Category: One for the Journal

I was born to do angel work. I am not sure with all the human flaws I possess why I was chosen for this work, but I was. And, this is not something new that I have come upon, my mother told me I was like that from the minute I could relate to others. She often told me it was a difficult task parenting a child who gave everything away without a second thought. She said that when she and my father would give me toys they would disappear within days of the gifting. “Where is your new toy?”, they would implore. My response was always the same, “Little Johnny didn’t have one so I gave it to him!” After a while, it became common place and was accepted.

As I matured, angels started to appear to me. They were apparently pleased with my solo work and were anxious to provide assistance and further guidance. Well, let me tell you – these angel gals are hilarious. There are two of them; they both possess a sense of mirth and certainly keep me on my toes. Wherein there are hundreds of examples I can offer, the most recent occurrence really had me chuckling.

A sweet and kind soul who I love to be around had suffered a betrayal that rocked her world upside down. This lead to isolation, acute aloneness during the pandemic, and deep sadness in her heart. She sought solace from my counsel so, of course, I availed upon the angels to send relief. This is a natural response from me, if you are in need of help (failing health, matters of the heart, struggles with finances?) I call out and dispatch my angels to remedy the situation, and they never disappoint. Well, on this particular assignment they delivered alright but with quirks that could only be labeled as “peculiar”.

These angels of mine swiftly addressed the situation and introduced a new soul to this kind hearted friend of mine. This new soul was a perfect geographical match for the aloneness. Next up, another new soul was introduced to my friend, this one delivered exactly what was needed to soothe her broken heart. And finally, a third soul came around into my friend’s inner world and with her she brought my friend out of isolation by including her in the many social activities that could be attended to safely. Honestly, I thought it quite wonderful that my angels involvement had delivered such a successful response…that was until I heard about the details.

Remember that betrayal she suffered? Well, all three NEW souls who entered my kind friend’s broken world all share the SAME name. They also share the SAME astrological sign. Wherein you might not truly get the impact of this abnormality, to me it is the most playful and vorciferous response I could imagine. I mean, there are no coincidences in this life, there just isn’t!

Is it just me or is there a correlation that exists between the phrase 20/20 vision and the arrival of the year 2020?

When speaking of a person having 20/20 vision it usually refers to the clarity or sharpness of their vision. Given that description, I began to ponder about what the year 2020 has brought to the world and if perhaps the Universe is delivering a clear and concise message about opening our eyes to the changes at hand.

I know it is a stretch, but think of it this way – the changes that arrived in the year 2020 were profound. It brought a whole new order of things which have become the new norm. There was a lot of scurry in the world up to when we rang in the New Year. And this hurried and harried pace was world-wide. The push and pull of the world’s leaders; the generational climb of the proverbial ladder; the explorations of the youngest of our society – had us all ‘driving under the influence’. When the page turned to January 1 2020, the rhythm began to change, and by March most of us were dumbfounded by the velocity of the changes at hand.

But are these profound changes so bad? I mean our family time has become much more focused, and our concerns and caring for those alone or less fortunate have become a first thought instead of a fleeting thought. Personally, I like the change. I do not like having to be away from my children and my siblings; I feel much like it is a forced exile. But globally speaking I believe this re-order is bringing a lot of positive vibrations by which we all can learn and grow.

I know the year 2020 has been a one-two punch. However, if we set aside our natural inclination to resist the change and climb on board fully, I believe something magical will be coming to us all. For me, I am setting aside my rose colored glasses and replacing them with my spectacles to be certain that I don’t miss a thing!

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“Perhaps our eyes need to be washed by our tears once in a while so we can see life with a clearer view again.”

Alex Tan

The world mindset is changing that much is clear. And, the changes I am seeing are chocked full of promise and charity. I very much like what is before us all.

I suffer from double vision, the result of many eye surgeries. I see the world with four eyes open! So imagine what I am witnessing – a plethora of goodness cropping up all around me. These superabundant acts of kindness I am seeing have doubled in number and are NOT because of my wonky eyesight. I’d say that is a marvel, a supernatural event of the greatest magnitude. A phenomenon, and I am delighted at this new movement.

