·
Sunday, 30 September 2007
Surprise!
More House Guests!
The phone rang
this AM and we learned that unexpected houseguests will arrive this
afternoon. They are just hours away with
their RV and a car in tow.
I head off to
church a bit preoccupied with the mental checklists involved in playing hostess
to people. I am late heading out the
door and as I pull into the last empty parking space at the church I realize I
need to stop a minute to comb my wild hair.
I tame my locks with a clip and head purposefully toward the door. I am late, late, late.
Surprise!
The Wrong Church!
Standing in the
doorway, I suddenly realize that I am at the WRONG church! I am in the doorway of the Greek Orthodox
Church instead of the Christian Science Church next door!
I quickly stride
back to my pick-up truck and ease out of the parking lot. I laugh aloud and consider a story I head
before I moved to the paradise that is Santa Fe. The storyteller was fed up with all the adobe
and pseudo-adobe buildings in Santa Fe.
All the buildings are varied shades of pink and to an outsider, they all
sort of look alike!
It is true. Giving directions is a challenge in this city
where most of the architecture is so similar.
It must seem strange to natives of Santa Fe when they move away to other
parts of the USA where adobe is not an option.
Of course, the
truth is, I turned into the wrong parking lot because I was preoccupied with
juggling my life, rearranging my plans rather than living in the present.
I mentally switch
gears and find myself being grateful that we have friends and family close
by. After several years abroad ad many
years in isolated places, having frequent houseguests is new to me. What a joy to have friends and family. What a great opportunity to be a happy,
gracious hostess. By the time church is
over, I am finding many reasons to be grateful for this sudden turn of events.
Surprise!
I am Happy!
Children love
surprises. I can learn to be like a
small child and find joy in the unexpected.
As each day dawns, I can be grateful for the abundance that pours into
my life.
I have a choice
and I choose to be happy!
·
Saturday, 29 September 2007
New Mexico's distinctive
insignia is the Zia Sun Symbol…
The
state flag of New Mexico depicts the ancient Zia Sun Symbol in red on a field of Spanish yellow.
This
ancient symbol which is in evidence everywhere in New Mexico, originated with
the Indians of Zia Pueblo. The Zia reflects
their abiding tribal philosophy concerning the basic harmony of all things in
the universe. They believe that all
things are bound together in a circle of life and love - there is no beginning;
there is no end.
Four
is the sacred number of Zia. The symbol
is comprised of a circle with four points radiating from it. These four straight lines of varying length represent
the sacred number four; the number most often used by the Giver of all Good
gifts.
To
the Zia Indian, four is the sacred number.
The number four dominates the all the cycles of life on earth: there are
four directions, four seasons; four parts of each day (sunrise, noon, evening,
and night), four stages of human life (childhood, youth, adulthood, and old age),
and we have four sacred obligations (we must develop a strong body, a clear
mind, a pure spirit, and a devotion to the welfare of our people).
Would it be inappropriate to
name a dog Zia?
Zia
Maria, Queen of the Desert! The name
occurred to me as I watched our little wonder-dog scramble across the desert on
our long afternoon walk. She is all
heart and spirit!
I
am grateful to the Giver of all Good for the gift of this small, humble
creature who brings great joy to the seasons of my day.
·
Friday, 28 September 2007
My Tail is Wagging!
This gentle, sweetie-girl has a tail that
wags constantly and amber eyes that will melt ice. She is also missing her left rear leg, but
that sure does not slow her down.
No, I did not make
it out of PetSmart Friday afternoon without her by my side. I have mentioned that dog-shaped hole in my
heart many times and this little red dog fills it nicely.
She is about 2
years old and spent her earlier life in Roswell, NM, several months of those
two years in that animal shelter before her month here in the Santa Fe
shelter. Her shelter name is Tasha. She is is currently the Pet of the Week on
the local Humane Society website. There
is no information in her meager history concerning the missing limb, but havng
only three legs does not seem to sow her down!
She may be missing
a leg, but all the important parts are here!
Chinese Food and a Movie
We watched “Pan’s
Labrynth” (Spanish subtitles) while we sampled take out from China Star. Miss Dog is polite and does not beg or eye
our food.
Our houseguests
left this morning. They are probably
dining somewhere in Phoenix with our daughter and family now. No news is good news I guess.
Miss Dog snoozes
with her head resting on my foot.
·
Thursday, 27 September 2007A Fall Day in
Chimayo
As we walk, we formulate
plans for Good Friday 2008. Years ago
the seeds were planted when I read a James Michener description of the
pilgrimage at Santiago de Compostela. We lived in Spain for ten years, so the
seed was well nurtured, and now, though long dormant, I can feel life within
it. A pilgrimage may be in the offing.
Probably not. Most likely we will retain our tourist
standing and simply make a visit to this site next spring to watch as the
devout, grieving and the infirm arrive - barefoot and on their knees. They will pray, weave crosses into the fence,
light candles, sing, dance, and respond to the spirituality that permeates this
special, sacred site.
The Santurio do
Chimayó is only about 27 miles northeast of Santa Fe and yes, people begin
their pilgrimage in Santa Fe. Many begin
in Albuquerque which is an hour’s drive south of Santa Fe. During the pilgrimage the roadway is littered
with abandoned, worn out shoes.
Even now, on this beautiful autumn day,
there is much evidence of pilgrims. Abandoned
crutches, braces, and walkers decorate the walls. Pilgrims leave behind heartfelt notes of
gratitude and requests for blessings. Photographs
of soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines gaze back as us as we take it all
in. There many before and after photos
and tiny shoes line the walls too.
(These are gifts to the Christ child who wanders through the night working
blessings and wearing out his shoes). (No
photos allowed – this picture is from off the Internet)
Over 300,000
people visit this sacred site every year.
It is obvious why El Santuario has been called
the "Lourdes of America".
There is no written testimony - the tradition concerning the apparition of
Our Lord has passed from oe generation to the next.
The story goes
something like this. In about 1810, a
Chimayó friar was up in the hills, praying and making penance. He was amazed t see a light burs from the
hillside. He dug with his hands and
found a crucifix which he dubbed the miraculous crucifix of Our Lord of
Esquipulas.
