OUCH++##!!!<><@>

Neil Gaiman, (English born American Novelist, Journalist, Screenwriter, Children's author and Comics writer of American Gods, amongst many others, b.1960) Pens a brilliant take on hating love:
"Have you ever been in love? Horrible isn't it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up. You build up all these defenses, you build up a whole suit of armor, so that nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life...You give them a piece of you. They didn't ask for it. They did something dumb one day, like kiss you or smile at you, and then your life isn't your own anymore. Love takes hostages. It gets inside you. It eats you out and leaves you crying in the darkness, so simple a phrase like 'maybe we should be just friends' turns into a glass splinter working its way into your heart. It hurts. Not just in the imagination. Not just in the mind. It's a soul-hurt, a real gets-inside-you-and-rips-you-apart pain. I hate love."

Happy Birthday Twins!

Yes Happy Birthday you crazy puddin-head twins!!! Born Monday, September 23, 1957, Mark arrived at 7:11 AM and Mary showed-up at 7:14 AM.
Here's to you Mark Allen Joseph and Mary Ellen.

What a combo. We tore it up, had a good run, sliced, diced, peeled and pounced on life together. The twin-ness made life pretty interesting and full of special stuff, happy to say; were treated to extra goodness, extra fun, extra love and extra-ordinary times together. I'll never forget you brother. I'm thinking of you today and of course recall many moments you and I lived-out in such a way... not time nor space can take away.

Alvin and Chipmunks featuring David Seville, ah yes those were the days of hanging around the record player with a nickle holding down the needle to keep it from skipping as Alvin, Theadore, Simon and ring leader David sang their way through The Witch Doctor with little Mark and Mary listening and playing that wild, wacky number over and over and over again. Pure gold! Pure magic! Puro (pure) Fun for the twins!!!

The Witch Doctor

Them, They, Those, Ours, Others, Us, We, You, Me

Fireflies ~ Today I saw a women who was wearing a skirt. Her legs looked like they had been badly burned. She had to have overcome so much physical and emotional pain but the scars remain. I wondered what caused those horrendous wounds. Was she the victim of someones cruelty? Did she fall into a bathtub with scalding hot water? What happened? I thanked God she was seemingly fine now, able to walk about, an attractive women who walked with purpose. Also thankful for anyone who cared for, loved and helped her to heal and those who love and care for her now. The precept; "There go I but for the Grace of God." comes to mind, from a letter the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians; ...But for the grace shown to me was not wasted. Instead, I worked harder than the others, not I, of course, but God's Grace that was with me.

Later in the day I saw another women in a wheel chair traversing her way across traffic moving, rolling in the direction of a parking lot. It required extra effort on her part and I'm sure is the general nature of her life, in contrast to what able bodied people do without barriers. The women in the wheel chair, so often going face to face with obstacles. I retreated again, to a place of prayer for all of those who have so much to bear in they're lives, down trodden, heavy hearted, afflicted in some way by poor health, economic hardship, social discourse, unbalance, constant unrest... It is humbling and right that I remind myself to take stock of my countless blessings, the abundance, comfort and conveniences.

The Dalai Lama said; "This is my simple religion; There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is KINDNESS." It makes sense and very much within humanities scope. Our sensibilities realize this innately. Prayer, simple prayer, ....a holy thought, taking only a moment to project kindness, compassion. We can emit these priceless and essential neccesities of the soul.

I believe, IOU me, for showing me how to offer LOVE and PEACE. I promise to pass along simple yet powerful prayer, reassured that somehow in the whole vibrational scheme of things and sphere of life it truly matters and makes a difference...resonates and is bigger than all the aching and pains of life.

Sincerely,
me

Still there

See the moon tonight? It's fancy and simple, shiny, brand new and ancient. The lunar connection to the earth is strong, big-dot-spot-on. The vast distance is like an optical illusion and lures you into it's creamy, ivory center, filled with possibilities, perplexities and powerful presence... stubborn alabaster orb, refusing to wear-out, tire or get bored, baths us with it's light. The round, puffy, crisp, clean buttery profile presents it's fantastic familiar face... broad, bold, quietly beaming it's radiant brilliance relentlessly over and over again until other dimensions, time and space decree a difference.

