Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems. ~Rainer Maria Rilke

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Old Year..., Goodbye

















My pipe is out, my glass is dry;
My fire is almost ashes too;
But once again,before you go,
And I prepare to meet the New:
Old Year! a parting word that's true,
For we've been comrades, you and I
--I thank God for each day of you;
There! bless you now! Old Year, good-bye!

~Robert Service~
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Sunday, December 27, 2009

Reminders and a Bag of Magic Sand

I put my coat on this morning to take Carl for a walk and when I reached into my pocket I retrieved a handful of this....
Reminders of my day with the Bean. There, I found a Kleenex, half a candy cane, a tiny white feather, a dried yellow flower and a small fake poinsettia flower. The bean had found or used them all. What wonderful memories in my pocket. Each one a reminder of the "handsome" day at the Martinez Marina. ( My grandson's new, favorite word is HANDSOME. Everything that is wonderful and beautiful..., and worthy of comment is, by his definition, "handsome". I love this expression.

I found this Christmas decoration in a box at my son's house. It was something I had given Mom two Christmas' ago. It made me laugh and it made her laugh too . For all you Cat lovers out there, it's kind of a "blond" joke about cats. In a way it says..., do the things you're good at and don't try to be something you're not. It's funny but there's a message here.
Mrs. Claus looks a bit exhausted. She is probably going to recommend using REINDEER to her husband.... Now you know the rest of the story.



The last photo(below) is an ornament that I bought years ago. It's Santa holding a big bag of MAGIC SAND. Don't we all wish we could find some of this stuff?
This small ornament reminds me that the wishes of my childhood were made out of the magic sand of my imagination but the reality of growing up is knowing that we don't always get everything we want and that most things we do receive require a lot of effort.
Magic sand is there but it's inside of us.I think, though, that it's kind of like Dorothy's Ruby Slippers in the Wizard of Oz. We all have the answers to our problems and the ability to have our dreams come true. We just have to believe and be flexible..., and not invest too heavily in the outcome. We may need someone like the "good witch"( or faerie, or angel) to lead us in the right direction. We may need a compass, a star or a guiding light. But, in the end, we find that we are all made of magic sand and every grain is unique to each of us.
This small blue sparkly ornament reminds me to wish big but to put life into perspective. From across the room this decoration is a shiny presence sitting below the Christmas tree. But, up close, a star is bent and Santa has no shoes on. From a distance it's flaws are unseen. Up close I see the chipped paint and a tired Santa. I must be aware of the difference. It sparkles now in a season of sparkle. But, will it be here when I need to click my heels and make a wish? Will it give me everything I want or will I have the wisdom to know that my acceptance of what comes may not be so easy and the answer..., a reply that I'm not willing to heed. Will the desires of my heart be in balance with the knowledge of my rational mind?
An end of a long year and so many questions....
My only resolution will be to look at each day and try to understand..., to try and make it better. But there's still a little place inside of me that believes in magic sand and hopes that some of it is thrown in my direction. What do you think?
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