across borders

rolling down dark, gravelly roads

across borders

backing each other

smoking cigarettes, singing out loud

it’ll be a good go

spinning, spinning, spinning

thunder rolls

sad remembrances

of starry nights …

leaning in

no word spoken

saw the hurt

tapped the buttons

friends do that

cause they know

smoking cigarettes, singing out loud

truck stop breakfasts

steaming jo

boots and hats and rising dust

a good go …

rolling down dark, gravelly roads

across borders

© Maria Norcia Santillanes 2014

From http://www.flickr.com/photos/seamilo/3404399703/

Barroom Girls

"Oh the night came undone like a party dress
And fell at her feet in a beautiful mess
The smoke and the whiskey came home in her curls
And they crept through the dreams of the barroom girls 
Well she tosses and turns because the sun is unkind 
And the heat of the day is coming in through the blinds
But eave all the blue skies for the rest of the world
Because the neon will shine for the barroom girls 
Oh the barroom girls go by your side
Like the ponies who pass on a carousel ride
And all of the colors go 'round in a swirl
When you dance in the arms of the barroom girls 
Now she rolls to her feet when she can't sleep no more
And looks at her clothes lying out on the floor
Last night's spangles and yesterday's pearls
Are the bright morning stars of the barroom girls
Last night's spangles and yesterday's pearls
Are the bright morning stars of the barroom girls"

~~ Gillian Welch - Barroom Girls Lyrics

Paris Letters by Janice Macleod ... a review

I just finished a sweet little book, Paris Letters by Janice MacLeod, a young woman who turned her life around by living minimally and in the process made her life a work of art. It’s a book of concrete ideas on living minimally, life in Paris and love found all tied up in a nicely written story.

MacLeod’s writing is humorous and warm as she tells of how her adventure unfolded and the changes that led her to a better life, one she could love. It’s a quick read, has a good pace and keeps your interest. Anyone looking for the inspiration to re-create your life will absolutely enjoy this book.

Image from Goodreads

Intention

There are so many possibilities and today I will set an intention for happiness ... giving and getting and accepting my own power!

Picture your possibilities ...

As humans, we are nothing but our stories. As woman we tend to forget our own happiness in the quest to take care of others. We have to stop, remember our stories, then let them go ............. so we can create the next story of our life, each time better, each time stronger.

Isle of Palms with my son a few years back ... just being happy!

The Wild Horses of Sable Island

These wild horses are a gift, living free as intended. I would love to visit this island, now a Canadian national park and watch these beautiful animals in their habitat. This is truly in the top five on my bucket list.

To learn more about the Sable Island project and Roberto Dutesco, go to the Wild Horses of Sable Island website and read about the mobile museum.

Sable Island is a small island situated 300 km southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and about 175 km southeast of the closest point of mainland Nova Scotia in the Atlantic Ocean. Wikipedia

Chicken Tomatillo Soup

Oh, I just love this soup. Perfect in any weather for dinner or lunch. I think you might like it too!

Tomatillos are usually a warm weather, summer/early autumn fruits but you can get them off season. You can also grow Tomatillos in beds or in containers. There are so many recipes for Tomatillo.

 #GrowYourOwn 

Tomatillo's are ripe when they are firm, green, shiny and still in their husks and how wonderful that they are filled with all the good things that are good for us ... Vitamins C and K, niacin, potassium and fiber.

Fill your slow cooker with the following:

(I always suggest using organic ingredients if you can, especially for the chicken)

2 pounds of diced tomatillos,
2 chicken quarters,
1 1/2 cups of dried Peruvian (Peruano) beans, 

1 sliced jalapeño,
1 diced onion,
2 cloves of peeled garlic,
and a teaspoon of salt.
Cover with water, about 4 cups,
Set it to cook on low for the day about 8 hours.

This pot will morph into delicious, sweet and tangy broth with the tenderest of beans and soft tastes of chicken. You'll just have to fill a bowl, dip some pieces of tortilla or cut a good chunk of rustic bread and a pour a glass of wine ... and enjoy!

#MyDogCody

This is Cody!

This is Cody when we brought him home from the rescue last year. He's an older dog and I was afraid of what might happen if no one chose him because of his age. He was quite thin then ... and shy, now he has picked up some weight, maybe too much and he is no longer shy.