The moon is still there after all this time and so many years later, hovering, suspended in nothing, the cosmos, a galactic sea of space, storms, atmospheric phenomenon, prancing and dancing about draped in prisms, particles, dust, delight, sights, sounds, solar synchronicity moving at a seemingly symphonic pace, waltzing, gliding in slow motion toward unknown and unimagined places without a beginning or an end only to start all over again.

Still there, taking transient residence in the recesses of the mind. The rhythm of life responds simultaneously... subtle and stark as the heavens vibrate and whisper attempting to wreck havoc in our hearts and heads and create perfect harmony and bliss all at once. The ocean tides turn, currents twist, babies stir, animals pace, emergencies unravel, souls search and one way or another even the steadfast and calm are affected by it's mysterious, mercurial maneuvers in the sky high, far away leaving us forlorn, feeling forsaken and yearning for more.

Harvest Moon

Robert Louis Stevenson wrote; "The world is so full of a number of things, I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings." including a stop you dead in your tracks, bigger than life, bigger than little thoughts, bigger than any nagging negativity or struggle... simply breathtaking view of the big, bright, beautiful full harvest moon that plays hide and seek as we walk and watch in awe of it's glow... spellbinding, large, so lovely and luminous, majestically, mythodically, slowly making it's wonderous way over the clear blue sky, for you to see and feel it's restless yet reassuring rays casting luxurious undeniable light on us all, for me as I gaze upon it's tranquil, serene and highly spirited aura emitting from it's own radiance. I wonder, wait, look, pray for everything, everyone, everywhere, entrenched with the magic of this fleeting moment, still wishing this peace and calm, cool placid air and place in time could last much longer and look forward to the next time the amazing moon glows in all it's grand glory ~

Another dark day "in infamy"

The images of September 11, 2001 are a chilling reminder of yet another dark day "in infamy," when the place we call home is blindsided, left shell-shocked, grief-stricken and bewildered. It is not likely we will ever forget, that day so reminiscent of the day JFK was assasinated, November 22, 1963. We who were around as children, can recall all these years later, vivid details of the time when it seemed like the whole world wept with despair, everything was dark, our country desperate for comfort amid the chaos, like so many countries, countrymen and women then and now still crying out for justice and peace yet without a voice, seeking solace, safety, a sanctuary to protect them and loved-ones from the harshness of others.

What I feel compelled to share with you, while looking at the pictures, which to me is a reminder of the cruelty humanity is capable of incurring upon one another...something Kahlil Gibran, Lebanese-American, artist, poet, writer, philosopher and theologian wrote in the 1920's and is particularly prophetic, profound and timeless; "THE BUTTERFLY WILL CONTINUE TO HOVER OVER THE FIELD AND THE DEWDROPS WILL STILL GLITTER UPON THE GRASS WHEN THE PYRAMINDS OF EGYPT ARE LEVELED AND THE SKYSCRAPERS OF NEW YORK ARE NO MORE."
Peace and love to you precious friend

Soldier-Up to Bombs, Bullets and Broken Hearts

Moving at the speed of light we take a head dive into the ocean of love with every attempt at making life more livable for ourselves and our loved ones with a brand new view. Then out of no where...

In a flash, a blink of an eye, the heart skips a beat, breaks, bounces, flutters, flies, falls high and hard, bombs burst with dissapointment, bullets of bewilderment fly, shattering hopes, splintering, piercing pain as shrapnel sprays it's scorching, searing destructive force. We want to sigh, die, bury our head in our own arms on the table of torment and just cry until we are left weak, hoping and praying, begging the ache to go away. Say goodbye to the tenderness snatched right out from under us, out of no where. Take a deep breath as a particular death and darkness beats down a love that just yesterday shined new light, timeless, seemingly well suited and poised for longevity. The earth becomes flat and we fall off the edge.

Stand tall armed with strength, courage, dignity...move forward one step at a time. Let tears flow, trickle down your sad face, get it out of your system as you wash yourself and renew. Resolve to refresh, replenish, restore and recharge as the shock waves slowly subside.

A loved one offers pearls of wisdom and says; "The warrior in you is saying; "I'll take it from here" when you decide that." "Love yourself as much as you love another." "OK now flip the switch in your heart too."

I'm amazed at the places one finds encouragement when feeling defeated. On a pair of recently acquired Samurai pants in Chinese calligraphy is very cool eye-catching artwork. It translates to: "Still Heart Poem" and says; if you hold back anger the winds will still and waves will calm, if you take one step back the sky will clear and oceans will fill ~