Three times the
local priest took the crucifix to Santa Cruz, but each time, the cross disappeared
and was always found back in the hole where the friar originally found it. Everyone understood that El Senor de
Esquipulas wanted to remain in Chimayó!
So they built a small chapel on that very site.
That is when the miraculous healings began.
Many, many miracles happened so the tiny chapel was replaced by an adobe
mission in about 1816. The earth used in
this shrine is sacred, with miraculous healing power, but El Posito, the
"sacred sand pit" where the cross was first found is where pilgrims can
obtain the most powerful earth.
Mark reaches down
to collect a handful of dirt. We will
share it with Lyudmila back in Ukraine.
(Lyudmila once
bottled up some holy water in an old instant coffee jar and gave it to us –
“for emergencies!” she said. The jar of
brownish water sat on our kitchen windowsill for about two years, just waiting
for the right emergency. Do we drink it
or splash it, I wondered?)
We shop
We leave the
shrine and stop in a trading post where our guests make a few purchases, among
them a beautiful small painting framed in an original punched-tin frame made by
the young man behind the counter. His
work was honored with first prize in the Spanish Market this year.
Chimayó is famous
for the weavings of the Ortega and Trujillo families, so we tour Ortega’s
weaving shop and examine the special weft-faced offerings made from the wool of
sheep brought from Spain many years ago.
The weavers too came from the dusty Estremadura of Spain
originally. A few weavers were brought n
and eventually about 40 families were part of the industry.
The piles of rugs
and blankets and the looms have an almost visceral effect on my. Like seeing pottery being shaped on a wheel,
I want to touch and feel; to be pat of the process.
We Lunch at Rancho de Chimayo
One of New
Mexico's oldest restaurants is located in Chimayó and that is where we dine — Rancho
de Chimayó. We dine on a patio, enjoying
the crisp, bright air. I sip a tart margarita,
eat wonderful sopapilla rellenos and savor excellent flan for dessert. The meal is like a small vacation. The inn has beautiful rooms for rent, but
this visit is just a day trip.
http://www.ranchodechimayo.com/index.htm
We drive back to
Santa Fe, winding past Camel Rock and the Santa Fe Opera House.
The evening
entertainment involves watching a DVD: The Bagdad Café. (a cult film about a café in the Mojave
Desert that the four of us visited in June)
·
Wednesday, 26 September 2007
A Day on the Plaza
We take our houseguests to the Plaza to start
the day visiting the lovely shps there.
Under the portal, we examine the fine workmanship in some jewelry and
just enjoy being outside. In September,
the weather is wonderful and most of the tourists have vanished. A cow calls from a tall tree in the
square. There are vacant benches where
one can sit and talk. This is when to
visit Santa Fe.
Picnic under the Aspens
As the sun sets we
haul my red table and benches out under the aspen tree by the koi pond and the
hammock. Then we place vases of
wildflowers and plates of savory food on all the available spaces. I throw a bright yellow quilt on the ground. We place a large fake crow in the tree to
amuse our guest as they arrive.
Our friends arrive. We feed brown bread to the koi and take turns
petting them. We sit outdoors sipping
wine and talking about nothing very important as the sun drops below the
horizon.
Bonfires & Moonlight
A full moon beams
down through the tree branches and the air feels chilly so we relocate to the
small patio on the opposite side of the koi pond. Mark builds a crackling fire in the fire
pit. We sip coffee and continue our
wandering conversation for another hour or two.
The burning wood is like incense.
·
Tuesday, 25 September 2007
If
you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint,"
then
by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.
- Vincent Van Gogh
Tomorrow our house
guests arrive…
·
Monday, 24 September 2007
My posts of late
seem to reflect more of a diary than a journal.
I seem to be
chronicling events more than I care to.
I prefer to sit at my keyboard and just let my mind fly and my fingers
tap away. I like to be surprised by the
story or the observations that unfold on the screen.
Lately though I
find myself simply recording the events of the day.
Making Movies…
Did I mention that
Friday night we were part of a movie shoot?
Yes, Kevin Costner and Kelsey Grammar are in Santa Fe working on a film
(“Swing Vote”). They needed people for a
crowd scene so Costner offered a free concert and some door prizes as a lure to
get a bunch of people all in one place.
Mark and I arrive
early and are among the first ten cars inside the gate at the local rodeo
grounds.
I had the
opportunity to act: I sip fake coffee and carry a box of fake donuts as I
pretend to wait in line to go through security for a large political
event. I banter with the pretend
security agents and fake reporters and have a fine time. Mark remains perched in the bleachers most of
the evening.
Overhead,
helicopters fly by, filming events. On
the ground the crowd is entertained by a few horseback riders and a stand-up
comedian. A bass boat, and trips to
Vegas and Disneyland are raffled off.
Mostly the crowd sits waiting for direction, catching glimpses of stars
and just waiting, waiting, waiting.
Eventually (around
11 PM) Costner’s own band performs, but by then most of the crowd has gone
home. The night air is cold and
moviemaking is slow, dull work.
Look for my
cameos, most likely on the cutting room floor.
·
Sunday, 23 September 2007 – SF Habitat for
Humanity’s 20th B’Day
The cake and
champagne reception at a local art gallery consumed the afternoon.
Later at home, I
watch the PBS broadcast of the first in a series about the effects of WWII on
four American communities (Waterbury, Conn; Luverne, Minn; Mobile, Ala; and Sacramento, Calif.). This tale is from a very human point of view
and not about the Generals.
I watch with great
interest. Hundreds of questions fill my
mind – things I wish I could ask my mother and father.
One of the
communities is Luverne, MN. The video of
this small Midwestern community is like a tip into my past. I listen as Tom Hanks reads excerpts from a
local columnist who gives us a window on the sacrifices and the pain of those
who lived through these events. I am
mesmerized by this documentary.
Our experiences in
Ukraine have made WWII so much more real.
As Americans, we are quite naïve about the impact of these events. In the USA, we did not watch our own homes
burn and our friends and family die. We
were isolated and insulated by oceans.
I think of author
Elie Weisel and how these events confirmed the spiritual nature of life, yet
for many these events defined them in negative ways…they remain stuck or angry
or in great pain. I think about the
lessons and faith and understanding.
I will watch the
series.
FYI: The War" began on Sunday, Sept. 23, and
will air on PBS as a 15-hour, seven-episode series.
