NATURE TRAILS: Morning and Moon-set

Nature rarely announces her third act...you know, the one where all the characters come together, the plot closes and the play makes complete sense; you're even happy to have paid the outrageous last-minute ticket costs.  Such was this rare morning between 5:30 and 6:30.

I always 'greet' the moon - before I plug in the coffeepot.  Just a little routine I have - keeps me in tune with the outside world...the one that really counts. Kinda like kneeling in the garden dirt, about mid August, surrounded by the sound of a few honeybees, birds chattering in the chicken yard - scrambling for the left-over chicken morsels from a dozen over-fed, happy chickens.  The soothing, pervasive musky odors of aged working compost and energized dirt in which my veggies are also feeding.  I believe I feel better for having sunk my fingers into the dark dirt and behind a weed root.  Truth is, I think the electronics of the Universe run through me, steadying the polarities of the stresses gained during the previous days spent dealing with the man-made world in which I attempt to function. "The Force be with you..." comes to mind. These "forces" hold the Universe together...it works for me!  But I digress, back to this morning's rare moment...

Of course, I dared not let my sleepy best friend enjoy the rest of his warm, quiet rest; of course, he 'decided' to join me in my Nature fizz!

First, the eastern sky lightened and a pale pink/purple tinge dusted the bottoms of the few lingering clouds on the horizon.

 On the other horizon, a sleepy full moon began its descent; the synchronicity was palpable! A finely tuned Natural rhythm, chanting a mantra heard only in our racing heartbeats.

 

At one point, our fingers lost feeling; holding a metal camera in 30 degree temps with a breeze...is challenging.  But the saga had a strong hold and we persevered.

 Then - THE moment occurred - the brilliant red ball broke over the horizon;

Seven minutes later, the moon disappeared for another day...


IN MEMORY OF BOOBIE/POOH BEAR, November, 2013. 

May NATURE prevail through your eternity.

 

NATURE TRAILS: moments at Home

"NATURE IS NOT A PLACE TO VISIT: IT IS HOME."
 Gary Snyder

Found this poignant quote today, it touched deeply.  We forget that Nature was here - long before we were, that she rules this planet, as a tough and Loving guardian. We can count on her!  We can indeed, rest in her all-knowing plan, be who we can be at any moment, with her guiding light, warmth, understanding that is obvious in every aspect of her kingdom.

• Watch the peaceful butterfly as it flits from flower to stem - in complete faith that whether it lives another day or not - it truly is - the moment it enjoys.
• The Pelican glides up and down, circles and dives in its constant faith that Nature will provide its food. No stress, no worries as it travels through graceful, powerful flight, using every muscle, every moment.
• The ants move determinedly, quickly, carrying greater loads through their day that we ever could.  Their tasks are centered, full-focused as they create their little worlds.  Their entire being gobbles up their every movement, their every moment, oblivious to the constant peril they face in a world of giants.  Have you ever noticed an ant sitting still on a grain of sand, stressing over lunch, death or large soled tennis shoes?! Their every movement, every effort, is completed - in their moment of given time.
• Our babies trust in Nature as they sleep their worry-free nights, trusting that Nature will provide. They smile and giggle through their moments, adding joy, excitement, new faith to our moments.

Nature gives repetitive morning sunshine throughout her realm, brings new energy for planet-wide hope and warmth, dreams and possibilities.  Her fading colors at dusk, leave us with beauty and design with which to tide us over through her sometimes, long nites. Her weather permitting, moonlight guides us through our darkness, our dreams, our pondering.

Sit in the moonlight this week and ponder the millions of moments we enjoy.  Learn increased determination and focus from the ants in your life.  Revel in the smile of a baby.  Find peace in the flight of a butterfly. Gain a sense of freedom in the flight of a Pelican.

Be at peace with the glorious moments we have this day. 

ONE MORE TIME

One more time...to laugh and play,

One more time for rays and soft rain...

One more time to hug and smile,

One more time for thought, and pain.

One more chance as a freedom soldier,

One more season with rake in hand; 

One more moment for heart to heart,

One more time to take a stand...

One more moon for pondering light,

One more drive down hiway lanes..

One more time to look and learn,

One more time...while time remains...

NATURE prevails...

FORD TRAILS UPDATE: Corporate dismissal

Three weeks of life now separate me from my fire event of 10/2/2013.  And life really does...go on; nothing stops the 'life-train' from its destination, wherever that may be.

But I want to state some facts here, for the record, about my interactions with FORD Motor Company.  After contacting FORD 3 times, I was informed that my "case" was now in the legal department and that the legal department was the only department that could deal with me - AND - that the legal department ONLY deals with their customers through snail or e-mail, that I could no longer handle this "claim" in any other manner!