I have a friend who is a treasure of a gal. When she is not working, she is running around town doing for others. That is her norm. These days of the pandemic where most have slowed their pace, she has leaned in the opposite direction. She has amped up her efforts – she is baking and cooking and giving away her wares each and every day without missing a beat. I always thought how lovely it was that I was loved by her. I felt ‘Gee, I’m one lucky girl’. But I am sure all the other folks in town believe the same thing. That is the way it is when you spread unconditional love – it feels special both on the receiving and the giving ends.

In my limited outings, I have been seeing all kinds of gracious acts – people holding doors for others, young people giving wide berth to the elderly to make them feel safe, and grateful smiling essential workers reaching a step above what is required. Tonight, when I returned home from picking up my Friday night carry out order from my favorite Asian bistro, I found nestled in the bag two gifts – a bottle of Sake and the world’s most enormous mango with a note attached, “I am ready for eating!” How cool is that? Again, it got me thinking how fortunate I was to be the recipient of these culinary gifts from the simple kitchen of one of my favorite restaurants.

I am hoping tonight that everyone should feel so lucky.

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“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.”

Thornton Wilder

If I have been radio-silent for a while, it was with good reason; this retirement thing was not as easy to adjust to as I originally thought. Hey, I am a tumbleweed…I roll and rumble about easily – “Change” is my middle name. But you see…I am married to a goat; albeit a sure-footed goat but an old billy bucker just the same. However, I have single-handedly restored order in our kingdom and now this fairy goddess can go back to doing what is important to her soul.

I have been thinking a lot during these extended days of the pandemic. There is so much political mud being slung in both directions, it is hard to stay clean and unaffected. I still do not understand why some insist the effects of a world-wide pandemic are the fault of one human being or one administration just because of their political affiliation. We are all in this together; our nation is facing something of the likes that we have never seen before. Taking it day by day and weighing each action against the result is a formula I think most any prudent person would take – Democrat or Republican. I think it would help our nation if the criticism died down a bit.

With that being said, I can’t help but thinking we, as individuals, are all just one small adjustment away from making our lives work. The measures that we must now take to remain connected to each other dominate our process, and that is a good thing. The slow draw has us all becoming more unhurried, and I think that is a phenomenal place from which to rise. In my own self-examination, I am reaching for that one small adjustment. I find I am inhaling more of the abundance I am promised and exhaling my appreciation!

You see, I want to ensure that I make it to the other side when this whole life is over. I, for one, am not taking any chances!

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“Keep Loving, Giving, Doing and Serving.”

Dr. Carey Pabouet-Sigafoose

Alignment in our lives is not just a physical motion; it is a mental and spiritual action that creates special magic within us. When we are aligned we are able to feel more authentic, free, and self-confident. 

Have you ever thought that you may be out of sync? Are there signs you haven’t paid attention to? If you notice what is a feeling of ‘heaviness’, this is a clear sign that you are not in parallel with your spirit. Take for example, you wake up with no energy, this is an illustration that you are out of alignment. And even though being abnormally tired could be a sign of many things, it is also a sign that your vibration needs to reset. A great way to accomplish this is to stimulate your being on all levels – by that I mean body, mind & spirit.

Start by stimulating your mind. Reading and learning something new is tantamount to expanding yourself in the right direction. I have found that listening to podcasts on positive topics, whiling away time in the pages of a meaty novel, or teaching myself to cook the cuisine of another culture is not only relaxing, it is filling my brain with new and enriched experiences.

Stimulation to your spirit is probably the most gratifying action you can take. Try creating some form of art – by expressing yourself you are raising your vibration to a greater height. Creating music or even listening to it is as soothing a balm as anyone could ask for; I find I get lost just playing random scales on my uke. Being in contact with any form of art frees one’s soul. Even having a deep-felt conversation with someone lovely can produce the same effect; as does a walk in nature.

Stimulating your body may come in many forms – but basically do any physical activity that gets your heart rate up. Even a deep tension-relieving massage can help realign your body through deep relaxation.

Begin today in moving yourself toward strengthening your spirit in these three areas. If your mind is playing with you and you are stuck with feeling of high-strung emotions and lack of clarity, it is time to flip the script. Stop focusing on the problem. Stop telling yourself that you are uninspired. Instead start thinking thoughts that propel you forward. Realigning your body is as simple as get moving – a change in scenery will amplify both your intentions and your energy.

Flipping the script for the spirit takes a little more effort. It is putting your mindset in a place where you can let go of what is holding you down; a place where you can listen to your heart – not your thoughts but the songs within your heart’s chamber. Declare out loud what you want to feel and put yourself in the position to reach for and achieve that desire.

