the road (along with some FOOs and Kitties) (you just had to be there). So I made my comment and dragged it out in my usual rapid typist manic way and promised this "T" guy that I would post this photo. It goes along with some of his great finds along the "white lines of the free, free-way"--Joni Mitchell. Sorry it isn't larger, but I just didn't want to get too close. A black hole may have sucked me in, ya never know, ya know?

All righty, then, nighty night out there from your

SisSTAR Kylita

Keep on truckin' (sorry, couldn't resist--also couldn't resist putting in lots of

parentheses!)

TGIF

credit to funpic for photo

***

This is the poor Republican elephant trying to wash all the crap off itself from the presidential campaigning. The shit-flinging is sad and detrimental to the process. You really want to be proud of your country and it's sad when I need to support the Jackasses, but so be it.

So take your shower, little Ellie Phant, and trumpet away your blues.

There's a new dawn a 'comin'!

It is so hard to believe that Election Day is 11 days away!

It's funny some say they are still undecided!?#

I used to sing that ol' Apolitical Blues by Little Feat and that's how I wanted to stay,

but, alas! I had to unbury my head from the sand and go to the polls and have my say.

Let it all be honest and true and let the voters know what they're doing

and there be no talk of "chads" (a word I'd never heard of until

'you know when')

We could all use cleaning up our acts a little, or a lot. I, for one, am sitting here alone, trying to see if any bloggie friends are out there, feeding my virtual (i.e. fake, non-existent) pets and having the half glass of wine that was left in the refrigerator.

I'm waiting for my mate to come home from work, so we can, no doubt,

talk about politics of the day and watch Ghost Whisperer that I recorded for us.

"I got dem ol' apolitical blues...the telephone is ringing, they tell me it's Chairman Mao, well I don't care who it is, I just don't want to talk to him now!"

And another lovely Little Feat song lyric for Ellie Phant:

"There's a fat man, in the bathtub, with the blues...I hear you moan,

I hear you moan, I hear you moan."

***

Peace Out, my SisSTARS and Bruthas!

Love from your

SisSTAR Kylita

xoxoxo

Vladimer Battina arrives!

I adopted another pet and I want to introduce you to Vladimer, the sweetest bat. Please feed him a fly from the bottom right corner and click on Vlad so he can catch them. Vlad likes to nap a lot (like me) but he knows it's nearly Halloween so Vlad is resting up. Before you know it, I'll have virtual pets all over this thing! They keep me company as I blog. Try and feed Powder his carrot, too, OK? if your sound is up, you can hear him crunch. ;oD
12 days 'til Halloween ... 16 days until a new presidential election! Yikes!
Guess I shoulda adopted Chicken Little so he coulda run around "The sky is falling, the sky is falling!" Vladimer just wanted to say, "I vant to make you smile, then move your head a leettle to the left, a leetle more, tip it back just a leetle, and, oh, dear, I vant to apologize, I yust got carried away. So nice to bite, I mean, meet you. Feeeed me, please?"

Happy Sweetest's Day, Bloggies

Tuffy Boy (a/k/a Pumpkin Butt) just stopping by to wish all you Bloggie Souls a very Happy Sweetest's Day. He's one sweet kitty, can't ya tell? ;oD ^;^ prrrrrrrr

Welcome SisSTAR Jan

This is my SisSTAR Jan and I am her out-law SisSTAR (some of us are "innies" and some are "outties" right?) I just sent her my blog with a big trusting heart knowing there might be some things I've posted here that she won't care for, but I'm hoping the majority of which she will enjoy reading. She has just started emailing me and it has made me very happy, so I wanted to invite her to share my web log so she, too, can "Keep Laughin' Honey" like you other bloggie souls out there. She is a really fun person and the best cook ever! I had to put a moratorium on my visits to her house because I already am as big as a barn! (Can't we just order pizza sometime? huh?) Anyway, just wanted to say "welcome" and I hope you find some stuff to be entertained by ... and some things that might make you laugh or cry and to know that I love you. Thanks for being a good sister to my wonderful husband, Jeffrey!

Have an awesome Sweetest Day, everyone!

Sending you my love and best wishes,

SisSTAR Kylita xoxoxo

Meet my new Virtual Bunny

I saw a virtual pet hamster on a blog friend's site so, of course, I just had to go and adopt this bunny. I named her after my last pet bunny, Powder, who was such a little sweetheart. See if you can get her to eat her carrot (if you can get the carrot--tight space, don't seem to be able to move over) and get her to jump around and lie down. It could be that it doesn't take much to amuse me, but it was fun and a diversion from all the "stuff" going on in the world that just "ain't so fun" ... so enjoy your weekends, Bloggie Souls, and know that your SisSTAR is sending you great and wonderful blessings and love ... and HUMOR! from deep down in her Soul ;oD
Maybe you could go adopt your own virtual pet!? KLH-keep laughin' honey xo

Loving Wishes...