"A
Necessary War" (December 1941 - December 1942) Today, 7 p.m.
"When
Things Get Tough" (January 1943 - December 1943) 7 p.m. Monday
"A
Deadly Calling" (November 1943 -June 1944) 7 p.m. Tuesday
"Pride
of Our Nation" (June 1944 - August 1944) 7 p.m. Wednesday
"FUBAR"
(September 1944 - December 1944), 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30
"The
Ghost Front" (December 1944-March 1945) 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1
"A
World Without War" (March 1945-December 1945) 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2
·
Saturday, 22 September 2007
The Joys of Domestic Life
A Saturday routine
is one of the joys of domestic life. Our
weekends frequently get usurped by work related events and inspired projects
which we are happily involved in, but what a joy when we get one of those free
Saturdays - a rare day when we just let the day unfold with no real agenda.
The events of this
fine fall day included taking in a few garage sales where we found some
treasures to enhance our life. Part of
the pleasure of this activity includes seeing the interior of homes and
speaking to locals.
When I tired of this
activity, we wondered through the local pet store. I flirted with a sweet, elderly, grey cat who
needs a home…hard to say goodbye to her.
Next a stop at the
ranch store to get Mark some proper work boots.
I browsed and admired all the wonderful cowboy inspired clothes.
And what Saturday
is complete without a stop at Lowe’s or Home Depot? America’s fascination with home improvement
makes these centers almost like huge places of worship! We successfully avoided the garden center and
all those temptations and simply made our paint purchase.
Next we headed
home for lunch. Mark put together a
tasty cheese board and some fresh veggies and fruit. We ate in our own bright kitchen, with NPR
programs playing in the background, providing stimulation for our lazy
conversation.
Saturday’s are the
time for home improvement projects, so Mark got out his manly power tools and enjoyed
the pleasures of working with wood. He made
modifications to our old bed frame so we can finally (after 2 ½ years!) sleep
on our own bed again. Then we decided to
freshen it up with a coat of glossy black paint. Painting is companionable work. We work side-by-side and quickly accomplish
the task at hand. Painting something
always leaves me with a sense of accomplishment far beyond the actual skill or
time commitment involved.
I even found some
time to linger in the hammock, catching the late afternoon sun and reading an
engaging novel. As I turn the page, I am
briefly distracted by a bit of black paint on my hand – a pleasant reminder of
our earlier task. That work justifies
the hammock time! Inside I hear the
sounds of Prairie Home Companion playing on the radio. Mark is working on dinner for two. I turn another page and read on.
Perhaps this day
sounds dull to some. But for me, these
days that smack of routine are among the best.
In our frequent moves and busy life, the daily habits and customs are
often in flux. In all the newness and
stimulation, I relish tradition and habit.
Living in the now means finding that joy wherever I am. Today I am grateful for the quiet pleasures
of such a peaceful day with my old cowboy spouse.
·
Friday, 21 September 2007 – The Equinox
& International Peace Day
After childbirth,
women often experience postpartum blues.
Is it real? I do not know. Perhaps it is simply a lull after the
excitement of birth when the woman has an opportunity to pause and think a bit;
and realizes she has had just a small walk up the tremendous mountain of
commitment that lies ahead.
Well, I am not a
new mother, but this transition to post-Peace Corps life in a new community and
a new job makes me feel a little like I did after my children were born.
I am exhilarated
but the learning curve seems like rock climbing up a sheer cliff.
I see the effects
in my ability to focus (or should I say my inability to focus). I love to read. The novel I began reading last spring still haunts
my bedside table on this crisp autumn day.
My writing efforts suffer. I
begin small writing projects and abandon them to wash dishes or other mundane
tasks. Or I begin to research something
and hours later I find I have been online reading blogs for HOW long? Wow, I cannot even admit to that!
I know that after
dramatic events (deaths, divorce, moves, job changes, etc) these behaviors are
typical and so I am not overtly concerned, just a little frustrated. I am like a child off my regular balanced
diet – I feel like I have eaten too much sticky sweet candy and cookies and
cakes and sodas.
I am being kind to
myself as I muddle through this period of my life. I find relief in tasks that require little
more than repetitive motion – I knit, I weave.
And I wonder how
others in our Peace Corp training group are faring after the craziness of all
the changes in such a short period.
I am grateful for
this community and this place – a haven and a home during this period when I am
like a butterfly still in the making – trapped inside a cocoon of primordial
goo.
And will I know
how to fly when I emerge? Yes of course.
This fine fall day
is too bright and beautiful for this kind of writing…
·
Thursday, 20 September 2007
It has rained most
of the day.
As I stood looking
out the window and wondering how much more rain we would get, a small movement
caught my eye. I glanced down and to my
surprise, a fury little head popped out of a small hole just inches away from
where I stood. He poked his head out and
then just as quickly disappeared back into his burrow again. Then the little guy appeared again, pushing a
pile of dirt and squinting his tiny eyes – a mole!
I watch with
fascination as this industrious little mole moves earth at a rapid pace. He is on well on his way to making a mountain
out of a mole hill. What an amazing
little creature!
Of course he
really cannot build a burrow here.
I hate to evict
him, but it is the prudent thing to do.
Perhaps Mark will be the mean landlord that makes him leave.
I direct my
attention to the koi pond. The day’s
rain has caused the water level to rise significantly. The water is above the stones that mark its
perimeter.
The fish seem
happy in the rain. I see them flashing
by as they swim close to the surface. They
poke their curious heads above the water near the bank as if they might crawl
out of the water and see what life is like on land. Then they dart away again and head toward the
depths of the pond.
·
Wednesday, 19 September 2007
I am sitting here
at my key board thinking about my Mom...this is her birthday. (Mother died in late July 2004)
Having for so many
years lived far away from my hometown and family, I can almost imagine Mom is
still there in the big yellow house on Eighth St. She would have finished
with morning dishes, made the beds, swept the upstairs floor and the kitchen
floor by now. She might have the radio on (she only listened to
particular programs, tuning the radio off when the program was over.) and she
might be standing near the sink, sipping coffee that has grown cold as she
gazes out the window, planning her day or thinking her thoughts on life.
Then she might turn and go into the bright dining room where the morning sun
spills in and saturates the room with a golden light reflected off the golden
oak woodwork. She would take a seat at the table to study her Christian
Science lesson. Or perhaps she would pen a few letters.
