The gift of an ordinary day

I learned a valuable secret when I was diagnosed with cancer. When stresses of life are too much for me to handle I find peace in the ordinary. Warm sudsy water, the rhythm of a dryer, smoothing wrinkles on a freshly made bed, washing lettuce leaves for a warm supper… I discovered the daily rituals of life center us, calm us, and give us a new awareness and appreciation for an ordinary day.

Normal Day, let me be aware of the treasure you are.

Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart.

Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.

Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so.

One day I shall dig my nails into the earth,

or bury my face in the pillow,

or stretch myself taut,

or raise my hands to the sky and want,

more than all the world,

your return.

Mary Jean Iron 

 

The “other” list

I am thankful for windows.

That quarter inch piece of glass stuck in a hole in the wall, a hole in our car; holes in buildings, in trains, in planes… which allows us to look out and see beyond ourselves…

We can stay warm and look.

We can stay cool and look.

We can look while going fast or slow.

We can watch sun rises…

Sun sets,…

Oceans,…

Deserts,…

Zoo animals,…

or unexpected surprises,…

One of my fondest childhood memories was driving a long distance to our little family cabin and had to look out the car windows for four hours. Perhaps that is why I enjoy looking out of a car window and seeing the scenery that we drive by.

Have you ever thought what our lives would be like if we did not have windows?

Look up once in awhile and take in what you see.

As you say your gratitude blessings this Thanksgiving time maybe add windows to your other-list beyond the “around the Thanksgiving table” regulars.

Pure Gold

This is wealth!

Wind Dance

I believe nature has their own parties and we don’t even know its happening around us.

Today was wind dance day for sure!

And what a party it was!!

If anyone has ever been in New England during fall there are lots of  secret party days going on between the leaves, the trees, and the animals. It is the most spectacular time of year here.

And on wind dance day it is the most extraordinary thing to watch.

Most of the leaves begin while on the ground; you’d think they are done falling.

Then the wind starts her flirt with a tiny little tune and the slow dance…

The leaves feel it inside and begin a little sway…

They are hypnotized by her tease while she picks up the pace.

Several catch the beat and pop like pop corn kernels in a pan of oil as the wind moves from side to side with the dance. More leaves join in and toe tap, twist and shuffle. Couples join in to swing and flip while others sizzle with Salsa and Merengue. A little tap, a little jazz, a little jitterbug, then ballroom and some crazy street head spins you ever have seen.

The party starts quick and lasts all day long! Swirls of red, gold, and orange blow and twist in the air. Such excitement creates tornadoes of color. There’s a beat that we can’t hear that they feel and celebrate.

Every leaf joins in with free form; twirling and swirling, flying from the ground up and from the trees down. The wind is playing a mighty powerful song and the leaves can’t resist the beat.

Then as quickly as she comes, the wind blusters past her partners like a fickle girlfriend.

And then they once again fall to the ground and sit there lifeless. Hoping she’ll come back to dance.

Today was wind dance day I am sure of it.

It was amazing.

Music to my ears

I can’t think

of any music

more beautiful

than a two year old

singing

‘Happy Birthday’

to himself

waiting

to blow out

golf-T candles

stuck in colored Play dough.

(Sigh, now that is music that fills my soul!)