Thursday, December 25, 2008

Christmas 2008

2008

Greetings – here we stand at the end of a year when it is much easier to lament our losses than to count our blessings. In the midst of any turmoil – personal, fiscal, emotional, etc. – it is necessary to do just that – to count our blessings!

Material goods come and go. What is ‘hot’ today is ‘not’ tomorrow …what is touted as the latest technology today is obsolete even before it is marketed to us. If you own 1 set of clothing that protects you from the elements
– you have ‘enough’.

I have enough.

If you have something to eat each day; a source of physical sustenance
– you have ‘enough’.

I have enough.

It does not matter the size, type or location of the place you call ‘home’. If you have a safe place to sleep out of the elements
– you have ‘enough’.

I have enough.

IF … you have an extra blanket, an extra shirt, a spare dollar - and you share it with another, you are abundant.
IF … you have a little extra food and people to share it with, you are abundant.
IF … you have a home that welcomes others , a place where love abounds and where memories are made, you are abundant.

I am abundant !
…… are you ??

IF … you have friends, family, and loved ones to share your life with,
you are truly blessed.

I am truly blessed – thank you for being exactly who you are
and for being a part of my life!
Louise

Molly and the Snapdragon Fairy

Molly’s grandparents lived on a small farm in Massachusetts. They grew vegetables and flowers in their garden. They had a cat, and a barn, and a tire swing out back. They also grew berry bushes and fruit trees.

Molly loved visiting the farm! When she would go to stay with her grandparents she would wake up early. Warm cinnamon buns would be sitting on the kitchen table waiting for her. Grandma would pour her a glass of orange juice and then grandma and grandpa and Molly would sit and eat their delicious breakfast together.

On Saturday mornings, Grandpa would take Molly with him to the dump. They would unload the truck together. When they were done, they would look around for hidden treasures. Grandpa called the dump ‘The Exchange’. They might find a perfectly good shovel with a cracked handle there. Grandpa would take it home to his workshop. He would rummage around until he found a handle that he had rescued on another trip to “The Exchange”. Grandpa would put the handle on the shovel and they would have a “good-as-new” shovel to use on the farm! ‘The Exchange’ was a very interesting place!

After their morning adventure, Grandpa would go about doing his chores. Molly always wanted to help, so Grandpa assigned Molly the important chore of weeding Grandma’s flower bed. Grandma loved her flowers and Molly wanted to help Grandma and the flowers!

Molly found her gardening gloves and put them on. She then went over to the flowers and knelt down. One by one she pulled the weeds out and placed them in the bushel basket Grandpa had left for her. She was VERY careful not to disturb the beautiful flowers growing there. She listened to the birds sing and she basked in the warmth of the sunny morning as she began weeding Grandma’s flowers.

As Molly went from one row of flowers to the next, her basket filled with the weeds. When her basket was halfway filled, Grandma came out with a glass of lemonade and a homemade cookie. Grandma told Molly that she was doing a wonderful job weeding, and that the flowers already looked happier. Grandma then took a clothes basket full of wet laundry over to the clothesline and began hanging the clothes to dry in the fresh air.

Molly continued on with her chore when she was startled to hear a small whisper. At first she thought maybe it was the wind rustling the leaves of the nearby maple trees. Then she thought it might be Grandma, but Grandma had already gone back inside the house. She listened closer …and she heard a tiny delicate voice.

“Molly, can you come over here and weed by me?” the voice said.

Curious, Molly moved closer to where she thought the voice was coming from.

“Molly, I am over here.” said the voice.

Molly peered closely at the row of flowers directly in front of her. She saw one pale yellow flower swaying side to side. There was no breeze, so she moved closer to see what was making the flower sway. Carefully she knelt and began pulling the weeds from around this one tiny snapdragon.

When she was done, she heard a soft “Thank you” and she thought she saw the snapdragon smile at her!

“You are very welcome.” replied Molly.

“Are you a magical flower?” Molly asked.

“I am a snapdragon fairy.” said the flower. “My name is Jasmine.”

“How did you know my name?” asked Molly.

“I have heard your name many times. I hear you and your grandparents laughing and playing. I hear them call for you to come in when it starts to rain, or it is time for bed.” said Jasmine.

“Oh.” replied Molly.

“I am the only snapdragon fairy assigned to this garden and I am a little bit lonely. Can you stay a while and talk with me?”

“Sure! I have to keep weeding, but we can talk while I finish my chores.” said Molly.

All morning as Molly weeded in Grandma’s flowerbed she shared stories about school, and her dog, and her friends with Jasmine. All morning Jasmine told Molly about the life of a snapdragon fairy.