Mother was a
faithful correspondent. Her frequent
letters (often including a variety of clippings) were a pleasure I looked
forward to. I would read them aloud to
my spouse, sometimes pausing to decipher her penmanship. She wrote the way she spoke, so letters from
home were like a little coffee break at the kitchen table.
Mom lives on in my
heart and continues to influence me in my choices and in my joys and the way I
live my life.
Happy birthday Mom
and thank you for everything!
·
Tuesday, 18 September 2007
A Double Rainbow…
I step outside the
door and almost bump my head of a double rainbow arching across the azure skies
off to the east of here! The colors are
as stark and appealing as the hues found in a box of sweet-smelling
crayons. Only moments earlier the sky
was black and rain streamed down n a frightening torrent, accompanied by the
sounds of rumbling thunder in the distance.
The weather here makes me think of the clichés about Italian
temperament. The passion of the fight
with screaming and recriminations quickly yielding o caresses and sweet
nothings whispered into eager ears.
I stroll around
the garden, under shimmering skies, watching water droplets fall from the
leaves of the aspen tree. The koi invite
me closer to their pond with their enthusiastic antics. They hear me and eagerly thrust their noses
and mouths above the water, crowding one another out in their attempts to get
my attention. I breathe in the late
afternoon air and let out a sigh of contentment.
The rainbow has
disappeared now. The sun sinks behind
the mountains west of here. I
reluctantly return to the house to attend to some mundane item on an equally
mundane check list. But, I am refreshed,
centered, ready to resume my work
·
Sunday, 16 September, 2007
As luck would have
it, we did not drive our own vehicle to the Habitat celebration of the 500th
home built in NM.
The original plan
was to drive ourselves so we could explore the area around Espanola after the
event was over. Instead, we accepted the
invitation of a surprise visitor to the area and as a result spent a
stimulating hour mostly listening as our driver mesmerized us with tales of his
adventures around the world.
The man, Don
Mosley, is part of the group of people who created the concepts behind Habitat
for Humanity and implemented those plans back in the early years. He also
served in Peace Corps as a volunteer and as a regional director. He is a motivator and coach. He is a man with vision.
What a pleasure to
just listen.
And the return
trip was even better. There is nothing
like hearing from someone who has lived a principle-centered life fully, with
joy and enthusiasm.
·
Saturday, 15 September 2007
500th Habitat for Humanity House
in New Mexico!
Later today, the
500th NM Habitat for Humanity house (or should I say home?) will be
dedicated at a celebration in Espanola. We
will be there, video-taping, photographing and cheering, but for now, I am
engaged in the early morning delights of THIS house (definitely a home!)
Our Own Enchanted Habitat
Outside the
sliding screen door is another kind of habitat.
Each morning I take great pleasure in greeting my “neighbors” here in
our Santa Fe home. There is such a varied
crowd of charming small creatures. This
morning I watch as a nervous grey squirrel scurries around, pausing to stare in
the window at the human staring back at him.
Near the tree with the face, a downy young robin pecks in the damp
earth, in search of worms. A larger,
fatherly-looking robin joins the young one and keeps a suspicious eye on me as
I sit quietly at my desk inside the window.
In the trees
further away, a yellow-bellied bird has found some treat and a couple brown
birds have joined him there. A lizard
rushes across the red brick of the patio.
Hummingbirds charge around - always busy, busy, busy. One of the hummers, attracted by the bright
red stained-glass hearts hanging in the window, hovers as if admiring my
decorating choices. Dragon flies dance
on the pond and I see water lilies relaxing into bloom as the sun warms them. Water droplets sparkling on several spider
webs make me think of large glistening snowflakes. The turtledove couple splash in the morning
sun. I hear jays calling to one
another. And somewhere out there is the snake
that startled me earlier this week.
There are so many
creatures living so close by us. And how often we are not even aware how rich
our own environment is. We rush about
and miss these quiet joys as we head off to work, our minds filled with to-do lists.
I am grateful for
these moments.
I take my cup of
coffee and some bread for the Koi and head outside my door to be part of this
early morning scene.
I feel as if I am
walking onto the set of Disney animated film.
Maybe these
delightful creatures will break out into song and engage me in a dance. Maybe this lovely home we house-sit in really
is an enchanted place!
·
Friday, 14 September 2007
At Wednesday evening meeting I am showered
with blessings!
The week before, I
went to services and somehow came away feeling like an outsider, feeling
invisible. I mentioned this to a CS
friend in a whiny e-mail. She quickly
responded with several wonderful thoughts which I hungrily read and digested. My perspective changed. I realized I needed (and wanted) to be in
church, not for myself or what I would get out of it, but because I have to (and
want to) share my gratitude and joy in living with others. The question is: how can I bless others? Not what’s in it for me?
Oh, it is NOT all
about me! What was I thinking? How embarrassing – but perhaps that is how I
was behaving!
So, on Wednesday
evening, I joyfully attended church.
The readings from
the desk resonated with Truth. The words
and music of each hymn sang back to me. I
was glad I ad chosen to be there.
When the time came
to share remarks and testimonies of healing, I rose shyly and spilled out a few
words of sincere gratitude.
I did not,
however, share the remarks and testimony I had early outlined in the privacy of
my home. I spoke from the heart.
Earlier in the
day, I had tentatively prepared some thoughts that involved a life-changing and
unexpectedly joyful experience involving a group of motorcycle riders. Instead when I found myself on my feet to
speak, I spilled out few words about gratitude for church and the legacy of
Christian Science which my parents gave to me.
I made a reference to our recent life in Ukraine.
I kind of babbled
really.
So, when I sat
down, a feeling of disappointment briefly washed over me. I quickly replaced my disappointment with a
small prayer of gratitude for the opportunity to be in church and to hear the
remarks others were sharing. I continued
to listen with an open heart.
The next several
speakers rose and shared stories of physical healings. Their tales shared a common theme – in
addition to the demonstrations of CS healing, each of their experiences had
something to do with motorcycles!
As I pondered
their remarks, I found myself a bit puzzled.
The more powerful remarks I had anticipated sharing also concerned
lessons learned from motorcycles and riders.
