Drizzly Thursday

One big pumpkin

I went back and forth trying to decide whether or not to join the Senior Trailblazers today, since they decided at the last minute to head back into the High Country and try to wrest one more trip before staying down at sea level for the duration. It was when I realized that the weather had deteriorated and that it would be rainy, or at least not wonderful up there, and with a car shuttle in the plans, I decided to stay home. On the way into the Food Coop this morning for a breakfast sandwich, I saw this huge pumpkin (they do this almost every year) and are offering a gift certificate to whomever gets closest to guessing its actual weight. (I'm thinking maybe 650 pounds? Or more. Or less.)

Instead of joining my friends on the hike, I went over to the Senior Center to attend the Zumba Gold class. As usual, I could only make the first forty minutes of the hour-long class before I left, out of breath and tired. Then I walked home the long way, giving myself all the steps needed to close my fitness rings. The day was living up to the forecast, with a light drizzle accompanying me all morning. I had neglected to wear a raincoat, because I was hoping that the light rain would finally relent. Nope.

Gold and rainbows

We have recently had the kind of weather that causes such gorgeous scenes as this one, which was captured by one of my favorite artists. She posts frequently in the Seeing Bellingham Facebook group, Emily Polis Gibson. She also has a website, linked here, with wonderful scenes and stories that she shares. I wanted to find something that shows the incredible beauty of our region, and this picture did just that. Yesterday between rain showers, I saw a scene similar to this one, but before I could capture it, the light had changed and it was gone. So, thank you Emily, for this golden gem.

I also had a wonderful acupuncture treatment yesterday, which always helps to bring me back into a place of equanimity. That, and limiting the amount of news I allow into my day, has helped me cope with the awfulness going on in the Middle East. Most of the time, good news is overlooked because it doesn't cause visceral reactions, but rest assured, every moment of every day there is peace, joy, and happiness lurking within the crevices of our world. And here is a little bit of wisdom from someone who has given the world an enormous amount of all those things:

We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams. —Jimmy Carter

:-) 

Flowers for Leontien

{{Hugs}}

I am offering this perfect rose from last summer's Farmers' Market to Leontien, a woman I had never heard about until last week, when Theresa from the Run*Around*Ranch invited me to be in on yesterday's surprise for her.

Although I didn't participate, I checked into what was posted yesterday and the surprise bunch of blog posts with flowers for Leontien and am sitting here simply overwhelmed with what I've learned about the power of the blogosphere. Here's a bit of background.

Leontien is battling cancer and has determined that she will fight it with all her might, inspiring three bloggers with the idea of providing a list of blog posts that would make her realize that she is not alone in her struggle. Not having known anything about her until I looked at her blog (Four Leaf Clover Tales), I felt a bit reluctant to participate. Until today. The beautiful and overwhelming flowers and posts that have been created here cannot help but inspire anybody. Please take a look at Nancy's blog called A Rural Journal where you too can join the caravan (she's hosting the gift page) and give Leontien your flower, your hopes, a virtual hug, whatever. As soon as I've finished this, that's where this one is going.

This was all the brainchild of Buttons, who enlisted the help of Theresa and Nancy. I received an invitation to be part of the surprise from Theresa and, as I said, I declined. That said, the power of the blogosphere, of love and hope has given me the desire to spread this to Leontien from any of my own followers who might not have heard about it. At this moment (it changes continually), there are 186 flowers and posts on the site. The inspiration I've gained from a random sampling just fills my heart with joy. I'll spend a bit more time crying healing tears, not only for Leontien, but for all of us who have joined together to spread some love.
:-)

Perspective

This picture of the Earth was taken in December 1968. As the Apollo 8 command module rounded the far side of the Moon, the crew could look toward the lunar horizon and see the Earth appear to rise, due to their spacecraft's orbital motion. Their perspective of the Earth, I am sure, was one they would never forget.

Our problems always look different when we look at them from a different perspective. On that globe in the sky are billions of people, fighting wars and making love, being born and dying. That fragile little planet hanging there in the sky is all we have. It is a beautiful gift.

I began thinking about perspective when I read a post at Recollections of a Vagabonde about her having been in Paris this past Armistice Day, November 11. When she returned to the States, she got sick and spent the time reading some books about World War I, what is called "The Great War." I didn't realize how many millions of people died during that war until I read this post. I knew Veterans Day, as it is called in the US, was to commemorate the end of this war, but I learned a great deal when I read her well researched article.

Even though the population of the Earth was much smaller at the beginning of the last century than it is today, 40 million were dead or injured in the four years this war was waged. When I think of the conflicts going on in the world now, they pale against this number. The fact that I know about every major war in the world today, every newsworthy death that the media finds to tell me about, near and far, distorts my perspective of what is happening in the world. And the media also distorts my perspective because it doesn't focus on the positive, but only on the negative. Rarely do I read any stories anywhere that tell of the magnificent, courageous and meaningful things that humanity is also accomplishing every single day.

When I visit Astronomy Picture of the Day, my perspective begins to change, placing my problems and the world's problems into a different perspective. I can then lift my head, breathe a little easier, and feel my natural optimism begin to return. Then I walk over to my iMac, turn it on, and read all the wonderful things my blogging friends have to say.

I read about my friends all over the world: in India, the Philippines, Scotland, Ireland, Britain, Canada, and all the regions of the United States. They write funny and profound stories, show me pictures of their lives, talk about their concerns and their children, grandchildren, illnesses, fears and coping strategies. I am uplifted and energized, ready to start my day with a positive attitude, with a perspective of hope.
:-)