He's the best dog anyone could ever have.

#MyDogCody

Good quotes

"If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it.  If you don't ask, the answer is always no.  If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place" ~Nora Roberts

What will you do today in your personal or business life to step forward and make it happen?

Sullivan's Island w/ my boy some years back!

Start the work

When do we start? It should be before too long, before it's too late. Wake up, clear your space, stretch, meditate, touch the soil, open your heart and start the work that only you know how to do. It's time, don't be afraid, there is a life out there for you and though the years past have been jumbled and you did what you must, good or bad, sensible or not, it's not too late to do what your heart has always called you to do.

There are people waiting to help you, look around. They may only be there for an hour, a day, a year or maybe longer, but they are there. Find them or ... let them find you. All your experiences have brought you to now so start the work, it won't be easy, work never is but it can be glorious.

True words

Source Facebook

Return to Tradd Street by Karen White ... a review!

This book, the fourth in the Tradd Street series by Karen White has me a bit perplexed. I read the first three books and gave five stars to each; however, I just cannot do that for Return to Tradd Street.  The main character, Melanie, is becoming quite annoying with her negativity and constant mind chatter that doesn’t seem to be in harmony with reality. There didn't appear to be a real reason why Melanie should be nursing a broken heart.  As well, there was so much more that could have been developed in the story including back-stories and character formations for the Detective and the Gilberts. I don’t know why characters Rebecca and her fiancé Marc Longo had a role in the story at all.   It took me considerably longer to finish reading this book than it would normally take a book of this size.  I kept putting it down; it wasn’t a page-turner like the others in White’s series.

I am normally quite interested in White’s writing and the manner in which she forms her story and even though this book did not strike my fancy, I am familiar enough with White’s books and her writing style that she will continue to be a favorite author and should there be a fifth in the series, I’ll certainly read it.

Other books that I've read and enjoyed by Karen White are:

The Memory of Water
READ EXCERPT HERE

THE BEACH TREES 
READ EXCERPT HERE

SEA CHANGE 
READ EXCERPT HERE

Please shop at independent bookstores whenever possible and support small business, 

