190
3 years ago
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Flutter by
Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Internet Tidy Tips
Herself went on a tidying spree last week and rearranged the contents of her dresser, removing any items that were worn out or ill-fitting. Taking a tip from somewhere on the internets, she folded her T-shirts differently and put them back into their drawer vertically rather than horizontally. Now, she need not rummage through a pile to find the one she wants, but rather, can see enough of the design or pattern of each one to be able to find the desired item easily. It makes her oddly happy to have an orderly corner in her world.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Great Shoes
Herself attended a required social event with Beloved Husband yesterday evening. It was not too bad, all things considered; the program was brief, the speakers were earnest, and the rather large crowd included a dozen or more familiar faces. The food was fairly tasty. Plus, it was an opportunity to dress nicely: in particular, to wear fancy shoes. Herself is rather fond of the pewter high heels of last night, for they are comfortable AND attractive - a somewhat rare combination in women's footwear. Plus, she has a matching evening purse. And she even had an appropriate Little Black Dress. Success.
Towards the end of the evening, as Herself and Beloved Husband were chatting with a small group of people, a rather inebriated fellow leaned over and slurred winkingly to Herself: "great shoes."
Why, thank you.
Towards the end of the evening, as Herself and Beloved Husband were chatting with a small group of people, a rather inebriated fellow leaned over and slurred winkingly to Herself: "great shoes."
Why, thank you.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
The Hand of God
Twenty-five years ago this evening, Herself and her Beloved went on their first date. (We have recounted the story of The Beginning before, here.) She and he were discussing the date, and the subsequent twenty-five years, this morning. He mused about their very different backgrounds, and commented that the establishment of a relationship between the two of them seemed almost random.
ran·dom [ran-duhm]
adjective 1. proceeding, made, or occurring without definite aim, reason, or pattern: the random selection of numbers.
No. Not random.
Herself is not a firm believer in a Higher Power, an overarching scheme, or some kind of Cosmic Life Force. Nevertheless, there have been rare occasions when she has had the sensation that a person or a place is one of tremendous (though enigmatic) importance: a feeling as if all of the pieces of the Universe purposefully aligned in such a way so as to make an event -- such as a meeting of a particular person, the formation of a relationship -- come to pass. A poet might call it the hand of God.
What is the Reason in the Universe for Herself's relationship with her Beloved?
Perhaps, for example, their relationship has been necessary in order to produce the Offspring in their unique forms at their unique times. Perhaps one of the Offspring -- or even perhaps one of the Offspring's future Offspring -- will be instrumental in another person's life. Or a world event. Or neither - perhaps they will quietly, in their own beautiful ways, make their corners of the world a better place.
Or on a more mundane level, perhaps their relationship is necessary in order for Herself to learn certain lessons: how to be patient, how to be forgiving, how to see the world from a different point of view. How to understand herself and what she wants and needs. How to be the kind of person she wants to be.
Their relationship has been the vital skeleton upon which she has fleshed out her adulthood, and she is thankful for this foundation. It has made it possible for her to learn and to rise to her challenges. She has needed to meet certain other people, overcome particular obstacles, and put the puzzle pieces of her Life together. Like Harry Potter, she must come to understand that not every monster is truly monstrous; she must come to know the true value of magic and house elves, of children's stories and wandlore and the power of words; she must learn to cherish a friend and be grateful for their unbreakable bonds of friendship; and ultimately, she must conquer her fear of death. As must he, as well.
Many of these things they will learn together. Some of them, too, each will learn alone, like parallel lines, or twin trees. As it should be.
You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
ran·dom [ran-duhm]
adjective 1. proceeding, made, or occurring without definite aim, reason, or pattern: the random selection of numbers.
No. Not random.
Herself is not a firm believer in a Higher Power, an overarching scheme, or some kind of Cosmic Life Force. Nevertheless, there have been rare occasions when she has had the sensation that a person or a place is one of tremendous (though enigmatic) importance: a feeling as if all of the pieces of the Universe purposefully aligned in such a way so as to make an event -- such as a meeting of a particular person, the formation of a relationship -- come to pass. A poet might call it the hand of God.
What is the Reason in the Universe for Herself's relationship with her Beloved?
Perhaps, for example, their relationship has been necessary in order to produce the Offspring in their unique forms at their unique times. Perhaps one of the Offspring -- or even perhaps one of the Offspring's future Offspring -- will be instrumental in another person's life. Or a world event. Or neither - perhaps they will quietly, in their own beautiful ways, make their corners of the world a better place.
Or on a more mundane level, perhaps their relationship is necessary in order for Herself to learn certain lessons: how to be patient, how to be forgiving, how to see the world from a different point of view. How to understand herself and what she wants and needs. How to be the kind of person she wants to be.
Their relationship has been the vital skeleton upon which she has fleshed out her adulthood, and she is thankful for this foundation. It has made it possible for her to learn and to rise to her challenges. She has needed to meet certain other people, overcome particular obstacles, and put the puzzle pieces of her Life together. Like Harry Potter, she must come to understand that not every monster is truly monstrous; she must come to know the true value of magic and house elves, of children's stories and wandlore and the power of words; she must learn to cherish a friend and be grateful for their unbreakable bonds of friendship; and ultimately, she must conquer her fear of death. As must he, as well.