Happy Saturday ;oD

On 9/3 - 2:45 a.m. I wrote: I want my goal to be, to live my life in ways that would make my parents and my brother proud of me ... little ways that show my humanity but also ... my Divinity.

On 9/23 - 12:54 am I finally put down in words a happening in my Haswell Household:

My mom kept a little cheap plastic transistor radio on her bedstand. She probably got it as one of her famous "freebies" with every Fingerhut catalog order. She'd blast it away as she'd go to bed and long after she fell very soundly asleep and was snoring like a grizzly, it'd be blasting away, always with talk radio. You know the kind--the call-in shows where folks would ask the host (usually a loud-mouthed man) some question and there'd be some pseudo philosophical discussion over just about any topic--the price of eggs, getting ripped off with car repairs, a soap opera, the latest scoop on a celebrity, politics, etc. These talk shows would rattle on into the night and if I was there trying to sleep, it'd be impossible for me. I inherited my dad's gift of being an ultra light sleeper.

I'd sometimes go in and turn it off and before long, she'd wake up. Too quiet, I guess. She said it gave her "company" -- probably made her feel like she wasn't alone. I know she played her radio a lot when she lived alone after dad died and me and Jeff ... and Dana ... had moved away.

Mom took over my old bedroom when her and my dad weren't able to sleep in their "double" bed together any longer--snoring or waking up too often or tossing and turning too much. She kept my old bedroom until just before she died and the EMTs took her out of her bed kicking and screaming to the hospital.

I stopped sleeping with my husband a long time ago for many of the same reasons as mom and dad. It was ME that snored too loud and ME that slept too lightly and with two different work schedules, we were always grouchy and sleepless. I moved out of our bedroom and into my old childhood room at that time.

During a rare closet-cleaning session, I'd found a bunch of mom's things I'd crammed in there when we were cleaning out her belongings thinking we'd be selling this place to someone else after she died. I found mom's crappy little transistor radio in a basket and turned it on. It worked. No biggie--it was only a short while after she'd died, I guess, so it was feasible the battery would still be good.

But that was over 15 years ago now and I keep the radio in the kitchen cupboard--her cupboard where the dinner plates were stored, same as ours now. I take it out now and then and I'm always wondering just when it'll be that the battery dies. So far, with my husband as my witness, my mom's transistor radio ALWAYS works. I like to turn on AM radio and put it on the Canadian channel where everyone speaks French. I don't understand it but it sounds pretty.

I did look to see that it was a Duracell--that old Energizer Bunny keeps going and going and going.

So ... the battery has to be at least 16-17 yrs old and it keeps working! One thing you can be sure of, often it serves to make me not miss her so much, not feel so lonely, and sorta like I'm in an Alfred Hitchcock movie. I can say I rarely turn the dial to talk radio. I figured it had enough of that.

Those soundwaves keep flowing ... from her heart to mine, just like the little night lights in many of the electrical plugs around the house keep glowing that she left there, needing no switch to turn them on.

***

Today when I decided I was going to post this writing on my blog, I got the radio out of the cupboard, turned it on softly, not wanting to wake my husband up, and at first thought it was not coming on. Then I heard... "all the things you do ... you're unbelievable ... you're unbelievable!"

All you special bloggie souls who took the time to wade through this, bless you richly and may you enjoy a beautiful autumn weekend. I'm going to! Believe it!

Love from your SisSTAR Kylita xoxoxo

1 Month 'til Election Day

Hard to believe in 1 mo the old fiasco of election day will take place once again. We keep hearing those old Master Debaters and the celebrity of it all--so I am simply posting the best pic I have of my sentiments at this point. I usually seem to be voting "against" someone rather than "for" but that's OK, I'll be sure to be out there on 11/4/08 as my SisSTARS of the past fought so hard to win the right for me to do so and I wouldn't want to let them down. It's so disheartening to know that so many folks I love so dearly are on the opposite side of the fence from me, but that's their right and I love them anyway. Makes it difficult to comprehend one another at times, however, and I'm just sad I only have one vote to cancel out only one of theirs ;o(

This photo is so toadily how I feel about it! ;oD

Love and highest & best blessings from your

SisSTAR XOXOXO

Bleeding Hearts

Old fashioned bleeding hearts among the purple

creeping phlox - was spring so long ago?