I contacted my attorney.  He advised me that FORD is famous for out gunning and out waiting people with my similar problems, and that it would be in my best interest, to let go of my desire to have FORD reimburse me for any part of my loss. It appears they were NOT very interested in ascertaining the cause of the fire which - in my opinion, might possibly save someone else's life.

Also, for the record, we decided - as a direct result of this 'big corp' behavior, to not even consider replacing our vehicle with another FORD product.  They lost - forever, our business; in this case, approximately $20,000.  In a few days, we pick up a 2014 Jeep Patriot.  Had FORD been smart enough to assist me - in some manner, we most likely would have replaced our Ranger with another similar product. It seems to me that FORD must have so much money at their disposal, that our measly $$'s were inconsequential.

For the public record, anything posted herein is MY PERSONAL OPINION, of which I assume I still have a right to express under the Constitution of my United States of America.

GEICO, our insurance company - on the other hand, has been SUPER!  Their customer service was and is - immediate, complete, forthcoming, caring and just about everything one might desire from an insurance company! My personal items payment arrived within a week of the incident and the vehicle payment process is almost  complete.  It most likely would already be here, had I not delayed it with additional requests and paperwork processes. For anyone interested in vehicle coverage - particularly if you are military related, GEICO is a pleasure to deal with .  Their company truly understands "customer service".

As always, NATURE prevails...

FIRE IN THE HOLE! Ford Trails

You haven’t lived “surreal” till you step over flames as you exit your vehicle and then - proceed to watch it entertain flames of varying levels for an hour or so, turning – not so slowly – into a crispy-critter of different textures, colors and oh-so-horrific odors (probably cyanide, among other chemicals, attesting to my clogged respiratory, head-achy and irritated breathing for several days).…

So was my day, Wednesday, October 2^nd, 2013.

Going to a friend’s house to sew – can be an exhilarating experience! I was about a mile from this house when our cute, pretty – did I mention…well-maintained…2002 Ford Ranger, lost power.  It coasted for about 3 or 4 minutes then…directly under my seat I clearly heard…

-’clunk’

-“POOF” (EVERY HUMAN INNATELY UNDERSTANDS POOF!!)

-immediate smoke rising outside my windshield in front of the steering wheel.

As anyone recalls who has experienced a traumatic moment, time immediately splits into two factions which – somehow, work in perfect sync. It took about 3.5 hours to turn the key off as I stared at the ‘forever’ steering wheel.  Then, another 4 hours to un-belt myself.  This ‘slow time’ feels like a dream, a slo-mo of unreal, oh-so-safe cocoon-time. All through this probably 2 seconds of real-time, a constant screaming can be OVER-heard in the background, very similar to…”WHY are you NOT at least 1 mile AWAY from here yet???!!!”(Four letter words removed!) But I digress…

I stepped over the flames coming from under the cab, jumped away from the truck (into the other lane of traffic, I later recalled, WITHOUT LOOKING!), only to see the cab on fire as well as two car lengths of flaming road behind the truck

 This ‘innate’ human fear of fire again kicked in and I can assure you –that at 66 years of age – I can STILL outrun any track team member – ANYWHERE on this planet! 

….Looked back once – “STILL ON FIRE!”  Ran some more, knowing that absolutely – at any second, I would feel the blast that would emanate from our – now, ball of roaring fire! Adrenaline is so over-reactive!

At some point a car stopped and called 911. The next hour or so was spent chattering with any/all of the emergency personnel attending to our used-to-be cute little truck, as the 472.5 MACRO grams of adrenaline hijacked my body...for several hours.

All nervous joking aside, life goes on.  That ‘circle of life’ so poignantly reverberated throughout the soundtrack from “The Lion King” video, recently posted on this blog, continues.  By the next day, the event was fading and though the traumatic memory haunts me, and will for a long time, the reality of the actual event 'cools'. 

We’ve contacted FORD, have a 'claim #', and still await their response.  My communication to them included:

-         Request for them to ascertain the cause of this outrageous occurrence to a well-maintained, excellent running vehicle with under 140,000 miles on its odometer.

-         payment for the remainder of my personal items loss of $700; (total was $900 of which our insurance paid $200).

-         some sort of additional compensation to be discussed…

As I mentioned, thus far, there is NO response from FORD. We have always been "FORD people', jokingly entertaining all the old sayings from childhood: "Found on road dead",  "Fix or repair daily", etc. And truthfully, we would care to entertain a new FORD replacement. (So far, a SUBARU Outback is on 'the list').  But without a cause for the fire, using another FORD vehicle would leave me haunted with the possibility of this happening to ANY Ford product, regardless of age and/or condition.