Molly learned that snapdragon fairies are very delicate and kind. They spring to life once every 7 years in gardens where flowers are loved and cared for. Grandma certainly loved her flowers. Molly loved them too.

A snapdragon fairy is sent to make sure there are always kind and loving people to care for the flowers. Jasmine said she had noticed how careful Molly was weeded around the flowers. Jasmine liked to hear Molly sing while she worked.

Molly learned that it is important for the flowers to have plenty of sunshine, plenty of water, and to be able to get plenty of nutrients from the surrounding soil.

Jasmine listened to stories about Molly’s dog, Molly’s family and friends and she learned that Molly loved to read!

“Maybe some afternoon, you can come and sit here by the flowers and read a story to us?” Jasmine mused.

“I certainly will!” replied Molly.

Soon the familiar voice of Grandma called for Molly and Grandpa to come and get washed up for lunch. Molly said her goodbye, picked up the heavy basket of weeds and went to find Grandpa for lunch.

Every day that summer, when Molly visited Grandma and Grandpa, she would eagerly go and weed the flowers in the mornings and chatter away with Jasmine. Every afternoon she would grab her favorite book and return to the garden and read aloud to the flowers.
That summer both Molly and the flowers thrived. Grandma was very proud of how lovely the flowers looked!

Soon it was fall and Molly had to spend more time at home and at school. Late in September, she went into the flowerbed to see Jasmine one last time. Molly knew that this season for the flowers was coming to an end. Soon the frost would come and the flower seeds would remain hidden in the earth waiting to grow again next spring. Molly also remembered that Jasmine was not like the other flowers. She was a snapdragon fairy and she would not be back for 7 years.

Jasmine greeted Molly with a smile. They chatted about school and Molly told Jasmine about a movie she had just seen. Soon it was time for Molly to go home. Molly knelt down and very, very gently kissed Jasmine goodbye. Jasmine smiled and reminded Molly that she would see her again in 7 years…and she asked Molly to please take very good care of the flowers each year for Grandma and Grandpa.

Every year, Molly tended the flowerbed at Grandma and Grandpa’s. There were Saturday treasure hunts at “The Exchange”…there were summer fairs to attend…there were books to read. Molly kept track every year waiting for Jasmine to return.

The spring Molly turned 13; she eagerly checked the flower bed each day for signs of Jasmine. Slowly she noticed a delicate pale yellow snapdragon emerge from the earth. The sun warmed the flower as it blossomed. Slowly Jasmine opened her eyes. Softly she shouted, “Molly !!!”.

Molly had taken care of the flowers just as she had promised Jasmine. That summer once again, Molly and Jasmine spent mornings catching up on life. Molly was playing the piano now. Her dog had puppies! She was talking about a special boy from school. Jasmine complimented Molly on how well she had taken care of all the flowers. Afternoons Molly would open the window and play songs for Jasmine to hear; or join Jasmine again in the gardens and read stories. Sometimes they would just look at the clouds passing overhead and dream.

Life continued in between Jasmines visits. Grandma and Grandpa got older; Molly grew up; and Jasmine returned every 7 years. The day came when Molly was 27 and was getting married. She would be moving away – too far to come and weed the flowerbed anymore for Grandma and too far to visit Jasmine on summer days. This would be their last summer together. In September that year, Molly went to the garden to see Jasmine one last time. They sat in silence for a while. Theirs had been a long friendship. The flowers in Grandma’s garden were even prettier this year than ever before.

Jasmine spoke first.

“I have a present to give you Molly. It is a going away present. Our friendship does not need to end.”

“How?” asked Molly.

Jasmine gently bent over and dropped 3 golden seeds on the ground.

“Take these with you to your new home. Plant them. Take good care of them and surround them with beautiful flowers of your own. They will grow; and every 7 years, my 3 children will whisper your name. You and your family can sing them songs and read them stories. Someday your own children will talk to the snapdragon fairies about their friends and their lives while they weed and nurture your flowerbed.”

Molly had tears in her eyes as she gently picked up the seeds. Once again she gently bent down to gently kiss Jasmine goodbye.

“Remember Molly, kindness, love and friendship can last forever. Nurture them. Share them. Carry them in your heart wherever you go in life.” Jasmine closed her eyes and prepared for the frost that would soon come.

Molly carefully packed away the 3 golden seeds to take to her new home.