they are your friends and your neighbors!

~~~ Please share my blog posts, it's always appreciated and your comments make my day. @FemaleBloggerRT #FemaleBloggerRT

Emotionally draining relationships

From http://www.fengshuidana.com/

In the last two years I have been put in this position by two people with whom I had been very close to for a long time and after hearing them, then standing up for myself and saying my piece, I simply walked away. Sometimes it must be done ... especially when you know deep in your heart and mind that you have done nothing wrong and do not deserve to be hurt.


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What's in your future?

"The thing is, the future happens. Every single day, like it or not. Sure, tomorrow is risky, frightening and in some way represents one step closer to the end. But it also brings with it the possibility of better and the chance to do something that matters." -- Seth Godin

From weheartit.com

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Four things I've learned ...

Today I woke very early, at 3:09 AM EST to be exact and was unable to sleep. It turned out that was an okay thing since I ended up watching a really good documentary on television. My earlier blog includes the link to the video.

I want to share some thoughts and also what I believe I have always known but saw first hand in this story about two children, who happen to be black Americans, attending a private school in New York City. The fact that they are black in America attending a school where they are the minority is important in this story but I saw something else that I thought was important too. Specifically, what is happening in American society that the school experience for boys is so different from girls. Only once does the film speak about how the girls, also black, do not experience the issues that the boys do. Yes, yes, yes, there are learning differences between boys and girls, we know that but it seems something else is going on as well. Are boys being treated differently ... forget race for a minute ... are the boys perceived by teachers and administrators differently? I ask this question as a parent of a boy.

What do you think? When I commented on the Public Television site, I mentioned my thought. I wonder if I'll get a response. I think it's a conversation that should be opened.

But here is what I believe I've always known as a parent but have had it reinforced through this film.

• Parents make the best decisions they can with the information on hand
• Advocating for your child is an imperative
• All parents want the best for their kids and all kids try hard to please their parents
• Every experience, good or bad, has value

If you have the time and the interest, watch the film. I think you will enjoy it, perhaps learn something you didn't already know or confirm your beliefs about society. Perhaps it will make you take action and that wouldn't be so bad.

POV (a cinema term for "point of view") is television's longest-running showcase for independent non-fiction 

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One Kind of American Experience

I'm glad I wasn't able to sleep tonight because I got the chance to watch this feature on television. This was an intriguing look at American life and I found the comments made by Brewster and his wife, at the very end of the film, to be insightful and important. Only once in the film was it mentioned that the girls did not struggle as much as the boys in the school environment and I think that should be explored further. The film only touched upon it, perhaps for a different documentary. I've bookmarked this film for my son to watch because the lessons learned here cross all cultures.

My title 'One Kind of American Experience' is important to me in this blog because this is not suggestive of the entire nation. I'm bringing attention to this because I know I have readers from outside the US. This is a film of a family's experience in a large city ... New York in this case, but it would most likely not be the experience of a family living in more rural areas of the country.  That said, I still believe there are lessons for all people in this film. Let me know if you agree ...

The film is long so you may want to set aside some time. 

--- Read Four things I've learned ... for more on this topic.

Season 26, Episode 16

Watch American Promise on PBS. See more from POV.

#POV, #Documentary, #Culture, #AmericanPromise

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Ouch!!

I fell down the stairs last evening in my home. Thankfully, my son was there to help. I'll be recuperating for a day or so since my lower back is quite sore and very uncomfortable. I'll be back soon.

frommnatyu.wordpress.com

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Coconut Oil ... so many benefits!

My pic and my cinnamon swirl cake!

My new 'go to' … Coconut Oil!

Maybe you’ve already tried it and love it.  Most people try it and like it for all different reasons.  I love it because you can use it in place of olive oil when cooking, it has a wonderful light flavor, and you can use it topically for moisturizing hair, and skin.  I bought the organic virgin coconut oil by Spectrum at the organic market.  It is solidified but melts quickly in your cooking or your hands.  You can purchase it in liquid form but I learned, from the woman who runs the organic market, that the liquefied form is processed so is no longer organic.

Some of the ways I’ve use coconut oil so far other than in my cooking:

HAIR: After giving my hair a light wash, I work the coconut oil from mid-roots down to the tips, the, comb through and leave it in for 20 minutes or overnight (I put a towel on my pillow but it does absorb quickly).  Afterward, thoroughly wash it out and if you want, condition as normal.  Your hair will be silky smooth, and as you continue the treatments, your hair will be beautifully moisturized.