This fire should NEVER have occurred.  Our RANGER was well-maintained, regularly oiled about every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, kept washed; in general, was the ‘apple’ of my DH’s eye.  WAS...being the operative term!

 

We await a response from FORD Motor Company.

All you folks with 2002 FORD Rangers…might want to check under the cab to ascertain that all connections to the gas tank are in tight, working order!

NATURE prevails...

Hunger Trails: Feed your Mitochondria

This video is a powerhouse of nutritional information and learning.  It seems the old adage of..."You are what you eat", may be more fact than fiction.

Also, through my nutritional wanderings, I found this next video, which gave me insight into my own elevated liver enzymes. I will now watch closely to the types of sugars I intake, since I use a lot of fruit juice instead of whole fruits.

As always...especially in food, Nature prevails.

TRAILS OF LOVE

Two special people in our life, celebrate their first year together this weekend.  The Love they share is warm all over them, as well as over anyone blessed enough to be in their midst. As we watched their wedding video, we laughed and cried as scene after scene reflected the sheer joy and depth of their feelings for each other, one year ago - this weekend.

Do we know what Love is? Humankind attempts to describe this indescribable power that can heal diseases, create societies, raise children and bond people beyond life and death.

Love is expressed in songs, poems, novels, letters, cards, gifts, etc. Love even has its own holiday which we celebrate every February 14th.

With all its venues, my favorite expression of Love is through song.  Music touches everyone in a myriad of ways; in me, it floods every sensory perception - sometimes at the same moment.

As I searched the internet for the perfect song for this couple, each one I found had a slightly different meaning, each broadening the meaning of Love as the search continued.  John Denver, through his song, "For You", says it all - as no one else can.  

I dedicate the beauty, meaning, joy, profoundness and sheer 'fullness' of Love and all it's potential, opportunity and comfort, to Lindsay and Jon.  May both your lives be increasingly enriched as the years pass; may you continue to fill each other with your combined special Love...forever.



Nature...prevails.

Old Barns and Old People

As I age - and I watch the people around me do the same, moments of despair and regret can creep by if I am not at constant attention.  Yet when sentiments such as those in this video cross my path, it broadens my view, gives me a deeper more meaningful view of my life, as well as adding beauty and importance to the rest of the aging planet around me. 

As always, Nature prevails.

Comical Reality: Spoof Trails...

Sometimes, good humor...helps the medicine go down!




Or not!



Human Nature...prevails!

TRAILS OF ANGEL WINGS

This paragraph came across my e-mail this week and touched me deeply since I am dealing with a personal crisis in my own family.  This is an old paragraph, it's been around the net a few times.  But - like the telephone pole one passes for years without noticing its particular oddity of whatever flavor, this paragraph suddenly embraced for me, the value of the comfort, friendship and support of someone who simply listens, hears and stays close while the other friend rants, rails, struggles, suffers and sometimes sobs from emotional stress.  Nothing can be done to take away the cause of the stress at that moment, nothing can be changed, nothing can be immediately healed. But the proverbial hand is held, the tears are understood, the suffering shared and thus lightened, the loneliness of pain...is somehow lessened. 

Like the following little boy suggests, helping a friend cry, is the ultimate support - the largest pair of angel wings a friend can wear. 


A  four-year-old child's next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman, who had recently lost  his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little  boy went into the old Gentleman's' yard,  climbed onto his lap, and just sat  there. When his mother asked him what he  had said to the neighbor, the little boy just said,

'Nothing, I just Helped him  cry.' unknown author


For all the angel wings I have been blessed to share over the past weeks - ALL of them...I am heart-fully grateful.

NATURE prevails...

TRAILS OF LOVE

Sometimes...in our rush to old age, we find a moment (one of those perfect moments of which I so often speak) when the light shines above the dark...the good over the bad...the brightness of this life over the dark scary shadows that can purge our soul and our dreams.  This video of a Whale rescue is such a moment.



We need more of these moments in our NEWS, more of life that uplifts us - supports us, reminds us we are in the image and likeness of a creative force.  I'm not sure who/what/when/where/why or when that force is; but I am fairly certain that no one on this planet whipped up this itty bitty piece of rock we call home - NOR - the awe that surrounds us for infinity (whatever that is...just too much information in that large word for my tiny mind to absorb).

Embrace our creative life force; let it shine, create smiles and warmth and Love...whenever we have a minute...to wear our angel wings.

As always...NATURE prevails.

