Tag Archives: humanity

Street Lamps

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IMG_6942.JPGAlways the first signs
spring, summer, fall and winter.
Throughout the course
of our seasons
red Robins
hoot of an owl
reminds me…
that one tree that sways
without even the hint of a breeze
reminds me…

At night as I drive along city or country roads, the street lamp goes out and I say hello back to you. In my mind, clearly, there is no other reason for one single lamp to quickly dim other than for you to let me know that you’re watching over me.

How many people silently miss the ones that they’ve lost? It’s isolating. Not something we talk about or share with others. We like happy, not sad.

I wonder, will we be reunited with our lost loves? I like to think it will be one magnificent reunion. The thought soothes and makes me smile.

In Memory: Julie, Lloyd, Alice, Steve, Gladys, Dad, Alan, Doug, Shirley, Normy, Richard, Dude, Lisa, Mama, Pat A., Libby, Duane

Full Circle

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While this has circled around the globe, today was my first time reading this. It was a much needed reminder and it brought warmth to my heart. If this touches one other person, (men included) I have achieved my goal.

Letter from a Mother to a Daughter:

“My dear girl, the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If when we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don’t interrupt to say: “You said the same thing a minute ago”… Just listen, please. Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep. When I don’t want to take a bath, don’t be mad and don’t embarrass me. Remember when I had to run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl? When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don’t look at me that way… remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair and dealing with life’s issues every day… the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If I occasionaly lose track of what we’re talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can’t, don’t be nervous, impatient or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you. And when my old, tired legs don’t let me move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked. When those days come, don’t feel sad… just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love. I’ll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I’ve always had for you, I just want to say, I love you… my darling daughter. ” (by Spring in the air)

Never let too much time go by before you say I love you and before you show your love for her. You will never regret it. It is worth giving of your time and of the love that is in you to cherish every moment. If she is alive do something special with her this month. Something to honor her. For if you still have her and those eyes that gaze on you with love, seize the moment.

(written in honor of my Mother of blessed memory; Velia Hernandez Diaz, I wish you were here!)

Eye Contact

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Is there a greater intimacy
than to look into another soul
through the opening we don’t cover
like we do our naked skin?

Anyone can steal right in
through the sheer iris,
invitingly colored yet transparent
as colored glass.

Strangers trespass our private chambers
look around our bedrooms
go through our closets
read our diaries
unmask our lies

It all happens in a moment
the instant you let another
look you straight into the eyes.

– Clayton Boothe

My dear friend, Clayton Booth wrote this piece and I wanted to share it. Pause for thought…

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Just Lookin’ Around

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Homeless in the mountains

“We are the product of 4.5 billion years of fortuitous, slow biological evolution. There is no reason to think that the evolutionary process has stopped. Man is a transitional animal. He is not the climax of creation.” Carl Sagan

If I could reach out to all of those in our very vast land that are in transition and being challenged as a result of… ( it would probably include millions) I would encourage them to enjoy their freedom of looking around at the beauty that surrounds them in our people, places and things. It is so comforting to know that we can find it everywhere – even on the cloudiest of days. I consider this freedom a blessing AND sometimes, yes a challenge.

We ALL take for granted; our time, people, conversation, animals, earth, etcetera!

…Just lookin’ around and enthusiastically seeing what I see, even on the most cloudy of days.

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Grand Tetons – Wyoming ‘2012

They Don’t Look Anymore

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After a wonderful dinner that included a heavenly margarita, my girlfriend and I stood outside in the parking lot talking about life. It was a crisp, sunny, fall evening and simply perfect for a female bonding conversation.

CC’s words had quite a lasting impression, as it is two weeks later and here I am pondering it.

We talked about online dating, men we have dated and also the difference in dating after the age of 40 and 50. My comment, ‘I prefer meeting someone for the first time in person rather than online. You have an opportunity to assess any attraction, watch their mannerism and of course flirt!’ CC’s comment; ‘Well, they don’t look anymore so I’m not likely to catch someone’s eye.’ Her statement made me think and also made me feel sad for her and the rest of aging singles. Sure, I don’t get the looks that I did while in my twenties and thirties, but when I was in my twenties and thirties, I rarely noticed and still rarely pay attention anyway!

I was born with an above average dose of self confidence, but still, the thought of not being attractive (both inside and out) to the point of not being noticed for the rest of my life (even via my award winning personality 🙂 ) leaves me just a tad bit anxious and feeling quite selfish. I have lived my life independently, yet with my choice of partners. I’m quite comfortable with who and where I am today, but do wonder if I will reach a point when I’m not.

My former Father-In-Law passed away a few days ago. They were married more than sixty five years and rarely spent a day apart. Recently and just one day prior to his death, his wife shared, ‘I haven’t slept separate from him in as long a time as I can remember. I am going to miss talking with him and feeling his body next to mine.’ She is nearly ninety years old and all I could think of, ‘They don’t look anymore.’

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Speak, Dude!

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Most of us have them, want them or have had them… pets!

Right, we know – “a mans best friend.” There is no doubt or question, Dude IS my best friend and will go down in the history books as such. However, sometimes I am certain I am not his. What kind of a friend leaves you alone for hours, feeds you the same food every day, constantly asks you to stop talking (barking), doesn’t walk with you nearly as long as you like, (or too long) and can’t read your mind? A human friend, that’s who!

Recently and for the first time in Dude’s life of thirteen years, I have been working in an environment twelve hours a day and he can’t go with…I have however arranged a friend to come and hang with Dude for a couple of hours a day, and then I come home for lunch and we hang out. Trust me – it’s an adjustment for us both. I’m laden with guilt and Dude is sad and doesn’t quite understand.

Here’s a frustrating scenario that occurred this week, but let me first preface by stating it was already a tough week for me and Dude; I left for a needed road and hiking adventure out west for two weeks and this was the first adventure Dude was not able to go on due to his age. In addition, Dude lost another good friend, Shelby (beautiful Yellow Lab, due to old age of thirteen), I lost a friend (due to cancer), and I also started this temporary work leaving me stressed out!

Well, I get home from work and I can’t wait to hang outside on this beautiful afternoon with Dude and he was equally excited, pinning me down, giving me hugs and sprinting around the yard. We walked down to the deck for a few minutes, and upon calling Dude to come up and follow me to the house, he wouldn’t budge. He did however hold up his right paw and I could visibly see that he was trembling. Damn, bur in his fur again – so I thought. Upon realising that there were no burs, spurs, or other, I became concerned. I carried him up and into the house, inspected and inspected and couldn’t find a thing. By this time he was panting, wouldn’t hydrate and was obviously in pain. “SPEAK, Dude”. Where does it hurt and what’s going on?” I have to leave for work before the veterinarian’s office opens tomorrow morning, and they close in thirty minutes. Dude is a pretty tough dog – he rarely complains, and has not required an emergency visit to the doctor EVER. Arg – off we go to the doctor. While driving, I kept wondering, “could this be a bee sting, did he break a bone?” There was no yelp.

At the doctor: Fever, still not hydrating, miserable and clearly in pain, occasional tail wag.

Later at home: Eating, playing, hydrating, constant tail wag.

Speak, Dude! Had I known it was a bee sting you wouldn’t have been stressed by my stress, had to ride in the hot car, we could have hung outside longer and I would have saved $100 bucks!

I love you Dude…

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