just sayin'

The Spell of SurvivalI will not be destroyed.I will live, and my children will live,Here I lift the powerfrom earth, sky, fire and water.Hear, I lift the powerof the ancestors, the ancient ones,those who walk with me,names remembered and forgotten.Hear! I call the wind and water.Here I spill the wine –Here I call the earth and its strength,I call the fire in its dominion.The fire rules it all…Be…

Some of my best memories

Some of my best memories are of being out on the water with my father fishing, If I could, I would go back there in a heartbeat. He died when I was 42, much too young in my opinion. He never got to know my sons who grew up into wonderful young men of whom I am sure he would be proud. He was my life ally, my best friend. His passing left a huge void in me. It wasn’t easy to get over.

What are the best things to feed to squirrels? Squirrels can be delightful little guests, but it’s important to offer them the right kind of snacks. Here are some treats they’ll appreciate: Nuts (unsalted): Walnuts, pecans, almonds, and hazelnuts are great choices. They’ll happily gnaw away. Seeds: Pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds are squirrel favorites. Fruits: Apple slices, grapes, and…

"My morning began like many do: I was out in the back yard, in my jammies and robe feeding the birds..."

My morning began like many do: I was out in the back yard, in my jammies and robe feeding the birds. The birds that come to eat are mostly house sparrows and Carolina Wrens, but I also get gorgeous cardinals and doves. And, of course, Squirrel usually shows up. I feed them Pennington Wild Bird Seed. It’s vitamin enriched and relatively inexpensive. I’m sure my neighbors think I’m crazy. I do…

"...only when it is dark enough, can you see the stars..."

The term “Beloved Community” was first used by the philosopher-theologian Josiah Royce in the early 20th century. It was later made popular by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who envisioned it as a society based on justice, equal opportunity, and love for one’s fellow human beings. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke frequently and passionately about the “Beloved Community” in his writings and…

“I started writing this as a storm journal because I expected the snowstorm would be really bad, much worse than it turned out to be. As it turns out, the real drama of the week would be in Los Angeles…”

ExpectingThe Blizzard of 2025Sunday, 1/5/2024: The only word for this one is “nasty.” It started this morning with a light, dusty snow. Between 9 AM and noon we got about 4 inches of snow. That would have been OK if it would have stopped there, but it didn’t. At around 4 PM it began to rain, even though the temperature was 28, and it has been cold for days. There is now a sheet of ice on the…

"I have always resisted wearing glasses. They were a symbol of creeping mortality that I didn’t want to acknowledge..."

GlassesI’ve been fitted for glasses in some way or the other since I was a teenager. I never wore them except when I needed to get a driver’s license. I never needed them to read or even drive. Then, maybe a decade ago I got optical stroke in my right eye. This gave me dramatic double vision at first, so bad that I had to send my son, Alex, to the drug store to buy me an eye patch, like some…

Forgive me if I say the wrong thing Forgive me if I say the wrong thing.Forgive me if I tell little lies every now and then –don’t hold it against me – I was just tryingto get through the day. It’s hard sometimes. Dance beneath the pale moon lightwith your weapons and your curses –like something mattered, like someone cared.What were you looking for anyway? Was it the one perfect nanosecondon…

"...great Long Night Moon. I got out some crystals and incense, and played my singing bowls. It was cloudy, but as I played my bowls..."

Long Night Moon12/15/2024I had a great Long Night Moon. I got out some crystals and incense, and played my singing bowls. It was cloudy, but as I played my bowls the Moon slowly emerged from the clouds, radiant and magical. The SO was with me, listening to the bowls. She said, “You called the Moon.” I guess I did. The Long Night Moon is the name given to the full moon that occurs in December,…

Air was so still.The smoke made a haloaround his empty brow.It was so very cold. The rain beginslike washing dirty sin,forgetting where you’ve been,you’d like to start again. Now close your eyes.Sleep is the only cure.You’ll never be so pure.You’ll always want for more. Then light snow starts.We bend and break our heartsinto a thousand partsdespite our magic arts. Come ancient tale,child,…

"The first hard freeze always seems to sneak up on me. Mr. Squirrel and the sparrows showed up for breakfast right on time, but not the bees..."

An Ordinary GriefNovember 30th, 2024 It was 21° F at 7 AM. The first hard freeze always seems to sneak up on me. Mr. Squirrel and the sparrows showed up for breakfast right on time, but not the bees. Their beautiful sage plants are suddenly blackened, unable to resist the cold. I probably won’t see my bees again until next October. I suppose we shouldn’t grieve over the natural order of things,…

"Sometimes late at night, when it is very quiet, I can hear the voices of angels whispering to me. Sometimes I listen. Sometimes I don't..."

Sometimes late at night, when it is very quiet, I can hear the voices of angels whispering to me. Sometimes I listen. Sometimes I don’t. It’s hard work listening to the whispers of angels because hey never say anything straight out. Most times they speak in riddles and vague shades of meaning. In the Bible, they used to just blurt things out with no messing around, but I’m not in the Bible, so…