Coming soon …

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While all my neighbors have beautifully decorated their homes with festive Christmas lights and wreaths, my house remains in darkness.  This is very uncharacteristic of me, since I am usually seen — precariously standing up on a ladder (with whimsical outdoor tree ornaments strewn everywhere)  — the day after Thanksgiving.  Not this year.  My neighbors have been glancing quizzically at me, wondering if something is terribly wrong.  They don’t know that I’m spending most of my time on my book —which I will  finish by the 21st.  So, if I need to look like Ebenezer Scrooge for a few weeks, so be it.

When the book is done, my neighbors will be stunned.  My house will be lit like the Las Vegas strip!  I will be singing the Hallelujah Chorus at the top of my lungs!  That is, if  I get my voice back.

Until then ….

Never underestimate a turtle

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“Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don’t feel I should be doing something else.”
~  Gloria Steinem 

Except maybe home reno projects.

One would think that working on a number of book projects in tandem would accomplish less than simply focusing on one piece at a time. Not so.  Although, I speak only for myself.  Allocating time for each book actually helps me to be more productive. By alternating between manuscripts, I am able to resume work on each one — with fresh (and critical) eyes.  Nothing gets stale. And the manuscripts continually get refined, which streamlines the final editing stage.

That is my usual writing process. However, for the past few weeks, I’ve veered away from the regular routine, since becoming completely immersed in my book of short stories — Casualties of the Recession Depression.  I am so passionate and excited about this piece, that I can’t seem to switch gears.  The result of all this writing enthusiasm is that I will have a completely finished manuscript imminently.  By year’s end (think Mayan).

Yes, the turtle is reaching the finish line!  (If my chronic bronchitis doesn’t kill me first).  My desk is a sea of kleenex tissues and cough drops. My husband is worried that I may be coughing up my own vocal cords, but I reminded him that there are benefits losing my voice:  Silence.  See, the cup is always half full, never half empty!

Although —between you, me and the lamp post — he’ll probably miss the constant yapping.

Stay tuned …

The real meaning of Thanksgiving

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“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.”

— Mother Teresa

On Thursday, millions of Americans (citizens and permanent residents alike)  — of all faiths — will gather with family and friends to give thanks for the blessings of life.   There is a lot to be thankful for.  And, to those of us who will be enjoying a bountiful Thanksgiving feast, we should bow our heads in sincere and humble gratitude. 

Not everyone will be as fortunate.  Missions, food banks, and shelters will be overwhelmed with people seeking a Thanksgiving meal.  They will rely on the kindness of strangers —  people like you and I,  who donate food and money to organizations that exist for no other reason than to feed the hungry in our respective communities.

“For it is in giving that we receive.”

—  St. Francis

So, as you fill up your pantries with festive food, please remember to keep some aside to share with those in need.  If you can, volunteer an hour or two of your time to serve meals at your local mission.  The staff could really use your help.  There are more hungry and homeless people this year than last year. 

And, if you know someone who is suffering financially or who will be all alone this Thanksgiving, why not set an extra place setting at your dinner table and extend some hospitality? A little humanity will go a long way. 

After all, isn’t that what Thanksgiving is about?

 Many seasonal blessings to you and yours, dear readers!

A Thanksgiving Prayer

In the spirit of humility we give thanks for all that is.
We thank the great spiritual beings who have shared their wisdom.
We thank our ancestors who brought us to where we are now.
We are grateful for the opportunity to walk this planet,
to breathe the air,
to taste the food,
to experience sensations of a human body/mind,
to share in this wonder that is life.
We are grateful for the natural world that supports us,
for the community of humankind that enables us to do many wonderous things.
We are grateful that we are conscious,
that as intelligent beings we can reflect upon the many gifts we have been given.

— Tom Barrett

Veterans Day in the United States — Celebrating the service of all U.S. military veterans

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“When an American says that he loves his country, he means not only that he loves the New England hills, the prairies glistening in the sun, the wide and rising plains, the great mountains, and the sea.  He means that he loves an inner air, an inner light in which freedom lives and in which a man can draw the breath of self-respect. “

~ Adlai Stevenson (1900 – 1965), American Politician and Diplomat

Today (November 11) is Veterans Day, here in America.  It is a day when we pause to honor the brave men and women who serve in uniform, who fought and continue to fight so that we can all enjoy that wonderful privilege — Freedom.

