The Dance of Life

ah, Fall! Such a glorious season! There is so much color that it almost makes one forget — these brilliant hues signal the end of life. In dying, the leaves put forth their best show.

Certainly Spring is a miracle unfolding, with all the buds signaling the beginning of life. Such anticipation! Each tender green shoot is a celebration.

I want to be like Nature when I come to the Fall of my life. I want to blaze with a glorious inner light, a fireball of love and wisdom, filled with the glow of sunshine and a life well-lived. I want to lift my skirts and dance, laughing as the wind teases me.

And as the winter nears, I want to scatter bits of the best of myself. Tossing laughter to the sky, to ride the winds of fate.  Then slumber finally, upon the breast of Mother Earth.

Calling All Dog Owners!

Got a cute pup? We want to see! Send us your pictures and we will post as space allows.

Visit our dog travel site for details.  Thanks for your help!

www.dogsgobyebye.com

I’m Already Outside the Box

I’ve always hated that phrase–”think outside the box.” I inevitably get stuck on the whole ‘box’ concept. My mind goes off on tangents like that, often to the extreme where I can’t remember what the original question was. I start pondering–what kind of box? How far outside do I need to be in order to think? How exactly will I know when I am outside of it?

I’ve always been a bit of a creative thinker. And it’s not always seen as a good thing. Let me give you an example. We were doing a team meeting at work one day. It was a new team so we were doing one of those obligatory games that is supposed to bond us all together. The coach divided us into two teams and gave each team a pair of pantyhose. The task was to fill the pantyhose with things you had on hand. As an example, the coach said, we could use cell phones, wallets, notebooks etc. The first team to fill their pantyhose won.

Our team started gathering things, discussing what would be best to use, in order to fill the stockings. I had what I still think, years later, was a brilliant idea. I suggested we ‘fill’ the pantyhose with one of the team members! We chose a smallish young lady–the pantyhose weren’t very large and the girl needed to put them on over her current pants. We circled the girl so no one could see and announced that we were done. The other team was shocked–they were still trying to fill the first leg of their stockings.

We stepped aside to reveal how we had filled our stockings. Everyone laughed. Except the coach who stated “that’s cheating!”

I was appalled. How could it be cheating, I asked. The instructions were to use whatever we had on hand. We had done that. The coach said she hadn’t meant that we could use people. To which I replied, she hadn’t said we Couldn’t. It ended there. The coach brusquely went on with the meeting, and I was left feeling angry and bewildered. Here I’d thought I was being clever. And instead of being admired for my quick wit, it just made my boss mad.

So thanks anyway, but I’ll stay right where I am–in my own little box. With my small group of friends who love how I think….and don’t care where I am doing it!

What’s Your Halloween Costume?

Every year at work, it was the same question: “What are you going to be for Halloween?” It seems to be a requirement that if you work at a call center, you must decorate, dress up, or both.  Bonus points if you can do this while eating powdered donuts, sipping cider and soothing angry callers.

Now, before you think me a “Holiday Hater”, let me explain. I love Halloween. Fall is my favorite time of year. Our wedding anniversary is October 31. And candy–well, need I say more?

But the idea of donning a costume seems, well….kind of silly. And I’m all about being silly, so I don’t know why I hate the whole dress up part. Maybe it’s because I can never come up with what I consider a ‘clever enough’ costume.

So I usually dodge the issue by quoting a line from The Addams Family movie–”I’m dressed as a homicidal maniac. We look just like everyone else.”

But this year the problem has been solved by the fact that I am doing call center work from home. Besides the obvious perks of no commute,  nicer co-workers (the dogs)and better coffee, there is also the benefit of no mandatory festivities.

If anyone does ask “what I’m dressing up as” this year, I’m fully prepared to describe an elaborate (albeit imaginary) costume.

This may be my favorite Halloween! Trick or treat!

Apologies to the Experts

I read something a while back, about how it “wastes” a writer’s talent to be writing blogs. The author of the article said blogging was an activity that took time away from other, more valuable endeavors – like writing a novel or marketing.

So for too long, I have stayed away from anything “frivolous” like poetry or blog writing. I focused all my writing energy on the so-called important things. Gave it a fair try and trial. And here is what I discovered–are you ready for this? It may come as a shock, but….. experts aren’t always right!

Yes, I am joking. Of course they aren’t always right, you say, amazed that I would really be so naive. But we have all been there–deluded by someone with an abundance of confidence and conviction. We are children, forever searching for the ‘right’ path or the magic answer.  We are looking at others, looking around, up and down. Everywhere but where we should be looking–inside.

So whatever you believe, wherever you find your truth, one thing is true. Only you can say what is best for you. Revelations rarely come with a sitcom soundtrack. Life’s path has poor signage and no billboards.  So we must learn to trust our internal GPS. No matter how we travel, or how many detours we think we are taking, we are–forgive the cheese–on the right road. For us.

As for me, I’ve decided to stop listening to the experts. Or at least I’m going to try. Perhaps I can drown them out with the loud Clack Clack CLACK of my computer keys, as I type yet another blog entry!

It’s good to be back!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I like me

I guess I’ve finally come to see

that all those struggles

to be free

brought me where

I want to be

To the place where

Finally

I like me.

-dw

The Game of Life

I’m firmly convinced that x-rays are a test. If you can bend your body in the positions they need–then you must be fine!  In fact I think they may just be pretending to take x-rays. Then your doctor holds up the film and says “hmmm” and tells you nothing is broken.