I wondered why I had not delivered those remarks on faith since clearly
this group of visitors would have responded to that topic.
What had stopped me?
Why did I instead
talk a little about my gratitude for church, my parents and our experiences in
Ukraine?
When the reader
was about to draw the service to an end, one last speaker suddenly rose to
share some remarks. This woman discussed
how her faith has allowed her to embrace the joys of being motorcycle rider. She spoke from the heart and had much to say.
When the last hymn
was sung and the service over, I suddenly felt arms embracing me from
behind. I turned and found that last exuberant
speaker staring into my face, smiling brightly and calling me by name. I was amazed, amused and delighted to find
that the unlikely motorcycle rider smiling up at me was the wife of my CS
teacher! More hugs.
We had not seen
one another in over thirty years. Her
home is in California. I did not know
she was an avid motorcycle enthusiast.
And she, did not know of our recent move to Santa Fe. What an unlikely, but delightful surprise.
. If I had not attended church and shared
remarks, we probably would not have had this reunion. And, it is unlikely we would have recognized
one another after all those years
I was also aware
that had I chosen to share my original remarks, though obviously well suited to
the guests filling the church on this particular night, it is unlikely we would
have connected. She identified me from
my reference to Ukraine (she knew we were serving there in Peace Corps and cleverly
put two and two together).
The other riders,
a group of delightfully, adventurous women who were traveling cross-country
together, gathered around us to share stories.
The reader joined us. We all laughed
and lingered. Throughout the church other
people lingered too. The sounds of warm
conversation washed over us. Several
members greeted me with smiles and shared gratitude for my remarks.
What a change from
the last few times I attended church here – when everyone seemed to rush for
the door or turn their backs to greetings.
I certainly did not feel invisible!
The shower of
blessing fell on me and blessed us all.
When we have a willingness
to give, when we actively strive to bless, when we delight in giving, use our
talents, we are blessed. Abundantly!
Addendum: my sweet husband came to pick me up after church and
patiently waited in the truck as we all lingered inside long past the usual
hour. (He did not know what a joyful experience was going on inside those
doors!) When I finally emerged from the
church twenty minutes late, rather than being impatient or disgruntled, he
smiled and greeted me warmly. As I
closed the door and started to tell my story, he thrust a lovely bouquet of
sunny yellow mums into my arms!
And we all lived
happily ever after! 8-) (Yes, life is good!)
·
Thursday, 13 September 2007
Example is not the main thing
in influencing others, it's the only thing
- Albert Schweitzer
I feel
very stimulated lately. I feel so alive. I am so aware of things. Everything seems to take on more meaning
these days o new meaning. I hear phrases
I have heard a hundred times before, but they seem fresh and alive.
Is it
the autumn weather that influences me? Is
it the special light here in Santa Fe; the light that draws artists and
creative people?
Here
we are, continuing our lives in genteel poverty (as AmeriCorps/VISTA
Volunteers) after living a frugal, but happy, life for 27 months in Ukraine as
Peace Corps Volunteers and all I can think is how grateful I am for the
abundance in my life. I am buoyant with
this sense of quiet joy.
I read
a quote today (in a recent Oprah Magazine) that I may have to adopt: fortune
favors the brave.
The
decisions to serve in the Peace Corps and then to serve in AmeriCorps/VISTA did
not come easily, but they do reflect our (or should I say my) need to
serve. By pursuing these activities, I
am following my heart. In my experience,
when you follow your heart, you are no longer so mindful of the restrictions
and potential challenges that you (will) face.
I am energized, armed with love, ready to do gentle battle, and ready to
see the good and true around me. Gratitude
dominates my thoughts.
Fear
can be a problem. Fear (worries, limitations,
fretting, detailing plans) takes away the ability to respond to the abundance
of life. Fear blinds us to beauty and
opportunity and even joy.
Fear
takes on clever guises to trick us.
A
fiend e-mailed me a note in response to my challenges with being an outsider in
a new community … her words reminded me that Love is reflected in Love. If we are fearful (reticent, caught up in
self, etc.) or our perspective is off, we react to illusions rather than acting
on substance. We must graciously,
gratefully love. Perfect love casts out
fear… What can I give; how can I bless?
We are
free to be who we really are.
Life
is just so good.
Window Shoppers…
Yesterday
and today, unexpected visitors have invaded our happy home.
The
house, our current home, is for sale. As
house sitters, we expect realtors to call and potential buyers to visit this
cozy place on occasion and are happy to accommodate them.
Yesterday
and today though, I was surprised to look up and find potential buyers pressing
their noses against the sliding glass door to the patio, gazing and grinning in
at me as I sat here tapping away at my keyboard. I felt like a zoo animal!
Yikes!
No
phone call preceded their visit – and today I am in my blue-stripey, baggy jammies
and our breakfast dishes are still undone.
But I
am a gracious hostess (and grateful house-sitter) so I invite the potential
buyers in and give them the grand tour of this very special home. I let them feed brown bread to the Koi, who
always charm visitors to this peaceful oasis.
And it
is interesting to entertain total strangers in my PJs…not something to add to
my resume though, but I guess it comes with the turf!
Yowser – I Just Saw a Big
Snake!
A very long, pinkish
snake just slithered past the large sliding screen door to the patio. Maybe 6 feet long (of course the fear factor
may make him look larger than he really is I suppose).
I reached for the
camera and he slithered away up toward the pond rather quickly so I did not get
photos.
I could have lived
quite happily without seeing him.
Yeah, I know that
snakes are out there, but I just do not relish seeing them slithering around in
the wild.
I hope he doesn't
dine on the cute little chipmunk that scampered by the door earlier
today. Or make sushi from one of the Koi.
NEW RULE: The
sliding screen doors WILL be secured EVERYTIME people pass through it! Be
advised, guests who violate this rule will be evicted (or surprised by a
slithery friend!)
·
.Wednesday, 12 September 2007- Rosh Hashanah
& Ramadan
Two major religions begin holy days today.
So, while our Jewish friends honor Rosh Hashanah our Islam friends begin
their own holy days. I wonder how often
these events coincide.
It seems momentous to me.
.For the Jewish community, Rosh Hashanah is the start of the “Days of Awe,”
the most holy days of their year. It is
a period of self-examination and repentance.
