Laughter sets the spirit free to move through even the most tragic of circumstances. It helps us shake our heads clear, get our feet back under us, restoring our sense of balance and purpose. Humor is integral to our peace of mind and to our ability to go beyond survival. ~ Captain Gerald Coffee
Remember the things that gave you joy as a child. Incorporate them into your life now. Find a way to have fun with everything you do. Let yourself express the joy of living. Laugh. Rejoice, and the Universe rejoices with you! ~ Louise Hay
We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. ~Frederick Keonig
My partner, Steph, wrote this song today. It says it all.
His face shines with triumphant light, with faith and dreams and pride,
His heart beats with a fervent hope for all he feels inside.
He says that we are better than fear and hate and spite,
As he holds out hope for all of us to conquer might with right.
And he's going back to Birmingham to reclaim what he's lost,
He never minds the danger and he never counts the cost;
He carries on the torch of hope, although the flame's been tossed,
Yes, he's going back to Birmingham, the road already crossed.
***
Her son has never known the hate upon dark hearts ingrained,
She would not have him learn that now after all that she has gained;
A daughter of the storm's recess, her hope now swells unchained,
As she teaches him to fully live the freedom that's remained.
And she's going back to Birmingham to reclaim what she's lost,
She never minds the danger and she never counts the cost;
And she still dares to have the hope upon her heart embossed,
Yes, she's going back to Birmingham, the road already crossed.
***
Our voices rise in one accord, "Equality for all!"
We will not trip or stumble, we will not shun the call;
Marching on the Freedom Trail with hope that will not pall,
Believing that the path we forge will lead to peace for all.
And we're going back to Birmingham to reclaim what we've lost,
We'll never mind the danger and we'll never count the cost;
And we still dare to dream the dream whose flame will not be tossed,
Yes we're going back to Birmingham, the road already crossed.
Going Back to Birmingham © 2008 S.K. Waller
Today I was honored by my new blog friend, Willow, with the Kreativ Blogger Award so to meet the conditions of acceptance I must, in turn, post six things that make me happy. So here goes...
1. I love the aroma of freshly percolated coffee. It reminds me of my Grandpa & Grandma's old Victorian farmhouse, and the aromas of coffee mingled with frying bacon & eggs. Happy memories from childhood...
2. The sound of Lauren's car as it pulls into the cul de sac, signaling that she's home for the weekend from college.
3. I love it on the weekends when Steph and I sit silently in our bedroom together, she in her chair at her laptop and me at the desk at my computer surfing the web, blogging, or whatever. Nothing has to be said or spoken. We're just together.
4. Watching Rachel Maddow on MSNBC and eating popcorn.
5. Wearing my gold & diamond "Journey Necklace" that Steph gave me for my last birthday.
6. Steph's laughter.
Steph is the insomniac while I'm the morning person. I confess, even on Saturday I can't sleep in and am most generally up before 7:00 a.m.. I love my early morning weekends when the house is quiet and everyone is sleeping in. I feed the cat and then retreat back upstairs to my computer where I don my headphones and go searching for music videos on YouTube. I search for new pieces that I can use in my "World's most beautiful music" posts, as well as find favorites to feature in other posts. Last year I did a series on Halloween music that everyone seemed to enjoy and at Christmas I posted videos relating to my childhood memories of Christmas.
But today, in the midst of all of the political turmoil and fears of a faltering economy, I needed to find a peaceful oasis, so I found this from one of my favorite ladies with one of the most soothing and incredible voices ever, Rosemary Clooney. Just what the doctor ordered to calm the frazzled nerves.
I awakened this morning with a raging headache, body aches, and a slight fever. I'm not sure what was going on, but after I called in sick at work, I went back to bed and slept until around 11:30. I'm feeling somewhat better, albeit a little on the edge.
Needless to say, I don't have the mental energy to write a blog entry or to even go surfing the web for the latest political low down, so I'm just going to post this video of one of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite old movies from when I was a child, "State Fair" starring Jeanne Crane. The song, "It Might as Well Be Spring" describes my mood at present.
I've just finished reading a powerful book entitled, American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America by Chris Hedges. This book exposes the agenda of people like James Dobson, Timothy LaHaye, Pat Robertson and the like and brings to light their push for power and how they have become bedfellows with conservative, right-wing politicians, as well as with mega corporations like Wal Mart, large industry, big oil corporations, and manufacturing to form a base so powerful as to take over the entire structure of this nation and usher in a totalitarian, theocratic, government.
It is a must-read for anyone who is concerned about the direction in which this country has been heading under the current administration and a wake-up call to all who are dedicated to the preservation of liberty, equality, and freedom in this land we call "America".
Click here to see the Amazon.com link
I went to work this morning without even giving it a second thought. When I got to work, I saw the school bus go by and it dawned on me that today was the first day of school. And then it hit me--"I didn't take anyone to school today!" With Lauren starting at OU in 10 days and Heather starting at OSU on Monday, (my son lives with his dad in Oklahoma City), I've entered a new phase in my life.