The other day I told my husband that I wanted to go make up a T-shirt that read: "Nonaffiliated Bleeding Heart Liberal Who Can Beat Your Ass!" because I'm so sick and tired of hearing the word "liberal" as if it is a cancerous growth affixed to the heartbeat of America. I have always felt that, before all, I am a child of the Universe, a citizen of Mother Earth, a lover of Nature and a respecter of diversity. Growing up here in white-bread suburbia, I remember when I graduated high school in 1970 we had probably 2-3 black people in our school with over 700-800 in our graduating class. I don't recall too many other nationalities represented, either. Just us good old WASPs or Catholics ... that was our big split. I now live in the home I grew up in (am growing up in) and the melting pot of diversity is unbelievable ... and for the most part, I love it. I love seeing the different families in our area, with different beliefs, different clothing, different names, awesomely different foods and languages. I am someone who doesn't care if someone can speak English to live in this country, but I feel empathy for how difficult it must be to come to a strange land with hope in their hearts, not understanding what others are saying to you, being made fun of because you are made to seem "dumb" because your language is different. I guess I could say that I have become tolerant of others as I would want others to be tolerant of me. Isn't that what "Christianity" has taught? Do unto others? I believe there are many of us DOING UNTO OTHERS and being incredulous that the doing back really does reflect their own actions, for those who have eyes to see. Take the beam out of thine own eye and never mind the speck in someone else's ... isn't that a teaching also? It's so hard to watch all this political bullshit and not see these candidates or those speaking up on behalf of same as being childish and foolish, mudslinging and backbiting and clawing tooth and nail ... for the POWER of the office. The egos are undeniable, the tolerance close to zero. TEACH TOLERANCE ... that is what I would hope to have taught if I had chose to have children. I have sought to teach by example when I hear family members or good friends talking down with vile remarks, ignorant bigotries, sad commentary on reasons for hating someone. Lynch mob mentalities. And, yes, red neck so-called patriotism which, to me, just reeks of prejudices against anyone who is not like the one you see in your mirror. Look in your mirrors, people, and trying morphing into all sorts of beautiful, colorful, blessed people that serve to make the quilt of the 7? billions of peoples on this planet. Scientists keep looking for another viable planet to perhaps seed and sustain life on. I can't help but wonder if it isn't because they want to just "go away" or send others "away" when our Good Mother has been beaten down. It's not nice to fool Mother Nature! (yes, that was a dumb margarine commercial of the '60s or '70s!) It's just sad that so many don't realize that we are "all on this Ship of Fools together" and if we cannot learn to love one another, we can live our lives in turmoil and one-upsmanship, feeling others are not created quite as "special" as "we".

I have been grieving the loss of my brother for 2 yrs now. I have had writer's block and even "speaker's block" because no one wants to hear my sad little tale any more ... shit! not many wanted to hear it in the first place, though tolerated it for a little while. That is one brother, my only brother, and I have compassion for those who have lost others -- some through "war", some through accidents, some through diseases, some through hateful killings, some through divine intervention. Who knows why our brothers and sisters, mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, friends and "enemies" die? Perhaps it is a choice made by our essences before we choose to come into this world? Who the hell knows? After experiencing so much grief, my heart just feels broken and with much sorrow I watch this political arena of campaigning as people who are supposed to be highly intelligent with whatever it takes to make critical decisions that affect not only us, as citizens of our country, but other citizens all over our Mother. Can there ever be an intelligent campaign without all the bullshit? I fear it's not possible in my lifetime. I fear corruption in elections are the norm now and voters will be cast as "just not smart enough to use those darned voting machines" ie their votes shouldn't be counted, they shouldn't count, some are so much more important than others, especially us "special" white folk.

OK, here is what my old Webster's Dictionary says about the word "liberal":

"generous, ample; abundant; broad-minded, favoring reform or progress, one who favors reform or progress"

"Liberality: generosity, broad-mindedness"

"Liberate: release from slavery, enemy occupation, etc., to secure equal rights for (women, etc.)"

"Liberty: freedom from slavery, captivity, etc., a particular right, freedom, an impertinent attitude, leave given to a sailor to go ashore"

***

"Bleed: to emit or lose blood, to feel pain, grief, or sympathy, to loose sap, juice, etc."

