I have received so many wonderful gifts lately, from divinations that Danielle, my massage therapist gave me, to the gift of the massage itself that Wanda gave me, to the gift of life that I have every day. At Jazz Fest, I ran into my friends Paula and Erin, and Paula hands me a wooden Ethiopian Star of David pendant, and says: “This belongs to you.” It brought tears to my eyes for all the…
My friend, Wanda, who was visiting from San Francisco left me $50 for my birthday. It was the exact amount that the guy who was supposed to fix my brakes ripped me off. It was the exact amount needed to get a massage from Danielle. So yesterday, three days before my actual birthday, I went to see my massage therapist/seer/diviner/soothsayer for a much needed deep tissue massage. When I walked in the door, she asked…
I spent this Jazz Fest weekend with friends in town. A young couple whose wedding I missed last year because we were in Spain. Since I’m approaching my 56th birthday, I’ve forgotten what young love looks and feels like, but after spending a few days around it, I’m amazed at how much I remember about it. Young love holds so much promise. Young love has all the time in the world to get a bigger…
I went on Facebook the other day because I hadn’t been on in a while. My friend, Mudd, had posted an oracle reading from her friend at Cauldrons and Cupcakes. Once you choose your oracle you scroll down for its meaning. I picked #1 based on this image by Jason D Page: I chose the light spirals because it reminded me of life’s spiral path. Lately, I keep having these “I need this thing I…
I met with a study group for a while that looked at the idea of education as a force for social change. Every time we met, we started by lighting a candle in the middle of the table and reciting this verse. It always set the appropriate mood. Verse for America May our feeling penetrate to the center of our hearts, and seek in love to unite with those who share our goals; and with…
You’ve heard of shut ins – those people who don’t leave the house because they can’t bear the world. Well, this weekend I’v been a shut out as in I’ve not let the world in here. It’s been an amazing respite from the usual go go go. My cold has almost subsided. I’ve kept myself from snacking by reading and reading and reading. I finished one good book and started another. Jim Grimsley’s How I…
During Passover, we missed the rabbi’s seder because Tin got sick that day. At our seder the next night, Tin ended up being the only kid present even though I have been making the seder for him – for children. Some times life just doesn’t go the way you plan. Our theme this year was to answer the question, What does it mean to be a slave? My piece was from Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search…
Thoreau lived in the turbulent times of the mid nineteenth century. Rachel lives in the turmoil of today. Thoreau sought nature. “An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.” Rachel seeks nature to bring her solace from her overwhelming life. Forgive the use of third person, I’m feeling detached, disassociated. Rachel is exhausted by a life well lived and needs to replenish, and the only place that holds sanctuary is in nature herself.…
My writing workshop instructor says to let go of all the lists you are making in your head at the bus stop and instead write in your head. This was always my thing – I often write in my head – but my head is crowded with so many competing voices these days – whether it is the board minutes for SISTAWorks, the dojo newsletter for NOLA Aikido, the race and parenting blog, this blog,…
“I think we are well advised to keep on nodding terms with the people we used to be, whether we find them attractive company or not. Otherwise they turn up unannounced and surprise us, come hammering on the mind’s door at 4 a.m. of a bad night and demand to know who deserted them, who betrayed them, who is going to make amends.” ~ Joan Didion, Slouching Towards Bethlehem