Today I started collecting boxes for Lauren to pack her things in. She's moving out. She now has her own apartment, and in less than two weeks she will be out of the nest. I'm not really sure how I feel about it yet.
I've never been much of a coffee drinker. I'm not particularly fond of it, and if I drink too much of it, it gives me a headache. However, I've always been rather partial to the aroma. I love to walk by coffee shops and/or cafes and take in the delicious aroma of all the various brews. I most especially like the smell of coffee when mingled with the redolence of eggs and bacon frying in a skillet. It always triggers something in me that leaves me feeling warm and content. One day I sat down and tried to figure out what it was about these aromas that were so appealing to me and it quickly came to me that they brought back some very pleasant childhood memories.
My maternal grandparents lived on a large farm near Bowden, a small rural community just between Tulsa and Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Their house was a large Victorian, built a few years before statehood, (that was in 1907). It was two storied with a creaky wooden stairway, a front parlor, a dining room, and kitchen in the back, with a squeaky wooden screen door that locked with a metal hook. It had a huge wrap-around porch with a gigantic oak tree in the front. Grandpa hung a tire swing from one of the branches for us to swing on. I'm not sure how many acres he had, but it was quite a lot. He had cattle & chickens, two large ponds that he kept stocked with catfish, a big wooden barn with cats, a huge vegetable garden laden with lettuce, tomatoes, squash, peas, green beans, carrots, sweet potatoes, and corn, fruit orchards with peaches and pears, red & green peppers of several varieties, blackberry & raspberry bushes, and a flower garden. There were streams and meadows, and lots of places to run and play. It was a childhood dreamland.
One of my fondest memories is waking up early in the mornings to the smells of bacon and eggs frying in Grandma's cast iron skillet, and freshly ground coffee perking in the percolator, (this was before automatic drip coffee makers). I would try to sneak down the creaky wooden stairs in my footie pajamas, down the hallway, through the dining room, past the huge gas stove, to the kitchen doorway. I'd hide for just a second and then I'd jump out, shouting, "BOO!". Grandma would always jump and pretend to be startled. "You SCARED me!", she would exclaim, although I knew she was kidding because there was no way that she couldn't have known I was coming, between the squeaky stairway and creaking floorboards.
Years later, the aromas of bacon frying and coffee brewing always bring these happy memories forward and I am reminded of how very blessed I was to have grown up with such experiences. As a child I didn't understand that it wasn't like this for every child, and that one day I would cherish these memories, and even long for those early mornings at Grandpa and Grandma's farm.
UPDATE: JUNE 16, 2008
I received a phone call from my dad in Tulsa informing me that Grandma had collapsed in her nursing home room sometime during the night. She is currently in the hospital battling a number of infections in her intestines as well as pneumonia. She is 96 years old.
One of the most enjoyable things about sitting out on our patio is watching the cat as she goes about doing her "cat thing" in the backyard. Cats are fascinating creatures, and ours loves it when we all come out to sit on the patio. Our backyard is small, but we have created an oasis where we retreat on warm summer evenings and on weekends. And Sweetie is never happier than when we're all out there. That yard is her domain and she is content to jump up onto the 8 ft wooden privacy fence and walk up and down the rails, scouting out the numerous birds that fly dangerously close, while we all watch her, and laugh out loud over how she tries to balance the fence rail at the same time she's leaping up, trying to snag one of those winged dive bombers, that are trying to divert her attention from the nest they've built in the corner of the patio overhang.
One evening, as Steph observed how the cat tried to keep her balance in the corner of the fence, she got the idea to build her a small perch behind the rose trellis, right in the northwest corner. Steph went out and bought a cheap piece of plywood and nailed it right onto the railing, as well as the the trellis. I've never seen a cat take to anything more quickly! Sweetie spent the whole evening on her perch, scouting, observing, and sunning--just the perfect place for a cat!
In the depths of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.
~ Albert Camus, French philosopher and writer, 1913-1960
Yesterday was a big day at our house. Heather graduated from high school and the whole family and a number of our friends were here to help her celebrate her accomplishments. A special thanks goes to Steph who worked hard the entire week on getting the house ready and on the wonderful food for the reception. It was really amazing! Here are a few pictures! (Taken with our brand new digital camera!)
Today began with my going to the gym to get my work out done before the rest of the day's activities overtake me. Heather graduates from high school today and we have family and friends coming in from out of town to help us celebrate this milestone in Heather's life. Next I have to get out the ironing board and iron the outfit that I plan to wear this evening, as well as iron Heather's graduation gown. Then I plan to help Steph with all of the last minute cleaning--vacuuming, etc.
I'll check back in tomorrow with pictures from graduation and Heather's party...
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a post about how everything seemed to be going to hell in a hand basket, how life had just taken a proverbial dump on us, all at one time and left us reeling. Well, now we've experienced a complete reversal of fortune! It's totally amazing!
1. I got the first of several IRS refund installments on Monday, (it's too complicated to explain here), which has given us the financial boost we needed to get us out of the pit and put us on solid financial ground.