***

"Heart: organ that circulates blood by dilation and contraction, central, vital or main part; core, the human heart considered as the center of emotions, personality attributes, a) inmost thought and feeling, b) love, sympathy, c) spirit or courage"

I claim no party affiliation, I claim Universal Citizenship, I claim that I am patriotic towards my country and have served by remembering and loving others and having compassion and empathy, I claim that my favorite color is Purple since as far back as I can remember, and I was always made fun of because of it. A friend, Rhiannon, reminded me today in her blog of a young person she had spoken with who said "why can't we get the red states and the blue states together and make a beautiful shade of purple?" and it made me remember my same exact statement at the last election (my husband can vouch for me!) that we need to come together, agree to disagree, season the melting pot stew just right so the flavors are compatible, see the blending of the red and blue as purple ... be our highest and best Divinely Human Beings and stop the insanity. The beautiful words at the base of the Statue of Liberty (there's that "L" word again) are so poignant: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, send these, the tempest tossed, to me. I lift my Light (Lamp?) etc etc" Yes! our country is overflowing with diversity. Perhaps our "founding fathers" never imagined in a trillion years (latest monetary word being referred to now--trillion!) that it would be this way, but perhaps the indigenous peoples of these North Americas never imagined seeing all those white faces, either. So, you see, saying "all wo/men are created equal" are only words if no one can ever truly believe in it.

I am a grieving Bleeding Heart Liberal... and I am proud of that. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. God bless America, however that Entity/Energy dwells in your being, in your heart, and God/dess bless Mother Earth, the Universe and, as Buzz Lightyear would have it................BEYOND.

I am SisSTAR Kylita and I have approved this message,

With LOVE!

XOXOXO

Please visit Sandpiper's Place

I only visit a small handful of much-loved blogspots, each with their own meaning for me and friendships developing, but this morning I would like to introduce (again) Sandpiper's Place for her stunning and beautiful nature photography.

http://sandpiper727.blogspot.com/


Enjoy your nice and peaceful walk through the lens of a true nature lover.
Blessings,
SisSTAR xoxo

Sunday Moanin' Blues

Wishing you all Serenity, Courage and Wisdom

and all you need to lift your spirits and

face another day seeing clearly and with joy.

You are all very special to your

SisSTAR XOXOXO

What a beautiful Saturday

From Guide for the Advanced Soul:

***

God picks up the reed-flute

world and blows.

Each note is a need coming

through one of us,

a passion,

a longing pain.

Remember the lips where the wind-breath

originated,

and let your note be clear.

Don't try to end it.

Be your note.

I'll show you how it's enough.

Go up on the roof at night,

in this city of the soul.

Let everyone climb on their roofs

and sing their notes!

Sing loud!

--Rumi

***

Do, say, think, smell, touch, believe, taste, hear

something wonderful this summer weekend.

Life is good ... and so are all of you!

Peace out, SisSTARS and Brothers!

Love from your SisSTAR

XOXOXO

the sweetness of your life

Sharing with you the affirmation of today in Science of Mind magazine:

When such as I cast out remorse,/So great a sweetness flows into the breast./We must laugh and we must sing,/We are blest by everything,/ Everything we look upon is blest.

W.B. Yeats

Spirituality is natural goodness.

The Science of Mind, page 308

Is there a persistent negative story you tell yourself about your life? Do you tell yourself that you aren't good enough, you don't have enough, that you're misunderstood or unappreciated? Whatever your story may be, set an intention to notice when you start to tell your story--then stop telling it.

Be willilng to rest in something greater than t he story you tell about yourself. Why not rest in the sweetness of Spirit? Why not rest in the honey of your soul? Move beyond the nagging fear of lack and surrender to the immensity of Spirit.

You don't have to figure out all the reasons for your negative chatter. Simply sink into the sweetness of God. Sink into the natural sweetness you had as a child before the noise of the world became louder than the song inside you.

Sink into the sweetness of a love so real that the only words that form on your lips and spill from your mouth are: Thank you God for my life! Let your new story become a positive one of how you found rest in the sugary sweetness of your own life.

Affirmation:

I no longer tell a negative story about myself. I turn within and I feel the sweetness of Spirit upon me. I rest in the sweetness of my life and give thanks for all of my blessings.

