Bodhisartva ..... Art/Spirit/Life

Hop on Pop

Sunday was not November 2nd, but most of us siblings were in Chicago.  So, when asked what I would like to do, I said, "Let's have a picnic and Mom and Dad's".

  Sharing memories, sharing food, sharing laughs. Our own version of the "Day of the Dead".  Mums, not marigolds. A cup of coffee on one; a snifter of Grand Marnier on the other. Grandkids and a dog and a bottle of wine. A toast to the founders of the feast (to quote Dickens).

Sushi, anyone?

You would have to know my family to understand this.  It is not irreverent.  It is not yucky.  It is loving and joyful and tearful and full of meaning. 

Nine children. Two fabulous parents, gone within 9 months of each other.  We miss them with an ache too huge to put our arms around.  But we try, oh, yes, we try.  We try to honor their love, their silliness, their joy of family.

And this is how we do it.

Hop on Pop.   See you later, Mom and Dad. We'll let you have some peace now - until the next picnic.

 

This is what happens when my family...

When my family gets together, things happen that may sound strange to others.  Oh, some of it is pretty normal, like we all went out to Malnati's for pizza.  And some of it, which may be normal for other folks, is still pretty special.   Like this.

And this...

This....

...and this...

Brothers, sisters, cousins...now, if I just had a photo of Aunt Soo-Soo singing "Oh, By Jingo"!

We ended the evening holding hands and singing "Amazing Grace" (all the verses!) acapella.  I do love my family.  I appreciate even more our picnic outing the next day.  Which might be a little bit strange to most people. But that is another story.

If you don't buy it, I will....

It's a mixed blessing to be shopping with a dear one. Especially someone who has similar tastes.  Sometimes, it's delightful dance.  Sara and I were digging around one of those antique "malls" and I had already reached the end of one shelved space when she brought out this beauty.

It had been right there on the shelf and I completely missed it!  Darn.  But she found it.  She thought it was cool.  (I thought it was better than cool and my heart was going pit-a-pat.)  We traded some comments and I was waiting for a hint from her without luck.  So, I just said what you always say when a friend finds something you love before you do.  "Well (casually), if you don't buy it, I will (sounding oh, so,"it doesn't matter.").

"Oh, no", says she.  "I just picked it up because I thought you would like it."  Yyyyeesssss (fist pumping).  My treasure.  Found a few other things and went to check out. 

As I'm standing there, Sara approaches, picks up the thingy and says, "I changed my mind, I would like this afterall..."  (Stomach dropped out but I think I maintained my cool)   "...so I can buy it for YOU!"  

This is like having kids - you love them except when you want to kill them.  Please don't DO that to me!  And, thanks, Sara.  I love it. 

So, it is sitting on my desk.  And what, you may ask, is it FOR?

Why, for counting my blessings, of course :-)

Sister Sara

 

There are people who are embedded in the very fabric of our lives.  Some are there because we see them every day, live with them, work with them, make art with them. 

Others are deep in the pattern of the weave, a long time woven in - faded into the background because of distance or time, but always there. The thread is sturdy and rich and true. 

 

I have four dear and fabulous sisters.  Sara is not my sister.  She was married once upon a time to my wonderful brother.  It's been decades since they were together, but she has remained a member of the family because she is, well, Sara. We think it's been 7 years since we've seen each other face to face; emails and facebook and birthday cards have been sporadic.

She picked me up at the airport in Chicago and it was as if no time had passed at all.  We fell immediately into a comfortable, loving and funny (oh, yes!) space as if I had seen her yesterday. There is a soul connection, an easy recognition - I think we look at each other and see our true selves reflected in the other's eyes.

I am so blessed.

Of course, it helps that she started our evening with this.

And, she MADE the bread, mind you.

Tomorrow...antique malls and bookstores.  See what I mean? Soul sisters.

P.S.  Yes, I know I am a day behind.  Give me a break. 

The Lesson of the Foot

Alas, alas...once more, a month has gone by without a post by moi.  I have plenty of excuses but none of them a good one.

I have been traveling quite a bit.  In fact, I am off tomorrow for Chicago, to an eye meeting and visits with family and friends. 

The other excuse is that I had a very stupid accident.  I'm sure these things happen for a reason and that there is a lesson in it.  Rushing, always rushing.  Doing three things at once.  Things like talking on the phone, packing for my trip and walking across the floor.  It was the walking that did it.  Walked right into the corner of my suitcase.  We all stub toes; no big deal.  However, when I looked down at my foot, I did recognize that the toe should NOT be pointing in that direction at such an odd angle.  Off to the ER; postpone the flight; spend the trip on crutches, wheelchair and scooter.

So, what is the lesson of the foot?  It's one that has been taught to me before, yet I have never absorbed it.

1.    Slow down.  There's really no reason to rush.

2.    Pay attention.

3.    Be conscious, be present, be wherever you are.

4.    Know when to ask for help and when to accept it.  Especially recognize when you are being STUPID for trying to do everything yourself.

I suspect that all of you recognize these lessons.  When, oh, when will I learn them?

This week, however, I have:

1.    Slowed down.  I really have no choice.  If I go fast, the pain is quite distracting.

2.    Pay attention.    I always know exactly where I am putting that foot!

3.    Ah, now here is the biggie.  I must learn to absolutely stay with my body and mind wherever they are and not go tripping off into the future or back into the past.  Recognize the beauty, the purpose, the joy of right now.  Working on it, folks - still working on it.

4.    Ask for help.  Are you kiddin' me?  This one is beyond my abilities and I just don't think I'll ever be able to ask and accept.  Then again, the foot is still talking to me!

And about that being STUPID?  You don't actually expect me to tell you what I did while stuck on home this week, do you?  Bad, bad, bad...but I didn't hurt the toe...honest.

Setting the intention to blog more regularly - but that would be living in the future, wouldn't it?