Road trip!

I'm headed back to the reservation for a few days;

not to work for HFH,

but to just 'be' with friends;

to celebrate the Lakota culture,

to hear the drums,

watch the dancers

and, if so inclined,

to eat fried food on a stick!

There may be star quilts involved;

 

farm implements will definitely 

impede our progress at times.

I'll be back when the call of open spaces loses its hold on me ...

as if that's likely to happen.

I've used the expression before -

and I suspect you'll hear me say it again...

"You can take the girl out of the ER 

but you can't take the ER out of the girl."

In my new life, 

I don't often miss 'the drama of the trauma'

but my sensibilities have been forever warped 

from over three decades on the front lines.

Nothing is free from double entendre;

there's no such thing as an innocent remark.

So you can't imagine how much these re-titled children's books spoke to my heart!

It was like coming home - 

leading to ugly uncontrollable laughing;

There may have been involuntary peeing involved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and I KNOW we had this one when I was growing up - 

since my father was a postal employee!

Good times!

Almost makes me miss being in the ER ...

almost.

Be still my heart!

It was wonderful -
a bibliophiles nirvana!

 The Annual Book Fair was held this weekend -
and, as someone who has attended every year
and distinctly remembers when it was in
the damp, dark basement of the YMCA
in South City,
this was a HUGE improvement.

 I got a kick out of some of the signs ...
someone was feeling 'judgy'!

 

And, frankly, my dear,

the volumes in that section weren't any different 

than the paperback versions in 

"Mass Market"!

 

For less than $20.00,

I got some reads I'm looking forward to,

along with a compliment about my 'eclectic taste".

What a great morning!

"Books fall open, you fall in”

 David T.W. McCord
~~~~~~~~~~

It won't come as a surprise to anyone that my sons are both 'readers' as well.

The youngest and his wife have decided to decorate the nursery 
for "Tater" (aka "The Tot")
in a book related theme ...

Can't wait to see the finished project! 

Impetus for me to get those books read before he comes;
I'm finishing #5 now, so I should be in good shape.

No spoilers! 

What to do in the darkness

Go slowly. 

Consent to it 

but don’t wallow in it. 

Know it as a place of germination 

and growth. 

Remember the light. 

Take an outstretched hand 

if you find one.

Exercise unused senses.

Find the path by walking it.

Practice trust.

Watch for dawn 

Marilyn Chandler McEntyre

I understand, I really do.

Recently, several friends have posted that they’re considering

a moratorium from social media.

They don’t want to see any more political posts, 

divisive memes 

or opinion pieces about current affairs that are ‘must reads’ 

on their news feeds. 

They’ve made impassioned pleas

for a return to images of

 flowers, 

grandchildren, 

vacation spots, 

kittens and puppies, 

with an occasional self-deprecating e-card

or inspirational saying 

delivered with obligatory gorgeous scenery.

They've added the threat

 (perhaps promise) 

to unfriend anyone who violates their space 

with anything remotely resembling a partisan viewpoint.

To which I can only lovingly respond by saying,
"Bye, bye".

I understand the longing to live a curated life 
 with only the best, most lighthearted aspects of ourselves on display;
to think that like minded 'friends' live similarly idyllic lives
and that we share the same bright harmonic future.

I understand;
I hope it won't rock your world to have someone point out
that you're living in a fantasy world.

The broader social contract under which we live our communal life together
is fraying and coming apart at the seams.

Values and standards which were once guideposts
are no longer seen as markers for a way forward together.

No matter which political candidate wins the election in November,
we have lost as a country.

An evil genie has been let out of the bottle
and there's no putting it back in.

But being complicit isn't the way forward.

Those who acquiesce in the evil done by others 
bear responsibility for that evil.
Those who remain quiet when the demagogue speaks 
give their support to the demagogue.
Those who remain indifferent to the quiet voices of hatred
encourage such voices to speak more loudly.

Robert McAfee Brown

I won't be silent.
The consequences are too steep;
the price too high.

But, in the interest of friends who prefer pictures of animals ...

does that help?

Reality check

or is seeing the only believing? 

Have we become so dependent on media, 

on images, 

that only if the reality is shown to us 

in all its heartbreaking simplicity

can we truly believe its happening?

Do we honestly believe Omran is the only child impacted by the war in Syria?

Do we honestly believe there aren't children  

in this country 

who sit in stunned shock every day -

victims of rape, abuse, poverty, hunger and neglect?

I can tell you there are.

I saw a steady progression of them,

day after day,

month after month,

year after year,

decade after decade

in the Emergency room.

I could have taken pictures that rivaled this one for its shock value -

were it not for a little thing like privacy laws.

I'm not diminishing the indictment for all of us

encapsulated in this picture -

a silent cry to recognize the pain 

that adults bear responsibility for inflicting on our children.

But, after we cry for Omran,

lets push up our sleeves and get busy 

making the world a safer place for ALL our children.

BTW -

does anyone else recognize the seeds that have been planted

in this child's soul

that may erupt, in full bloom,

 as the anger, mistrust and hatred

that leads to terrorism?

How's that for a reality check?

Note to self:

Wild places are reminders that the world doesn't revolve around us.

 It doesn't care about our little successes or smashing failures.

 The tides ebb and flow and the seasons change
regardless of how we live or die.

That doesn't mean our lives don't matter;
it only asks that we keep things in perspective.

 If you want to be sure
that you are nothing more than small
stand at the edge of the ocean
looking out

In a world of
self absorption,
worry
and
preoccupation with acquiring material 'things',
a daily dose of nature
might be just the remedy.

For now,
here in the Midwest,
I'll just start small.

Tomales

That's not to say the town my son is settled in 

doesn't have its own unique charm...

 

 

 but I'd bet the boy would prefer 

I NOT be the 252 person in town!

I'll give him some space - 

even if I could be quite content in a small bungalow like this.

But, as long as I'm dreaming,

I'll move a bit further up the coast

so THIS would be my front yard.

Excuse me while I go buy a lottery ticket!

Exploring

Even in paradise, reality intrudes.

Besides BBQing catering events,
doing DJ work and painting in his studio,
my son works on an organic farm -

straight from the fields to the market.

Greens, all vegetables, fruits,
even almonds;

no waiting for refrigerated trucks loaded with boxes ...
just food walked in from the fields.

The farm is very well known and supplies many of the organic restaurants in San Francisco.

 As fascinating as the whole process is to witness -
and I do believe its Gods work, -
on the days when he had to be there,
his cousin and I were not going to just sit around and wait for him
or spend all day with him at work;
a decision I'm sure his boss appreciated.

We had exploring to do.

I'll just say two words:

Bolinas 

Saulsilito.

Two small towns with old hippie/new age vibes

that are directly on my frequency!

 

 

 

I want this!

I'll admit it was in Bolinas that I fell in love -

because ...

rust and aqua...

Swoon!

 a garage with a matching stained glass window

 

and a truck that says HI.

(yes, I know that stands for Harvester International ...

but it's HI nonetheless!)

As soon as I win the lottery, look for me in either of these places!

Maybe working here -

to be surrounded by beauty 

while earning some 'pin money'.

 

 

 

 Come on,

it could happen!