Transitions

Transitions are the universe's way of saying it is time to change. Whether it is a situation, a career or a life style, it is the a warning or suggestion that something more is about to come.   

Subtle, silent reminders of earthly mortality and more, the shifting sands of time concur that there is always shore.

A shore from which to start your journey to sail on and soar. On vessels made from loving dreams and christened by our yore.

When tides of time anoint the sails and blow us to and fro, then steer with oars we must begin, to chart our course, or no.

On the crest of waves we gain our thrust and fly across the sea. But constant care must be observed lest on the reef we'll be. Dashing hopes of long held dreams and swimming in the sea.

I have felt the strain of gravity pulling at my soul. I have felt the hand of mortality as it pushes me to the shoal. And I have felt the freedom of restraint when all is wrong. 

Perhaps it is infinity that holds the final key. A time, a place, a season that allows me to be free.   So let us trust in happenstance and learn from it indeed. That life is what we make of it. It's life itself we need.

The Art of Nesting

Sometime in the year 2011, in late July, my 5th reincarnation occurred. How does that saying go? When you're not looking that's when you find it.

To find a loving partner such as I did at any age is rare, but to find love at my time in the life line is miraculous indeed.

As with any reincarnation, life must transmute and energies must be reassigned. However, once the new life begins there are always flash backs of previous experiences, both good and bad, but mostly good.

My new life has a new song and it sounds like a very familiar tune but with a new arrangement and most definitely in its own key. After living for 18 years in the cloisters of Lincoln Park, and immersed in the culture of the north side, I decided that a physical move was the answer to aid in the process of recreation.

In order to attempt a successful move into a new life, it makes sense to change the soil before transplanting. So a world wind of searches for the next "nest" ensued.

From north to south, and west to east, we wandered daily much like the Israelites looking for the promised land. It is not easy to take up old roots and shake them off. But sometimes it is most necessary to revive. History will record I think that the operation was a total success, and the patient survived and more.

Along with my new life and new love has come a showering of affection from new family and friends. Not that I have abandoned the old and familiar but perhaps rearranged priorities along the way.

Don't you find it exciting when a new day awakens and the sounds and smells of the morning blow through your window and tantalize your senses? Our new life has come to us bearing unexpected gifts and feelings of exhilaration. A utopian existence that I cherish everyday.

It has been almost three months since we crossed the river, literally. Ensconced in the arms of the "Commons" we have taken to our new environs like two birds in flight. Winging our way along life's landscape and charting our course in time. Many memories have come with of course and in our new home they are gentle reminders of lives well lived.

Oh, and did I mention, our cardinals and robins have found us again? There is even a pair of squirrels that visit, as if to say welcome home.

And so it goes ...

And so it goes ... One life ends and another begins.

Have you ever thought of how many times we die every year, every day, every moment? Today I am older and more aware I think but yesterday I was more passionate perhaps. And tomorrow who knows?

Every day and every moment we are constantly evolving in one direction or another. We can only hope that it is the right direction, but it is almost impossible to actually know if we are headed to the right destination unless we have developed a very sophisticated GPS system.

I sometimes wonder what all the drama is about. Whether we fail or succeed, it is really only our problem after all. Ah, but there are other considerations I fear. Are we alone or with someone? Do we have others to take care of? And perhaps most important, are there others that depend on us for leadership or inspiration?

All of these concerns really only matter as long as we are alive, however the way in which we die also matters. Not just for others but most importantly for ourselves. Obviously no one wants to exit on a bad note, so the question is how long can we keep up appearances?

Not to be morbid, but I for one am at a juncture were lines begin to blur. Much as some need glasses I think I may need trifocals, since my bifocals seem to be challenged these days.

There does come a time I feel that it is more about the mental status than the physical. A time where priorities collide and the present becomes omnipresent.

So what am I saying? Only just that while there maybe a time and place for everything, maybe that time and place are negotiable. At least I think so, and isn't that what really matters?

Misty Memories of Maine

Uniquely Yours

There are times, when you least expect it, that life's reflections appear. So clearly do they mirror our most intimate thoughts and dreams that they become us if only for the moment. Crystal clear reflections so tragically beautiful, so uplifting and sad, yet so perfectly perfect in their intent.