~

written for, and dedicated to my niece: Molly
12/25/2008

Friday, October 17, 2008

Puzzle Pieces

Puzzle Pieces


Often, we know each another from just one perspective – just one point in time – or one context. I bet that you have noticed this in life too! The grocery bagger, whom you see and talk to each week, calls out a greeting to you in line at a movie; you falter, trying to place the name, the voice, the familiarity … until he reminds of who he is and where your paths have crossed. The piece of the puzzle sets into place.

After my uncle’s funeral recently I had cause to ponder this again. During the service, friends and relatives were asked to share stories about Uncle Pete. Afterwards people shared that in their interaction with him, they may have only known him in the context of being neighbors, being friends or coworkers. Hearing stories told by others, they were transported to his childhood, his youth, his adult life and on through the finale we were bearing witness to that day. The spectrum of his life became larger, more colorful, and contained a depth they had never thought about. This knowledge, I believe, enlarges our capacity for compassion and understanding.

I found myself thinking about all the people I know and love, as well as all the unknown people I interact with, or pass by, each day. I began to wonder, how many do I only know within a single context? How many do I play “fill-in-the-blanks” with – not affording them the courtesy of compassion and understanding? Life is so extraordinarily complex, and yet we fall comfortably into the rhythm of neat packaging – a beginning, a middle, an end …. Event A explains event B… logically or illogically we build a picture.

I think life is a puzzle ..not a picture. Our ‘picture’ is fragmented into puzzle pieces by the complexities of being human. As our lives evolve, our pieces change color, shape, and position – creating a new picture of who we are at any given point in time. Some pieces get lost … some found … and some never exist at all. Recognizing this process in others, as well as ourselves, I think affords us opportunity to look in awe at each other, and to rejoice in the opportunity we are granted in creating ourselves anew. No judgment need be placed on such a fluid process. We all have the opportunity to continually rebuild and reconnect.

You may be my sister or a stranger I see each day waiting the bus. I cannot truly “know you” even if I know endless facts about you. Your puzzle will always contain dimensions that remain invisible to me. What I CAN do is carry compassion and understanding for you in my heart; I can share with you the overlap and intersection of our ‘pieces’; and for that moment in time – our connection completes a picture…a snapshot…a memory.


dedicated to :
Peter Groskritz
1941 –2008

written 10/17/08


Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Every Day

Every Day ….


Every day without you …
A lifetime of memories
Flood my soul
And fill my heart.

Every day without you …
I am reminded of your kindnesses
Showered like the sweet rain of Spring
Upon me and all of those who
Knew and loved you.

Every day without you …
I am reminded of the “completeness”
You brought to my life;
The serenity that surrounded us;
The love that bound us;
The comfort so easily shared between us.

Every day without you …
I feel your presence beside me;
In my heart;
Lifting my soul

Ah .. my love, I see now that there are no days
“without” you… for you are still here with me - till the end of time. Together the endless love we share continues to exist in my heart...in my mind ...and in my soul.


Dedicated to :
Juile & George Fincke
April 2008

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Define addiction ...

When my "to-do" list for the game is 3 times as long as my "to-do" list in real-life ....should I be thinking "addict" ???

Learn to cook...learn to fish...learn to use a dagger...make arcanite bars and sell them at the Auction House...do my banking...farm herbs ...make potions ... get my skill levels up...download add-ons that will help me...gather quests in a single area to maximize my efficiency at completing them...level...train...complete more quests...level...assign talent points ...(did I mention level yet ???)

First thing in the morning I check in with coworkers on how their game is going and ask any questions I have from my prior night's playing. We share stories and pointers (mostly I RECEIVE the pointers !) By mid-afternoon, I am thinking about what I will work on that evening. Weekends are planned to allow adequate sleep around at least 1 (sometimes 2) long days and nights of play. Granted, it is winter and I always hibernate a bit more in the winter so this is not actually cutting into any thing REAL I could be doing ...and it has totally replaced my TV watching for the past 3 months ...but IS this addictive or is it just so engaging and fun that it has become is a daily activity I love???

Some people exercise every day - they enjoy the benefits, or the process itself, of exercising. Their body and mind respond to the practice of exercise - perhaps they have friends they work-out with, perhaps they look forward to the comaraderie (or solitude) they have built around that activity. Exercise can be addictive - but for the most part it is satisfying and healthy and often social.

The Guild (group) I belong to in the game is made up of people from all ages and walks of life. At almost anytime round-the-clock - someone is online and playing. We live in all different parts of the USA and of the world. If I want to chat with, or quest with, people that I have come to consider my friends (and like-family) online I can do so. I can also just play the game in peace and quiet and solitude. I get satisfaction out of accomplishing goals, learning new things and making progress in the game. I enjoy the mental activity (they say you need to keep those brain cells firing as you age!) and the challenges of mastering strategy to be successful...and I love my fellow guildees and other friends I have made in the game!