***************

Sending out highest and best wishes for a beautiful August weekend, with love from your SisSTAR Kylita xoxoxo

that was fun

It's 2:30 am and I'm sitting here trying to figure out how to post my new TizMe persona I created. It was great fun putting "myself" together. I'd actually saved another one of me but she flew the coop. Try it! It was just good ol' mind numbing fun! ;oD It's not my fault if they didn't give me a choice of "body sizes" to represent "me" but I had to take this hot body and just add "me" more to it. So ... in case you have been wondering what I've been up to, just work, work and dumb TV shows and creating a TizMe ... oh, and I did go to see Mamma Mia! with my girlfriend last night. It was fun, too. The word of the day is: FUN. Get some, y'all!
Now I gotta go have me some fun dreams. Nightie night from your SisSTAR XOXOXO

Mowing Song

Speaking of intoxicated!

As I was mowing yesterday on the rider, it was a beautiful day and I was thinking about all my blessings and about my cat and how mellow and sweet he gets when he's nippin' (into the catnip patches all over he's cultivated) and since I, too, was feeling pretty "mellow" I remembered reading from a new book I bought "227 things to know about your cat..." or something like that, it stated that some cats like catnip and some don't, like humans, cats are some of the creatures who sometimes prefer to be "intoxicated". Hmmmmm. Food for thought.

So anyway...

I was mowing and there were wildflowers and cool breezes and sunshine and dragonflies and toads and a huge Monarch, all of a sudden I made up a song and it goes like this:

You know I'd rather be intoxicated,

I'd rather fly

yes, I'd rather be intoxicated

you don't know my reasons why.

***

If I could face reality

I would

I do my best to make that

understood!

***

But me, I'd rather be intoxicated

I'd rather fly

Peacefully and calmly lit!

Intoxicated!

you don't know my reasons why.

***

Oh yes! I'd rather be intoxicated

Blissfully ignorant of bad news

Not apathetic, just intoxicated

Dance and float along, intoxicated

Run around, kick off my shoes.

***

If I could handle reality

I would (but I can't)

I do my best to make this

understood

***

Yes, here I am again--intoxicated!

Here I am, folks, I can fly

(or sit staring...)

Yes! Intoxicated...

you don't know my reasons why.

***

I'd rather be intoxicated

like my cat is with his toy

Yes, I'd do well being intoxicated

I'm not trying to be coy.

***

...................there was lots more but you catch my drift, eh?

p.s. Isn't the photo beautiful--again, it is a stone's throw from the hospital I was born in. What a privilege to be connected to this peaceful harbor (but you should see it in the winter!)

Goodnight, Bloggie Souls...with love from

Your SisSTAR

KLH

"keep laughin' honey!"

Clicked a random photo and came up with Johnny! So here's a tribute to our nephew, a few yrs back, at a 4th of July party and Jeff's birthday. He's an awesome person that we love a lot. (And I know your sister reads my blog so she's bound to tell ya.)

So hang in there, Yonny ... keep playing guitar! (blues ;o) It'd be nice to party with you guys again someday soon. Enjoy your summer, all of you, and hope to see you soon!!

Love,

Auntie Kyle and

Uncle Jeff

xoxoxoxoxo

Remembering Dana

Dana Meredith Haswell, Jr.

(9-17-53 to 8-10-06)

***

There's so many things I could write about my brother. But right now I'm not going to. What I am going to post here is a poem that I wrote for my husband, Jeff, who was a very good friend of Dana's for 9 yrs before I met him. I wrote it for him to try and cheer him up after his sister, Shirley, died. It was taken from true memories that I had from my childhood with my little brother (and only sibling) from the big log swing that my dad built for us with a swing, a trapeze and a "chinning bar". There were giant 10-12' tall sunflowers growing on the other side of the chainlink fence in dad's garden ... little did I realize then what a paradise we lived in. Many who have read this or heard me recite it have asked, "What is a Parrish sky?" so I'll just say now, it's from the Maxfield Parrish paintings that I love ... you know, with the beautiful young girls swinging and sitting naked on top of a hill or rock looking out at the blue sky and a star twinkling. He always could capture that pink and blue awesomeness with the big white fluffy clouds. So that's what it means. I turned this into a children's song and have sang it to a few babies and young kids, and even some "old kids" like me. I can't sing it here for you but just make up your own melody and that'll be fine by me. Though we had quite a tumultuous relationship, I miss my brother, missing knowing that he is at the other end of his cell phone if I needed to talk (which was very rare) or getting his messages telling me off after he drank too much around 1-2 am. I miss what we should've/could've had. I wish I did have my childhood to live over...I would've been kinder and the sibling rivalry would have been healthier...but maybe we are closer now than we've ever been............so, here's to you, Dana. I love you.

