A Bug Muse ( Nov 08 )

Bug Muse Category: Life Random thoughts you will have to extrapolate on .... Sight and Vision are two very different themes This concept touches on Bris whol Transeding Fear thing Bigots Beware PuppyKat - I Hope You Dance BMan - Head For The Lite Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable. - Helen Keller

The Bench

Finally– a bench!

After walking the Pike Market area for almost an hour we found the bus stop that would eventually return us to the hotel.

Safely securing our position on said bench – strategically placed so we could optimize our people watching skills – JT and I settled in for what would turn out to be one of the most amusing events of our entire excursion

I love to people watch

So does Johnny

Something else we have in common

Though – side note - when we come to discuss our observations – our opinions can get as diverse as any two peoples can be – we do enjoy the process

In any event – here we were – in downtown Seattle – waiting for our bus – and people watching

We gazed around the environment

Johnny was intrigued by the musical performance just behind us

It appeared to be an eclectic mix of Oriental and Indian people with some African Americans and a token few white singing and dancing to some techno Judaic Christian type motifs

I soon bored with that event and panned on to the northeast where on another bench – not more than 50 feet from us sat what I had originally thought to be a woman.

Just about the time I went to comment on her curious state of affairs JT chirped in and articulated what I had now come to ponder

Was it in fact a woman or a man?

The he / she was – by all accounts – strange to say the least

From head to toe “it” was a eclectic mix of avante guard and shabby chic

His (or was it her) hair was jet-black and shoulder length but this was all visually over powered by the fact that what little remained was painfully thin

It hung straight to the shoulder and they (he or she) was continually stroking it in a downward motion between their fingers

He – or was it her – was adorned entirely in black

Even his – I mean her – their - fingernails were manicured and polished – in co coordinating black

The shirt was long sleeved, falling mid drift just below the hip area which was causing me even greater difficulty in determining which gender the specimen was

With a rather pot bellied stance and awkwardly chivied gate I was getting no clues though by this time had determined – whatever the origin – this specimen was indeed a very gentle creature

I say gentle because – in spite of all their awkwardness – this person had an air about them – and though I dare not call it serene – so undeniable was it that I was caught in a most disconcerting yet humbled state all at the same time. 

As I continued to observe this person I could not help but think how it was that they came to this particular place and time

Johnny was wondering the same thing for as we turned to each other in disbelief the words just came flowing out of our mouths

As we exchanged our observations it became evident that our muse was in fact their with his / her companion.

There –off to the left – just between the music venue and our bench – was the second half of this intriguing duo.

Subject number two was just as unique if not more so

An aged creature with thick, long chaotically matted grey hair and a beard to match, he – and he was defiantly a HE – though dressed in a satin purple skirt and gold lamette blouse, was dancing – or more like undulating – around the square fanning colourful silk scarves thru the air.

Momentarily – the skirt clad character gathered up his props and headed towards our friend on the bench in front of us

There- the two systematically sorted thru, folded and packed up their belongings

After a short embrace they rose and headed off in the opposite direction to which JT and I were now making our way to

Once on the bus we just looked at each other in disbelief

Again we pondered as to what life choices had brought our friends to this place in their lives

I was boggled by the fact that they were at the very least some body’s children and quite probably at some point some body’s husband and father.

As our bus pulled out into the busy street I looked back out the window behind me\There I caught the last glimpse of the two walking hand in hand off into the crowd

It is irrelevant that our paths will never cross again

Point is – they did – and I am a changed person for it

Perhaps my greatest regret from the encounter is that I was only able to grab one quick and not very effective photograph to document the encounter and sadder still that I did not have the fortitude to introduce myself to them ...

( written September 2008 ) 

Voices ...

Voices …

Continual chatter

Going on in my head

Conversations

No

More like debates

Going on with myself

On a regular basis

Reflections of the input

And constant stimuli

Ideas manifested

In my consciousness

By and thru universe

Considerations

Examinations

And sometimes even temporary resolutions

To be channeled out

Into this dimension

For the greater good of others.

Often burdensome …

But

To stop the process would be selfish

And so I submit

To the ageless process by which all things incarnate

Hoping

One day

To find a peace

The ability to transcend

Gain insight

Wisdom

To take that has been offered

Me

Find purpose

And make good of it

Amen

On The Road ( Again )

I had so forgotten the FUN I have had thru the years by just driving...

This past week - circumstance - fate - and perhaps a little bit of blind siding luck took me back out on the road.

Serendipitously - my son has recently become a long haul truck driver.

Was the Universe indicating their approval by allowing me another peek into this world I had so enjoyed and he was now entering?

Whatever the reason - there I was - climbing into the pre packed utility van on a dark and chilly pre dawn morning.

My travel mate - Peter - had already done some 50 miles just to pick me up at my door.

Caffeine in hand and armed with great fortitude and determination we headed out into the wild dark but soon to be blue yonder.

Laredo is a mid sized city on the Texan / Mexico boarder,

Our purpose was to deliver materials to the broker for an upcoming job the company is doing in Mexico City next month.