This culminates ten days from now on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement
when people totally abstain from food and drink, they do not wear leather
shoes, they do not bathe/wash, they do not anoint themselves with oil nor do
they have marital relations.
The Muslim month of Ramadan is associated with daily fasting, prayers, and
charity. They abstain from marital relations during the fast. During
Ramadan, Muslims read the Qur’an and in their daily life they strive to refrain
from anger, envy, greed, lust, sarcasm, backstabbing and gossip.
Muslims honor Ramadan by trying to be pure.
They avoid things obscene or profane, they turn away from worldly
activities, they strive to be at peace and reflect calm. This is an act of self-discipline and
sacrifice.
How is it there is so much strife in the world, when there are so many
people striving to be better?
I am grateful for the efforts of people everywhere to examine themselves
and to strive for purify themselves and their motives.
These holy days almost coincide with the anniversary of the events of 9/11
too… That anniversary can provide us all with a motive to evaluate our own
lives and our own choices – a chance to repent and move forward with joy,
gratitude, and peace.
·
Tuesday, 11 September 2007 – Anniversary of
9/11 (Patriot’s Day)
The one thing worse than not
being able to see is having no vision.
- Helen Keller (1880-1968)
Last year, we
commemorated the anniversary of 9/11 at a monument in Kiev, Ukraine. Several Peace Corps Volunteers met us there
to present flowers and say a few words. The
monument was literally covered with flowers and small votive candles lit up the
night.
I am still rather
awed that there is a monument to this event in Ukraine.
Where in America
do we commemorate significant tragedies and events that happened in
Ukraine? (the Chernobyl disaster; the
mass starvation of peasants: the Holodomor; the brutal shooting of the Jews and
mass grave at Baba Yar; and other heartbreaking calamities)?
·
Monday, 10 September 2007
Ravens on the Roof!
I am sipping my
morning coffee here in this lovely dome home when I hear a strange sound. I scramble up the stairs to the loft.
Just outside the
windows overlooking the annex to the dome is a large regal raven bathing in a
small puddle. What an amazing
creature. His ebony feathers are
impeccably groomed and glisten in the morning sunlight. E goes about his ablutions with great
dignity. I stand, mesmerized, watching
him until he spreads his mighty wings and launches himself into the blue skies
above.
In his sudden
absence, I am still caught up in awe over his presence. I find myself wondering if I simply conjured
him up. Is he real?
The Raven Day-Care Center
The Director at
the NMCL has a Raven Day-Care Center on her property. Of course, R jokes a bit, but her home really
is on the migratory path of these birds.
She and her husband routinely offer the birds water and a feast of
crunchy dog food. The elder birds have
given them the stamp of approval and return regularly. They elder birds even encourage the young
birds to dine and rest there.
One raven, Edgar,
is recuperating from an injury to his abdomen.
R. amuses the staff with Edgar tales.
He is not a tame bird, but he tolerates the humans who worry over him as
he regains his strength and dignity. Edgar scuttles around on the ground like a
chicken. He tries out his wings by jumping
off rocks. On occasion he falls over and
can not right himself. He has allowed R.
and her spouse to help him out when he falls.
They stand him up on his legs and he immediately darts off to the
feeding dish, going about his raven-business as if nothing has happened.
No Ravens Allowed Here!
I have been warned
not to encourage raven visits. The koi
make lovely sushi offerings for these warrior-eating birds. I do not want to witness what would be a
rather brutal scene: a raven swooping down to snatch away a three-foot long Koi
and winging off into the sunset.
We do encourage
the humming birds that visit our feeder each morning as we breakfast in our
bright kitchen. Through he large sliding
glass door and the three flanking windows we have a marvelous view of the yard
and garden. We see cocky, noisy Blue
Jays darting about and the gentle Turtle Dove couple frequently stops by the
pond. A large robin danced across the
patio this morning.
There are
delightful, harmless lizards skittering around regularly too.
I keep binoculars near
the breakfast table, so we can see the wildlife up close, but they are really
only a few feet away from wee we sip our morning coffee.
We have Monsoons in Santa Fe…
When I hear
monsoon, I think of India. But we have monsoons
here in New Mexico. We are having one
now.
The sky opens up
and torrents pummel the earth. The water
is rising above the doorframe as I write.
During monsoon
season (roughly the end of June through the middle of September) there is a
shift in the prevailing wind pattern which brings humid air masses from the
Gulf coast. The rains come and go
quickly. The humidity falls and the
ground quickly dries up as though nothing had happened.
They are merely
inconvenient I guess and most of the annual rain fall here comes from
monsoons.
In fact, as I tap
away, the sun has come out and the rain has ceased as quickly as it
started.
No indoor ponds
this time!
·
Sunday, 9 September 2007
I Attend Church
I am so grateful
to live in a community with a CS Church.
So much of my
adult life has found me living in isolated areas, far from services. In many ways the absence of formal church
services has made me more mindful of what a blessing a church community can
mean.
Today I attend
church. This is my second visit.
I quietly find a
seat near the front. The service
begins. I love hearing the resonant
voices of the readers as they share the weekly lesson-sermon. I join in the joyful singing and worship. The soloist seems genuinely happy to share her
gifts with a receptive audience. She
smiles. The organist plays from the
heart. I am inspired by the lesson. It amazes me how relevant the truths shared
are to my own experiences.
I am glad to be
here. But, I am still an outsider.
When the service
concludes, I walk rather slowly toward the foyer at the back of the
church. I smile and say good morning to several
people as they gather their things to leave.
I pause a few moments in the vestibule.
I smile and nod my head. People
gather in small groups discussing their plans, etc. I overhear bits of conversation.
I just feel kind
of invisible.
I go home. It is hard to be the new person.
Frankly, I really
enjoy the morning hours at home. It is one
of life’s pleasures, so why rush off to tackle the outside world on a beautiful
Sunday morning? During the work week we
scurry off in the pre-dawn hours to earn our daily bread. On Saturdays there are errands to run and so
we rise early and begin checking to-do items off the mental check list.
Sundays can be a rich
pleasure with a leisurely start to the day and the opportunity to simply enjoy
one’s home and family in an unhurried way.
I like to have days when I can linger in my own nest – I can write,
read, paint, weave. I can work in the garden,
sip coffee by the Koi pond, enjoy the company of my happy husband. I can simply be.
