·         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.