A Wrinkle in Time-Madeleine L'Engle

When I posted the badge regarding banned books I wasn't quite sure who I would write about. You see, there are so many. I was shocked and somewhat embarrassed by the fact that I hadn't risen up, given the fact that I had read so many of them and not realized that they were banned. I was an English Major !!! I didn't know, so I read and talked about the books I was reading. So in a way, I did my part. Handing a book to a friend and saying, "you must read this."

So from that perspective, I chose a book that I received one Christmas as young girl, that captivated and transported me to a new place. Why? Madeleine L'Engle's book not only had a female main character that is the oldest sibling who is not exactly what she wishes to be but is also missing a father and just a little too smart for her age. Reading this book set my mind on fire and addressed so many questions in my mind. It was banned because it talks about the age of the universe and therefore, questioned religion. I didn't see it then and chances are, when I read it again, I won't see it. It is about the characters, Meg and her brother, Charles and their ability to succeed against all odds,

This is a book I have given to every middle aged child I know. Further, as I sent this book to my favorite children,  I noticed that  Madeleine L'Engle began a series called The Crosswicks Journals and twenty years later, I read her books again. I found hope, solace and possibility in her writing. I have pulled all of her books from my shelves and will read them again knowing that her words will bring me to a place I want to be.

Look at your book shelf and speak about those books you love---re-read those books you love and live.

"This land is your land.." Woody Guthrie

"This land is your land, this land is my land
From California, to the New York Island
From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters
This land was made for you and me" -Woody Guthrie

There is something about the great beyond that calls me and captures my attention. I feel blessed that I discovered a joy in walking through the woods, the wilderness and the rocks. My last post was about 'wild', the wilderness and what it offered to me. To me a new hike is like Christmas morning---the presents are under the tree but the tree is a few miles away!

So when I saw this program listed on PBS I felt Christmas came early. Check it out!

One of the wonderful things about blogging is finding kindred spirits--

Take a look at this site and the wonders that Pat experienced as they traveled through some of the great national parks. Pat's music tells me she felt the quiet majesty and the beauty. Enjoy!

Theme Thursday-Wild

“When despair for the world grows in me, and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be -- I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought or grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.” Wendell Berry

When I am in the wilderness, I feel a connection to the tree torched by lightening or a darkening sky as I walk.

I am wild as I move along the rocks and the red dust covers my clothes.

I am wild as I listen to the silence. I am wild as the leaves of olive trees or aspens whisper in the sunlight.


I am wild as I stand in the shadow of a hoodoo.

I am wild as I find my way home, tired and hungry, knowing that tomorrow offers a new path. Bliss.

More thoughts on Wild here.

PS-Researching this post, I came across the above-noted quote, found it vaguely familiar and absolutely perfect.  I realized a blog I read daily has this quote on its sidebar. Therefore, I must cite where I saw it first. Ruth's blog epitomizes wild in that it captures place, the love of nature, its surroundings and its the ability to offer moments in time and meditation. Take a look.

Now

One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful.

- Sigmund Freud


Yesterday, I came home to let Max out and let him stretch his legs. Midday, a pb &j with a tall glass of cold milk , I ate my lunch and watched as the oldest puppy in the world circled the yard, accomplished his task and made certain his world was secure. It took all of twenty minutes, Max circling the yard and me finishing my delectable pb&j. I got him settled back into the house with the assurance that Mr. Jackson (eg the person who gives him treats) would be home in a few hours and got back into my car. I backed down my driveway and as I moved, I noticed something on the fence post. I slowed the car and realized it was probably the biggest praying mantis I had ever seen. I turned the car engine off and ran to get my camera. Running out of the house I turned the camera on and it told me "No CF Card." I started back to the house with intent of finding my card and by the time I reached my desk I decided that this wasn't a photo opportunity. I set my camera down and returned to my car and spent the next ten minutes or so just watching and being.

Just what I needed. Amazing.

Monday Morning Wake Up Call

My good friend sent this to me to remind me that work and all that we work for will happen..small steps...hope and positive thoughts --chill out.

One Good Thing

When eating fruit, think of the person who planted the tree.-- Vietnamese  Proverb

My dear friend, Elyce, despite an epic battle, lost her husband, Harry, to leukemia. Harry Purcell was an amazing and kind man. His spirit lives on in the people he touched.--magic happens when we all believe in the possibilities--Cherilyn Swenson from Santa Fe is running a marathon in his honor.

"For anyone who would like to to support the cause and/or follow along on my journey, you can go to my Team in Training webpage. I will continue to post updates about the training and the marathon, where I will proudly represent Harry. With gratitude and appreciation, Cherilyn Swenson"

Shadow Shot Sunday

Tent Rocks New Mexico...land of the hoodoos and a hike I never tire of..weaving in and out and upward to a brilliant sky.

More shadow shots here...

Theme Thursday-Over the Hill

Age is a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it don't matter.

Satchel Paige

I am in constant awe of the Southwest's beauty. The land is relatively untouched; the silence and the beauty is healing. On this day, Mr. Jackson and I hiked Little Horse Trail to Bell Rock Trail and halfway up Bell Rock in Sedona--about four miles round trip although we were convinced on the way back that it had to be at least six! The land and the history of the people who have walked it date back to 300 B.C. I cannot imagine my life without the experience of walking these trails and feeling the lives that have been here before me.

Bell Rock is one of the vortexes in Sedona where spiritual energy is released. Boynton Canyon, Airport Mesa and Cathedral Rock are the other sites known to possess spiritual energy. Having hiked through most of these locations, I can only attest to feeling really mesmerized by the surroundings and as a result, very happy and at peace. So, I cannot personally confirm the existence of this phenomenon. I do believe given the history of the people --this land has meaning and is sacred. On this trip I witnessed Mr. Jackson bounding up the trail to Bell Rock stopping only because I was nursing a sore foot and was fearful of my ability to make the trip back if I continued the climb. So, who knows?