WINGS OF A DRAGONFLY

When I'm unhappy and smiles won't come

And tears too often flow

I sing a little song to cheer me up

That I think you should know:

"Sailing along like a gull

through a pink and blue Parrish sky

give me a swing to fly up high

and parachute out - cartwheel away

just like in years gone by

Winging my blues away

On the back of a dragonfly."

***

Don't be unhappy too often 'cause

It's not how it oughta be

Keep smiling and showing how much you love

To be cheerful and free

But if some tears are to flow

You'll know the song that I know:

"Sailing away like a gull

through a pink and blue Parrish sky

give me a swing to fly up high

and parachute out - cartwheel away

just like in years gone by

winging my blues away

on the back of a dragonfly...

We'll be winging our blues away

On the newborn, glistening, gossamer wings

On the back of a dragonfly."

-klh 4/13/99

New Moon Eclipse in Leo 6:13 am EDT

Photo by Jane S (thanks!)

Having some strange times lately? Folks around you going through lots of weird stuff? Hey! I just blame it all on the moon. What the hell!?

Lots of firey power in the Leo Sun/Leo Moon combo, so hold onto your hats and start something brand new that includes some playfulness and fun and love and passion!

Just do it!

Love from,

SisSTAR Kylita

xoxoxo

End of July already

Good morning ... I crawled out of the primordial ooze that is my bedroom and before I get ready for work I wanted to say hello to this new and yet last day of July. I have heard everyone, including myself, saying how fast summer is flying by. We took one very quick trip up north on the 1st day of summer and stayed with our friends Barb and Jane in Frankfort, and unfortunately, I ended up with my 1st allergy attack in a long time which gave me one real good day and one semi-miserable day, only to leave for home early to sneeze, wheeze and blow my nose as I drove home thru miles and miles of orange construction barrels. Let's just say it was not conducive to wanting to leave home any time soon ... reluctantly. It was a beautiful home with wonderful friends and The Lake Michigan with its famous sunsets ... and great food! I've heard so many people going on this vacation and that vacation and some come back refreshed and others come home exhausted needing another vacation ... and it makes me grateful for those 2 days we had. Tomorrow is August ... sounds hot to me! But it is when my Rose of Sharon will bloom and hopefully we will see some of Jeff's family soon and some friends coming into town, maybe venture north one more time for a short visit to Traverse City. I feel real blessed because yesterday we got our van and central air conditioning in the home repaired ... just when the heat is getting fired up, showing everyone that Michigan can have a sweltering summer like other hot spots ... and "...if you seek a pleasant peninsula, look around you."

Happy Summer Everyone! Enjoy while it is still here. Life is short. Eat dessert first!

Love and blessings from your SisSTAR! xoxoxo

the two men in my life

Day is done, gone the sun, sweet dreams xo

Walk in Beauty ,,,

Highest and best blessings to you

from your SisSTAR Kylita xoxoxoxo

Entre Vous

My Warrior Doll

My cousin made this for me--it was called a "slam doll" or something like that. Said I could slam it on the table or countertop whenever I got mad ... it was all "nude pink fabric" and it seemed so innocent and sweet, I couldn't even think about beating it against something. So I armed her with her warrior uniform and hardware and she can kick ass whenever she needs to (protecting me from myself, perhaps?) I was hoping you could click on it to enlarge to see her beautiful chainmail armor, not sure if you can see her crescent moon "sword" tucked in her belt in back. I have a dream catcher that is beautiful, and that poor thing must be heavily laden down. Perhaps there is a good way to "refresh" a poor, worn out dream catcher. But! I have never named my Warrior Doll...so anyone who would like to make a suggestion, let me know. I wish my Cousin Claire could visit my blog but she's not online...has a little mailstation like I used to have. It got me started--it was "virginal" computer emailing--and limited. I learned to go to the library and get my others that wouldn't come through--that's when I learned that some people fwd some pretty bizarre stuff!! stuff you may not want the Joe Blow or Jane Doe sitting near and around you at the library. So it is July 23rd and I cannot believe Summertime has come this far. I finally discovered my first (and probably last) attempt at downloading my own variety CD--before they kept threatening to arrest you and I quit, leaving it to braver souls. It's called "Summertime" and it has a LOT of different versions of that wonderful song. Of course, one of my favorites is Janis Joplin because, well, at 16 yrs old when I heard her singing the blues, it tore a rip in my Soul just a little and, dying right after I graduated high school, there went another chunk. I spent one strange summer drinking Boones Farm Wild Mountain wine and singing Janis Joplin songs--being bohemian and, I think it was only a few years ago I drank a beer or two too many and once again sang Janis Joplin songs before zonking out. Turtle Blues is probably my favorite--if I could pick. But "Summertime" and the living is easy, fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high...your daddy's rich and your ma's so good lookin'...so hush little baby, don't you .... cryeeeeee.