THE BLACK TELEPHONE

This little story below carries a big heart; it crossed my e-mail today with no author nor can I find one, so far.  It affected me thoroughly, and I hope, will sir up a bit of your humanness - connect you to the Love and depth that is indeed, part of our deeper nature...the part that does not rage wars, spread gossip, abuse children and engage in other atrocities that plague our history and our souls.

When I was a young boy, my father had one of the first telephones in our neighborhood.. I remember the polished, old case fastened to the wall. The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box. I was too little to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my mother talked to it. Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an amazing person. Her name was "Information Please" and there was nothing she did not know. Information Please could supply anyone's number and the correct time. My personal experience with the genie-in-a-bottle came one day while my mother was visiting a neighbor. Amusing myself at the tool bench in the basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer, the pain was terrible, but there seemed no point in crying because there was no one home to give sympathy. I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally arriving at the stairway. The telephone!

Quickly, I ran for the footstool in the parlor and dragged it to the landing. Climbing up, I unhooked the receiver in the parlor and held it to my ear. "Information, please" I said into the mouthpiece just above my head. A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my ear. "Information." "I hurt my finger..." I wailed into the phone, the tears came readily enough now that I had an audience. "Isn't your mother home?" came the question. "Nobody's home but me," I blubbered. "Are you bleeding?" the voice asked. No,"I replied. "I hit my finger with the hammer and it hurts." "Can you open the icebox?" she asked. I said I could. "Then chip off a little bit of ice and hold it to your finger," said the voice.

After that, I called "Information Please" for everything.. I asked her for help with my geography, and she told me where Philadelphia was. She helped me with my math. She told me my pet chipmunk that I had caught in the park just the day before, would eat fruit and nuts. Then, there was the time Petey, our pet canary, died. I called, Information Please," and told her the sad story. She listened, and then said things grown-ups say to soothe a child. But I was not consoled. I asked her, "Why is it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring joy to all families, only to end up as a heap of feathers on the bottom of a cage?" She must have sensed my deep concern, for she said quietly, " Wayne , always remember that there are other worlds to sing in." Somehow I felt better.

Another day I was on the telephone, "Information Please." Information," said in the now familiar voice. "How do I spell fix?"I asked. All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest . When I was nine years old, we moved across the country to Boston . I missed my friend very much.

"Information Please" belonged in that old wooden box back home and I Somehow never thought of trying the shiny new phone that sat on the table in the hall. As I grew into my teens, the memories of those childhood conversations never really left me.. Often, in moments of doubt and perplexity I would recall the serene sense of security I had then. I appreciated now how patient, understanding, and kind she was to have spent her time on a little boy.

A few years later, on my way west to college, my plane put down in Seattle . I had about a half-hour or so between planes. I spent 15 minutes or so on the phone with my sister, who lived there now. Then without thinking what I was doing, I dialed my hometown operator and said, "Information Please." Miraculously, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well. Information." I hadn't planned this, but I heard myself saying, "Could you please tell me how to spell fix?" There was a long pause. Then came the soft spoken answer, "I guess your finger must have healed by now." I laughed, "So it's really you," I said. "I wonder if you have any idea how much you meant to me during that time?" I wonder," she said, "if you know how much your call meant to me. I never had any children and I used to look forward to your calls." I told her how often I had thought of her over the years and I asked if I could call her again when I came back to visit my sister. "Please do", she said. "Just ask for Sally."

Three months later I was back in Seattle . A different voice answered, "Information."I asked for Sally. "Are you a friend?" she said. "Yes, a very old friend," I answered. "I'm sorry to have to tell you this,"She said. "Sally had been working part time the last few years because she was sick. She died five weeks ago." Before I could hang up, she said, " Wait a minute, did you say your name was Wayne ?" " Yes." I answered. Well, Sally left a message for you. She wrote it down in case you called. Let me read it to you." The note said, "Tell him there are other worlds to sing in. He'll know what I mean." I thanked her and hung up. I knew what Sally meant.

If the author should pass by here - please send me an e-mail or place a comment below.  I strive to document and give credit to anything that is not my writing. daniellesimone0@gmail.com


May 21st, 2015
Thank you to the commenter that pointed me to the author of this quoted story above;

Paul Villard

Originally published June, 1966 Readers Digest; reprinted with permission in the December 1999 issue of the Singing Wires newsletter, TCI club.

Thank you PAUL VILLARD for a touching story.  It is stories like yours that bring people together by sharing their hearts...

As always...Nature prevails...

MOMENTS...OF LIFE

"Life is a fleeting gesture...
a wisp of a cloud in a breeze,
a cresting wave in all it's height and glory,
a thunderclap in a passing storm...
...the screaming reverberation of a successful hunter's shot."  
 
