Beyond the Sharing

Beyond the sharing we were all taught as 'chilluns', there is a Chinese Proverb that says:

When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others.

I believe that is a wonderful thought; if only we would remember to live by it.

I feel totally obligated to share this reminder of it with you.........:)

The Queen of Spades

THE QUEEN OF SPADES

General Meaning: Representing the energy of a Queen, this feminine power was traditionally known as a widow, crone or divorcee. In modern times, she can be viewed as a model of self-sufficiency, independence and intelligence. She often has extremely high standards due to her subtle sensitivities, which can be perceived by those around her as being critical or hard to please. Her true motive is to refine the world, to upgrade peoples' understanding -- so that everyone can have the space they need to become fully themselves.

She is not interested in conforming. She is too intelligent to be confined to the role of housewife or nursemaid, although she is perfectly competent in those areas. She chooses her associations (or her solitude), and is seldom caught up in dependent relationships -- at least not for long. Her intelligence is not always the most comfortable to be around, but she can be counted on to see through superficiality and point to the truth of a situation.

Who cares you say.....well......

While on a daily walk (and usual route) with Mocha on Tuesday I had decided that on the walk this day I would try to rid my mind of the cobwebs, make special effort to breathe deeply some cool crisp air, look closely at the trees, listen intently to the outside sounds, hope for sunshine & just generally pay attention to whatever we might encounter that may be worthy of note. The trek took me past a yard where lay a playing card (almost on the sidewalk) 'The Queen of Spades'. Hmm I'm thinking, "I wonder, what if anything, is the significance of that". I gave it a couple sidelong glances & carried on down the street. The next day (Wednesday) we again took our usual traverse & I found the card still there. I gave it a long look & a couple sidelong glances as I again passed it by, a couple thoughts 'n questions going through my mind. A few feet down the walk Mocha chose the activity that demands a halt to the walk with attention to other duties. As I stood waiting I looked back at the playing card, thinking that for who knows what reason, I should pick it up because it may have been on my path for some reason. I completed my duty with the little 'baggie' then went back the few feet to retrieve the 'Queen of Spades' playing card which I placed in my pocket & brought home. Now I'm looking at the card, quite worn, creased & rumpled, with a hole poked in the centre, I've searched the internet & found the general meaning of the card and now I'm wondering what if anything was the importance of this whole encounter.

Maybe I just need something more consuming to occupy my mind........:) but I still think it might have some significance; what do you think?

She Went That Way

from: 'The Road Not Taken'
"Two roads diverged in a wood and I -
I took the one less traveled"
- Robert Frost

I have been meaning to blog this topic even since Linda suggested I check out the Saturday writing prompt on the Writers' site but as in life when working gets in the way of playing, other ideas kept getting in the way of my words on this topic.......which brings up another point; I wrote a poem that talked about the fork in the road; alas I can't find it; can't remember the name of it; so I gave up looking; I will discover it again when I choose the path that leads me to it.......BUT anyway here goes.....

Like most, I have come to crossroads along my journey & had to make the choice to take this way or that. Everyone makes these choices in their own way, often using elaborate methods of measuring, counting & weighing. How do I make my choice?.......almost always by 'gut' unless the choice is so blatantly obvious I don't need to check my instincts. Has this served me well? I have to say yes because I firmly believe that even what seems a wrong choice affords some benefit (at least of learning; even if the lesson seems minute in relation to the journey & not readily discernible) and also I believe it was the choice I was supposed to make. Sometimes it seems we are never shown the benefit of our choices though I feel certain they exist.

Sometimes difficult to accept is the fact that we have even made a choice when so many times it seems fate has just dealt us a rotten hand. Truth is (as cliche as they come) having made no choice is having made the choice.

When it seems clear & I think I have made a wrong choice, is it easy for me to accept that I have made the choice intended?............of course not..........I still work on that, trying to find the lesson in everything.

I chose to stay in a marriage that was less than joyful for both of us.

I chose to leave that marriage when a 'less than joyful situation' seemed no longer worth the effort.

I chose to move to Virginia when (in hindsight) it would have been to my benefit in many ways to remain in Alberta.

I chose to leave home & family once again & move to Surrey to be with George.

I chose, I chose, I chose, I chose.......I could go on but I think the long & short of it is, my choices were made in order that I could follow the path I came here to walk, filled with a lifetime of learning.......and oh the lessons!

Riding Lessons for Benjamin

The youngest of my 'grand kids', Benji(e), (otherwise known as 'My Special Little Benji(e) with an E')............yes of course there is a story behind that (left for another day though) shown here at his riding lessons. He was especially happy when he opened his Christmas present this year & found more riding lessons. Seems he may have found his special 'activity'......hope so little man!

Love you & wish I were close so I could come watch you ride now 'n again! Here is a nice horse story for you to enjoy.......(no granny didn't write the story).