The round trip included almost 800 miles for the day.

No matter – I was up for the challenge.

In fact – I was looking forward to it!

There were the obligatory “pee stops” … the snacks breaks and of course the fueling up but for the most part we just drove right on thru.

Texas is “big” and the drive – which was primarily on the hwy – was laden with mostly long flat (and yes – sorry Texans) boring open spaces.

We amused ourselves with the radio … finding two stations that played older “pop” selections from the 70 and 80’s.

Down memory lane we compared the “where we were” and “what we were doing when” AFTER we competed for the honour of “who is the artist” and “what year was the hit” took place.

Ill just say it was a tie because most of the time we were just lost in the moments …

During the journey I ate too much “junk” food (especially the donut holes from Krispy Crème but Kat would never have forgiven me if I had not indulged), 

drank too many carbonated beverages (including a Red Bull which Peter later regretted ever having let me consume as I apparently went into “over drive”) and gave away too many secrets which I hope and pray will eventually be forgotten  … LOL.

All in all though – what a GREAT Day!   

Saturday Morning Bed Bug

It was a late night for us last night ... 
I dont think I actually drifted off to sleep until well after 1 am - but thats another story - TBC
It was such a pleasure to open my eyes to the sunshine this morning !
The wind was dancing up the lake creating white caps that - as they hit the shore - bounced off the bulk head
It truely is a magnificent site
You could hear the chatter of the birds as they all joined chorus to celebrate the arrival of the new day ...
The BEST part though was being snuggled up in the bed with my girls and Johnny 
THAT doesnt happen very often
I rose to put the coffee pot on and let the pups do their morning duties 
They too were elated to see the sun which has been absent for some time now 
If this were another place perhaps we all would not be so obsessed but here - in Texas - it is suppose to be "sunny" ( most of the time ) 
With all the cold temperatures and rain of late you would swear we were in Seattle or some such other " weather trodden" place
Anyway - with the dogs watered and fed and the morning beverage cups prepared - filled to the brim with love and affection - I toddled on back to bed where I was greeted with a warm smile and hug. 
As age has become us both we then reached in unison to our nightstand drawers and pulled out our weapons of choice - the spectacles which would allow us to engage in the coming event
Armed with our materials - he with a novel - 1984 to be exact - and I will my manuals - for I am preparing to take another certification ... we prepped the pillows and hunkered in for what would be one of the loveliest mornings we have spent TOGETHER in a long time 
You see - it isnt so much what you say but what you do - and more importantly - how you do it - especially when you are with the ones you profess to love 
Quality time - shared - separate - yet - only a touch and a breath away 
Small moments that last a lifetime 
Real 
Unforced
Simple yet filled with a genuine affection
Thats what was here in our bed this morning and I am so grateful and blessed to have been given the opportunity to have it 
One moment in time that will last an eternity.

The Pines DO Speak ...

Pines In Texas

I pulled up into the driveway

It was dark for I had forgotten to leave the porch light on when I had left earlier this morning

Actually - I wasnt anticipating getting home quite so late

No matter - the illumination from the moon was more than enough to get me to my destination safely

I turned off the car and reached across the console to gather my belongings

Stepping out of the car into the quiet of the night I noticed an old familiar smell ...

Taking a deep breath I looked up and watched the wind dance thru the trees.

Peering out through the clouds was the moon who would soon guide me up the path to the door.

For now though I just stood

Frozen in time between two places very different yet somehow much the same.

Where WAS I ?

Here - in Montgomery Texas where many strange twists of fate have brought me to a place I would never have been able to predict

Yet

I had traveled back in time ...

I was in the "Park"

I was standing on our street - Burns Avenue ...

I was SAFE !

The smell was the same ...

The branches reached out to embrace me

I could FEEL it

How could this be ?

Two places becoming one

Suddenly I awoke

My moment was gone

The pounding of my heart so strong I thought I was going to wake the neighbours up

I heard the dogs bark ...

Johnny drove up the road

I was back in Texas - in the here and now
( For now ... ) 

Pines In Lorne Park, Ontario, Canada
( taken on the path that led from my childhood home to the lake ) 

Love In Our Lives

As Ive gotten older I have come to realize that time is fleeting ...

Over the past few weeks that point was driven home and has become even more crystal clear

I dont want to waste whatever time I have left

I want to spend it with people I love - doing things I love ( or at least enjoy ) - and I want to make a difference ( hopefully in a positive way )

I dont know who or what is meant to be in my life but I do know I have the power to make the best of it

And in all this I believe the secret is love

I believe the way to recognize true love is to understand that it is in fact a verb - an action - manifested in and thru you

It seems to me to be when - from your position - someone or something elses interests trump and usurp your own

Love is when you sacrifice - only its not - because it is a selfless choice you gladly make

And in this action you find some of the most genuine satisfaction of your life

You have to recognize love when it comes into you life

You have to know it - see it - and go after it - recognizing that there is always a risk associated with it

There is no guarantee that who or what you love is going to love you back

And even if you find love - you always run the risk of loosing it

Nothing lasts forever ...