A Blogging Vacation

            I’ve been on vacation, at least from my blog spot. The rush of holiday preparations and a few celebrations have kept me away from my computer, at least more than usual. I always enjoy this time of year; yet when it comes to a close I am filled with a sense of relief. Another chapter is finished and the page before me is empty and ready. How will it be written?

            The close of 2014 has been filled with controversy and tragedy that has hit, at least for me, too close to home. I doubt anyone, if he or she is breathing at all, has escaped awareness of these troubled times. No matter where our sympathies lie, I believe it is time to step back, think rationally, and move forward to a better place. I, for one, am exhausted by media hype, by tragedy, by violence, and by what appears to be an absolute inability of some folks to reason. Wouldn’t it be lovely to see all the negativity replaced by compassion and understanding? What has happened to those qualities? If optimism is ludicrous, I must be terribly flawed, because I cannot help but believe that mankind has the capacity to move forward, together, to write that new page on a more positive note. I may be deluded, but can’t it be done? Certainly it is something to be considered.

            So, the blog is back! Here’s to vacations and to resuming routines, however habitual, however mundane. I’m happy to be back to it.

'Tis the season . . .

            . . . to be jolly?

Certainly the holiday season brings with it opportunities for joy. We decorate our homes in our own special ways; we make cookies, candy, and Grandmother’s fruit cake; we brave our way through crowded stores and spend hours perusing the Internet in search for the perfect present; we sing songs; we eat, drink, and eat some more. We celebrate our traditions, seek out our friends and family, and rejoice in our beliefs. Many of us are very fortunate.

This holiday season, however, and I use that term to be inclusive, has been one fraught with much unrest, misunderstandings, distrust, and downright hatred. From the streets of mid-America, to college campuses, metropolitan areas, and living room couches, the air has been filled with people voicing their opinions, asking for respect, demanding that someone listen, insisting on justice, or calling for calm and peace. Sentiments and points of view are as varied in nature as our nation itself, and perhaps that is as it should be. Liberty does allow us to speak our minds, doesn’t it? Speaking out, no matter what one’s view, is basic to the principles on which our country was founded. Freedom of speech is a right. On the other hand, rampant vandalism that has accompanied the voices of some is not, and I have to wonder at what point does the proliferation of mayhem close the door to understanding, to empathy, to tolerance, and ultimately to real communication. Destruction and vandalism at the hands of those whose intent is simply that, damages the likelihood of true conversation, and that’s a shame. It throws a pall over Christmas and to the promise engendered by it. It draws attention away from the basic tenets of the season. Yet, how can we acquiesce to the ridiculous notion that the season is ubiquitously jolly?

Is it? Not for a mother who has not a nickel for a gift for her child, not for a homeless family sheltered in place, not for a body racked with cancer, not for the jobless, the indigent, or children of the streets. So many people are suffering while the rest of us celebrate. Are we wrong to do so? No, I don’t think so at all, but for those of us who are very, very fortunate, within the circle of our giving this year, perhaps we should make sure to play “Secret Santa” to a family down on its luck or donate generously to our favorite charity. Why not pass on the “jolly” this season, and when it’s all over, maybe we can step back, take a good, long look at each other and talk, all of us, face to face, with honesty, integrity, and intent. Now wouldn’t that make the New Year bright?

When It Rains, It Pours . . . On Facebook

            -- A Reflection on This Day

            I live in Northern California. It has been raining here steadily for the past twenty-four hours, and the continuous downfalls, combined with strong wind gusts, have been quite impressive. Because of the intensity of the storm that swept over our region, schools were closed, businesses did not open, roads were flooded, and many folks wisely stayed home. And what did they do? What else? Facebook!

            I usually look at Facebook about three times a day for a few minutes – once early in the morning, once mid-day, and again at night while the television blares in the distance. (I’m not a big TV fan!) Today, however, many people, me included, have cozied up to their computer screens and spent probably too many hours socializing with their friends. It has been a newsy day with folks posting photos of problems that have occurred as a result of the rain: flash floods, fallen trees, snarled traffic, swollen streams, and people in vehicles “behaving badly”!

            Tomorrow is another day. I would imagine most people intend to head back to work. I certainly need to work here at home, adding lines to my current manuscript. I’m actually looking forward to it. Today, however, has been unique and interesting, almost like a mini-vacation, or a free-fall gathering of myriad friends, some of whom have never met and likely never will. No matter. They have chatted, interacted, reacted, “liked”, commented, and posted, posted, posted. Facebook today, has been a particularly amusing diversion. So, here’s to rain, lots of it, and, as a result, to an outpouring of connections and communications on our ever-expanding, social media!

A Magical Cleanser!

This morning I got up, fed my dogs and cat, showered and dressed, put the dishes away, cleaned the bathrooms, vacuumed the entire house, did three loads of laundry, carried out the garbage and recycling, rearranged a bit, straightened some, all the while listening to music: Fleetwood Mac, Foo Fighters, Lady Antebellum, Bastille, and a little Zac Brown. I stopped for a moment to check out Facebook and enjoyed a couple of seemingly impromptu, mall, flash mob extravaganzas that warmed my heart. I love the spontaneity that brings humanity together, if only for a short time.