He felt great, loved the landscape and would have climbed to the top.  For those of you who hike in groups you have witnessed that one hiker who charges ahead, tireless and oblivious of peril. I call that hiker the 'billy goat." It is an honor and a position to which all hikers aspire. Well, on this day, Mr. Jackson won the award!!

We climbed over many a hill and in these sacred places, Mr. Jackson and I will always be forever young.

Washington Tea Party 2009

Warning---This post breaks a rule I set up long ago when a number of my friends were going into teaching and law school...."never discuss tenure or politics." There will be no photos or quotes that can make one think I may mean something else.The following is my response from an email from a friend that discussed his participation in the above noted event.

"Very cool. A great example for your daughters regarding our ability as Americans to speak freely and express our opinions.
However, I must first make certain you understand I voted for Obama and second, I believe healthcare rather than global warming or China’s surging economy, is something we must pay attention to now. The reality is that it won’t matter if we don’t have water to drink (southwest) or are drowning because of flooding (east coast)because the vast majority of us will not be able to pay for healthcare when we need it. Given our recent financial downfall and the amount of boomers getting ready to go into retirement—how is it that the current system can pay and not effect the younger population? The insurance industry has been one of the strongest lobbyists in our great DC—it is based on greed and not about treatment—Obama has not proposed a plan and that is largely due to the fact, call me crazy, but he has things like the financial system and the economy to figure out. That is not to say he should propose a plan and that is why so many people are up in arms.
We are an ageing economy. The real issue is if we don’t start thinking about what we can do and provide for the rest of the world we are &**^! What makes us as Americans believe that the rest of the world should provide the money necessary to feed our lifestyles? Healthcare certainly will not be part of the whole economic package –I am fairly certain that foreign countries, given the last eight years, will be very hesitant when it comes to funding our healthcare needs. So let’s just say I will join the march when it is about solidarity—not socialism---but rather about the best brains and the best ideas to move this very amazing country forward. Send ideas as opposed to the signs and the rhetoric—let’s get going before we live in a country that is not ours. Hugs -c "

Enough said. Hope and peace to you and yours wherever they are.

A Moment in Time

I wish I could show you, when you are lonely or in darkness, the astonishing Light of your own Being.

- Hafiz

Boynton Canyon and South

On our first day we were up bright and early. Our first hike, located in Boynton Canyon, was to Doe Mountain. A short hike with minimum change in elevation; it was a great start for us east coasters. The morning started out bright and sunny but as we walked, the monsoon clouds started to move in. 

In the summer months, the Southwest experiences a monsoon season which when hiking should be taken seriously. Thunder storms with lightning, hail and flash floods can make life on the mountain or trail more than you bargained for. Another thing to note, don't be fooled by the distance of those ominous clouds, lightning strikes can happen miles away and where the sun is shining. Given my experience hiking in the southwest in the summer, I have spent many of my hikes looking over my shoulder keeping an eye on the weather. The catch-22 is that you don't want to be caught on a mesa with lightning or in a canyon with the potential for flash floods, so hiking in the summer always keeps the senses alert and the adrenaline going.

 We were able to complete our hike and the skies cleared so we could view the amazing landscape.

Our reward for a great hike was a great breakfast. We ate at Kaiser's West on 89A in Sedona. They not only serve a great breakfast all day but lunch and dinner--solid place that has been there for years and really appreciated when one is very hungry!

A great start to a wonderful getaway!

Shadow Shot Sunday #69

V-V Petroglyphs Verde Valley Arizona

Take a look here for more Shadow Shots. 

Theme Thursday--Rhythm

Rhythm Santa Fe style--summer time in the Plaza, where locals and tourists gather to listen to great music and dance the night away. Blues, zydeco, country, alternative and new world, we have heard it all there. After the music in the Plaza ends, there is always a live band playing on the balcony at the Ore House--The HooDoos are a favorite of ours.
 
 
One luscious night, Mr. Jackson froze as we walked across the Plaza, the chords of Samba Pa Ti floating through the air. I watched as three, count 'em, other men stopped and looked at their companions with this faraway look in their eyes. We all samba'd into the Ore House and shared a beer. Mr. Jackson and I walked down the aisle to this tune.

That's the beauty of Santa Fe-everyone dances to their own tune and it is just fine.

El Pasatiempo

Today's the day!! The Burning of Zozobra begins at dusk.

Join in the festivities --watch it here live! Or check out last year's farewell to Old Man Gloom!

A Rose

What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
Wm. Shakespeare

Taking some time to smell the roses...

Theme Thursday-Beginnings

We ...are leaving on a jet plane... to explore the wild blue yonder and more...I love beginnings, especially those that involve suitcases and hiking boots!

National Literacy Day-September 8th

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. -Margaret Mead

The ability to string together a few letters, understand a word and then a few more words to become a sentence, "See Spot run." was a noteworthy moment in my life. From that point on, I devoured what ever book was put within my reach. Like breathing, reading became a necessary function that enabled me to imagine places and people that were outside my world. The ability to read and as a result, spell and write, set my mind on fire and made the possibilities endless.

I owe much of my success and happiness to the ability to read--it built foundations of understanding,taught compassion, fueled dreams and offered a place of contemplation. Now more than ever I believe that education, not just in the US, but throughout the world, is the answer to many of our concerns.

What can we each do to help make this happen?--here's an example--one small step..imagine the possiblities.

Julia-Bon Appetit

Named for Julia Child, this rose has a scent is like no other --citrus --think lemon vinaigrette or limoncello.

Delicious! Surprising and memorable--just like Julia.