The other day I saw myself in a window in my new neighborhood. I thought to myself where was I when this picture was taken last? Who and where was I at that space in time? As I continued on I remembered so many intimate moments of that very occurrence but it was a younger me and so many other places ago.

There is a shopping center nearby that reminds me of Los Angeles and another that is most definitely New York. There is campus that could be in Seattle and a Canal that might be Miami. All these sounds and vistas trigger other moments in time when an aging ingenue strolled the streets of life in search of himself and finding, after all that he was always there, just behind, if only one were to stop and look.

Why is it that we so desperately run from what we know, eagerly leaping into the arms of distant strangers. Is it that we are impatient for the future or merely bored by the past. Or is it maybe that we need the new and exciting lest we become stagnant and fixed in the forever, a picture of who we are and no more.

Can time exist in a capsule? Can a life force become a moment? And in the end, after all is said and done, can there be anymore? I say yes. Tomorrow is the product of all the reflections of yesterday and today, and, like a digital recording can exist as past, present and future if we only let it be.

So frame your reflections and keep them in your heart because they are, after all the, special things that make you uniquely yours!

It's A Grand Old Flag

Cool right? When I first saw this ad for a black and white tee-shirt for the fourth of July, I thought how interesting that our flag is so iconic, even in black and white you can still feel the colors!

Then it occurred to me that the flag was being displayed incorrectly. The union jack should always be on the left when hung this way. In fact, displaying the flag in this matter means distress. Perhaps this was the thought when the designer made this tee- shirt? Maybe he or she was being facetious by calling attention to the fact that our nation is a bit confused these days, what with supreme court decisions all over the board and political parties that have no identity, unless you call indecision and bigotry good symbols to define their directions.

When wealth and religion become the driving factors in forming a national platform, something is seriously wrong. When the everyday "Joe & Jill" are more concerned with their iPads and Walmart prices than quality and honesty, this is what happens.

Too bad that we can't just have a "do over" and reset our priorities. Just imagine if we all could merely slow down long enough to see the disasters that we are side stepping everyday, and the deadly dumbing of a once great culture such as ours.

Today I saw a tee-shirt, probably made in China or India, or anyone of a hundred other sweat shops around the world, with union jack on the wrong side. To me this says "what the hell, it's cute, it's trendy and it's cheap". What else should matter since I will probably wear it once and throw it away.

I think not. What should matter on this fourth of July is the fact that our great nation is becoming sedentary and complacent. But there is a new wind stirring. I felt it in the air just the other day. I felt it in the striking down of DOMA, in the ruling on emigration and equal rights. There is definitely a stirring in the atmosphere and I can see it coming over the horizon like a distant vision of hope. The ghosts of greatness that once formed a perfect union are ready to march again. The question is ... Are we ready to follow?

Happy 4h of July ... and may our tomorrows be worn in pride rather than distress!

Aging Naturally



So, which looks good to you - younger, older, perhaps in between?

As we age life seems to imprint on us a series of seasons much like the rings of the giant redwood tree or perhaps the gentle willow. Whatever the species, we grow our rings to determine time and our bark becomes a sort of brittle. In times of plenty or times of drought our building blocks continue to stack and become, in the end, that thing we call ourselves.

When left to its own devices our growth and direction will by nature become a thing of beauty. Mellowed by the kiss of time we become a unique and wondrous work of art. However, if too much intention to the material world is paid we might instead become creatures of desire causing instead a bitter picture of all that is wrong indeed.

Today I woke up with the sun and looked out at my garden. The trees and flowers filled my heart with joy and promise. I thought to myself, what is it that provides this feeling of euphoria in nature? Then it occurred to me that perhaps it is the contentment found when nature takes the lead and the rhythm of the universe is let to its own. Once I had unleashed the symphony it became its own special song and the melody resonated in my ears.

There is a new pictures that I am painting here on 15th Street. It is the picture of mature contentment and placid existence. The street and it's environs have a special neighborhood feel mixed with city sleek and sprinkled with an international population. There is most definitely an overall academic undertone as well. The result is sort of urban utopia and it is resonating in me.

I think we shall like it here very much. It is a new garden and we seem to be thriving. Oh, and I seem to be getting younger again. There is magic here ...