Many of these things they will learn together. Some of them, too, each will learn alone, like parallel lines, or twin trees. As it should be.
You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.
Love one another but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.
- Kahlil Gibran
Perhaps, at the end of Time, they will learn why the hand of God placed them together.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Evolution
Whilst at the used bookstore last week, we encountered a lovely hardcover book: A Treasury of the Familiar. Copyrighted in 1942, it has a wonderful conglomeration of all sorts of well-known bits and pieces of literature, from short speeches of Abraham Lincoln, to Macbeth's soliloquy, to nursery rhymes and songs, to Edgar Allan Poe, and on and on and on. Marvelous.
One poem in particular caught our attention: Evolution by Langdon Smith. It is vaguely reminiscent of Italo Calvino's Cosmicomics -- one of Herself's favorite books, that includes the romantic fantasy, The Distance of the Moon. (We have mentioned this story before, here.) Evolution is a lilting look at love over time, through cycles of life, death and rebirth over eons and eons. It appeals to both the scientist and the romantic within our heart.
When you were a tadpole and I was a fish
In the Paleozoic time,
And side by side on the ebbing tide
We sprawled through the ooze and slime,
Or skittered with many a caudal flip
Through the depths of the Cambrian fen,
My heart was rife with the joy of life,
For I loved you even then.
Mindless we lived and mindless we loved
And mindless at last we died;
And deep in the rift of the Caradoc drift
We slumbered side by side.
The world turned on in the lathe of time,
The hot lands heaved amain,
Till we caught our breath from the womb of death
And crept into light again.
One poem in particular caught our attention: Evolution by Langdon Smith. It is vaguely reminiscent of Italo Calvino's Cosmicomics -- one of Herself's favorite books, that includes the romantic fantasy, The Distance of the Moon. (We have mentioned this story before, here.) Evolution is a lilting look at love over time, through cycles of life, death and rebirth over eons and eons. It appeals to both the scientist and the romantic within our heart.
When you were a tadpole and I was a fish
In the Paleozoic time,
And side by side on the ebbing tide
We sprawled through the ooze and slime,
Or skittered with many a caudal flip
Through the depths of the Cambrian fen,
My heart was rife with the joy of life,
For I loved you even then.
Mindless we lived and mindless we loved
And mindless at last we died;
And deep in the rift of the Caradoc drift
We slumbered side by side.
The world turned on in the lathe of time,
The hot lands heaved amain,
Till we caught our breath from the womb of death
And crept into light again.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Footprints
Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart. - Eleanor Roosevelt
A woman whom Herself knows is dying.
The woman -- we shall call her Em -- is part of the "family" of individuals who formed the core of the gym when Offspring the Third (and eventually Herself, and Offspring the First and Second) began taekwondo. Em is a remarkable presence; she lights up a room. Her lovely hair, pristine skin, and quick smile have always shone despite the rare and difficult medical condition that has plagued her for a very long time. Em has a certain kind of serenity, likely brought about by her needing to pace herself carefully lest she wear herself out. She is occasionally cynical and ribald; we have never seen her angry or in a panic. She makes people laugh.
Em has a beautiful young daughter, talented in martial arts, with eyes and a charming smile that are quite similar to those of her mother. A marvelous legacy, her daughter: Em's lasting gift to the world.
When we think of Em, we immediately think of Em's giant heart for her friends: amigas, so tightly knit, never hesitant to help one another, present for one another through times of difficulty, understanding one another so well. It is a rare gift from the Universe, to have a close friend such as Em has been to hers. She will leave behind tremendous footprints in the hearts of so many people.
We will remember you, Em. Rest well, and find peace and joy. Godspeed.
A woman whom Herself knows is dying.
The woman -- we shall call her Em -- is part of the "family" of individuals who formed the core of the gym when Offspring the Third (and eventually Herself, and Offspring the First and Second) began taekwondo. Em is a remarkable presence; she lights up a room. Her lovely hair, pristine skin, and quick smile have always shone despite the rare and difficult medical condition that has plagued her for a very long time. Em has a certain kind of serenity, likely brought about by her needing to pace herself carefully lest she wear herself out. She is occasionally cynical and ribald; we have never seen her angry or in a panic. She makes people laugh.
Em has a beautiful young daughter, talented in martial arts, with eyes and a charming smile that are quite similar to those of her mother. A marvelous legacy, her daughter: Em's lasting gift to the world.
When we think of Em, we immediately think of Em's giant heart for her friends: amigas, so tightly knit, never hesitant to help one another, present for one another through times of difficulty, understanding one another so well. It is a rare gift from the Universe, to have a close friend such as Em has been to hers. She will leave behind tremendous footprints in the hearts of so many people.
We will remember you, Em. Rest well, and find peace and joy. Godspeed.
This lovely image was found at http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2183/2459438227_95d52742c0.jpg.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Aqua
Both the teardrop and the tempest are made of water, making it the most yielding and most destructive force on Earth. -- Fiona Paul, Venom
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