I think that this game, like exercise or other things we do for enjoyment, is basically a good thing. Those who choose WOW over running a mile, swimming laps, quilting ...etc. are just expressing "them"selves to their fullest. Games are fun and stimulating ...interaction with others is healthy (yes, even ingame interaction IS interaction) and loving what you're doing is the best feeling of all.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Choosing sides ...

In WOW, you are given 'quests' (tasks to complete) that will gain you money, goods to keep or sell, or provide you with 'reputation' amongst other groups within the game. A recent quest I was on required me to gain the favor of one group over another. I could choose which of the two groups I wanted to side with, but I then had to kill enough of the other group to gain favor with my chosen side.

The first thing that got my attention as I started killing the MOBs (characters) that I had labeled 'the bad-guys', was that I lost 100 points of reputation (favor) with their side while only gaining 4-6 points of favor with the side I was currying favor with !!! Over the course of my killing spree I had killed quite a few of my chosen bad-guys, making their side totally pissed at me, while I still had NOT gained favor with my chosen good-guys.

RL (real-life) is often a losing battle like this, I think. Often we try to gain favor, and in the course of our attempts - the scales do not balance between the weight of harm we are doing and the results we are trying achieve.

How many times in childhood, school years, and adult life have you felt pressure (from within or without) to choose sides? How many times do we let ourselves be governed by some arbitrary set of rules into behaving in ways we would not usually behave? I can well remember such times in my life, and in the actions of organizations I belong to, communities I have lived in, and jobs I have held. I am sure I have been party to such actions many more times than I care to admit.

Personal memories of having school friends that spanned diverse cliques flooded my memory. Always wondering WHY should I have to choose one set of friends over another; WHY can't we all just get along; WHY should I scorn, or ignore, someone I would otherwise befriend just to fit in with a particular group; WHY can’t I just be friendly with whom I choose?? WHY WHY WHY ...

Although there may be millions of seemingly valid reasons WHY we do these things in life...I hope I never forget to stop once in a while and remind myself that I have choices - not mandates - and I hope upon weighing the outcomes I make better decisions ...after all ..."why not"?

Sunday, February 3, 2008

My life as ‘Pi’

My life as ‘Pi’
Reflections on becoming a ‘Toon Part 1 January 2008

At the ripe age of 51, last fall, I was finally cajoled into trying my hand at online gaming by several coworkers. I never really played video games before – let alone online games of any kind..I do however come from a family where board and card games have been a part of family gatherings for my entire life. I decided to try it for a month, if only to be able to honestly say “I tried it and did not like it”!

Not only did I like it, I am HOOKED !!! I fell hook, line and sinker into the world of WOW ..(World of Warcraft ™). I have found an exciting new perspective on the meaning of the word ‘community’ … and the similarities to real life astound me every time I take a moment to compare, and contrast, life inside and outside of the game.

As a total novice to gaming, these ramblings will reflect my own personal experience as I navigate a totally new world. As you can imagine, entering a new world for the first time there are the obvious social and language problems. Acronyms abound! Not being from the “text-me” generation, I am having to learn an entire new vocabulary and learn it in abbreviated form to boot! Learning to maneuver my ‘Toon (character) in a new environment has also proved challenging. Not having mastered the eye-hand coordination necessary for gaming quite yet, I can be seen walking into walls, falling off of bridges, and spinning in circles frequently. Add in a little computer lag time, and you might also see me sailing back and forth across a ocean repeated times while being unable to disembark from my boat!

I have had to learn all about map reading and compass directions. There is nothing quite as frustrating as looking at the little compass in the upper right hand side of the screen, flipping back and forth to a map, and still ending up in the wrong place! For the first 8 weeks I played, I swore that the computer compass pointer was reversed. No matter what friends told me to the contrary, I had to finally figure it out for myself … the compass is always right …I was not!

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

New Year's 2008

May 2008 hold ….

Food for thought … so that we never forget to question …
to seek answers …

Music for our souls … so that we remember to listen …
to absorb …

Moments of joy and laughter … so that we revel in the life that we live … so that we ‘live’ the life we have been given…

Time for family and friends …so that we feel surrounded by love … so that we have a safe place in which to love others …
~
…May 2008 hold the memories from our past just a step behind us …so we remember where we have been …

,.. May 2008 hold the future just a step ahead of us … so that we have hope and goals to strive for …

May 2008 hold every moment just long enough for us to live it fully ..

Blessings to you in the New Year

Love,
Louise