Bodhisartva ..... Art/Spirit/Life

Happy Thanksgiving

I feel incredibly blessed every day of my life and take nothing for granted.  But, it's nice to have a special day to really focus on gratitude.  One of my blessings is a large and wonderful family.  My birth family is far away and we are never together for Thanksgiving, sadly.  But another blessing is that my husband has an even larger family of talented, loving and beautiful people.  They are my Thanksgiving.

Every year, the Thanksgiving feast is at our home and I wonder how we'll ever fit everyone at the table!  We rearrange all the furniture and hope for the best.  I love all the preparation and then the fun of the day.  People hang out all over the house.  Here's the front porch and a view from there.

Here's a look at the table.

After dinner, we all went upstairs for a concert by the Delgado Brothers and every other family member with musical talent.  It's nice to see the younger generation coming up with the same spirit of music and love.  And, they're GOOD too!  

A Mama's Pride

Is it possible?  Did I have something to do with this gorgeous creature?  Can she possibly be 20 years old? 

And is it possible that she used to look like this?

Happy Birthday, sweetie!  You overwhelm me with your intelligence, beauty and spirit. 

A Day of Sharing Words

Today is decreed to be Poetry Day by the amazing, lovely soulful L.K. Ludwig.  Look around Bloglandia this day and wallow in the pleasure of the parsed word.

 

You would know the secret of death.
But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life?
The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day
cannot unveil the mystery of light.
If you would indeed behold the spirit of death,
open your heart wide unto the body of life.

For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.
In the depth of your hopes and desires lies
your silent knowledge of the beyond;
And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring.
Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.

Your fear of death is but the trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king whose hand is to be laid upon him in honour.
Is the shepherd not joyful beneath his trembling,
that he shall wear the mark of the king?
Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling?

For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and
to melt into the sun?
And what is to cease breathing, but to free the breath
from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and
seek God unencumbered?

Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.
And when you have reached the mountain top,
then you shall begin to climb.

And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.

Khalil Gibran

Sharing Words

 

 

Won't you join us?

LK Ludwig is creating "A Day of Sharing Words" and the day is tomorrow, Wednesday, November 19th. Here is her call:

The idea:  We have words that touch us, move into our hearts and resonate, creating a feeling, taking us some place- past, present, future- perhaps some place we have never been and may never go, but for whatever reasons, the words pulse in our blood. Meeting new words, new poets, new poems, new ways for my heart to beat, is an intruiging concept. Want to go on this adventure with me? It will be easy to travel along.

Many of us already do this sharing; this idea is just to help us find each other and hear the words we have to share.

The Date: Wednesday, November 19.

The Plan:  on your blog, post a poem that moves inside you, touches you, reaches you.  (quotes and song lyrics welcome).  Include the author (or composer or musician) and source (book, album)- perhaps also the amazon link if there is one.  no explanation required, no other revelation necessary.

One last thing- Perhaps add an image. a photo. a video. a painting. a collage., if you would.

Come here to this post.  Add a comment with your link.

I'll create a typepad page with the links, so others can hear the rhythm of the words, see the image and share in the experience.

The Request: If you are intrigued enough, post on your blog about this Day of Sharing Words- encourage your friends to post.  Who couldn't use a few new poems in their treasury or new songs in their hearts?

If you're interested, please join in LK's project and check back hear tomorrow for poetry as well!

How Old Am I?

Have you noticed that my blog picture hides most of my face?  Ah, you did notice.

Today is my birthday.   No gifts necessary.

I used to make a point of telling my age, once I figured out that most people thought I was younger than I really was.   But once I lost that edge, I found myself not mentioning my age.  I mean, what is the fun if no one gasps and says, "NO Way!".  Now, they just nod in acceptance.  Oh, well.

But birthdays give you an opportunity to reflect on all sorts of things.This year, I am just passing gracefully through the day without much fuss and it's good, too. I'm not sure I'm any smarter than a year ago. But I seem to have learned myself better in any case. 

Last year, I made a very big deal out of a big milestone and it was terrific to be surrounded by those I love.  I held a women's circle to usher me into "crone-hood" and to pass the mantles of mother and maiden on to my daughters.  It was a magical day.  I must be the luckiest woman alive.

My three graces:

Two of my four sisters:

And, my best friend:

See?  Lucky.

The Red Smoky Night

It's midnight in L.A., but I can't sleep.  The smoke and ashes make it hard to breathe and the smell is something awful.

We are many miles away from the fires, but that doesn't seem to matter.  It's frightening to think of what it must be like for people closer to the flames and destruction.  I don't ever want to know what it is like to lose everything.  Of course, if you have your life and your loved ones around you, it's all that REALLY matters.

Yet, what a loss of memory and place - not to mention the practical and overwhelming task of moving forward.  How do people do it?  It must be crushing. 

I wish I had words of wisdom, but all I can do is send my love...yours too, I hope.

Be safe tonight.

Colors of Autumn

These are my colors - rust and saffron orange and deep orangey red and tarnished gold.  I wear them a lot (well, and sage green) and I decorate with them too.  So I guess it's no surprise that I love Autumn.

These glories are from the farmers' market in Union Square in New York City.  But looking at this picture, I could almost be in India.  Aren't they stunning? 

My daughter's dorm is right there on the square.  I'm not actually a big fan of NYC, but since KT has been there, I've learned to enjoy it more.  Any excuse to visit.... :-) We buy wonderful food to prepare, fresh flowers - and maybe a plant if we're feeling brave (dorms are kind of hard on green growing things).  I'm so proud of my daughters for forging their own ways in the world.  But I miss them and the part of my heart they took away.

Mothers must be brave - yes?

Dia de los Muertos

Well, here it is, better late than never!

This is the completed ofrenda altar at our home.  It was so lovely to just sit out on our porch in the evening and look, and feel, and remember. Each loved one is surrounded by things that speak to memory, or hobbies, special items and favorite foods.

My beautiful, crazy mother, who was never without her cup of coffee and cigarette.

My very special father, with his pipe and pistachios and beer...and the calavero playing a horn (he was a musician).

 

And the sweetest mother-in-law anyone could have had.