CUTICLES: I keep a jar in the bath and a smaller cup by the sink and after washing my hands, I’ve been rubbing it into my cuticles.  I work a lot with my hands and my cuticles take a beating but this method has been helping to soften my cuticles and make them look and feel healthier.

PEDI: Use it in place of your regular moisturizer when caring for your feet.  After a shower if you are not heading out, use the oil to massage into your feet, and then cover with socks.  The oil will massage relatively fast and your feet will feet wonderful.

FACE: there are several I’ve tried and liked  ---

·         Use it to remove make-up, wipe away with a warm cloth.

·         Mix with olive oil for an all-natural face wash.  

·         After cleansing in the evening, use a small amount to moisturize your skin. I alternate this with a different oil that I have from  the cosmetic line I promote which is an organic facial Serum very rich in Vitamins C, E, and A.

·    I have heard that you could make an antibacterial mask of it with honey but I have not tried that yet.

BODY: Mix coconut oil with sugar for a fantastic body scrub.

Have you used coconut oil and do you have any special ways to use it that you’d like to share?

#GoTo #CoconutOil #Beauty

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Love messages ...

You get what you give!!!

Snacking

Since my son was just a toddler, he referred to this snack as a 'special' and now that he is a teenager, I can't think of anything else to call it. Sometimes, I'll refer to it as a large 'special' which would then include at least two cheeses, some roasted peppers, olives and maybe, another meat. Today I  prepared a regular 'special', it's what both he and I love to snack on when he arrives from school.

Have a look at my recipes!


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Florida, A Lonely Place

It's a lonely place with non-descript people searching for meaning, searching for something that gives them the esteem they begged for in their lives. Even the TV commercials talked of buying bigger, better, and being the envy of 'friends.'

Gated communities try to keep out the rif-raf but the gates need to be stronger, and the walls need to be higher. Anyone, you know, 'those people,' they could get through, and when they did, well, they fit in as easily as anyone else who knew the key code.

Miles of strip mall shopping stretching from town to town, screaming out with gaudy signs along the way, restaurants, and coffee shops proclaiming their connection to the places the owners came from to have a 'better life.' Still, all they did was re-create their life with the same people they knew from where they came because all the same people came too. When together, they talked about how much better their lives were because they had so much shopping and so many restaurants and how their house was bigger and better, and in their private thoughts, they were the envy of 'friends.'

I see homeless seniors, and I'm sad for them, not knowing why or how they became homeless. I see middle-aged men and women burnt brown, aged beyond their years looking like they fell from a box of raisins. I look around for the little ones; I see the parks but not the children. Maybe they are hidden in gated communities where they have a bigger, better life.

I look around, and I feel cold. I feel lonely,

Capturing the French Quarter!

Just love the people in this VIDEO!!!! You may too, enjoy!

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The Valentine’s Day Romantic Movie Survey | Women's Voices For Change | #WorthyCause

From semanier.com 

 "Vote for your favorite romantic movie and help Women’s Voices raise up to $25,000 for BabyHeart, the International Children’s Heart Foundation, which treats children in developing countries born with heart disease.

Vote for your favorite romantic movie between now and February 14. Chosen titles will be listed as soon as possible after your votes come in. On Valentine’s Day they will name the favorite, and post every one of your comments.There’s substance to this story. An anonymous Women’s Voices donor has offered to contribute $5 for every entry, up to a limit of $25,000. The proceeds will go to BabyHeart, the International Children’s Heart Foundation, which treats children in developing nations who are born with heart disease. The foundation provides direct care to as many children as possible in the short term; sends medications, surgical supplies, and diagnostic equipment to medical facilities in developing countries; and trains surgeons and medical staff so they ultimately can provide care for their own people."

Click here The Valentine’s Day Romantic Movie Survey | Women's Voices For Change

What a wonderful and simple way to support a worthy cause. If you are a blogger, please consider a post about this cause and if you aren't, please vote and share this post to any or all of your social media accounts. 

Thank you to A Femme d'un Certain Age for letting us know of this cause.


Much appreciated,
Maria'


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Books, books, books

A comment on social media gave me the idea for this question:

           What are your three favorite books of all time? 
                                      Please share in the comments below ...

From beneaththerowantree.blogspot.com 

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Ira Glass

“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”

― Ira Glass

Ira Jeffrey Glass is an American public radio personality, and host and producer of the radio and television show This American Life.

#IraGlass

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Being a writer

 

From imyourbasicaveragegirl.blogspot.com 

I've been reading what others have done to move closer and closer to that space where they are comfortable calling themselves a writer, where being a writer is their work.  I’m slowly crawling there, though it is more challenging than one might think.  I’ve been comfortable saying I would write more and willing to share my writing with the world, but am I really? 

