What is it with water coolers??

OK, I had to go to the funeral home this evening. The same one, the same room, where I've been many times before, as both grieving spouse and grieving friend to others. This man had a long, full life, even longer than Norris's, a good marriage, a large and loving family. He didn't suffer much. There were many people there to offer their condolences and support.

The widow was almost radiant, truly offering herself in humble hospitality to all who came. My heart ached for her; not for tonight or the funeral tomorrow. But for the harder, much harder, times to come. It will be then that I can reach out to her with love and compassion. And it will be then that she can look at me, three years later, and see that one can and does live through this loss. I met a neighbor, through our dogs, yesterday who's probably my age and has been a widow since she (and he) was 29. She said she'll never "get over it", just learn to live in spite of it. Not new news to anyone who has lost a treasured loved one and yet somehow good to hear each time I encounter it.

Well, what does that have to do with water coolers? Not a thing. But after standing in that familiar room for an appropriate amount of time, I suddenly felt very thirsty and wanted to leave. In the lounge I found a water cooler and gulped down 2 paper cups of cold water. And once again, I wondered. Why do water coolers have two faucets--like one might be hot, the other cold? Have YOU ever gotten hot water out of a water cooler? Somehow this little distraction helped me to move on--yet once more.

It's raining here and chilly. I hope you find blessing to celebrate this weekend, no matter what the weather where you are. Breathe, listen, look, laugh, love! And thanks for reading.

My feet are jubilant

For most of my life my feet have taken a lot of abuse and brought me pain, discomfort and weariness. If you've never had foot problems, you won't be able to comprehend how happy I am that today I finally went to a podiatrist and I'm going to have orthotics made for my shoes. You ever wonder why I wear Birkenstocks most of the time? Cause they're the only shoe that's halfway comfortable for me. Now I will be comfortable, or at least much more so, in any shoe I wear. I realize this may not be of general interest to you readers, but let me tell you, when your feet ain't happy, ain't nothin' happy! So this lady is very excited and wondering why I waited so long. Of course the main reason was insurance. It still won't pay for the orthotics, but will cover the office calls, x-rays, etc.

That's another reason why it is absolutely unconscionable that so many millions of people, in the richest country in the world, have either inadequate insurance or none at all. All of us who have happily and gratefully received Social Security and Medicare (socialism?) all these years, why are we suddenly concerned about "redistribution of wealth"? I guess because we don't believe we're responsible for anyone but ourselves. So, I got mine. The heck with everyone else. If they'd been as smart as I was, they'd be covered, too. Hmmm. Doesn't compute in today's world, especially since the immorality in the financial and corporate worlds seems to be taking us all down together. Maybe caring will be one of the positive results. I hope so.

Meanwhile, I'm dancing on happy feet and marveling at the beauty of this fall day. I just noticed: the lake at the top looks like my right foot!

May you be blessed in countless ways! Are you getting tired of "breathe, listen, look, laugh, and love"? It does seem like good advice to/for me. :)

How can I keep from singing!

Good morning, dear reader(s)! After a few days of silence here, I'm ready to talk. Saturday morning was the 3rd annual Norris Ingells Walk for Nature at Fenner Nature Center. As I arrived, the incredible smell of autumn leaves, the moist colors of the foliage as the sun filtered through the trees, the chill in the air, and the voices of special loved ones preparing for the day, filled my heart with joy. And it only got better from there.

At least 100 walkers registered and received their t-shirts with this year's Ingells photo on them. They munched on homemade baked goods, sipped coffee, and put tickets into bags representing a variety of gifts donated by area businesses.

Then they walked the trails.

The most coveted gift seemed to be the large framed print of this year's logo. Did I mention that my heart was filled with joy? Most of the morning I spent responding to people who came to give me a hug and say hi. And now and then, I caught the eye of my best friend, Carol, who was instrumental in putting it all together.

My daughter was the MC for the gift drawing; my two nieces did registration, along with a dear friend. ALL but two of the children I hold most dear were present. This includes six grand or god-children, a Turkish family, the babies of M's two best friends, a teen-aged girl I've know since her birth, and the "grand-son" of my good friend, Ron. (You'll notice if you know us, that I don't use my daughter's name on this blog. So she is M.) Ron looked up during the drawing and saw one lone white bird flying. Of course we decided it was Norris or at least a fine symbol of him.

In the afternoon as the Apple Butter Festival got under way, I participated in a shape-note singing workshop, which in spite of pesky bees and the hot sun, was lots of fun. I want to try more of it. A group meets at Green River Cafe in E. Lansing the 1st and 3rd Tuesday evenings of each month, if you're interested. It is another piece of early Americana that could be lost forever, except for those who love it and long to share it with others.

Somehow standing in the midst of all that beauty and fun and joy, Norris felt very close and the cares of this world seemed very far away. Thank you to all who made it possible! My gratitude cannot be adequately expressed!

My life goes on in endless song
Above earth's lamentations,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
That hails a new creation.

Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear its music ringing,
It sounds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?

Bless you this day! Remember to BREATHE: listen, look, laugh and love.

How Great Thou Art

I love this photo from the pasty.com website showing one of Upper Michigan's countless lakes, surrounded by endless forests, it seems. This one is near the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula. What an expansive and heavenly environment. And what a reminder of the vastness of this earth--this good earth, "our island home", as the Book of Common Prayer puts it. No place I know of is any more beautiful than the Keweenaw in autumn.

And, people there are often poor, they struggle to earn livings, to survive the harsh winters, to stay true to their culture and yet integrated to the rest of American society. For all the natural beauty surrounding them, they must be as anxious as the rest of us these days.

My teenage years were spent living between Grand Traverse Bay and Torch Lake in northwest lower Michigan. From my bedroom windows I could see the Bay and Old Mission Peninsula beyond. Beauty everywhere, especially when the cherry trees in the vast orchards were blooming and filling the air with their breath-taking scent. An ideal place to be, you'd think.
But, I was a teenager; I had been torn from my former home involuntarily at age 12, because my father wanted or needed to start over in a new place. For most of those years, I rarely noticed the beauty. We all took it for granted. I couldn't wait to leave home, feeling caged and oppressed and lonely there. Things were, and generally are, both/and. And the eyes of our hearts and minds must be open to see the greatness that surrounds us.

Well, what's my point tonight? I'm not exactly sure. As I write this, many of you are probably watching the last presidential debate. And I find myself wanting to focus on nature. Noticing the mystery of God's creation helps deepen my faith and trust. Somehow all shall be well.

In the next two days I will be spending time with two sets of children whom I love and whose parents are dear to me. These kids will have their hands full when they grow up, but I hope and pray we will heal some of the damage we've caused--to the earth, to one another, to ourselves. I will remember the old hymn, my grandmother's favorite, "How Great Thou Art!" and I will take heart.

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

Thanks for stopping by. Breathe, listen, look, laugh, love and you might consider praying, too!