Road Trips

"We turn, we are a turning tribe--born into, borne by rotation--earth propelling us around its axis once a day, like a revolving door, while gravity deceives us into thinking that the sky is moving, we are standing still.
. . .Another trip around the sun--another turning--is what we are celebrating when we celebrate an anniversary. . .another journey of 574,380,400 miles. . .
These are major road trips when you think about it."
Marianne Wiggins, "The Shadow Catcher"

Words of Wisdom

I recently found a yellowed newspaper clipping, part of a column which warns
that you should distrust yourself when you are tempted to establish your own lifestyle as the norm by which others are to be judged. Included was a paragraph by St. Theresa written in the 16th century:

"Let us look at our own shortcomings and leave other people's alone; for those who live carefully ordered lives are apt to be shocked at everything, and we might well learn very important lessons from the persons who shock us. . .There is no reason why we should expect everyone else to travel by our own road, and we should not attempt to point them to the spiritual path when perhaps we do not know what it is."

Adventure in El Paso

Recently spent a week in El Paso with my daughter and family. Early one morning, Richard and I went to a near-by convenience store to purchase a newspaper. I went to the bathroom and got locked in! The door knob did not respond to any of my efforts. I knocked on the door and yelled "Help!"

Richard, of course, was reading the paper in the truck, waiting for me. It seemed like an eternity, but it was probably only 10 or 15 minutes, when I heard an employee on the other side of the door, removing the door knob plate.

I was so glad to get out of the windowless bathroom; I am slightly claustrophobic! It is a good thing the clerk was smiling and wearing a Circle
K name badge, because when I saw the 8 inch dagger-like knife blade he had used to remove the screws, I felt some anxiety! He put it in a holster on his belt. An unlicensed weapon?!

I suppose working the night shift in a convenience store makes one want to have protection. . .even though El Paso is remarkably safe even with Juarez
drug wars across the Rio Grande.

Mother-Love

Dedicated to my four daughters. . .

"Mother-love is not inevitable.
The good mother is a great artist, ever creating beauty out of chaos."

Alice Randall, novelist who wrote "The Wind Done Gone"
and the first black woman to write a #1 country song.

This message printed on the side of Starbucks styrofoam cup;)

Quilt Respect

A few days ago in misty cold weather, I pulled up behind a truck at a stop sign.
The pick-up bed was crammed with furniture, moving, I suppose. But draped over one bedstead was a pieced quilt in lovely colors. . .protecting the wood from scratches. I grieved because someone had labored hours on that work of art. Are my quilts destined to be throws to protect furniture during a move or
to serve as a bed for the dog??? Let it go, Carol, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will do what they will. It cannot be my problem;)

Friends

Recently I have been reflecting on the role of friends in my life. I have ever been drawn to high energy people who live in very creative ways. People who have a passion for important elements in their world, whether it is art, cooking, books, music, entertaining, decorating, traveling or other subjects too numerous to mention. People whose beliefs and values are woven into the way they live each day. People who have a radar for appreciation of cultures and who give of themselves to make a difference to others. People who make family and friends their top priority.

As a result, I have often felt humble and inadequate when I compare myself.
But I can see how these friends have shaped my life and made an indelible mark on who I am. Who would I be without them?!

A Prayer

In the book, "Home", by Marilynne Robinson, Jack struggles with alcohol addiction and is alienated from his large family. He returns as his minister father is dying, and one night at a family dinner, he reads the following prayer which he has written out on paper:

"Dear Father, you are patient and gracious beyond our understanding. . .You let us hope for forgiveness when we can find no way to forgive ourselves. You bless our lives even when we have shown ourselves to be utterly ungrateful and unworthy. May we be strengthened and renewed--to make us less unworthy of blessing, through these your gifts of sustenance, of friendship, and family."