It is an opportunity for us to thank the veterans who stormed the beaches during World War II,  the men and women who served tour after tour in distant lands such as Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan — and all the battles before, after and in between.

Their bravery has not gone unnoticed.  Today — and always — we salute them.

Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth

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“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.”

~ John Diefenbaker (1895 – 1979), 13th Prime Minister of Canada

Remembrance Day is to the commonwealth countries (such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Malta, Australia and New Zealand, to mention but a few) what Memorial Day is to the United States. It is observed each year,  on November 11 — in commemoration of the day when World War I ended.

The most famous Remembrance Day poem, In Flanders Fields,  was written by Canadian John McCrae on May 3, 1915, the day after he saw his friend (Lieutenant Alexis Helmer) die.  A doctor, poet and WWI soldier, Lieutenant Colonel McCrae tended to the injured during the Second Battle of Ypres in the western part of Belgium.

Freedom. They fought for it. They died for it.  And we savour this freedom (with gratitude) — because of them.

Lest we forget.

Bamboo rising

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Since my earlier blog post, The spirit of bamboo, the stalk (see my photo, above) has grown about ten more feet into the sky and is now sprouting bamboo leaves!  It is now approximately 20 feet above the roof line and continues to grow.  We are in awe. 

What’s equally stunning is the late night view, when the Belt of Orion (a constellation of three bright, evenly spaced stars — lined up in a vertical row) seems to be positioned (each night) to the right of the upper part of our bamboo stalk.  Unfortunately, my camera is not good enough to capture this beauteous nighttime wonder, but this photo (see photo, left) will show you what the constellation looks like at night (just imagine the bamboo stalk to the left of the Belt).

We have a grove of bamboo trees, but this one stalk simply keeps growing and growing.  So, I decided to do some research on the divine and symbolic attributes of bamboo.

And that is when I came upon The 7 Life Lessons from Bamboo by Sompong Yusoontorn:

These are very wise and true words, indeed. 

For the moment, however, let’s cast symbolism and meaning aside — instead, simply savour the beauty of this bamboo.  And without fail, each night, the trio of stars keep reappearing — twinkling brightly  alongside this statuesque stalk.  And again, and again, we are in awe.

Whispering “goodbyes”

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“I dropped a tear in the ocean. The day you find it is the day I will stop missing you.”   ~ Author Unknown

As many of you know, the challenges and triumphs of the Baby Boom Generation are the focus of much of my non-fiction writing (and some of my fiction pieces).  As a Baby Boomer myself,  I am acutely aware that we owe our existence, our freedoms, and our prosperity to the men and women who endured, fought, and won some of the most grueling battles and economic downturns in the 20th century, such as World War Two and the Great Depression.  American television journalist Tom Brokaw dubbed them “The Greatest Generation.”   They were our grandparents, great uncles and great aunts or our parents, uncles and aunts (depending on when you were born … the Baby Boomer scale runs from 1946 to 1964).

Many are no longer with us — some have passed in recent years, while others are soon to follow.  My friends (from the later 1958-1964 BB scale), like myself, have recently lost or are in the process of losing one or both of their parents.  It’s heart-wrenching, having to say goodbye to the ones who have played such a pivotal role in your life.

To my dear friends (you know who you are) who are coping with recent (or soon to be) losses, please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.  I’m only a phone call away and I’ve been where you are now.  Much love, h.

“The heart that has truly loved never forgets,
but as truly loves on to the close.
You may break; you may shatter the vase, if you will,
but the scent of the roses will hang ’round it still.
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal.”

~ Thomas Moore (1779-1852)

The spirit of bamboo

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“It is the elite plant from Asia, the inspiration for countless myths, the manifestation of perfection, both flexible and strong in structure: Bamboo. Stories tell the tale of its nature. Gods display themselves through it. To be sure, bamboo serves as a symbol of luck and the image of long life….