Must you have a publishing house give you a title, or are you a writer once you pen your first story and present it to the world.

It’s tough to put one’s self out into the world knowing that you will face rejection time and time again.  Even with a simple blog, I find this to be true.  Many of my friends don't know I have a blog.  I guess it is easier to put myself out into the world among people I do not know, but I am getting bolder.  Admitting that is a first step for me.

Was I a writer from the moment I handed my fourth-grade teacher, Miss Caro, a fake book report?  The class was assigned a book report, and we were told to choose a book from the library and write a review, a book report as they were called back then.  I loved the library as a child, and I still do as an adult, but I did not go to the library for that assignment or pick out a book to read.  Instead, I wrote a review of a story I made up.  I created a story, title, and author, and then wrote a review.  After all these years, I barely remember the story except for the main character, a young wheelchair-bound girl who struggled at school.  The review of my fake book is what I handed to Miss Caro as the book report she assigned. 

She never knew, or if she did, she chose not to say anything.  I still wonder if she was curious about the book I was reporting, as she could have easily checked to find the title, and the author did not exist.  Well, she gave me a high mark and that was important at the time, that and the freedom to write, and make my own story.

You see, it is easier when you are a child when you have nothing to lose.   

Excerpts from Untitled

She delighted in watching the light as it cast its shadows through the glass building.  Off in the distance were snow-capped mountains.  She loved the light here, the way it played across the skies, and each moment held a different feeling.  The wind picked up her hair, and she started to dance, spinning around and around, arms high, reaching for the sky. Her dance made her feel and her heart sing; the day became night, the wind ceased, and she was calm.

      Lyn opened her eyes and stared at the white ceiling as she ran her hands over her stomach and breast and lifted her head slightly to tame her hair to one side.  She was dreaming again, the same dream that came often.  When she was awake, she could close her eyes and conjure different scenes; always, the light played its part along with the land's natural beauty and the place's uniqueness.  The only problem for Lyn was she had to open her eyes, and often, what she saw when she opened her eyes didn’t please her much. 

© 2014

*Excerpts from Untitled are snippets of a larger piece I am working on. Please feel free to comment and let me know what you think.

From http://www.excitingcpa.com/

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Old style bookstore ... Shakespeare and Company

I think I could be quite satisfied with this bookstore. Perhaps they'd allow me to make a home in a comfortable corner. Let's visit!

http://shakespeareandcompany.com/

 This looks comfortable! A cup of coffee would be nice too ...

http://shakespeareandcompany.com/

Lovely! 

"Be not inhospitable to strangers

lest they be angels in disguise"

http://shakespeareandcompany.com/

Is that a bed I see?

A unique way to display!

Well this looks interesting ... hmmm!

Look closely.

37 rue de la Bucherie, 75005 Paris, France  & they have a facebook page for those of us on the other side.

I could definitely enjoy time here!

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Cécile McLorin Salvant - I Didn't Know What Time it Was (Live at Dizzy's)

She is only 21 years old ....

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Beautiful Song ... A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera - Say Something

Say something, I'm giving up on you.
I'll be the one, if you want me to.
Anywhere I would've followed you.
Say something, I'm giving up on you.

And I am feeling so small.
It was over my head
I know nothing at all.

And I will stumble and fall.
I'm still learning to love
Just starting to crawl.

Say something, I'm giving up on you.
I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you.
Anywhere I would've followed you.
Say something, I'm giving up on you.

And I will swallow my pride.
You're the one that I love
And I'm saying goodbye.

Say something, I'm giving up on you.
And I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you.
And anywhere I would've followed you. Oh-oh-oh-oh
Say something, I'm giving up on you.

Say something, I'm giving up on you.
Say something...

http://agreatbigworld.com/

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Breakfast of Champions ... Chia Seeds and T'eff

This is my new favorite breakfast that is not only good looking; it's delicious and very healthy!

I've combined Farina with Teff, Chia and a splash of Maple Syrup. It's that simple!

Teff is the world’s tiniest grain and it hails from Ethiopia. It's name is Amharic for 'lost' which is a completely sensible name given the tiniest of things tend to get lost. Teff grains can't be refined or processed, they are so small and it's a cereal grass that packs a nutritional punch. I purchased my Teff from the Bob’s Red Mill which I found at the organic market.

From nutricionysaludenjaume.blogspot.com 

“Teff leads the grains in calcium content, which helps strengthen bones and may reduce PMS symptoms. One grain of Teff is up to 40% resistant starch, which can help you lose weight if you replace the other carbs you’re filling up on, what I call “carbage” (processed foods like white bread, potato starch, sweets and the like). Teff can be white or dark in color and can be found at your local health food store or online for about $8 per pound. One serving size is about 1/4 cup and 160 calories. Sweeter and milder than wheat, Teff has a molasses-like flavor. Teff can be cooked hot for a nice breakfast cereal – 1 cup of Teff with 2 cups of water or juice, cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until it’s thick and the liquid is absorbed. Add fresh fruit on top. Teff is also available in tortillas for a great wrap or to make quesadillas (a lot better than refined flour tortillas and gluten-free too!).” From Dr. Oz