2. My ex called and said that he had just bought a new car and said that he had been planning on giving the car he was driving to Lauren. Since Lauren doesn't return from France until June, he said that if I would continue to pay the insurance on it that I could drive it until I can get my van fixed and Lauren gets back! (Thank-you Dan!!)
3. We found out today that Steph got the job as a web developer that she applied for and she starts tomorrow! Not only that, they offered her the position at 50 cents higher an hour than what they had originally quoted. In addition to that, she contracted with another huge client to create two new web sites for him!
4. I recovered from the bronchitis/pneumonia and am back teaching and back at Chamber Singers rehearsals!
Now I'm doing the GRATITUDE DANCE!
I’m not sure why you have decided that after four years of having no contact with my children that it was necessary or even appropriate for you to do so. In fact, if I’m not mistaken, I believe that you have a DHS order prohibiting you from any contact with them. But, since Lauren is no longer a minor, I guess you thought that she was once again, fair game.
Pathetic really, that a forty-some-year-old woman would find it necessary and/or amusing to continue to harass and abuse a 19-year-old girl who has done nothing but move on with her life, (after enduring four years of abuse from you), and put herself on the road to success and happiness. It speaks loudly to the kind of person you are and to the fact that after all the experiences of the past and all the abuse that my children endured at your hand, you’ve done nothing to rehabilitate yourself, nor have you learned a thing. It speaks even more loudly of Lauren, 
who through the strength of her character, has endured, persevered, moved-past, and conquered the abuse you so cruelly wielded in her direction for four years, and has grown into a beautiful, intelligent, courageous, compassionate, loving, and successful young woman. Lauren graduated with a 4.0 GPA, with top honors from her high school, last May, and is now a foreign exchange student with Rotary International in Brittany, France. After she returns home in June she will begin college at the University of Oklahoma where she will double major in French and Spanish with a goal towards a career in the field of International Relations and/or International Business. The fact that you find it necessary to seek her out and attack her on her weblog, when she has done nothing to you only brings to light how pathetic an individual you really are, as well as exposes your jealousy of her, and points directly back at you.
You know, I really never received the opportunity to tell you exactly what I think of you after you abused my children and verbally assassinated the characters of my partner and her son. The damage you did to my family was extensive and the wounds deep. Fortunately, in the nearly four years since my children have been back with me, much healing has taken place, and the damage you inflicted has been repaired, albeit the scars remain. Your manipulations, lies, emotional & physical abuse, fear tactics, and verbal attacks nearly did them in, and it is beyond me how they held up underneath it all. Again, it is a testimony to their character, and to the raising they had before they were exposed to you. I fully understand that what you did was done out of your own pain and abusive past, but it is beyond me how you could be so self-centered and turned-in not to realize that inflicting abuse on others because you were abused is not an acceptable way of dealing with your own pain. In fact, I know you know it’s not ok. But you did it anyway, and that, quite frankly is inexcusable. So no, I will not let you off the hook here by allowing you to plead innocent because you’re an abuse victim yourself. You’re an adult and have been for a long time now, and it’s time for you to grow up and deal with your past, be accountable for your own actions and quit abusing those around you. Get help, Kathy. You need it badly, and god knows your children need it.
I close this with a warning that if you continue to stalk and harass any of my three children on the web, I will not hesitate to inform DHS, for two of my children are still minors. And I will also remind you that internet stalking is a crime, and I will not hesitate to prosecute you accordingly.
Go now, and get the help you need.
To all my friends who sent me best wishes in 2007, or promises of good luck if I forwarded something: IT DIDN'T WORK! So instead, in 2008, please send money, chocolate, or gas vouchers.
Thank-you.
Everyone has experienced hearing an old song on the radio and having the memories flood in of a time and place in their life when that particular song was the "background music" to their life, so throughout the month of January, I thought it would be fun to delve into the 70's which were my high school years, and bring back some of those songs that comprised the soundtrack of my life.
I have to begin with Barry Manilow. I admit it, I was, (and still am), a big Manilow fan. His music resonated with me as a teenager, and thirty years later, it stirs up many happy memories, and still resonates with me. Simply stated, it is solid, sound, well-composed music, and it is timeless. That was/is his genius. It was difficult for me to choose which one I would post--there were so many--I Write the Songs, Mandy, Copacabana, I Made it Through the Rain--but in the end, it had to come down to, Could it be magic, which is based on the Chopin Prelude in C minor.
The spiritual practice of gratitude has been called a state of mind and a way of life. But we prefer to think of it as a grammar — an underlying structure that helps us construct and make sense out of our lives. The rules of this grammar cover all our activities. Its syntax reveals a system of relationships linking us to the divine and to every other part of the creation.
To learn the grammar of gratitude, practice saying "thank you" for happy and challenging experiences, for people, animals, things, art, memories, dreams. Count your blessings, and praise God. Utter blessings, and express your appreciation to everything and everyone you encounter. By blessing, we are blessed.
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| Lynette Erwin |
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