When we nourish ourselves we open up our soul to make more space. And, in that space, we are enabled to do more for others. Doing more for others is the most powerful contribution we can make towards strenghtening our soul and fulfilling our purpose on this earth. It is incredible how things shift when we give ourselves time to regenerate.

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“Re-examine all you have been told. Dismiss what insults your soul.”

Walt Whitman

We are in a new world. The order of everything has turned upside down. There is strife everywhere – it is all around us. Growing racial tensions, global health concerns, and family arrangements forced into coping with a new structure – all these changes have led us into a new and unchartered world.

Our ancestors sought a new life in an unchartered world. They flocked to a new country seeking freedom from oppression. Our forefathers set forth to create a governing structure for these freedoms yet they fell short. They failed to address bondage and slavery. So the freedom they procured for the new Nation did not serve the whole, it missed its mark. Think of how different our world would be if back then there was no distinction between black and white and brown. Just think, if our ancestors were color blind while settling the New World, and the freedoms the Fathers brought forth applied to all mankind — I imagine the humanity of our Nation would have been such a rich tapestry instead of the torn and tattered cloth we have today. Alas, this is not the story history tells.

The magnificent work of art, the Pulitzer-prize winning play Hamilton created by Lin-Manual Miranda, is now experiencing worldwide exposure by the act of Disney bringing it directly to your living room. Yes, history books have told the story but not nearly as clearly or as concise as the voice of this contemporary poet. And the casting! The brilliance of seeing all races and creeds fulfilling the various roles was more than just genius, it was a testimony. Just think if our forefathers had applied the freedoms they sought to ALL — perhaps there would have been a black Thomas Jefferson in the pages of our history.

I am no longer thinking about how this is all going to end; I am now of the mindset that it must end here and now. 2020 is a right year for this to occur. As we begin a new decade and face challenges to the likes of which we have never seen – let’s begin building a new nation full of tolerant, loving and color blind people; a nation where ALL lives matter.

The world is upside down now. I can’t help but wonder ‘where are we going’? Maybe it’s my tender old age or maybe, as a society, we have been traveling so fast for so long that we have forgotten what it means to stop and take the time to smell the roses, as my Mom always said.

When our children grow up, will there be a Montana to inspire them? Will the majesty of the last frontier be long forgotten given its way to land development, timber production, oil fracking, all fists and fights of man’s greed? I hope that in the world these children inherit – there will be a time and place for them to spend fishing in a mountain lake, hiking a virgin trail or listening to the howls of a wolf pack. Times when they speak the words, This Has Been A Good Day! as they lay their heads down to sleep. I fear we have forgotten how important it is to stay connected to Mother Nature; her teachings are profound and need tending.

If progress is be given a wide berth, let us not pave over the majesty but instead think globally about the impacts and the affects we are inflicting. If energy is needed to run the nation — let the nation slow down and push harder to harness the energy from Mother Earth and her Sun. Solar power, wind power, hydropower all sources which could and will bring about a halt to harm and a push toward the all important issue of sustainability. Frankly, I would rather look out over a wind farm than a fracking operation any day.

So I ask God to bless the children who inherit the earth, they will need all the help He can give them in holding their eyes open.

We pass to this next generation a crazy world, and for that, I am sorry. I am rueful that they inherit a globe rife with warming effects. I am saddened to hand over a new society with mixed-up rules and agendas. A world where there is no peace, no leadership and a broken political system. Not to mention a pandemic which resulted in a deep bend to our societal customs. Wherein, they will not be the first generation to inherit climate change, they may be the first to pay strict attention to it, and finally institute effective remedies to help correct it. For too long, previous generations have politically argued and neglected their responsibility to the future, it is now the time to hear the voice of this new ‘Generation Next’.

The mindset I am seeing with these new young minds is that of tolerance. In the protests held in solidarity calling for an end to racial bias, I see these youths standing shoulder-to-shoulder, black, white or brown, male and female alike, blazed with their own identities. They look to each other and seem to appreciate and celebrate their comrades and the triumphs of changes they are making. They have a clear and strong voice, I am happy they are raising that voice for all the old farts to hear. Maybe, just maybe, their fierce shouts will be the ones to finally bring about an end to racism, once and for all.