Music is a wonderful cleanser! If it makes one cry, it’s probably meant to be. Tears can ease the pain and God knows there is enough of that in our world. If it makes one smile, it’s likely because it stirs a memory, sweet and savory. Aw! Embrace it! If it makes a person energetic, do things. That’s what it did for me today. If music makes someone want to dance, do it. Pirouette around the living room; twirl alone or grab another: a child, a cat, a mate, or an imaginary friend! Tap dance like a fool on the kitchen tile! And if music causes one to reflect, take time, pause a bit, ponder, muse, think, write.

As I compose this blog today, music is playing in the background. That is rare. I generally want absolute quiet, especially if I’m working on a fictional piece. Today, however, music simply appears to be appropriate and listening to it feels good.

So, here’s to music and cleaning stuff up – not a bad combination.

                                                              

It’s All About Rain

It’s been pouring rain in Northern California for the past couple of days and I love it. Several people have voiced concern about the thunder and lightening that rumbled and blazed across the sky last night. It made a few folks afraid. I actually like it, especially when I am safe inside and can simply listen and observe. It reminds me of living in the South where thunder and lightening seems to be more common. I like to think Mother Nature is speaking her mind!

Yesterday a lull in the rain allowed us to take our dogs, a German shepherd and a chocolate lab/Brittney mix, on their daily three-mile walk. The air around us was heavy with lingering moisture and the sky was a mixture of dark, ominous grey in one direction and lighter, swirling clouds in the other. A tiny opening in the cloud’s mantle allowed a patch of blue to peek through. The stream along our walk, after being bone dry all summer, was alive again, with water flowing over rocks and branches, the sound of the flow filling our ears. Across the creek, standing still as a sentinel was a doe, silent, cautious, and watching as we passed her hideaway. A lone, white egret stepped elegantly along the edge of the creek, fishing I would suspect.

We walked slowly, enjoying the beauty around us while sidestepping puddles or areas of mud. Our dogs did the opposite: trotting through the muck and prancing through the puddles as though this was a great adventure. Our German shepherd has strong play instinct and ran circles around the lab wanting him to frolic with her.

            “Come on! Let’s scuffle a bit,” she indicated. “Bet you can’t catch me!”

            “No way, princess. I’m a lab. Gotta keep it chill.” His eyes rolled up at me suggesting his annoyance with her silliness.

            I love to imagine dogs having such “conversations”. After reading a book such as The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein, one has to wonder if, indeed, at least a mental dialogue does take place in our pets’ minds.

            I’m afraid I’ve digressed a bit, but no worries. I quickly can get back on topic. Rain. I love seeing it pour, but hope the abundance of precipitation does not cause too many problems: vehicle accidents, mudslides, flooding, and falling trees. I know those events occur, but rather than focus on the negative, I like to think the earth here in parched California is joyful, happy at last to absorb the stuff like a sponge.

Whiny Blog #2

            Today I had an “exciting” adventure, driving our dependable, Ford 150 pickup truck to the Rivertown Feed Store to buy my dogs and cat some food and treats. My cars are a bit small to hold all I was buying, but the truck was perfect. From the feed store, I ventured on to Whole Foods to purchase a few additional items needed for Thanksgiving. I feel the need to say first that I’ve driven the truck, as well as my son’s truck, a huge, Toyota Tundra long bed, many times with no problems. I’m not a huge person but I can handle a flippin’ truck!

All was going well today. The folks at Rivertown were friendly and helpful as always. The same was true for the checker and bagger at Whole Foods. The place was packed, yet the employees were smiling and upbeat. We had a polite and friendly interchange at the checkout stand before I pushed my little, green cart out into the completely packed, parking lot to unload my groceries. I did just that and respectfully pushed the cart to its assigned holding place before jumping back in the truck for the ride home.

Once in my vehicle, I started the engine, put it in reverse, and sat for a few minutes while car after car passed behind me. Finally, an opening . . . I backed up very slowly, checking for cars and pedestrians behind me and looking in front to make sure I cleared the cars beside me. Perfect! All was well. I put the truck in drive and pulled forward to leave the lot. It was then that I heard him!

A guy in a tiny, silver, sports car of some kind yelled at me. “Hey, Lady. You need a smaller car. Get a smaller car!”

Was he angry because he had to wait half a minute for me to back out before he could move forward? Was he irritated that I was being careful? Was he bothered by indigestion? Had he picked a fight with his wife that morning? Would he be spending the holiday alone? WTH?

 I just have to wonder, so I’m writing about it to eradicate the incident from my mind. Of course, I came home and reported the event to my husband and we, in hindsight, thought of a few choice retorts I could have made. Had I thought quickly enough, I would have jumped out of my truck, walked to his window and said, “Happy Thanksgiving, sir. Have a nice day.”

And, then, a more negative reply was considered, “What you need dude, is to get a life!” or “I have a Jaguar XKR and a BMW 435i, buddy, but if I had driven one of those into this lot, you probably would have slammed your car door into the side and chuckled about it!” Whatever! If I had said anything, polite or otherwise, this angry fellow probably would have decked me so simply driving away and keeping my considerations to myself was probably best.

I have to wonder though. What is wrong with people? God knows we have enough negativity and sadness in life. Why can’t folks just be nice? Is that so difficult? I reposted a quote on Facebook the other day. I wish more people would take it to heart. Kindness – It doesn’t cost a damn thing. Sprinkle that shit everywhere.