This is how Teff looks as it's growing ... pretty!

From en.wikipedia.org

My breakfast also contains Chia Seeds, Salvia hispanica, which when I first heard about them, could only think of the Ch Ch Ch Chia Pet commercial you see on television. Chia Seeds are chuck full of Omega 3 – fatty acids and are full of antioxidants. Chia is high in Fiber, and it expands making it fill you. It’s great for weight loss and good digestion. Chia has pretty much no taste at all and so it can be added to many dishes to increase nutrition. You can soak the Chia Seeds in a cup of water for about 15 minutes before use or soak the seeds in a clean glass jar in the refrigerator. They will stay for about 4 or 5 days.

From www.nomeatathlete.com

“Chia absorbs up to 12 times its own weight and expands to curb your appetite, so adding just an ounce or so of chia seeds to your diet can reduce caloric intake and help lower the energy density (or calories) of foods, plus double the amount of fiber you receive.” From Dr. Oz

Look at how beautiful it looks whiles it grows!

From deborahsmall.wordpress.com 

Prepare the Farina according to instruction, as it starts to thicken, add a tablespoon of Teff and a tablespoon of soaked Chia. Once thickened, add maple Syrup and your choice of fruit or nuts.

Absolutely delicious!

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Sometimes it's part of the story

“In my story you're the villain. But in my heart, you're still the reigning King.” 
― Coco J. Ginger

From happeningarchive.blogspot.com 

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Doing for others ... life's most urgent call.

"Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?" ~~Martin Luther King

While scrolling through posts on Facebook this morning, I found quote after quote from Martin Luther King, some with inspiring pictures of the man himself in honor of his day and in remembrance of what he stood for during his short lifetime. These are all wonderful and meaningful quotes to remember and share. 

Many understand his cause as only a black/white issue, but is it really? Racism may have been the seed, but his cause became more extensive and diverse. In my simple worldview, it all comes down to one thing, and King expressed it beautifully when he told us that doing for others is life's most urgent call. 

Isn't that what it's all about? Relationships ... 

We have relationships with every other being in this world, simply because of the nature of life and human living. It makes sense to do for others; it makes sense that doing for others is what upholds humanity. If each person helps another without judgment, cynicism, and superiority, we uphold them and build a community, a place to come together. 

The simple act of doing something for someone else tears down walls, makes good neighbors, builds trust, opens communication, and creates a space where sharing is normal, and skin colors don't matter, where nationality is a proud blessing in which others could share in the culture, where differences disappear. 

That's the world of grace and acceptance where I could surrender.

From www.gypsytornado.com

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Good-byes and Hellos

"Don't be dismayed at good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends." ~Richard Bach

From www.emmalouiselayla.com

I'm far from most of my dearest friends and miss them terribly. Oh, just the mundane things like sitting for a cup of freshly brewed coffee and talking about everything under the sun. Martini's at the bar of a loud and hectic bistro, heartily enjoying the atmosphere and people watching, dinner out sharing good wine and lots and lots of laughter, or late night talks about things not commonly shared while watching the inky night through the screened porch. 

However, friendship doesn't mean you must see each other daily. It does, however, mean that you keep your friend's memory tucked into your heart and firmly in mind while you journey elsewhere for a time. Bach puts it into perspective, reminding us that we must travel to enjoy the moment of return when we see our friends again. 

I journey. I've moved more times than most people think necessary, but each experience has been a lovely adventure. Each time I reconnect, it has made my connection stronger. For me, that is the bonus!

~~~

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This is for you!

moreloveletters.com  #LoveLetters

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excerpts from untitled

    "As Lyn sipped her coffee, she remembered days spent as a child with Aunt Claire singing and dancing in her garden while they picked flowers for the table and veggies for a salad.  They would make rag dolls of old cloth and put on mini plays at the table in the sun room and they made sure to have plenty of afternoon tea parties.  Lyn would put on mounds of her Aunt’s jewelry and a big hat and she would serve real tea and sugar cookies, made earlier in the day, while showing off her best manners.  Then they would head to the stable for a ride on their favorite horses before the afternoon would close.  Her Aunt Claire had made Lyn’s childhood magical"

   "Lyn knew of her French heritage, her Aunt and her mother were French, her father was an American but she could hardly believe her Aunt left an apartment in Paris. A vision of Paris somehow reminded Lynn of Aunt Claire saying, “But you know mon trésor, your life was always meant to be beautiful.”         © 2014

*excerpts from untitled are snippets of a larger piece that I am working on, please feel free to comment and let me know what you think.

Photo from thealternativebride.blogspot.com
#Paris

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