true calling

It all comes out in the wash.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

a tale of two soaps

You know, if you think about it...love isn’t really a noun- it’s a verb, an action- and when it takes flight, completely free of any human control, it becomes of itself.  Now I can’t write it like it’s supposed to be said…I get all squirmy.  I guess the point I’m trying to make here- when one expects material diamonds that’s what one may get.  But when one ceases to expect, instead- surrendering, throwing one’s hands up into the air, saying “I just don’t know how this is all suppose to play out,  I give up!”  Somehow, somewhere- it is heard as a prayer, a sincere giving in,  the walls come tumbling down…and all the unexpected diamonds in the rough begin to shine.

Now the trick to keep love flowing and flying is to leave it alone.  To quit poking holes in it with too many questions…very hard for this here over thinker.  What if I don’t expect anniversaries, longevity, even flowers come Sunday- can I live with that?  I don’t know...verb that it is, love keeps me on my toes.

  I chased love across a parking lot the other night, as it became angry- and followed it to bed where it mellowed.  It became talking and laughing and finally- sleeping.  The morning found it curiously seeking a remedy, but none was needed as it became forgiving, simply by letting go and laughing.   Love becomes action if one allows it, I think.  When one tries to commandeer love- like putting a dam up and trying to contain all of it’s goodness in a pool, something of it ceases to flow- stagnating it. 

I started this whole post out completely different from what you’re reading here.  Matter of fact- I wrote the whole column last week, after stepping into the shower and becoming profoundly affected by- two bars of soap.  Isn’t that silly?  I even took a picture as soon as I slipped out of there- those two soaps with significantly different ingredients spoke to me of my relationship with the Big Fish.  And I truly cannot explain what it meant to me to see them there- side by side.

  I only know that I feel something unimagined and for lack of better words- not perfect, but it’s right.  And it flows, on and on, in and out…I don’t know what to make of it, I don’t even know what else to say here…ain’t love grand?  Ain’t it a pain? And soapy and soggy and all too wonderful much of the time, and slow like molasses when I wish it would keep up.  And quiet- like snow sometimes and all in a rage like a thunderstorm too.  Sometimes it’s pale- like an eggshell though sometimes it’s as vivid and bright as a twelve year old’s memory of a candy red new bicycle.  It’s cumulative of all the goodness I’ve ever known- this love does that, bringing back those snippets in heaps. 

With all that felt and said in only the way of a true romantic or an unhinged mind…may everyone who reads this find that simple something in their shower or in that dish they're washing, or in that lumpy, crumpled-up bed that needs made…because love made those messes, not to be tolerated or even obligated by ceremonial oaths- I think that’s just how love lives and beckons us to be- aware of it’s sublimities.  

Enough from me…what do you think? 
Is love something we make up as we go along? 
Is it a verb or a noun? 
Is it something you hold onto or is it best let go…should there be expectations?

(Take care-)

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

My word? Wonder.

"Some people ask, “What if I haven’t found my true passion?”It’s dangerous to think in terms of “passion” and “purpose” because they sound like such huge overwhelming ideas.If you think love needs to look like “Romeo and Juliet”, you’ll overlook a great relationship that grows slowly.If you think you haven’t found your passion yet, you’re probably expecting it to be overwhelming.Instead, just notice what excites you and what scares you on a small moment-to-moment level.
If you find yourself glued to Photoshop, playing around for hours,dive in deeper. Maybe that’s your new calling.If you keep thinking about putting on a conference or being a Hollywood screenwriter, and you find the idea terrifies but intrigues you, it’s probably a worthy endeavor for you.You grow (and thrive!) by doing what excites you and what scares you everyday, not by trying to find your passion."
Derek Sivers is an entrepreneur and programmer.  Read sivers.org and try muckwork.com

Good morning!  I receive weekly emails from a site that has nothing but good news, personal stories of triumph and a heads up on movements on the net that bring about solutions.  The above article depicts the word passion - just one of 70 useful words for 2010 on What Matters Now.  It seemed that many of the words offered had to do with finance and business, but all were composed in such a way that everyone might benefit from applying the  thought process to any task at hand.  Elizabeth Gilbert's word- "Ease".  After reading through the slides, I came upon her rendition, smiled and said-"I love Elizabeth Gilbert."   In my opinion, her thoughts always sum up everything outside of the box, whittle them away and in a nutshell- offer clarity to things I might not have seen had it not been for her clear observation.  I have seen her talks on Ted, interviews on television- she's always the consumate spokesperson for her craft but also like the rest of us- nervously fidgeting, scratching our heads, talking with our hands to draw out the point we're trying to make.  I think she has passion in a headlock, with every word- she wrestles it to the ground and squeezes out every drop.  

The website I visited asked for our own words- what might we add to the list that could change the tide of powerless thinking into a wave of fearless change.  My word?  Wonder.  In looking over my life, for years I merely squandered moments that turned drudgingly into long stretches of just getting by.  When tragedy befell my days, I looked upon the time to come as a constant struggle, not even sure if I had it in me to survive.  It was wonder, after all- that saved me.  To me, wonder is an ever evolving question- but also it is answers, open ended.  I suppose that outlook could drive a person crazy...though in my experience-wonder drives a person towards a life that is as wide as it is hopefully- long.  What is your word?  (And why...!)

Take care-

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

hush, hush, wish, wish....




Good morning!

