Across the Years

Last year is still news when looking for the bookmark of where to begin anew. Two weeks into the new year and we are making very small steps, rather than fits and starts that only end too quickly. We all need our goals and hopes to motivate us on. Sometimes those around us can do just that. It is not easy to carry through on plans when things like illness, work, and the rest of the grabbing world wants to change things. So it is uncertain how things can play out. Maybe if  we don't get too far ahead we won't end up with the big disappointments. So pursuing some kind of level up plan from last year can provide a very good base foundation. That goes for anything we have or have not been doing. Boodini needs some sort of structure, a specific time and routine. She likes the lights to always be the same, if they start changing too much she gets angry. Red light, green light, don't be throwing in a yellow or blue here and there that's very confusing. Then the ankles get real appealing, tasty little morsels. Same for us, we start getting all bent and out of sorts. Things we needed to do don't get done, we try to do too much, then too little, blue, yellow, ugh. The turtle wins the race.

Artwork for our Park

What is that? A rendition of a leaf, beautifying a park, the hood park. Didn't know it was necessary to do that but there you have it, out in front, top dead center, for all the neighborhood to relish the wondrous sight. I am sure there are some fabulous art world terms to describe it's construction, and it does look like someone spent far to much time on this fine showmanship. But now it's in the park. Maybe on borrow, then it is deconstructed and brought somewhere else, that's right, to some other neighborhood park. But for now there it is, The Leaf that is, Boodini had to have her picture taken by it.

The Lady Sings Just the Small Parts

Thursday has arrived, and "Let's start where we left off". We've heard this all to often. But it is the best reference point to what we know has passed. We holidayed and had the happy times and the hope of promises to come. Celebrating the spirit of what we personally knew Christmas to be, and excited with what it could mean and be shared with each other. We are faced now with the afterburner, and wonder is it over already? Down with the lights, ornaments, trees, and out with the wrappings and refuse of the gifts, pondering the kind and generous words which we gave to one another. The great expectations are they really faced with even bigger disappointments? The unfinished work that still sits before us, the same old job, from shootings and economic downward spiral, do these things to come leave the grim perspective that the upside down world gets closer daily to our very front door? We check the list of the resolutions and goals, that we know in the past New Years we never kept anyway. Maybe this time around we don't even have a list, because we don't need the Humbug. Hope, from the point where we left off, the high and low points, all were accomplished by the faithfulness and constancy of the small doings. The starts and stops, the lukewarmness left from the zealous efforts, all fail us, and is that such an amazing fact? One small step for mankind forward, by each of us, we move forward and gain the ground of accomplishment we dream of, all be it slowly. Be anonymous. Lighten up, give yourself some room to smell the roses. At the end of the day, it is up to us to make our world right side up.

A Sister's Birthday

She came into being seeing four male figures. Her father was very patient, calm, giving, and she didn't have worries from then on of false hopes in that gender. There were three boys older than her, the two oldest offered her creativity, intellect, things that a young girl could relate and use in her life. The third boy was all that the world offers as ignorance and want, but not anything she might use. For it was nothing but aggravation, and exemplified all those things in this world one should flee. Then as a female she looked to her likeness, her mother. This would form her into the women she is today. The mediatrix of all that is feminine, elegance, beauty, common sense intelligence, culinary abilities, and a firm hand to deliver the best possible example of goodness. Soon the three boys would leave her, but then surrounded in siblings by a younger brother and sister. She then gave her all to lead those two as she had been formed. Time had a way of teaching new lessons, there was adventures that brought joy and sorrow. Her paternal example passed on, and brought all her siblings into a gathering which all differences could be left aside, and they certainly were as in all good wakes. The promise to gather did occur intermittently, usually during the Holiday Time when emotions are most open to love and often easier to put aside hidden perceptions. Then came the biggest test, the care of her mother who was dying of cancer. She faithfully attended to her mother's every need, this was most difficult. Opening one's home and life, to usher in death and sadness. But she had learned her lessons well. Today she cherishes the family that her husband and children have built with all the love and admiration that make the next generation continue. It has not been easy by any means, but such is the life which we are placed. Even ignorance and want can feel the brightness of her loving example, within, through and for all. Happy Birthday!

Bear Coming Around the Mountain

I woke up this morning with these Bandera Blues
They sure have been slapping me around
So down and out I couldn't tie my shoes
They're about to drop me in the ground
If I could shake loose I would feel so fine
There's one thing for sure and it's on my mind
These Bandera Blues are gonna take their time
I've been living here, way down south
A place that I want to stay
Been working hard just to feed my mouth
Just can't keep them blues away
You say you're feeling bad and you don't know why
You're broke and your woman been lying
And just one thing before I'm fired
The blues have just been Banderafied
If I could just shake loose I would feel so fine

Boodini's Christmas Wish

I hope that the days come easy and the happy moments pass slow
And each road you travel leads you where you want to go
And if your faced with a choice, and you have to chose
I hope you chose the one that means most to you!
And if one door opens to another door closed
I hope you keep on walking till you find the window
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile!
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
I hope you never look back but you never forget
All the ones who love you in the place you left
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret
And you help somebody every chance you get
Oh you find God's grace, in every mistake
And you always give more than you take
And while your out there getting where you're getting to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
But more than anything, yes more than anything
My wish for you, is that this life becomes all you most want it too!

Merry Christmas to Our Moms

Why are you crying? he asked his mom. Because I'm a mother she told him. I don't understand, he said. His mom just hugged him and said,  you never will. Later the little boy asked his father why mother seemed to cry for no reason. All mothers cry for no reason, was all his dad could say. The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why mothers cry. So he finally put in a call to God, and when God got on the phone the man said, God why do mothers cry so easily? You see son, when I made mothers they had to be special. I made their shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet gentle enough to give comfort. I gave them an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times come from their children. I gave them a hardiness that allows them to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of their families through sickness and fatigue without complaining. I gave them sensitivity to love their children under all circumstances, even when their child has hurt them badly. This same sensitivity helps them to make a child's boo-boo feel better and helps them share a teenagers anxieties and fears. I gave them a tear to shed. It's theirs exclusively to use whenever it's needed. It's their only weakness. It's a tear for mankind.

Side note: If there had been Three Wise Women instead of Three Wise Men ?
Three Wise Women would have asked directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the Baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole and brought practical gifts.