I was getting x-rays to see why my knee hurts when I bend it. Pretty sure I already knew the diagnosis–less ice cream, more exercise, yadda yadda yadda. Of course I had to lay on the table and bend my knee. Then I had to cross the other ankle over the bottom foot and tuck it in this way. No, a Little more to that side. Just a teeny bit more bend.

Afterwards I suggested they might want to cover the x-ray table with a cloth from that “Twister” game.  Then they could arrange the patient in the desired position by calling directions like “right hand orange”, “left foot blue”.

Weirdest thing though….She thought I was kidding. I was also going to suggest an “Operation” game to explain procedures, but I decided to wait on that. The world just isn’t ready for my kind of logic.

 

 

Even Optimists Get the Blues

Ask anyone–I’m a happy person. I’m always laughing, joking, singing or maybe just humming.  My sister used to call me “Suzy Sunshine.” And not in a nice way. She once told me that I could be happy because nothing bad ever happened to me. To which I replied “perhaps nothing bad happens to me Because I can be happy.” I’ll give you a moment to think about that–I thought it terribly profound at the time!

Done? Ok, so the only problem with being an optimist–besides the sour-grapes people who resent me for that ability–is the fact that I feel like I’m not allowed to Ever be sad. Like I would be disappointing my audience. I feel it’s my job to make as many people smile as possible. Tough gig!

But still I try. Not just for my many “fans”. It’s mostly for my benefit. It makes me happy when I can brighten someone’s day. I know that sounds–IS–cheesy–but that’s also me.

Some days though, I just feel drained. As I wrote in a poem (dedicated to my sister):

Suzy Sunshine never left town;                                                                                                        She–the facade–just got slightly bogged down

I’m not sure where I was trying to go with all this. Just following the train of my thoughts, mostly.  Taking you along to show you that optimists are happy because nothing is so bad that it can’t be laughed at!

Try it–just one smile. We’ll both feel better. As I always say–life is too short to be taken seriously!

Dorothy Was Right….

There is “no place like home”!  After 4 or 5 days of travel, our little family has had enough of new adventures and is craving the familiar old routines. We still have 2 days to go on vacation. What sounds best to me right now is a day of sitting on the porch, whittling and watching the world go by. Appreciating the sights and sounds and smells all around me–all of the things that mean “home”. The warmth of a cat, walking across my laptop and settling in my lap, one paw on the keyboard. He’s asking me to take time from my busy life to enjoy the feel of his soft fur and the comforting rumble of his contented purr.

There is a rhythm to life, a kind of “soul music” that beats in concert with our hearts. Like the sound of our mother’s heartbeat when we were enveloped in the safety of her womb, it soothes us.  As I wrote in one poem:

It comforts and envelopes me; with warm familiarity…

Adventure are great. Going home is the best! May all your travels end with the peace and comfort of the place you call home.

Dorothy was right–”there’s no place like home”

Road Trip!

Road trips are full of possibilities. New sights, new sounds, new smells. Whether you are going somewhere new or traveling a well-worn path, it is still a new experience. Each moment we live is a new, never-before-and-never-again-adventure. Savor them.

When I told people we were going to Utah, they inevitably asked the same question: “Why?” Were we seeing some particular sight, visiting relatives, maybe hiking and/or biking the famous slick-rock trails?  You would have to know me to realize the absurdity of that last question, but it all proved the point. We live thinking everything we do must have a reason, a purpose, a higher goal.

Why?

I believe the purpose of my life is to leave the world a little better than I found it. That doesn’t mean I am hell-bent on some news-worthy cause. If I make someone smile, or laugh, or feel a little better about themselves, I have fulfilled my purpose.

Travel lightly, my friends. Live each moment fully. When the road gets rough, as it often does, relax. Coast if you need to, or call for a tow. These moments will also pass. As a wise man once told me, “don’t let the hard times steal your joy.”

Make each day, each hour, each moment, a road trip whose sole purpose is to cherish the wonder all around you. Or, as I always say:  Life is a journey–enjoy the trip!

I Don’t Do Math

Those of you who know me have heard my motto: “I don’t do math–I’m here on a basketball scholarship!” And it’s true–I am Not good at math. I think it has to do with me being a writer and that whole right brain-left brain thing. My sister is a math whiz. I used to bring her to my college math class so she could “interpret” what the professor was saying. Funny thing though–the professor didn’t find it amusing when I offered to have her explain it to him as well!

I can do “practical math” however. Or–as I call it–math that makes sense! I can calculate a 20% sale price with ease, or figure a 15% tip faster than my husband’s smart phone. The way I do such math made one college tutor shake his head and say “you’re doing it all Wrong!” When I asked him if I got the right answer, he said yes, but the way I did it was wrong. I still don’t understand how it could be wrong if I got the right answer. But that’s a whole different subject.

This weekend is a holiday and therefore an excuse for a plethora of sales. Our favorite bookstore is offering 40% off. And “since we are preferred members” (translation–we already spend too much money there), we get an extra 10% off. “That’s almost 48% savings” the ad brags. I definitely Don’t get that math! Why doesn’t 40% + 10% equal 50%? My husband understands (he has math and writing skills–very impressive) and he tried to explain it to me without success.

Here is something I do understand. No matter what percentage you save–you are still spending money you wouldn’t have. So the best way to save is still the simplest–don’t spend! Can’t remember who is was who advised “the best way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it in your wallet.” Such good advice!

So this weekend, I won’t be saving 10% or 40% – I will be saving 100%. And that’s math even I understand!

Happy Memorial Day everyone!