·
Saturday, 8 September 2007 – International
Literacy Day!
The Annual Fiesta Pet Parade
Once again, I
skipped my favorite Saturday routine (yard saling) in lieu of another
activity. We headed for the Plaza to
catch breakfast before the annual September Fiesta Pet Parade!
Santa Fe’s patron
saint is Saint Francis of Assisi, so I suspect there may be a connection to him
in the origins of this parade, though there was no evidence of any pet
blessings happening on this fine fall day.
Pet owners and school bands showed up in costumes with all manner of
pets in tow! The streets surrounding the
Plaza were packed too.
For an hour cats,
dogs, hedgehogs, goats, chickens, snakes, rats, parrots and other pets paraded
by. Many spectators had their pets in
tow too. After the actual parade, pet
owners continued to stroll about showing off their pets.
It was delightful.
·
Friday, 7 September 2007
The Statehouse is Evacuated and I was
There!
My second day on
the job and I am at the New Mexico Statehouse, helping with the logistics of
the NM Coalition for Literacy’s tribute to International Literacy Month.
The program
included a remarkable guest speaker, Marten Griego, a 58 year old man who only
8 years ago was functionally illiterate and is now an avid reader and a
published author (look for “Leaving the House of Tears”) and motivational
speaker on behalf of literacy programs.
He is a very dynamic speaker.
As I stood in the back
of the room where I reigned over the refreshment table laden with pastries and
coffee and passed our programs to late comers, I heard a garbled announcement
over the loudspeaker. Staff members made
eye contact, but no one really responded.
A few moments later, we heard a second, equally garbled announcement. Once again, eye contact, but no real
reaction.
Only later did we
discover that the announcements concerned evacuating the building because of a
very real bomb threat! Later in the day
a SWAT team grabbed the man who had called in bomb threats at various
locations. They diffused the bomb in his
car.
·
Thursday, 6 September 2007
Viva la Fiestas! Zozobra – Burning Old Man Gloom!
Part of September
Fiestas here is Santa Fe is Zozobra.
About 30,000 people begin gathering around 3 in the afternoon, but the
real event culminates around 10 PM. By
ten the crowd is pretty rowdy. They
chant and cheer: “Burn him, burn him, burn m to the ground!” The 50-foot tall papier mache marionette is
finally torched as onlookers laugh and cheer wildly. Fireworks go off and the sky is as bright as
day. It is all rather exciting and a
touch pagan.
Fiesta has been
celebrated n Santa Fe since 1712 – it is reputed to be the oldest civic
celebration in North America! Zozobra
has gone up in flames since 1924. He
symbolizes doom and gloom. By burning
him all our troubles go up in smoke and we are free!
I can get behind
that kind of celebration.
These days the
Kiwanis Club uses this amazing annual spectacle to finance college scholarships
for local youth.
The Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe and The Santa Fe Downtown Kiwanis
Foundation announces Zozobra™ … |
VIDEOS:
|
4 min - Sep 11,
2006 -
(5 ratings) The burning of
Zozobra on September 7, 2006. Initiating the Santa Fe Fiestas...Zozobra
Fiestas burning SantaFe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x68wOexQjmA |
2 min - Feb 8,
2007 -
(5 ratings) Fe torches the
year's sorrows by cheering the flaming demise of Old Man Gloom. Zozobra
is a 5-story tall growling, groaning symbol of darkness, transformed http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-K26j-rJwI |
·
Wednesday, 5 September 2007 – Our Wedding
Anniversary
Our Guests get to Go Home
The good news is, our
guest’s car is repaired and roadworthy and paid for by the warranty. The bad news is that by the time our guests
depart, we are too exhausted and broke to really celebrate our wedding
anniversary.
But, it really was
wonderful to have family here and I am so grateful they could get the repairs
done without damage to their pocketbooks.
I hope we will see
them again very soon! But for now –
well, I need my beauty rest! Tomorrow I
start my new job
·
Tuesday, 4 September 2007
Who are These People Coming up the Walk
& Me in my Jammies??
Our house guests
were juggling lots of details since their stay was prolonged due to car
trouble. They were on the phones and
online trying to resolve work and school demands back in Phoenix. I was looking online for car rentals
deals. The grandkids wisely kept a low
profile and kind of relished a day off from school. They parked in front of the TV for much of
the morning. We were all in our PJs and
coffee cups, milk glasses, etc littered the house along with stray socks and
shoes and the usual paraphernalia of American families at home.
Now usually I keep
a fairly tidy house, but with the demands of this particular day, keeping order
was not high on the list. Imagine my
shock when I heard a couple vehicles pull up outside the door. I walked outside and found myself shaking
hands with a realtor with two prospective buyers standing behind her.
Hmmmm. It seems to me a phone call to coordinate a
visit would have been smart. A home
always stands a better chance of looking good when there is advance notice to
the occupants.
I was a bit
disgruntled as the couple strolled through the chaos to look over the
house.
Yes, the house is
for sale, and most days I could roll with a drop by visitor, but smart agents
call ahead and make appointments so we can accomplish the theatrical work
necessary to make the house more appealing.
·
Monday, 3 September 2007 - My Birthday/Labor
Day
Pancakes & the International Folk Art Museum
are the order of the day. The museum is a wonderful place. The main collection comprises over 1000,000
toys from all over the world.
Granddaughter
plays tour guide, reading from the guide book which explains each exhibit. At 9 years old, she does not even flinch at
the multi-syllabic words, scholarly words.
I delight in the
visiting textile exhibit. We all spend
time playing with the hands-on part of that exhibit – weaving, doing cross
stitch. We linger in the gift shop.
Later, we return
to the dome-home, to picnic by the Koi pond.
Son-in-law procured a bucket of the Colonel’s best crunchy fried
yard-bird with sides of coleslaw. My
daughter made sure there was B&R Rocky Road ice cream, a favorite of
mine! I opened gifts and cards, received
phone calls from my sisters and just generally felt like a queen for the day.
·
Sunday, 2 September 2007
The Chaotic Event Continue
Our houseguests
limped in yesterday afternoon, only a little behind schedule. The grandkids, daughter and son-in-law piled
out of their car, all sharing their version of the crazy trip they had. The last 70 miles or so involved serious
trouble with the transmission. They
drove in second gear.