Most days find me lacking a communication device...when the south wind blows, it takes away the satellite.  Matter of fact, should the wind blow at all- disconnect. I throw snow balls at the roof top disc, angrily, impatiently- trying to smack it back online, doesn't necessarily work- but it helps with my frustration levels.

Ah yes!  Snow!  I read some good advice the other day- for one to survive the winter in Maine- one ought to accept the truly winter way instead of trying to endure it.  A strong athlete might be able to train for a marathon I suppose, with the end in sight of 26 miles, and learn to endure- with  only 4 miles to go...but trying to endure a seemingly never ending, no end in sight Maine winter, well I suppose it could make one batty, delirious for Key West and points further south. 
 My metal will be tested for sure come April, but for now I accept the sounds of Maine- snow crunching, crispy under each step I take.  Snowflakes falling with a whisper, landing softly on pine boughs- from the dark and day sky, they tumble from some unseen shaker up above.  And when it seems the lid has been removed, the flake's fall comes in a hush, hush, wish, wish...all around, that loveliest of sounds-snowfall.
On my walks I see so far and wide- white.  Bright in it's avalanche of glow, but deeper in the snow, in the pockets- blue, snow blue!  As if the great unseen's hand passed over the landscape with sno cone syrup, adding a blueberry richness to the flavor of one's senses.


"I am in Maine and the snow is gentler now, coming from fewer clouds perhaps than it was showering down from bulked up fronts earlier.  Snow- from my first winter here in Maine, is a constant presence in the landscape.  Walking my two mile a day trails, I often find myself gazing upon a great Pine up the road a ways- I stand in the road, transfixed as the tree that holds my attention.  I often wonder why I’m drawn to it’s presence- maybe it’s twisted, gnarly branches remind me of my own troubles, maybe it’s upward growth despite the weather’s wickedness inspires me.  I think the real reason I stand here as it stands there is because of it’s solemnity in the landscape...  This area is alive with wilderness- moss hangs from the branches of the smallest to the greatest, even in winter time- the jungle never slumbers.  My tree sees all, knows all, feels all and stands upright yet pliable enough to take the calm with the storm.  Yes, I see myself in that tree and am remarkably proud of us both...."
 Walking A Ways 2010






Take care-

Thursday, January 21, 2010

privvy to toilets

Good morning.  You know how I am privvy to toilets, errrrr- outhouses.  I miss my own Mrs. Jones, and am anxious to see pictures of her new place of honor  in New Berlin Illinois.  My, my- Mrs. Jones does get around...
 We have been busy painting and renovating, adding a new bathroom for the meditative soakings that I miss so much.  We're still not quite done with the overhaul, but soon- VERY SOON I will be immersed in the elegance of an old clawfoot tub I've obtained.  Tubs are the one thing in the bathroom that need no code name for they have no shameful, embarressing attributes like their partner accessory- the toilet.
Why shouldn't we praise the throne?  After all- it is of daily necessity and as nostaligic as the outhouse, many royal and historical figures had volumes written of their great and mighty deeds on earth, and often when reading in depth of certain characters- their bathrooms are mentioned.  Such a personal icon- the toilet.  With that said and taken into context-( with no outhouse in sight) I have decided to make mine spectacular, stupendous and smile inducing.





I may not be in the lap of luxury, but by golly I'd hold my seat up to Cleopatra's throne any day!


A thoughtful, talented and wonderfully quirky artist from the great state of California made this here object of fine art just for yours truly!  Should you decide to add a little luster to your life, check out Sonya's wares at:


With that said, food for thought-mermaid mindset and all...be well.  Take care!  And may you never take  your "seat" for granted again...

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Love letters in a snowbank




Good morning...

There are things in this world that some might find mundane, but I tend to lean towards the everything-has-a-bit-of-excitement in it.  For instance-the stars out last night against the inkiest black sky were both brilliant and bright, and even though it was 3 degrees out on my deck- I had to strain my neck for a long time to gaze and gaze, being filled with the wonder of the same sky that blankets us all.  Here in Maine- with little light pollution, those stars overhead are magnificent, piercing and yes- even a bit humbling.

Seems all we've done since I've been here is paint and tear apart and add new this, gently used that...for several  months prior- the same thing was occupying all my time back at the farm.  Never the less- I have to build my  our  nest.   Isn't that exciting?  I have been saying "we" alot, and "our"...new vocabulary for me.  It's scary...and exciting.  Isn't it a wonderful thing- to actually share the joy and even some of the burden?  Well I do declare- the Big Fish is a wicked good partner.  Who knew, so late in life- that love could be so large and unintimidating?!  I had no hope at all...then this sweet man started sending me letters- long hand, paper letters, in the mail!  Oh how I miss those letters, running out to the mailbox and getting correspondence from as far away as Maine- love letters every one.  Sadly, the letters are few in my mail- but leave it to the sweetest man I know to trump the United States Postal Service-



And....



Love letters in a snowbank...


Sigh.....Guess I can muster the spirit to paint and build some more.  Wonder what the Big Fish will do to trump this?! 
 Between you and I dear readers, I hope he is still speaking to me after the weekend- I'm having a surprise birthday party for him on Saturday-midst all this chaos!  He's turning the "big ONE", use your imagination...and I, being a truewonder and all-who happens to believe that everyone should celebrate their birthday, even if no one else notices- am planning a kick a#@! , party like a Rock Star event.  And the BF, being kind of a shy man- has posted these love letters around the place, for my eyes only- God love him, I can see him blushing now...
.
(He rarely goes on the net...so no worries he'll see this)
Have a good one, take care-


Take care!