Life, Unexpected

What happened to the 2020 resolutions I made in January?

• Get closer to family and friends? I’ve had to work harder to stay close.
• Spend time with a new activity? I discovered that I enjoyed painting.
• Meditate Working on it
• Read more Starting audiobooks and loving the freedom to read
• Spend more time in nature? I have a successful garden.
• Enjoy little things Caterpillars, butterflies, bees drinking from irrigation
• Volunteer with intention Not as successful as I used to be in person
• Travel Have canceled five trips but Working on it
• Get documents in order Work in progress
• Keep a journal A work in progress
• Strengthen relationships Not as easy when not meeting in person
• Create positivity Keeping Facebook and Instagram upbeat
• Eat fewer calories Eating more during the day, but smaller portions
• Exercise regularly A constant battle, but with e-bike doing better
• Learn a new skill I learned to ZOOM.

Life, unexpected.

While I did not go easily into isolation, Covid19 offered no choice but to live more deliberately and intentionally. For weeks I embraced the required change. But as people fell off my radar, as places became off-limits and things were simplified I went from muddling through long days to the discovery of a quiet, faithful soul.

Gardening

Lesson learned during covid19:

Like the garden that needs care and nurturing so does the body and spirit.

Char~trues #5

The New Republic

I saw the following post on Facebook the morning after night one of the 2020 Republican National Convention:

“No one misses the Bush family tonight. #RNC2020“

So I guess “they” have thrown out Former President Bush and the Bush family with the swamp* water.

• “Joe Biden is basically the Loch Ness monster of the swamp,” said Donald Trump Jr.

Tikkun

Before you can make peace in the world, you must make peace in your heart.

Char~trues #4

Thorny Weather

• 

Just look at this thing! Imagine, a thorn in the side or a crown of thorns.

So if life gives you lemons you are to make lemonade; but when life is filled with thorns what shall you make of it?

Char~trues #3

Just Because You Can

Just because you can rewrite history, doesn’t mean you can change it.

Char~trues #2

Chartreuse: (noun) a french liqueur, a natural green colour.

Chartrues is a martini moment of clarity, when yellow meets green and you exhale an ah hah!

Masked Benefits

When you wear your mask, I am better able to see the smile in your eyes.

Char~trues #1

Chartreuse: (noun) a french liqueur, a natural green colour.

Chartrues is a martini moment of clarity, when yellow meets green and you exhale an ah hah!

Mother’s Day Covid19 5.12.20

• 

Mothers of earth Mothers of sky

Mothers who shelter Mothers who fly

Mothers of daughters Mothers of sons

Mothers of many Mothers of none

 Mothers of present Mothers of past

Mothers with weakness Mothers steadfast

Mothers of young Mothers of old

Mothers released Mothers who hold

Mothers forgotten Mothers unknown

Mothers unloved Mothers love shown

I Got the Ain’t No Pac-12 Football Blues

No more rivalries No more cheer, No college football Nope, not this year. Leaving fans in a lurch Pac12 football was Saturday church. Bruins, Trojans what will we do? Tailgate parties, not without you. How will the Cardinal win it back? Bears are hibernating with the ax. Duck and Beavers, Buffaloes Utes and Huskies feeling low. Wildcats and Devils won’t be settling a score Dangit COVID, Pac12 football, There is no more.

25 Thousand 5 Hundred 50

July 23, 1950 – July 23, 2020

It was a humid 86 degrees in Chicago the day I was born on the west side at St. Anne’s Hospital. “Mona Lisa,” by Nat King Cole, was playing on the radio. Harry S. Truman was President of the United States and Martin H. Kennelly was Mayor of the city. My father was heading off to fight in the Korean War. It would become the Golden Age of Television.

On July 23, 2020 there was a warm breeze. I celebrated turning seven zero with a nation paralyzed by the corona virus and sheltering in place for 133 days. There was a small gathering. Guests social distanced on the front courtyard and wore masks.

And so, at 70—I’m on a mission to infuse my life with action. A writer and volunteer, I am an advocate for arts, education and seniors. I am called to serve, empower, engage, and act; promoting justice, building community, and working to make a better world.