So, a tow truck
was called.
We ferry
Son-in-Law back to the dome-home crammed in with the four of us in my red
pick-up truck. Shortly after we arrive, storm
clouds roll in and the sky breaks loose with a torrential downpour.
I say a little
prayer of thanks that we are all cozy in our domestic nest. As I count my blessings, I Granddaughter
holler. Water is streaming in the living
room windows and down the walls. We
scurry around closing windows all over the house. At the back door, I see water pooling
up. Daughter points out a growing puddle
near the door – water seeps in under the wall.
We jam the few
towels we have under the doors to staunch the flow of water. Outside lightening crashes and thunder
rumbles threateningly. We unplug
electric devises, just in case.
We sit down to eat
our late lunch. My Jell-O offering
elicits laughter – there is an un-appealing icy frost on the surface. (Wow, I can’t even make Jell-O). The cold pesto salad is not a hit either.
We are off to a
slow start!
1,500 Miles in Two Days: Mark Arrives Home
We had planned to
attend the night-time Fiesta Parade, but the rain foiled our plans and we
wanted to be home when Mark arrived.
By the time Mark
arrives in early evening, the chaotic start to this happy visit seems
over. We listen to Mark’s trip tales and
hear about his AmeriCorps training experiences.
Mark is almost
deaf after spending so many hours in the ragtop Jeep with the wind rushing
through his hair (oh, yeah, he has no hair!).
Our guests are tired too (they began their trip at 3 AM). We call it a
night.
Sunday Goes Better
Santa Fe is always
celebrating something and the Plaza in the place to find action.
This weekend is
the start of the Fiesta that celebrates the tourists leaving for the
season. Actually the fiesta marks the
return of the Spanish to Santa Fe and d the holiday lasts about ten days.
So we pile into
the truck and we head downtown. Enroute
we stop to explore Jackalope’s, a great place to wander, shop and talk. The prairie dog village is a big draw. Later we spend time checking out the wares
and street food at the arts and crafts festival on the Plaza.
We while away later
hours playing Scrabble, watching movies and starting a 1,000 piece jigsaw
puzzle. Grandson and Granddaughter help
feed the Koi and then squabble over who gets to hang in the hammock.
Life is good.
·
Saturday, 1 September 2007
I Love Saturday Yard Sales.
One of my favorite
ways to get to know a new community is to venture out to the Saturday morning
yard sales. It is fun to explore the
neighborhoods, and see homes and gardens up close. It is a chance to chit-chat comfortably with
strangers.
And sometimes
there are real treasures to be found.
No yard-saling on
this fine, fall Saturday morning. No, I
am happily waiting for my husband to arrive from the East and my daughter,
son-in-law and grandkids to arrive from the west.
Mark’s Road Trip Continues – This Just in
From Texas
Excerpts follow:
Date: Sat, 01 Sep 2007 04:54:20
-0600
From: Mark <mspulver@pulverpages.com>
Subject: good morning
It's tomorrow, or today or what ever. I spent a restful night in Marshall, Texas and it is time to take off.
I feel very positive about today. Oops, there is the alarm so it must be time to get up. I am so eager to get going, I guess that I was already up and showered. Not looking forward to Houston or Dallas today but what the hey it is all in a days travel to get to the one you love.
I stopped last night and intended to write a long note but after I ate I came back to the room, turned on the computer and fell asleep before it even booted up. Guess I was tired. Well I am off to breakfast then the road so I will write you from somewhere in Texas, then somewhere in Texas, Then somewhere in Texas, before I get to New Mexico. Today is a Texas kind of day Maybe some Stevie Ray Vaughn today and a little Texas Flood to push the Jeep.
Have a day
Mark
Getting Ready for Family – the Food Fiascos…
I use these
morning waiting-hours to get ready for my family. I alternate between looking out the window,
checking my e-mail and doing some proactive things around the cozy house. I have done the watering and koi chores, swept
floors, cleaned bathrooms and sinks, oiled all the wood furniture including the
kitchen cabinets, and made several artful flower arrangements.
And then, rather
belatedly, I remember lunch!
My guests will
arrive around noon. They will be hungry! So, I quickly pulled out some frozen stuff
and pray it will thaw in time! I am not
a foodie…I forget about food. And, I am
unused to planning and cooking meals anymore.
Mark enjoys the
process of cooking, so I seldom volunteer for that detail. I do, happily wash dishes. And I occasionally bake stuff. Left to my own resources I happily live on
cereal, turkey sandwiches, coffee, cheese, crackers and apples.
But today I
decided to make grandkid food: a simple pasta salad and some Jell-O to augment
turkey sandwiches and carrot sticks...what lunch could be easier and more suitable
for grandkids? (The tenderloin for
dinner –it may be thawed by then!)
Well, we have no
large saucepan, so I make do with a small one and cook half the pasta at
once. It boils over and creates some
excitement – flames and smoke! Thankfully
they burn out quickly, but not before the smoke alarm goes off - somewhere. But where?
I am new here and do not even know there is a smoke detector. With the harsh screams of the alarm echoing
throughout the dome and in my sensitive ears, I quickly turn on the fan and
then scramble in search of the smoke detector and its insistent shrieking.
The acoustics of a
dome make this more challenging. Sound
surrounds one in this house. It bounces
and echoes in a bewildering fashion. After
a frantic search, I finally locate the source of this sound on the ceiling in
the loft. I quickly find a long pole and
poke at the unit rater viciously and randomly.
(Loud sounds undermine my ability to think - I have been known to simply
cover my ears and scream when an abrasive alarm clock wakens me!) Eventually the sound dies and I return to the
kitchen to resume my tasks.
I manage to
survive. Jell-O and pesto/pasta salad
are now chilling in the fridge and turkey slices and tenderloins are thawing on
the counter.
I’m thinking maybe
take out for dinner.
ab
TO
READ AUGUST POSTS OR OTHER, OLDER ENTRIES,
RETURN
TO THE ARCHIVES ON THE LEFT.
FYI:
If you want to read about our Peace Corps adventures, start with January 2005 -
that’s when we received our invitation to Ukraine! We returned to the USA in May 2007.
Now
we are on to AmeriCorps/VISTA adventures in the USA!
Life
is good!
ab