"One of these mornin' you gonna rise up singing, you're gonna spread your wings and take to the sky ... but 'til that mornin' there ain't nothin' can harm you, with mammy and daddy standing by. So hush, sweet Bloggie Souls, don't you cryeeeeeee.

(thanks for letting me rant--if you did, anyway!?)

KLH-keep laughin' honey xoxo

Blessings from SisSTAR...

In Memoriam...

...of Edward, my friend Holly's brother who would have been 37 today, though sadly, it is also the 1st anniv of his death. He died in his sleep on his 36th birthday. I searched my computer for half an hour to find this photo and I KNEW I had it. I finally found it in the special file I keep of the correspondence between me and she and it was an attachment to the 1st email I got in Sept 07 after we'd met on the Adult Sibling Grief website. Isn't he such a handsome and beautiful man? I am hoping that by posting this here, when she sees it she will be moved in a happy way. It took me awhile to search him out, but I found him and I see he thinks it's pretty funny! Even funnier was the fact that after I'd previewed the 1st post, it totally disappeared! But I am like a badger sometime and I want to grace my blog with Edward's presence. Eres Tu, Mamacita! Aloha!

Love and understanding,

Kyle xo

Here's lookin' at you, Bloggies

Just a quick

"howdy", nothing profound, no epiphanies, but I'm a tad antsy and tired tonight. My cousin is at the Cancer Treatment Center in Illinois and I'm thinking of her a lot. She was in good spirits when I talked to her yesterday. I played a few quickfire games on the computer tonight and kicked ass!!! Though I hate to admit it, sometimes it's just fun and takes my mind off things. Tomorrow I hope to get outdoors and get some fresh air and sunshine after being inside pretty much all day and night, working for two psychiatrists today. Just wondering how any of you folks are doing out there? Very, very good, I trust. Keep up the good work! Have faith in yourself and do your best to stay centered. One friend of mine from long, long ago used to say: "Somedays you eat the Bear, somedays the Bear eats you!" I'm not in favor of wild game, and I remember a bear rug my dad gave to me (since my mom didn't want it!) and I used to (ahem) drink a few beers too many and lie down on it and cry and apologize to it that my father killed it. Sad tale.....I'm not gonna think about that right now! And I don't know nothin' about birthin' no babies, Miss Scarlet!!! and frankly, Scallop, I don't give a Clam! (OK, I said I was antsy!) I best get offa here and find something else to do with myself. I'm just a jive-ass turkey up to no good! But you know that I love you, Lord, yes! I love you, Bloggie Souls!

Love from your SisSTAR xoxoxo

A Little Bit of Sympathy...

There have been a lot of losses all around me lately, or anniversaries of losses, or losing most of what one has had, or losing one's mind, or one's life, or dignity. We can't always be there for our friends and loved ones, nor they for us, but we can all be truthful in acknowledging our love, respect and limitations. I found this "poem" a few minutes ago and decided it'd be OK to post it here. It was a real scenario-type moment from my life and someone who meant a lot to me

having her husband die...a little over a year after my brother died, so I felt like such an expert in what some people just don't want to hear and others come up with saying these things because they just don't fucking know what to really say. Grief is uncomfortable. Yet there can be true comfort in grief expressed with fearless honesty and forthrightness. I applaud those who can do so. I strive to be that person. For all those out there who are going through losses in whatever way, know that that silver lining is in that cloud based on how you approach it and do your best to be there, first, for yourself, then if able, for others. Bless you, Bloggie Souls ... the connection between us is invisible and yet penetrating. The photo is of a gifted plant from my very dear friend who took a chance and brought me her String of Hearts plant all the way from MD for me to get a cutting. It's taken me awhile, but the couple of "strings" are doing well and blooming. Strange little flowers that look like penises!? but pretty and interesting, nevertheless. Strive to keep your friendships and love for family alive. I dedicate this String of Hearts to Pamela and her wonderful family and to all of my family and friends and their families ... and to all of you who I will never know, connecting Hearts elevates our consciousness. OK, here's the writing I just found...for what it's worth:

(Untitled)

I wrote a letter of condolence tonight, with no sympathy card--

...so I hope I wrote something worthwhile,

'cause I just cannot say,

"I'm sorry for your loss" and

I just cannot say,

"He's in a better place," and

I just cannot say,

"He wouldn't want you to be sad,"

and I just cannot say,

"He's not suffering any more," and

I just cannot say,

"If there's anything I can do,

please let me know," and

I just cannot say,

"Now it's time you moved on," and

I just cannot say,

"It was God's will," or

"God wanted him to come Home,"

or I just cannot say,

"Take a little while" and "time will

heal," "it just takes time"--

TIME--there is no more time and we are left to figure out what to do 'til it's our turn, and sometimes you don't care if it's sooner than later--and sometimes you even laugh as well as cry.