The spirituality of bamboo in Taoism is ascribed to its behavior during a storm: the evergreen bamboo bends to the forces of nature and yet returns unbroken to its original state. Patience, steadfastness, and the blessings of the gods are symbolized through these properties.” (from lotao.com)

We planted a grove of bamboo trees on the side of our home here in Coconut Grove. It’s the part of the garden that inspires meditation and relaxation — a place to read a good book and be still.  Not surprisingly, our divine dog (11½ -year old black Lab, Bacchus) has decided that this part of the garden is his special place to lie down and catch a few zzzzz’s.

What has amazed us is that only in the space of 1 week (I jest you not, ONE WEEK!), this particular bamboo stalk has soared up to the sky, approximately 18 feet over the adjacent Royal Ponciana tree!

We keep gawking at this bamboo stalk, in sheer amazement. 

Is this a sign that “the best is yet to come?”  I’d like to think so.

In the meantime, we shall keep raising our eyes in the same direction of our wonderful bamboo …. upwards, always upwards.

(P.S.  the fireplace chimney — original to this 1928 cottage — is pure coral. Coral is the native stone of South Florida.  Whenever one tries to plant into the ground, one hits coral after about a foot of digging. Another one of nature’s blessings).

Goodbye, my huckleberry friend

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Moon River

Moon river, wider than a mile
I’m crossing you in style some day
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you’re goin’, I’m goin’ your way

Two drifters, off to see the world
There’s such a lot of world to see
We’re after the same rainbow’s end, waitin’ ’round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me

(moon river, wider than a mile)
(I’m crossin’ you in style some day)
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you’re goin’, I’m goin’ your way

Two drifters, off to see the world
There’s such a lot of world to see
We’re after that same rainbow’s end, waitin’ ’round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me

I have come out of hibernation to pay homage to a man who I grew up watching and listening to — Andy Williams.  I remember curling up on the sofa, comfy in my pjs, eager to watch the Andy Williams Show.  I especially liked to watch his show over the Christmas holidays.  There he would be, dressed smartly in trousers and a wool turtleneck sweater, fireplace burning in the background.  The smile on his mouth always, always reached his eyes.  And then he’d sing.  Christmas Carols, my mother’s favorite (Days of Wine and Roses), and my all-time treat — Moon River.  I know, I know, I’m showing my age. Never mind. That was a simpler, more wholesome time. How I miss those days!

Another one of the good ones has bid us “Farewell.”  What a lovely legacy he has left behind.  A man of integrity with smiling eyes, a silken voice, and songs that remind us of once upon a time.

Howard Andrew (“Andy”) Williams

1927-2012

Image via americanprofile.com.

For the love of a dog

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Dogs are truly Divine creatures.  I found this poem and thought I would share it with all you dog lovers out there.

Grow Old with Dogs

“When I am old…. I will wear soft gray sweatshirts, and a bandanna over my silver hair, and I will spend my social security checks on wine and my dogs.

I will sit in my house on my well-worn chair and listen to my dogs breathing. I will sneak out in the middle of a warm summer night and take my dogs for a run, if my old bones will allow.

When people come to call…… I will smile and nod as I show them my dogs…… and talk of them and about them; the ones so beloved of the past and the ones so beloved today.

I will still work hard cleaning after them, mopping and feeding them and whispering their names in a soft loving way. I will wear the gleaming sweat on my throat, like a jewel and I will be an embarrassment to all…especially my family…. who have not yet found the peace in being free  to have dogs as your very best friends.

These friends who will always wait at any hour, for your footfall…. and eagerly jump to their feet out of a sound sleep, to greet you as if you are a God.

With warm eyes full of adoring love and hope that you will always stay, I’ll hug their big strong necks….. I’ll kiss their dear sweet heads…… and whisper in their very special company.

I look in the Mirror…… ..And see I am getting old. This is the kind of person I am and have always been. Loving dogs is easy, they are part of me. Please accept me for who I am. My dogs appreciate my presence in their lives… they love my presence in their lives.

When I am old, this will be important to me. You will understand when you grow old…… if you have dogs to love too.”

— Author Unknown