A new day dawns

I stayed up late last night watching the election news. An historic election. I was struck by the contrast of the people who gathered to hear the candidates speak one last time. The small McCain crowd was by invitation only at the exclusive Biltmore Hotel. Numerous times when McCain spoke there were cat-calls and boos when President-elect Obama's name was mentioned. In contrast, the large Obama crowd was gathered at a public park, open to any who wanted to be there. When he was speaking, the crowd was hushed and respectful, except near the end when it was echoing his "Yes, we can!".

I am hopeful for America for the first time in many years. Does the election of our first Black president mean that race prejudice is gone? I don't think so, but I believe it means that we are now able to look past a person's skin color to other qualities. Race prejudice will linger for a while longer like a brain-dead accident victim on life support. Someday, it will give up the fight and let go. We can help it by speaking out when we see and hear disparaging remarks and racial slurs.

Recently when I was in Houston, I stopped at a gas station. After a few minutes I became aware of an altercation going on between a white man and a black woman. I have no idea what precipitated the argument and in truth, that doesn't matter. What matters is the white man drove off while spouting vile and hateful racial epitaphs. To me, it doesn't matter what caused it to get started, there is no place in polite society for the phrases he used.

I've thought of that situation many times since then and wish that I had stepped up to tell him that he was out of line speaking that way. I think fear held me back at the time. I've wished that I had at least spoken to the woman to let her know that not all white people are like that. I didn't, but I'm hopeful for the future that such incidents will become fewer and fewer as we become a more respectful and soft spoken nation. I know it can be that way because I saw that last night as a man gave his first remarks as President-elect to a mixed race, mixed sex, mixed socioeconomic, hushed and respectful crowd.

Random thoughts on a beautiful Fall day

We took our annual October vacation a few weeks ago and I've been on the road since then. We visited the Olympic National Forest. An truly awesome place where one can feel what it might have been like 200 years ago. I want to go back. I will go back. I didn't post any pictures because there was no internet where we were. No phones in the rooms, no cell phone signal, no tv... just quiet and time to be alone with each other and our thoughts.

The election is a few days a way and I am so hopeful and fearful at the same time. America will be a very different place on November 5 ... well, actually January 20, 2009 (the end of an error and hopefully not the start of another error)

I fixed the bird feeder so that the squirrels could not get into it and boy are they pissed!!!

I planted tomatoes hoping for a Fall crop. The plants are healthy and blooming. But no tomatoes. I'm concerned that there are no pollinators (dead bee colony syndrome) and worry about what that would mean for all of the food sources across the world.

Found a bee in my kitchen and ever so gently captured it and released it on one of the tomato blooms.

Another Fall

I was up early and spent some time meditating on the patio and followed that with some yoga. I reflected on how Spring and Fall are my favorite times of the year. There is something about the quality of light and how it dapples through the trees that really touches me. The air feels different and there is a different energy in the air. In the Fall, it seems as if everything is slowing down, powering down, getting into hibernate mode. In the Spring, the energy feels different in that it seems as if everything is waking up, stretching and powering up.

Colors become more vibrant in the Fall as leaves and grass turn. My yard that was all green and brown (tree trunks) becomes more yellow, gold, and russet. Winter takes the color away and we are left with a world that is varying shades of gray with a little sepia.

In the Spring, things begin to green again. The perennials I've planted over the years start to bloom and I always add annuals.

One constant between the two seasons is the hummingbirds that frequent my feeders. Little bundles of green life flitting and hovering.

Fall is here

Sitting in my office and I look out the window and see falling leaves and a hummingbird at the feeder. It's Fall. The days are getting shorter. The weather is very pleasant. And I wonder ... why am I in here instead of out there?

Life is good

I haven't blogged in a while, but that means I've been busy with real life! LOL!

Life is good! Recently had 2 opportunities to socialize with 2 very different groups. One was my brothers and sisters in laws (not sure if that is the correct way to put it). We all met for "Brothers' Camp" ... 2 days of just sitting around talking, swimming and playing games. We were blessed this year by one of the SIL's who took the time to tell each of us the gifts that she feels God gave us. Very moving and touching.

The second came when out of the blue a lady that I worked with years ago called to see if I could play canasta. When we worked together we had a once a month canasta group, but once I left that job and started traveling, I had to leave. They needed a sub and I was in town. It was so great getting together with the group, catching up and remembering those who are no longer around. One lady had died, I knew that and attended her funeral 5 years ago. Another has developed Alzheimer's and is no longer able to play. I didn't know that. She was such a robust, a live woman, I hate to think of her decline.

Both occasions made me reflect on life and what is important. Not the flat screen TV and Wii, but the time my husband and I spent together shopping and looking and ultimately deciding. I enjoy the TV and the Wii, but I treasure the time he and I spent together.

Life is Good!

working on me

For sometime, I've been battling what I see as work-aholic behavior in myself. I'm trying to refocus energy away from such things as insisting that everything I do be perfect; being crabby when interrupted; not taking time off; not taking breaks, etc. I think I'm getting better at not putting all my energy in my job. The job is not who I am. In the long run, I will be with me much, much longer than I will be with the company for which I currently work.

Wii update

So I've been using the Wii for about a week now and I have to say that I LOVE IT!! There are some things that I don't like or that are a little too cutesy for me, but all in all it is great fun. I've learned through the body testing that I'm a little unbalanced, but have been playing those games that help with that so hopefully as my core muscles get tighter, my balance will improve. I like that it gives you "rewards" by unlocking other games/programs once you have gotten a number of points. I don't like that it goes "OH" each time it is checking my weight and tells me to step on the board. I wonder if it says that for everyone or just the people that are overweight? If I stay with it ... I'll find out!!