A Horse That Wore Snow Shoes
Mr. Brown had to go to his camp at Pine Tree Valley, which is in the midst of the mountains in California. His men were cutting down the giant trees, and piling them in readiness for the Spring freshet, or floods of the river, when the snows melted. Then they would slide them down the mountain sides to the little villages below. There was a great deal of snow on the mountains, and Mr. Brown knew it would be hard work climbing to the camp, but Lady Gray was strong, and used to it. Lady Gray was Mr. Brown's pet horse, and carried him everywhere. She was always happy when her master was in the saddle. But to-day the snow was very deep and soon Mr. Brown had to get off, throw away the saddle, and lead her. They had to stop very often, and lean against the trees and rocks for support, while they rested and regained their breath. In places the snow was so deep and soft, that they sank above their knees. Late in the afternoon they reached the camp nearly exhausted, and it was several days before they were able to return. The snow was still deep and Mr. Brown knew he must go back on snow-shoes, but he was afraid Lady Gray would have to be left behind.
Finally one of the men suggested making her some snow-shoes. They cut four round pieces of board, twelve inches across, and fastened them on with rope. Lady Gray seemed to understand what they were for and tried very hard to walk in them. She was very awkward at first and could hardly stand up, but by practicing a little every day she was soon able to manage nicely. So Mr. Brown and Lady Gray both returned on snow-shoes, and how every one did laugh when they saw them.
But Lady Gray never could have done it if she had not tried.

Whose Logic is it Anyway?

Middle of the night you wake under necessity to use the lou (sp); still half asleep you stumble out of bed, head in the general direction of the facility; get yourself aimed (so you think) at the doorway (where inside you can relieve this urge that threatens to embarrass you); you make a dash for the saving grace of the white bowl; CRASH!; a few minutes later, very much awake in spite of colored flashing stars floating around your head, you find yourself sitting on the floor in a pool of something very wet. I'll be a skunk's cousin if some dumb shit hasn't closed the door to the bathroom & I have just peeeeed all over the bloody floor! How gracious is that and who would close the bathroom door?

My logic says the bathroom door shall remain open unless in use (even then it sometimes remains open unless there is company in the house). Hmmmm.

Early riser, I wake ready for the day (or so I think). Even though once I have wakened I don't seem able to get back to sleep, I still feel slightly less conscious than required to function fully, but I step into my slippers, shuffle out of the bedroom and down the hallway toward the kitchen & my morning cup of tea. Rubbing my eyes as I near the mark.......another CRASH! This crash didn't cause loss of bodily functions or require me to pick myself up from the runway but a finger from the hand that was rubbing found its way inside my eye & now I'm blinded on one side. Wonderful! Now some dumb shit has left the pantry door open and I am unable to see from one eye for at least 13 minutes. Almost as gracious as the bathroom incident and who would leave the pantry door open anyway?

My logic says the pantry door shall remain closed unless one is getting supplies from within (after which it shall be closed again). Hmmmmm.

Moving right along with my day I decide to see what's on the tube. I catch the name of a new movie that looks interesting........Oh, let's write that down so I don't forget the name (seems my memory gets shorter with each passing day); I reach for the writing stick I have left on the end table to make my note; just like magic it has disappeared; left for parts unknown! Now, on the way into the living room I tripped over a fishing box, picked up a dirty cup, dirty socks & doggy toys all about the floor, collected used tissues for the garbage, searched out the TV remote (from another lifetime)....but alas no writing stick! Some dumb shit has decided to put away the bloody writing stick! After a 20 minute search I found it in a cup where all the other writing sticks were kept. Who would choose to 'put away' something so tiny & insignificant yet leave all the other crap laying around?

My logic says there should be something to write upon and with, in the room I watch TV so I can make notes if I want and all the other crap whose home is not the room where I watch TV, should be picked up, put away or thrown away by the person who left it/them there. Hmmmmmm.

Now I say, whose logic is it anyway......?

What I Don't Have

It seems I always want what I don't have.

Another year gone.....I look back one year; getting ready to go back to work after a couple weeks off thinking I needed at least another two weeks; I am thinking today that I need to get back to work (sometimes maybe) or at least have a little outside interest. Seems I always want what I don't have.....(gotta get a handle on that!)

We had, by the beginning of 2009, the worst winter for snowfall that BC has ever experienced, George telling me it was because they were trying to make this Albertan feel welcome & at home here. I recall wishing the snow would be gone & driving would be back to normal in this crazy-driving-place (my label). This year I was thinking that it really is nice to have a white Christmas (at least for the day). Once again I want what I don't have.

USA swears in the first black president last year; a historic event. I recall being glad about that & remember thinking how I quite liked him, watching all the broadcasts that came along. The TV coverage of this event went on forever to the point I was wishing I had never heard the name Barack Obama & longed to be watching something elce (anything elce) on the tube. Yet once more I want what I don't have.

During the year we saw a few plays at Surrey Arts Centre, attended 'The Symphony in the Park' in Burnaby, we spent a nice week away in Reno, spent a very nice few days traveling Olympic Peninsula, trip to Winnipeg, a cruise & week in DisneyWorld, shared a few visits with Aaron & Katie (always a highlight for me), we attended Shelby's graduation (a very special occasion) & had nice visits back home & attended the Writers' Group & Shelby's school production of Romeo & Juliette, I congratulated a good friend on the birth of twins, did some 'dinner 'n movie' things with family, ended a job, did some 'across the border' shopping, had visits from 'baby Levi', found a juice that improved my 'knee problem', traveled to Arizona when George's dad passed away, saw some upsets for Aaron with his football season both playing and coaching, saw the death of a dear friend & fellow writer. (Now, how was that for a long, dis-jointed sentence?)

We had a very busy, full year.......I was tired & longing for an end to hustle 'n bustle. Now it's over I am looking for 'something' to busy myself with (besides that Farmville good grief).............True to form I want what I don't have.

Did you notice here that (other than my Newsletter) I did such very little writing?

.......(gotta get a handle on that!).

To Everyone!