It is high time that we begin to recognize the commonality that links us as Americans. Regardless of the color of one’s skin or economic status, is there a father or mother out there that does not hope for a better life for their offspring? Of course not, that is an ingrained human trait and thankfully we have not bred that out of our system (thank you Dr. Phil!). We all want the days of our children to be better than our own.

I’ve been taking notes and the message I am receiving is from the  perspective of a single ocean wave. That tidal gush is bringing the change these bright, young, unbiased minds prescribe for themselves as they forge through to their rightful throne, My God, I hope it is a Tsunami.

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PS Happy Birthday, Bubba. The world you inherit is your oyster!

This new reality has made me more thoughtful. As a result of this global pandemic, the world at large has become a kinder place. I find the masses to be more open and patient, and as an aftereffect, more humane in their thinking.

Sure there is strife and torn rages going on with strong demands for racial equality, and I whole-heartedly agree that the change that is clamored for is long, long overdue. But setting that huge topic aside for another story, I believe that in general we are getting to a more gentle and altruistic mindset.

On a visit to my doctor the other day, I was met with the new protocols of temperature taking and sanitizing methods instilled for every patient in order to get into the inner sanctum and be seen by the physician. I took these new rules of behavior in stride and not even once did I feel or contemplate them as unnecessary. There was something else, however, that I did feel — and that was hesitation. Not hesitation on my part, but on the part of my much loved physician. I pondered this conscience thought I had and considered that he, as a medical professional, was just beginning to get back to a more normal routine after the crisis had somewhat subsided. Perhaps, I thought, this was the lead-in to his holding back. Regardless, the shift I felt in his demeanor led me to believe that with his hesitation came a deeper rumination of my health. I have long thought that when one expands their contemplation of a situation what results is a plethora of enriched thoughts and the opportunity to display more largesse.

Another observation I had last week involved the restaurant and entertainment employees and how much they have suffered as a result of no income flowing for six or seven weeks. Now here they are, back in the saddle but to a reduced sized audience and mandated to wear protective face coverings. Yet, they are delivering each and every customer attentive service accompanied by smiling eyes. And we, as customers, are grateful — not only appreciative at being able to dine out again, but more mindful of their service and showing our gratification with increased tips. All in all, I think this whole crisis has given us the chance to change for the better.

All of these thoughts and contemplations have been a balm for my soul. I was always meant to live a spiritual life and my adaptation to this new reality brings me hope that we are in this world together, and together the small changes we make will help bring about a better world.

Granted I am a storyteller at heart, but honestly folks, you just can’t make this sh*t up.

Pearl Bailey for the most part has been behaving during the pandemic. Yes, she has gotten dirty, but nothing out of the ordinary (by her standards not mine). I will say that her slight behavior modification is probably due to the inordinate amount of time the Professor and I have spent at home. Deviating from our normal “in the house-out of the house” pattern to a quarantine of staying put, I believe this has subliminally delivered a message to our Diva because her conduct has improved exponentially.

Around 10:00 am this morning while I was dressing, Pearl Bailey was plopped inert on the bed. I sat quietly with her while I was putting my shoes on and the vibes she was giving off were STRONG! Now, I understand some people may not agree that communication between a human and animal can exist, but with this dame and me – it does indeed! Here’s the thoughts I was receiving…Pearl Bailey was feeling remorseful and for some reason her breath was better. Normally, she has ‘dragon’ breath resulted from her dietary supplement of ingesting live lizards. As I sat with her, I began to receive contrite messages from her. And for the life of me, I did not grasp what she was trying to apologize for…then it dawned on me that I better pay a visit to her Shangri-La.

Sure enough, when I got downstairs and into the yard I did not have to go far. The flower boxes that line the deck had been looted. I can’t tell you the motive, but I can supply this factoid. At approximately 4:30 pm yesterday afternoon, just before the rain came, I delicately planted several mature herbs plants in the dirt within those boxes. There was Rosemary, Italian Oregano, Thai Basil and Thyme. This morning, however, there is no trace of those lovely mature plantings at all. In fact, even the dirt looked undisturbed leaving me to wonder did I just imagine planting them? NO! This had to be the reason she was remorseful this morning AND why her breath had improved. The aromatics from the herbs made her pants downright fragrant.

So there you have it, ladies and gentlemen – a breath of fresh air does not always deliver what you think it will – sometimes there is a hidden agenda being served.