The circle of life has yet again, embraced my mindset this week.  I've had the ultimate pleasure of several hugs...from strangers, as well as my priceless circle of friends who wore their angel wings with strength and uncanny Love.  These friends willingly offered continual support as I stumbled over a part of my journey that was - for a few days - filled with burning stones, sharp lessons and scary shadows. 

I looked into the wise yet human eyes of a caring doctor as he leaned over my dearest friend's tired and struggling body. 

I've screamed through the depths of my despair; I gained some solace through the hug and wise words of a very human and Loving clergyman whose strength and angel wings added energy and courage to my frightened, uncertain and oh too human, empty heart.

But most importantly...I've watched my dearest friend succumb to life's ability to drop him to his literal knees without warning...and maybe, without meaning. I watched his helplessness, his pain; I also watched in awe at his inner courage, fullness of heart and determination, his life-energy that perseveres through the hellacious road that life has tossed him on for several years.   I marvel at his tenacious soul, his faith in life, his ability to rebound and his loyalty to the caregivers he is blessed to know. I've absorbed the Love he still managed to share, even in his weakened, painful and tired state of being.

The circle of life is a mystery to which we all belong, all creatures - large and small...


 

NATURE PREVAILS......

 

SHARE A PERFECT MOMENT

The wind blew yesterday...forever, it seemed - with a vengeance!  There is microscopic dust...everywhere.

Our land is cracking under the weight of our drought; I wonder if it will ever end.

For many people, money is tight.  Except for the hundred thousand dollar recreation rigs of every type, size and design that flow by our house during warmer weather, on the way to the State Park south of us.

My chickens were brutally killed by two gimungous dogs a few weeks ago.  And the list goes on - IF - I let it.

There is negativity everywhere - it bounces at us from any/every corner of our world.  Unchecked, it can drive us down into oblivion, beyond repair, seemingly beyond the healing reaches of the Love that binds humanity.  Is there a cure?

YES! This is not rocket science (hate cliches, but can't let go of this one...)  A SMILE.  Yes...an itty bitty, minimum of effort, absolutely free, non-taxable, non-invasive, contagious...SMILE.

Years ago, before grey hair, before creaky ankles, before painful joints, before sagging skin, before achy fingers...my Mom taught us a cute little song; it seems like yesterday.  The sound of her voice prevails in my current time frame; the smile and abounding Love with which she shared these simple, profound words with me warm me through the dust on my furniture, my financial frustrations - through all and any of the unlimited negativity that can be had for the price of a human moment lost...

"There are smiles that make us happy,
There are smiles that make us blue,
There are smiles that steal away the teardrops,
As the sunbeams steal away the dew.
There are smiles that have a tender meaning,
That the eyes of love alone may see,
And the smiles that fill my life with sunshine
Are the smiles that you give to me."

The music for SMILES was composed by Lee S. Roberts, the words by J. Will Calahan, published in 1917.

Oris George made a short, profound post about a smile. As I read through it this early morning, it brought back this soothing memory to me; I thank him - and my dear "Mommy", for the Love shared, that flows through us all...if we let it. 

Even in writing, smiles and laughter are energetic and raise the level of the writing - and, the reader, as Jan Verhoeff explains in one of her writer lessons recently in my lesson-box:   

"Laughter creates an image, a position, a power of sorts and the reality of the laughter is energy. Your story needs that energy."

May a simple smile lift your heart today and take you to the heights of humanity. May it give you a perfect moment...in a sometimes imperfect life.

As always...Nature prevails. 

2013

As I live into this new year, 2013, changed in so many ways by the years and life I've journeyed through since 1983, the sentiments I embraced in this poem then, remain as brilliant and relevant as they did 30 years ago.

Each today is still as precious, as vibrant - as elusive and fleeting as was yesterday...as it will be tomorrow.

Grab the perfect moments in life.  Cherish the Love that surrounds us, that abounds in Nature, that can be found in every corner, every breath we exchange.

Happy New Year.

**********
TODAY

"Possess this day with awe and caring.
It is a gift given quickly and only once;
Stain it not with tears of regret.

Look to yesterday with reverence,
For it is a teacher - a wise one,
A pathway for tomorrow, a memory, a vision.

Tomorrow is also a vision, but without substance.
It is a dream, a wish, a story - yet to be told,
A feeling waiting to be birthed.

Yesterday passes,
Tomorrow waits;
Ah...but for today."

1983 (copyright, 1991)
 Danielle Simone 

***********************

Please enjoy the "aged" humor, after the invocation, in this totally unrelated - yet very funny video on the anecdotes of getting old.