--klh 9/08

"keep laughin' honey!"

KA-BOOM! WHIRRRRR-ZING-BLAST! POP!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, USA!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FRIEND CRAIG!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HUSBAND JEFF!

PEACE TO ALL

WHO ENTER HERE...

MAY YOU FIND THE WHOLENESS

OF AN INDEPENDENT SOUL

AND MAY YOU KNOW

THE BEAUTY ALSO OF

INTERDEPENDENCE

...the other night I saw my favorite fireworks!

it was a dark and peaceful display with only the music

playing in my head, every year around this time

the FIREFLIES!!!!

are out there winking and blinking and shining lights

shining lights to attract others to them

no noise, no explosions, no popping and whirring,

buzzing or blasting, no giant

BOOM!!!!!

you feel right in your heart,

just a gentle twinkling in the darkness

for those who have eyes to see.

ENJOY!

Know that your SisSTAR Kylita

is Here Now

shining her Light

to attract other Lights

for the purpose of

acknowledgment.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US ALL!

Do what you love and love who you are!

xo Highest and Best Blessings xo

(blink blink, twinkle, wink, sparkle, flash)

KLH

*Keep Laughin' Honey!*

Holly Jo..love you so!!

This is a photo of my wonderful "newish" friend Holly from way out west, out near the ocean and a lighthouse, living with a wonderful younger! (OMG! not that!) man and a dog ... we met on a website for "adult sibling grief" and I wanted to introduce everyone to her here because she has helped me in ways no one else ever could. I thank you from my heart and soul ... I wear one of the agates you sent me, the rest are energizing on the windowsill. I eagerly read your blog everyday and got pissed off just now when some dumb ass nurse put a notation in your Sweetheart's chart that "the older woman is his girlfriend!" How dare that asshole! You go, Girlfriend, and you live the life lots of disenfranchised, bitter bitches only dream of. I'm sorry if I didn't get your permission to put this photo on here, but you are so beautiful to me ... and your heart is golden ... and you have the MOST awesome sense of humor! (and you think I'm funny...a big plus ;o) So, Bloggie Souls, meet my friend Holly Jo.......she is a gem of precious value. I look fwd to many years of getting to know her. To me she looks like a youngster ... a young punk who, by the way, belongs to a scooter gang - ha! Love ya, Dearie!!

Give the Ranger a little hug from this OLD woman xoxo KLH-Keep Laughin' Honey!

Off to see the Wizard!

It's the 1st day of Summer--I spent some time entering the Solstice listening to some music and dancing and singing (as I did the dishes and laundry) and am looking fwd to a drive northward to visit the Wizard. Ain't no yellow brick road, but there is a silver lining. Poured rain and thundered for about an hour and now it's gorgeous out. Can't wait to see the sunset over Lake Michigan and relax by the water, listening to the foghorn and seagulls. I knew it was a good omen when I left work Thursday night to a huge double rainbow which guided me home. My wish for my Bloggie Souls out there is that your first summer weekend is filled with much that is enjoyable--that would be "joy" in the middle of it all. Love one another and find something new and interesting to be happy about. I helped to save someone's life this week and that makes me feel pretty good. Now I will do my best to help someone in their grief and a very close loved one know I love them to help face some scary health issues. At first I thought, oh, I want this weekend to be about ME!!! and then I knew that "me" is the best when I'm giving back all the love and help and guidance I've received. I thrill to be going away with my husband as we've both been working extra hard. So...off we go! Tuffy Boy will have to deal with being stuck in the house, but he'll be OK (hope the house will) and when we get home he can show us he was lonely and missed us for 5 minutes and then pay us back by being gone most the day, but he'll be back because he knows how very much he is loved here...which is why he's going to be in and not out--to be safe. (Sorry, Tuf Tuf!) I will blow kisses across Lake Michigan to my friends out there in the Western world (you know who you are) and maybe we'll be watching the sun go down with some kind of synchronicity.

Highest and best blessings. Catch ya later, from your Loving SisSTAR XOXOXO